PINE MOUNTAIN, Georgia | The Yeungling Pro-Am at Callaway Gardens' Lakeview course offered a great experience to enjoy the surroundings and play with four amateurs who wanted to have a good time. The Lake View course layout did not offer length, but it's character presented challenges off the tee. David Miller shot 68 and won the pro-division by a shot.
Spiritually speaking, the Devil has infiltrated himself into the guise of "supposed" financial stability, women in clothes that would not be appropriate in front of a married man let alone my year old son, and the egos of people who "have it all together." Little do people know that they have a one-way ticket to hell without accepting the Cross and what Jesus died for.
The golf was great, but the words and bantering back and forth amongst the amateur partners was not. Frankly, words that do not build others up but bring them down truly do bring them down. The talk of drinking, obscenities flying left and right and the taking of the name of the Lord in vain presented challenges to a believer rooted in Christ's love for us.
However, through prayer and petition from the Lord, the will inside was to "keep on keeping on" without showing signs of faltering emotionally. The "Devil prowls around like a roaring lion seeking to kill and destroy" those who aren't prepared. God's preparation can be found in the eyes and ears of his servants who're called to minister throughout the Earth and in his WORD.
Be encouraged when you face "tests and trials" because James reminds us that "perseverance must finish its work in you so that you'll be complete, not lacking anything (1:2-4)."
By the way, how many times have you heard the word "luck" thrown around as if it actually exists? Well, be educated and realize that luck has nothing to do with anything. In fact, playing the lotto, going to the casino, rolling the dice and gambling on the golf course has little to do with luck (and they are all considered games of luck to many). When used for the wrong purposes (i.e. using other people for money or bargaining with your children's "milk money") seems to be a standard of today. My hope is that you who do not abide by God's standards get a truck load of it so that it becomes bitter worms in your mouth thus forcing you to want to vomit it out.
Speaking from various experiences after having to "spew sin" out of my own mouth because of the compromises I had made in the past as well as sins from those around me, positive cleansing ensues and a brand new creation in Christ comes to fruition. My prayer is that you who are blind know that you'll be saved by coming to Christ and that we're all sinners waiting for a savior. Those of you who know Christ, trust God like Peter chose to do as he walked out to our Lord on the water after Jesus said, "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid" (Matthew 14:27). Be courageous (and see the movie "Courageous" directed by Alex Kendrick and check it out at www.courageousthemovie.com as soon as possible.
As Humbly in Christ as possible without compromising,
B.J. Pitzen