Rick Warren recovering

Pastor Rick Warren of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., asked for prayer via Twitter today, saying his eyes were "severely burned by a toxic poison" and he was in "excruciating pain." He asked his Twitter followers to pray that his "sight loss" would be restored.

A. Larry Ross, a spokesperson for Rick Warren, told me that the injury occurred when Warren was working in his garden Monday pruning shrubbery. When he pruned a firestick plant and gathered the leaves, he wasn't aware that the plant's sap can cause a severe allergic reaction. The sap melted onto Warren's hands and when he wiped his brow, the sap dripped into his eyes, causing him to experience excruciating pain. Ross said the pain was so severe that Warren couldn't immediately tell his wife, Kay, what had happened.

Warren spent Monday night in pain at Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo, Calif., where he saw an eye specialist and received treatment. On Tuesday, he went home to recuperate. Ross said his treatment includes applying an ointment to both of his eyes and using protective contacts.

According to Ross, Warren never actually lost his eyesight, although the pain was so bad he couldn't open his eyes. Ross added that the doctors expect a full recovery, although it will take some time and involve some discomfort.

Two hours after the first tweet, Warren followed up with another thanking his Twitter followers for their prayers and saying he had another doctor's appointment this afternoon. He added, "May God use this pain for His Glory," with the Scripture reference Romans 8:28: "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose."