FCA Retreat

This past weekend I traveled to Shreveport, LA to speak at a retreat for 140 college athletes. I journeyed by myself, so I had an 8-hour round-trip with just Jesus and me in my Honda! Very, very cool. It was church on wheels--I call it "the I-49 moving revival" because we were all in one Accord! I was fully equipped with teaching tapes, worship CD's, and enough beef jerky to make any Texan proud. Teaching, preaching, worship, and beef jerky--sounds like the chemistry for a move of God to me! I had no idea how cold it could get in north Louisiana...it felt like I had been dropped off at the North Pole.

We had some great meetings and powerful times of ministry every night. What a joy it is to train and equip this age group. College students and young adults are in a very crucial stage of life--they are making life-impacting decisions that will influence their future husbands, wives, children, and careers for generations to come. We had break-out sessions, dividing the guys from the girls, and discussed some "front-burner" issues like purity, temptation, pornography, and accountability.

I also had the privilege of meeting some incredible people. I was introduced to one of the coaches involved in the weekend. When he said his name was Pat Tilly, I knew immediately who he was. As a child growing up in southeast Missouri, I used to always watch the St. Louis Cardinal football team every Sunday after church. Pat was a gutsy, hard-nose, tenacious wide receiver for the Cardinals during the 80's...I was reconnecting with my childhood!!

One of the coolest guys at the conference was a tall, skinny fellow that looked just like JJ off of the TV show "Good Times." In his own words, he was nothing but "knee-caps and an afro," and his name was Hollis Conway. This guy was instant fun and full of incredible insight, as he shared his story from Lafayette, LA to the high-jump hall of fame. Dawning 2 olympic medals and too many awards to count, this guy challenged us to pursue excellence in spite of adversity. On top of that, I have to admit that he beat me in a game of 21...he used his trampoline-like jumping skills to pick pennies off the top of the backboard!

I have to give a shout-out to Fellowship of Christian Athletes director, Andy Stroup...the heart and soul of the entire weekend. I am amazed at his passion and grateful for his friendship!! You're the man, Stroup-doggy-dog!