On Monday morning, October 24, 2016, I woke up about 5 a.m. with excruciating chest pain. My wife called 9-1-1 and I was taken by ambulance to the hospital. Tests were run and I was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy. But there was another discovery of a ping-pong ball sized tumor in my throat. Surgery was performed to removed it (which revealed no cancer) and I have mended well. The side effect is that I have lost my voice and have not been able to preach since February 12.
Our elder candidate, J.D. Warren, has been doing all of the preaching while holding down a full time job and taking care of his family. He is doing a remarkable job and I am enjoying his insight into the Word of God as well as the time off. This has given me an opportunity to pray and reflect.
Sitting in the pew and listening, watching the LORD at work, Sunday worship has become even more special to me. And I have been wondering why so many churches call for special days: "friends day" and "family day" etc. They even count "Easter" as a special day. To me, each and every Lord's Day is special because God has allowed me to enter His house with my spiritual family, remember what Christ did for me in life and in death and hear Him speak through the preaching of His precious word.
Yes, I miss being able to preach to others. But hearing is also needful. May God teach us to listen and hear with our hearts every word and to realize what an enormous privilege it is to go up to the house of God on that special day.
Our elder candidate, J.D. Warren, has been doing all of the preaching while holding down a full time job and taking care of his family. He is doing a remarkable job and I am enjoying his insight into the Word of God as well as the time off. This has given me an opportunity to pray and reflect.
Sitting in the pew and listening, watching the LORD at work, Sunday worship has become even more special to me. And I have been wondering why so many churches call for special days: "friends day" and "family day" etc. They even count "Easter" as a special day. To me, each and every Lord's Day is special because God has allowed me to enter His house with my spiritual family, remember what Christ did for me in life and in death and hear Him speak through the preaching of His precious word.
Yes, I miss being able to preach to others. But hearing is also needful. May God teach us to listen and hear with our hearts every word and to realize what an enormous privilege it is to go up to the house of God on that special day.
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