 |
|
An
Outreach Publication of the Church of Christ at
Creekwood |
|
His Name Was John Unfortunately,
he was known to many as “Bat Man.” John C. Odom demonstrated tremendous talent as a baseball pitcher. With a 90 mph fastball, a sharp curve, and a good changeup, John made the team at Tallahassee (FL) Community College as a walk-on. He later committed to Oklahoma State but signed instead with the San Francisco Giants. After four bumpy years in the Giants’ system (none above Class A) including some time out with injuries, the Giants released him in spring training last year. The Calgary (CA) Vipers of the independent Golden Baseball League offered John a job, but because of a criminal conviction back in 1999, John was not allowed to enter Canada. Jose Melendez, General Manager of the Laredo (TX) Broncos of the United League, proposed buying John’s contract from the Vipers for $1,000. Calgary team president Peter Young rejected the offer, saying the Vipers didn’t make cash deals because they made the team look financially unstable. However, the Vipers could use some baseball bats. So the Vipers traded John to the Broncos for 10 bats valued at $665. Instantly,
John became known as “Bat Man.” Although he was assured that the trade was not completed to embarrass him in any way, John couldn’t escape the label. Three weeks after the trade, he abruptly left the team. Six months later, he was found dead in Georgia from an accidental drug overdose. He was 26. Was
there a connection between the trade and his untimely
death? No
one knows Ripley’s Believe It or Not! heard about the trade and offered $10,000 to the Vipers’ children’s charity. Ripley’s has discussed creating an exhibit around them. * I
say, “Burn
the bats!”
No one’s life should be measured in terms of baseball bats! Each and every person is valuable because each one has been created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27). Even though that image has been marred by sin in every person, God loved us so much that He gave His Son, Jesus, to die on the cross for our sins (John 3:16). Because of JESUS... WE can be forgiven of our sins when we submit our lives to Him in faith (Acts 16:30-31), repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confession (Romans 10:9-10), and baptism (immersion) into Christ (Acts 2:38; Galatians 3:26-27). The
value of something is often determined by what someone
is willing to pay for it.
Open your eyes and LOOK at the price that was
paid for YOU No, he was NOT “Bat Man.” His name was John! And God also knows YOUR name, and He wants YOU to be His child and live eternally with Him when this life is over. Won’t YOU submit your life to Him and be born again into His family? -- David A. Sargent, Minister Church
of Christ at Creekwood * Information gleaned from Ben Walker of the Associated Press in “A Tragic End for Minor Leaguer Traded for Bats.” To Subscribe to "Living Water" send a blank e-mail to:
HTML version: subscribe-livingwater@lyris.dundee.net Follow this link to locate the church of Christ nearest you: www.churchzip.com Archived issues of "Living Water" can be accessed from our website at: www.creekwoodcc.org
|