Don’t miss Grant’s tribute to Byron Nelson at PGA.com. Here’s a bit:
Nelson and my uncle, Pat Boone, are probably the two most recognizable names to ever come from the Churches of Christ, a technically autonomous but distinct body of Christ-followers concentrated primarily from tip to buckle along the Bible belt of the southern United States. This fellowship began in the first half of the 1800s as an attempt to strike a blow against sectarianism, even adopting the mantra, “Christians only, not the only Christians.”
Though many through the years lost sight of that original vision of unity — as so often happens when second and succeeding generations venerate the traditions of a group instead of the One the group set out to follow — Nelson was not among them. He knew his Bible, mind you, and he believed strongly in what he believed. His theology wasn’t casual, nor was he unafraid to lovingly share why he was convinced that salvation was found through Christ alone, why the Bible could be trusted, and why it wasn’t just for the next life that we have hope.
But Nelson never brandished his faith as a weapon, choosing instead to extend an empty and open hand in friendship to all comers. And did they ever come. Wherever the debate over which golfer is the best of all time ends, Byron Nelson was the game’s finest man, hands down.
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I love the story of the paralytic who is lowered through the roof to Jesus in Mark 2. Whenever I teach this to my students (as yesterday), I like to ask them to imagine being in the story: first as one of the friends (Who would you quickly load on a mat and take to Jesus if you believed healing was possible?), then as the person on the mat (What four people would be carrying you as quickly as they could to Jesus?), and then as someone in the crowded room as a skylight begins forming in the roof above.
“But Nelson never brandished his faith as a weapon, choosing instead to extend an empty and open hand in friendship to all comers. And did they ever come.”
I can only hope and pray that people say something like this about me someday, Mike. Grant sure has a powerful way with words. Thanks for sharing this. Have a blessed day, my friend.
I love the story of the roofcutters. One the greatest compliments ever given to me was that I was a roofcutter.
Grant did a great job with that tribute. Jim Clark also had a fitting tribute to Nelson in the last few days.
We’ve lost a champion on the links and in the kingdom, for sure, but he’s sure happy now…
Ooohh-ooh Mike (raising hand) - I have a question. The text in Mark 2 states “…the people heard that he had come home. So many gathered that was no room left….” And the story follows. Was this Jesus’ actual home where he lived? I had honestly never seen that until a few weeks ago. Thanks.
There’s also a great write-up on Lord Byron in the Christian Chronicle, and I’m sure the funeral at Richland Hills was moving.
Kent - I’m guessing “home” as in Capernaum. But who knows?
After the last few days, I’m trying to guess where the thread of today’s comments will go.
“if you believed healing was possible?”
who would take a chance on making a fool out of one’s self unless you believed?
No one could guess that, Mike. But I’m betting that the term conservative or liberal will be used on here at least once along the way. You wanna take that bet?
Chris, I pray you are totally wrong on your bet/prediction.
IMO, where we should engage in a polorizing issue should be God vs Satan - Good vs Evil and save our energies for that battle, not waste our time on one of temporary import such as politics, especially here on this blog. But then, that’s only mho.
Referring to a comment made on an earlier post, it seems our gentleness and loving attitudes toward one another are thrown out the window once political talk comes in the door. What a shame, again, imho.
Byron Nelson was my dad’s Sunday School teacher in Texarkana in the early 30’s. He has been telling some tales this week
A great golf champion will be raised a great champion!
God bless the Nelson family.
Kathy-
You might be the only person in my life that I have hoped is right in telling me that they are “praying that I am totally wrong.”
Thanks, Kent, for mentioning the Christian Chronicle (www.christianchronicle.org). We appreciate the free publicity!
I interviewed Byron at his home in Roanoke last year, and neither he nor his wife Peggy could have been any nicer to me or my son Keaton, who was 7 at the time. I will never forget this golf legend telling me, “I was really surprised when I heard the Christian Chronicle wanted to do a story about me.” I considered that a sign of his true humility, which he displayed throughout the interview.
I left this comment after yesterday’s blog. Not sure if it will be read since I think it was comment #97, but for me it is getting less and less enjoyable to read through the comment section of your blog. IMHO, what once was a great blessing is gradually turning into a sectarian grudge match. I don’t mind the disagreeing, but the spirit in which some of it is done is disappointing and diminishes the blessing of your blog, especially when good conversation degenerates into a “brown-eyed” hockey brawl. Ugh!
Dead on words, Grant. It’s nice to have a sports hero that never lost sight of the true victory and eternal significance.
Hey, Grant! You sound like an awesome guy! Loved your writing! Brilliant! Wanna go out this weekend?
I’m afraid I’d never heard of Byron Nelson until I saw your post. I guess I’d better do some link clicking. (I have heard of Pat Boone though, so I’m not completely clueless…)
Amy - He’d BETTER take you out this weekend after that extended gig in Ireland (reporting on the Ryder Cup)! Please report it to your minister if that doesn’t happen.
Chris! LOL
I’m among the less fortunate that did not have the pleasure of knowing Byron Nelson personally. What a tribute to a man of faith from all that have written about him. We can just imagine the joyful reunion with his Savior he is celebrating now! PTL!
