There's no doubt Josh is having a far greater impact on peoples lives having gone through what he has than he ever could have had he stayed clean his whole life. That's one of the mysterious ways God works.
As for the chances of josh living his life drug free are 50/50...that's a complete guess on your part 20dad. My guess is his odds are much greater than that with the family and faith foundation he has. If you hear about the things he does to keep temptation away from him, I think you would agree.
I think we would be hard pressed to find anyone, other than our own sons, we should all be rooting for harder than Josh.
I agree Coach M.
Athletes in all sports have different platforms they use to reach out and minister, educate, encourage, support, and finance,etc. to so they may give back. We all can be thankful that those who know they have this platform act upon it. Lives are affected and changed forever in many, many ways.
It is either fortunate or unfortunate depending on how one views it that this is Josh's platform. He has embraced it and I admire him as a person. I am sure that those tattoo's he must see every second of every day serve as a reminder of foolish and regretful decisions he made along the way. But these same tattoo's also serve as a reminder to encourage and motivate him to now do the right things. Bittersweet reminders.
Athletes in all sports have different platforms they use to reach out and minister, educate, encourage, support, and finance,etc. to so they may give back. We all can be thankful that those who know they have this platform act upon it. Lives are affected and changed forever in many, many ways.
It is either fortunate or unfortunate depending on how one views it that this is Josh's platform. He has embraced it and I admire him as a person. I am sure that those tattoo's he must see every second of every day serve as a reminder of foolish and regretful decisions he made along the way. But these same tattoo's also serve as a reminder to encourage and motivate him to now do the right things. Bittersweet reminders.
YoungGunDad, spot on. I have heard Josh say he's embarrassed, doesn't like them now, and would like to get rid of them but the removal process is pretty painful. Think you are right about the reminder aspect of it as well.
Over the past couple of days I'm really starting to dislike the word "testimony." Especially since one person seems to be trying to jam it down people's throats at every opportunity. He appears to be using every possible situation to bring religion into his posts. It's offensive. This is a baseball board, not a Bible class. Maybe we need to turn the word religion into r******* on this board.
My sister in laws husband is a deacon in his church---but he don't preach to me or anyone else in the family
Why has this site become a haven for a religious zealot and it is being permitted ???
Why has this site become a haven for a religious zealot and it is being permitted ???
quote:Originally posted by TRhit:
Why has this site become a haven for a religious zealot and it is being permitted ???
I have always felt that there is a good number of Christians on the board...but I have never felt that any of us have ever tried to take over or force our religion on other posters. Why should expressing our beliefs NOT being permitted such as celebrating Josh Hamilton and what he has overcome.
Anyhow...that was not the intent of this discussion.
Me thinks thou dost protest too much... 
Why can't we just get along instead of worrying what everyone else is doing and saying. I've learned quite a bit about Hamilton and Tebow in the last two days, I'm impressed with their courage and the testimony and positive influence they've been on those around them. Surely what they're doing is better than most of the garbage we're exposed to in music, radio, tv and internet.
There are those on television and radio that I prefer not to listen to, I'm free to ignore them. If you don't like what Hamilton and Tebow have to say, feel free to ignore them. Don't be haters.
Why can't we just get along instead of worrying what everyone else is doing and saying. I've learned quite a bit about Hamilton and Tebow in the last two days, I'm impressed with their courage and the testimony and positive influence they've been on those around them. Surely what they're doing is better than most of the garbage we're exposed to in music, radio, tv and internet.There are those on television and radio that I prefer not to listen to, I'm free to ignore them. If you don't like what Hamilton and Tebow have to say, feel free to ignore them. Don't be haters.
Everyone is entitled to their own beliefs but I know that Hamilton is a player younger players should look up to and learn from his mistakes so they don't make them themselves. There are far worse players that kids to look up to and model themselves after.
