Today I began my career as a televangelist. Move over, Olsteen. There’s a new kid on the block. Now if I only had a book to hawk…

Seriously, our preaching minister has had a very successful television ministry for nearly 30 years here in the Tennessee Valley. Every Sunday morning at 10AM, Gary shares the Word of God on his Abundant Living television program. Gary is known and revered throughout the region for his practical, Biblical teaching.

A few weeks ago, Gary asked me to record two episodes of Abundant Living in his absence. After his travel plans fell through, Gary graciously allowed me to tape the episodes nonetheless. I consider this quite an honor. I know how Gary values these opportunities to share the Word with the people of this community. It’s a little hard to quantify the impact of this ministry. How many have been encouraged by Gary’s messages? How many have been baptized? It’s impossible to say, this side of eternity. All I know is that this is a ministry that Gary believes in and I’m honored to have the opportunity to participate.

I left the house extra early this morning, partly because I was nervous and partly because I couldn’t remember exactly where the TV station was. I arrived a good half hour before I was supposed to, so I sat in the truck and went over my notes for the millionth time. Since I was taping two episodes, I needed two lessons that complimented one another, so I chose to look at John 3 and 4, the stories of Nicodemus and the Samaritan woman. I was pretty nervous when the cameras started to roll, but five minutes in, I realized I was having a lot of fun. My performance was far from flawless: after mentioning that John 3:16 is perhaps the most memorized passage of Scripture in the Bible, and how I had committed it to memory at quite a young age, I proceeded to botch it royally, saying something like, “For God so loved the world, that whoever believes in Him…I mean, He loved the world so much that He sent His son…His only begotten Son…and when we believe in Him, we receive eternal life.” Smooth. But hopefully the inept performance didn’t impede the proclamation too much.

All in all, it was a great experience and I’m very thankful for the opportunity. For those of you who are interested in watching, set your TiVo’s for 10:00AM, Channel 19, this Sunday morning, if for no other reason than to watch me maim John 3:16.

I’m serious, Olsteen. I’m coming for you.