Congrat’s Tiger (you weasel)

Okay – Tiger’s a weasel.

Now that that is out of the way, I will say I’m glad he won today.  I know a lot of people (friends included) who don’t care one way or another about Tiger’s golf game anymore.  And there is a lot of justification for feeling that way.  But here’s the thing – I, and the world, have watched Tiger for so many years; he’s given us so many thrills, I just can’t help but be happy for him.  I don’t want to feel down on a guy for the rest of his life because he was stupid – beyond stupid.  I have a friend who says, “we’re all just one step away from stupid!”

And here’s the other thing – you may find this strange.  I really care for those athletes I enjoy watching.  This goes for others in the “limelight” of who I enjoy their work:  athlete’s, actors, authors, etc.  As a Christian, I want the best for them and, you may find this stranger, I actually pray for them.  Not every day, or even every month, but I will offer up a prayer when I see them in action or think of them while reading an article or watching an interview.  The prayer is usually about their standing before our God.  Do they know Him?  Have they heard the Gospel?  Do they know what Jesus Christ has done for them?  So I’ll pray that God would send someone to them to share the Gospel message with them.

I know Tiger is intrigued with an eastern religion.  I’ll pray for him tonight that He would come to know the true joy of knowing Christ.  That regardless of the wreck that he has made of his marriage and other relationships, God loves him, redemption is available, and there are people who care for him as a person.

So congratulations to Tiger today for a win to end his drought of 2 years and good luck in 2012!

Oh yeah, and Tiger – if you ever want to talk about that other stuff, shoot me an email.  It will only cost you some putting tips.  (Like that will happen)

A lesson from deer about temptation

Deer, deer, deer.  I’ve spent a lot of time on the Midwest highways this fall and it seems that deer and cars must somehow be attracted to each other.  The evidence of these unfortunate encounters (for the deer and insurance premiums) is everywhere.

So – it just got me wondering.  How can an animal with such great reflexes, the ability to see at night, which has truly incredible speed and jumping ability not stay away from terminal encounters with vehicles?  I mean think about it – deer are a truly amazing animal that you can’t get close to when you want to (ask any hunter); but they just get slaughtered on the roads.

I finally figured it out.

It’s because of context.  In the woods there are few things faster, larger, and more wary than themselves.  Very, very few predators have the size and speed to overtake them.  In the woods a deer knows the speed of other animals.  They know what is dangerous or not and they have the speed to deal with dangerous encounters.  They know their territory and enemy.

However, out of this context – on the road – they don’t understand the threat.  They see a car 200 yards away and can’t imagine the absolutely frightening speed and size of this predator.  They deal with it using information from a context which doesn’t apply.  And they lose.

I thought about this regarding our spiritual enemy. Although he has been beaten by Christ, he is still dangerous.  And he has ages of experience in knowing how to tempt his prey.  A person may think they have the ability, in and of themselves, to withstand him. But in our own strength it is a mismatch.  Men (Herman Cain? Jerry Sandusky? Bill Clinton? Bernie Madoff?) think they have the power to face the temptations of the evil one on their own and they are fatally wrong.  All we have to do is read the papers to see the travesty the evil one can inflict on humanity.  We cannot face him in our own context; we need Christ.  We need the Holy Spirit.  We need other believers to hold us accountable and hold us up.  It is a fatal mistake to think we can face him on our own.

But, by relying on the spiritual resources given to us, we can face him successfully and live a spirit-filled, powerful life for the Lord.

Perhaps you have been facing temptation in your own power and losing.  Christ gives you the ability to face it and win. Why not try relying on Him instead of relying on your own strength.

No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. (1Co 10:13 NKJ)

Grace Fellowship Video update – Nov 29