David Shares a Serious Health Scare, and What He’s Learning As He Goes Through It

Untitled - December 9, 2025

00:00:00 Speaker: You are listening to the Provoke and Inspire podcast. What's up everyone? Welcome to the Provoke and Inspire podcast. My name is Ben Pierce. I'm the host of the show. David is to my right in the room, right across the wall. Through the wall. If I could punch with laser force, I could punch him right in the sternum. Uh, then we got Chad in the I don't know what is that? The fur lined bomber coat. Some sort of Canadian tuxedo. I'm on a mission. I'm on a mission. Just think of me as like a World War one fighter pilot or something. You really have to get your, uh, vocal warm ups done to get that out. World War one or can all come out like I almost. I almost went sideways with it. But speaking of sideways, it doesn't sound like you're on your good mic yet. So while I talk about Luke and his brown fuzzy sweater. Yes. Uh, what's up Luke? You're in some sort of room with a green something? I am. I feel a little fuzzy today. And, uh, so my, my jumper, as we call it, is fuzzy. And for some reason my camera is not focusing well, so I look fuzzy too. Do you still have a lot of rats in your house? Yeah, well, I did actually just throw one away. Um, it was stuck. Seriously? Yeah, it was stuck to a. You just put it in the trash. Yeah. I found these really cool sticky paper things that they. When they run, they get stuck on it. That's brutal. I can't do it. And, uh, they they what? Stuck sticky. You know, but the thing is. Oh, really? Yeah, but I forgot to check my attic for, like, four days. And when I went up there, it had been there a long time. So that little mouse was kind of flattened already. You know, he was kind of deteriorating, so I just threw him away. How many have you got altogether in the last month? Um, I stopped counting after one hundred. I thought once I hit number one hundred, I thought, you know what? I think I've hit the record. I don't need to count anymore, bro. If it hit number ten, Kourtney would be out. She'd be like, you can stay. If it hit number two. I did leave, she did leave for like, weeks. She's back now, though, thankfully. Well, I'm glad to hear everything's okay domestically. Jeez, I was concerned this was about to be a therapy session. Yes. Seriously. Uh. All right, well, welcome to the pod. And, uh, well, we got a bit of an interesting episode today. As the thumbnail suggests, for those watching on YouTube, David's going to be talking about a bit of a serious health update that. Yeah, we just felt like we needed to talk about. Jokes aside, this is not of the funny variety. This is pretty serious, but something that yeah, that is important for us to discuss. Like I was saying to David as we were driving here separately, for those that are consistently watching this, consistently listening to us, you know, we'd like to think that you really feel part of who we are, part of our journey. We've been doing this for ten years. Even the other week when we had Chad kind of explain his full circle moment of the things he's been through and now being full time again with Steiger and just kind of that cool, full circle story of that. I think in the same way, this is one of those kinds of things where, you know, we are very much family. Obviously, David and I biologically, but the four of us relationally for sure. And we'd like to think that many of you listen who listen to this feel that way as well. So David will share that. I did ask if you wanted to do a random story before that. I don't know if you change your mind since the vibe changed, just downshifted the vibe, but it's up to you. This is, uh, this is your show. Let's try the random story. I don't know if it'll work, but let's give it a try. All right, here we go. David's random story. Never a dull moment. So, just before this, uh, podcast, I got a call from Jodi, and she's, like, freaking out because of our smoke alarm. I don't know if you guys ever had problems with smoke alarms. Yeah, every time. Every time you do the toast in England, smoke alarm goes off. Well, but it's like it keeps beeping. And then you're supposed to push in this thing to drain power out of it. Anyway, we've been having these smoke alarms go on and off for the last week. And then, like, it'll stop and then we won't hear it again for like two days. Or I've changed a bunch of batteries in it. Do you guys know anything about this? Have you not had any problems with smoke alarms? I have. We don't have smoke alarms. I've not had to drain the energy from one, but I've definitely had to change the batteries in a smoke alarm before. Yeah, but anyway, maybe this is a unique problem to us, but she went on YouTube to see what you're supposed to do when it does that. And it has pictures of people like smashing them with hammers and ripping them out of the wall. And because you can't get them to stop beeping, even when you get them out of the wall, they keep beeping crazy, you know? Yeah. You put them in water, they keep beeping. I don't you guys don't relate to this. So it's like that movie with, uh, the neo guy, and he gets the thing that goes in a matrix and you talking about you're talking about matrix. Matrix. You know, that film, that movie with the boat and the that hits the iceberg and it goes under. How does that relate to a smoke alarm thing? Because he's got the little thing. Yeah. Because you can't get it to go. Yeah. And then they throw it out of the car or something. Exactly. See, that's what I was supposed to save your life. So it should keep going no matter what happens. You don't want it to, like, turn off with, like, a gentle shake. Yeah. It's like, oh, the smoke alarm didn't work because there was a fire. A wave of the hand. So is the alarm still going now, then? Wait, that was it. One of the more believable stories. She just called me about just before this and said, what am I supposed to do? And I said, um, leave the house. She was mad at me, and I'm like, what am I supposed to do? And then she was trying to figure out how to put the new batteries in it. I've already put in new batteries in it. But anyway, this is not interesting to our listening audience, so I can move on. Well, did she try the hammer? David's random story. That was, I don't know, it was like a random fact that was solid. Did she try the hammer at all? I think that's what's going to happen next. I have a feeling. Yeah. I think you just check it out the window, check it out the window. Or you could go ding dong, ditch. You know, you go down the hallway, you know, you knock on Miss Mabel's door and then you hook it in, and then, you know, she panics and slams the door, and now it's her problem. Just leave it outside the door. Isn't there a new game where everyone's getting in trouble for kicking doors or something? What's ding dong ditch? I've never heard of that before. Ding dong! And then you run. Oh, that. Uh. All right, move on. So how do you transition? Not easily. So, David, uh, as I said in the preview to this, uh, we felt like it was important for you to kind of give an update to those listening to those who have been following this for a while. What's going on with your health? Um, and then, you know, the rest of us can kind of comment and react, and I think we could spend some time praying at the end here and then just call it a day. So we have a good friend in Colorado Springs. So when we come to the States, she gives us like a three hour physical, which is amazing. So I'm always glad to get that done with. And does it feel amazing? Well, it's yeah, it doesn't feel too bad, but. So anyway, she she checks us for hours and it's we've been doing that for forever. And I came back from this last physical and she said, yeah, everything is perfect except there's been a spike in your PSA, you know, your prostate test. And she said, but don't worry about it. You know, it's not a big deal. We can wait till next year, you know, and see if it comes down. She had basically advised me to just not worry about it, but I thought, I don't want to do that because we have, you know, we have so much going on, so many trips coming up. And I thought if there's something going on, I want to find out about it so we can deal with it. So I contacted this this urologist and I, I told him what I'm doing and he says, well, we can, you know, we can just do an MRI to be sure, you know, that there's not anything. And so we did. Have you ever I don't know if you guys have ever done an MRI, but it's crazy. It's like. Yeah, it's it's like, um, first of all, they it it's super loud because it has to do with these magnets and they kind of react and it's like, it's like a jackhammer. The the person that was setting me up said, it's going to be like a jackhammer. So you have to wear these foamy earplugs and then headset over that because it's so loud. So when you're in it, it's literally shaking. It's so crazy. And also it's like, you know, I'm in the kind that which is like you're going into this tunnel tunnel and it's just like barely above your, your face and you're in there for like a half an hour. Wow. And I thought, can you wear can you wear metal. No. You can't have no metal. Oh, that's bad news. I'm pretty sure I'm pretty sure somebody actually died. Yeah they did. They forgot to take off their. Yeah. Isn't that crazy? Yeah. That's how intense. That's how intense those things are. Yeah. Yeah, it's super full on. So she said, are you going to be, uh, what's the word, Um. When you're afraid of being in small claustrophobia. Yeah. Are you gonna be claustrophobic? And I said no, I don't think. No, I don't think so. And it was weird. I wasn't at all. They have it lit up so you can see the top of it, which I think is better. But I was in there and I was thinking, I don't think I was claustrophobic because it was like being in the coffin. That's exactly what I was thinking when you were describing his eyes. Like, he's gonna say, it's like being in the coffin. No, I'm not kidding. So I'm like, in there. And I thought, this is really not that different. And the noise either, because, you know, it's the band. Right? And we're doing the big finale finale of the, you know, the show, the resurrection. And so it's really loud in the coffin on stage. So that wasn't that different. But I'm not normally in the coffin for thirty minutes. So you felt like you were getting ready to preach or something. It was just kind of triggering that natural. I don't know, I just kind of put my I just kind of put myself in a kind of a space and just prayed and whatever. So I got out. And to cut to the chase, they found two lesions on the MRI and it goes from one to five, one being the lowest, five being the highest. And what you can, what they want. Of course, the best is that it's benign or that it's a real slow kind of cancer because you can it's they you know, they say that most men eventually get prostate cancer. You know, the cliche is that more men die with it than from it. Exactly. And so and it's if you get the slow kind, you know, it'll kill you when you're one hundred, that kind of