I have been very blessed in knowing Betty and Charles Nelson. It seems wherever I go that a volunteer is needed, there’s where Betty will be found with her ever present sweet, uplifting smile.
What a joy to be able to call these three people my fellow believers in Him!!!!
I would be a pretty good golfer if it weren’t for the trees, sand and water.
And I think golf on TV would be alot more fun if it were full contact golf or like Happy Gilmore.
Mike how about a round sometime at Dimondback?
Chris F. - Thanks for getting me to try more beans! I have a great black beans & rice recipe, but i like to add a liberal amout of garlic to it.
Also, I think Mike could get around 50 comments today, but that’s proabably a conservative estimate!
I wonder if Byron Nelson had to worry about rattlesnakes while playing golf?
Anything to get Mike to 50….comments.
The answer to my question yesterday was: Dr Gene Scott.
This guy WAS quite a character. Someone informed me that he passed from this life last year. He would sit on a couch, smoke cigars and berate his audience for not sending contributions between his ramblings about the Bible. All the while in the backgound, home movies of his horses (Standardbreds or Tennesee Walkers) trotting around the ring.
Clint - I am with you - everything can be relayted back to the Princess Bride.
“You fell victim to one of the classic blunders! The most famous is never get involved in a land war in Asia, but only slightly less well-known is this: never go in against a Sicilian when death is on the line!”
Byron Nelson was one of those people who made you fill with pride at your religious heritage. I never met him, but watched him on TV many times and his Christ like spirit always stood out. We could all learn a lesson or two from him. The brother who reminded us all of Dr. Scott did us all a great service. I hate to admit it, but I loved his show. He used to crack me up. I guess the cigars finally got him.
Byron was rarely in the rough
Sorry, chickie, but I never date people I meet on the internet. Besides, you could ever stack up to my wife. Godly, smoking hot, laughs at my jokes, etc. (I can’t recall at the moment what she’s getting out of this.)
Do you hear the one about the preacher who decided to call in on Sunday and go play golf three towns away. He got to the first hole and teed off made hole in one. The next hole did the exact same thing. Peter turned to God and said, “Why you doing that God. Here he is skipping church to play golf!” God said, “Peter who is he going to tell?”
Can you picture Pat Boone and Mike Cope playing golf together. That will make you laugh too.
The two biggest problems I have with golf are distance and direction. Byron was a master of both…and so much more. He was a gentleman, a man among men, and an example worth imitating.
Now we know which direction this blog will take…golf jokes. Like the man who went to play golf on Sunday morning only to be seen by one of the elders who happened to drive by the course as the church skipper was loading his clubs in the car. The elder stopped, pulled along side the man’s car and asked, “What in the world are you doing playing golf on Sunday morning?!”
The man answered, “Sorry, brother, but I couldn’t have gone to church anyway; my wife is sick.”
Steve,
LOL…That is great…I’ve never heard that one.
Not a golf follower, but what a man Byron Nelson must have been! What a wonderful representative of the church. I hope some of you have followed “The Wandering Golfer” on the “Fine Living Channel.” I’ve tuned in just to watch a fellow classmate of mine Chad Maulsby, an ACU graduate and a good Christian man. He has done an excellent job hosting that show and if my intuition is correct he will do more similar things if he wishes. If I remember correctly, he did a great piece on Byron Nelson. How appropriate that someone like Chad would do one of Byron’s last TV appearances.
I think this proves that there will be golf courses in heaven?
I don’t normally watch the golf channel, but was flipping through tonight and they had a special on Byron Nelson. At the end, my husband and I both agreed that he was one special man. We had met him at the Unity meeting in Grand Prairie couple of years ago and was impressed then. I told my husband I expected the Chronicle to say good things, even here on this blog and Grant Boone’s blog, but to hear the golf channel’s story of Byron Nelson proved beyond doubt, he was one Godly man. They talked of his faith and his gentle behavior in every area of his life. It was a great tribute. I am proud to say he was one of our tribe. I just hope I can have half or even a fourth of the things said about him, said about me. It would be an honor!
We need more good things coming from our heritage like this.
This shows you exactly where I am golfwise. I had heard of Byron Nelson, knew that he had a golf tournament named after him, but had no idea that he was still alive until he died, and DEFINITELY did not know that he was a member of the Church of Christ!
Well, it’s a little late to join this blog with another Byron Nelson comment, but I have to say that he was a golf icon in our family: My dad was a super golfer (played at ACC back in the 30’s and then for years in Sweetwater TX–so much a golf warrior that he was known to paint golf balls black when it snowed, and, yes, it did snow occasionally in Sweetwater!) He even got to play with Byron, who was two years his senior, and held him in the highest esteem as a player and as a good man. When we moved to Denton early in our marriage (mid 60’s) Byron’s mother taught our ladies Bible Class. She was a go-getter and a Bible scholar.
Wow, that was LONG ago. Sweet memories.
The greatest ambassador that golf ever had. I loved watching him tee up the first ball at his tourney’s each year to kick things off in his glory years.