Before the first round of Josh Hamilton’s record-setting Home Run Derby performance, Josh was being interviewed by Erin Andrews and was asked the typical generic “sideline reporter” questions like “What does it feel like to be here tonight?” and “Tell me what you’re thinking?” and so forth. Josh made the comment “I’m just so thankful to be here because it gives me a chance to tell people what God has done in my life”.

As a fan of the Rangers I’ve followed the story of Josh Hamilton since the trade was made. His tale of success followed by failure followed by success is what makes an award-winning motion picture. Hollywood dreams of this plot-line. A guy that is gifted with incredible God-given talent that is the number 1 pick in the 1999 professional baseball draft. He’s given $4 million dollars, and squanders it on drugs and alcohol.

Well, fast-forward a couple of years and 26 tatoo’s later and we have an MVP candidate that is captivating the nation with the ridiculous showing that he had in the first round of the Home Run Derby.

What grabs my attention about the guy isn’t the fact that he has 95 RBI’s at the All-Star Break, or the fact that he just hit 28 HR’s in the first round of the derby (I’m typing as I’m watching the derby), or the fact that he’s hit 3 bombs (so far) over 500 feet….but what grabs my attention is the fact that this guy uses every chance he gets to tell his story. A story of fallen-ness followed by redemption. A story of incredible opportunity that was thrown away followed by incredible grace and a second chance.

Josh admits it, he should be dead right now. Lot’s of folks take the same path he took and don’t make it out. Luckily for Josh, there’s something out there that’s watching over him. He attributes this to the grace of God, and I do too.

He uses opportunities like this to profess his faith. As Christians we’re put in this world to tell that story. To tell the story of the fallen-ness of man. Man seeks to save himself, in whatever capacity that might be. We try to do the right things, say the right things, think the right things, but in our best moments, there is still this thing called sin in our lives. One screw up (and we all have them) and it’s over. We’re already marred. But luckily for us, that’s not the end of the story. God sends his son, a man by the name of Jesus, to live the life we couldn’t live (perfect) and die the death we couldn’t die (as a perfect man). All that’s required of us is faith in that man which results in a life that’s lived in obedience as a result of that sacrifice.

As Christians, we’re sent out into the world to redeem it. What God made was good, it’s been marred by sin, and we have the responsibility to take back and set the “captives” free.

Josh uses every opportunity he gets to spread this message. Whether its after a home game in Arlington, TX or before the HR Derby in Yankee Stadium. He recognizes that this second chance that he’s been given, was given to him for a purpose. Redemption.

Justin Morneau, who ended up winning the derby despite having less total HR’s than Hamilton said “this is his show, he did a great job” following his acceptance of the trophy. However, I’d be willing to bet that Josh viewed it as His show, his Lord and Saviors show and all he’s trying to do is glorify Him.

Following his final out, Josh ended the interview with Andrews by saying “I’d like to thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for giving me this opportunity and I want to glorify Him in everything I do”.

Me too.

***For a great read on his story from his perspective, take a look here. This was published last season while he was with the Reds.