Banana Peppers and Hiatal Hernias Don't Mix
Wednesday, November 4, 2026
“Yes, my Lord, I long, I want to feel Your love flaming like a furnace within me.” – C.H. Spurgeon
About 10 years ago, my son Matt and I drove from Vero Beach to Lake Wales to play golf with two other men. One was a brother-in-Christ who used to play on my prison ministry softball team in New Jersey and the other was his son. They had driven over from Winter Haven for our golf outing, which turned out to be a best-ball match between the two father and son teams.
I played reasonably well but Matt played out of his mind. He hit the ball long and straight, driving it almost 300 yards off the tee. By the time we reached the 18th hole, the match had already been settled.
On the way home, Matt and I stopped to eat at Subway, and I ordered one of my favorites: a tuna hoagie with lettuce, tomatoes, provolone cheese, and lots of oregano. I also had the waitress pile on some banana peppers, which turned out to be a B-I-G mistake.
Later that night, I woke up with a burning sensation in my chest that soon wrapped around to my back. Wave after wave of sharp, stabbing pains wracked my body until I was doubled over in complete anguish.
Afraid that I might be suffering a heart attack, Deanna insisted that I go to the emergency room and so, off we went. She drove… while I kept punching the car door to alleviate – or at least distract – the pain.
Once we arrived at the ER, the doctors hooked me up to a bunch of machines and ran a series of tests while administering some strong painkillers. They quickly ruled out a heart attack and after a few hours, the chest and back pains began to subside.
Yep, it turned out to be a case of severe indigestion caused by an aggravated hiatal hernia. No more banana peppers for me!
As Charles Spurgeon said in today’s quote, our desire as Christians should be to burn – not with acid reflux – but with an inner passion for Jesus. As such, our daily prayer should be that of the father of the boy afflicted by a deaf and dumb spirit.
“Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, ‘Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!’” Mark 9:24 (NKJV)
- Rev. Dale M. Glading, President
