There are times when preparing to leave for a trip is filled with anticipation and excitement of the events which lie ahead. However, there are also times, such as this weekend, when
the anticipation is replaced with concern about the events ahead. This past weekend ranks right at the top of the concern list.
Our schedule had us spending all day in the recording studio on Saturday working on vocals for our new project. We then had a late night five hour drive to our hotel near the
Sunday concerts. Sunday had us singing in both a morning and evening service in two different churches. Normally, we would be able to handle that schedule without a problem.
However, on this occasion David and Michael had been very sick all week. The doctors said David had an upper respiratory infection and an ear infection. Michael had severe
bronchitis. Needless to say, both of them could barely talk, more less sing. This seems to be painting a pretty bleak picture, huh?
Well, to add insult to injury, during the trip to Nashville we also had some mechanical problems with our bus. The problems ended up being fairly minor. However, it was
enough to make the trip even a little more difficult.
Dave and Mike ended up being real troopers in the studio on Saturday. They both did a
great job, especially considering they were so sick. After driving through the night, we made it to our hotel at about 4:30am, then had to get up at 7:00am to get ready and go to
the church to setup for our morning service. We had a church full of people that morning and they were really great to sing to. However, by the time the service was complete, we
were all completely exhausted. Dave and Mike had held up well considering, but they were just about wiped out vocally.
I wouldn't be kidding to say that by Sunday afternoon we were all ready to just go home and prepare for the next trip. We were in no way ready for conducting another service at
the church scheduled for Sunday evening. Even so, these guys are not ones who are willing to quit. Everyone was tired, but we knew there was unfinished business for us to do.
We had made a commitment to be at that church, and we were going to be there....coughing and all.
Just prior to the evening, we had an opportunity to gather backstage with the minister from
the church to pray. A good deal of our prayer time was focused on strength for each of us in the service ahead. We got through the service fairly well, but none of us would say it
was one of our strongest concerts. As we normally do, at the end of the service we gave an invitation for anyone who had a decision for Christ. Just after we began singing, an
older gentleman approached the altar with his wife. They immediately dropped to their knees and began to pray. The ministers from the church, and many of the church
members present, immediately joined the couple at the altar.
It became obvious pretty quickly, that one of the ministers was dealing with the gentleman
about salvation. As his friends prayed around him, the gentleman kneeled there with big tears streaming down his face. To make a long story a little shorter, the man's wife had
been a faithful member of the church for years. The church had been praying with her about her husband, who had never been saved, for over twenty years. That night the
gentleman had come into the service lost, but left just as much saved as any of us. What rejoicing we saw that night!
You know, isn't that just like God? When we have nothing left to give of ourselves. When our bodies and voices are tired; when it seems like we should just go home and rest;
those are the times that God reminds us that "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." (2 Corinthians 12:9a) So just as Paul said, "I will boast all the
more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." (2 Corinthians 12:9b)
It sounds odd to say looking back that I'm thankful for the weakness we experienced. But I
am thankful for the truth that God reminded all of us about that night. In Him, there is power in weakness.
