Cincinnati Reds pitcher Frank Pastore stepped onto the mound in Dodger Stadium to throw another fastball—something he’d done thousands of times since childhood. But this time was different. The batter connected and the ball came rocketing back to the mound, shattering not only Frank’s pitching elbow—but also his dream of getting “rich and famous” through Major League Baseball.™ As he walked to the training room, Frank found himself asking a God he didn’t believe in, “Why is this happening to me?” There was no answer—at least not then. It was this injury that sent Frank, a lifelong atheist, on a journey that would change not only his mind but also his whole life—as a husband, father, friend, and troubled son. We all know the pain of shattered dreams. We’ve all wondered how to pick up the broken pieces after a crisis. We’ve all wondered, “Where is God?” when life hurts so bad. This is a story of how the fragments of broken dreams can be reassembled into even bigger and better things. A story of how, when life’s disasters and difficulties knock us down, they don’t have to destroy us. This is a story that shows how all of us can come to know we’re in God’s good hands. Even when we’re shattered.
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"This is a Christian book, but anyone who is a fan of baseball will like it. "
— Theresa (4 out of 5 stars)
“In this compelling memoir, Pastore recounts how his passion for the game of baseball set him on a spiritual roller coaster ride that resulted in the discovery of his true calling. His conversational narration tells of his childhood, especially his odd and dysfunctional parents who launched him on the path to his pitching career, and then moves to the cataclysmic end of that career when his elbow was shattered. As narrator, he uses a controlled tone when revealing painful moments, yet his humanity comes through loud and clear. Shattered will minister to all and sundry—those who are spiritually sound and those who are struggling.”
— AudioFile" This is a Christian book, but anyone who is a fan of baseball will like it. "
— Theresa, 4/26/2013" The true story of a major league pitcher and his journey to Christ. "
— Pamela, 10/15/2012" Just can't relate to a zero-to-sixty religious conversion... But it's always interesting to read about what people go through, how they deal, and their perspectives. I'm just too liberal of a Christian to understand Evangelicals! "
— Ellen, 10/13/2012" Amazing story; very moving and yet very witty. "
— Mary, 2/24/2011" Amazing story; very moving and yet very witty. "
— Mary, 7/26/2010
Ellen Vaughn is an award-winning author and speaker. She speaks frequently at Christian retreats and has been featured at writers’ seminars in the US and Canada. A native of Washington DC, Vaughn and her husband, Lee, live in Virginia with daughter Emily, twins Walker and Haley, and an enormous dog named after C. S. Lewis.
Ellen Vaughn is an award-winning author and speaker. She speaks frequently at Christian retreats and has been featured at writers’ seminars in the US and Canada. A native of Washington DC, Vaughn and her husband, Lee, live in Virginia with daughter Emily, twins Walker and Haley, and an enormous dog named after C. S. Lewis.