The man to the left is the new general manager of my beloved Texas Rangers. Jon Daniels, who at the ripe old age of 28, has landed one of only 30 coveted jobs in professional baseball -- general manager. Daniels, with his Ivy League pedigree, becomes the next in a new breed of general manager -- young, intelligent, saavy, and completely out of the old school loop.

The real question is: Will Jon Daniels be his own man or will he simply be a puppet on a string for de facto general manager, Buck Showalter?

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This coming Sunday, my thoughts will center around the theme of grace. Reflecting on grace this week has reminded me of the words of a hymn written all the way back in 1776 by A.M. Toplady. In a day and age when old hymns are relics, these words of this old hymn speak powerfully to imputed righteousness by God's grace.

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee;
Let the water and the blood,
From thy riven side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure,
Cleanse me from its guilt and power.

Not the labor of my hands
Can fulfill the law's demands;
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears forever flow,
All for sin could not atone,
Thou must save and Thou alone.

Nothing in my hand I bring:
Simply to thy cross I cling;Naked, come to thee for dress;
Helpless, look to thee for grace;
Vile I to the fountain fly:
Wash me Savior or I die.