Late Saturday morning I walked onto the soccer field praying that God would open a door for me to share the gospel with Rob, a fellow soccer dad and former wannabe Franciscan monk.

But so typical to His ways and far wiser plans than mine, God had different plans. Rob was nowhere to be seen. I set up my lawnchair and plopped down next to an older man. "Hi, I'm Seth."

Gene and I talked for a long time. I asked him questions about his life, work, and family. Halfway through the game I handed him a pamphlet entitled, "Why People Die." "Gene, I'd be honored if you'd read this. I'd love to hear what you think." Gene read it start to end, handed it back and said, "People die becaues they don't know Jesus." Then Gene told me his story.

He grew up hearing the truth but turned his back on God in college and strayed for years. One weekend his dead took him on a hunting trip. "It was a long drive there and back and I had lots of time to hear my dead and just think. That's when Christ took over my life."

I told Gene to keep the track and share it with someone else. Before the day was over he had already passed it off to a family member. It seems some of his own family doesn't know Jesus.

Gene's father modeled godly fatherhood. He didn't just give his son the gospel and do his own thing. He spent time. And during that time he shared. That's true love. That's a call for every father to be his son's best friend and closest teacher. I want to be that kind of dad. I'll love my kids the same whether or not they live for Christ. But in the meantime I'll do all I can to be there friend and teacher.