Aug 19, 2016 the hidden force of spiritual witness plays its part here for phelps received guidance from devout christian and nfl legend ray lewis. Team usa flag bearer michael phelps is purposedriven after. Michael phelps says he didnt want to be alive after dui. A key turning point in michaels life was when his friend ray lewis gave him a copy of the purpose driven life by rick warren zondervan, 20. Michael phelps makes powerful statement about his christian faith. I can think of a lot of people who are far more inspirational than ray. Michael phelps achievements morning devotions hope 103. Nov 10, 2015 former ravens linebacker ray lewis emerged as one of phelps longtime baltimore friends who helped set the athlete back on the right path and pushed him to go to rehab. The spiritual journey book provides life lessons through 40 short chapters meant to be read on. You may have heard of this book published by zondervan in 2002, and by 2007 over 30 million copies sold. Olympian michael phelps reveals purpose driven life.
Michael phelps credits christian book purpose driven life. Phelps longtime friend and fellow christian, nfl all pro linebacker ray lewis, gave him the book, written by pastor rick warren, before he entered rehab. Lewis gave phelps a copy of the book before he left. Lewis gave phelps a copy of rick warrens book the purpose driven life before he left for arizona. Christian headlines editor, veronica neffinger, reports that ray lewis not only encouraged michael phelps to take a look at his life and read the book but also to enter rehab, which phelps. Nov 10, 2015 michael phelps tells how he did not want to be alive any more after dui arrest as he opens up about his stint in rehab and his friendship with football great ray lewis. He also gave him a copy of pastor rick warrens book. Enter ray lewis, former baltimore ravens linebacker and friend of phelps. Michael phelps gave ray lewis a shoutout after his final gold. Michael phelps gets support from close friend ray lewis. In addition to encouraging phelps that he could make it through his dark time, and advising him to seek the help of a rehab center, lewis, who is public about his christian faith, gave phelps a book. But after a conversation with his friend and former baltimore ravens linebacker ray lewis, and at the encouragement of other loved ones, phelps decided to enter rehab at the meadows outside phoenix. Phelps said, i started believing there is a power greater than myself, and there is a purpose for me on this planet.
Aug 11, 2016 michael phelps credits christian book purpose driven life for saving his life posted on august 11, 2016 by kris patrick michael phelps was given the christian book purpose driven life by former nfl star ray lewis. Michael phelps didnt want to be alive, but ray lewis helped him. Allyson felix and other olympians of faith the christian index. Lewis gave him a call and told him, this is when we fight. Lewis knows what it means to have the world look at you. Soon after his arrest, phelps longtime friend, ray lewis of the. Michael phelps credits purpose driven life for turnaround. Olympian michael phelps reveals purpose driven life saved. Aug 15, 2016 michael phelps, to friend and mentor ray lewis on saturday night, describing what he was thinking down the stretch of likely the last race of his life at the rio olympics. Aug 15, 2016 christian headlines editor, veronica neffinger, reports that ray lewis not only encouraged michael phelps to take a look at his life and read the book but also to enter rehab, which phelps. Aug 15, 2016 michael kept telling ray how badly he had messed up. The purpose driven life of michael phelps bible gateway blog. Lewis also gave him a copy of rick warrens book the purpose driven life.
His gift a purpose driven life book helped michael see things clearer. Phelps explained the book helped by turning him into believing there is a power greater than myself and purpose for me on this planet. Lewis also launched the tackling life podcast in 2016 with dr. Jan 23, 20 34 responses to michael phelps credits ray lewis for inspiring his comeback kja22 says. Its no secret that baltimore sports greats michael phelps and ray lewis are close friends. As far as ravens fans are concerned, swimmer michael phelps essentially. Within a few days, phelps called lewis and told him man this book is crazy. Why would an olympic superstar be interested in a book called the.
Click play to hear michael phelps share how he got ready for his final race. Michael phelps climbed out of the pool for the final time at the 2016. Phelps bearhugged by ray lewis at ravens game youtube. Michael phelps on rehab and his friendship with ray lewis. Aug 05, 2016 lewis gave phelps a copy of the book before he left. Lewis gave phelps a copy of rick warrens purpose driven life. Michael phelps prepares for life after 2016 rio olympics. Michael phelps offers advice to ravens patrick queen. Michael phelps didnt want to be alive, but ray lewis. In turn, phelps told espn the book has jumpstarted a newfound faith in. Its turned me into believing there is a power greater than myself and there is a purpose for me on this planet, phelps told espn.
