I am in Detroit.

I am preaching three nights for Pastor Nathaniel Caldwell at the Greater Burnette Baptist Church, where he has served as pastor for seven years.

I first preached at Burnette when I was seventeen-years-old. Dr. J. Allen Caldwell, the late, founding pastor, invited me to fill in for his regular speaker. He continued to invite me every year during Holy Week until his death.

I have many friends and adopted family at Burnette. It is a joy to see familiar faces and to have the opportunity to preach the word of God to this great congregation again.

The meeting got off to a good start tonight. But I am tired. This is the fifth city I have preached in within the past week. And it is taking its toll on me. I am definitely not a young preacher anymore.

Please pray for this meeting and for the renewal of strength.

Here’s a random memory.

I had just finished preaching the opening night of this meeting in 1993. We went out to eat afterwards. The restaurant was packed with Detroiters ready to celebrate Michigan’s “Fab Five” national championship. I was cheering for North Carolina to win. With seconds left, Chris Webber called the most famous time-out in sports history. I was the only happy person in Detroit that week.

Tonight, as expected, Kentucky defeated Kansas to win the NCAA national championship. But Kansas made a game of it. Congratulations Wildcats!