On The Island of Misfit Golf Equipment

How would you like to be a Ping driver....with no handle cover? Or Callaway ball...with no dimples? Or a tee that can't keep a ball on it? We're all misfits! How would you like to be a golf bag....that only holds a bowling ball? Or a divot repair tool...that is bigger than a pointed shovel? We're all misfits.

If we're on the Island of Unwanted Golf Equipment

We'll miss all the fun with the girls and the boys

When Christmas Day is here

The most wonderful, wonderful, wonderful, wonderful, wonderful day of the year!

You do recognize this is a satire of a Christmas song taken from Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer, don't you? The Island of Misfit Toys?

We all have them. Stashed away in the garage or somewhere out of the way, they have lost their identity and there sits the misfit clubs and balls and whatever else that is golf related. I have some misfit iron clubs that do not fit in a set that I rotate in and out. I also have some pond

balls that I have found that are sitting on the Island of Unwanted Golf Equipment.

I have a suggestion: rather than selling them on ebay or Craig's List, how about donating them to the Salvation Army or Thrifty Shopper. Sometimes, a person can put together a golf bag of misfit clubs from the Thrifty Shopper and start learning how to play the most mental and physical game that can reduce your confidence and pound you over the head with humiliation and emberassment...starting with the first tee jitters. Hey...that's what golf is all about. People who can play together and bond, even if you throw a golf club farther than you can hit the ball.

Did you see the catch phrase twice in the first paragraph? We are all misfits. Now, I am going to offer two spiritual prongs of how this applies to our lives on a daily basis. First, in God's eyes, we are not misfits. He sees everyone of us as being stamped with His image. He created us in His own image, both male and female. If you don't believe me, check out the Bible in Genesis chapters 1 - 5. However, we make our own decisions and goals and scripts to life without prayer nor reading God's Word. That is not a good thing. We become misfits on our own behalf. But there is hope! If we open our hearts and allow God to speak to us and we have a trust relationship with Jesus Christ, God can use us to minister to others. Check the four gospel books in the new testament on the life of Christ. He called twelve deciples out of their misfit occupations; fishermen, tax collectors, carpenters, and the list goes on. In the Old Testament, Moses felt like a misfit and asked God what should He tell the Pharoah? Moses had a speech problem, and yet, God took a misfit of The Island of Misfit Leaders and gave him the words to say..."say that I AM sent you."

It is okay to be a misfit. As a matter of fact, God sees you as more compliable clay and let God be the potter. God doesn't care whether you won the golf game or if you have very little talent. He is looking for a few good men who are willing to serve Him with a misfit attitude and stay on course with God.

Trading Black Friday for Green Friday.

Some people enjoy waiting in line for hours to get that great sale that they run out of by the time you are ready to enter the store. I tried it last year and it is not a good experience. Black Friday. What a hype over what appears to be good deals.

I changed it to Green Friday this year. My dad, brother, nephew and I golfed 18 holes yesterday in Virgil, NY. It was nicely groomed and the greens were fast. We had a terrific time. I have come to the conclusion that it is good to have three complete sets of clubs. My brother and nephew were up from South Carolina and had no room for any clubs. I had extra sets and we had a great time. I am thinking that this is the last time any of my clubs will see daylight until 2012 when i visit South Carolina in the spring.

You must be wondering how this is going to apply to a spiritual lesson. I am glad you asked. Black Friday is like this underground sales incentive to bring early Christmas shoppers to their store. Green Friday is the day I made up to describe a great sunny, fifty-five degree day for 18 holes of golf.

What about Good Friday? Very few stores, companies, etc. observe this anymore. I have heard it politically correct to say "Happy Spring Holiday". I would not be surprised if our public educational system has stopped calling it "Good Friday." My personal opinion is that "it is what it is." You can call it what ever day you want to call it and it doesn't change a thing. God still is on the throne and it is a fact that He sent His Son to be beaten and hung on a cruel wooden cross, typically reserverd for criminals in that culture of the day. The irony is that God loves us so much that He would send is only, sinless son to take upon Him every sinful act from the beginning of time to my own sinful self. You won't find the phrase "Good Friday" in the God's Word, but we know what was accomplished that day and 3 days later He conquered death that we would be able to live forever and ever in His presence. He provided for us a way to have access to God in prayer through Jesus Christ.

Trust Christ today, if you have not already. Remember what "Good Friday" is all about and rejoice that no one can undo that day more the 2,000 years ago.....no matter what they call it. No one can change being on course with God. Absolutely no one.

"Sometimes You Have To Go Where Everybody Knows Your Name"

"Sometimes You Have To Go Where Everybody Knows Your Name"

Yes, this was taken from the popular Boston bar "Cheers" television sitcom from the 1980's, but it fits what enters my thought process many times over while golfing where I am a member.  After playing the same course all summer, I like to spend a couple of times at Dryden Lake Golf course.  That is the place that I really got hooked into playing. Beautifully landscaped and always a pleasure to play there. I recommend going there if you get the chance.

