The Women’s Tee Box

            It can be difficult when our failures become public. Several years ago, a gentleman recounted an awkward moment he had experienced on the golf course:

            It was a sunny Saturday morning on the course and I was at the beginning of my pre-shot routine, visualizing my upcoming shot, when a voice came over the loudspeaker.

            "Would the gentleman on the women's tee back up to the men's tee please!"

            I was still deep in my routine, seemingly impervious to the interruption.

            Again the announcement, "Would the gentleman on the women's tee kindly back up to the men's tee!"

            I simply ignored the guy and kept concentrating, when once more, the man yelled: "WOULD THE MAN ON THE WOMEN'S TEE PLEASE BACK UP TO THE MEN'S TEE!!"

            I finally stopped, turned, looked through the clubhouse window directly at the person with the microphone and shouted back, "WOULD THE IDIOT IN THE CLUBHOUSE KINDLY SHUT UP AND LET ME PLAY MY SECOND SHOT!"

            All of us hit "bad shots" that eventually come to light. All of us fail. All us fall short of God’s glory.

            It seems appropriate, therefore, that we maintain an attitude of winsome humility. That’s what a sinless Jesus did. Thinking of Jesus, Paul wrote,

            Don't be jealous or proud, but be humble and consider others more important than yourselves (Phil. 2:3). CEV

The Invader

           Through the years, on Sundays, I have witnessed many unique events. I once had a stranger tell me God had told him to give me a new vehicle. Another time, a young man in his twenties challenged me to a fight.

            Here is a story sent to me today by one of our members at Shiloh. I do not know if it was an actual event or a legend, but it is a nice reminder for us:

His name is Tim. He has wild hair, wears a T-shirt with holes in it, jeans, and no shoes. This was literally his wardrobe for his entire four years of college.

He is brilliant. Kind of profound and very, very bright. He became a

Christian while attending college.

Across the street from the campus is a well-dressed, very conservative

church. They want to develop a ministry to the students but are not

sure how to go about it..

One day Tim decides to go there. He walks in with no shoes, jeans, his

T-shirt, and wild hair. The service has already started and so Tim starts down the aisle looking for a seat.

The church is completely packed and he can't find a seat. By now, people are really looking a bit uncomfortable, but no one says anything.

Tim gets closer and closer and closer to the pulpit, and when he realizes there are no seats, he just squats down right on the carpet.

By now the people are really uptight, and the tension in the air is thick.

About this time, the minister realizes that from way at the back of the

church, a deacon is slowly making his way toward Tim.

Now the deacon is in his eighties, has silver-gray hair, and a three-piece suit. A godly man, very elegant, very dignified, very courtly. He walks with a cane and, as he starts walking toward this boy, everyone is saying to themselves that you can't blame him for what he's going to do.

How can you expect a man of his age and of his background to understand some college kid on the floor?

It takes a long time for the man to reach the boy.

The church is utterly silent except for the clicking of the man's cane.

All eyes are focused on him. You can't even hear anyone breathing.

The minister can't even preach the sermon until the deacon does what he has to do.

And now they see this elderly man drop his cane on the floor. With great difficulty, he lowers himself and sits down next to Tim and worships with him so he won't be alone.

Everyone chokes up with emotion...

When the minister gains control, he says,

“What I'm about to preach, you will never remember. What you have just seen, you will never forget.”

            I know one reason that church will never forget what it saw--the old deacon’s action is emblematic of the work of Jesus. Among other acts of service, Jesus came from heaven, lowered himself by our side, and offered the Father praise along with us, so we would not be alone.