Dear Faith Family,

But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here”, (Acts 16:28). 

He couldn’t have been over 6’8” tall. His frame did consume all of his seat and forced him to annex part of my seat! I don’t know his name. He was just the dude in seat 16A on flight # flying from Miami, FL to the Dominican Republic. 

I initiated a conversation with the obvious question: “Surely you play some hoops (for you non-athletes that’s basketball), right?” “Naw” was his response. It was a soft, believable answer.  He continued, “I’m a horse jockey.” Ok, that was the first time that I saw the man. So, I replied: “No way!” “Yea, I won the Kentucky Derby.” Before you read my response, get rid of any judgmental attitudes, alright?! “Wow!” I said. Congratulations!” What?! He seemed sincere. He proceeded to tell me that he won the Derby on a Clydesdale! For real? His feet would have dragged the ground even on a Clydesdale! 

Any Mr. Kentucky Derby winners sitting near you? At the desk next to you? Maybe living next door? In the next room? 

Paul and Silas found themselves next to a jailer in Philippi. You know the story from Acts 16, right? Yea, they were in the inner prison with their feet fastened in stocks. And, when God sent an earthquake big enough to open the prison doors and to unfasten the stocks on Paul and Silas’ feet, Paul and Silas went looking for a seat next to a different (smaller) passenger. Ok, they didn’t. In fact, they didn’t go anywhere. Instead, they were looking for an opportunity to share Jesus with the Philippian jailer. And share they did. In Christ, you can meet that jailer some day! 

There I was headed to the Dominican Republic with a team of 25 missionaries. Mr. Kentucky Derby was making it difficult for me to restfully prepare for the mission's trip. Wait just a minute. Could God have provided an opportunity to share Jesus on the flight? Of course he did. And what a great opportunity it was. It was an opportunity to share the love of Christ in word and deed. Please pray for Mr. Kentucky Derby. Wouldn’t it be neat to meet that Derby winner some day? 

So, what mission trip has God called you to today? Are you looking for opportunities to share the love and grace of Christ? Or are you looking to change seats? What’s more important to us: changing temporary seats or helping others to change forever seats? 

Learning to live a mission’s trip, 
Pastor Karl