This is a story of scars. Tom didn't write this book as a telling of how awesome he is. Nor is it a book about all the awesome stuff he did. This is a story of learning from mistakes, overcoming them and making better decisions. It's a story of a man's faith and family whom he credits with all his achievements. Unlike other stories, Tom pulls out all his skeletons. This is not the story of a man who made all the right choices and never made a mistake. This is a story about a real person. Faith, Family and Fortitude is a story of a man's journey across the American landscape from modest beginnings, to jail, to Ground Zero in New York, through relationship pitfalls, and across the mountains of Afghanistan to finally come to rest in the United States intelligence community and ultimately as a candidate for United States Senate running for office against one of the richest most powerful Senators ever to sit in office. Faith, Family and Fortitude is a story of not giving up on yourself and every day taking one small step forward or as his father says, "Working one square foot at a time," to achieve your dreams. Working one square foot at a time Tom's goal is to reclaim the American Dream for our children.

At age thirty-seven, Margaret's world crashed, and a seed of resentment drew her into an abyss of darkness and chaos. A harsh, cruel reality blindsided her. Her husband of twelve years had given his heart to another -- a family acquaintance. Riddled with pain and anger, Margaret wrestled with marital disillusionment and waning self-confidence to determine how to reckon with both. MY BELOVED JOURNEY: Faith, Family, Fortitude will take you through the valley of Margaret's sojourn. Regardless of the path, her most urgent concern was for her three sons, Marcus, Brandon, and Jonathan, ages eight, nine, and ten. If she were to become a single parent, how could she raise them to become men of integrity in the face of their father's indiscretion? Additionally, the image and plight of Black men during the 1980's were under attack due to the events of that era--the era that Nixon had declared the war on drugs. Crack cocaine had spread throughout major cities of America in epidemic proportions, resulting in the incarceration and/or deaths of Black males before the age of 25. Myths countering a woman's ability to raise boys to become men were pervasive. Media reports supported and supplanted the idea that boys being raised by a single mother had problems adapting to societal norms. Margaret doubted that she could fulfill a mission that was counter to her heart's desire of being a wife and mother. She loved her husband and wanted the best outcome for her sons. She also knew that she was haunted by decades of unreconciled trauma from situations with men who had tried to rape and sexually exploit her. Would her sons pay the price for the sins of the men who had hurt her? Cloaked in rage and depression, Margaret thought about the unfairness of it all, and amid excruciating pain, considered the unfathomable: suicide. How did she ascend from resentment to reconciliation? MY BELOVED JOURNEY: Faith, Family, Fortitude illustrates how she prevailed. It is a must-read for anyone who has past or present struggles with life's challenges. This memoir can become your sojourn companion toward your destiny of all things possible: HOPE.

Kevin Reilly was living a charmed life. He had fulfilled his lifelong dream of playing in the NFL, for his beloved Philadelphia Eagles. Then, a rare tumor in his shoulder had him undergo a radical amputation and put an end to his professional football career. Ultimately, the foundation of faith, family, friends, and fortitude developed during his childhood and athletic development helped sustain Kevin through the crushing end to his dreams, the battle to live, and his long running recovery. You will laugh, cry, and be inspired by Kevin’s deep faith and incredible resilience. While football fans will certainly enjoy the ride, this book is mainly about life and overcoming the challenges that most of us face at one time or another.

What it means to be a man or a woman is questioned today like never before. While traditional gender roles have been eroding for decades, now the very categories of male and female are being discarded with reckless abandon. How does one act like a gentleman in such confusing times? The Catholic Gentleman is a solid and practical guide to virtuous manhood. It turns to the timeless wisdom of the Catholic Church to answer the important questions men are currently asking. In short, easy- to-read chapters, the author offers pithy insights on a variety of topics, including • How to know you are an authentic man • Why our bodies matter • The value of tradition • The purpose of courtesy • What real holiness is and how to achieve it • How to deal with failure in the spiritual life

As the Baltimore Ravens made their improbable march to victory in Super Bowl XLVII, they turned to their senior advisor of player development, O.J. Brigance, for inspiration each and every Sunday. Following a stellar twelve-year career as a linebacker, including a Super Bowl win with Baltimore in 2000, O.J.Juice Brigance joined the Ravens front office. But in 2007, O.J. was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis also known as Lou Gehrig's disease and told he had only three to five years to live. As a player, he'd battled hundreds of injuries and setbacks. None of them prepared him to face ALS. With faith and determination in his heart and his wife, Chanda, praying by his side, O.J. fought back against the debilitating disease, even as ALS robbed him of the ability to walk and speak. He kept working, smiling, and touching his players lives all the way through their remarkable Super Bowl run more than five years after his diagnosis. Now, O.J. shares his incredible story, offering lessons in resilience and reflecting on the championship team that inspired him in turn. Along with his own journey, O.J. recounts the struggles and successes of Ravens players, including Ray Lewis, Joe Flacco, and Torrey Smith, as well as the strength of head coach John Harbaugh. Having watched their season from the best seat in the house, O.J. highlights their perseverance, confidence, and leadership, and the best that sports can bring out in people. Full of profound revelations and never-before-told anecdotes, Strength of a Champion is a celebration of the human spirit from a man who left everything on the field. O.J. Brigance never asked to be a hero. That's what makes his story so courageous.

This quick read captures a day in the life of a public high school teacher at the onset of a worldwide pandemic. It starts with a canceled girls' trip. It ends with the author's world being turned upside down as she encounters the joy and pain of "virtual" "remote" "distance" teaching and learning. Author Nikki Smith has taught public high school students for almost a decade. In this book, she uses humor, her family, and faith to share personal lessons learned and the social and emotional state of today's youth.

Hockey-playing Catholic bishop Thomas J. Paprocki has a message for teens and young adults: athletics and fitness provide daily ways to connect with God. Bishop Paprocki weaves his unique personal story with eight athletic topics and connects them with a path to wholeness. Holy Goals for Body and Soul: Eight Steps to Connect Sports with God and Faith links lessons from the world of sports and fitness—especially the experiences of a Catholic bishop who plays ice hockey—with concrete ways to live a holy life. In Bishop Paprocki’s view, everyone is called to holiness, which can be encountered anywhere: “I encounter holiness while training for a marathon. I encounter holiness during a workout at the health club.” He explores eight sports-related topics to help the reader navigate a life of holiness: Fear Frustration Failure Fortitude Faith Friendship Family Fun