Uh, today’s going to be a little bit different, you guys. And I’m sure I’m sure you won’t mind. Today’s Friday, June 20th. Number one, it’s not that it’s most it’s not that it’s most important, but it is to me. So, today is the date of my spiritual birthday. I was born again. I was not seeking God.

I was not on any spiritual journey. I was on my way to a party at the beach in Newport 48 years ago today on June 20th, 1977. It was a Monday night and I wound up pulling into a church called Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa. Chuck Smith was the pastor of that church. I didn’t know that at the time. And Monday nights there were Monday night services held by Greg Lori, uh, the evangelist Greg Lori.

And, um, I had no idea. I followed two girls that I thought were cute that were at a stoplight. They pulled into this big parking lot with all these people. So, I thought, “Hey, what’s going on?” and um lost sight of everybody uh but Jesus and myself as the worship ended. Uh a guy by the name of Keith Green that night was playing worship. I didn’t know who he was.

People went crazy. A couple thousand people there easily. Then this hippie came out. Greg Lori, long flowing blonde hair. He opened up the Bible and gave a message titled How to Inherit Hell. And he taught that message from Revelation chapter 20. And I was immediately convicted sick of my sin. And God laid hold of me 48 years ago today.

and just overwhelmingly got to me. It wasn’t emotional in I didn’t cry. I wasn’t I was struck. How about that? I was caught, busted, broken. Everything was taking place at the same time with me where I knew I had encountered the living God. And I thank God for today in history, in my history, in my life. I also want to point out today that we’re going to pray a little bit differently this morning as I’m with you right now at 2 minutes after 5 a.m.