Compete Inside: 100 Reflections to Help You Become the Complete Athlete

The opportunities that exist for Christian athletes are amazing. The potential to leave a lasting impact is overwhelming. The challenge is to stay focused on what ultimately matters: a vibrant relationship with God. Faith and sports are an invaluable tandem that sometimes fall off balance. Compete Inside offers athletes reflections, relevant Scripture passages, and piercing questions to help them develop their faith and integrate it into their athletic life. Nothing can be more valuable than investing in your faith.

"These reflections inspire the athlete to put first what should be first: our faith and trust in Christ. Awesome!"

--Philip Rivers, 11 year NFL Veteran Quarterback, 5 time Pro Bowler

"As athletes, we allow ourselves to be vulnerable. We put our performance out there for all the world to evaluate. We have high highs and low lows. Because of this, sports are more than physical competition or mental challenges. It becomes a spiritual journey. We all know the importance of focus in athletics. This book will help keep you focused on the most important thing, and assist you in leaving a meaningful legacy that lasts far beyond your playing days."

--Matt Birk, 15 year NFL Veteran, Super Bowl Champion, and 2011 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year

"This book is an excellent resource for all athletes striving to excel in their sport and live a life for Christ! It is highly relatable to the highs and low that athletes face and speaks the truth of God's love and mercy".

--Kristen O'Neill, Associate Head Women's Basketball Coach at Seattle University, former WNBA, FIBA, and Division I athlete

"This book will serve as a road map to help us give God back the glory--not to strive to have him on our team, but to one day cross home plate with the winning run and be on his team. In society, sometimes we glorify athletes more than a man that died on a cross. It can create an EGO (Edging God Out). These great reflections help us bring God back into the mix."

--Tony Robichaux, Head Baseball Coach, University of Louisiana - Lafayette

Thomas has been around sports his entire life. He was an all-state quarterback in high school, helping his team to the state finals in Arizona. He went to the University of San Diego on a Presidential Scholarship and played a season of football. He finished his last three years of undergraduate work at Benedictine College and played club level rugby. While completing his Bachelor’s degree, he had a profound encounter with the Lord in large part through those he met involved with the Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS). He has worked with college athletes since 2001 as a missionary with FOCUS. He launched Varsity Catholic, a division within FOCUS that serves the faith needs of student-athletes across the country. He received his Master’s degree in Catechetics and Evangelization as a member of the first graduating class of the Augustine Institute. His website has been featured on the Catholic Church’s Pontifical Council for the Laity, Church and Sport section’s website.

He strongly believes in the significant role sports can play in developing men and women of exceptional faith and character.

He resides in Littleton, CO with his wife and children.