Hole #6
Golf is a pretty funny "sport".
In fact there are a lot of people that make fun of the fact that it is called a "sport". Normally by people who really have no idea of what is involved.
Things like, "how can it be a sport when all you have to do is hit a ball with a club and then drive up to it in a cart."
I have even heard someone suggest that "it is not a sport if you don't at least run or break a sweat from the exercise."
While others tell me "that golf is a piece of cake because they have played it on their Wii."(mind you these same people have never been on a golf course)
So there you go all you avid golfers, it is a piece of cake! Just remember that the next time your taking an approach shot to the green over the water.
I do believe that golf is a fairly straightforward sport. It is fun and could be considered relaxing but i am not sure about the easy part.
It is real easy to watch it on television and say it is easy, quite another thing to actually pick up the clubs and attempt playing. There is a lot more involved than just picking up the club and hitting the ball. The outside factors (wind, noise, water and sand hazzards, and other distractions) play a huge role in how you finish the game.
In Christianity, like golf, there are a lot of mockers.
There are a lot of people who call Christians hypocrites.
There are a lot of people who make fun of Christians.
From the outside looking in they see what we say we believe. They know how a Christian is suppose to act, but they see us (Christians) fail.
They see us stumble.
And why is that? Why do we stub our toe so often? Shouldn't it be easy? We have the book. We know what's right and wrong. We know the ultimate goal is to reach out to others, to "go". When He tells us He is with us always.
Matthew 28:19-20 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
So why do we have such problems? Why do we fall short?
Could it be priorities?
Could it be focus?
Could it be our surroundings?
Well, yes to all of those questions.
But, what are we saying to to God when we don't focus on the "prize"?
When He is not our number 1 priority?
What are we idolizing instead of focusing on Him?
Exodus 20:1-4 And God spoke all these words: "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. "You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below."
Where are our priorities when others pull us away from what we need to be focused on?
The outside factors of life play a huge role in how we finish our earthly stay.
2 Corinthians 4:8-9 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.
We need to remember that while some will make fun of our faith, and some will make fun of us and call names, that we are not here to please them. In fact, a lot of people will not like what we have to say about giving up sinful ways and desires.
But ultimately we are not here to have the most friends on facebook.
We are not here to be loved by everyone.
We are here to reflect Christ.
So focus on the goal....press on towards the prize.
Philippians 3:12-14 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Push distractions aside. If you mess up, there is forgiveness in Christ. Pick yourself up and get back on the narrow path.
This hole worked out rather well fo us. I had to stay focused and pay attention to the goal (the green), but I made it out with a par.
If this game was so easy, I should be way under par by this time of the day.
But I am one over, and that is OK.
I will do my best and tackle each shot as it comes. Pressing on to hole #7.
Hole #7 should be fun. It is the #1 handicaped hole on the course. WooHoo!
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