I knew it. I just knew it. There was no mistaking the signs this time. Twice bitten, once shy! On Saturday afternoon, the day before the start of THE busiest week of the Church Year for a Christian Pastor, my dear friend, appendicitis, came calling once again.

Once again? Yes, once again! Less than 16 months since he first made his presence known in my life (unless that first time was at the SBC Annual Meeting in Phoenix in June 2011), my appendix gently tapped me on the shoulder — my lower abdomen to be specific) to let me know he was in town.  I had felt twinges here and there all day, but my special friend has his own unique way of announcing his arrival.. (For purposes of this blog post, my appendix will be referred to with masculine pronouns. Even if I don’t end up writing ALL that I’m thinking, I wouldn’t want to direct my thoughts OR words toward the feminine.)  After a two-hour Easter Musical rehearsal and Choir luncheon, I eventually headed back home to rest for what was shaping up to be a rather busy day at Bethel Baptist Church in Alamogordo, the church where I have been blessed to serve for almost six years. What is it with musical rehearsals and my friend’s prompt arrival? I’m beginning to think he has a problem listening or a “failure to communicate!” On the other hand, surely this is not some plot hatched against me by the “powers-that-be” because of my Saturday post linking to two positive articles about the John 3:16 Conference? The probability for either of those scenarios is slim to none!

Why can I be so confident that my friend — Mr. Appendicitis (he’s no brother) —  showed up in my bedroom this past Saturday, without any help from anyone? Well, perhaps just a little help, but that post will have to wait until I’m feeling better (spiritually, emotionally, and physically — in that order)!  On arguably the “worst” week of the entire year for a Southern Baptist Pastor (or any minister of the Gospel) to get sick, I can’t think of a “better” week to choose as my top pick for “WORST WEEK!” As I know from first-hand experience, anytime during Advent Season comes in a close second.

Every Sunday when I stand behind the pulpit, I generally say something along these lines when I welcome those in attendance that day:

Good morning. We’re glad that you are here.  Whether you are a first-time guest or returning guest OR whether you are here week-in-and-week-out, you are not here by accident or coincidence. God has brought (or drawn) you here today for a purpose and a reason — to HEAR from Him and to leave this place changed — different — because we have been in God’s presence and have been changed by the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ!”

Since I don’t use a “welcome script,” the wording will vary from week to week — taking into account what’s going on that particular day (weather, holiday, etc.) — but the above quote gives you a specific idea of how I greet our guests at Bethel Baptist Church. Of course, included in the quote is a word to those who ARE NOT at church that Sunday. This past Sunday, that would have included me!  If whosoever wills included me (sorry, how did that get in there?) I wasn’t at church to preach and lead two Lord’ s Supper worship services and had to text my Student Pastor at 5:30 a.m. to let him know I wasn’t going to make it and this would be the first-time he has ever led the Lord’s Supper  — a BIG, HUGE THANKS TO PASTOR JON AND PASTOR STEPHEN YOUR SERVANT LEADERSHIP ON PALM SUNDAY — then my friend’s untimely arrival on the eve of Holy Week must have taken God by surprise as well. Right? Wrong.

While I have asked the “why now” questions several times since Saturday, I have not questioned God’s Providential hand in all that has taken place — both in the past 16 months and in the past six days. I may or may not ever receive answers to any of my “why?” questions. And, just like in the Old Testament book of Job, God may not reveal any satisfying answers to your “why?” questions. Well, that’s not entirely true. If you and I believe and

“know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”  (Romans 8:28, NKJV)

I may never know “why” God has allowed me to go through not one, but two appendectomies (plus one other hospitalization because of my friend, appendicitis). However, above all else, I do know this:

GOD IS GOOD, ALL THE TIME — ALL THE TIME, GOD IS GOOD!” 

And, Providential. I wanted to write and publish this post at 8:00 a.m. (MT) and kept getting pushed back. My last goal was to hit the “publish” button at 5:00 p.m. Here’s to God’s Providence in the writing — and the reading — of this post. Thanks for your continued prayers, thoughts, and well-wishes during my surgery and recovery. God bless,

Howell (or, as they know me at Gerald Champion Regional Medical Center, “Dixie H. Scott”)