THE TIGER WOOD APOLOGY

I listened to Tiger Wood yesterday. I was never a great golf fan until his emergence at the top. He became iconic, well loved and respected all over the world.

Judging by my own PR background, I think his PR people did a politically correct "good job". At least in the interim. On the surface I felt like he should be pitied and forgiven. Like a few people have noted, Tiger Woods owes them nothing. He should carry on with his life.

But I am worried for the guy. I wonder where he puts God in all the sexual mess he got himself. I waited patiently throughout the speech, especially when he subbed, to say he was also seeking God to forgive him so that it would be easy for his wife, family and friends that he gathered together to forgive him.

I don't know if God's forgiveness is included in his rehab program either. I pray it is.

I am a Christian believer, in fact, a preacher. So you know where I am coming from. I have my fears that Tiger Wood may be on the way down altogether if God is not involved in his rehab. King David, a man familiar with sexual errors and murder, wrote Psalm 91 to show individuals who err to find a simple way to seek God's forgiveness.

But I am praying that Tiger Wood's PR people and therapists will guide him in the right direction to make their work fruitful at the end. I am reminding them of David's word in Psalm 32:1-2 which says:

"Count yourself lucky, how happy you must be— you get a fresh start, your slate's wiped clean. Count yourself lucky — God holds nothing against you and you're holding nothing back from him." (Message Bible Version)

We may give him a fresh opportunity but unless God does it, he unfortunately remains in sin in the court of heaven. I pray that he does a simple thing, both in private and public: to ask that God forgive him and that he seeks God's help to appease Elin for a truly fresh start.

As Jesus Christ warned, "Everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven."(Matthew 10:32-33, NLT).

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Flourish Like A Palm Tree, Grow Like A Cedar

As 2009 was coming to an end, in my usual style, I sought the Lord for guidance as to what 2010 would be like. By His Spirit, God led me to Psalm 92 and emboldened on my heart that not only 2010, but all through the new decade, there would be flourishing in the body of Christ. Yet, the word must be made clear. Even though flourishing is for everybody, there is a kind believers should be careful about!!!

There's a kind that Psalm 92:7 describes as the flourishing of the wicked! It lasts for a short while and may even draw accolades. But it quickly turns to destruction.

Then there's the more durable, longer lasting flourishing for (1) those who receive the righteousness of God through faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ; (2) those who choose to wholeheartedly serve God: through their local Church family, community or the body of Christ.

The Amplified Bible spells it out more clearly:

The [uncompromisingly] righteous shall flourish like the palm tree [be long-lived, stately, upright, useful, and fruitful]; they shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon [majestic, stable, durable, and incorruptible]. Planted in the house of the Lord, they shall flourish in the courts of our God. [Growing in grace] they shall still bring forth fruit in old age. They shall be full of sap [of spiritual vitality], and [rich in the] verdure [of trust, love, and contentment].
They are living memorials to show that the Lord is upright and faithful to His promises. He is my rock and there is no unrighteousness in Him. (Psalm 92:12-15, AMP)

Think about it. Would you rather suffer in the next ten years or with the help of God, find joy and fulfillment in what you do? Know first that you cannot attain to righteousness on your own. Righteousness is by faith in the justification of God through the Lord Jesus Christ.

This is how it goes: Your sins were underwritten on the cross. Don't hold yourself guilty, you are already made acceptable to your Father in heaven by the blood of the Lamb. Believe this in faith. What you can handle, and is a choice you make, is to serve God or care less. This is where you must decide to be on the side of God. To serve in your local church, community or just be a helping hand to someone in need somewhere. This is your key to flourishing like a palm tree and growing like a cedar in the new decade.