thing. Um, and so. But the problem is my the lesions they found were four and five, five being the worst. Uh, four is also not good. And so anyway, I go into because they just to tell me the results of it and I'm just totally not. I hadn't seen it at all. And they said, oh, we have to do this biopsy to see, you know, what it is. So anyway, I haven't got the results yet. My guess is I'll get them in a couple of days. But I thought, do I talk about this on the podcast? Actually, I hadn't thought about talking about this on the podcast, to be honest. And then the other day, I don't know if it was was the Holy Spirit, but I felt like talk about this in the podcast because first of all, you know, we are we want to talk about what it means to follow Jesus in a secular culture, how to follow Jesus. And also, I think it's it's there's probably other people who have gone through things like this. And so I thought, you know, I need to be transparent. You know, part of it is, I don't know if it's a pride thing. I'm not sure what it is that I hesitate in wanting to talk about it, and I'm not sure where that's coming from. If it's a, you know, pride thing or what it what it is. But I thought, no, I'm supposed to talk about it, you know, I'm supposed to talk about it. And it's also and, you know, and I've also decided I'm going to let people know so they can, you know, in our mission family so they can pray. I'm not going to keep it a secret. I can remember someone who was going through something like this and we weren't. I found out about it, but I wasn't allowed to ask them because they wanted to keep it a big secret. And I think this is the opposite of what you should do in a situation like this. And so anyway, so I'll get the results in a couple of days, uh, about how serious this is. Of course, when you're when you're going through things like this, you have all these crazy scenarios in your head, you know, where you're. Yeah, all these things that you're imagining. And it's been a roller coaster. It's been hard for me to focus on things because there's a lot of things to be working on, as there always are, but it's hard for me to have the the concentration to do that, but I don't want to. So I go and I pray and then I and then I go, now what do I do? So it's been kind of a weird zone. I haven't been in this kind of zone before. So that's I can say more about it. But there you go. Well, thank you so much for for sharing it. David, I agree with you. It's I disagree that it's really, really a good thing that you're wanting to share and talk about it because I think you're right. Like other people also go through this stuff. And so I think it's really helpful that you want to talk about it on the podcast. So thank you for that. What were you going to say, Chad? It's so powerful. And I know this from experience to share from our weakness and to lead from our weakness on this podcast, because it is one of the things that continues to set us apart so much from, you know, we're just here to, you know, everything's great. Everything always works out for us. We have no, no issues. But I also felt very thankful and also slightly annoyed that David texted me and asked me to pray for him because it was like instantly I felt the, you know, God's been doing such a crazy work in my life as it relates to coming back to Steiger and just like my prayer life and redirecting everything to the Lord and just being around everyone and Staiger is crazy. I mean, it's like you're basically living normal life thinking everything's fine, and then all of a sudden you're back in the war zone and everyone's like, they're all like, suited up. They know exactly what they're what they've got and what's going on. And so at first I'm like, man, I haven't really prayed for healing for anybody in such a long time. And now David's got this serious thing he wants prayer for. And I'm like, I don't really know if I have what it takes, you know? And, uh, Lord, I don't know if that's me anymore. And so immediately I felt convicted and I just felt like, wow, that's, you know, like, Lord, I'm so sorry that, you know, my first thought is, I really don't want to pray for David to be healed. That was my my knee jerk reaction. And so I confessed that. And I said, Lord, I'm forgive me from that, you know, and help me. And, uh, and then I just started praying and just, you know, like, really trying to pray for David and and immediately the reaction that I had was, while it's super alarming, it's not something to be feared or it's not going to end in any kind of like, uh, bad way and not basically not just to tell David not to stress out about it, which I know. And I said, you know, it's easier, it's a lot easier for me to say that than it is for the person who's suffering with something. But, you know, but I also felt this takes so much courage to reach out and ask people to pray, you know, to invite them in and to be transparent. So I just I felt really honored, David, even though for a second there I was a loser. And, uh, the Lord convicted me. But, um, yeah, we're so privileged to pray with you and to trust the Lord to move in your life and in this situation. Thanks, Chad. Yeah. It's, uh. Yeah. And it's and it's at the same time, it it is like it's tough news because, um, you've been just, I mean, super healthy for, you know, like, just you do so much, you're always running around. You just you've just been full on for Jesus all your life, and you're going around and preaching everywhere and traveling, and people often forget how you know what age you are because you're like, you have so much energy and you still do. And so that's why, you know, it's also tough to kind of hear like, okay, it's the first kind of more serious health thing that's come up for you. And so I really feel that, you know, we've been serving together for decades. And so I just I'm just praying for you, David. And I want to believe with Chad that God, God will heal this and that God is with you. But I also want to recognize that this tough news. And so I was actually wondering, like how it was what you've been thinking about, what you've been processing during this in hearing. And how's Jody been been handling this, too? Sure. Um, well, it's been really hard on Jody, obviously. And so it's, it's I think in some ways it's been harder on Jody than it's been on me. Um, but here I what I. This is kind of what I struggle with actually is I think about Sy Rogers, who is a, you know, and I don't know if our listeners know who Sy Rogers is, but he was he was probably one of the best communicators when it came to sexual brokenness in the world, for sure. I mean, and he was at, you know, he was the main speaker at Hillsong when Hillsong was was really big. I don't think there's been a speaker who's better at communicating to that than Sy Rogers. We still use his videos in our school in Germany, but the Lord took Sy. Okay. And then Tim Keller, you know, the same thing. And then, you know, a guy that was a real mentor to me in some ways. Francis Schaeffer, when I spent time at La Brea in Switzerland when he was there. My point here is not to put myself in the category of Sy Rogers, but more the point. Why should I get healing? That was more my thought. Is it even right? You know, how can I ask God to heal me from this? Because he chose to not do that for Sai Rogers and Tim Keller and Francis Schaeffer. That's something I've literally struggled with because my life has been so rich. I mean, I've lived a hundred lives. I've been the things I've been able to see God do. I can't exaggerate that. You know, someone said, well, do you feel angry about this possible bad thing or whatever? No. How could I feel angry? I only feel grateful. I mean, how could I? I don't have anything but gratefulness in my heart for everything. But I felt like God was saying to me, it's not about their story. It's your story. So yes, you can pray for healing. It's kind of like when Jesus told Peter how he was going to die and Peter says, well, what about him? You know? You know, John. He goes, what about him? And Jesus said, if I want him to be alive until I come back, what does that matter to you? And I feel like in a way, that's not the point. And it's and it's right that I expect God to do a miracle in this case with my health. And, um, and so, I don't know, I'm just kind of thinking out loud now, but those are the things I've been thinking while I was praying for you that first time, right when I got your text message, I was like, what? Scripture backs me up? What I texted you, David, was, I didn't say it this strongly, but what I, what I was essentially saying was, you're not going to die from this. The Lord's going to heal you from this. This is not going to be a big deal. That's what I felt in my spirit. I didn't put it quite that strongly in the text because I was still a little trepidatious. But, you know, so there's a couple reasons that I, that I felt that. But but of course, I think, uh, because of our relationship and a level of maturity that we've all grown in together, if any of us is wrong about anything else, even if it's something, and especially if it's something like that, then then hopefully we're quick to confess it, you know, and it's like the Lord's plans and his ways are often not the the ones that we would pick. But but I was immediately drawn to James five, and that's just where I. I was like, oh man, that's right. That that passage about the prayer of the righteous man is powerful and effective, you know, and if you're sick, you should call the elders, and they're going to lay hands on you and anoint you with oil and pray for you, and you're going to be healed. I mean, it's like there's so many crazy, uh, Bible verses about this stuff that I've kind of I've kind of clicked pause on, you know, I'm just like, oh, that's not really part of my life right now. It hasn't been for quite, quite a while, but. But now that the Lord's brought me back there, there's it's this kind of forces in my heart the, the reality of how God's used me. And, um, I can't it's I wish I could go back and explain the times where someone got healed and then the other person didn't get healed and and know that. But, um, but I do think it's I do think the Lord's pleased when we when we offer ourselves, you know, the way you have like God, I'm here. I'm struggling with this. I'm going to be transparent and honest with you and others about it. And you do what you want in my life. And if a radical healing and and all that is what you want, great. And if you have some other plan, then, you know, give me, give me grace. But, um, I just think that the way, the way that I've seen you go about it so far is really remarkable. And, uh, I can't imagine the level of, of challenge, especially for, for you and also for Jody. But, yeah, I mean, this has been obviously not easy for me. Um, you know, it's it's one of those things where I have prayed for a while with a very sober minded view of just life and, you know, especially as it relates to you, dad and mom, that, you know, just just numerically, just statistically, like