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Chip Shots from the Ruff of Life
by Tom Kelley
Anna Kournikova. Remember her? She took the professional tennis world by storm as a young woman. She had it all was what we were told. Mostly what she had was enough game to play well and enough beauty to make a living with endorsements because she looked good in a commercial. Got a quick question for you. Name the tournaments that she won. Go ahead, I'll wait. And wait. And wait. That's enough waiting. Time's up. Could you name the tournaments that she won?
If you couldn't, don't feel bad. She never won any tournaments. For all the hype she never garnered one singles championship while basking in all the attention. I will give her this. At least she competed against her peers first and never tried to cross over to prove how good she was. Which she wasn't. Enter Michelle Wie and Danica Patrick. When the now sixteen year old Wie is in the field of a golf tournament she is the one you see in all the highlights. Amazingly, she is ranked in the top two or three in women's golf.
Danica Patrick races open wheel cars. She is a competitor in a sport that is dangerous and challenging. If you listen to the news from the sport you hear her name mentioned right there with all the greats as far as coverage is concerned. She's mentioned in the same breath as the top drivers in the sport. Recently, her name and image have been the banners of commercials for the sport. She is not in the top ten in points for the drivers competition, but she has finished fourth twice this year.
Here's the bottom line with these two women. They haven't won anything yet. Michelle Wie has finished second a few times on the LPGA Tour. As Alex Karras, the Hall of Fame former defensive tackle, once said of ties, "A tie is like kissing your sister." Evidently, second place is worse. So what must fourth place be? According to the evidence given by the media second is great and fourth is also really wonderful. At least for Wie and Patrick. That is why we hear all about them with an, "Oh, by the way, so-and-so won", tacked on. I do hope they don't become just another Anna Kournikova. I do hope someplace along the line they actually win something.
Wanna back a winner? There was this guy who fought the devil (yes, THAT devil) and won. He debated the religious leaders of His time and won. He even took on death and won. Every thing He set out to do He did and every battle He fought He won. His name is Jesus. Neat thing is, when you back this proven winner He backs you also. "God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him." Romans 5:8, 9 Cool, huh? You don't just back a winner, you become a winner, too.
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...He was the Minister of the Minorsville Christian Church located near Stamping Ground, KY.
...Becky and Tom have three children; John, single and in worship ministry in Nicholasville, Kentucky; Sean, married (Jennifer, elementary school teacher) with twins (Grace and Patrick, b.d. 10/31/04) and regional director of Papa John's Pizza in Central KY; Kara, married (Vince Taylor, prison guard) and working with Hospice East in Winchester, KY.
...Tom went to be with the Lord on November 13, 2009 after a lengthy battle with cancer. If you have been touched by Tom's writings please send an email to Tom's son at jkelley@catalystchristian.net
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