Lost Lake Tribune June 16, 2010
The Big 12 Is The New Big 10
The Big 12 is alive and kicking!
The University of Texas on Monday said it was staying in the Big 12, followed moments later by pledges from Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Texas A&M to remain in a league that had seemed to be falling apart last week when Nebraska (Big Ten) and Colorado (Pac-10) decided to leave over the next two years.
The Texas announcement came shortly after Pac-10 commissioner Larry Scott confirmed that Texas had declined an invitation to become the 12th member of his conference. "University of Texas President Bill Powers has informed us that the 10 remaining schools in the Big 12 Conference intend to stay together," Scott said in a statement. "We are excited about the future of the Pac-10 Conference and we will continue to evaluate future expansion opportunities . . .”
Powers wouldn't give any details about why the school decided to stay put when asked by the AP. The school has scheduled a news conference for Tuesday morning.
Now that the Big 12 is back, there are still questions about how it will conduct its business. Among those that still need to be answered by Big 12 commissioner Don Beebe is how and why the Big 12 will be more lucrative now, especially when it cannot hold a conference title game with only 10 members. Beebe did not return phone messages Monday, but plans to hold a conference call with reporters on Tuesday.
Texas had a meeting Monday with the other remaining nine schools in the Big 12 about a TV deal included in a plan put together by Beebe that would keep the league intact with its current programs, according to multiple reports. The Dallas Morning News reported the cable TV deal is with Fox Sports.
Based on a TV deal in the works that could pay upwards of $25 million per year, Texas leaned toward staying in a 10-team Big 12 for the foreseeable future, Orangebloods.com reported, citing sources familiar with negotiations. Texas stands to earn between $20 million and $25 million annually in television revenue in the reworked deal, including money from its own network, according to Orangebloods.com.
The Longhorns' network figures to generate between $3 million and $5 million, according to the Orangebloods.com report. Because the Big 12 has unequal revenue sharing, the deal will mean more money for Texas, Texas A&M and Oklahoma, who all would receive at least $20 million annually from the new deal. The other seven schools in the Big 12 would make between $14 million and $17 million, doubling what they currently receive in TV revenue.
Big 12 officials told member schools that the loss of the Denver television market and Nebraska would not weaken the league's negotiating position with TV networks as much as feared.
Last year, Big 12 schools divided between $7 million and $10 million each depending on how many appearances they made on regional and national TV. At Big 12 meetings earlier this month, Beebe said he expected huge increases in rights fees from both Fox and ESPN.
The more lucrative contract with ESPN runs through the 2015-16 academic year, while the Fox deal is reportedly in its final two years.
The Big 12 has increased the financial reward for every one of its members since it began play in 1996. The Big 12 distributed $139 million to its members this past fiscal year, more than ever.
The news about the Longhorns, Sooners and the rest of the Big 12 South powers staying put was especially good for Kansas, Kansas State, Baylor, Iowa State and Missouri -- the five schools in danger of being left homeless if the conference dissolved.
Baylor football coach Art Briles, a Texas native, put it this way: "I got resuscitated. You can take your hands off my chest. . . . I'm extremely excited, it's like being given new life."
As for the Pac-10 and Scott, who was trying to pull off a bold move that would have dramatically changed the landscape of college sports, they are left looking for at least one more member to get to 12 by 2012 when Colorado is set to join. Scott's next target? Utah from the Mountain West Conference would seem a likely candidate.
Scott's plan was to add Texas (with Notre Dame the big prize in the conference expansion game) along with its main Big 12 South rivals -- Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas A&M and Texas Tech.
Because Texas is the richest and most powerful of the Big 12 schools, the Longhorns were seen as the lynchpin to the deal. Wherever Texas decided to place its cash cow football program, the rest of the schools would seemingly fall in line.
But Texas A&M had represented a wild card, with school officials meeting with Pac-10 and SEC officials in recent days. If the Aggies were serious about leaving for the Southeastern Conference, no matter what Texas did, it was unclear whether that would have prompted the Longhorns, Sooners and the rest to decide the Big 12 was not worth saving with only nine members.
But that SEC flirtation turned out to be nothing more. "Texas A&M is a proud member of the Big 12 Conference and will continue to be affiliated with the conference in the future," school president R. Bowen Loftin said in a statement.
