I just learned that bro’ Max Lucado has some health issues severe enough that he must step down as senior minister at Oak Hills Church. He will still be able to do some teaching and writing but can no longer handle all the duties he has up to now.
He, his family, and the Oak Hills congregation need our prayers.
The following letter is from Max to the church:
Dear Oak Hills Family,
I pray this letter finds you in the midst of the greatest day and sweetest season of your life! Our God is indeed faithful.I’d like to update you on some recent health developments and a resulting decision from the Oak Hills elders. While my spiritual heart is in a wonderful state, my physical heart has developed some irregularities. We have high hopes for complete healing; yet, I need to make some lifestyle adjustments. I have already begun reducing my leadership responsibilities. I still plan to bring the weekend messages, but will opt out of some of the weekly meetings.My health concerns have also prompted a decision to inaugurate a succession plan. Though I have always known that, at some point my responsibilities would change, I had envisioned this happening years from now. However, these health concerns have moved up the timetable. I wholeheartedly (excuse the pun) feel it is time to identify and invite the next Senior Minister. Oak Hills needs a healthy, full-time servant in this position. Upon his selection, I will turn my attention to doing more what I love to do the most: writing and preaching. I have no intention of leaving this great church, but simply altering my role in it. Yes, this is a major step, but one that will benefit the health of us all. Would you pray for God’s guidance in this process? I know you will. Of course, we will keep you apprised of any developments. Thank you for being a lighthouse to
San Antonio. May God bless you richly.
Your brother,
Max Lucado
Grace and Peace,
Royce Ogle
Grace Digest 
that’s too bad. I just startd reading, facing your giants and am enjoying it. hopefully he will still be able to continue his writing career.
Thanks for the heads up.
I hope that this is not as serious as we all might imagine, but will keep him and his family in my prayers.
Odd that you’ve had so few comments to this point about this. I wonder if people are afraid of a backlash, as there are anti-Lucado factions all over Christianity.
Love his work or hate it, I will pray for him nonetheless… after all, I pray for my enemies and friends alike. Isn’t that what Jesus said to do?
Jimbo
Jimbo,
I would hope that readers of this blog would be more courageous than that, but you might have a valid point. I know some in our brotherhood who claim to be right with God and doing his work who refuse to claim Max as a brother in Christ.
My position is that if a man preaches salvation through Christ alone and based only on His merit I am for him. I don’t have to agree with every other position he takes. If I used the standard many do I would have few I could fellowship with.
Grace and Peace,
Royce Ogle
Thanks Royce… I have much the same attitude as you do about that. Likely you and I have different standards of what we call normal, or truth, or whatever, in fact a couple of the blogs that I have begun to frequent are talking about those topics now, today. Darin Hamm’s new blog asks about normal and I believe that there is a long discussion about truth going on over at Lee Hodges place.
I will keep in prayers anyone who asks me to do so, I am gonna let God sort it out from there. I enjoy this blog, like others I have frquented of late, it makes my head hurt sometimes, but that may just be an indication of brain development!
More walk, less talk…
Jimbo
Royce I read this on my bloglines the other day but just had time to stop by and comment. thanks for the ‘news’. I have prayed that it will all work toward God’s will being accomplished. I very much appreciate your comment about who you are for. Seems like Mark 9 would require that of more people.