Have you ever watched professional golfers and been awed by their ability to land a shot from two hundred yards away just a few yards from the hole? You wonder how they can judge the distance to the hole with such precision. Do they have an internal GPS system that enables them to guess the distances on the course with uncanny accuracy? Not really. What they have is a yardage book. A yardage book is a map of each hole on the course that gives distances from various landmarks on the hole to the green. Decades ago Arnold Palmer and his caddy began drawing rough yardage charts with little pictures of trees, fairways, greens, sand traps and such of the various holes on all the courses they played. Jack Nicklaus was the pro who really made yardage books popular. Today along with the maps many pro golfers will keep what essentially is a personal journal of how they have played each hole of the course, what clubs they have used from various distances, what the wind was doing, and so on, and what happened to their shots.
Wouldn't it be nice to have yardage books for the tough decisions we make in life? Should I date this person or not? Should I go to this or that school? Should we buy this house? In our technological age, we want specifics. We want everything mapped out. We want to remove all the uncertainties from life. We want to be able to use our past experiences to predict exactly what will happen in the future. But God hasn't chosen to work with us in that way. He has given us an essential book of guidance that we can't do without, but we still have to use judgment in how to apply what it teaches. Most important, we need to be walking with God in prayer and trust. (by Craig Brian Larson)There are several resources available to help your congregation to read 'life's yardage book'. As we approach the new year when many people commit themselves to reading the Bible through in one year, here are some options you can provide:
1. LifeWalk - a monthly devotional guide that leads a reader through the Bible while providing historical context and life application. - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/lifewalk-devotional-january-2012-P005107653-2012-01
2. Reader's Guide to the Bible: A Chronological Reading Plan - a plan that guides a reader through the books of the Bible set in chronological order plus gives 'coaching tips' for each day's reading. - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/readers-guide-to-the-bible-a-chronological-reading-plan-p005414497
3. Reading God's Story - the Bible companion piece to the Reader's Guide - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/reading-gods-story-P005306873
THINGS YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN ...
FOR CHURCH SOFTWARE: Digital Church, solutions for online giving, online registration, online small group administration, church membership, etc - http://www.lifeway.com/n/Services/Digital-Church-Tools?type=services
FOR CHURCH STAFF: 2012 GBREA meeting, January 19 & 20, 2012 at Johnson Ferry Baptist Church, Marietta, Keynote speakers include Allan Taylor, Dillard Wilbanks, and Steve Parr - http://www.gbrea.org/templates/System/details.asp?id=39977&PID=890161
FOR FAMILY MINISTRY: Secret Church Simulcast, November 4, 7:00pm - 1:00am, Bible study on family, marriage, sex and the gospel - http://www.lifeway.com/n/Product-Family/Secret-Church-Simulcast-with-David-Platt
FOR DISCIPLESHIP: Gospel Revolution: Recovering the Power of Christianity, an eight week study of power of the gospel on humanity - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/gospel-revolution-recovering-the-power-of-christianity-leader-kit-P005467771
FOR DISCIPLESHIP: Presence: Overwhelmed by God, a six week study on facets of God's presence in our lives - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/gospel-revolution-recovering-the-power-of-christianity-leader-kit-P005467771
FOR DISCIPLESHIP: James by Beth Moore, an eight week study for women on the book of James - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/james-mercy-triumphs-leader-kit-p005371580
FOR EVANGELISM: Bridges: Christians Connecting with Muslims, a six week study that equips Christians with understanding their Muslim neighbors and to lovingly share their beliefs with them - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/bridges-christians-connecting-with-muslims-leader-kit-P005189799
FOR PARENTS: Raising Boys and Girls: The Art of Understanding their Differences, a six session study to understand how our children develop as they grow - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/raising-boys-and-girls-the-art-of-understanding-their-differences-leader-kit-P005324579