Officials at Oklahoma State and Oklahoma issued similar statements, with OSU president Burns Hargis singling out Beebe for his "bold moves and intense efforts."
"The decision to stay in the Big 12 represents a consensus position which resulted from a collaborative effort with our colleagues in the conference," Oklahoma president David L. Boren and vice president and director of athletics Joe Castiglione said in a joint statement. "We value the strong working relationship that has been reaffirmed during this process among the conference members. We intend to work very hard to make the conference as lasting and dynamic as possible. We appreciate the respect and interest that has been shown to OU during this process."
The news that the Big 12 survived spread quickly. "That's great news," said Scott Drew, whose Baylor men's basketball team advanced to the South regional final in the NCAA tournament a few
months ago. "Obviously, we're very excited and pleased about the 10 schools staying together. It will be great to continue the rivalries and traditions."
Other conference realignment in the past week included Boise State joining the Mountain West.
Lost Lake Tribune editor David Craig was among those who had feared that the NCAA was moving towards a four power-conference alignment with a BCS title exclusively being offered to those conferences. However, there will still be six power conferences for at least the next few years. This will keep the BCS intact and the NCAA basketball tournament as it is, a championship for 68 Division I teams. The names for the Big 12 and Big 10 conferences may be the next issue to come up in this continuing story.
Information Gained from http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/news/story?id=5286672
A Cup above the rest
Kane's game-winner in overtime gives Hawks their first title in 49 years
PHILADELPHIA — The Blackhawks are the 2010 Stanley Cup champions. They’re no longer that team with the longest title drought in the NHL of 49 years. They’re no longer that fifth franchise in a crowded Chicago sports landscape of broken dreams and disappointment. They’re no longer that inept franchise that wallowed in mediocrity for years. The Hawks are champions. They are the best.
They did it with a 4-3 victory in overtime over the never-out-of-it Philadelphia Flyers in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup finals Wednesday at the Wachovia Center.
The Hawks won it on Patrick Kane’s game-winner 4:06 into overtime. They won it by using their depth and speed. They won it by overcoming adversity as champions do. They won it for the first time since 1961.
‘‘This is something I’ll never forget,’’ Kane said. ‘‘I don’t think it’s really sunk in yet. ... This is just unbelievable to be a part of. I mean, we won the Stanley Cup.’’
Fittingly, it was Jonathan Toews, the Hawks’ 22-year-old captain, who won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player in the playoffs. Kane and Toews are the faces of the franchise. With everything on the line, they were the Hawks’ biggest players. ‘‘This is the best feeling you can ever get playing hockey, and I just can’t believe it’s happening,’’ Toews said. ‘‘I’m so excited to bring this home for our fans. But, most of all, we wanted to do it for each other.’’
After Toews was handed the Stanley Cup and he raised it, he gave it to winger Marian Hossa, who hoisted the Cup over his head for the first time after losing in the finals in consecutive seasons. It also is Hawks coach Joel Quenneville’s first Stanley Cup as a head
coach. ‘‘It’s a great feeling,’’ Quenneville said. ‘‘The party [in Chicago] is going to be unbelievable.’’
Andrew Ladd, Dustin Byfuglien (power play) and Patrick Sharp (4-on-4) also scored for the Hawks. Antti Niemi, the so-called question mark for the Hawks heading into the playoffs, made 21 saves, including huge stops on Jeff Carter and Claude Giroux with the game on the line.
Scott Hartnell was credited with the second biggest goal of the game with 3:59 left in the third, when Ville Leino’s centering pass bounced around in front Niemi and off of Hossa and in. It tied the game and highlighted the huge momentum swing by the Flyers and was the second of the game for Hartnell.
But destiny had the Hawks in mind as Kane’s bad-angle shot with eyes from the bottom of the circle found a way past Michael Leighton (37 saves) in overtime. The Hawks celebrated. The crowd was shocked. The goal was reviewed. ‘‘I think I was the only one who knew it was in,’’ Kane said.
The Flyers, who also got a goal from Danny Briere, were 9-1 at home this postseason heading into Game 6, winning Games 3 and 4 of the finals over the Hawks. The Hawks had also lost their last 10 games at the Wachovia Center.
But this year’s version of the Hawks was never intimidated. They had done enough good things in Games 3 and 4 to believe that they could win at one of the more hostile places in the NHL.
