The Shot Must Choose You

NOTES:
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**If you wish to see the titles and access hundreds of my blogs from 2015, do the following:

Click on the title of my December 31st blog, "The Shot Must Choose You." (This blog). All my blog titles for 2015 will appear in the index.

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(A couple of months for 2015 contain more than 100 blogs, but only 100 titles will appear. To view additional blogs for these months, click on the last title which appears for that month, scroll down to the bottom of that blog, and continue to click on "Older Posts.")


I love one particular scene in the movie, “Bagger Vance.”

But to back up a bit. In this movie Matt Damon and Will Smith portray an exceptional amateur golfer, and what I refer to as a “golf angel.”

Matt (movie name, “Junah”) finds himself playing in an exhibition match against the two best professional players in the world. Will, (movie name, “Bagger”) has been sent to help him with his game, but more so, to increase his belief in himself, and his own abilities.

After falling 10 or 12 strokes behind the leader, and as Junah steps up to the 12^th hole, and his club is on the backswing, 

Bagger interjects, 

“Suh, you’re doing this all wrong. The way you’re going about this match won’t never work!”

Junah lowers his club, takes a step backwards, and stares at Bagger in unbelief. 

“You stop me in mid-swing to tell me that? I’ve chosen my shot, and you just interfered with me completing it.”

Bagger smiles a whimsical smile, and responds, 

“You don’t choose your shot… The shot must choose you.”

Junah is incredulous. 

“What? What? The shot must choose me? Why, that’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard!”

To which Bagger grew very serious, and appeared to be preparing for some momentous revelation.

“Mr. Junah, in all the world there’s only one true, authentic shot. One shot that’s right for that particular green, for that particular hole on the course. The shot must choose you.”

Junah seemed to pause and reflect, and it was as if suddenly, he gets it. After reflecting an additional moment he steps up to his mark, and asks Bagger for a different golf club. He gazes upon the hilt, the shaft, and the business end of the club, draws back, and strikes the ball. 

And it was as if time slows down, and the crowd follows the ball with their gaze. Its arch and velocity sends it hurdling directly towards the flag. And the ball drops within feet of its target. Junah’s audience roars its appreciation, and a smile breaks out on our hero’s face. 

“You know, Bagger, don’t let anybody tell you no different. You are one great caddy!”

Bagger smiles, and responds. “Why, thank you, suh. I do what I can.”

I have often reflected on this scene in that much better than average movie. And I think there’s more than a secular principal at work here. I believe a spiritual concept shines through.

For I think, (and scripture infers) that before our Creator breathed the worlds into place, He was thinking of you, and me. Not as some vast, earthly hoard, mind you, but He was thinking of each one of us by name, and He already had some pretty magnificent plans laid out for every one of us.

“Before I ever took my first breath, You (meaning God) planned every day of my life.” (Psalms 139:16) What an inestimably powerful statement!

And if our Lord thought of us before the beginning, and if He already had some pretty awesome plans in store for us, Bagger’s statement can’t help but be true.

THE SHOT MUST CHOOSE YOU

There exists, then, one best, most authentic, singular shot for each of us at any given time, in any given circumstance, one best course of action, one best option, that ought to drive our choices and decisions.

Now I’m not referring to whether you shop at Walmart or K-Mart, or whether you fish in a nearby pond, or not so nearby lake. No, “The Shot Must Choose You” is all about those crucial, “I simply must get it right” kinda decisions that come to all of us, such as the selection of a job, a ministry, or a best friend.

When Junah declared Bagger to be a great caddy, he had it just about right. But Bagger proved to be more than a great caddy. For he had been sent to serve as a great mentor figure to this insecure young man, but a man with the potential for greatness permeating his small frame.

Indeed, the shot must choose us. It must choose you. And it must choose me.  For ultimately, this is the only way in which we will ever truly fulfill God’s plans for us on the earth.

Indeed, I believe the shot must choose us, and it is paramount that we get it right. Our very destiny is at stake. I believe it would be pleasing to God that every one of His children pray the following simple prayer, and pray it on a daily basis.

“Oh Father, great Ruler of the universe. You Who knew me before I was formed or ever took my first breath,

… let the shot choose me.”

