What Is A Game of Life Fellowship?

A Game of Life Fellowship is a group of male golfers between the ages of 12 and older who play golf together on a regular basis for one, two, or all of the following purposes.

Fellowship Offers Refuge & Encouragement, F.O.R.E. 

“Fore” means “to go ahead.” A “Fore Caddie” goes out ahead of their player to watch their ball usually on a blind shot or when there's trouble ahead. When “Fore!” echoes throughout a golf course and we are standing next to someone, instinctively we will shield that other person. So, that rests the case made by Rick Warren in his best-seller [The Purpose Driven Life] that we were made for fellowship. 

To play well on this demanding course of life, we must be in fellowship where we will find the valuable local knowledge only the seasoned members have gained. The bible tells us that the Master Caddie, "God" goes ahead of us in life, and watches those blind and trouble spots for us. Combine this with the refuge and encouragement we get from fellowship, and God will make our path in life straight.

Discipleship Illuminates Valiant Obedience & Trust, D.I.V.O.T.

“Disciple” comes from the word “Discipline.” Whether in life or golf a disciple is a “learner” and they possess two champion qualities; they are teachable and they are disciplined and these two qualities lead to wisdom which a disciple uses to benefit others both in sport and life. A disciple is not afraid to dig into the depth of their being where they will hear God reveal His purpose for them so they can deepen their obedience and trust in Him in order that they can earn the obedience and trust of others. 

In both life and golf, we must dig it out of the dirt to play both games with accuracy and credibility. It’s a result of being disciplined and learning more about God and ourselves that enhances our faith and confidence and will empower us to bear fruit in both games leading us to the mission of the Great Commission.    

Evangelism Affirms God’s Loving Embrace, E.A.G.L.E.

Once again let’s go to Bagger. “Ain't a soul on this entire earth ain't got a burden to carry he don't understand, you ain't alone in that... But you been carryin' this one long enough... Time to go on... lay it down.”

What Bagger is saying is that it’s time to dig the dirt out of life in order that we can be free and gain the wisdom that will benefit and impact others. What Jesus asked “The Invalid” at the pool in Bethesda was, “Do you ‘really’ want to get well?” Then he simply said to the invalid, “Pick up your mat and walk.” 

For our evangelism to be real and effective, we had to “choose to come out of the shadows.”  Only until we walk through “the shadows of the valley of death” which were once our hiding places can we be effective in “assuring” God’s loving embrace which shapes us through Fellowship and Discipleship.