This weekend was the annual playing of the Masters golf tournament in Augusta, Georgia. The world's best golfers assembled to compete in this event. All the hype was directed at Tiger Woods.
The analysts agreed this was the year of the "Tiger". He had won all but one event he had played in this season. They (analysts) could not help but talk about Tiger winning the Grand Slam of golf. This is when a player wins all four "Majors" in the same year. Bobby Jones is the only golfer ever to do so.
The media loves building hype around Tiger. He is one of the best golfers ever but I am not ready to call him the best. History proved true again this week. Tiger has never won a major when he was trailing going into the final round. Tiger found himself in fifth place, six shots behind leader beginning the final round. He amazed the crowd with a final round score of 72. He missed puts and never really found his rhythm on Sunday. I believe he was distracted by all the hype.
Winning the Grand Slam of golf should never be mentioned until a player has won the first three majors of the season. The media desperately long for Tiger to accomplish this milestone. The media has already created a "Tiger Slam". Tiger held the four major championships over the course of two seasons. This is not a slam. I hope the golf analysts will post-pone their coronation of Tiger as the best ever until he has broken most if not all the records.
Monday, April 14, 2008
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Small town hero
I live in a small town and receive the local newspaper, The Wallace Enterprise. This week on the front page was an article on the war in Iraq. Wallace lost a native son, Staff Sgt. Emanuel Pickett. Pickett was killed by enemy fire while protecting a Forward Operating Base near Baghdad. He was 34 years old.
This week our little community has grieved together. Emanuel had been a member of the Wallace Police Department for 12 years. He also worked at a local butcher shop, Billy's Pork & Beef. Local businesses have placed bows on their doors in memory of Pickett.
I have read numerous articles in the national papers but never has one pulled at my heart like this one. This article has testified how a man from a small town made a difference in the large world we live in. I am very proud of all the men and women who voluntarily fight to protect the freedoms I enjoy. Emanuel paid the ultimate price for his family, friends and country.
As I think about Emanuel's sacrifice, I ponder John 15:13. "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." We all can not go over seas and fight in the war but we can give of ourselves sacrificially here at home.
This week our little community has grieved together. Emanuel had been a member of the Wallace Police Department for 12 years. He also worked at a local butcher shop, Billy's Pork & Beef. Local businesses have placed bows on their doors in memory of Pickett.
I have read numerous articles in the national papers but never has one pulled at my heart like this one. This article has testified how a man from a small town made a difference in the large world we live in. I am very proud of all the men and women who voluntarily fight to protect the freedoms I enjoy. Emanuel paid the ultimate price for his family, friends and country.
As I think about Emanuel's sacrifice, I ponder John 15:13. "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." We all can not go over seas and fight in the war but we can give of ourselves sacrificially here at home.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Luke 15:11-32 "Shoes"
You can learn a lot about a person by noticing their shoes. People wear various shoes depending on their occupation or recreation. The weather often determines the type of shoes a person might wear. As I pondered this topic of shoes, three types of shoes came to my mind.
The first type I thought of was baby shoes. Everyday is a new adventure full of little steps, bumps, bruises, and the occasional fall for the child wearing these shoes. These shoes often find trouble and mischief without the notice of any surrounding danger. These little shoes belong to individuals who can not wait for anything, they want what they want immediately.
The second type of shoe was the work boot. This shoe is tough and dependable. This shoe is expected to perform when worn. Rain or shine this shoe must keep the foot warm, dry, and protected from the elements.
The final shoe was a bedroom slipper. This shoe is warm, soft and comfortable. It is usually worn in a safe environment. People usually wear these shoes until they are tattered and torn.
As I meditated on these various shoes I read Luke 15:11-32. I could not help but classify the three characters of this parable by the three types of shoes I had thought about.
The younger son must have been wearing the baby shoes. He impatiently wanted his inheritance to go and explore a world full of new and exciting things. He chased after life and in the process received numerous bumps and bruises. He saw no danger in leaving home at such a young age.
The elder son was wearing the work boots. He had been someone the father could depend on. He had expectations for the younger son upon his return. The elder son expected the father to exercise wrath on his brother and was full of resentment when the father did celebrated the younger son's return.
The father was walking in the bedroom slippers. The father was soft and warm for both sons. He made each son comfortable. The father offered forgiveness to the younger while providing affirmation and assurance to the elder.
Henri Nouwen wrote a book titled The Return of the Prodigal Son. In this book, he proposes that it is our task to move from the position of the younger son or the elder son to the position of the father. As I stated earlier, you can learn a lot by noticing the shoes people are wearing. I believe each of us has worn the shoes of the younger and elder brother. Some of us might even be trying out the shoes of the father. I agree with Nouwen. We must grow in our faith so that we can wear the shoes of the father.