By William McDonald, PhD. Excerpt from "Unconventional Devotions" Copyright 2005

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Sleeping With Snakes

There once was a woman who had a pet snake that she loved very much. The snake was about 7 feet long and one day it just stopped eating. After several weeks of trying everything she could to get the snake to eat, the woman took it to the vet. 

The woman explained the situation to the vet and he asked her,

"Has your snake been sleeping with you at night or snuggling really close and stretching himself out?"

The woman replied,

"Yes he's been doing it everyday and it makes me so sad that I can't help him feel better."

The vet says

"Ma'am your snake is not sick, he has been preparing to eat you. He's been sizing you up everyday so he knows how big he has to be, and not eating so he has enough room to digest you.

Moral of the story:

You've gotta recognise the snakes out there. Just because they seem close to you and sleep in your bed, it doesn't mean their intentions are good.

(From a social media post)

An Open Letter to Joel & Victoria Osteen

Dear Joel and Victoria,

I hope and pray that you will read this letter and that you take to heart the things I'm sharing. I write as a friend wanting to help, not an enemy wanting to hurt, and everything I write, I write out of love for God, love for you, and love for the church and the world.
I have said many times that I'm glad to see your smiling faces on TV as you speak about Jesus rather than some stern-faced, joyless, angry Christian leader. And I believe you genuinely do care about people and want them to find wholeness in the Lord.
Joel, I appreciate the fact that you end every service by asking people to get right with God, having them pray a prayer where they say to Jesus, "I repent of my sins, come into my heart, I make you Lord and Savior."
The big problem is that you haven't told them what their sins are, and you haven't told them what real repentance is. And since you are speaking to people around the world, you can't possibly assume that all of them understand the meaning of sin and redemption and repentance. (Most American Christians don't even understand these things today.)
In short, you have not shared with them the whole counsel of God, and by telling them only part of the story, you have done what the false prophets of ancient Israel did: "You superficially treat the fracture of My people saying to them, 'All is well, all is well,' when nothing is well" (Jer. 6:14, my translation).
A true physician tells his patients what they need to hear, not what they want to hear. As one preacher of old, Jean Daille, once said, "Ministers are not cooks, but physicians and therefore should not study to delight the palate, but to recover the patient."
Have you been more of a junk-food cook than a physician? Have you been afraid to tell people their true condition? Have you been so concerned with making them feel good about themselves and giving them a sense of hope that you failed to diagnose their terminal sin disease?
Paul said to the elders of Ephesus, "I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all, for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God" (Acts 20:26-27).
Do you really believe in your heart of hearts that you have declared the whole counsel of God to your listening audience?
God has given you one of the largest platforms for the gospel in human history. Can you say before Him that you are "innocent of the blood of all"?
Have you ever taught extensively on the words of Jesus from the Sermon on the Mount? Have you ever worked your way through one of the letters of Paul? If not, why not?
Proverbs tells us that, "Whoever rebukes a man will afterward find more favor than he who flatters with his tongue" (28:23). Do you believe God's Word, or do you feel you have found a better way to do His work?
I appreciate the fact that you hold up your Bible before you preach, as your father did, and you have people make a confession about God's Word, as you also learned to do from your father. But do you really preach that holy Word?
Shortly before Paul was martyred for his faith, he reminded Timothy that, "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness" (2 Tim. 3:16).
He also gave him this solemn commission: "I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching" (2 Tim. 4:1-2).
Is this your pattern of preaching and ministry? Do you rebuke in love (Prov. 27:5) as well as exhort and encourage?
Perhaps it's time to ask yourself honestly where you fit in this warning from Paul: "For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths" (2 Tim. 4:1-4).
Wouldn't it be utterly heartbreaking if, on the day you stand before God, you discovered that you were one of these teachers? Wouldn't it be tragic if your efforts were found to be wood, hay and stubble on that great and glorious Day (1 Cor. 3:11-15)? And may I ask you candidly if you even talk about that holy day of accounting?
Some Christians have referred to you and Victoria as outright heretics, others have said that you are fighting against the Holy Spirit (since the Spirit convicts the world of sin but your preaching does not), others have said that you are a pagan religionist, while others have said that your superficial message of material prosperity cannot bear the weight of the gospel.
These are very serious charges, but rather than just saying, "Hey, I'm just going to love everybody and stay in my lane," perhaps you should ask if these leaders might be saying something you need to hear. Is there any truth at all in their words? Could it be that God's lane for you is different than the lane you're in?
It would be far better for you to see your TV ratings fall and your crowds dwindle than to displease the Lord. (Perhaps if you preached the whole counsel of God, your audience would end up even bigger.)
By all means, you should be an ambassador of hope and joy—that's all part of the gospel—but if you don't speak about sin plainly and without compromise and if you don't tell people that there will be suffering and hardship in this world as we follow Jesus, then the hope that you offer will only go skin deep.
Have you ever wondered about how your message plays out among Christians who are going through hell on Earth because of their faith in Jesus? Have you ever thought about what your message sounds like to persecuted believers today who just had to leave their homes and possessions behind to flee for their lives?
And Victoria, if I may speak with you for just a moment, your recent comments that have gone viral have drawn a stream of well-deserved criticism, even if some of it came in an ugly and wrong spirit.
The reality is that our lives are supposed to revolve around God; He doesn't revolve around us. And even though worship and praise are good for us too, since they focus our attention on who God is and bring us into His presence, we do not worship or serve Him for ourselves but for Him. As Paul wrote, Jesus died for all so "that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised" (2 Cor. 5:15).
This is Gospel 101, as basic as it gets, yet you turned things upside down during that one regrettable moment on TV, a moment that reflected a wrong, off-base theology that starts with us and that says God is here to please us rather than starting with God and recognizing that we are here to please Him.
Joel and Victoria, I know these words have been strong, but they are written with love and concern. And since I have no connection to anyone on your team and I don't know of any way to reach you directly, after prayer and reflection, I felt that this was the best way to go, addressing public statements publicly, jealous for the Name of Jesus, jealous for your massive listening audience, and jealous for both of you.
Without a doubt, there are many people you have helped; you have also hurt far more than you realize. I pray you will take this to heart.

