A Life Worth Following

The following quotes were taken directly from Justin Sullivan’s journal.  The book, “A Life Worth Following” utilizes excerpts from his journal.  These excerpts were not used in the book but reading them will be well worth your time.   

1. Remember God is on our side and will cause our persecutors to fail.  Look to God in all things and do all for God’s glory.  Justin Sullivan 3/14/02

2. Have a godly restraint.  ONLY GOD’S WAY brings true reward.  Be forgiving and not revengeful.  Let God defend us.  Justin Sullivan 2/17/02

3. Search us, O God, and know our hearts today.  Try us and see if there be some wicked way in us.  Cleanse us from every sin and set us free.  Lord, why would you do this for me?  Why?  Justin Sullivan 2/8/02

4. Grow closer to God!  Justin Sullivan 2/16/02

5. Don’t be afraid to experience new forms of worship.  Delight in worshiping God!  Justin Sullivan 2/18/02

6. Seek God’s heart.  Justin Sullivan 2/22/02

7. Lord, give me the confidence this season to hit as well as I am able.  Amen.  Keep in mind that God is always in control of our lives.  Admit to His power so we don’t have to have it proven against our will.  Justin Sullivan 2/28/02

8. Don’t become supercritical of yourself.  It will block out all the good in life.  Justin Sullivan 3/1/02

9. Hold myself accountable.  Pray for other people.  Fight for Christ’s cause.  Justin Sullivan 3/2/02

10. Who is my spiritual “go to” guy?  Be a model for other people.  Help my team understand who Christ is.  Justin Sullivan 3/4/02

11. I am here and broken because I understand the nature of my sin.  I have a broken heart about it and I am ready to return to You Lord.  Give me guidance in all things.  Justin Sullivan 3/8/02

12. When reading the Bible, read it aloud.  This will help with my concentration.  Read the Bible every day.  Justin Sullivan 3/9/02

13. Be there for others during tough times.  Just my presence may help them.  God is always there for us.  In times of trial, God will clear a way for us.  Justin Sullivan 3/12/02

14. Never forget God’s glory.  Obey God in all things.  Justin Sullivan 3/13/03

15. Listen for God’s voice in all things.  Spiritual growth builds on spiritual experience.  Have faith in God and do my best even when less will qualify.  If I don’t do this, I am not being grateful.  Justin Sullivan 3/16/02

16. Trust God regardless.  Be faithful, even when others are not.  Justin Sullivan 3/18/02

17. Stay open to God’s will.  Go to Him for help in accomplishing it.  Justin Sullivan 3/20/02

18. Faithfully wait for God’s direction and destination in our lives.  Be patient.  3/21/02

19. I want to have faith like the Centurion in Matthew 8.  Our faith will never be betrayed.  Give God the throne to rule my life.  Justin Sullivan 3/23/20

20. God, be with me in everything.  Get everything done.  Unless repentance includes conversion, it is not worth much.  Prayer and confession lead to no avail if the sin continues.  3/25/02

21. Don’t forget the power of touch.  Don’t get caught up in tradition and miss the true purpose of our faith.  Remember the lost.  Justin Sullivan 3/26/02

22. I don’t always have to see to believe.  Have unseen faith in God.  Justin Sullivan 3/27/02

23. Embrace Conviction.  Justin Sullivan 3.28/02

24. Lord, provide me with a testimony that glorifies you.  Help me to avoid pride when giving my testimony.   Justin Sullivan 3/30/02

25. Don’t let preconceptions drive the way we react to others.  Justin Sullivan 4/1/02

26. Prayer can and will help in any circumstance.  Justin Sullivan 4/2/02

27. Be sensitive to others and do what God is telling you/me to do.  Thank You Lord for blessing my life.  Be a man of character.  Justin Sullivan 4/3/02

28. Don’t use God for what I want.  4/4/02

29. You must stay in the Bible.  Justin Sullivan 4/8/02

30. God has placed confidence in us by using our lives.  Have confidence in yourself.  Justin Sullivan 4/10/02

31. Be willing to sacrifice for others.  Justin Sullivan 4/12/02

32. Be humble.  4/15/02

Hello David Sullivan, my name is David Vallerand and for the last five years I had been the head baseball coach at Washington H.S in Washington Oklahoma.  Before that I was an assistant at Westmoore H.S. for 3 years (2000 - 2002) and I had an opportunity to meet Justin.  I will never forget the day.  I have told his story so many times when I get a chance to speak to groups about letting Jesus Christ shine in our lives!It was the 2002 season and we were playing Yukon in the Choctaw tournament.  I was hitting infield for the Jags and (like they always do) Yukon was lined up in front of the dugout watching us take our round.

