Well, thank you all so much for that lovely welcome.

I really appreciate it.

It's been a few years since I have been here.

And it may just be in my mind, but for those of you who were here the last time I was here,

I think I was being punished for lifting up Pastor Jobie's pulpit uh which was apparently unliftable uh but uh you know

god gives his gifts as he pleases and so uh but we're good now we're reconciled no no issues any

longer and uh and i'm just so grateful grateful to spend this time with you and share my

heart with you and excited. I'm a little emotional right now. I promise my energy will go up.

There's something about that last song that just wrecked me. And I think in particular,

because as we honored our veterans this morning, I want to do the

same.

I want to honor you from a personal place.

My father, all of my uncles, many of my aunts and cousins, and my late younger brother,

my younger brother Christopher, who went to be with the Lord after a three-year battle with cancer just over a month ago, they all served this nation bravely and beautifully.

And amen.

So I think, you know, when we were singing that song, all my life, you have been faithful.

I just, I saw my

little brother's face and the last memory that that we have together he actually put his dog

tags around my neck and told me he loved me and and it just hit me like a like a like a

ton of bricks this morning so to our our veterans, thank you for your service.

Thank you for creating the context in which we can enjoy the freedoms that we enjoy

and that I can preach the gospel and you can receive it.

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