A grateful man.....

Yesterday was the first day in 3 months that I felt the invisible weight off my shoulders of the cumbersome regular doctors visits, testing, sickness, lack of energy, and pain that went along with my recent health related issues. It was a day in which I just felt filled with joy and I even had a zeal for doing some of the most mundane tasks in life (even went to Loew's and replaced a shower head!...if you know me that's BIG!...I mean huge!).

Along the way, people have encouraged and challenged me as I've sought to listen to God for what He would have me learn during this journey. Today I share with you one of these challenges from a brother in Christ:

"OK, here’s my challenge for you…ask God to never let you be the same given He has spared your life. Be curious about that and remember it often so that you remain a grateful man!"

Good words...no...Great words! But what do they mean and how do they apply to my life as a follower of Christ? So this of course got me to thinking, asking, praying and reading.... What are the characteristics of "a grateful man?" What does the Bible say about being grateful? Teach me Holy Spirit about what it means to be a grateful man of God in the days ahead as I have been spared battling cancer and perhaps even my life? Being "a grateful man" should impact my life for the cause of Christ how?

Any thoughts, comments or lessons learned from your life experiences in this area, or your reading from the Word or convictions from the HS are absolutely welcomed, as I take time to understand it's application for my life. Thank you brothers and sisters in Christ.

UGLIER THAN NORMAL.....

Well after Mohs surgery on the side of my face and a biopsy on my lip which required several stitches I was looking uglier than normal. Ugh! Today I received the report back on my lip and the biopsy tested positive for scimus cells. So next Thursday they will dig away at my lip to remove all those cancer cells and two other spots on my back. I'm very grateful for the outstanding job the nurse and surgeon did last week and I'm almost looking forward to seeing them on Thursday Am...almost!

Tomorrow Chris and I leave for Charleston where we will visit a cancer center on Wednesday morning. I will have some more Cat Scans and possible needle biopsies done as well as a consultation with a head & neck specialist by the name of Dr. Lentsch. This will serve as our second opinion. Boston got cancelled after I had purchased tix. Did some RDM instead!

On this trip I'm looking forward to seeing a former Eagle player, friend and partner of ours in ministry Josh Farrar, who currently is in residency at this hospital. In fact, Josh set all this up for me. Josh was a terrific player with a tremendous competitive fire who I enjoyed coaching so much........I'm trying to remember if there would be anything I did to him where it might incite him to want to stick a needle in my neck just for the fun of it! Let's hope not!

With shoulder rehab on Friday it's a busy week of doctor visits. Praying for a conclusion on the root cause of all the issues in my neck area, continued improvement with the muscles in my shoulder and positive minor surgery for the removal of skin cancer cells on my back/neck area & lip . Pray with us for these requests will you. thanks, bd

Note from Kenya leader who attended SF Africa Vision Trip last July

*Sports Friends is partnering with the Charlotte Eagles/MAI on a project in a M***** region

on the coast of Kenya. David and Mitch Sanford have been working on training leaders in

this area for several years and planting the seeds for the development of sports ministry. Last

year they invited us to partner with them to assist them in the training of sports ministry leaders and the establishment of strategic initiatives. We agreed only after bringing in their top leader to see the work in Ethiopia in our Arsi Negele region and to share with him the SF long term approach to developing ongoing sustainable CCSM led by nationals. We wanted to be sure he bought into this approach and believed a similar approach could be used effectively in Kenya among the unreached groups. This former Iman now strong Christian leader who is radiant with Christ sweet spirit and love strongly felt a similar approach could bare Kingdom fruit in his region and beyond. A brief note from this leader after a recent training for Pastors and level 2 coaching leaders is below:

Mama and I do hope that all is well with you and your family, and God is blessing you and your ministry. It was good that you came at this time of the year, and ran the training with the key Pastors of *Blank and Blank* Districts. More fire is lit and Pastors have gone back to their respective Churches with fire for starting sports ministry teams!

This month of April, I have visited 4 Churches in the bush and these Pastors have started sports ministry teams– many people gather outside the Churches to watch. I am excited about your returning trip in August for the first ever Football Camp.

Thank you for all the s[ports equipments you sent for all the teams, every team/coach had something to take back home. Our Lamu team is registered for this season’s league – I will make sure we keep you informed….. I went to the boarder of Somalia and Kenya, and started a preaching point (seeds of a church plant) of 39 people by using the ball – we left a missionary there.

***PRAY FOR THE CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT OF THIS MINISTRY AND FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE PASTORS, COACHES AND YOUTH FROM THE EVIL ONE!

^OUR FUNDING INVOLVEMENT WITH THIS SPECIAL INITIATIVE IN AUGUST FOR 70 YOUTH IS $3500. IF YOUR INTERESTED IN INVESTING IN THIS MINISTRY INITIATIVE OF $10 OR MORE THEN PLEASE SEND TO SIM PO BOX 7900 CHARLOTTE, NC 28241 WRITE IN THE MEMO OF YOUR CHECK AFRICAN EXPANSION PROJECT 99803

For just $39.....

YOU can provide an incredible life memory for a young african child by assisting with the expenses of a one week camp experience. These youth are part of an ongoing Sports Friends church centered project somewhere in the country. They come to camp with their trained SF coaches who have often times been investing into the lives of these young people for at least a year. $39 bucks (avg. cost between our camps) will help send one child, between the ages of 11 to 15, to either our Ethiopian, Nigerian or new Kenyan Sports Friends camp location. It's a dynamic camp environment from the moment they step off the bus. Singing, cheering, games, team building, ping pong, foose ball, swimming, soccer training, individual and team competitions, drama's, teachable moments, daily talk times, reflection times, cabin inspections, SF awards daily, interaction with Ethiopian staff and Western Guests, a bon fire, goat roast, cultural dancing, wacky wednesday dress day, and informal one on one chats along the path headed to the field or to the dining hall. It's a GREAT ADVENTURE, one that these kids will remember forever. It's an experience that is often times life changing for many of these young people. To Donate Please send to SIM PO BOX 7900 Charlotte, NC 28241-7900 and PUT IN MEMO LINE: SPORTS FRIENDS PROJECT 92764