These days it seems like so many are afraid to say they believe in Jesus Christ, the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
I can name quite a few closet Christians, former worship bands now mainstream, Pop singers who grew up Christian now lost in a drunken world... I'll stop there so that I can point out a positive. Lately, I feel the Lord showing me famous people who aren't ashamed.
Today, it was Albert Pujols, first baseman of the St. Louis Cardinals. A few weeks ago, it was the Jonas Brothers. Before that, it was Josh Hamilton of the Texas Rangers, Kirk Cameron again, Miley Cyrus, Brad Lidge a Phillies pitcher, Tony Dungy, David Tyree to name a few... It's exciting to say the least.
As dark as the world seems at times, I see beacons of light that the Lord is using.
Check out Albert Pujols in this weeks Sports Illustrated where he unapologetically tells the world what he is all about...
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"We're in this era where people want to judge other people," Pujols says. "And that's so sad. But it's like I always say, 'Come and test me. Come and do whatever you want.' Because you know what? There is something more important to me - my relationship with Jesus Christ and caring about others. More than this baseball. This baseball is nothing to me."
Sports Illustrated asked, So how can you be a baseball hero in 2009? They answer their own question with this last quote, "You know how I want people to remember me?" Pujols asks. "I don't want to be remembered as the best baseball player ever. I want to be remembered as a great guy who loved the Lord, loved to serve the community and who gave back. That's the guy I want to be remembered as when I'm done wearing this uniform. That's from the bottom of my heart."
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And that I say is the real deal.
I am happy to say I believe him, and glad to say I wouldn't mind him breaking Hank Aaron's record, the original and true 755.
