You know the funny thing about golf? And there's there's a few of them out there, but it has an uncanny way of exposing us. Exposing our character, our humility, our attitude. And in spite of all that, somehow it still keeps us coming back for more. And the funny thing is, if you've spent enough time with God, He does the exact same thing. Hey listeners, my name is Mark, and I'm glad you found this podcast, Shantification, about golf, grace, and the beautiful struggle for perfection. Now, let me explain the name, and I think that will explain what this podcast is about. Some of you who know your Bible are probably thinking, is he mispronouncing the word sanctification? Which is just a fancy Bible term for becoming more like Christ or the process toward perfection. And then all the golfers out there are probably thinking, why would you put the word shank in anything ever at all? Especially a podcast title. But I've been a follower of Jesus and an avid golfer for most of my life. And in both arenas, I've had some really good days. And I've had some really not good days. But the older I've gotten, the more I've realized something. What I've learned from the game of golf and the Christian life are like two sides of the same coin. As you know, Jesus loved teaching in parables. He was teaching his disciples holiness through their lens, uh, their lens of everyday, ordinary life that they could relate to. And if we took that same teaching from Jesus and looked at it through a golf lens, it's called shantification. Or at least that's that's what I'm going to call it. If you're like me, some days your swing feels like perfection, and in some days your pursuit of holiness looks like a big fat shank. Our golf game always needs work, but so does our spirit. But we're not just talking about the struggles on here, we're also celebrating the victories, the pured shots, the unexpected birdies, the lifelong friendships, and the beauty we find in both walking with Jesus and walking 18 holes. Your scorecard and your sanctification will sometimes humble you, but will also fill you with a joy in very different but very necessary, unexpected ways. So if that resonates with you, hit subscribe and join me on this weekly journey. And welcome to Shantification.