Well, it has been a tough week. I have had gout in my right foot, but it has not stopped me from doing what needed to be done. But tonight I am tired. After eating out with my wife and kids, I went to Lowe’s to get some stuff to fix our toilet in the master bedroom. It just runs and runs. Tomorrow is my nine-year-old’s football game. He is turning out to be a really great football player even at this age. Last week he recovered two fumbles and sacked the quarterback twice. He’s a brute of kid on the field but a sweet boy off the field.
There has been so much on my mind as of late. First, my birthday is coming up next Thursday. It is going to be the second birthday without my twin sister. I know, some who read this blog believe that I should be over that already. Well, I think that you need to get over yourself and let me grieve for however long I need to–along with everyone else who’s grieving over the loss of a loved one. At any rate, it will be our second birthday apart from each other. I am prepared for it to be a tough day. I will be out-of-pocket that day. I am already planning on being away from my office and alone most of the day. I know that my Denise is doing better than she ever has. After all, when you go to heaven you have Jesus Christ before your very eyes and you get to serve Him face-to-face. What an incredible thought this is for me; it is too vast for me to even comprehend.
I am preparing to leave town on Sunday afternoon for Salt Lake City, Utah for a meeting. It will be an interesting trip no doubt. I will be able to see some friends that I have not seen since our last meeting and will be able to see and visit with church planters in the area. That is the most exciting part for me. I get to see how God is using these men and women to reach people for Jesus Christ in a place that is darkened by unbelief.
While I am out-of-town, I have my good friend preaching and teaching for me on Sunday evening. He is one of the best Bible teachers that I have ever heard and from whom I have learned. Both of my Associate Pastors are willing to preach as well, but I want to give others an opportunity to preach as well. There are still many of my friends that would like to preach at my church as well.
My two sons are lying in my bed watching a Pokemon movie on Netflix. They are wonderful kids. Today, my four-year-old was attempting to get in our van when he slipped out of his side door and onto the ground. He landed in something that was oily and sticky at the store. He looked at me, I bent down to help him up, and he began to cry. I felt so bad for my Son. After I handed him his Icee, he seemed to be just fine! My nine-year-old was picked up from school right after that and he was reading a new book he checked out of the school library. He is a reader! He finished Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings series as well as Lewis’ series, The Chronicles of Narnia. He loves those books. Now he’s reading The Screwtape Letters by Lewis. I will continue to give him some of the classics and when he is old enough, I will give him some Francis Schaeffer to read and some B.B. Warfield and, of course, Charles Haddon Spurgeon.
I was unable to attend my cousin Paul’s funeral today in Houston. It really broke my heart. He was a dear friend to me. He died of cancer on Monday of this week. He will be missed by so many of his friends who cared for him and by his family who loved him. This gout thing has really bothered my foot this week for some reason. I think that I just need to keep doing what I know to do to get passed it.
And, in the meantime, I am so grateful for the Lord blessing my family. My wife and I are healthy (except for my gout) and my boys are growing bigger than ever. They have good physical abilities and they eat like it’s going out of style! They both are doing well in school and sports and they are just bright lights for my wife and me. Even the people at our church love our boys, and for this I am so grateful.
So, these are just thoughts roaming around in my head this evening. And I leave you with this:
Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. (Ephesians 5:15-16)
D.J. Gorena 
– My dad passed away 22 years ago. I do not think it gets easier. I miss him but I am not as sad as I was.
– stay away from fried anything. I think that is what helped me. I stopped sodas too about that time. I do drink tea and plain water.
If it wasn’t for your blog, I would not have known he died.
Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do. 1 Thes. 5:11. Thank you, JESUS for these words that give us guidance in this life. dad