Keep Your Eye on the Ball

Yesterday was Father’s Day. For sixty-one years I was blessed with a wonderful, earthly father. It’s hard to believe that he died nearly eight years ago, thirty minutes before my birthday. In many ways, he was my best friend – certainly when it came to talking church or sports. In fact, one of my most remembered quotes came rather consistently after my baseball games when he would say, “How many times do I have to tell you to keep your eye on the ball.” As the years passed I began to realize that he was teaching me a lesson that surpassed baseball. Perhaps that one quote is why I have experienced extra skill in setting and keeping priorities, staying focused, and getting the job done. I’ll never forget an incident that happened a few years after his death. Upon hearing a breaking sports news story, I quickly picked up the phone to call Daddy. Then I realized that he couldn’t answer. He was my sports confidant and my best life adviser. I learned early to “Listen to your father who gave you life” (Proverbs 23:22). I still miss him. But the next time I see him, I will never again have to say “Good-bye.” For all eternity, we are going to talk about whatever folks talk about in heaven. I hope you celebrated Father’s Day with great respect and/or wonderful memories.

Now join me in remembering these global prayer concerns:
• Pray for three U.S. prayer teams that will be prayer-walking on three university campuses in Toronto, Canada this week.
• Pray for the Holloways of Slovakia who sustained serious injuries in an automobile accident one week before returning to Slovakia from the U.S.
• Pray for Anja as she leads a university Discipleship Group in Braunschweig, Germany.
• Pray for the International World Changers working in the Ukraine.