Religion is part of their story. But the main story from this board's standpoint should be about athletics. This is a baseball board, not a Bible class.quote:Originally posted by Innocent Bystander:
Me thinks thou dost protest too much...
There are those on television and radio that I prefer not to listen to, I'm free to ignore them. If you don't like what Hamilton and Tebow have to say, feel free to ignore them. Don't be haters.
Here's the problem with people who feel the need to give public testimony. They don't care if you don't want to hear it. They don't respect others feelings. They feel others need to be saved from their religion. They push their religion on those who don't want it. Thet feel's it's God's will. I don't want God's will in my face.
I didn't like it when people who felt it was God's will burned a cross on our lawn because my family bought a home in Christian neighborhood when I was a kid.
I did not like it when my son was benched by a religious zealot coach after I told him not to pray to the zealot's Lord and savior Jesus Christ before and after the game.
I did not like it when a religious zealot told me I pray to a false God because I do not believe in Jesus. I guess no one ever told the nut case we pray to the same God.
I didn't like it when I was told I won't go to heaven until I embrace my Lord and savior Jesus Christ.
All of this by people who feel they need to testify.
Some of you are so gung ho on your religion and your need to testify where it doesn't belong (on this board), you have no idea how offensive it is to others who either don't want to hear it, or don't have the same beliefs.
In my religion Jesus was nothing but a rebellious carpenter. How do you like that? Are you offended? If you don't think I should be offended by people jamming their religion in my face I should be free to say Jesus was nothing but a rable rousing trouble maker and not suffer any consequences.
Some of you in your perfect religion have no idea how much prejudice there is against other religions. Some of you don't even know when you offend people of other religions.
Is Hamilton's faith part of the story? Yes. But the story in relation to what this board is supposed to be about is his baseball comeback. Now how about some baseball?
We have officially entered complete BWS. (Baseball Withdrawal Syndrome)
Hurry up, Spring.
Hurry up, Spring.
It's not baseball withdrawal. I'm offended by posters who don't respect how other's feel about religion in public or their own religion and want to keep beating on the right to testify on a baseball board. If this is what they want to do, I'll rebutt.
quote:Originally posted by RJM:
It's not baseball withdrawal. I'm offended by posters who don't respect how other's feel about religion in public or their own religion and want to keep beating on the right to testify on a baseball board. If this is what they want to do, I'll rebutt.
RJM, I wasn't directing my comment to you.
I agree with your views about the respect. I may not be offended, but I don't doubt the reality of the offense you and others may feel. I also happen to think their message will fall on deaf ears particularly here, an unreceptive forum.
I'm waiting for this and any other threads that become someone's platform to preach anything but baseball to be locked.
quote:Originally posted by RJM:Religion is part of their story. But the main story from this board's standpoint should be about athletics. This is a baseball board, not a Bible class.quote:Originally posted by Innocent Bystander:
Me thinks thou dost protest too much...
There are those on television and radio that I prefer not to listen to, I'm free to ignore them. If you don't like what Hamilton and Tebow have to say, feel free to ignore them. Don't be haters.
Here's the problem with people who feel the need to give public testimony. They don't care if you don't want to hear it. They don't respect others feelings. They feel others need to be saved from their religion. They push their religion on those who don't want it. Thet feel's it's God's will. I don't want God's will in my face.
I didn't like it when people who felt it was God's will burned a cross on our lawn because my family bought a home in Christian neighborhood when I was a kid.
I did not like it when my son was benched by a religious zealot coach after I told him not to pray to the zealot's Lord and savior Jesus Christ before and after the game.
I did not like it when a religious zealot told me I pray to a false God because I do not believe in Jesus. I guess no one ever told the nut case we pray to the same God.
I didn't like it when I was told I won't go to heaven until I embrace my Lord and savior Jesus Christ.
All of this by people who feel they need to testify.
Some of you are so gung ho on your religion and your need to testify where it doesn't belong (on this board), you have no idea how offensive it is to others who either don't want to hear it, or don't have the same beliefs.
