I realize many phenoms never make it to the grand stage. Arrogance, injury or any number of things keep some of the most talented young men and women from being all they were designed to be.
Nevada’s Bryce Harper is the most impressive baseball talent I’ve ever seen, especially at such a young age (16). Near the advent of his sophomore season, during the national prep home run derby at Tropicana Field in Tampa, he won the contest with a 502 foot blast that would have orbited Yankee Stadium! Given the way mere pop-ups are flying into the cheap seats, it may have found its rest in Fenway Park! And it was no fluke. He had a number of moon shots that registered over the 475′ mark, and was the only participant to hit an oppo bomb.
I reject the hyped titles like “Chosen One”, “Child Prodigy” etc. but there’s a definite attraction to those who are at the extreme end of the bell curve. So although I am to a degree aiding in this kind of idol infatuation, I thought it worth the risk and put this boy’s skill in perspective…the fact is that this young man is not a product of chaotic evolutionary chance, where the genetic tumblers mutated to create the perfect baseball specimen. Bryce Harper has been fearfully and wonderfully made by the Grand Designer, and it’s always refreshing for those who have been given such talent to recognize the origin of their gift.
Brycepunches his ticket to Cooperstown at age 16
VegasHigh Schooler Makes Powerful Impression
Why have I chosen to highlight something that seems to have very little spiritual relevance? I believe these kinds of anomalies point to the existence of a Master Designer. Eric Liddell of Chariots of Fire fame aptly stated, “I believe that God made me for a purpose…but He also made me fast, and when I run, I feel His pleasure.”
This guy has some kind of God-given talent. I wonder if he's planning on entering next year's draft. If he does he'll probably be picked by the Nationals, given them two once-in-a-lifetime type of prospects in two years (the other of course being Stephen Strasburg).
If I recall you played 2nd base, right? It takes a ballplayer to really understand how truly amazing Harper is. This phenom actually just finished his sophomore year in H.S., so he's got two years to the June draft 2011 draft. Hey, one year later and the world ends anyway… 🙂
Unless things appreciably change, I would anticipate the Nats have the overall first that year as well. Strasburg is a beast! Hey Joel, thanks for chiming in. Blessings, Chuck
Yep, I was a second baseman in high school. I wasn't very good, but I loved it anyway.
Now I'm stuck playing softball… Haha.
Joel, at what age did you become convinced that Jesus was the Lamb of God/Messiah/Creator/Savior? Was there ever a time when you transitioned from an evolutionary paradigm to a special creation view or from OEC to YEC?
Mr. Coty,
Well, I grew up in a Christian home (my dad is a Chaplain in the military), so I always "believed" in God, but it wasn't until last year that I was actually saved.
Never was a believer in evolution/old earth. I was pretty much brought up on Ken Ham/Henry Morris type teaching in regards to Genesis 1-11. As I got older and began to really study things for myself, what I was taught growing up was only affirmed. So I guess you could say I've always been a young earth creationist.