Pujols

BPSports.net - Cardinals' Pujols is 'the real deal,' is growing in faith, his pastor says: "While many marvel at his ability on the diamond, what Southern Baptists like most about Pujols is that he isn't ashamed of his faith in Jesus. Each time the young star drops a single in front of an outfielder, lines a double to the wall between outfielders or slams the baseball into the outfield seats for a home run, Pujols always points heavenward, acknowledging that he is giving God the glory for his talent and what He has allowed the baseball player to accomplish.

'Just a week ago we were having dinner together,' Hunter said in a Sept. 1 interview with The Pathway. 'He was sharing with me and my son, Josh, about an illustration he had heard when Christian apologist and popular author Ravi Zacharias spoke to the Cardinals on a trip to Atlanta. Zacharias said he once asked Billy Graham what he prays for every day.'

Graham's reply: That he would do nothing that would jeopardize the things God had done in and through his life.

'What thrilled my heart,' Hunter said, 'was when Albert looked at me and asked me how long I had been a Christian. I told him 42 or 43 years.' Pujols, picking up on what Graham had said, then asked Hunter: Did he realize that if he did anything wrong, it would undermine everything he had done since he became a Christian?

'That's why we've all got to be in our favorite position -- every day on our knees -- so we will do nothing to jeopardize the name of the Lord Jesus in our lives. That's where Albert is in his growth as a believer,' Hunter said.
'Every time that I see Albert, I ask him if he is still on his knees.'"