The Stanley Cup title caps a remarkable turnaround by the Hawks, who had finished in 14th place out of 15th place just 4 seasons ago.
‘‘It means everything. It’s unbelievable just to see everybody on the ice, to see our families who supported us all year long,’’ Sharp said. ‘‘I dreamed about holding [the Stanley Cup] my whole life — what a feeling. http://www.suntimes.com/sports/hockey/blackhawks/2377176,CST-SPT-hawk10.article
A Message of Faith from Albert Pujols
It makes sense for the Pujols Family Foundation website to have information about what our foundation does, our events, and ways to partner with us. We obviously care greatly about people and families who live with Down syndrome, as well as those impoverished families I left behind in the Dominican Republic. But why “Faith?” Why is “Faith” the first word in our mission statement: “Faith, Family and Others?”
The answer simply is because our faith in Jesus Christ is the central point of our individual lives, our marriage, family and Foundation. Take Jesus Christ and faith in Him out of the equation and all those other things would not exist.
People have said to me, “Albert, I would give anything to be able to play baseball like you.” They may look at my abilities and think that being a great baseball player is the goal of my life. Believe it or not, baseball is not the chief ambition of my life. Becoming a great baseball player is important to me, but it is not my primary focus. Because I know the Hall of Fame is not my ultimate final destination.
My life’s goal is to bring glory to Jesus. My life is not mostly dedicated to the Lord, it is 100% committed to Jesus Christ and His will. God has given me the ability to succeed in the game of baseball. But baseball is not the end; baseball is the means by which my wife, Dee Dee, and I glorify God. Baseball is simply my platform to elevate Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior. I would also rather be known as a great husband and father than an All-Star baseball player. Perhaps one day I could be honored with an invitation into Baseball’s Hall of Fame. That would certainly be a boyhood dream of mine come true, but it is a far greater honor that one day I will be in heaven with God to enjoy Him forever.
How do I know that I will spend eternity with God in heaven? It goes back to the original discussion – Faith. The Bible says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.” It is my faith in Jesus Christ’s work in my life that grants me eternal life with God. Nothing more, nothing less. That’s why the mission of this Foundation is “Faith, Family, and Others.” It is because our faith is at the heart of everything we are and everything we do.
We have not yet mentioned the idea of “Others” found in our Mission Statement. This word is an important one as well. Jesus commanded in one of His last recorded statements: “Therefore go and make disciples . . .” You may recall 2006 if you are a Cardinals fan. The season culminated with the first World Series Championship in St. Louis in 24 years. For many FANS, it was the highlight of their year. However, if you asked me about the pinnacle of 2006, you would probably be surprised to learn that winning the World Series or winning my first Gold Glove at first base was not the highlight moment of the season for me. My personal favorite moment during that season was seeing two of my friends and teammates come to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. That was the peak of my year! Why are
“others” important to us? Because they are important to God. “Others” were important enough for Jesus to die on the cross for them; they are much more important than a World Series ring.