Take a moment right now to ponder the shoes you are wearing. Are they the shoes of the younger or elder son? The good news is you do not have to wear these shoes forever. You can change shoes today. What might I learn about you if I noticed your shoes today?
The first type I thought of was baby shoes. Everyday is a new adventure full of little steps, bumps, bruises, and the occasional fall for the child wearing these shoes. These shoes often find trouble and mischief without the notice of any surrounding danger. These little shoes belong to individuals who can not wait for anything, they want what they want immediately.
The second type of shoe was the work boot. This shoe is tough and dependable. This shoe is expected to perform when worn. Rain or shine this shoe must keep the foot warm, dry, and protected from the elements.
The final shoe was a bedroom slipper. This shoe is warm, soft and comfortable. It is usually worn in a safe environment. People usually wear these shoes until they are tattered and torn.
As I meditated on these various shoes I read Luke 15:11-32. I could not help but classify the three characters of this parable by the three types of shoes I had thought about.
The younger son must have been wearing the baby shoes. He impatiently wanted his inheritance to go and explore a world full of new and exciting things. He chased after life and in the process received numerous bumps and bruises. He saw no danger in leaving home at such a young age.
The elder son was wearing the work boots. He had been someone the father could depend on. He had expectations for the younger son upon his return. The elder son expected the father to exercise wrath on his brother and was full of resentment when the father did celebrated the younger son's return.
The father was walking in the bedroom slippers. The father was soft and warm for both sons. He made each son comfortable. The father offered forgiveness to the younger while providing affirmation and assurance to the elder.
Henri Nouwen wrote a book titled The Return of the Prodigal Son. In this book, he proposes that it is our task to move from the position of the younger son or the elder son to the position of the father. As I stated earlier, you can learn a lot by noticing the shoes people are wearing. I believe each of us has worn the shoes of the younger and elder brother. Some of us might even be trying out the shoes of the father. I agree with Nouwen. We must grow in our faith so that we can wear the shoes of the father.
Take a moment right now to ponder the shoes you are wearing. Are they the shoes of the younger or elder son? The good news is you do not have to wear these shoes forever. You can change shoes today. What might I learn about you if I noticed your shoes today?
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Congested Area
While traveling to the beach, I passed through a rural community where I noticed a sign which read "Congested Area." The sign was new to me. It made me notice how the community had no more room for additional home sites.
As I pondered row upon row of houses, I began to consider my life and how congested it had become. I feel as if I am only connecting the dots of each day. It seems every day I am living out of my calendar. The waves of life seem overwhelming most of the time. Stress seems to be my companion as I somewhat drift with the tides of balancing family, church, work, and school. The ebb and flow of each day seems to wear me thin. At times I often wonder how I managed to get myself into this mess. I feel pushed and pulled in every direction.
Then, out of the chaos, God speaks to me through the eyes of my daughter. I must stop and hold her while I feed her with a bottle. It is during these quiet moments I gaze into her blue eyes and the stress of life melts away. For that instance, all that matters in her world is the touch of my skin and the warm milk in her bottle.
As I focus on my little girl, I am reminded of my heavenly Father and his desire t meet all of my needs, just as I long to provide for her. Do I spend time daily gazing into the eyes of God, experiencing his love and concern for me, as my little girl stares into my eyes? We need to spend more time each day in our heavenly Father's arms. Perhaps, instead of putting more irons in the fire, it is time for me to put up a "Congested Area" sign.
As I pondered row upon row of houses, I began to consider my life and how congested it had become. I feel as if I am only connecting the dots of each day. It seems every day I am living out of my calendar. The waves of life seem overwhelming most of the time. Stress seems to be my companion as I somewhat drift with the tides of balancing family, church, work, and school. The ebb and flow of each day seems to wear me thin. At times I often wonder how I managed to get myself into this mess. I feel pushed and pulled in every direction.
Then, out of the chaos, God speaks to me through the eyes of my daughter. I must stop and hold her while I feed her with a bottle. It is during these quiet moments I gaze into her blue eyes and the stress of life melts away. For that instance, all that matters in her world is the touch of my skin and the warm milk in her bottle.
As I focus on my little girl, I am reminded of my heavenly Father and his desire t meet all of my needs, just as I long to provide for her. Do I spend time daily gazing into the eyes of God, experiencing his love and concern for me, as my little girl stares into my eyes? We need to spend more time each day in our heavenly Father's arms. Perhaps, instead of putting more irons in the fire, it is time for me to put up a "Congested Area" sign.
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