Okay, Dave, here's the post.

The best way to get a hole in 1 is to just think that it's never going to happen. For the last decade or so, when I stood on the tee box of a par 3, I never even thought for a second about the ball going into the hole. When you have been playing golf for 35 years and it has never happened, you learn not to expect it. Then, a week ago, it happened!

Considering the length of the particular hole I was playing, I was just hoping to hit a solid shot and miss the two gigantic bunkers on either side of the green. I have not had much success in the past on the long par 3 15th at Eagle Pointe Golf Club in Mt. Belvieu, TX. I don't believe I've ever hit less than a 3 or 4-iron on that hole and occasionally a fairway wood. Though the pin was in the front portion of the large green and Kris Emerson's range-finder measured it at 187, the wind was slightly against, so I pulled the 3-wood. Just take a nice smooth swing and make solid contact, I thought, hoping it would land somewhere on the green. With a slight fade as I had planned, aiming at the middle of the green, the ball heads toward the hole. I knew it was a good shot, but I still was not thinking "go in the hole." I figured it might be close if the distance was accurate. We couldn't see very well because of glare from the sunshine and the tilt of the green. Henry Stevenson says, "Nice shot!" Then, more excitedly, "I think it went in the hole." I said, "Noooo!" He said, "I think it hit the pin and went in." I couldn't wait to get to the green. I got excited when I jogged toward the green and could see no golf ball close to the pin. Sure enough, the unthinkable had happened. Golf career complete!! I had holed out from the fairway several times for eagles on par 4's, but I had never made the classic "hole in 1." Now, I can say, I have 1!!! Still savoring the moment a week later.

And I always thought if I ever got one, I would be way over par for that round. Just so happens, that shot made me even par through 6 holes (we had started on hole #10). I promptly went double bogey, double bogey after that, but the powers of concentration had lapsed slightly due to the shock. I then pulled it together and ended up shooting 85. I didn't want to shoot 100 or worse on the day that I got that elusive hole in 1.

I hadn't really made the connection until just now. Our home is located in Tomball on Mossy Pointe...with an e! Eagle Pointe is with an e too...must be why it happened there.

More and more, I am sensing the need to preach about this subject. So many want to defend the practice, of course, as long as it is not to excess ... which is clearly condemned in the Scriptures (you cannot read the N.T. and conclude that drunkenness is okay).

"Jesus turned water to wine" is heard OVER & OVER & OVER & OVER again (more times than I used the word OVER). But that is an AWFUL argument on several grounds. It seems to work just fine, however, for the uninformed (or willingly ignorant).

The major problem in the discussion of the practice of drinking "wine" in biblical times vs. modern times is that we are not even talking about the same thing! Customs were different; the word for "wine" was used differently; the alcoholic content of the beverage was different.

I'm feeling a sermon coming on...I am just so nauseated and outraged by the attempts to justify what is clearly destructive and sinful, especially when the source of the justifying is other believers. Any of your insights on this matter are appreciated as well as your #1 best argument against the social drink.

Such a pretty area of the country. I'm enjoying just looking at the landscape and the green hues of spring. When you live in flatsville (as I call it), you learn to appreciate the more undulating terrain in other places. The short flight from Charlotte, NC to Johnson City/Bristol was beautiful.

In back to back weeks, I have renewed acquaintances with two churches I had visited in 2007 -- the East Shelby church in Memphis and now the Brookmead church in Johnson City. Both groups have listened eagerly to the messages despite having very capable men that they listen to each Lord's Day (Terry Francis & Kevin Kay).

This week, the meeting ends on Thursday night, so I am really starting to miss home -- Sheri, Brett, my bed, my normal routine, even Tiberius (our attention-loving feline) -- Mondays and Tuesdays are always the hardest. But time passes so swiftly, so Friday will be here very soon. In the meantime, I get to preach some of my favorite sermons and hopefully encourage these good folks.

I hope the handful of you who read this are having a great week. You all are very special people who love the Lord and serve Him faithfully.

Last Kentucky game I saw in person was during my second year at Auburn (2007). Thanks to a member of the Eastside church in Baytown, Brett and I have tickets to the Final Four on Saturday. Brett had been telling me, "Dad, we have to go!" So I began Monday putting out feelers for tickets...Dwight Chaney came through. He had a vendor with some tickets. Seats below the lower deck are going for sizable sums, so we were very fortunate to get two in hand and not have to go down there looking on Saturday.

This isn't just any Kentucky game. This is a Final Four game...the first one for the Wildcats in 13 long years. Calipari, much maligned and perhaps unfairly maligned, deserves a lot of credit for this team's success. Can't wait to attend my first Final Four! Can you tell I'm a little excited??

I used to sing this silly little song to Sheli when she was a baby (she liked it too). It was cleverly titled, "You Are My Little Girl." The lyrics contained equal depth -- you are my sweet pea, you are so lovely, your name is Sheli, you're full of jelly -- etc. Needless to say, a songwriting career did not launch after my first composition.

All of that to say, my little Sheli got engaged this week. We knew it was likely going to happen over the Holidays, especially after the young man obeyed the gospel last week. Chris is a good kid and has loads of potential and will begin a career in civil engineering very soon. But I have to admit, it just doesn't seem real. We are happy that she is so happy, and we will continue praying for them. It's still hard for a Dad to see his little girl grow up and spread her wings.

I remember when she would come stand by me after I preached because she was so proud of her Dad...makes me tear up just thinking about it. Okay, I'm going to have to end this now.