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“God gave me a message to preach and a horse to ride.  But, alas, I have killed the horse and cannot deliver the message.” — Robert Murray M’Cheyne, as he lay dying at age 29

I thought of this famous quote when I received a letter from a missionary friend in east Asia. He wrote:

Please pray for me as I have contracted another bacterial infection that has made me very weak.  Per doctor’s orders I have stayed inside all week long, and although I am a little better it is so slow.  It has taken most of my strength to prepare this newsletter and email.  I am supposed to travel on Monday for two days of meetings and coaching next week and I hope to be strong enough to do it.

The reason I thought of M’Cheyne is that when I received the note from my friend, I was laid up myself! I had completed an 11-day road trip, coming home with a cold. But I laid low for several days and was feeling better so that I was able to take the 4-day road trip to Key Men’s Invitational that I’ve been writing about. I returned home Sunday night, woke up sick Tuesday, and as I write this, I’m still sick.

I’m sure my friend is sicker than I am, but he really wants to make that trip, just as I did. I hope he will practice appropriate indifference and trust the Lord’s leading. In the meantime, let’s all pace ourselves!

“I’d rather burn out than rust out! –a pastor

“Either way, you’re out! –Howard Hendricks, Internationally known Bible teacher and professor at Dallas Theological Seminary until his death in 2013.

He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. (Psalm 23.2, 3)