time is precious right now, right? It just is like it is for all of us, but it is for you and and that that prayer of of of extend your energy, not not just your life, but your energy, your your anointing, your ability to continue to do all the different things that God has called you to do. And so, you know, I think it was even a week ago, two weeks ago, that I was praying. You know, I know that it's not just years that are are precious. It's months. It's it's maybe even days. And I was literally praying that two weeks ago kind of knowing that, you know, not living in fear of it, but knowing that it's the thing you never want and always know that lurks out there. And so obviously, to hear this has been like, I've been like you. It's almost like the nightmare and the reality has been inverted. The dream is the relief from the reality for a moment to the point where it's like, I will briefly forget, I will briefly sleep, I will briefly be distracted. But then the reality sets back in. And that's the nightmare, which is that we still don't know what this is. We don't still don't know what it's going to be. And so yeah, I've lived with this now for. Set of days with a real, like you said, a distracted mind, a sense of impending doom, a sense of regurgitating the same set of data as if that's going to change anything, even though nothing's changed. You know, it's that annoying process of rehashing the same little bits of data you have as if it's going to change anything. Like I'm sure you have done over and over and over yourself, and then also just kind of waiting for the other shoe to drop at any moment, like waiting to know what it is in all of its possibilities. And so yeah, it's been, it's been it's been hard and I, I have lived largely sheltered from this and I know that's not the case for so many. I mean, even as we were having our prayer time as a team yesterday, people started sharing prayer requests not just from within our group, but broadly. And it's like the amount of sickness, the sickness, the amount of brokenness, the amount of. It's just like you start to just feel like overwhelmed by all of it because it's so ubiquitous and kind of like you and I were saying, David, it's really just delusion. Illusion. When you don't realize how broken things are. It's not reality. It's delusion. Right? Because the reality is it's broken. It's so broken. Um, and of course, this is just brought that to, to bear in a, in a much more personal way than, than maybe ever before for me. I don't know how people face anything without God, actually. You know, I just don't have any idea what that would be like. Part of it, too, is I felt really bad for you, Ben, and for, you know, it's I know it's and for obviously for Aaron and Jody and, uh, but I, um, it'll be nice to, to kind of know where things are at that that doesn't help. Um, but whatever the case, I have a lot to be grateful for and I can feel, you know, we have an amazing, uh, family mission family. And that you can really feel that that those prayers. And I know I'm not the only one that's going through difficult things either. I'm not that self-centered. I know that a lot of people are going through hard things. Um, but yeah, yeah, I was thinking about when you were describing before, David, you processing um, this it's and it is totally different when we follow Jesus. And I guess that's a big part of the point of this podcast, right? Is like, what's it like when you follow Jesus and you go through these things and like, you were just saying, David, you know, it's totally different reality if you don't know God trying to understand these things or trying to face the fear of death or the, you know, or the pain of losing, um, something or someone or those feelings and thoughts that come to mind. And in this situation, in this moment, people that don't know God struggle so much. And it it was reminding me of that passage, um, in Philippians where, where Paul says, for me to live is Christ and to die is gain. And I think, and I know that that's how you've always lived, like you've always lived in a way where you want to go all in for Jesus, do everything. Use every moment, every year, every day, um, to the to the utmost, to the best, um, for him. And and I hear it in how you're describing like it's it's not a fear of death but or but it's but there, there there are pains that come with it that you can't like you're saying, Ben, it's reality. And you can't just, you know, we're not separated from that. We're in this world. We suffer with illness. We we're, you know, we're in situations like this and and so, um, yeah, I don't know if I'm making sense, but, you know, know, it's like when we follow Jesus, we deal with it in a different way. It doesn't mean the pain's not there. It doesn't mean that the concern or the worry is not there, but it is different. And, um, yeah, it makes me think about that. Yeah. And I would just add that I, I reject the cynical view that we don't and shouldn't pray for healing or that that it's, it's all, well, if God didn't save so and so, then why wouldn't he? You know, all like I hear what you're saying. But at the same time, I'm like, I just don't think God wants that kind of level of rationality from us. I think he wants a childlike belief and a trust. And look, in the end of the day, like we're all we all have limited time on this planet. And you and I, dad, were talking about like the weird thing where even in my own heart. And I know you probably, well, not probably feel this even more than me. It's like so much of what we do and think about is for the future, right? What's going to happen in June? What's going to happen at the SMS, what's going to happen on this tour? And it's really weird trying to do that kind of work. You have to kind of adjust the midst of this kind of prognosis, right? You just don't. There's a weird absurdity to it in a way where you're just like, well, I guess, you know, and and yet, dad, you said something to me when we were talking in the car. That's so true. Which is that's always how it is. It's always how it is. Like it's not whether that's true, because you're facing this, this diagnosis. It's true for Chad. It's true for Luke. It's true for me. Like like it says in James, we can say, I'm going to go to this country in a year and do this, that, and whatever. But we don't we don't know. We don't know. And I don't know, I, I know there's there's a lot to be learned still. But to me, I think in a weird way, we're supposed to internalize the lessons that these seasons bring, but then remain simple and childlike in the midst of that. Like, I don't think we're supposed to then become fatalistic or. I totally agree, or apathetic. I think we're supposed to learn, let it sort of prick our conscience and open our eyes, but then just remain simple. Does that make sense? I don't know. Well, I think what you said is, is really right. That's what I felt when I was praying about. Like I said, I gave the example of Sai and Tim Keller and Francis Schaeffer guys going, what are you talking about them? Yes. Pray for healing. That's what you should do. I'm not a Calvinist. We're supposed to pray for healing. I have a lot of people have said that to me and I need to receive that. But again, it's not up to me. I also don't believe, well, God's only going to heal me if I can manage to have the faith to to do it. I feel like I can offer the faith that I have, but I also think that I need other people's faith can heal me. It's like, uh, I was reading about the guy that came to, I think it was Centurion who came to Jesus said, my servant is is sick. Can you pray for him? And Jesus said, I'll go to him. And he said, you don't need to go him. Just, just speak the word and he'll be healed. It wasn't the faith of the servant. It was the faith of the centurion. It's not even up to me. And it's like, I don't think God's a good father. He's like, well, David, I wanted to I wanted this to turn out right. But you were a little low in faith level, so off you go. You know what I mean? So and then but but then on the other side of that, it's the other side, which is. Yeah, I also believe that prayer moves God exactly like I. Yeah. You know, and for the record and I know that, you know, like I already prefaced, I have lived a very sheltered life and this has been, this has, has been already one of the hardest few days of my life in relation to this kind of thing. Um, and I know there are people listening who have dealt with all sorts of horrible things, but just just as a little like, uh, small learned lesson in this moment. Spare your God's will. Prayer for somebody else. Like, just all due respect, when someone's dealing with this kind of stuff, don't pray for whatever you want. Yeah, you could think that in your own dang head. I know that already. I know that already. But that thing you think you're doing by honoring God in the midst of someone else's challenge, by reminding them of the truth that they already know that God's will will ultimately be done. Just like, honestly, like, I don't think there's any like, I remember you were saying that when the whole Ukraine war thing started and people were like, and God, if it's in your will that you want the Ukrainian people to suffer, like, just shut up. Exactly. Like, sorry. You want a little provoke? You're going to get it right now. Shut up. Save your your God's using your suffering for his glory to keep that in your own brain. Because yes, we know that. Like we know that this sucks and this sucks. I don't want my dad to possibly have cancer. I don't want that. Right. And I will accept whatever God wants to do, But I don't have to accept this weird religious platitude that I have to think it's a that I have to recognize intellectually that God's will could be that this is bad and that, you know you will die from this. I'm not. I don't have to think that. I don't know what that is, but I just felt like I wanted to say that, and I don't care who hears it. So. Peace. Cancel. No, I think that's good, Ben. I think because because that is a theme that comes up when we start talking about praying for healing. Then there's different theologies and stuff. So I think that's good. That's good what you're saying. But I was also thinking about how, um. How do you live in that bold, as you said, childlike faith, knowing a diagnosis or waiting for a diagnosis. You, you you don't want to live in a way that's like in fear or fatalistic, right? It's like, oh, well, you know that now. Now everything changes. And, you know, of course, at the end of the day, this is only you would totally experience and know this David and this in this case and us as as family around you. But us and I see that in you already, and I know this is what you're going to be like, but it's like, let's keep living for Jesus like we always have, you know, day by day doing, doing everything that he's calling us to do. Um, for as long as as he gives you. Right. And for as long as he gives us, as you were saying before, it's it's the same reality for all of us. And so maybe that's part of what it means to know