During the burning bush incident of Exodus 4, the Lord asked Moses: “What is that in your hand?” “A staff,” he replied. That staff gave Moses authority as he stood before Pharaoh and, as he extended his hand, it parted the waters of the Red Sea.

While in Turkey, near the city of Ephesus, with church planters, Mike and Cathy, Mardie and I attracted a lot of attention by playing tennis on the one public court in the center of the city, right beside a school and a mosque. School children gathered around, a former wrestler requested a game and then the next day he brought along the young, local instructor for a match. I had 9 significant interactions with adults and children in the 4 days that we were on the court. Even one police man said, “I was watching you play as I was praying in front of the mosque.”

I sensed the Lord saying to me, “What’s that in your hand?” “A tennis racquet,” I replied. “Use it and see what I can do!”