Tiger Woods was born to Earl (1932–2006) and Kultida (Tida) Woods (born 1944). He is the only child of their marriage but has two half-brothers, Earl Jr. (born 1955) and Kevin (born 1957), and one half-sister, Royce (born 1958) from the 18-year marriage of Earl Woods and his first wife, Barbara Woods Gray. From childhood he was raised as a Buddhist and actively practised this faith from childhood until well into his adult career. Tiger has attributed his deviations and infidelity to his losing track of Buddhism.

Paternity testing was the goal of a recent court case involving a former partner of Tiger Woods. The case was handled by a Florida judge who dismissed a paternity case filed against Tiger Woods by Devon James. The adult movie actress, whose real name is Melinda Brinling, alleged that Tiger Woods was the father of her 9 year old son Austin after reportedly having a relationship with the professional golfer sometime in 2001.

Woods grew up a child prodigy, introduced to golf before the age of two, by his athletic father Earl, who was a good standard amateur golfer and one of the earliest Negro college baseball players at Kansas State University. Earl Woods (Tiger’s father) was born in Manhattan, Kansas, some 125 miles west of Kansas City. Earl’s father Miles had five children by his first wife Viola, and six (of whom Earl was the youngest) by his second.

Three generations of broken homes suggest a pattern playing in the life of the star golfer. Where do these patterns originate and how are they broken? What has this got to do with “Altars” – a place of sacrifice?

Genesis 8[20] And Noah builded an altar unto the LORD; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar. [21] And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake; for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more everything living, as I have done.

Genesis 12[7] And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him.

The early patriarchs were always building altars to the Lord at strategic points recognising that a greater covenant always had to subdue the older. We also note that the early fathers were from wicked heathen backgrounds. Every life has an altar already built speaking and enforcing certain covenants and behaviours …many of which are powerfully irresistible and negative. When we surrender to Jesus we break up with these past altars and their powers have no dominion over us. However, our prayer and devotional life is a new and living spiritual altar that must always be kept burning with sacrifices of praise and selfless service and obedience to God. Indeed we become living sacrifices.

Let the fires go out in the boiler room of the church and the place will still look smart and clean, but it will be cold. The Prayer Room is the boiler room for its spiritual life. –Leonard Ravenhill.

If the spiritual altar in Christ Jesus by His blood – is not kept burning … we are not just carnal but old powerful parental altars established in previous generations unknown to us can begin to speak again. This was why Christ always warned the delivered and healed sinner to be watchful and sin no more as carelessness was invitation for great trouble. The commandments to pray without ceasing, never to look back and not permit spiritual cracks in our armour is not a call to fanaticism but requirements for spiritual survival. We should also not be quick to compare our spiritual journey and battles with another’s because we do not understand the altars they deal with. When we see brethren backslide or fall into disrepute we are often quick to judge actions and speak ill of them as weak rather than overpowered … in need of help for God’s altar to be rebuilt and reignited by His Spirit.

Gideon we also see had to pull down his father’s altar before he could move forward – many also need to do this. Judges 6[27] Then Gideon took ten men of his servants, and did as the LORD had said unto him: and so it was, because he feared his father’s household, and the men of the city, that he could not do it by day, that he did it by night. [28] And when the men of the city arose early in the morning, behold, the altar of Baal was cast down, and the grove was cut down that was by it, and the second bullock was offered upon the altar that was built.

In times of Recession, negative financial patterns leading to stagnation, suicide and depression may not always be due to suspected visible factors but to powerful altars in our past.

Elijah knew what to do (I Kings 18) and that is to silence the voice of every other evil altar of Baal on which offerings and sacrifices have been made to affect destiny either in the past or present. But that is not all…we must prepare a new altar by surrendering to Christ (for His blood speaks of love, mercy, new beginnings and peace – terminating all evil past covenants) or repair broken down prayer/devotional lives – if already a Christian … and begin to be a living sacrifice of praise and service and obedience to God. Ask God to send a fresh fire upon your life …keeping you always “hot” – never lukewarm for Him.

Previous generational patterns of infidelity, financial ruin, sexual perversion, moral delinquency, sickness, early/untimely deaths, fruitless efforts etc … especially when they run through more than two generations should put us on the alert…especially the first son. Prayerlessness and not being watchful and sober in Christian living are luxuries we cannot afford.

Tiger may have inherited many positive aspects as everything seemed to be in place even from the age of two to ensure he emerged a star – the highest-paid professional athlete in the world, having earned an estimated $90.5 million from winnings and endorsements in 2010. But the spiritual altar of the past still speaks of revenge, marital instability and confusion…and waits to be demolished. The most important issue could not be cured by financial success and was never dealt with.

Hebrews 12 [24] And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. [25] See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape , if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven. Romans 12: 1Romans 12: 1
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
12 ¹ I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.  

WP-Bible plugin [12:1] I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

I pray every altar speaking negative patterns into your life will be silenced in Jesus name. Lord help us – especially to challenged leaders in public arena – that the fire of Christ in our lives will never go dim.

God bless you. Surrender to Jesus – the new and living way.

(Originally published in The Christian Post)

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