Jesus and to live in this is to be like, well, I want to still do everything I can for him and live in joy and in peace despite the circumstances, and so still make the NLM tour plan and the SMS plan and all these things that we're planning for next year. We keep going. We keep doing it because that's what God's called us to do. And he'll give you the health that he wants you to have for you to do that. Um, and so I think that's another part of it. It's like because some people get when something like this hits, I guess it can be very hard, especially at the beginning, as you were saying, it's confusing and it's distracting. Um, but if you, you know, some people will get into a place of fear and of and of just struggling with it so much that life already shuts down in that sense. But I think that, you know, we can find that faith and strength to keep going despite the challenges around us. Yeah, I was just going to say to kind of both, both those things, I, I do I do think it's interesting how often that prayer that you just expressed so much frustration with Ben, which is it's almost like the fail safe prayer. Exactly. Like, I'm going to pray big, bold, courageous prayers that David's healed. But, Lord, if you want to take him now, then you know, let him be at peace with that. It's just kind of like, let me let me cover my bases in case my prayers of faith aren't on the James five seventeen level, you know. And isn't it more Chad that you don't want God to look bad? So if he or I don't want to look bad, forget God. It's about me. It's it's theology, virtue signaling. It's that you want everyone to know that you are ultimately submitted to whatever. And like I don't have I don't think God asks me to want to be okay with you having a terrible diagnosis. I don't think as a good dad. He looks at me and says, Ben, in honor of my greatness, be happy or just be stiff lipped and sober. Mind you, no, no, he wants me to. He wants me to be angry that the world is broken and that he wants me to not be okay with the fact that you are sick and potentially very sick. I don't now, do. I also know that there's a bigger, beautiful hope that awaits all of us that we all have to be contending with and will confront one day, obviously. And then in light of that, he still wants me to be angry about the injustice in the world and be mad that that this kind of stuff happens and not just act all robotic about it. He doesn't want that for me. Jesus wept when Lazarus died. He just wasn't like, thank you Lord, for taking. Thank you, father, for taking my friend Lazarus. No, he wept because it was. It was angry. It was like, there's there there should be a sense of God. You can heal this. I trust you no matter what. But this isn't right, and this isn't okay, and I don't. I don't think the world needs to see from us this false virtue signalling piety. Like, just pray like God can do what he can do, which is he can change it. You know, I think of the story in second Samuel twelve where, you know, now, maybe this is out of context. Maybe it doesn't work exactly right. But the idea that, um, you know, David commits this terrible crime and Bathsheba is pregnant, and then the baby is dies. And you know, it says that he prayed and asked God that that the baby would be spared and the baby wasn't spared. And then he he finds out and he he he gets dressed and he goes and worships. And to me, that's kind of the beautiful, dissonant picture of what it means to follow God, and that we pray with desperation that God would intervene. And then we, we, we move forward the best we can, no matter what happens. And I don't know I don't know why I felt led to go down this diatribe. I just, you know, if you happen to be listening to this and you happen to be interacting with me as it relates to this topic, just just pray for my dad and leave your theology to yourself, basically is the point, because I know it already. Yeah, but but not enough of that crap. The Bible clearly says that we should pray for people to be healed, that we should have, that he can do anything. You know, in the case of what I have. Come on. What do I. It's like nothing. It'd be nothing. So I think it doesn't glorify God not to pray prayers of faith for me to to not have a serious cancer, or for anybody else who is going through a serious thing that doesn't glorify God. I think you're supposed to pray and then we trust God. Also, I want to say I don't feel bad at all. I'm not like I feel I would have I could have just listened, you know? And you know, Dara, our sweet, uh, doctor who's looked after us all these years. And I'm. I'm not saying anything negative about her, but, you know, it made sense what she said. I could have just not listened to her, and I wouldn't know anything. I feel great, I don't have any anything. Um, in terms of physical problems at all, I feel very strong and healthy. So that's what makes this even stranger for me, is I'd be like, if you're, you know, kind of feeling kind of munted and you're in bed and you're like, oh, but. And now you're kind of almost in a way like, well, now this makes sense, right? And I'm glad I'm not that way. I'm not complaining. But this was that's what makes this even stranger, is that I feel so good, you know. Yeah. So maybe I should just pretend it's not happening. You could go the full, uh. What is that, Breaking bad route? Start a meth lab in a in a caravan. I'm not really sure why I would do that, but that is a thought. I could use the cash. Look, Chad and I would go on an adventure. You know, Chad would be the guy that I'd partner with to do the meth lab. He would sell. You cook, he sells. You guys would be a dynamic team, right? Yeah. I have many times confused the word prostate with prostrate. Oh, yeah. Well, and that says it all right there. Yeah. That's why you're selling and not cooking, my friend. That's why you you're not doing any of the chemical work. So you need with this jacket I could fit so many drugs in it. Like they say, you know, bounce. Yeah, whatever. All right, well, let's pray for David. And we're gonna pray, and then we're gonna be done. Yeah. All right, father God, we bring David to you. We thank you for his transparency, for his leadership, for his openness with us. God, thank you that you're the king of the universe and that nothing is too hard for you. And that we just invite you to release the Holy Spirit in great power over David and Jody right now, and especially be with their minds, uh, as I know firsthand how easy it is for our brains to just trail off into all kinds of places that are not, um, joy and that are not rest, that are not peace, that are not kingdom, that are not from you. And so I just ask that you would renew their minds, that you would give them grace to not not spend any more time than they already have thinking about the prognosis or what happens next. Or what if it's this? What if it's that, Lord, just just let them have a supernatural release of of your grace for for the way they think. And and Lord, thank you for the passages in James and all over Scripture that remind us that healing is a beautiful gift that you release. And so, Lord, I just I thank you that in in great, um, just care from you that that it's not it's not hard at all. Um so prostate be healed in Jesus name and the four and the five be reduced to a zero or a one or whatever is the normal level. And, uh, father, if there is cancer there, we rebuke it and we command it to leave. And if there's anything else that's not supposed to be there in Jesus name, go. And, Lord, I pray that next year that you would give David grace to travel even more than he may have thought he already was going to. But but Lord, just the grace that you want. So no pressure, just grace. And, uh, thank you Lord. Father, I join in that prayer. Um, father God, I just cry out to you for healing, for whatever this is, even before knowing all the full information. God, you you know it all. And we ask for healing. And I'm with Ben in that, in that anger, with the brokenness and the illness and death. That is something we don't we struggle with in, in this world because we weren't we were made for, for eternity, and we were made for you and for health and for goodness. And I, I believe that, um, that you can heal David and that you, uh, you're doing so much in his life right now, like he's he's having some of the, some of the most fruitful years of his life and his ministry of just, um, uh, pouring out into so many around him, him and Jody just serving you powerfully with the Steiger Mission School. He's got the same passionate preaching since the day I met him. Um, and I just pray for more of that. I pray for more of that, father and I, and I'm thankful for the, uh, twenty three, twenty four years of friendship. And I want more of that. And so I don't want to accept this, and I want to ask for your healing Jesus in his life. I pray, Lord, that you'd completely heal this body right now by the power that's in your name. Jesus. And I also pray for peace for Jody. I pray that you just be close to her, prayed, be with Ben and with Aaron and with the whole family and you. Just be close to them at this time. Jesus, please bring your comfort. Bring your peace to their hearts and we look to you, Jesus, we trust in you. Lead us, father, through this time. In your name, Jesus. Amen. Amen. Alright. Well, not the plan. Uh, but I think an important conversation, honestly. So thank you, dad, for sharing that. And I'm with you. I'm like, why would you not? Why would you double on the lie or double on the scheme of the enemy? Enemy by also isolating yourself as well. Right. It's like it's just crazy. It's crazy. And I'm not into that. I'm like, no, the enemy's not going to win both with this. What he's introduced into this situation. But then also by somehow convincing us that doing this alone is somehow a better option. Um, I just don't I think you've you've taken it the right way, and we'll just we'll go from here and we'll keep you posted and. Yeah. That's it. Yeah. It's cool from my perspective, just in the last few days and what you all just witnessed the prayer that I just prayed, not an ounce of that was forced, contrived or otherwise, uh, you know, like, like made of anything just from my own heart. And, uh, and I and I felt so free in being able to pray it. And so that in and of itself is a miracle. That David, uh, offered to me with the opportunity to pray in a way that I haven't prayed in many years. And so I already take this as a win for my selfish standpoint, and I'm excited to see what the Lord does in your life, David, and appreciate you so much and opening your heart to us in this way. Thanks, boys. Thanks, David. All right. Yep. All right. We'll call it for now. Thanks for listening. Thanks for all those that I know. Will will listen to this and join us in praying. Like I said, we'll keep you posted and appreciate all of you who have stuck with us all these years. This has really been a snapshot of our lives and it continues to be so, so well. Uh, yeah. Thanks for joining this wild ride. We'll talk to you next time. Peace.