Today, “faith” can mean many different things, or sometimes nothing at all. When we speak of our Faith in Christ this is what we believe:
1. The Bible, in its entirety, is God’s Word to us. It is divine revelation and we submit to the authority of Holy Scripture. (Psalm 119:11, Matthew 5:17-18, 2 Timothy 3:15-17)
2. There is only one God, revealed to us in three Persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and He is all-knowing and all-powerful. (Deuteronomy 6:4-5, John 1:1, 14, John 15:26, 16:7-14)
3. Human beings are made in the image of God and are, therefore, the pinnacle of all God’s creation. That includes all people, no matter what their race, occupation, status, economic level or disability. (Genesis 1:26-31)
4. Nevertheless, human beings are sinful creatures and as a result have all fallen into a state of moral corruption. This state of rebellion has estranged us from the Creator. (Isaiah 53:6, 64:6, Romans 1:25, 3:10, 3:23, 6:23)
5. God is absolutely holy; sin cannot abide in God’s presence. (Leviticus 19:2, Isaiah 6:1-5, 1 Peter 1:15-16, Revelation 4:8)
6. Without a mediator, human beings are forever separated from God by their sin. (Romans 3:23, 6:23; Ephesians 2:1-9)
7. Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, lived a perfect life of obedience to the Father and substituted Himself as the perfect sacrifice for our sins. He became our mediator to bridge the gap between mankind and a Holy, Sinless God. (Rom. 5:8, 6:23, 8:3, 8:31-32, 2 Corinthians 5:21)
8. Trusting Jesus Christ’s death, burial and resurrection for the payment of your sin is the only way human beings can be in perfect relationship with God the Father. Jesus Christ is
not just “a way to God” he is “The way to God”. (Luke 19:10, John 3:16, John 11:25, John 14:6, Acts 4:12, Romans 6:23, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Hebrews 12:2)
9. Everyone who receives Jesus Christ as Lord is now viewed as holy before God. Their sins are washed away and they become a ‘new creation’ in Christ. They are born again into the family of God and will live in His presence forever in Heaven. (John 3:16, John 20:31, Ephesians 2:8-9, Colossians 1:21-22, 1 John 5:13)
10. The church, made up of all believers, is the body of Christ and is commissioned to share the gospel of Christ until he returns again to consummate his Kingdom. (Matthew 28:19-20, 1 Corinthians 12, Ephesians 5:22-32)
If you have never trusted Jesus Christ as your Savior, I invite you to do that right now. It is by far and away the best decision I have ever made in my life. I know you will feel the same. I encourage you to say this prayer:
"Dear God, thank you for loving me. I know that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for dying on the cross to pay for my sins. I want to turn from my sins and trust You as Lord to take control of my life. I ask You Lord right now to come into my life and take the throne of my heart. From this day forward, I trust You Lord to be my personal Lord and Savior and I will live my life to please you. Thank You God for salvation, eternal life, and a new life in Jesus Christ. In Jesus’ name I pray. - Amen"
If you said this prayer with an open and repentant heart, I welcome you into the family of God!
Please send us an e-mail and let us know about your decision to follow Jesus Christ. If you are still searching and have questions or need more information about the claims of Christ, let us know. Our staff will do its best to point you in the right direction to begin you own Walk of Faith.
”Faith, Family, and Others” is the mission of the Pujols Family Foundation and the motto of our lives. We hope now you understand why.
Information Gained From : http://www.pujolsfamilyfoundation.org/faith/
The Big 12 is alive and kicking!
The University of Texas on Monday said it was staying in the Big 12, followed moments later by pledges from Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Texas A&M to remain in a league that had seemed to be falling apart last week when Nebraska (Big Ten) and Colorado (Pac-10) decided to leave over the next two years.
The Texas announcement came shortly after Pac-10 commissioner Larry Scott confirmed that Texas had declined an invitation to become the 12th member of his conference. "University of Texas President Bill Powers has informed us that the 10 remaining schools in the Big 12 Conference intend to stay together," Scott said in a statement. "We are excited about the future of the Pac-10 Conference and we will continue to evaluate future expansion opportunities . . .”
Powers wouldn't give any details about why the school decided to stay put when asked by the AP. The school has scheduled a news conference for Tuesday morning.
Now that the Big 12 is back, there are still questions about how it will conduct its business. Among those that still need to be answered by Big 12 commissioner Don Beebe is how and why the Big 12 will be more lucrative now, especially when it cannot hold a conference title game with only 10 members. Beebe did not return phone messages Monday, but plans to hold a conference call with reporters on Tuesday.
Texas had a meeting Monday with the other remaining nine schools in the Big 12 about a TV deal included in a plan put together by Beebe that would keep the league intact with its current programs, according to multiple reports. The Dallas Morning News reported the cable TV deal is with Fox Sports.
Based on a TV deal in the works that could pay upwards of $25 million per year, Texas leaned toward staying in a 10-team Big 12 for the foreseeable future, Orangebloods.com reported, citing sources familiar with negotiations. Texas stands to earn between $20 million and $25 million annually in television revenue in the reworked deal, including money from its own network, according to Orangebloods.com.
The Longhorns' network figures to generate between $3 million and $5 million, according to the Orangebloods.com report. Because the Big 12 has unequal revenue sharing, the deal will mean more money for Texas, Texas A&M and Oklahoma, who all would receive at least $20 million annually from the new deal. The other seven schools in the Big 12 would make between $14 million and $17 million, doubling what they currently receive in TV revenue.
