Thursday, September 25, 2003

11:03 PM We arrived at the spectacular Saddlebrook Resort around 4 PM. The resort sits on 480 acres 30 miles north of Tampa. They specialize in world-class golf and tennis. Pete Sampras trained here, Jennifer Capriati and Martina Hingis live here, and there is a school (2nd-12th grade) where super-gifted kids can take all their regular subjects and then be trained in golf and tennis. Many future superstars get their start here. This is also the world headquarters for the Arnold Palmer Golf Academy. There are 200 private homes here, including one belonging to General Norman Schwarzkopf. We’re here for the Word of Life President’s Forum. I’m teaching from the book of Nehemiah to approximately 100 people on Friday and Saturday mornings. Since tomorrow is my birthday, Marlene said she thinks I should get a massage at the spa here. The idea makes me nervous but I might do it since my back is tight right now. We’ve seen Harry and Millie Bollback, Larry and Cindy Bollback, Joe and Melva Jordan, George and Joan Theis, Tom and Fay Phillips, Mike and Betsi Calhoun, to name just a few old friends, along with many others we’re meeting for the first time. It’s warm and rainy in Tampa—around 90 degrees this afternoon, I think. Quite a change from Oak Park this morning. 7:14 AM Go Cubs, go! 7:09 AM Only three more days until Commitment Sunday. 7:06 AM Marlene and I leave in a few minutes for the airport. We’re flying to Tampa today where I’ll be speaking at a Word of Life VIP conference on Friday and Saturday. I’ll be giving four talks from the book of Nehemiah. Right now the temp in Oak Park is 48 and the temp in Tampa is 75 on the way to a high of 89 this afternoon. 7:03 AM Eddie Alexander wrote the Living Sacrifices devotional for today based on 1 Corinthians 15:58, “Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm, let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” Here’s an excerpt:

This verse challenges me to remember that I work for the Lord in all that I do. It stirs me to have compassion on those that do not know God, for everything done outside of the Lord is truly labor in vain.