![Green grew up in a Christian home, but he thought he and God were on good terms despite not having a personal relationship with Christ.Green’s life revolved around basketball and hanging around with his brothers and his best friend.It was the summer after he graduated from high school that his life changed. He heard a preacher ask the question “do you want to go to heaven, or do you want to go to hell?”That question was poised to Green and it was one he couldn’t shake off. That’s when he realized that everything wasn't good with God in his life. Green knew that he had to make a decision to receive Christ and that he needed him in his life.After becoming a Christian he began to have a daily devotional, and his teammates noticed a difference in Green’s life. One of his greatest accomplishments on the court was playing 1,192 straight games earning him the nickname "Iron Man.” He earned back to back NBA titles with the Lakers in 1987 and 1988. ](http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/hash/0c/04/0c04dcc1756d32d619dd08a5864a4323.jpg?itok=wGH_kfdO "Green grew up in a Christian home, but he thought he and God were on good terms despite not having a personal relationship with Christ.Green’s life revolved around basketball and hanging around with his brothers and his best friend.It was the summer after he graduated from high school that his life changed. He heard a preacher ask the question “do you want to go to heaven, or do you want to go to hell?”That question was poised to Green and it was one he couldn’t shake off. That’s when he realized that everything wasn't good with God in his life. Green knew that he had to make a decision to receive Christ and that he needed him in his life.After becoming a Christian he began to have a daily devotional, and his teammates noticed a difference in Green’s life. One of his greatest accomplishments on the court was playing 1,192 straight games earning him the nickname "Iron Man.” He earned back to back NBA titles with the Lakers in 1987 and 1988. ")
There are many challenges to the Christian walk we face everyday. Challenges often come to us, which cause us to either grow in Christ or turn away from him.
Christians face troubles and sorrows everyday but it's how we respond that matters the most. We can't allow the things we face to overwhelm or crush us. We have to rely on God to give us the strength to endure.
Trials should be opportunities to grow in our faith and walk with God. The men on this list face temptations, troubles and sorrows. They are no different than we are, the problems they face are the same we face.
However, often times with money comes an ever greater chance to fulfill temptations. There is a price to pay for fame, but it doesn’t have to destroy the one who finds it. The athletes on this list have clung to Jesus during their careers and have not let fame change them.
They are men who speak out about the challenges they face and manage to hold onto their faith and values. This is quite difficult with some of the things that happen in the world of professional sports. This list is not a top 10 or best of; it's just a list of men who love Jesus and aren’t afraid to tell anyone.
![Green grew up in a Christian home, but he thought he and God were on good terms despite not having a personal relationship with Christ.Green’s life revolved around basketball and hanging around with his brothers and his best friend.It was the summer after he graduated from high school that his life changed. He heard a preacher ask the question “do you want to go to heaven, or do you want to go to hell?”That question was poised to Green and it was one he couldn’t shake off. That’s when he realized that everything wasn't good with God in his life. Green knew that he had to make a decision to receive Christ and that he needed him in his life.After becoming a Christian he began to have a daily devotional, and his teammates noticed a difference in Green’s life. One of his greatest accomplishments on the court was playing 1,192 straight games earning him the nickname "Iron Man.” He earned back to back NBA titles with the Lakers in 1987 and 1988. ](http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/profile_large/hash/8f/4a/8f4aeff1ec9254253ee59b60a78c29cf.jpg?itok=48jdVq8H "Green grew up in a Christian home, but he thought he and God were on good terms despite not having a personal relationship with Christ.Green’s life revolved around basketball and hanging around with his brothers and his best friend.It was the summer after he graduated from high school that his life changed. He heard a preacher ask the question “do you want to go to heaven, or do you want to go to hell?”That question was poised to Green and it was one he couldn’t shake off. That’s when he realized that everything wasn't good with God in his life. Green knew that he had to make a decision to receive Christ and that he needed him in his life.After becoming a Christian he began to have a daily devotional, and his teammates noticed a difference in Green’s life. One of his greatest accomplishments on the court was playing 1,192 straight games earning him the nickname "Iron Man.” He earned back to back NBA titles with the Lakers in 1987 and 1988. ")
![“Pistol” Pete Maravich grew up dreaming of playing in the NBA. His dream did come true, and he went on to play college ball at LSU and set records there.He left there as the top scorer in college basketball history with 3,667 points and averaging an unbelievable 44.2 points per game.He was chosen as one of the 50 greatest players in the NBA. However, despite his great accomplishments in college and the NBA he realized there was something still missing in his life.He tried to fill that gap with numerous things, but it wasn’t until he found Christ that his life changed. After leaving the NBA in 1980, due to injury, it’s reported he became a recluse for two years.In 1988, Pistol Pete collapsed and died after suffering heart failure. He was quoted a couple of years before saying, "I found only brief interludes of satisfaction. It was like my whole life had been about my whole basketball career. I want to be remembered as a Christian, who serves him, (Jesus), not a basketball player.”](http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/profile_large/hash/e5/7d/e57d8ff30c0743a16bc306d67be23e98.jpg?itok=8-9pcEYd "“Pistol” Pete Maravich grew up dreaming of playing in the NBA. His dream did come true, and he went on to play college ball at LSU and set records there.He left there as the top scorer in college basketball history with 3,667 points and averaging an unbelievable 44.2 points per game.He was chosen as one of the 50 greatest players in the NBA. However, despite his great accomplishments in college and the NBA he realized there was something still missing in his life.He tried to fill that gap with numerous things, but it wasn’t until he found Christ that his life changed. After leaving the NBA in 1980, due to injury, it’s reported he became a recluse for two years.In 1988, Pistol Pete collapsed and died after suffering heart failure. He was quoted a couple of years before saying, "I found only brief interludes of satisfaction. It was like my whole life had been about my whole basketball career. I want to be remembered as a Christian, who serves him, (Jesus), not a basketball player.”")
![There are a lot of temptations that come with being famous or playing in any professional sport.Allan Houston realized that temptations are probably going to always be a part of it or even life in general.He says that every man is going to be tempted, it’s how you deal with it that’s important.His Christian walk helped him see the consequences, from the mistakes others made, that come with those temptations. That's what helped him to make wise decisions and to be around those who have wisdom.He said, "what you do is not what you are, it’s what you aspire to be that lasts much longer." Houston currently spends his days working with charities and non-profit organizations. He runs a basketball camp called “Father knows best” which includes bringing spiritual insight to youth. ](http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/profile_large/hash/1e/7b/1e7bed13fc23e58cc1fc3dfe931561b2.jpg?itok=EKPQ_f3R "There are a lot of temptations that come with being famous or playing in any professional sport.Allan Houston realized that temptations are probably going to always be a part of it or even life in general.He says that every man is going to be tempted, it’s how you deal with it that’s important.His Christian walk helped him see the consequences, from the mistakes others made, that come with those temptations. That's what helped him to make wise decisions and to be around those who have wisdom.He said, "what you do is not what you are, it’s what you aspire to be that lasts much longer." Houston currently spends his days working with charities and non-profit organizations. He runs a basketball camp called “Father knows best” which includes bringing spiritual insight to youth. ")
Comments