Send Me

 I received an invitation to preach to a football team before their game where I used to coach. I had not been back on that campus in about a year. I rejoiced to see men I used to coach with and students I coached who are all grown up now. God inspired a challenging word for me to share with those TCA Eagles. God opened the door and I responded with send me. 

The message was a word about worship over complaining. It was a word about dealing with adversity with the proper perspective. Praising in the good times and bad times as well. It was also a word about calling out hypocrisy and challenging those athletes to consecrate themselves before taking the field last night. 

I don't know how the game turned out. That is not the most important thing. The most important thing is that 98% of those young men responded to the challenge and remained in the room we met in praying for a long time before they each left one by one. I could see conviction on faces. I also saw the sincerity of some of those guys fervently seeking God. Repentance happened. That is a bigger win than what happened on the game field. 

My time on the campus was very short. There were several people I wanted to see. Former colleagues and students whom I bonded with. I did not have that much time. The team had a pregame meal to get to and I had a pressing appointment right afterwards. It was a privilege and a honor to go back on that campus to share God's word. 

We never know where ministry will take us. It has taken me to foreign countries and to back wood churches some so tiny there were only five pews deep on each side. God has called me to preach multiple funerals for people I did not even know including one three-month-old baby. I have preached camps, rallies, retreats, and revival meetings. Several times I taught God's word to a congregation of one including last Sunday at our substance abuse detox ministry. On a few occasions God sent me to preach to over 1,000 people. I've preached on mountain sides, lakeshores, under pavilions, around campfires, in hayfields, near ocean front beaches, and in beautiful churches. Yesterday God allowed me to teach to a room full of athletes. I have a Bible and am willing to travel to places where God opens the door. 

Young or old. Large crowds or small. For compensation or for free does not matter. I am called. I accept God's invitations to share His word. That is part of that follow Jesus mentality. If He keeps sending the invitations, like Isaiah I will keep praying, "Here am I send me." [Is 6:8]