I have been very sick and first went into the hospital on June 21st.

Then, almost three weeks ago, I was taken by ambulance to a hospital a couple of hours away from Alexandria with a nurse by my side who was regularly taking my blood pressure. I thank God that I did not have a stroke, but my systolic blood pressure was running over 200, and I have no idea what my diastolic blood pressure was.

Willis-Knighton Hospital South specializes in helping patients learn how to train our minds and bodies to respond to stress, but they also put a patient on medication. WKHS is in Shreveport, Louisiana.

I am doing better, but the leadership of our congregation is helping me to rest, just the way a collector of fine old automobiles wouldn't let his grandson learn to drive by handing him the keys to a vintage car manufactured back in the 40s.

The end of August will mark 40 years since I first came to the Presbyterian congregation on Jackson Street to preach.

I was installed as their pastor on Friday night, September 27, 1975. During these decades, to the best of my memory, I only missed preaching three times due to illness and don't recall ever taking off more than two Sundays in a row. I think exhaustion and sleep loss contributed to my health problems.

I am now going about things a lot slower, but I do look forward to preaching again at a point in the future. In the meantime, our assistant pastor, Bryan Rhodes is doing an excellent job.

Please keep me in your prayers.