But if you think that golf is the most important thing in Scheffler's life, you'd be wrong. First, before the tournament started, he made it clear that if his wife — pregnant with their first child — went into labour, he would immediately drop out of the competition — even if he were winning. Wouldn't that have been amazing to see Scheffler on one of the last holes of the Masters and suddenly turn his back on $1.3 million, walk to the parking lot, and drive off to the hospital!

Secondly, before the tournament, an interviewer asked him, "You're the number one player in the world. A lot of people think that you are going to win it outright. How has golf formed your identity? How has golf formed who you are?"

(The interviewer erroneously assumed that because Scheffler is the number one golfer in the world, he must get his identity from golf.)

Scheffler — long pause — I loved his answer — "To be honest, it's a great privilege to play golf. I love it. I always want to do my best. But I don't find any identity in it. My identity comes from my faith, the One I follow, and that's Jesus. My identity isn't in my golf score. Win or lose, my identity is secure. The reason why I play golf is because I try to glorify God for all He has done in my life."

WOW!

I wonder what advice the world's greatest golfer might give us today? Would it be how to chip out of sand traps, how to drive or putt? I think not. I think that this young man might tell us to get our spiritual life together, and the other trappings in life will sort themselves out.

Psalm 146:3-5 – Don't put your confidence in powerful people; there is no help for you there. When they breathe their last, they return to the earth, and all their plans die with them. But joyful are those who have the God of Israel as their helper, whose hope is in the Lord their God. (NLT)

Prayer: Loving God, there are a lot of influencers out there, begging for us to subscribe to their way of thinking. Help us always to put You first in our lives, knowing that Your way will never lead us astray and all other aspects of our living will follow in a manner pleasing to You and edifying to our own being. Amen.

I almost wanted to scream, "No, it is good to live well. Dying well is the least important part of our living well." This person chose to focus on my friend's death, not on the eighty-plus years that he had risen above a marginalized upbringing to become a loving, kind, generous husband, father, grandfather, and well-loved friend.

Years ago, when I was a pastor in Ontario, Canada, a member of my church went on to be with Jesus, leaving a grief-stricken wife after sixty years of marriage. She had found him dead, lying in their barn, not knowing how many hours he had been lying there, while she was inside watching television. For years after, she berated herself for not checking the barn for him sooner. After a wonderful marriage, raising a family together, and being kind and loving members of both community and church, she couldn't get past focusing on the hour of his death.

I remember being shocked to read for the first time an interchange between Jesus and a follower:

Matthew 8:21-22 – Another disciple said to him, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father." But Jesus told him, "Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead." (NIV)

It doesn't sound like the compassionate Jesus I know, was my first thought. He might have had an elderly or sick father, and his father's passing might yet be a long way off. On deeper reflection, I realized that what Jesus was emphasizing was that there is nothing more important than following Jesus, even more important than the death of a parent, and we must do all in our power to focus on what Jesus is calling us to do, all He calls us to become, and living the abundant life. "I have come that they might have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." (John 10:10 NKJV)

Jesus is calling us to live nothing short of our very best life in the here and now, to use all the gifts that God has bestowed upon us in order to make this world better for our journey through it, to call others into that deep and personal relationship with God that gives us meaning and abundant life, and in Jesus own words, to "Love one another as I have loved you." (John 15:12b NKJV)

Prayer: Loving God, help us to get beyond the urge to get ahead and the concern of our own mortality and that of others, so that we can truly live the abundant, loving life which Jesus exemplified, and into which He calls us. Amen.

John 13:34-35 – A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. (NIV)

Do your family, co-workers, and friends know that you have the kind of love for them that Jesus commanded? Do you merely hope that they do, or have you explicitly told them? Are you even comfortable telling other people that you love them?

Years ago, I spent time at the Adult and Teen Challenge's Okanagan Men's Centre, a successful global Christian-based drug and alcohol year-long rehabilitation program. One of the aspects of this program which I really appreciated was the way that these young men (usually from very hardened lives) were comfortable in telling each other of the love that they had for one another. Often, I heard them pass by another with words like, "I love you, James," typically followed by a quick and sincere, "I love you, too, Mason."

With my Teen Challenge experience, I realized that I had a low comfort level in telling others that I loved them, regardless of how much I loved them, probably inherited from my father. This even extended somewhat to my own family — my wife and children — and certainly to casual acquaintances.

How freeing it was when I purposefully (and not without risk of rejection) became increasingly comfortable telling others, "I love you." It did not come easily. It did not come quickly. But every time when I developed the courage to say it, I realized that it was the right thing to say. Each time when I said it, I was emboldened to say it more often. Each time when I said it, I felt a little closer to Jesus.