As I finished hitting to the outfield, I jogged to home plate to start hitting infield to the infielders.  But before that we let our infielders throw it around the horn before I started.  As they were doing that I looked over at the Yukon dugout and at the front of their line was this young man with his catching gear on with the biggest smile I had ever seen before! 

 As the last ball from around the horn came home I started to hit infield and between every ball I could not help but look over at Justin.  Every time, he was looking at me with that same huge smile.  When I finished hitting infield, I started to pick up balls and walk to the dugout, only to be stopped by him.  Justin stopped me and shook my hand and told me good around of infield and good luck tonight.  He told me how he always loves playing Westmore because it was always a good game.It was a very short encounter, but one that as I walked back to the dugout I thought to myself; “Man there is something special and different about that young man!”

I’m thankful for a tool that will challenge people in the disciplines of authentic Christianity:  to learn to walk with the one who’s love for us doesn’t change with our on field successes and failures, in whose eyes our value remains constant and the one who deeply cares about who we are and not what we do. 

I’ve been a Christian since I was 9 years old, and throughout a high school, div. 1 college, and pro career, the most important thing in my life is the relationship I have with our Savior.  If a person want to reach his or her potential, it is vital that they learn to walk with God on a daily basis.  This is the reason why you need to experience this story, “A Life Worth Following”. 

My brother was my hero, the person I looked up to the most in my life. He had impeccable character, more than anyone I have ever known.  My brother was my best friend, my hero. He was one of those incredible human beings that was smart, athletic, a dynamic Christian, fun and an all-around humble nice guy. He had flawless character in each and every aspect of his life. He was honest, kind and exhibited integrity in all that he did. He was Valedictorian of Yukon High School in Yukon, Oklahoma, All-State Baseball Catcher, Academic All-Stater, Second Team All-American, Player of the Year for the Oklahoman, Player of the Year for the Coaches Association and the Jim Thorpe Player of the Year, just to name a few. He had high aspirations to play college baseball, pro-baseball and eventually be an orthopedic surgeon. All of these goals were within reach. He was heavily recruited by Division I schools, and pro baseball scouts had planned on drafting him on June 4th. He was a guy that everyone loved and could relate to, not a cocky athlete or an unapproachable intellectual; he was amazing.

You might notice that I keep using the words “had” and “was.”  My Mom and I received a phone call on June 3, 2002 that changed my life forever. This person, my brother, whom I looked up to more than anyone in my life, was driving his best friend and girlfriend home from work and was involved in a serious accident. It was 1:22 on a beautiful Monday afternoon, the Christian song “When the Rain Comes” was playing on the radio; it was just a normal day.  As he was showing his girlfriend an easier route to get home, suddenly tandem wheels broke off of an 18-wheeler and came hurtling toward them at a high speed. My brother had just seconds to react and turned the wheel where his side of the car would receive the entire impact. The car spun violently out of control resting near a concrete wall; a second 18-wheeler behind his car went into a jackknife but, luckily, was able to stop. My brother, my hero, was killed instantly. His girlfriend and best friend received minor injuries and were able to open their car doors and get safely out of the car. My brother had to be removed with the Jaws of Life. My brother was credited with saving both of their lives… some commented that he was “blocking to the very end,” since he was a catcher. The newspapers called him a hero, but he was my personal hero every day in my life.  The life I knew ended that day.  We had an incredible close-knit loving family that was extremely happy. We were all shattered. We were all changed forever. I never knew that I could experience a pain so deep. The memorial service the night before my brother’s funeral brought 500 friends that told story after story of the tremendous impact he had on their lives.  Over 2000 people attended his funeral.  I read from my brother’s daily devotional in front so many people who loved him. 

That day in June, I lost the person whose character I most admired, the person that I loved the most, and for me, this was a life-altering event. Through all of my grief, I made a conscious decision to not let this destroy me. My brother led such an incredible life in his short 18 years, and I knew I had to honor him and God with my own life. Through my daily tears, I became a better person, better student, better athlete, better Christian, better friend. I constantly had to remind myself that my brother would not have wanted his death to ruin my life, even though it easily could have. I chose the tougher path of living a life that would help others and be an encouragement and inspiration to those around me. My brother, my hero, prepared an incredible foundation for me that made my high school years easier.  This life-altering event of losing my hero in my life became a tragic building block for the rest of my life.