You are listening to the Provoke and Inspire podcast. What's up everyone? Welcome to the Provoke and Inspire podcast. My name is Ben Pierce. I'm the host of the show. David is to my right in the room, right across the wall. Through the wall. If I could punch with laser force, I could punch him right in the sternum. Uh, then we got Chad in the I don't know what is that? The fur lined bomber coat. Some sort of Canadian tuxedo. I'm on a mission. I'm on a mission. Just think of me as like a World War one fighter pilot or something. You really have to get your, uh, vocal warm ups done to get that out. World War one or can all come out like I almost. I almost went sideways with it. But speaking of sideways, it doesn't sound like you're on your good mic yet. So while I talk about Luke and his brown fuzzy sweater. Yes. Uh, what's up Luke? You're in some sort of room with a green something? I am. I feel a little fuzzy today. And, uh, so my, my jumper, as we call it, is fuzzy. And for some reason my camera is not focusing well, so I look fuzzy too. Do you still have a lot of rats in your house? Yeah, well, I did actually just throw one away. Um, it was stuck. Seriously? Yeah, it was stuck to a. You just put it in the trash. Yeah. I found these really cool sticky paper things that they. When they run, they get stuck on it. That's brutal. I can't do it. And, uh, they they what? Stuck sticky. You know, but the thing is. Oh, really? Yeah, but I forgot to check my attic for, like, four days. And when I went up there, it had been there a long time. So that little mouse was kind of flattened already. You know, he was kind of deteriorating, so I just threw him away. How many have you got altogether in the last month? Um, I stopped counting after one hundred. I thought once I hit number one hundred, I thought, you know what? I think I've hit the record. I don't need to count anymore, bro. If it hit number ten, Kourtney would be out. She'd be like, you can stay. If it hit number two. I did leave, she did leave for like, weeks. She's back now, though, thankfully. Well, I'm glad to hear everything's okay domestically. Jeez, I was concerned this was about to be a therapy session. Yes. Seriously. Uh. All right, well, welcome to the pod. And, uh, well, we got a bit of an interesting episode today. As the thumbnail suggests, for those watching on YouTube, David's going to be talking about a bit of a serious health update that. Yeah, we just felt like we needed to talk about. Jokes aside, this is not of the funny variety. This is pretty serious, but something that yeah, that is important for us to discuss. Like I was saying to David as we were driving here separately, for those that are consistently watching this, consistently listening to us, you know, we'd like to think that you really feel part of who we are, part of our journey. We've been doing this for ten years. Even the other week when we had Chad kind of explain his full circle moment of the things he's been through and now being full time again with Steiger and just kind of that cool, full circle story of that. I think in the same way, this is one of those kinds of things where, you know, we are very much family. Obviously, David and I biologically, but the four of us relationally for sure. And we'd like to think that many of you listen who listen to this feel that way as well. So David will share that. I did ask if you wanted to do a random story before that. I don't know if you change your mind since the vibe changed, just downshifted the vibe, but it's up to you. This is, uh, this is your show. Let's try the random story. I don't know if it'll work, but let's give it a try. All right, here we go. David's random story. Never a dull moment. So, just before this, uh, podcast, I got a call from Jodi, and she's, like, freaking out because of our smoke alarm. I don't know if you guys ever had problems with smoke alarms. Yeah, every time. Every time you do the toast in England, smoke alarm goes off. Well, but it's like it keeps beeping. And then you're supposed to push in this thing to drain power out of it. Anyway, we've been having these smoke alarms go on and off for the last week. And then, like, it'll stop and then we won't hear it again for like two days. Or I've changed a bunch of batteries in it. Do you guys know anything about this? Have you not had any problems with smoke alarms? I have. We don't have smoke alarms. I've not had to drain the energy from one, but I've definitely had to change the batteries in a smoke alarm before. Yeah, but anyway, maybe this is a unique problem to us, but she went on YouTube to see what you're supposed to do when it does that. And it has pictures of people like smashing them with hammers and ripping them out of the wall. And because you can't get them to stop beeping, even when you get them out of the wall, they keep beeping crazy, you know? Yeah. You put them in water, they keep beeping. I don't you guys don't relate to this. So it's like that movie with, uh, the neo guy, and he gets the thing that goes in a matrix and you talking about you're talking about matrix. Matrix. You know, that film, that movie with the boat and the that hits the iceberg and it goes under. How does that relate to a smoke alarm thing? Because he's got the little thing. Yeah. Because you can't get it to go. Yeah. And then they throw it out of the car or something. Exactly. See, that's what I was supposed to save your life. So it should keep going no matter what happens. You don't want it to, like, turn off with, like, a gentle shake. Yeah. It's like, oh, the smoke alarm didn't work because there was a fire. A wave of the hand. So is the alarm still going now, then? Wait, that was it. One of the more believable stories. She just called me about just before this and said, what am I supposed to do? And I said, um, leave the house. She was mad at me, and I'm like, what am I supposed to do? And then she was trying to figure out how to put the new batteries in it. I've already put in new batteries in it. But anyway, this is not interesting to our listening audience, so I can move on. Well, did she try the hammer? David's random story. That was, I don't know, it was like a random fact that was solid. Did she try the hammer at all? I think that's what's going to happen next. I have a feeling. Yeah. I think you just check it out the window, check it out the window. Or you could go ding dong, ditch. You know, you go down the hallway, you know, you knock on Miss Mabel's door and then you hook it in, and then, you know, she panics and slams the door, and now it's her problem. Just leave it outside the door. Isn't there a new game where everyone's getting in trouble for kicking doors or something? What's ding dong ditch? I've never heard of that before. Ding dong! And then you run. Oh, that. Uh. All right, move on. So how do you transition? Not easily. So, David, uh, as I said in the preview to this, uh, we felt like it was important for you to kind of give an update to those listening to those who have been following this for a while. What's going on with your health? Um, and then, you know, the rest of us can kind of comment and react, and I think we could spend some time praying at the end here and then just call it a day. So we have a good friend in Colorado Springs. So when we come to the States, she gives us like a three hour physical, which is amazing. So I'm always glad to get that done with. And does it feel amazing? Well, it's yeah, it doesn't feel too bad, but. So anyway, she she checks us for hours and it's we've been doing that for forever. And I came back from this last physical and she said, yeah, everything is perfect except there's been a spike in your PSA, you know, your prostate test. And she said, but don't worry about it. You know, it's not a big deal. We can wait till next year, you know, and see if it comes down. She had basically advised me to just not worry about it, but I thought, I don't want to do that because we have, you know, we have so much going on, so many trips coming up. And I thought if there's something going on, I want to find out about it so we can deal with it. So I contacted this this urologist and I, I told him what I'm doing and he says, well, we can, you know, we can just do an MRI to be sure, you know, that there's not anything. And so we did. Have you ever I don't know if you guys have ever done an MRI, but it's crazy. It's like. Yeah, it's it's like, um, first of all, they it it's super loud because it has to do with these magnets and they kind of react and it's like, it's like a jackhammer. The the person that was setting me up said, it's going to be like a jackhammer. So you have to wear these foamy earplugs and then headset over that because it's so loud. So when you're in it, it's literally shaking. It's so crazy. And also it's like, you know, I'm in the kind that which is like you're going into this tunnel tunnel and it's just like barely above your, your face and you're in there for like a half an hour. Wow. And I thought, can you wear can you wear metal. No. You can't have no metal. Oh, that's bad news. I'm pretty sure I'm pretty sure somebody actually died. Yeah they did. They forgot to take off their. Yeah. Isn't that crazy? Yeah. That's how intense. That's how intense those things are. Yeah. Yeah, it's super full on. So she said, are you going to be, uh, what's the word, Um. When you're afraid of being in small claustrophobia. Yeah. Are you gonna be claustrophobic? And I said no, I don't think. No, I don't think so. And it was weird. I wasn't at all. They have it lit up so you can see the top of it, which I think is better. But I was in there and I was thinking, I don't think I was claustrophobic because it was like being in the coffin. That's exactly what I was thinking when you were describing his eyes. Like, he's gonna say, it's like being in the coffin. No, I'm not kidding. So I'm like, in there. And I thought, this is really not that different. And the noise either, because, you know, it's the band. Right? And we're doing the big finale finale of the, you know, the show, the resurrection. And so it's really loud in the coffin on stage. So that wasn't that different. But I'm not normally in the coffin for thirty minutes. So you felt like you were getting ready to preach or something. It was just kind of triggering that natural. I don't know, I just kind of put my I just kind of put myself in a kind of a space and just prayed and whatever. So I got out. And to cut to the chase, they found two lesions on the MRI and it goes from one to five, one being the lowest, five being the highest. And what you can, what they want. Of course, the best is that it's benign or that it's a real slow kind of cancer because you can it's they you know, they say that most men eventually get prostate cancer. You know, the cliche is that more men die with it than from it. Exactly. And so and it's if you get the slow kind, you know, it'll kill you when you're one hundred, that kind of thing. Um, and so. But the problem is my the lesions they found were four and five, five being the worst. Uh, four