Tim Ellsworth

One of the common myths that continue to persist about Christian athletes is that they’re not competitive enough, not aggressive enough, to succeed in the sports world.

A prime example is a recent story I read on mlb.com about Tampa Bay Devil Rays shortstop Ben Zobrist. The writer made a point to mention that Zobrist is a devout Christian, “which has prompted some to question his competitiveness,” the story says.

Let’s see here. Albert Pujols is a Christian. So is Tony Dungy. John Smoltz is, too. Oh yeah, and Sean Alexander. Lance Berkman, Bobby Bowden, Mariano Rivera, Dwight Howard, Joe Gibbs and many others — nobody’s questioning their competitiveness because they are Christians.

Read the rest of my column at BP Sports.

Going to the chapel …

From ESPN:

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Rick Ankiel, who punctuated a storybook comeback from pitching travails by homering twice with 7 RBIs Thursday, joined the list of athletes linked to a Florida-based steroids investigation.

The New York Daily News reported Friday that Ankiel received a 12-month supply of human growth hormone in 2004 from a Florida pharmacy that was part of a national illegal prescription drug-distribution operation, citing records its reporters saw. That Orlando outfit, Signature Pharmacy, has been implicated in a steroids investigation run by Albany County (N.Y.) District Attorney P. David Soares, which has resulted in 22 indictments and several Florida clinic raids. …

Ankiel has not been accused by authorities of wrongdoing, and stopped receiving HGH just before Major League Baseball officially banned it in 2005, The News reported.

Raising Alexander: Barhams open home and hearts to a youth who needed both
Kasay: You act upon what you believe
CBU volleyball ranked third
Liberty soccer edges Campbell
Brad Locke: The value of defeat

Dustin Chester, a department manager at the Home Depot store in Murfreesboro, Tenn., saw a man standing next to a soda machine outside the store with a crowbar and a handful of cash.

Chester confronted the man, who took off running. Courageously, Chester ran after the guy, caught him and restrained him until police arrived.

For his efforts, he got a pink slip from Home Depot.

Chester was shocked to find out that for managers and most employees, catching and detaining thieves is against company policy.

“The district manager told me that we are supposed to let thieves walk away; it blew my mind,” said Chester, a one-time employee of the year.

The Home Depot said its policy, which directs workers to notify loss prevention specialists or police to handle criminal situations, is in place to protect its employees and customers.

“The associates involved were not following company policy, resulting in this disciplinary action,” said Don Harrison, spokesman for the Atlanta-based company. “Safety is a primary focus for our company.”

Hey Home Depot. You want to be a slave to your policies by firing Dustin? That’s fine. I’ll simply refrain from shopping at your slimeball store again. I’m sure a lot of other Americans will do the same thing.

As if I needed another reason not to patronize Home Depot. Lowe’s has always been far superior anyway.

D. James Kennedy, pastor of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church and faithful servant of God, died in his sleep early this morning.

Hat tip: JT

Here are some theological pick-up lines you don’t want to use:

“Your name must be grace, because you are irresistible.”

“The Good Book said that I might be visited by angels unaware, but something must be wrong with my interpretation, because I am perfectly aware of you.”

“I could not help but notice you were exegeting me instead of the text during the sermon.”

“Are you homo or homoi?”

There are plenty more at the original post. Go check them out.

Hat tip: Joel

Tim Challies is sponsoring a book giveaway contest. First prize is all six available volumes of the Reformed Expository Commentary series. Second prize is any three volumes from the series, and third prize is one volume from the series. Go and enter.

I’ve started an NFL Pick’em contest on Yahoo. League name is Gridiron Guessers. Password is ellsworth. There’s room for 50 people. Everyone’s welcome to play.