In my religion Jesus was nothing but a rebellious carpenter. How do you like that? Are you offended? If you don't think I should be offended by people jamming their religion in my face I should be free to say Jesus was nothing but a rable rousing trouble maker and not suffer any consequences.
Some of you in your perfect religion have no idea how much prejudice there is against other religions. Some of you don't even know when you offend people of other religions.
Is Hamilton's faith part of the story? Yes. But the story in relation to what this board is supposed to be about is his baseball comeback. Now how about some baseball?
RJM,
I am sorry you feel that way, but part of being a Christian is witnessing to others. You can ignore those posts that make you uncomfortable, but we Christians will profess our faith wherever we can.
If you would like to discuss this issue further, send me a PM and we can discuss off-line.
quote:Originally posted by JT:
I have always felt that there is a good number of Christians on the board...but I have never felt that any of us have ever tried to take over or force our religion on other posters. Why should expressing our beliefs NOT being permitted such as celebrating Josh Hamilton and what he has overcome.
Anyhow...that was not the intent of this discussion.
I agree with you. I am not a Christian and take no offense to this discussion. I didn't until just a few posts ago see anyone forcing their beliefs upon anyone, just a discussion about what has helped this young man find himself. It has begun to change direction.
If one finds something not to their interest, don't read it. I think that this place is much more than just a place to discuss baseball, perhaps those unhappy with other subjects discussed other than baseball can go seek out other places that only discuss baseball. Discussing and forcing ones beliefs upon are two different things.
I agree with RJM on some points he has made.
Those that find the need to profess their beliefs upon others can go find another site in which to do it. JMO.
Yup, baseball season can't come soon enough.......
I'm not a Christian, I leave the Jesus as a God part out, so should i be insulted by this post... no, do i feel as though everyones attempting to jam their views down my throat, no
hamilton is a great guy and i hope he keeps telling his story because everyone has something to learn from it religious or not
hamilton is a great guy and i hope he keeps telling his story because everyone has something to learn from it religious or not
for my own reason's i have followed the hamilton story for a few years. i am very happy he has turned the corner in his life,i wish him well in his pursuits. i'm very happy he's using it as a positive for so many young people, if it changes one life he is a success.imo.
but in my mind this is a baseball story,the rise and fall or fall and rise,of a very good baseball player. he happens to be a very nice kid,all american if you will. but without baseball the story is lost. it's still a good story, but....there are thousands of kids that have turned the corner,but we'll never know them. many more that fall down this path,unless they are good ball players.we'll never know about them.
his story can be about whatever you need it to be about,but without baseball we wouldn't be discussing it here.
baseball talk can take us in many different direction's,some that are uncomfortable,some just hit home.
but in my mind this is a baseball story,the rise and fall or fall and rise,of a very good baseball player. he happens to be a very nice kid,all american if you will. but without baseball the story is lost. it's still a good story, but....there are thousands of kids that have turned the corner,but we'll never know them. many more that fall down this path,unless they are good ball players.we'll never know about them.
his story can be about whatever you need it to be about,but without baseball we wouldn't be discussing it here.
baseball talk can take us in many different direction's,some that are uncomfortable,some just hit home.
Well, I know that I've offended and upset a few (ok, more than a few) people on hsbb with some of my thots and opinions, and I apologize. I don't have any desire to offend or want to make enemies on such a friendly and helpful site. So many kind and helpful people here. Thanks
people on hsbb with some of my thots and opinions, and I apologize. I don't have any desire to offend or want to make enemies on such a friendly and helpful site. So many kind and helpful people here. Thanks
This thread seems to have gotten side-tracked on to the religion topic as well. Lets all keep our good wishes, thoughts, and prayers, coming for Josh.
Please see Fungo's lets talk baseball topic. Thread closed.
Please see Fungo's lets talk baseball topic. Thread closed.