A photo in my office shows Joe Louis, a sports commentator, and me. Joe and the sports commentator were playing golf. I was caddying for Joe. At the time, I was 14, and Joe Louis, the former Heavyweight Boxing Champion of the World, was everybody’s hero. I considered it a privilege to be his caddy, and to this day I treasure his autograph and the photo.
Joe was good golfer. He hit long, low, straight drives, but had a tendency to “punch” the ball. He was also a gentleman.
Struggles face the Christian who endeavors to live according to the Bible. Trials and temptations might knock us down for the 10 count if it were not for the Lord’s sustaining grace and our resolve to “fight the good fight of faith “(1 Timothy 6:12). I can assure you the “fight” doesn’t slacken as we grow older, but neither does the Lord’s promise to take care of us. He said, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9).
Friday, January 9, 2009
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Victory Lies Just Beyond the Bunker
Every golfer has been there: in a sand trap, behind a tree, in a gully, in a thick rough, in a bunker. At such times we can decide to sell our clubs, give them away, or relax, keep the head down, and play a recovery shot that our golf buddies will recall for a long time.
A plaque in a bunker in the rough, off the left side of the 17th fairway at Royal Lytham & St. Anne’s in Blackpool, England, bears silent testimony to a historic and dramatic recovery shot. Playing in the 1926 Open Championship and tied with Al Watrous, Bobby Jones Jr. hit a 5 iron out of the bunker’s sand. The ball sailed 170 yards over the rough and landed on the green, inside Watrous’s second shot. Jones parred the hole. Apparently, Watrous was so unnerved by Jones’s recovery shot that he three-putted and lost the championship and its $100,000 prize.
Sometimes in spite of our best efforts to follow the straight and narrow path God has marked out for us in His Word, we wander into a bunker, and feel like giving up. Fortunately, God grants recovery shots. Our greatest victory may lie just beyond the bunker.
Peter was determined to follow the Lord closely. Courageously, but self-confidently, he boasted he would never deny the Lord (Matthew 26:35). But later, when the Lord was arrested and subjected to an illegal trial, Peter denied three times that he was one of the Lord’s followers. He failed to confess Christ even in the presence of a young servant girl (vv. 69-74). Peter had fallen into a bunker, and he might have stayed there a long time if our Lord wasn’t such a master of recovery shots.
Following His resurrection, Jesus restored Peter to Himself and commissioned him to feed His sheep (John 21:15-17). Not long after this restoration, Peter preached to a massive crowd of Jews gathered in Jerusalem for the Feast of Pentecost. Three thousand in the audience responded by believing on Christ (Acts 2:14-41). Peter’s greatest victory had occurred just beyond the bunker.
Hebrews 10:35 cheers us on to victory: “Do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward.” No matter how impossible a challenge seems today, trust God to turn it into an opportunity to manifest His power. He can get you out of the bunker in fine shape.
—From Out of the Rough by Jim Dyet © 1996, Thomas Nelson Publishers
A plaque in a bunker in the rough, off the left side of the 17th fairway at Royal Lytham & St. Anne’s in Blackpool, England, bears silent testimony to a historic and dramatic recovery shot. Playing in the 1926 Open Championship and tied with Al Watrous, Bobby Jones Jr. hit a 5 iron out of the bunker’s sand. The ball sailed 170 yards over the rough and landed on the green, inside Watrous’s second shot. Jones parred the hole. Apparently, Watrous was so unnerved by Jones’s recovery shot that he three-putted and lost the championship and its $100,000 prize.
Sometimes in spite of our best efforts to follow the straight and narrow path God has marked out for us in His Word, we wander into a bunker, and feel like giving up. Fortunately, God grants recovery shots. Our greatest victory may lie just beyond the bunker.
Peter was determined to follow the Lord closely. Courageously, but self-confidently, he boasted he would never deny the Lord (Matthew 26:35). But later, when the Lord was arrested and subjected to an illegal trial, Peter denied three times that he was one of the Lord’s followers. He failed to confess Christ even in the presence of a young servant girl (vv. 69-74). Peter had fallen into a bunker, and he might have stayed there a long time if our Lord wasn’t such a master of recovery shots.
Following His resurrection, Jesus restored Peter to Himself and commissioned him to feed His sheep (John 21:15-17). Not long after this restoration, Peter preached to a massive crowd of Jews gathered in Jerusalem for the Feast of Pentecost. Three thousand in the audience responded by believing on Christ (Acts 2:14-41). Peter’s greatest victory had occurred just beyond the bunker.
Hebrews 10:35 cheers us on to victory: “Do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward.” No matter how impossible a challenge seems today, trust God to turn it into an opportunity to manifest His power. He can get you out of the bunker in fine shape.
—From Out of the Rough by Jim Dyet © 1996, Thomas Nelson Publishers
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Grammar
Do you wonder how some TV reporters and ad writers got hired? You would think they would have learned English grammar long before they entered their careers. Here are a few examples of their bad grammar:
“Buy one and get the second one for free.”
“The officers found the body laying in the street.”
“The accident happened just outside of town.”
“He is one of the better punt returners in the league.”
“The car veered off the road and sunk in the pond behind me.”
“It has already started snowing where I am at.”
“Learning is so fun.”
Did you find the errors? If you did, give yourself a round of applause. Here are the corrected statements:
“Buy one and get the second one free.”
“The officers found the body lying in the street.”
“The accident happened just outside town.”
“He is one of the best punt returners in the league.”
“The car veered off the road and sank in the pond behind me.”
“It has already started snowing where I am.”
“Learning is so much fun.”
I feel much better now! Class dismissed!
“Buy one and get the second one for free.”
