and have listened, in recent years, to a Clemson football game on the radio, then you have no doubt heard my good friend, Will Merritt. Will was an offensive lineman for Clemson, and now provides the color commentary alongside Pete Yanity’s play-by-play. Will adds a new dimension to the term “color commentary”, with his incredibly hilarious comments.I’m not really sure whether he means for them to be funny or not, but he is quite entertaining to listen to. For example, a few seasons ago, he was talking about the Clemson defense swarming the other team. He said, “They came down on them like a bunch of banshee Indians.” Now, a banshee is a screaming Irish ghost, and I assume he was referring to Native Americans. I wasn’t aware, until Will told us, that the two had ever mingled.
Sportscasters have a difficult job. We criticize them many times, but who among us could talk extemporaneously for several hours about a sports event? They are special people. For all the crazy things they say from time to time, they have the ability to inspire us, educate us and entertain us, all at the same time.
On Monday night, Josh Hamilton hit 28 home runs in the opening round, to break Bobby Abreu's record of 24 set in 2005. This is a great feat in itself, but the story behind Josh’s achievement was the talk of the night.
Josh was a drug addict. He was hooked on both alcohol and several kinds of drugs. He became drug free in 2005 and after a dream in which he saw Jesus helping him fight the devil with him, he realized he didn’t just need to quit the drugs, but he also needed Christ in his life. He accepted Christ back in 2006, and is very vocal about his faith.
After Josh Hamilton's feat on Monday night, it was Rick Reilly, a sportscaster for ESPN, who made quite a statement. He simply said, "It's a lousy night to be an atheist". With all of the crazy things these airtime professionals occasionally say, sometimes they get it right. Indeed it was a testament to the power of God, to see a changed man accomplish something like that.
Mr. Reilly has been criticized for his words by some. However, what he said was true. Why? Because God was not putting on a show Monday night through Josh Hamilton’s home runs. (If He had been, then Justin Morneau wouldn’t have won the whole Derby.) No, the testament to God’s power wasn’t in the bat, but in the man standing at the plate. The new Josh Hamilton, who God changed with His love, grace and power, was there for the devil, the atheists, and all the world to see.
Our lives are a living breathing testimony to God’s all powerful love for us. His power is not shown in our blessings, accomplishments, achievements, awards, and accolades. It is shown in the fact that we have been given eternal life in heaven with Him, and life “more abundant”, here on earth. If we have Jesus Christ in our lives, then we are not just a changed person, but an entirely new creature.
Thanks for the reminder, Josh!
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)
