Welcome to Season 6 of the Excel Stillmore podcast. I am your host, Chris Emerson, and I am here to encourage you in your walk with the Lord, and I'm glad you've joined.

Our program continues to be sponsored by Cunningham Financial Group. John is a good friend and he's helped me and my family in everything

from stock and mutual fund investing to annuities, life insurance, and retirement planning.

I certainly commend him to you if you have needs in any of those areas. You can reach him at

205-326736-3-64. Thank you again for your ongoing encouragement and support. Let's get started.

Welcome to today's episode. I'm really thankful that you're listening in. It's just a genuine pleasure to get to share with you things, particularly today that kind of broaden our scope a little bit

beyond ourselves, but not in a way that neglects or disregards self, but that creates this real

sense of community where you derive deep purpose and identity from that which you contribute,

not only to God, but also to others, and in that you find a deeper fulfillment

in your own life than ever before. Before we get into that, let me say, I hope you're doing well,

and if you need any prayers, please reach out. I would love to pray for you. I've had lots of people

praying for me recently, and it makes all the difference in the world. Part of that had to do

with this ridiculous sinus infection that I've had for, I don't know,

three or four weeks now, which probably for most people would just be a little bump in the road.

But for me, like, I don't have allergies or sinus issues.

I blow my nose once a year, and I'd never had a sinus infection before, and it is really

terrible.

My face for two weeks felt like I was smiling for 12 hours a day, like every muscle was aching.

And I hid most of that, I think, pretty well. I had to travel and preach quite a bit,

but I certainly couldn't cover for my voice.

Several people heard the changed voice in the episodes and had reached out and said they were praying for me.

It was kind of funny. I was at one place and a parent looked at their kid and said, hey, this is Chris, that guy we listened to on the podcast.

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