The very great reward of actually telling others of our love for them is hearing (especially for the first time), "I love you, too." Growing up, my older brother was one whom I would have declared as being my enemy. We were competitive and fought often. How good it was to hear my brother recently say to me, "I love you, too."

My challenge to you is actually Jesus' challenge. Find someone whom you love, but have been reluctant or unable to tell them, and explicitly tell them, "I love you." It's not enough for them to merely think that you might love them.

Prayer: Loving God, give us the grace not only to live a more loving life, but to have the courage to tell others of the love of Jesus and our own love for them. Amen.

Last month, shortly after turning 72, I came across an historic life expectancy chart that both surprised and helped me. It showed that prior to the sweeping public health advancements of the 19th century (clean drinking water, sterilization, sewage systems, and medical advancements), the average life expectancy was a meagre 35 years of age!

That average lifespan of only 35 years prior to the 19th century covers most of our human existence. One could say that, at 72, I have lived the equivalent of two life spans, and I'm now working on my third life!

Not only have I had the blessing of living twice as long as most people previously did, the quality of my life has been a vast improvement over other times that I might have been born into. In 1665, the London philosopher, Thomas Hobbs, famously described British life as "solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short".

Blessed even as Christians, we often nurse our complaints about our living condition, our health, or our financial woes, typically based relative to the condition of others we know.

But what right do I, who have lived two average lifetimes (and great ones at that!), have to complain about what usually amount to not much more than minor life discomforts or inconveniences?

How can I complain about my hearing not being as good as it was 20 years ago, or about my not-as-sharp memory, or about possibly not living to see my great-grandchildren, if indeed, I've been blessed with two lives?

In fact, entering my "third life", what could I legitimately complain about at all? About what aspect of our life do we really have the right to complain? Besides, Moses made it clear that because our loving God arranges our lives for our good and His glory, complaining about our lives is grumbling against God:

Exodus 16:8b – The Lord hears your complaints which you make against Him. And what are we? Your complaints are not against us but against the Lord. (NKJV)

1 Samuel 12:24 – Only fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart. For consider what great things he has done for you. (ESV)

Luke 6:38a – Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. (NIV)

John 10:10b – I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. (NRSV)

Prayer: Loving God, we have been the recipients of much to be grateful for. Allow us to dwell on the riches of Your generosity toward us, such that our complaining may cease, that we may see only the myriad of ways in which You want to bless us, and that we may be grateful. Amen.

Like me, you might be somewhat disappointed with recent television offerings, filled with unwholesome deprivation, gratuitous violence, and calls for revenge. So, I was recently encouraged by an eight-episode Internet show called SGN (Some Good News), brilliantly created, directed, and hosted by John Krasinski (The Office). Krasinski holds an infectious smile that wipes away troubles and sadness. Heartwarming stories of good news during the pandemic abound: homecoming parades, new family members, health care worker celebrations, and my favourite, a baby's unbridled laughter at the commonplace. The show has raised millions of dollars for COVID-19-related charities.

This is heartwarming good news amidst the stream of bad news, giving hope and encouragement. It's impossible to watch it without a few tears of joy.

So, too, was Jesus' declaration of the Good News of God's redemptive love. During a particularly oppressive time for the Jewish people, Jesus offered new hope, particularly to those suffering injustice, discrimination, and marginalization, with teaching about God's limitless grace for all people everywhere, and stories of God's call to be a kinder, gentler, and more compassionate people. It was just what Jesus' immediate followers and His subsequently three billion followers needed to hear, and still need to hear.

Luke 4:43 – But [Jesus] replied, "I must preach the Good News of the Kingdom of God in other towns, too, because that is why I was sent." (NLT)

Our calling, as followers of Jesus, is to continue to spread this Good News in a world that, despite its trials, is an amazing world filled with opportunities for meaning, delight, and fulfilment, perhaps especially in these trying times. Instead of focusing on the bad news, as others may tend towards in times such as we are living, Jesus' followers need to search continually for the Good News that Jesus offers to each one of us daily, not so much for our own sakes as for the encouragement of others and for the building of God's kingdom.

Prayer: Lord, even in these trying times, may we recognize that the light of Your presence and love override any of our difficulties and limitations. May each of us go out into the world, not with thoughts of trauma and shortcomings, but with a renewed appreciation for all that is still good. In spreading the good news, may we experience life in all its goodness and fullness, as You intended for us. Amen.

