When I took the call, the voice instantly took me back to a “former life” and I didn’t know what to expect.

“Dave has bone cancer. It’s bad. He wanted me to ask you to call him.”

Dave and I were friends but hadn’t talked in fifteen years. We drifted apart a few years after I gave my life to Christ and needed to walk away from some stuff.

He stayed.

His life was messy.

Eighteen years earlier mine was too.

Within minutes Dave and I were talking but it was going to be a difficult conversation.

“Steven, if you don’t do my funeral, no one is going to do it. I want nothing to do with the religious stuff, but I trust you.”

Dave was hurt when I walked away but said he understood and respected the decision. He felt I had credibility and if I wasn’t interested, he’d let the funeral director do it.

We had lots of catching up to do and if I was going to do this we needed to talk.

Soon.

And talk we did, for hours, over coffee and a few visits while the cancer was consuming him.

He heard the gospel many times over his sixty-plus years but wasn’t interested.

This time he was leaning in and had questions as we discussed 2 Cor. 5:17-21.

Then it clicked.

“You mean to tell me that Jesus is God? And He became a man to die – for me?”

David knew who he was and what he had done. So did God (and a few of his friends).

He also went from having no interest in God – just looking to figure out his funeral – to serious questions about forgiveness, how it works, and if God could forgive even him.

Quietly staring with tears streaming down his cheeks Dave was no doubt visiting some regrettable moments in his life.

“How do I do this?”

I reminded him how he might seek forgiveness from someone close to him that he hurt. How would they know you’re sincere?

It would be a difficult conversation but now it was between God and him.

I left wondering what Dave would do and got another call the next day. The voice at the other end of the phone was not the one I expected.

Something was different.

Dave shared about those “three-hours on his knees alone with God”. What he vividly described was what the gospel does and how he knew that he was forgiven.

A short time later I had the privilege of sharing Dave’s story at his funeral.

For some of them, it was a difficult conversation – the gospel often is.

But for others, it was because they knew the old Dave and didn’t get the chance to hear him apologize.

So, here’s my question for you:

What is the difficult conversation you need to have with God, someone who needs God or someone who needs to hear, “I’m sorry” – and when will you initiate it? If you’re willing, reply and share it with me. I’d love to hear your story and will pray for you. I read every response.

P.S. Together we can double the reach of this ministry. Can you forward this newsletter to a few people you know — and encourage them to subscribe? Thank you.

🧔🏻‍♂️For the men in your life. This is a good place for men to open up. I’ve been a part of this ministry to men for a while and highly recommend it.

🛐 How can I pray for you? Please let me know here.

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