Big 12 officials told member schools that the loss of the Denver television market and Nebraska would not weaken the league's negotiating position with TV networks as much as feared.
Last year, Big 12 schools divided between $7 million and $10 million each depending on how many appearances they made on regional and national TV. At Big 12 meetings earlier this month, Beebe said he expected huge increases in rights fees from both Fox and ESPN.
The more lucrative contract with ESPN runs through the 2015-16 academic year, while the Fox deal is reportedly in its final two years.
The Big 12 has increased the financial reward for every one of its members since it began play in 1996. The Big 12 distributed $139 million to its members this past fiscal year, more than ever.
The news about the Longhorns, Sooners and the rest of the Big 12 South powers staying put was especially good for Kansas, Kansas State, Baylor, Iowa State and Missouri -- the five schools in danger of being left homeless if the conference dissolved.
Baylor football coach Art Briles, a Texas native, put it this way: "I got resuscitated. You can take your hands off my chest. . . . I'm extremely excited, it's like being given new life."
As for the Pac-10 and Scott, who was trying to pull off a bold move that would have dramatically changed the landscape of college sports, they are left looking for at least one more member to get to 12 by 2012 when Colorado is set to join. Scott's next target? Utah from the Mountain West Conference would seem a likely candidate.
Scott's plan was to add Texas (with Notre Dame the big prize in the conference expansion game) along with its main Big 12 South rivals -- Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas A&M and Texas Tech.
Because Texas is the richest and most powerful of the Big 12 schools, the Longhorns were seen as the lynchpin to the deal. Wherever Texas decided to place its cash cow football program, the rest of the schools would seemingly fall in line.
But Texas A&M had represented a wild card, with school officials meeting with Pac-10 and SEC officials in recent days. If the Aggies were serious about leaving for the Southeastern Conference, no matter what Texas did, it was unclear whether that would have prompted the Longhorns, Sooners and the rest to decide the Big 12 was not worth saving with only nine members.
But that SEC flirtation turned out to be nothing more. "Texas A&M is a proud member of the Big 12 Conference and will continue to be affiliated with the conference in the future," school president R. Bowen Loftin said in a statement.
Officials at Oklahoma State and Oklahoma issued similar statements, with OSU president Burns Hargis singling out Beebe for his "bold moves and intense efforts."
"The decision to stay in the Big 12 represents a consensus position which resulted from a collaborative effort with our colleagues in the conference," Oklahoma president David L. Boren and vice president and director of athletics Joe Castiglione said in a joint statement. "We value the strong working relationship that has been reaffirmed during this process among the conference members. We intend to work very hard to make the conference as lasting and dynamic as possible. We appreciate the respect and interest that has been shown to OU during this process."
The news that the Big 12 survived spread quickly. "That's great news," said Scott Drew, whose Baylor men's basketball team advanced to the South regional final in the NCAA tournament a few
months ago. "Obviously, we're very excited and pleased about the 10 schools staying together. It will be great to continue the rivalries and traditions."
Other conference realignment in the past week included Boise State joining the Mountain West.
Lost Lake Tribune editor David Craig was among those who had feared that the NCAA was moving towards a four power-conference alignment with a BCS title exclusively being offered to those conferences. However, there will still be six power conferences for at least the next few years. This will keep the BCS intact and the NCAA basketball tournament as it is, a championship for 68 Division I teams. The names for the Big 12 and Big 10 conferences may be the next issue to come up in this continuing story.
Information Gained from http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/news/story?id=5286672
A Cup above the rest
Kane's game-winner in overtime gives Hawks their first title in 49 years
PHILADELPHIA — The Blackhawks are the 2010 Stanley Cup champions. They’re no longer that team with the longest title drought in the NHL of 49 years. They’re no longer that fifth franchise in a crowded Chicago sports landscape of broken dreams and disappointment. They’re no longer that inept franchise that wallowed in mediocrity for years. The Hawks are champions. They are the best.
They did it with a 4-3 victory in overtime over the never-out-of-it Philadelphia Flyers in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup finals Wednesday at the Wachovia Center.
The Hawks won it on Patrick Kane’s game-winner 4:06 into overtime. They won it by using their depth and speed. They won it by overcoming adversity as champions do. They won it for the first time since 1961.
