Back in November I was forced to seek medical attention for a hip injury sustained in my sail from Carrabelle, Florida to Marsh Harbour. As per doctor's directives, I was immobilized and convalesced for approximately three weeks. I blogged a post in regard to that situation on December 1st. and called it, "Preacher on a Stick."
Well, regretfully, I am now posting in that same vein which is obvious from the title... but this time the injury happened forty years ago.
As a young man I was involved in a variety of sports - football, basketball, long-distance running, track, and eventually, the martial arts. Though I did well in team sports, I excelled most in the martial arts. I started taking Tae-kwon-do when I was sixteen because I got beat up by another kid at the local skating rink and I didn't want that to happen again.
By the time I joined the U.S.A.F. at nineteen, I had won numerous Karate tournaments and was considering turning Pro [#Glory Days]. To make a long story short, while stationed at Keesler AFB in Biloxi, Mississippi, I was training for an upcoming Karate tournament to be held in New Orleans and I tore the lateral meniscus (cartilage) in my right knee. My illustrious Karate career ended, [sad smirk], and by the time I was thirty, I had had four operations on the injured knee, (two reconstructions, one clean-up, and one exploratory to remove a staple that had dislodged from a previous reconstruction).
Last Thursday, while kneeling to get my slippers that had accidentally been kicked under the bed, something in the old war-torn knee popped and when I stood up I could not put any weight on the leg. Undoubtedly, there seems to be a foreign object floating around in my knee (most likely a piece of cartilage), and as such, it has pretty much disabled me. I have been hoping it would right itself, but it's been a week now and so far, no such luck.
The timing of this unfortunate event is terrible... campaigners will arrive tomorrow, the revival starts Sunday, evangelistic outreach and efforts will continue into next week, guest preachers, song-leaders, etc. will be arriving from the other islands, and about a thousand other things will need my attention in the next 9 days. It's safe to say, I'm a little stressed.
I will be traveling stateside in May to visit and thank supporters (individuals and churches), and while stateside I will visit the VA Hospital to hopefully commence treatment for this injury. Regretfully, the VA is not known for its streamline operations. I'm not sure what prognosis they will arrive at or how much time it will take them to determine a medical course of action. Though I am sure it will take more time than planned, I hope they will approve me for a knee replacement. The surgery is very common now days and most often, very successful. Such a result would last me for the rest of my life until I receive my new body at the day of resurrection.
Please pray for me and this situation... it is surely throwing a monkey into the wrench. I can tolerate the pain and the inconvenience of limited mobility for a while, but eventually, I must resolve this issue to lead a relatively normal life.
I know, quote, and believe Romans 8:28.
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28 NAS
That verse applies to me specifically because I meet its every qualification. I love God with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength. I am called according to His purpose... in fact, I have made His purpose, my purpose... to reach the lost.
I KNOW HE WILL CAUSE THIS TO WORK TOGETHER FOR MY GOOD... I believe it,
I know it, I trust it. I trust Him. I may not see HOW He will accomplish that verse, but I know He will.
Thankfully, I can still do kingdom work while stateside and actually focus more on Restoration Radio. Which, by the way, is doing a phenomenal job in getting the Gospel to the world. Already, since January 15th, when the station went live, it has logged 62,000+ minutes of listener airtime. That means people have tuned into the station and have listened 62,000 minutes collectively. That's over 1000 hours of people listening to undenominational sermons from Restoration preachers. 32 countries have tuned in and the station is only listed in one directory so far, (there are dozens of directories that the station still needs to be submitted to). It is truly amazing how God is already using that mission outreach.
Visit that page here or listen via the SHOUTCAST App on your smartphone or the SHOUTCAST website, (search for Restoration Radio) . Please continue to pray for this effort as well.
Thank you for your continued support and prayers.
God bless each and every one of you.
Signed: Preacher on a Stick... AGAIN!
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