It was one of those days where I got up into the pulpit and it just seemed like every word

that I wanted to say wouldn't come.

And I just felt the terrible, sterile absence of God.

And I felt like a hypocrite.

Never again am I going to allow my feelings to determine the truth of God's promised presence.

I'll never forget a time where I was speaking to a church where I was serving as a visiting

pastor because the regular minister was extremely ill. And it was a great crisis for the people

because their pastor was dying. And he was greatly beloved by the congregation.

And I was called upon to do a special service at the church, and it was a communion service.

And I remember how deeply I wanted this to be an unforgettable moment in the life of the

people of this congregation congregation because I knew they

were looking to me to help usher them into the presence of God.

And so I prayed earnestly for that service.

I prepared a special sermon, and I remember it was one of those days where I got up into

the pulpit and it just seemed like every word that

I wanted to say wouldn't come, that my mind was blank, that I was lethargic, and I just

felt the terrible, sterile absence of God.

And then I went and proceeded through the Lord's Supper, and I felt like a hypocrite

because I felt so unmoved by the whole thing. And I remember at the close of the service,

I felt like such a failure that after I pronounced the benediction, I didn't want to have

to go stand at the back door and greet the people. I wanted to run. I wanted to find a place to hide. So I didn't.

I went to the back door and I stood there to greet the people. And I'll never forget

...