is also not good. And so anyway, I go into because they just to tell me the results of it and I'm just totally not. I hadn't seen it at all. And they said, oh, we have to do this biopsy to see, you know, what it is. So anyway, I haven't got the results yet. My guess is I'll get them in a couple of days. But I thought, do I talk about this on the podcast? Actually, I hadn't thought about talking about this on the podcast, to be honest. And then the other day, I don't know if it was was the Holy Spirit, but I felt like talk about this in the podcast because first of all, you know, we are we want to talk about what it means to follow Jesus in a secular culture, how to follow Jesus. And also, I think it's it's there's probably other people who have gone through things like this. And so I thought, you know, I need to be transparent. You know, part of it is, I don't know if it's a pride thing. I'm not sure what it is that I hesitate in wanting to talk about it, and I'm not sure where that's coming from. If it's a, you know, pride thing or what it what it is. But I thought, no, I'm supposed to talk about it, you know, I'm supposed to talk about it. And it's also and, you know, and I've also decided I'm going to let people know so they can, you know, in our mission family so they can pray. I'm not going to keep it a secret. I can remember someone who was going through something like this and we weren't. I found out about it, but I wasn't allowed to ask them because they wanted to keep it a big secret. And I think this is the opposite of what you should do in a situation like this. And so anyway, so I'll get the results in a couple of days, uh, about how serious this is. Of course, when you're when you're going through things like this, you have all these crazy scenarios in your head, you know, where you're. Yeah, all these things that you're imagining. And it's been a roller coaster. It's been hard for me to focus on things because there's a lot of things to be working on, as there always are, but it's hard for me to have the the concentration to do that, but I don't want to. So I go and I pray and then I and then I go, now what do I do? So it's been kind of a weird zone. I haven't been in this kind of zone before. So that's I can say more about it. But there you go. Well, thank you so much for for sharing it. David, I agree with you. It's I disagree that it's really, really a good thing that you're wanting to share and talk about it because I think you're right. Like other people also go through this stuff. And so I think it's really helpful that you want to talk about it on the podcast. So thank you for that. What were you going to say, Chad? It's so powerful. And I know this from experience to share from our weakness and to lead from our weakness on this podcast, because it is one of the things that continues to set us apart so much from, you know, we're just here to, you know, everything's great. Everything always works out for us. We have no, no issues. But I also felt very thankful and also slightly annoyed that David texted me and asked me to pray for him because it was like instantly I felt the, you know, God's been doing such a crazy work in my life as it relates to coming back to Steiger and just like my prayer life and redirecting everything to the Lord and just being around everyone and Staiger is crazy. I mean, it's like you're basically living normal life thinking everything's fine, and then all of a sudden you're back in the war zone and everyone's like, they're all like, suited up. They know exactly what they're what they've got and what's going on. And so at first I'm like, man, I haven't really prayed for healing for anybody in such a long time. And now David's got this serious thing he wants prayer for. And I'm like, I don't really know if I have what it takes, you know? And, uh, Lord, I don't know if that's me anymore. And so immediately I felt convicted and I just felt like, wow, that's, you know, like, Lord, I'm so sorry that, you know, my first thought is, I really don't want to pray for David to be healed. That was my my knee jerk reaction. And so I confessed that. And I said, Lord, I'm forgive me from that, you know, and help me. And, uh, and then I just started praying and just, you know, like, really trying to pray for David and and immediately the reaction that I had was, while it's super alarming, it's not something to be feared or it's not going to end in any kind of like, uh, bad way and not basically not just to tell David not to stress out about it, which I know. And I said, you know, it's easier, it's a lot easier for me to say that than it is for the person who's suffering with something. But, you know, but I also felt this takes so much courage to reach out and ask people to pray, you know, to invite them in and to be transparent. So I just I felt really honored, David, even though for a second there I was a loser. And, uh, the Lord convicted me. But, um, yeah, we're so privileged to pray with you and to trust the Lord to move in your life and in this situation. Thanks, Chad. Yeah. It's, uh. Yeah. And it's and it's at the same time, it it is like it's tough news because, um, you've been just, I mean, super healthy for, you know, like, just you do so much, you're always running around. You just you've just been full on for Jesus all your life, and you're going around and preaching everywhere and traveling, and people often forget how you know what age you are because you're like, you have so much energy and you still do. And so that's why, you know, it's also tough to kind of hear like, okay, it's the first kind of more serious health thing that's come up for you. And so I really feel that, you know, we've been serving together for decades. And so I just I'm just praying for you, David. And I want to believe with Chad that God, God will heal this and that God is with you. But I also want to recognize that this tough news. And so I was actually wondering, like how it was what you've been thinking about, what you've been processing during this in hearing. And how's Jody been been handling this, too? Sure. Um, well, it's been really hard on Jody, obviously. And so it's, it's I think in some ways it's been harder on Jody than it's been on me. Um, but here I what I. This is kind of what I struggle with actually is I think about Sy Rogers, who is a, you know, and I don't know if our listeners know who Sy Rogers is, but he was he was probably one of the best communicators when it came to sexual brokenness in the world, for sure. I mean, and he was at, you know, he was the main speaker at Hillsong when Hillsong was was really big. I don't think there's been a speaker who's better at communicating to that than Sy Rogers. We still use his videos in our school in Germany, but the Lord took Sy. Okay. And then Tim Keller, you know, the same thing. And then, you know, a guy that was a real mentor to me in some ways. Francis Schaeffer, when I spent time at La Brea in Switzerland when he was there. My point here is not to put myself in the category of Sy Rogers, but more the point. Why should I get healing? That was more my thought. Is it even right? You know, how can I ask God to heal me from this? Because he chose to not do that for Sai Rogers and Tim Keller and Francis Schaeffer. That's something I've literally struggled with because my life has been so rich. I mean, I've lived a hundred lives. I've been the things I've been able to see God do. I can't exaggerate that. You know, someone said, well, do you feel angry about this possible bad thing or whatever? No. How could I feel angry? I only feel grateful. I mean, how could I? I don't have anything but gratefulness in my heart for everything. But I felt like God was saying to me, it's not about their story. It's your story. So yes, you can pray for healing. It's kind of like when Jesus told Peter how he was going to die and Peter says, well, what about him? You know? You know, John. He goes, what about him? And Jesus said, if I want him to be alive until I come back, what does that matter to you? And I feel like in a way, that's not the point. And it's and it's right that I expect God to do a miracle in this case with my health. And, um, and so, I don't know, I'm just kind of thinking out loud now, but those are the things I've been thinking while I was praying for you that first time, right when I got your text message, I was like, what? Scripture backs me up? What I texted you, David, was, I didn't say it this strongly, but what I, what I was essentially saying was, you're not going to die from this. The Lord's going to heal you from this. This is not going to be a big deal. That's what I felt in my spirit. I didn't put it quite that strongly in the text because I was still a little trepidatious. But, you know, so there's a couple reasons that I, that I felt that. But but of course, I think, uh, because of our relationship and a level of maturity that we've all grown in together, if any of us is wrong about anything else, even if it's something, and especially if it's something like that, then then hopefully we're quick to confess it, you know, and it's like the Lord's plans and his ways are often not the the ones that we would pick. But but I was immediately drawn to James five, and that's just where I. I was like, oh man, that's right. That that passage about the prayer of the righteous man is powerful and effective, you know, and if you're sick, you should call the elders, and they're going to lay hands on you and anoint you with oil and pray for you, and you're going to be healed. I mean, it's like there's so many crazy, uh, Bible verses about this stuff that I've kind of I've kind of clicked pause on, you know, I'm just like, oh, that's not really part of my life right now. It hasn't been for quite, quite a while, but. But now that the Lord's brought me back there, there's it's this kind of forces in my heart the, the reality of how God's used me. And, um, I can't it's I wish I could go back and explain the times where someone got healed and then the other person didn't get healed and and know that. But, um, but I do think it's I do think the Lord's pleased when we when we offer ourselves, you know, the way you have like God, I'm here. I'm struggling with this. I'm going to be transparent and honest with you and others about it. And you do what you want in my life. And if a radical healing and and all that is what you want, great. And if you have some other plan, then, you know, give me, give me grace. But, um, I just think that the way, the way that I've seen you go about it so far is really remarkable. And, uh, I can't imagine the level of, of challenge, especially for, for you and also for Jody. But, yeah, I mean, this has been obviously not easy for me. Um, you know, it's it's one of those things where I have prayed for a while with a very sober minded view of just life and, you know, especially as it relates to you, dad and mom, that, you know, just just numerically, just statistically, like time is precious right now, right? It just is like it is for all of us, but it is for you and