• A Friend Of Mine

  Contributed by Spencer Miller on Jun 3, 2013 (message contributor)

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  Scripture:  None

  Tags:  Commitment To Christ

  Denomination: Baptist

A FRIEND OF MINE

Branch Rickey, whose name was recently placed back into our memories in the wonderful movie '42' a story about the baseball great Jackie Robinson, was a devout Christian. Once while head of the old Brooklyn Dodgers, he attended negotiations involving a certain ballplayer's contract. But in the middle of the meeting, to everyone's surprise, Ricky threw down his pencil, pushed back his chair, and growled, "The deal's off."

"Why?" asked the astonished men. "We're coming along well with these negotiations."

"Because," said Rickey, "you've been talking about a friend of mine, and I don't like it."

"But what friend do you mean? We haven't been talking about anyone, let alone a friend of yours."

"Oh, yes, you have," replied Rickey. "You've mentioned Him in almost every sentence." And he referred them to their constant profane use of the name of Jesus Christ.

The men quickly apologized, and the negotiations continued, minus the cursing.