FAITHLESS CRISIS

In 1998 Chicago Cubbie, SAMMY SOSA, hit
66 home runs, drove in 157 runs and had a batting average of .307.

In a 24 year career R0GER CLEMENS compiled a 354-186 w0n-loss record while going over the 20 winning-games-a-season mark six times. He struck out 4,672 batters in 4916 innings.

BARRY BONDS, San Francisco slugger, hit 73 home runs in 2001, setting a new Major League Baseball record. In 2002 his batting average was .370 (for his 22 season career, his average was .298).

ON JANUARY 9, 2013 the MLB Hall of Fame election results showed NO ONE being chosen. For the first time in sixteen years, the Baseball Writers Association said no former players were worthy of the Hall of Fame honor.

Not worthy. Why? Most speculation supporting this verdict centers on the alleged steroid and human-growth hormone usage by many players during the late 1960s to the present. Fans and Baseball writers lost faith in the sport. Some players sought fame and fortune by stepping outside the rules. And, indeed, they broke records, signed huge contracts and basked briefly in the glow of greatness.

But judgment came and brought with it shame. The fall of our sports heroes presaged the financial earthquake that was to rob many Americans of their jobs, homes and future pensions.

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains. 1Tim 6.10 nrsv