As the song goes, some of the best prayers are the unanswered ones.
That was Jon Decker’s message to Lima Rotary Club Monday, as the professional golf instructor spoke about a new book he wrote, “Golf Is My Life: Glorifying God Through the Game.”
Decker, formerly a teacher at New Albany Country Club, met a good friend there with ties to Allen County and through that friend learned about Cpl. Nathan Carse. Carse was killed while serving in Afghanistan.
The book includes scripture-linked stories, some tied to golf, some not, Decker said.
“When I was growing up, I dreamed of becoming a PGA tour player,” Decker said. “I’m glad that dream never came true, because I wouldn’t have written this book.”
Decker was called to write the book, he said. Decker is tithing with book sales, donating 10 percent to charities.
The book includes a story about Carse, who enlisted in 2010 and was killed by an improvised explosive device in 2011. Decker came to know Carse’s family and learn about Harrod and Lima after playing in a golf outing that raises money for a scholarship fund in Carse’s name. The title of Carse’s story is “Service,” and Decker starts that story with scripture from John 13. In the passage, Jesus talks of foot washing and service to others.
In other Rotary business Monday:
- President David Frost reminded the crowd that Rotary will not meet for the next two weeks. The next meeting is Jan. 9.
- Mike Swick made a check presentation from Lima Memorial Health System to Lima Rotary Foundation for $7,216, the proceeds from the fall blood clinic.
- Frost said the Christmas Raffle raised $3,610 in ticket sales and the Elvis raffle raised $585, for the foundation.
- Rotary awarded 20 $1,000 scholarships to non-traditional students Monday. The students were from UNOH, The Ohio State University at Lima, Rhodes State College, Apollo Career Center and Bluffton University. The awards bring the total over 17 years to 865 scholarships totaling nearly $800,000.
- Esther Baldridge announced some good news for the family whose Oakland Parkway home was destroyed by fire. A boy in the family was Larry Webb’s guest at Rotary’s Special Needs Christmas Party the morning after the fire. Rotary members raised $1,173 for the family, which will be matched by Webb, and again matched by Webb’s sister, Baldridge said. Rotary member Ashley Cowan-Meas also helped the family find a new home to rent, so they have moved from their motel room. The family could still use furniture and household items, Baldridge said.
- Drew Fields announced that Rotary members raised $800 at the Lima Mall Saturday ringing bells for the Salvation Army.
- This quarter, Rotary set a record with its Rottery proceeds, benefitting St. Rita’s Mercy Club in memory of Jonalee Schmidt. The quarterly proceeds will be at least $1,830.
 
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