Frank Pastore - Shattered: Struck Down, But Not Destroyed

Frank has become one of todays leading Christian thinkers. Shattered is the story of how God worked in his lifethe book will not only inspire and entertain, but it will also challenge each of us to grow in our own walk with God.

David Barton, Founder and President, Wallbuilders

Shattered tells Frank Pastores amazing story of going from being a pro baseball player and an atheist to becoming a fearless apologist and defender of the faith. Frank has a gift for taking the complex and making it understandable. He speaks and writes with passion. One of the best definitions of good communication is logic on fire. That is what Frank Pastore communicates, with great impact.

Greg Laurie, Senior Pastor, Harvest Christian Fellowship

Whether or not you were a fan of the Big Red Machine as I was growing up in Cincinnati, youll be inspired by Franks story. His purpose in life was not found on the mound of success and stardom, but in the valley of disappointment and despair. Youll find yourself laughing and crying (so dont read Shattered in public) as you walk with Frank in his discovery of lifes greatest treasures: faith and family.

Tony Perkins, President, Family Research Council

Frank and Gina have it all, talent and treasure. But add one more T... trouble. Lots of it. Yet its what makes their story so convincing and compelling. So believable. You may never have pitched in the Major Leagues, but heres a guy with whom youll genuinely identify. Its great reading and great inspiration!

Joni Eareckson Tada, Joni and Friends International Disability Center

Frank Pastore is not just the energetic host of a major syndicated radio show. But he is a complete testimony of the work of God. Shattered tells of Franks compelling journey through pain and recovery to healing and wholeness in Jesus. Its a great read.

Dr. Carl A. Moeller, President and CEO, Open Doors USA

Shattered

Copyright 2010 by Frank Pastore

All rights reserved. International copyright secured.

A Focus on the Family book published by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188

Focus on the Family and the accompanying logo and design are federally registered trademarks of Focus on the Family, Colorado Springs, CO 80995.

TYNDALE and Tyndales quill logo are registered trademarks of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

The author is represented by the literary agency of Wolgemuth & Associates.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwisewithout prior written permission of Focus on the Family.

Editor: Marianne Hering

Cover design by Erik M. Peterson Back cover and page 1 of color insert: Major League Baseball footage used with permission of Major League Baseball Properties, Inc.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Pastore, Frank, 1957- Shattered : struck down but not destroyed / Frank Pastore with Ellen Vaughn. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-1-58997-611-5 (alk. paper) 1. Pastore, Frank, 1957- 2. Christian biographyUnited States. I. Vaughn, Ellen Santilli. II. Title. BR1725. P273 [A3 2010] 277.3'082092dc22 [B] 2009051908

ISBN: 978-1-58997-611-5

To Michael John Pastore, my first grandson.

The generational chains of sin and bondage have been shattered. Ive written this book to inspire the hope and vision of your generation, and to remind you that our God is able to do great and wonderful things.

Foreword

Frank Pastore is the kind of leader we need most in todays Christian worlda clear thinker who talks straight. As a Major League baseball pitcher, Frank lived the American dream. He achieved the status symbols, prestige, and perks of the good life, as so many people today define it. But he was never satisfied... which led him on an insatiable quest for more. Then he began to realize hed never have enough, and that his atheistic worldview was, in fact, pretty porous. He shoved that thought to the side.

Then came a career-ending injury, a disaster that led to a whole new way of thinking and living as a follower of Jesus Christ.

I can relate to Frank. I wasnt a player on the baseball diamond, of course. My journey to faith began when I sat in the office next to the president of the United States, having achieved my professional dreams, and I realized that my success was, in fact, rather hollow. It took the disaster of Watergatea shattering, humbling experienceto lead me to the most fulfilling life I could have imagined, through the unlikely means of a prison sentence.

Usually, when God allows our dreams to be shattered, He has far better things in store for us, things we would not learn or achieve in any other way. You dont have to be a professional athlete or a special counsel to the president to know this. Everyone can relate to the pain of seeing a dream die. And hopefully, reading this book will help you see how God can use our greatest pains and defeats for our greatest gain, and that the life of the kingdom of God is lived in an entirely different dimension and on entirely different terms than life according to the values of this world.

I remember the first time I was a guest on Franks radio show. I was expecting a routine Christianese interview, the type of thing Id done a thousand times. I expected this ex-jock, prime-time host to be predictable. But I was struck immediately by the depth of Franks questions and the scope of his understanding. This was no ordinary interview. This guy knew his stuff. He knew my stuff!

Since then weve become good friends and colleagues. Frank Pastore is not just a big-league player; hes a big-league thinker. He sees the larger picture and the context in which Christianity needs to be proclaimed and lived. Frank is a brother whose heart beats with the passion of my heartworldview. Hes asking the right questions; he gets the big issues. He has a fast mind and is well versed on current events and how they play out from a Christian perspective.

If there was ever a time when believers need this kind of discernment, its now. America is caught in the perfect cultural storm. We have a financial meltdown caused largely by moral failures in government, on Wall Street, and in the public sector. Were paying the bill for decades of self-indulgence, fueled by rampant relativism, rejection of the Christian work ethic, and materialism. And theres an army of Islamic jihadists at the gate; their greatest dream is to destroy Israel and the Western world.

We need fresh voices like Franks, voices that can reinvigorate the church with a sense of hope, deeper discipleship, and worldview teaching. His radio program is fittingly called the intersection of faith and reasonjust what we need most in todays world.

This is the spirit of Franks book. Its also a great readfun, fast, and a real page-turner. Thats because Ellen Vaughn helped put Franks story into words. Since Ellen and I have been writing colleagues for more than 20 years, I can attest that no one can tell a story better than Ellen.

Frank Pastore is one of the fresh new voices in todays Christian market. Hes the kind of person the church desperately needs. We can all relate to his story. Its hilarious, poignant, insightfuland most important, its not really all about Frank. Its about a God who loves us enough to seek us out, draw us to Himself, and restore and heal our lives for a greater purpose beyond ourselves.