Arms Wide Open

Like most of the rest of the world, I just watched the streaming video of Tiger Woods statement of apology. Unlike most of the internet world, I am not going to offer an analysis, judgement or opinion.

There is a family in need of restoration.

There is a marriage in need of repair.

There is a man in need of help.

Any words I put on this blog are not going to change those things. As a man who has personally been shown more grace than I could ever repay, I offer Tiger nothing but the same. I won’t stand in judgement of his choice of religion but I will pray that he will open his heart to Jesus during his treatment and therapy.

What I will offer is an observation. It happened when the press conference was over and if you weren’t watching, you might have missed it.

As Tiger completed his statement, he made is way to the front row where his Mom was sitting. She stood with a smile that only a parent can have and embraced her son.

Grace needed.

Mom provided.

As a parent it stood out to me because it is an example of a love which knows no end. It is a love which sees beyond the failures to the core of the person inside. It is a love that knows that deep inside each one of us is the child that once knew no addiction, no struggles, no failures in judgement. It’s a love that believes that can be again.

I am moved by his mothers love. Her embrace said more than Tiger could say in 14 minutes of a prepared statement. Her embrace reminded me that spilled milk, fingerprints on the TV and not eating your vegetables will one day seem small compared to what my children could do. I pray they don’t but know, given our nature, they might. I know there will be consequences as well there should be. Grace doesn’t give a free pass, but it loves through the storm. It directs through the rough waters to a place where the ship will one day sail smooth waters.

As a parent and a man that has more failures than I can count, I can only offer Tiger what his Mom offered him….

Grace.

If you are like me, the devistation and aftermath of the earthquake in Haiti continues to break your heart. If you are also like me, you want to help but at times feel helpless. Cutting a check or giving your credit card information doesn’t give the knowledge of where that money went. We can’t see it, touch it or know that helped at all. Today I was made aware of an effort that is both a necessity and will allow you to know where your generous gift went.

A Home In Haiti is a web site which was launched by fellow blogger Shaun King. Shaun is the Lead Pastor at Courageous Church in Atlanta, Georgia. Through their efforts, Coleman has agreed to take off as much as 60% on their collection of waterproof tents for this cause. With the rainy season just 16 days away, you can imagine the impact of a waterproof shelter for a family or those in need. While not the ultimate solution, it will provide protection and a place to stay while the other funding and support continues to come in. From the A Home In Haiti Website:

Yes -homes of wood and stone and steel are needed. We are working on that RIGHT NOW, but while we work, we must ensure that we ACT to provide shelter from the impending rainy season that begins in March and hurricane season that begins in June. Our tents are flown & shipped weekly to Haiti through trusted partners and are distributed directly by experienced professionals on the ground.

There are many ways to give. You can donate, start a tent drive or even purchase the tents directly from Amazon.com and have them shipped to Courageous Church. My wife and I chose the option of purchasing directly through Amazon.com. I like knowing that our donation will be a tangible item and can help in an immediate way. For more information and to help this cause, visit ahomeinhaiti.com

May God pour out his blessings on the people of Haiti…

This is dedicated to my wife and my 2 little girls. Happy “Valen Times Day” (as my girls call it) to the three very special ladies in my life. “I know one thing, I love you”.

I interrupt my 40-Day Blog fast to post this sermon from Mark Driscoll, Pastor of Mars Hill Church in Seattle. While I have been away, I have been challenged to use the power of the blog to share links and giving opportunities which I have been made aware of. I have battled between giving in to the fast for something so important as the events in Haiti. Throughout this time away, I have been following and monitoring the progress of Pastors Mark Driscoll and James McDonald as they have launched “Churches Helping Churches” to respond to the devastation in Haiti.  I challenge each of you to watch the video below. It is one hour but will give you perspective on what is really happening in Haiti.

While I will continue my blog fast for the remaining 15 days, this video, this message, our opportunity and our calling is far too great. It goes beyond searching inside ones self (which is what my fast has been all about). It calls us to rise, pray, seek, serve, give and intercede for others. Lord help the people and the church in Haiti. As Casting Crowns so plainly sing it…”Until the Whole World Hears“.

On Friday afternoon, I sat watching football with family and reading the ESPN ticker reporting the details of Tiger Woods “minor accident”. With each passing hour, the details were more and more odd. That little alarm in my head was ringing that something just didn’t seem right. The truth is that no one except the Woods family knows what happened that night. Maybe we should leave it that way.

The tabloids are all over this story. Each time I launch Google Reader, there is another news feed with details. This morning, Tiger released a statement to respond to many of the allegations. After reading it, I am challenged to do the only thing we can do for Tiger….pray. I can quickly begin to make assumptions based on what I am reading about things I have no knowledge of. Yet the one thing I know is that I can pray for Tiger and his family. My prayer will be much like this song.

“Love is not a fight, but it’s something worth fighting for” -Warren Barfield

May God move and work in the marriage of Tiger Woods. May He bring restoration and healing to their home.

“Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. A soldier doesn’t have that problem”

-Ronald Reagan