10 May, 2007
Police: Hancock drunk at time of crash
St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Josh Hancock was drunk and talking on his cell phone at the time of his fatal accident, and marijuana was found in the sport utility vehicle he was driving.
Hancock's blood-alcohol level was 0.157, nearly twice Missouri's legal limit of 0.08, Graham said.
An accident reconstruction team determined Hancock was traveling 68 mph in a 55 mph zone when his SUV struck the back of a flatbed tow truck stopped in a driving lane. Mokwa said there was no evidence Hancock tried to stop. He did swerve, but too late to avoid the collision.
Mokwa said Hancock was speaking with a female acquaintance about baseball and baseball tickets and that the conversation ended abruptly, apparently when the accident occurred. A police report said Hancock told the female acquaintance he was on his way to another bar, and that he planned to meet her there.
Hancock, a key bullpen member on the World Series championship team last season, was driving alone.
"I think it's probably a wakeup call to everybody," general manager Walt Jocketty said at a news conference at Busch Stadium. "The one thing they have to understand is they're not invincible. They have to conduct themselves and make better decisions. Unfortunately, Josh didn't make very good decisions that night."
photo courtesy images.google.com & story foxsports.com, 5/9/07
Choose wisely
Proverbs 3:21-26
21 My son, do not lose sight of these—
keep sound wisdom and discretion,
22 and they will be life for your soul
and adornment for your neck.
23 Then you will walk on your way securely,
and your foot will not stumble.
24 If you lie down, you will not be afraid;
when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
25 Do not be afraid of sudden terror
or of the ruin of the wicked, when it comes,
26 for the Lord will be your confidence
and will keep your foot from being caught. (ESV)
What does today's God's Story scripture teach us about our need for Godly wisdom?
Wisdom is one of the megathemes of Proverbs. One reason God gave us this book and this passage is because He wants His children to be wise.
Every day we can choose one of two paths. We can be independent, rebellious, or just ignore God and stumble along the path of the fool. Or, we can choose God's way and He will give us wisdom. God's wisdom comes to us through His Word made clear to us through His Spirit living in us.
This is what abiding in Christ is all about. Staying connected to Jesus provides us the Godly wisdom we need to live right, have right relationships, and make right choices.
Please understand that I do not know the spiritual perspective of Josh Hancock nor am I judging him. Only God knows Josh's full story.
But the Cardinals' general manager said "Josh didn't make very good decisions that night."
Heartbreaking. It sounds like this baseball star had everything that many people in this world believe is the key to happiness. But he obviously did not have Godly wisdom. If only he had made the right choices.
Godly wisdom can be the difference between life and death.
How can we connect today's God's Story to our lives?
- Remember that choosing Godly wisdom must be daily. If you find yourself wandering over to the path of "the fool" during the day, then choose God's path of wisdom hourly, every 15 minutes, or minute by minute.
- Stay on the path of Godly wisdom by staying connected to Jesus through time in His Word, praying, and spending time with others who desire to abide in Christ.
- Keep a written journal. Record your Godly choices and foolish choices. After one month, review your journal to see if you have been walking the path of Godly wisdom.
- Talk to God right now in prayer. Spend a few minutes in complete honesty with Jesus. He will show you where you've been making unwise choices and how to make Godly ones.
How can we connect today's story, God's Story and our story to others?
- Pray for the family and friends of Josh Hancock. Ask God to give them His loving comfort.
- Pray for your friends or family members who are making wrong choices. Ask Jesus to show them His love and to use you to be an example of Godly wisdom.
- Pray every day for Jesus to give you the courage you need to make Godly choices in front of others who don't know Jesus. Walking the path of wisdom can be very lonely, but it can also lead to opportunities to connect your story and their stories.
- Use today's story about the death of Josh Hancock to help others think about making good choices. Remember to express your care and concern without blasting others about their poor choices.
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