Michael Brown is author of Can You Be Gay and Christian? Responding With Love and Truth to Questions About Homosexuality and host of the nationally syndicated talk radio show The Line of Fire on the Salem Radio Network. He is also president of FIRE School of Ministry and director of the Coalition of Conscience. Follow him at AskDrBrown on Facebook or at @drmichaellbrown on Twitter.

Cliff Huxtable R.I.P.

Bill Cosby a.k.a. Cliff Huxtable (or is it the other way around) was arraigned today for the rape of a woman named Andrea Constand. Ms. Constand claims that Mr. Cosby drugged and sexually assaulted her in 2004, and has filed criminal assault charges against him; just prior to the end of the 12 year statute of limitations.

How the mighty have fallen.

“The Cosby Show” was loved by all, and ‘til recently generated immense profits in syndication. “Cliff Huxtable” represented the all-American father and husband. He was as prone to human wisdom, as he was susceptible to human frailty. But whether the portent of wisdom, or the model of weakness, it seemed he could do no wrong.

Until…

While the vast portion of the proverbial Cliff Huxtable’s life on earth was filled with wealth, adulation and ease, Bill Cosby’s waning years are rift with spiritual poverty, suspicion and agitation. And unlike his fictional predecessor, this once-was, has-been comedian leaves a legacy bereft of character, and replete with the filth of innuendo and a rancid reputation.

Cliff Huxtable R.I.P.
 

By William McDonald, PhD. Excerpt from "(Mc)Donald's Daily Diary" Vol. 21. Copyright pending

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What Kind of Problems Does She Have?

When I was serving as a staff counselor for Calvary Church I was fortunate enough to have a skilled lady associate named Sherri assisting me. 

Sherri did mostly women’s counseling, and during the course of one particular case, she invited “Sheila” to bring her seven year old daughter in for a few individual sessions.

The client felt this was would be good idea, and after she had arrived home from work one day, she asked “Stephanie” to sit down on the couch beside her.

“Honey, there’s a lady at church who I have been talking to, and I wonder if you would be willing to talk to her.”

Stephanie looked a bit confused, smiled shyly, and replied,

“I don’t know Mom. What kind of problems does she have?”

By William McDonald, PhD. Excerpt from "(Mc)Donald's Daily Diary" Vol. 21. Copyright pending

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