This neat comment was included on a book order we received from Rolph. He really encouraged me—not the part he wrote about me, but the part he wrote about himself! Enjoy:
May God continue to richly bless you, Mark, and your vital work of spreading the seeds of salvation. I am an 87-year-old born-again Christian who has read two of your books, which have awakened me to God’s desire for me to courageously witness to people I encounter daily. I walk around my neighborhood for about an hour most days and have met a number of people who are at least somewhat receptive to short conversations about life after our earthly death.
I have two adult children. My daughter lives in Germany with her husband and my two-year-old granddaughter, and my son, who is gay, lives in Los Angeles. I love them unconditionally and have given them Christian books, plus I remind them frequently (often to their irritation and threat to end our conversation via Zoom or telephone) that I want them to be in Heaven. I remind them that no sin (except unbelief in Christ as Lord and Savior) will keep us out of Heaven. I pray daily for their salvation and for all the world’s well-meaning people to accept Christ before the rapture.
By the way, I know you were a basketball player at Auburn. I was a benchwarmer on a Michigan State basketball team back in the late 1950s. Although I was selected for the first team, all-state, class B in Michigan because I hogged the ball, which allowed me to get some newspaper headlines, I never got to play in a college game.
I read your article about “Playing with Balls” (https://markcahill.org/playing-with-balls-2024/) and agree with you that it’s a form of idol worship to treat great athletes (and entertainers) as people to emulate. Instead, we should emulate Christians who understand how temporary this life is and how much earthly work can be done by each of us daily to spread the seeds for salvation through faith in Christ.
God bless you in your wonderful eternal work. I look forward to knowing you in Heaven, although, I’m likely to be a benchwarmer there, too.
With Christian eternal love,
Rolph A.
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One thing that Rolph encouraged me with is how he is finishing the race—not just well, but very well!
2 Timothy 4:6-8
I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.
I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
Soul-winning as Rolph walks around his neighborhood? Boldly proclaiming Jesus to his children? My goodness, what a man of God! If only all of us would be like that!
Thanks for the life you live for the Lord and for encouraging me today, Rolph. I really needed it.
Rolph is finishing the race well. He won’t be a benchwarmer in Heaven at all! Finish the race well, just like he is doing
Until the nets are full,
P.S.