‘‘This is something I’ll never forget,’’ Kane said. ‘‘I don’t think it’s really sunk in yet. ... This is just unbelievable to be a part of. I mean, we won the Stanley Cup.’’
Fittingly, it was Jonathan Toews, the Hawks’ 22-year-old captain, who won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player in the playoffs. Kane and Toews are the faces of the franchise. With everything on the line, they were the Hawks’ biggest players. ‘‘This is the best feeling you can ever get playing hockey, and I just can’t believe it’s happening,’’ Toews said. ‘‘I’m so excited to bring this home for our fans. But, most of all, we wanted to do it for each other.’’
After Toews was handed the Stanley Cup and he raised it, he gave it to winger Marian Hossa, who hoisted the Cup over his head for the first time after losing in the finals in consecutive seasons. It also is Hawks coach Joel Quenneville’s first Stanley Cup as a head
coach. ‘‘It’s a great feeling,’’ Quenneville said. ‘‘The party [in Chicago] is going to be unbelievable.’’
Andrew Ladd, Dustin Byfuglien (power play) and Patrick Sharp (4-on-4) also scored for the Hawks. Antti Niemi, the so-called question mark for the Hawks heading into the playoffs, made 21 saves, including huge stops on Jeff Carter and Claude Giroux with the game on the line.
Scott Hartnell was credited with the second biggest goal of the game with 3:59 left in the third, when Ville Leino’s centering pass bounced around in front Niemi and off of Hossa and in. It tied the game and highlighted the huge momentum swing by the Flyers and was the second of the game for Hartnell.
But destiny had the Hawks in mind as Kane’s bad-angle shot with eyes from the bottom of the circle found a way past Michael Leighton (37 saves) in overtime. The Hawks celebrated. The crowd was shocked. The goal was reviewed. ‘‘I think I was the only one who knew it was in,’’ Kane said.
The Flyers, who also got a goal from Danny Briere, were 9-1 at home this postseason heading into Game 6, winning Games 3 and 4 of the finals over the Hawks. The Hawks had also lost their last 10 games at the Wachovia Center.
But this year’s version of the Hawks was never intimidated. They had done enough good things in Games 3 and 4 to believe that they could win at one of the more hostile places in the NHL.
The Stanley Cup title caps a remarkable turnaround by the Hawks, who had finished in 14th place out of 15th place just 4 seasons ago.
‘‘It means everything. It’s unbelievable just to see everybody on the ice, to see our families who supported us all year long,’’ Sharp said. ‘‘I dreamed about holding [the Stanley Cup] my whole life — what a feeling. http://www.suntimes.com/sports/hockey/blackhawks/2377176,CST-SPT-hawk10.article
A Message of Faith from Albert Pujols
It makes sense for the Pujols Family Foundation website to have information about what our foundation does, our events, and ways to partner with us. We obviously care greatly about people and families who live with Down syndrome, as well as those impoverished families I left behind in the Dominican Republic. But why “Faith?” Why is “Faith” the first word in our mission statement: “Faith, Family and Others?”
The answer simply is because our faith in Jesus Christ is the central point of our individual lives, our marriage, family and Foundation. Take Jesus Christ and faith in Him out of the equation and all those other things would not exist.
People have said to me, “Albert, I would give anything to be able to play baseball like you.” They may look at my abilities and think that being a great baseball player is the goal of my life. Believe it or not, baseball is not the chief ambition of my life. Becoming a great baseball player is important to me, but it is not my primary focus. Because I know the Hall of Fame is not my ultimate final destination.
My life’s goal is to bring glory to Jesus. My life is not mostly dedicated to the Lord, it is 100% committed to Jesus Christ and His will. God has given me the ability to succeed in the game of baseball. But baseball is not the end; baseball is the means by which my wife, Dee Dee, and I glorify God. Baseball is simply my platform to elevate Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior. I would also rather be known as a great husband and father than an All-Star baseball player. Perhaps one day I could be honored with an invitation into Baseball’s Hall of Fame. That would certainly be a boyhood dream of mine come true, but it is a far greater honor that one day I will be in heaven with God to enjoy Him forever.
How do I know that I will spend eternity with God in heaven? It goes back to the original discussion – Faith. The Bible says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.” It is my faith in Jesus Christ’s work in my life that grants me eternal life with God. Nothing more, nothing less. That’s why the mission of this Foundation is “Faith, Family, and Others.” It is because our faith is at the heart of everything we are and everything we do.
