Tiger Woods has made the news in a way that nobody wants to make the news. Some have waited for this kind of episode to happen; others are stunned that such a thing could happen to Tiger Woods. I have two areas of concern in connection with the events as they have unfolded over the last week both of which I want to address in the context of two caveats. First, Woods is arguably the greatest golfer ever to tee up a golf ball. There has been one better to date. He has set a standard for the golfing world that makes it at least possible that someone might appear in the future that is at least his equal. Second, no one wants to see this kind of thing happen to anybody and only a few know all that is involved in his accident. It seems at least clear now that the blood in his mouth and elsewhere came from something other than a car accident and that Tiger was “shopping around” for treasures in addition to his wife. This reality should not shock or surprise us and it will be explained for him as with Clinton on brain chemistry that makes him have a more active libido than others. It was written of Clinton as it will be of Woods that this reality is just the truth with men of this kind of activity and accomplishment. Bah! Humbug! Some will even believe such garbage. Whatever happened sexually with these men outside marriage is due with them as with every man to sinful hearts and haughty spirits. Plain and simple. Now having issued these words let me address the two issues that concern me most.

First, we need to pray for Tiger and his family. This may well be the opening that was needed to bring him low enough to cry out for the grace of God. Tiger has spoken often of the inner strength that is his. No athlete short of Michael Jordan has shown the mental determination that is seen in Tiger, but mental determination and inner resolve will not be enough for him now. He cannot think his way out of this dilemma and no matter how much inner resolve he has, it will not be enough to sustain him in this storm. So, pray for him that God will use this storm as a way of bringing him to bow before Jesus as Lord. And why is that important? Well, just go to the “first tee” sites all over the world and ask young kids who they want to be like when they grow up and the answer is always the same: Tiger Woods. So what if Jesus got Tiger by the tail? Wouldn’t that be something and particularly if while on the golf course he had John 3:16 [+/-]John 3:16 [16]"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (ESV)
or Philippians 4:13 [+/-]Philippians 4:13 [13]I can do all things through him who strengthens me. (ESV)
plastered on his golf bag like Tebow does under his eyes. So, pray that God will use this mess for His glory in getting a Tiger to bow before the true King of the jungle.

Second, some of my generation and the previous generation gloat over this kind of thing with words like, “you never heard this about Arnie and Jack, did you?” Well, no; but not because they are believers. There is no indication that either is and if you know otherwise, please let me know. I would want to set that one straight as quickly as possible. They both group up and played in a period when public personna meant everything and they worked hard to produce that public personna, to put it on display and to protect it. They portrayed themselves and portray themselves publicly as good and decent people. Who knows what their private lives are? I do not believe that they have had anywhere near the scrutiny that modern athletes get because one of the realities of modern athletes is that they do not work as hard to create this public personna as athletes once did. And that is a good thing. Public personalities that are different from private personalities is hypocrisy. That is why I would much rather have Terrell Owens be who he is than have someone who is really nice in public but has a reputation of being really rough in private. Anyway the point I am laboring to make is that we not be too quick to say that Tiger is different from Jack and Arnie. He lives in a different day when private lives are put on public display. I don”t think that is a bad thing because the divorce of the private life from the public life leads to duplicitous living that can be devastaing if it is thought to be an acceptable and even appropriate way of living.

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