the Heisman, football, basketball, MLB, and Christmas music

Hello. First of all, I just finished watching the Heisman Trophy Award Show, and Florida quarterback Tim Tebow, a Christian, won!!!!!!!! The piece that they showed on him during the show was great, and the conversations with him were too. He mentioned that his priorities are #1 his faith, #2 his family, #3 academics, and #4 football. He thanked God three times during his acceptance speech. What is so awesome about him is that not even the secular media can talk about him in depth without mentioning his faith and character. His head coach at Florida, Urban Meyer, even mentioned that his Christian faith, which had a big affect on him. Also, his hero growing up, former Florida Heisman Trophy winner and NFL quarterback Danny Wuerffel, was there with the rest of the former Heisman winners. It was talked about how Tebow looked up to him both as a player and as a Christian. I went to college in Tennessee and quickly became a Tennessee football fan, and thus a Florida-hater, since Florida is Tennessee's biggest rival. But I gotta like Tim Tebow, even though I never thought I'd like a Gator. I'll send on articles and hopefully videos about him winning the Heisman as I can.

Here's an article about Seahawks runningback Shaun Alexander, a Christian, who recently returned to play after missing some games because of injuries. He's had to battle injuries both this season and last, after winning the MVP and helping to lead the Seahawks to the Super Bowl in 2005. Here's a quote from him about it:

I know what it's like to hear it from your colleagues in a press box. But I don't know what it's like to hear it if you're Shaun Alexander. So I asked, and I was surprised how resilient -- or immune -- he is to the criticism that seems to follow him everywhere.

"I'm a man of faith, and I read the Bible," he said. "And one of the Scriptures says, 'Let me not be too rich or too poor.' If I'm too rich I might find I don't need God. If I'm too poor I might steal or insult God.

"I kind of feel like that with the fans. Let me not be so involved with what they say, but, at the same time, let me love what they say. Because if I fall in love too much with what they say I might feel like, hey, they're cheering for me. Good, I'm great. But if they cheer for me bad, then I'll feel miserable.

"I do respect and honor what they do because we have great fans. But I'm like, OK, let me love with what the fans do, but, at the same time, not take it so much to heart that it can throw me off."

Here's the article: http://cbs.sportsline.com/nfl/story/10510347/rss.

Next, a great Christian article profiling 27 NCAA Division I-A and I-AA Christian starting and back-up quarterbacks who are involved in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) at their colleges. Here's the list: Tim Tebow (Florida), Paul Smith (Tulsa), Colt McCoy (Texas), Erik Ainge (Tennessee), Ben Mauk (Cincinnati), Kinsmon Lancaster (Louisiana-Monroe), John Parker Wilson (Alabama), Mike Kafka (Northwestern), Stephen McGee (Texas A&M), Tim Bessolo (Sacramento State), Karsten Sween (Wyoming), Nick Hill (Southern Illinois), Daniel Evans (North Carolina State), Grant Throckmorton (Virginia Tech), Josh Freeman (Kansas State), Greg McElroy (Alabama), Blake Barnes (Georgia), Case Keenum (Houston), Jarod Bryant (U.S. Naval Academy), Carson Coffman (Kansas State), Chase Patton (Missouri), Tim Hiller (Western Michigan), Tom Zetts (Youngstown State), Joe Craddock (Middle Tennessee State), Ryan Roberts (Baylor), Chase Clement (Rice), and B.J. Coleman (Tennessee). Here's the article: http://www.sharingthevictory.com/vsItemDisplay.lsp?method=display&objectid=4BA537B4-6209-46FB-89B535CCC69B399A.

Here's a Christian article about Appalachian State head football coach Jerry Moore, who next Friday night will lead his team in their third straight NCAA Division I-AA national championship game in an attempt to win their third straight national championship. Here's a great quote about him, and something similar to what was mentioned by the broadcasters when I watched them win the national semi-final game last night:

“His legacy is not wins and losses and national championships,” said David Daly, FCA’s area director for Northwest North Carolina. “It’s what a difference he makes in kids’ lives.”

Here's the article: http://www.sharingthevictory.com/vsItemDisplay.lsp&objectID=D8A903C9-A38A-4FFA-9C6701C788FEC4AC&method=display.

Also, a Christian article about Cowboys cornerback Anthony Henry, and how he made it from the projects to the NFL with the help of his mom and his faith: http://www.sharingthevictory.com/vsItemDisplay.lsp&objectID=72F524CA-6FF9-48A4-9F2A726EEBAD9103&method=display.

Here's a Christian article about Mississippi State women's basketball player Alexandria Hagler, who overcame a poor home life and some bad decisions in high school and college to be redeemed and renewed by God, thanks to a Christian friend and teammate Bethany Workman. Here's the article: http://www.sharingthevictory.com/vsItemDisplay.lsp&objectID=EA1ABF3B-607D-4522-A1046B24214D9701&method=display.

Next, a Christian article about Carson-Newman College football head coach Ken Sparks: http://www.sharingthevictory.com/vsItemDisplay.lsp?method=display&objectid=665AC857-C7D7-43DB-B0AFA90171C993FC.

Here's a Christian article about Western Michigan women's basketball player Michelle DeNooyer: http://www.sharingthevictory.com/vsItemDisplay.lsp?method=display&objectid=CDB45A77-AF71-44E9-B025DF6260E9320B.

Also, a Christian article by Jets wide receiver Brad Smith: http://www.sharingthevictory.com/vsItemDisplay.lsp?method=display&objectid=8FA704D7-3601-4F7E-A299E6395FC23ADD.

Here's an article about the Jimmy V Foundation launching the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer fund. The late Jim Valvano was the head coach of the men's basketball team at NC State along with current NC State women's basketball head coach Kay Yow, a Christian, and they became good friends. Valvano died from cancer, and Yow is currently fighting a long battle with breast cancer. Here's the article: http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaaw/news;_ylt=AhQOdARyhYQe2xGDUj.ZPI5.T4h4?slug=ap-yow-cancerinitiative&prov=ap&type=lgns.

Lastly, some Christian Christmas music information. First, a link to free downloads of two great Christmas songs from Christian music artist Aaron Shust, "Silent Night" and "O Come, O Come Emmanuel": http://www.aaronshustmedia.com/holiday/.

The other is a great article about the story behind Henry Wadsworth Longfellow writing the words to the poem "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day", which were later set to music. Longfellow wrote the poem during the Civil War, but its message of peace and God is still true in the world today. In the Christmas cantata that I'm singing in at my church, we're singing this song to another tune. Here's the article: http://www.whatsaiththescripture.com/Fellowship/Edit_I.Heard.the.Bells.html.