Sometimes I receive something that comes at just the right time. This article by Tom Norvell changed my course (no pun intended) for today's post. With the tournament just ended this past Sunday, this feels like a very timely lesson whether you like gold or not.

A Tradition Like No Other


The person who loves golf, particularly The Masters Golf Championship, will recognize these words as Jim Nantz’ description of the CBS coverage of the tournament. For several years the ads begin running in late February leading up to the first week in April when the greatest golfers in the world assembly in Augusta, Georgia to compete in the greatest golf tournament in the world. The Masters Championship is not only a tradition in itself, but the tournament is full of traditions.
The tournament traditions include the ceremonial legends of the game serving as honorary starters by teeing off early on the first day of the tournament. This year Arnold Palmer hit the first drive. Of course the green jacket is a tradition like no other. The fact that the tournament is often decided on the back nine on Sunday afternoon has become a tradition. Amen Corner is a tradition. The beauty of the azaleas and dogwoods is a tradition. Skipping the ball across the water on the 16th hole during practice rounds has become tradition that results in boos from the crowd if a golfer chooses not to participate. For many patrons planting themselves by the 16th green or the 18th green is a tradition. Hearing Pat Summerall say, “CBS Sports proudly presents the Masters” to introduce the broadcast is a tradition.

Traditions are important in most areas of our lives. Our schools use traditions to build school spirit. There are winning traditions and losing traditions with sports teams. Families have food traditions, vacation traditions, holiday traditions, wedding traditions, anniversary traditions, and birthday traditions. Churches have traditions. Even those who vow to be non-traditional develop their own set of traditions. As best we can, we try to preserve our traditions.

The Masters: a tradition like no other. You don’t mess with the traditions of the Masters. Those who run the tournament do all within their power to preserve the traditions of the Masters Tournament.

Some traditions are easily accepted as traditions, and can be changed or rejected or ignored with no risk of penalty. Then, there are those we would fight for. When it comes to your life what is the tradition that is like no other?

Allow me to offer a suggestion based on what Jesus said: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and soul, and mind, and strength. Love your neighbor as yourself. When Jesus was asked what He considered as most important that was His response.

To adopt something like this as a tradition like no other will revolutionize your life. Most of the traditions we hold on to will determine some of our direction and some of our actions. But to adopt the greatest commands as our greatest tradition will alter the course of one’s life. Nothing will be the same. It changes how we treat people. It changes how we think. It changes how we worship. It changes how we live. Now that’s a tradition like no other.

Lord willing, I can look forward to the first weekend in April for years to come. With that I’ll look forward to watching the Masters and enjoy hearing Jim Nantz say, “The Masters, a tradition like no other.” But, of greater importance are the words of the Master that I hope to drive the course of my life, all the days of my life.

A life lived for the Master. A tradition like no other!"

It isn't too late to start such a tradition if you have put it off.


Mike

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Good Morning my friends and family;

I didn’t intend to write today as I have so much to do in preparation for a trip to the Northeast tomorrow with Debbie.
Sometimes events dictate to me a need to express myself.

As I had my coffee this morning, there was a news story about a news person that tugged at me. It seems that this popular female personality has allegedly been “writing” a daily blog that is being written by someone else under her name. This isn’t all that surprising given that it’s done an awful lot. However, the allegations that this blog is plagiarizing columns from other journalists are disturbing. I won’t go further with this claim.

This brings to mine a greater charge to mankind. Have you ever wondered why there are so many religions in the world? I’m convinced that at the root of religious confusion is the habit of people to add their own words to God’s divine revelation or to subtract unwanted inspirations from that which was revealed.

God’s word says, “Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar,” Proverbs 30:5, 6.
John writes even more compelling warnings in the Revelation. “For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book;
“And if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book,” Revelation 22: 18, 19 NKJV.

When we change divine Revelation, we engage in a form of plagiarism of the worst kind. Notice one of Webster’s definitions for plagiarize: “present as new and original an idea or product derived from an existing source.”

I leave you with Paul’s instruction to Timothy. “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

God does not need our help in rewriting what He has revealed.

Think about it,

Mike

Thank you Mike for that piece on your thoughts. Really enjoyed reading what my older brother The Apostle Paul and his protege Timothy both original Disciples of Christ.  When i think i am judging someone without actual facts (not that you have) and not describing to this person what will happen if this person continues to plagerize?  well its not good in the first place, against the Law, but pointing out the problem and finding a solution for that person in a good way is best, so i often will go back to reading James 2:1-13; 4:11-12 . I wish you well my friend Mike and looking foreword to more discussions. Have a good day . God_bless.  my "Encourage My Soul" forum http://community.adlandpro.com/forums/16307/showforum.aspx

Good Morning all, Mike is on a mini vacation with his wife, Debbie. I am posting something from the woods forum from January 4th of which Mike had posted. Enjoy....;-)

“Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, “Isaiah wrote, “yet we considered him stricken by God, Smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our Transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the Punishment that brought peace was upon him, and by His wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:4-5).

Jesus is with us, his followers, and understands our suffering and sustains us. This is true regardless of how we feel. We have Jesus when we have no one else. Believers know God is not in some distant place. After all, he became human in the form of Jesus and then suffered for you and me. The prophet Isaiah recorded the words in the text above and also calls Jesus, the Messiah, “a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.” When we truly believe that Jesus is who he claims to be we will realize that through suffering, and just plain difficult times, He understands. We know we’re never alone.

He has walked in our shoes. Now it’s our turn to walk in His!

Make a blessed day,
Mike

You can view Mike's Daily Blessings at http://www.TheWoods.phpbbnow.com

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