For michael phelps, all that gold couldnt glitter until he. This gave phelps an automatic entry into the medley relay, but he deferred. Lewis also gave him the book the purpose driven lifeby christian pastor. Aug 01, 2016 phelps entered rehab carrying a book lewis gave him, the purpose driven life, by rick warren. In treatment, phelps earned the nickname preacher mike because each day began with a chapter of the purpose driven life, a book given to him by former baltimore ravens linebacker and good friend. Aug 08, 2016 while he was in rehab, however, phelps not only gained some needed perspective on his life, but his life was changed forever when he read rick warrens the purpose driven life which lewis had given him. Michael phelpsthe most decorated olympic athlete of all time who won. Aug 08, 2016 warrens the purpose driven life lewis also gave phelps a copy of the purpose driven life by rick warren. When it comes to baltimore, there are few folks who know more than michael phelps, former olympian and native son of the city. Nfl legend ray lewis gave the book to 23 time olympic gold medalist michael phelps when he went to rehab. Michael phelps gets support from close friend ray lewis in.
Lewis tried to convince phelps to get help at the meadows, a psychological trauma and addiction treatment center located northeast of. Michael fred phelps ii born june 30, 1985 is an american former competitive swimmer and. In addition to encouraging phelps that he could make it through his dark time, and advising him to seek the help of a rehab center, lewis, who is. In 2015, lewis partnered with rob wallace to found power52, a community solar solution. Michael phelps reveals he once considered suicide and how. He talked to michael about the man he was underneath all the garbage. But then christian friend and nfl star ray lewis stepped with words of encouragement. Jul 26, 2018 michael phelps, kevin plank, steve bisciotti and others say ray lewis hall of fame playing career shouldnt overshadow his extraordinary efforts to uplift spirits and be a compassionate friend. It had been given to him by former baltimore ravens linebacker ray lewis, and he not only read it. I gave him some harsh reality, lewis says in the article.
After reading the book for a couple days, phelps called lewis. Aug 05, 2016 lewis gave phelps a copy of rick warrens purpose driven life. Lewis, who made a comeback after a series legal troubles himself, told phelps he could get his life on track. Aug 17, 2016 michael reached out to retired nfl star ray lewis, who convinced him to seek clinical help. Michael phelps and ray lewis are two legendary athletes in their respective. He had some very inspirational messages for me this week that have helped me. Olympic swimmer michael phelps was on the verge of suicide. After reading the book for a couple days at the meadows, phelps called lewis. Olympic star michael phelps life was spiraling out of. He read it while in rehab, even to other patients, earning him the nickname preacher mike. Michael phelps says god saved him from suicide with this book.
It has changed many lives over the years, but phelps says it literally saved his. Team usa flag bearer phelps rehab purposedriven baptist. Aug 11, 2016 lewis convinced phelps to enter rehab and gave him a book to read while he was there. Jul 26, 2018 he gave phelps rick warrens book the purpose driven life. Phelps heeded his friends advice and entered the rehab facility carrying a book lewis gave him, the purpose driven life, by rick warren. An extremely popular work of literature, that takes readers on a spiritual journey through the five purposes for life on earth. Aug, 2016 michael phelps gave ray lewis a shoutout after his final gold medal. Michael phelps on how reading purpose driven life saved him. Twentytime olympic gold medalist michael phelps contemplated suicide amid his alcohol addiction and found a lifeline in christian national football league nfl star and longtime friend ray lewis. Michael phelps and ray lewis forged an unlikely friendship. He gave phelps rick warrens book the purpose driven life.
Ray shared some of his own dark days and the path he had to walk to get away from them. God used rick warrens the purpose driven life to rescue. Aug 09, 2016 but after a conversation with his friend and former baltimore ravens linebacker ray lewis, and at the encouragement of other loved ones, phelps decided to enter rehab at the meadows outside phoenix. Even michael phelps, who has amassed 23 gold medals and 28 total medals for his swimming prowess, has had an apparent change to take place in his life.
