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Chip Shots from the Ruff of Life
by Tom Kelley
One of my favorite weeks of the year is here. Masters Week. If you're scratching your head about what exactly I mean, let me explain. The day that you receive this article is the first round of The Masters Golf Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. The very best of golf; the top money winners, past champions, winners of certain events over the past twelve months; all get together to play four rounds of golf on one of the most storied golf courses in American history.
When the very best get together the competition is intense and, usually, the cream rises to the top. Legendary Jack Nicklaus' last major PGA tour victory was in 1986 at The Masters. Current top five golfer, Phil Mickelson's first major win was at The Masters as was the incredible Eldrick Tiger Woods'. The Masters is a monument to the golfing genius of one Robert Tyre Jones who was internationally known as Bobby. He was the one who got the course built and started the tournament.
It was the memory of Bobby Jones and his accomplishments that drove a young Jack Nicklaus to aspire to be the golfer he was. And it is the memory of Jack Nicklaus and his accomplishments that drives Tiger Woods to be the golfer that he is. Excellence breeds excellence. Bobby Jones set the standard very high. Jack Nicklaus raised the bar even higher. Today, Tiger Woods is setting standards which many wonder if they will ever be equalled. Such is the challenge of excellence.
A baby born in a borrowed stable to a Jewish carpenter and his unexplainably pregnant wife grew up to set a standard of life that many look at and deem it impossible to reach. Yet, the baby's true Father has made it possible for anyone who wishes to aspire to that very standard to do just that. He has opened the Way through the Truth for people to live the Life that makes being with the Father completely possible, even sensible (John 14:6).
"That we should no longer be children tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness by which they lie in wait to deceive, but speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head -- Christ." Ephesians 4:14,15 If you haven't done it yet, it's time to "tee it up" with The Master on the course He has set before you. Christ waits on the first tee to help you walk the fairway. He will help you out of every trap and be there with you when you finish the course. You can be The Master's.
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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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