I think it is also the challenge of shooting that one amazing round. I had that today…for a moment. I was even par after a few holes including a birdie…don’t worry, it was downhill from there. I need golf after a long day of ministry or in the middle of a tough work week.
Golf draws me out of my hectic, stressful world and into something far from the norm. It really takes something that I love more than my job to get me from thinking of my job…I pray that you find the same passions that will take you to that place where God provides rest.
1. I hit someone in the chest with a 5 iron from a long way out…ouch! Glad he was on the receiving end, and I am glad he lived. I didn’t even yell FORE! I was young…
2. I almost got hit twice in the same day like 5 minutes apart at Deer Ridge in Bellville, yes, just last month! No one yelled FORE for us, and they weren’t young! Wanted to hit their ball back at them, but we restrained ourselves in the love of Christ.
3. Pastor Matt and I almost got hit by lighting (no, we really did) at Deer Ridge as well, last month as well. Maybe we shouldn’t golf in June.
4. I almost hit a deer on hole #10 at Black Diamond. Ask Pastor Matt. No joke, the thing jumped like 10 feet straight in the air as my ball hit right in front of it.
5. When Kevin Haggerty puts the cart in neutral down big hills (the cart gets up to speeds like 70 mph or something) and really almost killed Matt Beachy a few weeks ago. I really thought I was going to do 2 funerals. And he still does it to this day…takes a lot to scare me, but a golf cart that is top-heavy going around a curve at 70, with trees everywhere and squealing tires and Beachy squealing, will leave a lasting impression and give me flashbacks.
My Favorite 5 Courses I Play, as of Today:
1. Mohican Hills (Jeromesville)
1. Deer Ridge (Tie) (Bellville)
3. Black Diamond (Millersburg) [You better be a big man or woman to play this one.]
4. Royal American (Westerville) [Thanks to my brother-in-law for this links-style course he took me too, challenging and fun, and I will beat him next time, wait I probably did that day].
5. Pebble Beach (Monterrey, California) Well, I didn’t play this one, but I did sneak up the cliff rock wall on the beach side hole and took some sand from the sand trap as a souvenir. [It was a long time ago, so please don't write me nasty letters, you were a heathen once too...]
I know, you were expecting something more spiritual on my log, so I guess the spiritual side of golf is found in the book of James: “My brothers count it all JOY when you fall into various TRIALS and TEMPTATIONS, knowing that the testing of your faith produces PATIENCE.” Now you have a spiritual excuse to golf…
Here is the sermon outline:
1. There are many trials and temptations from the moment you take that first swing;
2. Through it all, those trials and temptations produces patience;
FORE!
