Spending More Time in the Sand Than David Hasselhoff

As for the golf ministry topic I’ve addressed previously, one question I need to answer is, “Why use sports to bring people closer to God?” It just seems so un-churchlike and, well, heathen. I mean, have you seen Raider Nation? Or the Dog Pound in Cleveland?

I’ve come to a few conclusions, though.

1. Bringing people to God involves meeting them where they are. For men, especially, where they most often are is knee-deep in sports. Golf is just one example, but any sport can be the hook. I know churches who have softball ministries, football-related small groups, tennis socials. I’m not going to attract many non-churchgoing men by saying, “Hey, come read the bible with me” or “Where is your spiritual head at – dude?”  You need to befriend people, develop a relationship with them, then, eventually, when the relationship is ready for it, an exploration of deeper topics. Sports is an easy entree for a lot of men.

2. Sports, be it watching/participating/coaching/parenting kids who play in, may be the primary social event for many men. Unless I become part of their family and jump in at the dinner table, I can’t otherwise get in a relationship with them to start the conversation that’s needed.

3. Sports aren’t threatening. Using golf as an example, I can invite men to golf with me and they’ll often jump at it. Inviting them to a “meeting of a few guys” is scary.

Ultimately, talking to people about Christ most often doesn’t start with talking to people about Christ. It starts with a relationship. It can be built on play groups for kids, book clubs, having kids on the same soccer team – tons of ways. But sports makes the most sense to me as a way to get to know guys a bit better. And for me, golf is one of the best ways.

Be on the watch for my new ministry, “Wisconsin Badger Football Buddies – Camp Randall is Truly Your Road to (Heavenly) Riches!”

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OK, I haven’t been writing much lately.

But I have been thinking!

CAUTION: This blog is about to take a turn for the religious. Those of you who are extremely allergic to Christianity, please take prophylactic Benadryl.

I have been thinking about my life, my job, and whether the two work well together. If you don’t know already, I am an orthopaedic surgeon. I think I’m respectable at it. I can operate fairly well, deal with crowds of patients in pain, make good decisions that are beneficial for people.

But I don’t think I’m gifted by God for orthopaedics.

I truly feel, as Max Lucado, Bob Buford (”Halftime”), Richard Bolles (”What Color is Your Parachute?”) and others point out – God creates each of us uniquely. We are who we are – no one else is like us and what we have that is special to us is God’s gift to us and, more importantly, to the world. If we don’t use it, the world will never get it from anyone else.

Sound grandiose? Egotistical? I guess, but God is pretty grandiose, and I don’t think he puts his effort into things that shouldn’t be important to me.

How does all this relate to a golf blog?

Because I feel that my love of golf is part of the gifts God has given me. Not just to play (that isn’t always a gift, believe me), but to be involved in. To be a part of. To use golf to glorify Him, which, after all, should be the focus of every action I perform. Golf is part of the fabric of who I am, and I think it is there for a purpose.

My life is now changing to accept that fact about me.

As of September 30th, I will be moving to very part-time orthopaedic work. I will still see patients 1 1/2 days per week at Triangle Orthopaedics but won’t be operating. I’ll work 5 days per month covering a hospital’s emergency room orthopaedic issues for a company called Delphi Healthcare. But primarily, I’m going to be exploring golf as a ministry opportunity. I have had discussions with Jim Esary, National Director of FCA Golf, as well as Scott Lehman, founder and President of In His Grip Golf Ministry, about working with them in the future. I’ve also thought about starting some type of golf-related ministry of my own. Time will tell which path I’m asked to follow.

I’m hoping to write a bit more than I have in the past – still about golf, the Tour, juniors, but also about my journey to significance (thanks, Bob Buford) in the world of golf. Scary stuff for me – after all, I’ve been an employed physician since 1989 – but for my wife, Lori, and our kids as well. But Lori is on board for the ride and willing to place her faith in God’s calling for me and my willingness to listen. As Steven Curtis Chapman sings, “I’m Divin’ In”.

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Next topic: are sand traps sent from the devil? As proof, consider “Hell Bunker” at St. Andrews.

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