The pen of ready writer

On October 18, 2025, a long time friend of mine, DBHS Class of 1974, left this present Earthland for the promised Gloryland.You may know him as a prolific Words of Comfort writer, Duane Williams, or as Pastor Duane of New Horizons Ministries Church, or as co-ordinator of the Summer Nights of Worship downtown Kingsport, or as author of "Now Concerning Spiritual Gifts," or one of many other ways that describes this multi-talented man of God.In Duane's memory, here is the one I would like to share with the readers of Words of Comfort.Duane and his wife, Sharon, had visited my church, Evangel Family Worship Center.Duane felt the Holy Spirit leading him to minister to me. I had recently retired from teaching Kindergarten and I was feeling a little lost, but God had a new assignment for me. Duane reminded me of the scripture in Psalm 45:1, where the psalmist declares, "My tongue is the pen of a ready writer." This is a metaphor for speaking with skill and eloquence, comparing the psalmist's tongue to the pen of a skilled scribe who is ready and able to write what is in his heart about the king.In different versions, the phrase can be "skillful writer" or "scribe who writes quickly."Duane had started early in 2020 writing Words of Comfort, when the Kingsport Times-News made the column an opportunity for area devotionalists to contribute meaningful messages during the covid season. Carmen Musick was the Sunday Stories editor.At that service, Duane said I should start writing, too. So I did! I submitted my first devotion, Footprints, and it was published on Sunday, November 29, 2020. I received a phone call that Sunday morning before leaving for church. Duane was excited to inform me that my devotion was in the paper! I hurried to the paper box to collect my copy and was delighted to see my words in print.Thanks Duane Williams for your encouragement. I am now a regular contributor. (Some folks even tell me they like what I write).Another thing you may not know about Duane is that he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer on Valentine's Day this year. I had received a cancer diagnosis myself in January of 2025. Five months earlier, (we) had happily attended our 50th High School Graduation Reunion, now we were both unhappily receiving chemotherapy.My journey took me to Sarah Cannon Cancer Institute in Nashville, while Duane received his treatment locally. However, when I returned home and in between visits to Sarah Cannon, I would see Duane and Sharon at the Tennessee Cancer Specialists. I was usually there for labs while Duane was there for chemo. We prayed for each other. How uncanny that we were both attacked with an evil disease at about the same time. During the sickness, he kept preaching to two congregations, writing devotions, and working on his other projects. Sharon faithfully stood by her husband, delivering "Happy Meals" to him during his TCS appointments and all the many other tireless tasks a caregiver provides.My last conversation with my friend was on the phone. He could barely speak. Our conversation topic was Hope. Nine days later, October 18, 2025, Duane changed addresses and became a resident with Jesus Christ, the Blessed Hope. Christians know that if we only had hope in this world, we would be of all men most miserable.(I Cor. 15:19) Hope for a believer is not wishful thinking, but a firm assurance that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. This hope promises believers strength, peace, and an out-of-this world outcome.When we live a godly life in this present world, we can live forever with "the one whom our soul loves." Sharon and the family will lean on the everlasting arms of the God as they navigate life without Duane.Our community has lost another great man of God who labored for the Kingdom and Kingsport. God will grant us Words of Comfort and Hope. We've got His Word on it! Thanks Brother for taking up The Pen of A Ready Writer. You will be missed, but you're not lost. We know where you are.Penny Gilliam Hagy is pastor of Evangel Family Worship Center in Kingsport.