On New Year’s Eve, 2004 moved forever into the history books and 2005 opened with the days as blank pages to be written; however more changed than just the date on the calendar. Since 1972 millions of people would join one of Americas biggest New Year’s Eve parties with Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve. At 75 Dick Clark with his youthful appearance was known as “America’s Oldest Teenager.” However, on December 8, 2004 Clark suffered a stroke preventing him from hosting the 2004 broadcast. Regis Philbin took Clarks place in New York City to host the New Year’s Rockin’ Eve, and for the first time in thirty-two years America watched the ball drop in Times Square without Dick Clark.
Good health today may be here today and gone tomorrow. Dick Clark started his day December 8th like any other day, but before the day was over things changed. In addition to his stroke we were also told that Clark also had type 2 diabetes. “America’s Oldest Teenager” suddenly didn’t seem so young anymore.
Health is not an absolute. In the same way our physical health can be transformed due to an unforeseen heart attack, stroke, disease or accident, the health of the local church can change too. Just because a church is healthy today doesn’t mean it will still be healthy tomorrow. Now on the flip side of the coin is also true—just because a church may be unhealthy today doesn’t mean it will stay that way; health can also be restored. (Who knows Dick Clark may even come back to host New Year’s Rockin’ Eve next December!)