They did have to intubate me (tube through the vocal folds) so my voice is sore and I can't sing yet. I asked for the smallest tube possible and they granted my request so I'm grateful for that. I also have a head cold now but I'll take that any day over a kidney stone! We begin meetings on Sunday, so my prayer is now that my voice would be ready to go by then. I believe it will be.
Some of you may remember that this is my second stone. I am relatively certain I know what caused this one and how to avoid them in the future. I actually followed protocols very well for several years after my last one but I had let down my guard over the last 6 months. I'll never do that again.
Thank you for your prayers for me. I look forward to being able to serve the Lord
]]>First, a quick recap from 2021: We’ve waited a few years to share this news, but we’d like to do so now. We think it will help explain some of our goals in the coming days.
Around the time I (Ben) was being treated for voice loss in 2015, Amanda was also tested for distortions in her hearing. She described it as having the volume turned up too high and the speaker fuzzing. The results came back that she has a genetic condition that is causing her hearing to deteriorate in both ears over time. There is little to nothing that can be done.
She hears distortions most of the time as we sing now, and last year I wanted to make some changes to help her continue to play her vital role in our music ministry. Here is an update to those plans.
We wanted to adjust the positioning of the live speakers so that she wouldn't have to stand directly in front of the speaker. We've been able to do that quite a bit over the last year, and it has helped. We received a generous donation that enabled us to get a second BOSE tower that we've used to widen the soundstage. We've seen and improvement as we had hoped.
This was a goal in case we have to travel less going forward. We have not been able to purchase our own home or property yet, so we are content with our rental situation for now. We are grateful for a good-sized house that provides what we need at this time. Hopefully, we will be able to own our own home and property at some point in the near future.
Although Miles stopped traveling already, it still feels like a large family with 5 of us still touring. After our Christmas concerts, Elena and Daren will be moving on to the next stages of their lives and will not be traveling anymore. This will take us down to a trio. I'm sure there will be adjustments to our music once this year is done. We will see what additional changes we can make to make the best of the situation. Thank you for your prayers for our family!
One of my sons got me the gift of an old-school date display for my desk. It has a black base with gold bracing, with three metal rings like key rings that display the month and day.
Although I instantly liked the look of it on my desk, I didn’t particularly like having to change it. I seems like whenever I sit down, the date is wrong. It is as if I unconsciously expect the date to change automatically like my phone and my computer. Even my television and my car update without me having to do anything. But now I must take the time to physically turn each tab going through the month, first digit of the day 0, 1, 2, or 3, and then the second digit 0 through 9.
Sometimes, the date is wrong by 3 or 4 days. Didn’t I just change this yesterday? I think to myself.
But something sneaked into my thoughts today that ended up catching me by surprise: How many days slip by without my full presence? Without me being intentional?
Psalm 90:12 Moves us to ask God to “Teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” Numbering our days means we consider each one, weighing what is important and being wise in how we use it.
This doesn’t mean we shouldn’t block out time that is dedicated to rest, recovery, or other such pursuits. What it does mean is we should be targeted and strategic with our time.
Each day is a gift with no guarantee of another coming behind it. Going forward, instead of being annoyed I will be reminded of this each time I sit down and must reach forward to adjust the date on my desk display. It’s a tactile reminder that time is passing, and I need to make the most of it.
]]>Sometimes, I think it's helpful to know the stories behind songs. It helps give new meaning and depth. I'll share with you what led me to write this one.
First Verse
I've spent time with a lot of pastors over 25 years. Although I've never been a senior pastor, I feel like I can understand a little of what they go through. In my mind, I pictured a pastor who has grown weary of the ministry. I could see him completely worn out after a busy and difficult Sunday of ministry, after he had poured out his heart to no avail. Although he may try to avoid being discouraged, pastors are human.
Sometimes you can tell when someone is feeling a certain way by how you hear them walk, or even close a car door. I imagined that his wife could sense the discouragement with every step. This first verse I see him finding his strength in the Word of God, which gives him the determination to carry on for one more day.
Second Verse
I hadn't seen my college friend in a few years. He got married the year before me and started pastoring a small church in our home state of Michigan. When I saw him, he was pushing a stroller with their first-born son inside. He was born with a genetic disorder that I'd never heard of.
Our friends would go on to see two of their children pass away long before the age of ten to the same disorder. And yet, they remained faithful to the Lord. I was challenged in my own walk with the Lord each time we would fellowship with them. Sometimes, instead of God changing our circumstances, He changes us.
Third Verse
I realized the song was getting long, but I really wanted to put a good biblical cap on it. So even though it pushed the song to be a little longer than average, I thought the closing verse was important for me.
No matter what you might be facing, God is with you. Even when He is silent, He is not wasting your pain. May we simply keep praying and see what He will do in our lives.
- Ben
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