First, special thanks goes out to all the friends both new and old who have taken the time to inquire as to my whereabouts. Your kind thoughts through comments and emails have been a blessing and encouragement to me.
Second, please accept my apology for the de facto abandonment of this blog. Hope no one has taken it personally. Two grand weeks of vacation with my dear wife visiting family and friends in Oklahoma and Texas, followed by the extensive preparations required for directing a spiritual retreat, left me with little discretionary time of late.
Third, I had been intending to resume posting on 1 May. There was no special reason for choosing this date. It just seemed like a good day to claim my mulligan and tee off, once again. A monster case of strep throat thwarted these plans. I spent the first night battling—no, being pummeled by one of the worst cases of chills that I’ve ever had. The next couple of days were spent in a fevered daze. Even if I would have had the strength to string a few words together, you probably couldn’t have made sense of anything I would have written during this time.
Fourth, I have been thinking about some topics which I want to share with you here. Actually, that’s not correct. I’ve been thinking about raising some topics which I hope we will have an opportunity to discuss. Lord willing, I’ll say more about this in my next post.
Finally, and most regrettably, while I sit here composing these lines in the peace and quiet of the family room, I’m reflecting on the fact that I had hoped to be attending the Pepperdine Bible Lectures in Malibu, California this week. Had this come to fruition, it’s likely that a bunch of my blogging and ministry buddies and I would be returning from a fun-filled time of fellowship around the dinner table at this very moment in time. Maybe next year.
Again, thank you for your persistent inquiries into my well-being. Indeed, thank you for being my friends!
Blessings to all,
-bill
“May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” –2 Corinthians 13:14 (NIV)
spiritual oasis blog 
Praying for wellness to sweep over you, my friend.
I have missed you.
Peace and prayers
Neva
Thanks, Sis!
I’ve missed you, Bill! I hope your throat and body are recovering well. It will be good to get more doses of wisdom from the Spiritual Oasis. 🙂 Take care.
Hope all is well with you and yours, as well. Appreciate your kind words and encouragement!
God bless you Bill! Jer.31:3
Thank you very much, Stan. I appreciate your encouragement very much!!
Good to have you back Bill. Isn’t is just the irony of life – you go on vacation to recharge the batteries only to be hit with strep throat when you return home.
We were hoping to see you at Pepperdine but we’ll have to catch you next year. God bless.
Thanks, Cecil! Wish I coulda’ been there!
Whatever the reasons, you’re back! I looked for you at Pepperdine and just returned from there this morning. Was going to write or call when Cecil told me you were back in blogland. My life has been very hectic the past two months, but I have thought about you and wondered where you were. Looking forward to those “topics for discussion.”
Thanks, bro!
I’m SO glad you’re back, Bill! I’ve missed you greatly and had been wondering where you were.
I’m SO sorry you’ve been sick. How awful. I can identify. I have been suffering from terrible sweats the past three or four months and it’s terrible. Not as bad as chills, I know, but certainly miserable.
Hope you had a good vacation and will be back with us on a more regular basis. We’ve MISSED you! And I haven’t seen you in forever over at Finding Direction, either!
Much love!
Dee
Thanks, Dee!
Bill,
You have been missed, and I am praying that God will restore you to full health. Looking forward to more of what God lays on your heart to share.
God bless!
Rachel
Thanks, Rachel!
Bless you, Bill – sorry you’ve been hit with my childhood malady. It’s terrible, terrible. Sorry also that you missed Pepperdine. I know how much you were looking forward to attending.
Along with all the “sorry you…”s (sic) I send my expression of joyful ‘welcome home’!!! You’ve been sorely missed!
Praying for full health and new energy for all that comes your way this upcoming days and weeks!
In His love, grace and mercy
Kathy
Thank you, dear sister, for your kind thoughts, sympathies and, especially, your prayers. I’m finally getting back to “normal”.
It is so good to have you back Bill :). Hope you are well! Blessings to you,
In His care, Emily
Thanks, Emily. I really enjoyed your two Mother’s Day posts. They were both very moving. -bill