Date: 1/12/2010
<br>Author: Devin
<br>Title: Hit it out of the park
<br><br>January 13, 2010<br><br>I heard a famous person quote a piece of Scripture early this morning on television.  He did not reference book, chapter and verse from God's Word or give credit to the one who originally spoke the famous words into existence in the first place.  In fact, I don't know for sure if former baseball slugger Mark McGwire even knows that “the truth shall set you free” has Biblical origins.  But, for his current status, (and I don't mean Facebook), the words of Christ found in John 8:32 sure seem appropriate.  <br>    <br>After more than a decade of speculation, baseball great Mark McGwire has admitted he used steroids to enhance his performance at bat.  The home run king says he took the drugs on and off for 10 years, including in 1998, when he set baseball's single-season home run record.  McGwire says he regrets taking the steroids and wished he had “never played during the steroid era”.  McGwire's admittance came after recently accepting a job as the St. Louis Cardinals hitting coach.  McGwire's record of 70 home runs was surpassed by Barry Bonds' 73 homers in 2001 -- the year McGwire retired.  McGwire claims he deeply yearned to tell the truth in 2005 when he was questioned by members of Congress about his steroid use, but said that since he was not granted immunity, decided it was best to plead the Fifth Amendment.<br><br>Though not a huge baseball fan, I am glad that Mark McGwire has decided to be truthful, even if it is several years removed from the fact.  I suppose it's a case of “better late than never”.  He is just one of many M L B players to fall under accusations and scrutiny regarding performance enhancing drugs, and up until yesterday, was also one of many who lied about their use of them.<br><br>It is amazing how much weight is tied to telling the truth.  You could almost see the world being   lifted off of McGwire's broad shoulders as he tearfully admitted his transgressions to Bob Costas in a recent interview.  Maybe you too, know that feeling.  I can assure you that I do.  Many choose to withhold the truth about certain things in life for a number of different reasons.  And yet, many of us have learned the hard way that the words of Jesus found in John's Gospel was right and we were wrong.  We somehow think that covering up the truth about a matter is the pathway to freedom, when in reality, it is simply the pathway to a dark dungeon of guilt, regret, remorse, and pain ..... both for ourselves and those around us.  Mark McGwire's admission could very well keep him out of the Hall of Fame.  It may taint his home run record and give his career a black eye.  But, it will probably do one thing that lying did not do ..... help him  get a good nights sleep.  I bet someone reading this needs to take a lesson from Mr. McGwire.  Is the weight of the world between your shoulder blades?  Remember, you don't have to have Popeye forearms to lift it off of you.  Jesus will take care of that (:       <br>                    <br>  Go the extra mile - Devin            <br><br>