and that that prayer of of of extend your energy, not not just your life, but your energy, your your anointing, your ability to continue to do all the different things that God has called you to do. And so, you know, I think it was even a week ago, two weeks ago, that I was praying. You know, I know that it's not just years that are are precious. It's months. It's it's maybe even days. And I was literally praying that two weeks ago kind of knowing that, you know, not living in fear of it, but knowing that it's the thing you never want and always know that lurks out there. And so obviously, to hear this has been like, I've been like you. It's almost like the nightmare and the reality has been inverted. The dream is the relief from the reality for a moment to the point where it's like, I will briefly forget, I will briefly sleep, I will briefly be distracted. But then the reality sets back in. And that's the nightmare, which is that we still don't know what this is. We don't still don't know what it's going to be. And so yeah, I've lived with this now for. Set of days with a real, like you said, a distracted mind, a sense of impending doom, a sense of regurgitating the same set of data as if that's going to change anything, even though nothing's changed. You know, it's that annoying process of rehashing the same little bits of data you have as if it's going to change anything. Like I'm sure you have done over and over and over yourself, and then also just kind of waiting for the other shoe to drop at any moment, like waiting to know what it is in all of its possibilities. And so yeah, it's been, it's been it's been hard and I, I have lived largely sheltered from this and I know that's not the case for so many. I mean, even as we were having our prayer time as a team yesterday, people started sharing prayer requests not just from within our group, but broadly. And it's like the amount of sickness, the sickness, the amount of brokenness, the amount of. It's just like you start to just feel like overwhelmed by all of it because it's so ubiquitous and kind of like you and I were saying, David, it's really just delusion. Illusion. When you don't realize how broken things are. It's not reality. It's delusion. Right? Because the reality is it's broken. It's so broken. Um, and of course, this is just brought that to, to bear in a, in a much more personal way than, than maybe ever before for me. I don't know how people face anything without God, actually. You know, I just don't have any idea what that would be like. Part of it, too, is I felt really bad for you, Ben, and for, you know, it's I know it's and for obviously for Aaron and Jody and, uh, but I, um, it'll be nice to, to kind of know where things are at that that doesn't help. Um, but whatever the case, I have a lot to be grateful for and I can feel, you know, we have an amazing, uh, family mission family. And that you can really feel that that those prayers. And I know I'm not the only one that's going through difficult things either. I'm not that self-centered. I know that a lot of people are going through hard things. Um, but yeah, yeah, I was thinking about when you were describing before, David, you processing um, this it's and it is totally different when we follow Jesus. And I guess that's a big part of the point of this podcast, right? Is like, what's it like when you follow Jesus and you go through these things and like, you were just saying, David, you know, it's totally different reality if you don't know God trying to understand these things or trying to face the fear of death or the, you know, or the pain of losing, um, something or someone or those feelings and thoughts that come to mind. And in this situation, in this moment, people that don't know God struggle so much. And it it was reminding me of that passage, um, in Philippians where, where Paul says, for me to live is Christ and to die is gain. And I think, and I know that that's how you've always lived, like you've always lived in a way where you want to go all in for Jesus, do everything. Use every moment, every year, every day, um, to the to the utmost, to the best, um, for him. And and I hear it in how you're describing like it's it's not a fear of death but or but it's but there, there there are pains that come with it that you can't like you're saying, Ben, it's reality. And you can't just, you know, we're not separated from that. We're in this world. We suffer with illness. We we're, you know, we're in situations like this and and so, um, yeah, I don't know if I'm making sense, but, you know, know, it's like when we follow Jesus, we deal with it in a different way. It doesn't mean the pain's not there. It doesn't mean that the concern or the worry is not there, but it is different. And, um, yeah, it makes me think about that. Yeah. And I would just add that I, I reject the cynical view that we don't and shouldn't pray for healing or that that it's, it's all, well, if God didn't save so and so, then why wouldn't he? You know, all like I hear what you're saying. But at the same time, I'm like, I just don't think God wants that kind of level of rationality from us. I think he wants a childlike belief and a trust. And look, in the end of the day, like we're all we all have limited time on this planet. And you and I, dad, were talking about like the weird thing where even in my own heart. And I know you probably, well, not probably feel this even more than me. It's like so much of what we do and think about is for the future, right? What's going to happen in June? What's going to happen at the SMS, what's going to happen on this tour? And it's really weird trying to do that kind of work. You have to kind of adjust the midst of this kind of prognosis, right? You just don't. There's a weird absurdity to it in a way where you're just like, well, I guess, you know, and and yet, dad, you said something to me when we were talking in the car. That's so true. Which is that's always how it is. It's always how it is. Like it's not whether that's true, because you're facing this, this diagnosis. It's true for Chad. It's true for Luke. It's true for me. Like like it says in James, we can say, I'm going to go to this country in a year and do this, that, and whatever. But we don't we don't know. We don't know. And I don't know, I, I know there's there's a lot to be learned still. But to me, I think in a weird way, we're supposed to internalize the lessons that these seasons bring, but then remain simple and childlike in the midst of that. Like, I don't think we're supposed to then become fatalistic or. I totally agree, or apathetic. I think we're supposed to learn, let it sort of prick our conscience and open our eyes, but then just remain simple. Does that make sense? I don't know. Well, I think what you said is, is really right. That's what I felt when I was praying about. Like I said, I gave the example of Sai and Tim Keller and Francis Schaeffer guys going, what are you talking about them? Yes. Pray for healing. That's what you should do. I'm not a Calvinist. We're supposed to pray for healing. I have a lot of people have said that to me and I need to receive that. But again, it's not up to me. I also don't believe, well, God's only going to heal me if I can manage to have the faith to to do it. I feel like I can offer the faith that I have, but I also think that I need other people's faith can heal me. It's like, uh, I was reading about the guy that came to, I think it was Centurion who came to Jesus said, my servant is is sick. Can you pray for him? And Jesus said, I'll go to him. And he said, you don't need to go him. Just, just speak the word and he'll be healed. It wasn't the faith of the servant. It was the faith of the centurion. It's not even up to me. And it's like, I don't think God's a good father. He's like, well, David, I wanted to I wanted this to turn out right. But you were a little low in faith level, so off you go. You know what I mean? So and then but but then on the other side of that, it's the other side, which is. Yeah, I also believe that prayer moves God exactly like I. Yeah. You know, and for the record and I know that, you know, like I already prefaced, I have lived a very sheltered life and this has been, this has, has been already one of the hardest few days of my life in relation to this kind of thing. Um, and I know there are people listening who have dealt with all sorts of horrible things, but just just as a little like, uh, small learned lesson in this moment. Spare your God's will. Prayer for somebody else. Like, just all due respect, when someone's dealing with this kind of stuff, don't pray for whatever you want. Yeah, you could think that in your own dang head. I know that already. I know that already. But that thing you think you're doing by honoring God in the midst of someone else's challenge, by reminding them of the truth that they already know that God's will will ultimately be done. Just like, honestly, like, I don't think there's any like, I remember you were saying that when the whole Ukraine war thing started and people were like, and God, if it's in your will that you want the Ukrainian people to suffer, like, just shut up. Exactly. Like, sorry. You want a little provoke? You're going to get it right now. Shut up. Save your your God's using your suffering for his glory to keep that in your own brain. Because yes, we know that. Like we know that this sucks and this sucks. I don't want my dad to possibly have cancer. I don't want that. Right. And I will accept whatever God wants to do, But I don't have to accept this weird religious platitude that I have to think it's a that I have to recognize intellectually that God's will could be that this is bad and that, you know you will die from this. I'm not. I don't have to think that. I don't know what that is, but I just felt like I wanted to say that, and I don't care who hears it. So. Peace. Cancel. No, I think that's good, Ben. I think because because that is a theme that comes up when we start talking about praying for healing. Then there's different theologies and stuff. So I think that's good. That's good what you're saying. But I was also thinking about how, um. How do you live in that bold, as you said, childlike faith, knowing a diagnosis or waiting for a diagnosis. You, you you don't want to live in a way that's like in fear or fatalistic, right? It's like, oh, well, you know that now. Now everything changes. And, you know, of course, at the end of the day, this is only you would totally experience and know this David and this in this case and us as as family around you. But us and I see that in you already, and I know this is what you're going to be like, but it's like, let's keep living for Jesus like we always have, you know, day by day doing, doing everything that he's calling us to do. Um, for as long as as he gives you. Right. And for as long as he gives us, as you were saying before, it's it's the same reality for all of us. And so maybe that's part of what it means to know Jesus and to live in this is to be like, well, I want to still do everything