Aug 11, 2016 phelps brought with him the book the purpose driven life by rick warren. Ray lewis influenced powerful people beyond football, from. Michael phelps finds his purpose the christian post. But an article in the washington post details a new aspect of their. Nfl hall of famer, ray lewis, reached out with an unexpected gift. Michaels phelps claims to have discovered the power of purpose in the last few. Olympian michael phelps reveals purpose driven life saved him. Phelps entered rehab carrying a book lewis gave him, the purpose driven life, by rick warren. As one account states it, he went to rehab and lewis gave him a book, the purpose driven life by rick warren which phelps read and which helped him transform his life. After last olympics michael phelps was suicidal, but one. Nov, 2015 friends and family, including ray lewis, whom phelps describes as like a brother to me, convinced him to go to rehab. While he was there, lewis sent phelps a copy of rick warrens purpose driven life. An unusual friendship between baltimores brightest stars. The book occupies an important place in the film captive released in 2015.
Phelps started reading it the first day he entered a rehabilitation center in arizona. Lewis gave phelps a copy of warrens book before he left. Michael phelps is great and he is a human fish the herd. Aug 05, 2016 thats when friend and former nfl player ray lewis stepped in to help. It was the millionplus seller the purpose driven life by rick warren. Phelps said that the book turned me into believing there is a power greater than myself and there is a purpose for me on this planet. Apr 02, 2021 the words struck a chord with olympic swimmer michael phelps. Apr 24, 2020 getty michael phelps speaks in las vegas. Seeing the hopelessness and despair in his young friend, lewis, an outspoken christian, told him, this is when we. Michael phelps makes surprise confession what really. Power52 provides affordable renewable energy to inner city communities. Warrens the purpose driven life lewis also gave phelps a copy of the purpose driven life by rick warren. Ray lewis tweets strange thing about michael phelps medal count. But then his longtime christian friend, nfl star ray lewis, came to his rescue.
Aug 19, 2016 when phelps was dealing with some personal issues, lewis suggested michael read rick warrens purpose driven life, a book that has been translated into 85 languages and, according to publisher. Phelps said hes read two books this yearthe purpose. Ray lewis tweets strange thing about michael phelps medal. Jan 23, 20 football isnt an olympic sport, but ray lewis was partly responsible for the united states winning six medals at last summers games in london. Sports columnist with beat writing experience on baseball, golf, the nfl. And the christian book had a profound impact on michael. Lewis convinced phelps to seek help at the meadows, a behavioural rehab facility outside phoenix. It was then that a fellow athlete, ray lewis, who has had his own share of personal struggles. His christian friend and fellow athlete ray lewis gave him the book the purpose driven life by pastor rick warren. Lewis convinced phelps to enter rehab and gave him a book to read while he was there.
Through their conversation, lewis was able to convince phelps to seek help at the meadows, a behavioral rehab facility outside of phoenix. Aug 04, 2016 a key turning point in michaels life was when his friend ray lewis gave him a copy of the purpose driven life by rick warren zondervan, 20. Michael phelps on how reading purpose driven life saved him from suicide. In the interview, phelps says, its turned me into believing that there is a power greater than myself and there is a purpose for me on this planeti think it helped me when i was in a place that i needed the most help. Michael phelps gave ray lewis a shoutout after his final. What you can learn from the purpose driven life and. What you can learn from the purpose driven life and michael. Aug 08, 2016 lewis convinced phelps to seek help at the meadows, a behavioural rehab facility outside phoenix. Nov 10, 2015 ray lewis embraces michael phelps in 2012. Aug 18, 2016 lewis convinced phelps to enter rehab and gave him a book to read while he was there. Olympic swimmer phelps credits purpose driven life for. In august 2017, she entered the record books by completing a 104.
Michael phelps credits this book with saving his life dave willis. Share this article share tweet text email link nina mandell. After last olympics michael phelps was suicidal, but one book. Phelps spent 45 days at the meadows, often calling lewis to talk about some of the content he was reading and sharing with others in rehab. Ray lewis influenced powerful people beyond football, from michael. After completing the program, phelps worked to rebuild his fractured relationship with his father fred, who divorced phelps mother when phelps was 9. Michael phelps and other maryland olympians are honored in baltimore on monday, with phelps also getting to be an honorary captain at the. Michael phelps was about to end his life, but god had a.
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