FROM HERO TO BROTHER

That you may know how I am doing…

a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord,

will make all things known to you (Ephesians 6:21).

Bobby Richardson was second baseman for the New York Yankees from 1955 to 1964, and was my boyhood hero. I wanted to grow up to be just like him…second baseman for the Yankees! And you know what? My prayer was truly answered! No, no…not the Yankee part! J God is showing me that Bobby’s identity is not based on what he did as a Yankee nor what he does now. Bobby is who God re-created him to be in Christ.

Identity is determined by what Christ has truly done for us through the cross, not by what we could ever do. And by God’s grace, I have indeed become just like Bobby Richardson…a new creation in Christ (Galatians 2:20, 2 Corinthians 5:17)!

We are truly brothers, with kindred spirits, as testified in his two responses to my newsletters:

Gregg, thanks for the booklet. Very much a blessing and a real ministry. Praying that 2002 will be a great year in the Lord. In Christ, Bobby.” And then later, “Gregg, just a note to thank you for your witness. Thanks for sending the booklet my way. Thanks, too, for your encouraging words. In Christ, Bobby.