September 25, 2026
It looks like we will start this day at 46 and make it up to 71 this afternoon. Cloudy and breezy, this will be a great day!
It will be an interesting day as I will be setting up the course for our Pasture Golf Tournament. Men can use a five-iron and wedge, women can use a 4-iron and a wedge. We will be playing in a cattle pasture just north of Lusk. All green fees are a donation toward an orphanage in Uganda. There are 45 children there in desperate need of food and medical attention. Hopefully we can help with a part of their expense and have a lot of fun in the process. We are playing tomorrow, Saturday, September 26. Starting at 10 a.m. and enjoying a carry-in lunch at noon. Please come and join us if you can!
You see, this golf tournament will be much like our spiritual lives as well. For some, they will sprint around the course, making it look easy; while we “whack & smack” golfers will take way longer to finish the last hole. Some folks find walking with Jesus to be confusing and difficult, while others easily fall into a rhythm and grow at a regular rate. What makes the difference? May I suggest two things.
First, consistent spiritual growth resembles an improving golf game in that both take practice and time. Tomorrow will be the first time I’ve touched my golf clubs in more than two years – I don’t expect to wow anyone with my abilities. Likewise, if a person attends church once or twice a year and seldom reads their Bible in between those occasions, their spiritual maturity will likely also be less than impressive.
Yet for the person who works at improving their golf game, they will be like the person who works at improving their spiritual life. Neither circumstance finds improvement by lack of effort. The Apostle Paul tell us to “work out” our faith. It doesn’t just happen that a person becomes spiritually mature, or a good golfer. Both require effort, training and consistent practice.
The second reason that some people’s golf game and spiritual life never improve is simply a lack of interest. If improving either one is not a priority in my life, I will always be a “whack & smack” player at both. I hope that we all have things we work at improving, but to improve at anything takes time, hard work and dedication. Golf and spiritual maturity both require each of these elements.
Now, for how golf and spiritual maturity are different: one is a game and the other is not. One is temporary, the other is not. You see my friends, if you enjoy golf, it will last only for a season – sorry I really doubt there will be golf in heaven. Even the best of golfers are at their peak for just a few years. Yet your spiritual journey of walking with Jesus will prepare you for an eternity of enjoyment. So, go ahead and play golf, but get serious about your spiritual life, for only one will last you forever.
If you can make it, we will see you one mile north of town tomorrow morning for some crazy golf, and if you are growing in you walk with Jesus, I’ll see you in heaven when our time on this ‘ol ball of dirt comes to a close.
Working at spiritual disciplines with you, Neal
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