I can for him and live in joy and in peace despite the circumstances, and so still make the NLM tour plan and the SMS plan and all these things that we're planning for next year. We keep going. We keep doing it because that's what God's called us to do. And he'll give you the health that he wants you to have for you to do that. Um, and so I think that's another part of it. It's like because some people get when something like this hits, I guess it can be very hard, especially at the beginning, as you were saying, it's confusing and it's distracting. Um, but if you, you know, some people will get into a place of fear and of and of just struggling with it so much that life already shuts down in that sense. But I think that, you know, we can find that faith and strength to keep going despite the challenges around us. Yeah, I was just going to say to kind of both, both those things, I, I do I do think it's interesting how often that prayer that you just expressed so much frustration with Ben, which is it's almost like the fail safe prayer. Exactly. Like, I'm going to pray big, bold, courageous prayers that David's healed. But, Lord, if you want to take him now, then you know, let him be at peace with that. It's just kind of like, let me let me cover my bases in case my prayers of faith aren't on the James five seventeen level, you know. And isn't it more Chad that you don't want God to look bad? So if he or I don't want to look bad, forget God. It's about me. It's it's theology, virtue signaling. It's that you want everyone to know that you are ultimately submitted to whatever. And like I don't have I don't think God asks me to want to be okay with you having a terrible diagnosis. I don't think as a good dad. He looks at me and says, Ben, in honor of my greatness, be happy or just be stiff lipped and sober. Mind you, no, no, he wants me to. He wants me to be angry that the world is broken and that he wants me to not be okay with the fact that you are sick and potentially very sick. I don't now, do. I also know that there's a bigger, beautiful hope that awaits all of us that we all have to be contending with and will confront one day, obviously. And then in light of that, he still wants me to be angry about the injustice in the world and be mad that that this kind of stuff happens and not just act all robotic about it. He doesn't want that for me. Jesus wept when Lazarus died. He just wasn't like, thank you Lord, for taking. Thank you, father, for taking my friend Lazarus. No, he wept because it was. It was angry. It was like, there's there there should be a sense of God. You can heal this. I trust you no matter what. But this isn't right, and this isn't okay, and I don't. I don't think the world needs to see from us this false virtue signalling piety. Like, just pray like God can do what he can do, which is he can change it. You know, I think of the story in second Samuel twelve where, you know, now, maybe this is out of context. Maybe it doesn't work exactly right. But the idea that, um, you know, David commits this terrible crime and Bathsheba is pregnant, and then the baby is dies. And you know, it says that he prayed and asked God that that the baby would be spared and the baby wasn't spared. And then he he finds out and he he he gets dressed and he goes and worships. And to me, that's kind of the beautiful, dissonant picture of what it means to follow God, and that we pray with desperation that God would intervene. And then we, we, we move forward the best we can, no matter what happens. And I don't know I don't know why I felt led to go down this diatribe. I just, you know, if you happen to be listening to this and you happen to be interacting with me as it relates to this topic, just just pray for my dad and leave your theology to yourself, basically is the point, because I know it already. Yeah, but but not enough of that crap. The Bible clearly says that we should pray for people to be healed, that we should have, that he can do anything. You know, in the case of what I have. Come on. What do I. It's like nothing. It'd be nothing. So I think it doesn't glorify God not to pray prayers of faith for me to to not have a serious cancer, or for anybody else who is going through a serious thing that doesn't glorify God. I think you're supposed to pray and then we trust God. Also, I want to say I don't feel bad at all. I'm not like I feel I would have I could have just listened, you know? And you know, Dara, our sweet, uh, doctor who's looked after us all these years. And I'm. I'm not saying anything negative about her, but, you know, it made sense what she said. I could have just not listened to her, and I wouldn't know anything. I feel great, I don't have any anything. Um, in terms of physical problems at all, I feel very strong and healthy. So that's what makes this even stranger for me, is I'd be like, if you're, you know, kind of feeling kind of munted and you're in bed and you're like, oh, but. And now you're kind of almost in a way like, well, now this makes sense, right? And I'm glad I'm not that way. I'm not complaining. But this was that's what makes this even stranger, is that I feel so good, you know. Yeah. So maybe I should just pretend it's not happening. You could go the full, uh. What is that, Breaking bad route? Start a meth lab in a in a caravan. I'm not really sure why I would do that, but that is a thought. I could use the cash. Look, Chad and I would go on an adventure. You know, Chad would be the guy that I'd partner with to do the meth lab. He would sell. You cook, he sells. You guys would be a dynamic team, right? Yeah. I have many times confused the word prostate with prostrate. Oh, yeah. Well, and that says it all right there. Yeah. That's why you're selling and not cooking, my friend. That's why you you're not doing any of the chemical work. So you need with this jacket I could fit so many drugs in it. Like they say, you know, bounce. Yeah, whatever. All right, well, let's pray for David. And we're gonna pray, and then we're gonna be done. Yeah. All right, father God, we bring David to you. We thank you for his transparency, for his leadership, for his openness with us. God, thank you that you're the king of the universe and that nothing is too hard for you. And that we just invite you to release the Holy Spirit in great power over David and Jody right now, and especially be with their minds, uh, as I know firsthand how easy it is for our brains to just trail off into all kinds of places that are not, um, joy and that are not rest, that are not peace, that are not kingdom, that are not from you. And so I just ask that you would renew their minds, that you would give them grace to not not spend any more time than they already have thinking about the prognosis or what happens next. Or what if it's this? What if it's that, Lord, just just let them have a supernatural release of of your grace for for the way they think. And and Lord, thank you for the passages in James and all over Scripture that remind us that healing is a beautiful gift that you release. And so, Lord, I just I thank you that in in great, um, just care from you that that it's not it's not hard at all. Um so prostate be healed in Jesus name and the four and the five be reduced to a zero or a one or whatever is the normal level. And, uh, father, if there is cancer there, we rebuke it and we command it to leave. And if there's anything else that's not supposed to be there in Jesus name, go. And, Lord, I pray that next year that you would give David grace to travel even more than he may have thought he already was going to. But but Lord, just the grace that you want. So no pressure, just grace. And, uh, thank you Lord. Father, I join in that prayer. Um, father God, I just cry out to you for healing, for whatever this is, even before knowing all the full information. God, you you know it all. And we ask for healing. And I'm with Ben in that, in that anger, with the brokenness and the illness and death. That is something we don't we struggle with in, in this world because we weren't we were made for, for eternity, and we were made for you and for health and for goodness. And I, I believe that, um, that you can heal David and that you, uh, you're doing so much in his life right now, like he's he's having some of the, some of the most fruitful years of his life and his ministry of just, um, uh, pouring out into so many around him, him and Jody just serving you powerfully with the Steiger Mission School. He's got the same passionate preaching since the day I met him. Um, and I just pray for more of that. I pray for more of that, father and I, and I'm thankful for the, uh, twenty three, twenty four years of friendship. And I want more of that. And so I don't want to accept this, and I want to ask for your healing Jesus in his life. I pray, Lord, that you'd completely heal this body right now by the power that's in your name. Jesus. And I also pray for peace for Jody. I pray that you just be close to her, prayed, be with Ben and with Aaron and with the whole family and you. Just be close to them at this time. Jesus, please bring your comfort. Bring your peace to their hearts and we look to you, Jesus, we trust in you. Lead us, father, through this time. In your name, Jesus. Amen. Amen. Alright. Well, not the plan. Uh, but I think an important conversation, honestly. So thank you, dad, for sharing that. And I'm with you. I'm like, why would you not? Why would you double on the lie or double on the scheme of the enemy? Enemy by also isolating yourself as well. Right. It's like it's just crazy. It's crazy. And I'm not into that. I'm like, no, the enemy's not going to win both with this. What he's introduced into this situation. But then also by somehow convincing us that doing this alone is somehow a better option. Um, I just don't I think you've you've taken it the right way, and we'll just we'll go from here and we'll keep you posted and. Yeah. That's it. Yeah. It's cool from my perspective, just in the last few days and what you all just witnessed the prayer that I just prayed, not an ounce of that was forced, contrived or otherwise, uh, you know, like, like made of anything just from my own heart. And, uh, and I and I felt so free in being able to pray it. And so that in and of itself is a miracle. That David, uh, offered to me with the opportunity to pray in a way that I haven't prayed in many years. And so I already take this as a win for my selfish standpoint, and I'm excited to see what the Lord does in your life, David, and appreciate you so much and opening your heart to us in this way. Thanks, boys. Thanks, David. All right. Yep. All right. We'll call it for now. Thanks for listening. Thanks for all those that I know. Will will listen to this and join us in praying. Like I said, we'll keep you posted and appreciate all of you who have stuck with us all these years. This has really been a snapshot of our lives and it continues to be so, so well. Uh, yeah. Thanks for joining this wild ride. We'll talk to you next time. Peace.

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