When I was  a member there, I introduced  several friends from church as well as my dad to this course.   The owners are it.  Randy and Joanie are the maintenance crew, food providers, fairway and greens keepers...you name it and they did it.  To some, it is not the best of the best.  To some, it may not compete with club house fees nor does it sell golf clubs.  But they are known to pick up clubs I have left behind and return them to me before I have completed 9 holes.  They even looked for my dad's cell phone that Randy almost ran over with his fairway tractor.

This one thing I am sure of, I have developed a special relationship with them, even though I am there maybe twice a summer.  Joanie and I have had some good, spiritual conversations in the past.  She truly knows my Lord and Savior.  What a blessing it is to know that she prays for me.  It was no coincidence that the day I went to the emergency room with a blockage of the bowels was the day I played  there.  Let me share with you what Joanie wrote to me on a card that I keep handy for days that I have a high score or times when I wish I could  swing a club today but cannot;

     Dear Kevin,

                    The Lord surely has blessed you with great faith and it
               is evident that  you draw strength  from Him.  Thank you
               for sharing your video with me,  it made me smile and
               cry,   and reminded me of God's simple truths of  love and
               care.  I keep you in my prayers for continued strength,
               healing,   and  contentment.  I am glad to know you.
 
               In His love,
               Joanie

  "Sometimes you just have to go where everybody knows your name."  Thanks Joanie.
I am praying for you also as you stay on course with God.

            

 

Take Time To Smell The Fairways

I went to a different golf course this afternoon since my usual greens that I play at  were silent today.  I have been at this course before, but not very often.  Prices are high even out of season.  A special thank you to whom ever invented the credit card. Of course, like anything else, you have to respect it, not abuse it, and not without common sense,  I am married to a number cruncher and....well, enough said.



I decided to rent a cart and do the front nine holes.  It is much harder to play by yourself in many ways.  First of all, we are in the temperature zone of about the 40's.  In the fall, that's winter coat material. In the winter, it is a heat wave.  If you make a couple incredible strokes, no one is watching you.  When you keep your only score, the temptation is to be more forgiving of your need of mulligans, count the number of strokes and convince yourself of a lower number.  If you golf, you cannot tell me you haven't been there.



I am on the 7th tee and down the middle of the fairway lands my ball.  I know that there are some golfers down over the hill so I got out of the cart and walked over to the top overlooking not just where  I need to place the ball, but i was impressed with the scenery and view. I left my camera  at home.  But if I had had it with me,  I could have made a panoramic view of Binghamton and Johnson City.  Without the foliage, I could see through the trees pretty well.  Dwellings on the side of the hills with some majestic houses, the river that wrecked  havoc and changed thousands of peoples' lives this year.  I saw this moment as a time of reflection and encouragement.  Golf is just a game. Nothing more and nothing less.  But when I am by myself and no one in front of me or in back waiting impatiently, I like to look at all that God has created. Take the time to smell the fairways, greens, and the scenic view around you.  Acknowledge His handiwork. You just might find a rose to smell.



"In all thy ways, acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths."  (Proversb 3:6)



Always remember to play fair. God is watching your character even when you are alone,  and keep on course with God.   
                 

I Cannot Wait Until 2012 Arrives

     This 2011 Golf season was not one of my banner years. After having a hammer toe tendon cut, a failed colonoscopy, taken to the hospital ICU for blockage of the bowels (it was here that I finally experienced the Parkinson's freezing.....all PD medication was ceased for about a day or so), my #19 tooth needed to come out and am in the process of having an implant tooth. Last but probably not the least....my right big toe had to have its nail removed over labor day weekend.



     I played as best I could after each procedure throughout the year, yet my foot and toes and my brain would cry out "No, not today. Ride a golf cart. You can only do two holes and that is it. You have not fully recovered yet." I did eventually work my way up to walking nine holes and riding a cart for 18 holes. I can only give God the glory for the physical recovery.

     He went through these trials with me and I learned a few things about myself and relationships. First, I need to firm up my relationship with God and be more Christlike in my daily living. Second, I was priority challenged. Golf was first, then i squeezed in the family, and I let God drop to third place. It is amazing how God can drop you to your knees for reevaluting your life and what is important. It is not about me. It is not about golf. It is not about my family. It is all about God and the grace that He gives abundantly at the right time. Being justified by faith, we have peace with God (Romans 5:2).  


    
    How about you? Are your priorities in line with God's will for your life? Do you let God be number one in your life? Or do you keep your Callaway clubs closest to your heart? You cannot compare your number 1 driver to God being number 1 in your life. 2011 is almost behind us, so prepare your priorities for 2012 and keep on course with God.