“The officers found the body laying in the street.”
“The accident happened just outside of town.”
“He is one of the better punt returners in the league.”
“The car veered off the road and sunk in the pond behind me.”
“It has already started snowing where I am at.”
“Learning is so fun.”
Did you find the errors? If you did, give yourself a round of applause. Here are the corrected statements:
“Buy one and get the second one free.”
“The officers found the body lying in the street.”
“The accident happened just outside town.”
“He is one of the best punt returners in the league.”
“The car veered off the road and sank in the pond behind me.”
“It has already started snowing where I am.”
“Learning is so much fun.”
I feel much better now! Class dismissed!
Saturday, January 3, 2009
My Perspective on Russia in Prophecy
I suppose it is normal at the start of a new year to think about the future more than at any other time. And there is plenty to think about. Conflict in the Middle East is intense. Israeli troops have begun a ground operation in Gaza. Terrorism has recently struck India and Pakistan. Iran may be on the verge of acquiring nuclear weapons. Taliban forces seem to be growing more aggressive in Afghanistan, and the Russian bear has been menacing Eastern Europe.
When Communism failed and the Soviet Union fell apart, some Christians began to question the prophetic view that Russia would be an evil end-times super power. Now, however, it is not difficult to see her in that role.
Here’s my take on Russia in prophecy. In the middle of the Tribulation, the false prophet in Israel will erect an idol in the Temple in honor of the head of the Revived Roman Empire. However, God will not allow idolatry to go unpunished. Just as He punished ancient Israel’s idolatry by sending a northern aggressor, Babylon, against Israel, even so He will send the Russian bear and its allies against idolatrous Israel in the Tribulation (Ezekiel 38, 39; Joel 2:1-11). The erection of the idol in the Temple will serve as a signal to righteous Jews to flee into the mountains, “for then there will be great tribulation” (Matthew 24:21a).
Current world conditions seem as stable as a plate of Jell-O in an earthquake, but God is omnipotent and sovereign. The darkness of the Tribulation will give way to the brightness of Jesus’ return to rule the world in righteousness. Nations that oppose Him will feel His wrath, and all who love Him will bask in His radiance.
When Communism failed and the Soviet Union fell apart, some Christians began to question the prophetic view that Russia would be an evil end-times super power. Now, however, it is not difficult to see her in that role.
Here’s my take on Russia in prophecy. In the middle of the Tribulation, the false prophet in Israel will erect an idol in the Temple in honor of the head of the Revived Roman Empire. However, God will not allow idolatry to go unpunished. Just as He punished ancient Israel’s idolatry by sending a northern aggressor, Babylon, against Israel, even so He will send the Russian bear and its allies against idolatrous Israel in the Tribulation (Ezekiel 38, 39; Joel 2:1-11). The erection of the idol in the Temple will serve as a signal to righteous Jews to flee into the mountains, “for then there will be great tribulation” (Matthew 24:21a).
Current world conditions seem as stable as a plate of Jell-O in an earthquake, but God is omnipotent and sovereign. The darkness of the Tribulation will give way to the brightness of Jesus’ return to rule the world in righteousness. Nations that oppose Him will feel His wrath, and all who love Him will bask in His radiance.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Year-End Rambling
Here we are at the end of another year. It has been a fairly busy one. I served as an interim pastor throughout the year in Penrose, Colorado, but I didn’t write any books, just a couple of VBS courses, seven articles, and a month-long devotional guide. Oh yes, I mentored about 70 students on line as they pursued the Jerry Jenkins Christian Writers Guild Apprentice course, and also mentored four or five in the Journeyman course. I expect 2009 to be even less busy than 2008.
Too many friends died in 2008, but they passed into the presence of Christ. Threats of terrorism, the possibility of a deeper recession, and global conflicts cannot touch them. Perfect peace and joy surround them now and forever. Their demise communicates a sense of life’s brevity and uncertainty. I need to permeate 2009’s moments and days with meaningful words and deeds.
A cancer diagnosis in July may require medical treatment in 2009, but I believe my doctors know what they are doing. I am even more confident that the Great Physician does not make any mistakes.
Our granddaughter Kayla spent a couple of days with us this week. She is 12 and going on 30. Like most pre-teens, she is a texting pro and an avid shopper. I dropped her and her grandmother off at the mall a couple of times, and then returned home to work and rest.
Kayla’s older sister Jessica is researching colleges, including Palm Beach Atlantic University. If you know anything about this university, please tell me what you think of it. Gloria and I were living in Illinois when Jessica was born. It is hard to believe she is 16 already.
Enough rambling! May you have a blessed New Year! This may be the year of our Lord’s return to whisk the Church to Heaven.
Too many friends died in 2008, but they passed into the presence of Christ. Threats of terrorism, the possibility of a deeper recession, and global conflicts cannot touch them. Perfect peace and joy surround them now and forever. Their demise communicates a sense of life’s brevity and uncertainty. I need to permeate 2009’s moments and days with meaningful words and deeds.
A cancer diagnosis in July may require medical treatment in 2009, but I believe my doctors know what they are doing. I am even more confident that the Great Physician does not make any mistakes.
Our granddaughter Kayla spent a couple of days with us this week. She is 12 and going on 30. Like most pre-teens, she is a texting pro and an avid shopper. I dropped her and her grandmother off at the mall a couple of times, and then returned home to work and rest.
Kayla’s older sister Jessica is researching colleges, including Palm Beach Atlantic University. If you know anything about this university, please tell me what you think of it. Gloria and I were living in Illinois when Jessica was born. It is hard to believe she is 16 already.
Enough rambling! May you have a blessed New Year! This may be the year of our Lord’s return to whisk the Church to Heaven.
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