We have not yet mentioned the idea of “Others” found in our Mission Statement. This word is an important one as well. Jesus commanded in one of His last recorded statements: “Therefore go and make disciples . . .” You may recall 2006 if you are a Cardinals fan. The season culminated with the first World Series Championship in St. Louis in 24 years. For many FANS, it was the highlight of their year. However, if you asked me about the pinnacle of 2006, you would probably be surprised to learn that winning the World Series or winning my first Gold Glove at first base was not the highlight moment of the season for me. My personal favorite moment during that season was seeing two of my friends and teammates come to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. That was the peak of my year! Why are
“others” important to us? Because they are important to God. “Others” were important enough for Jesus to die on the cross for them; they are much more important than a World Series ring.
Today, “faith” can mean many different things, or sometimes nothing at all. When we speak of our Faith in Christ this is what we believe:
1. The Bible, in its entirety, is God’s Word to us. It is divine revelation and we submit to the authority of Holy Scripture. (Psalm 119:11, Matthew 5:17-18, 2 Timothy 3:15-17)
2. There is only one God, revealed to us in three Persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and He is all-knowing and all-powerful. (Deuteronomy 6:4-5, John 1:1, 14, John 15:26, 16:7-14)
3. Human beings are made in the image of God and are, therefore, the pinnacle of all God’s creation. That includes all people, no matter what their race, occupation, status, economic level or disability. (Genesis 1:26-31)
4. Nevertheless, human beings are sinful creatures and as a result have all fallen into a state of moral corruption. This state of rebellion has estranged us from the Creator. (Isaiah 53:6, 64:6, Romans 1:25, 3:10, 3:23, 6:23)
5. God is absolutely holy; sin cannot abide in God’s presence. (Leviticus 19:2, Isaiah 6:1-5, 1 Peter 1:15-16, Revelation 4:8)
6. Without a mediator, human beings are forever separated from God by their sin. (Romans 3:23, 6:23; Ephesians 2:1-9)
7. Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, lived a perfect life of obedience to the Father and substituted Himself as the perfect sacrifice for our sins. He became our mediator to bridge the gap between mankind and a Holy, Sinless God. (Rom. 5:8, 6:23, 8:3, 8:31-32, 2 Corinthians 5:21)
8. Trusting Jesus Christ’s death, burial and resurrection for the payment of your sin is the only way human beings can be in perfect relationship with God the Father. Jesus Christ is
not just “a way to God” he is “The way to God”. (Luke 19:10, John 3:16, John 11:25, John 14:6, Acts 4:12, Romans 6:23, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Hebrews 12:2)
9. Everyone who receives Jesus Christ as Lord is now viewed as holy before God. Their sins are washed away and they become a ‘new creation’ in Christ. They are born again into the family of God and will live in His presence forever in Heaven. (John 3:16, John 20:31, Ephesians 2:8-9, Colossians 1:21-22, 1 John 5:13)
10. The church, made up of all believers, is the body of Christ and is commissioned to share the gospel of Christ until he returns again to consummate his Kingdom. (Matthew 28:19-20, 1 Corinthians 12, Ephesians 5:22-32)
If you have never trusted Jesus Christ as your Savior, I invite you to do that right now. It is by far and away the best decision I have ever made in my life. I know you will feel the same. I encourage you to say this prayer:
"Dear God, thank you for loving me. I know that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for dying on the cross to pay for my sins. I want to turn from my sins and trust You as Lord to take control of my life. I ask You Lord right now to come into my life and take the throne of my heart. From this day forward, I trust You Lord to be my personal Lord and Savior and I will live my life to please you. Thank You God for salvation, eternal life, and a new life in Jesus Christ. In Jesus’ name I pray. - Amen"
If you said this prayer with an open and repentant heart, I welcome you into the family of God!
Please send us an e-mail and let us know about your decision to follow Jesus Christ. If you are still searching and have questions or need more information about the claims of Christ, let us know. Our staff will do its best to point you in the right direction to begin you own Walk of Faith.
”Faith, Family, and Others” is the mission of the Pujols Family Foundation and the motto of our lives. We hope now you understand why.
Information Gained From : http://www.pujolsfamilyfoundation.org/faith/
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