Message from the Pastor's Desk

Read: Acts 9: 1-19a

A number of years ago a man named Don Calhoun worked for minimum wage at an office supply store in Bloomington, Illinois. Calhoun had attended two Chicago Bulls games in his life, and now he was going to a third. When he strolled into the arena, a woman who worked for the Bulls' organization approached Don and told him he was selected to take part in a promotional event during the game called the Million Dollar Shot.

The shot came during a time-out in the third quarter. If Calhoun could make a basket standing seventy-nine feet away (That meant Calhoun would be standing behind the free throw line on the opposite end of the basketball court and would have to throw the ball three quarters of the length of the court and make the shot), he would win one million dollars.

Calhoun played basketball at the Bloomington YMCA once each week but he had never tried to make a shot this far from the basket before. Calhoun took the basketball in his hand and looked over at Michael Jordan and the rest of the Bulls players. He could tell they were all pulling for him.

Calhoun stepped to the line and let it fly. As soon as the basketball left his hand, then Coach, Phil Jackson shouted, "It's got a chance!" Indeed, the ball went through the basket with a swish. The arena crowd erupted. Calhoun rushed into the arms of Michael Jordan and the Bulls' players crowded around Calhoun slapping him on the back.

When Don Calhoun went home that night, he had only two dollars in his wallet, but he would receive fifty thousand dollars a year for the next twenty years of his life.

Sometimes one action, one decision, one moment can change everything for you. It did for Paul on the day he encountered the Risen Lord on the road to Damascus. And today could be such a day for you too! If you've never done so before, ask Jesus into your heart today, right now, don't wait any longer. When you do this life changing encounter will change your life for eternity.

Perhaps Paul, as he often did, had his encounter with Christ in mind when he wrote in 2 Corinthians 5: 17: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" May this be true for us too. The Lord bless!

Yours in Christ,

Pastor George Kaden