Jim and I had a long week of staff meetings planning for 2010 CityConnexx.org short-term mission trips. So we decided to take Friday afternoon off and do what we love to do to unwind - "Go Golfing". It's a bit like Jesus and the disciples. When they needed a break they "went fishing" (John 21).

So we loaded up the clubs in the van and headed to Applewood. They paired us up with Bill and his wife. On the fifth hole, Bill had a putt that didn't quite go his way. He threw out a few profanities and said, "Sorry I hope you're not religious."

Jim politely replied, "No problem for me but Dean over there is a pastor" (Of course Jim is too but he forgot to mention that fact at the time, maybe because Bill was bigger than the both of us). When Bill realized we both might be a bit "religious" you could see and feel his embarrassment. He went on to apologize and said, "Forgive me but sometimes I've got a mouth like a sailor."

I replied, "You know, now that I think about it, Jesus surrounded himself with a bunch of fisherman and sailors and my guess is they had a few conversations like that." We all had a good laugh at that. It got me to wonder what those early conversations were like between Jesus and those sailors there on the fifth green beside the beach sea.

The King James gospels don't tell us they used such "sailor's language" but I can't help but think there were some conversations that conveniently weren't recorded. I wish they would have. If nothing else but to encourage Bill that indeed those first disciples were rough and tough sailors too. My guess is their hearts were changed before their mouths were cleansed. Remember folks, they were sinners and sailors before they were inducted as saints. (And so are you and I).

Over the next few holes, that short conversation on the fifth green opened up a whole new dimension to Bill and his wife's journey in life. No need to share all the sorted details here but suffice it to say that Bill had a bad night years ago that helped turn him around. He said, "You know, it was the worse night of my life but probably saved my life for the lessons I learned and never want to repeat."

We had a great time carrying on the conversation over the rest of the round. I gave them my card with an invitation to come join us anytime for our small group of couples who meet on Sunday nights just to get together to eat, share and care for each other.

They appreciated the invite and we closed by saying, "Hope to see you again here or there." It turns out Bill works part-time at the golf course so I'm sure I'll see him again. I covet your prayers for us, Bill, his wife, and all those modern day sailors who just haven't met the one who walks on water and calms the seas . . . yet.