Hebrews 13:5b-6 – God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" (NIV)

On the sun-drenched morning of January 13th, my wife Janice and I took a leisurely walk along the Waikoloa golf course bordering our condo unit on the Big Island. With the promise of yet another beautiful Hawaiian day, it was strange that no one else was on the golf course. Halfway through our walk, an elderly couple on a golf cart darted quickly in our direction waving their arms as they closed in on us. "Great," I thought, "they'll now tell us that we can't walk on their precious golf course." But I had them all wrong.

"I don't mean to scare you," the man said politely, "but there's an intercontinental ballistic missile headed this way."

Interesting … "I don't mean to scare you"… but the world is coming to a close.

Many in Hawaii, I later learned, became terrified with this news, which appeared simultaneously on every cell phone in Hawaii. There were widespread reports of hysteria, crying, and panicking. One couple was videoed taking a manhole cover off a city street and depositing two children down the hole. I heard that another vacationer had gone into his bathroom at his condo with a case of beer and a mattress and proceeded to hide in his bathtub.

Janice and I took quite a different tack. We decided that if there really were to be a nuclear explosion, there would be little time to react in any meaningful way. What were we to do? Hide under a palm tree? We also both felt that the worst that could happen would be that we would soon be on our way to meeting our Maker — which would be a good thing — and we both experienced a deep peace about that. Besides, I thought, on the plus side, I would no longer have to be concerned about the MasterCard bill that was piling up from our trip! As my grandmother put it, "There's a silver lining to everything!"

Jesus, we knew, is the resurrection and the life, and therefore, death has no hold over us. It was an interesting moment of both peace and faith. I didn't even feel a particular need to pray, for our continued walk was a prayer in itself, and I felt a great closeness to God just holding my wife's hand. It was also interesting to contemplate that while many were panicking, thousands near us would be acting in a similar way as we were: continuing in their walk of faith, trusting in the God who declared, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."

John 14:2-3 – In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. (NIV)

How would you react if you felt that there was a good possibility that your life was suddenly about to end?

Prayer: Loving God, even in the valley of the shadow of death, You are with us. You have promised never to forsake us, never to leave us, in life nor in death. Thank You that Jesus brings us the confidence and peace which comes from death being defeated. Thank You that Jesus has promised a place with You when our earthly time is complete. Amen.

The dreaded phone call came from Canada in the middle of a missionary term in Papua New Guinea. Our housemaid answered and relayed the message to me when I arrived home for lunch. I'll never forget her exact words: "Rick, sorry … your father is … what … dead." "Yes," she said in her usual shy way, "your father is … what … dead."

Surprised? Shocked! Dad had been well the last time I had talked to him just a couple of weeks prior. He and mom had travelled to visit us the year before, and he looked as strong and healthy as ever. How could this be? How could he be dead?

With tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat, I called home to mom. Now, understand that long distance phone calls from Papua New Guinea were of questionable quality and unreliable at best. It took me, as usual, the better part of an hour to get through. First, I had to dial and connect to a long distance operator (often a challenge in itself), then the operator called me back to confirm my phone number. An hour later, the operator placed the call and then called back to connect to me after the receiving party answered.

During that hour, memories of dad flooded back — of a father who never deserted me, of a devoted father who would give of himself for any of his children; a father who gave to us his all.

Finally, I got through to Canada. Surprise! "Hello!" came my father's usual cheery voice. And in an instant, I realized in quite a different way how important my father was to me. My dad, whom I had thought was dead, was alive! Surprise!

We never did find out whose father had died, and how the misdirected phone call had reached our house. It was a moot point compared to the thrill of knowing that a loved one whom I thought might be dead was alive.

That incident, as it turns out, was a blessing, for in the ensuing time before my father actually died ten years later, it allowed me time to make my peace with him, and to tell him of my gratitude and love for who he was and the example that he had been for me.

As much as hearing dad's voice and knowing that he was alive was a surprise and relief to me, I can't imagine how much of a surprise it was for the disciples and friends of Jesus to learn that He was alive! Unlike me, they had actually witnessed Jesus' death, a horrible, cruel, and humiliating death that would have led them to believe that He was never going to be seen alive again.

Earlier on that first Easter morning, Mary Magdalene and Mary came to the tomb where Jesus' lifeless body had been laid. The gospel of John says that it was still dark. John could have been speaking both literally and metaphorically, for there was darkness over all the earth before Christ's resurrection. Without His resurrection, our lives would still be lived in darkness.

If we live with no promise or understanding of life to come when our earthly life is over — if aging, pain, and death have the final say — then this is a dark world indeed.

But because Christ has risen, because of His resurrection and His promise of eternal life for each of us, we, too, can live confident that better days are always ahead!

Prayer: Loving God, You, like a loving father, hold nothing back from us, not even Your beloved Son. May we live lives worthy of His sacrifice for us, and live with the confidence of eternal life always. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen!