DA TESTIMONY 11182019

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Music to our people. You know what I'm saying, our people,
and that's what it's about. But with this platform, we
talk about the test that take you to your rich
testimonies in music and everything that God has on your
platform for ministry. And there's just so many things that
you are doing these days. But I have to ask you,

(00:20):
how did it begin for you? How did it start
for you? We know what you're doing, we know that
where God is taking you, but how did it begin
for you?

Speaker 2 (00:30):
The very beginning for me was actually when I was
a young young boy growing up in a different corner
of the city. I actually this is Nairobi. Is not
exactly where I spent most of my life. It is
where I was born, but because I didn't have as
many friends with me when I was growing up, I
spent a lot of time listening to the radio and

(00:50):
also around my mom who was always whenever she was
off work, she was playing guitar. So I got interested
in music at the very tender age of nine years old.
Ten years old, That's when I started to show some interest,
and you know, I asked my mom to show me
how to play the guitar, the basics at least and

(01:11):
she did, and I'd spend so much time just sitting
in my room or anyway I could be holding a
guitar and kept practicing it when I was listening to
the radio, listening to R and B music, and the
one thing that I always wanted to do was to
sing and to sound like the R and B artists
that I was listening to at the time. That's really
where it started for me in terms of interest and

(01:31):
wanting to become an artist. But where it started for
me as an artist was somewhere around two thousand and three.
That's when I walked into a studio for the first time,
having been introduced to the studio owner in Nairobi at
the time, and he opened the doors and said, hey,
if you'd like to record your music out here. You
look like you've got the talent, you look like you've

(01:52):
got some interest, and you also look like you really
want to share your faith because at this point I
was a believer. The doors opened to you. So that's
really where the professional journey of being a recording and
performing artist began for me in two thousand and three,
and it has continued on until this moment when we're
on this call as for the book, which I wrote

(02:14):
and released this year. The journey actually started in twenty eighteen,
really when the Lord just put an impression in my
heart that he wanted me to dream of becoming a writer,
to go a little further than writing songs. Not that
writing songs was anything small to talk about, but it
was something that he wanted me to go into because

(02:34):
I've always loved words, I've always loved expression, I've always
loved being able to tell stories, and I felt this
really strong impression to want to start writing at the time,
though I did know that it would be it would
lead to a book. But in the beginning of twenty
twenty four is when I felt that when I look
back at my life, there's so much to tell, there's

(02:54):
so much to express, there's so much to share. I
wanted to do that so that I can be able
to impact and on my faith, and also in a
way to put my story together so that even when
my kids, as they're continuing to grow up, I have
two daughters that'd be able to hear, or rather to
read my story or to know about my story as
I've told it in my own words. So in summary,

(03:15):
that's really how it got together and maybe we can
talk a little bit more about what all of that
story is and what it means. But yeah, it's been
a journey and I'm still on it.

Speaker 1 (03:26):
Well, you know, I love you because you We don't
have to ask you a lot of questions, because you
know what it is to be a host. You have
your own you have your own shoulc you know what
it is to kind of I don't have to get
you to talk. Some people you got to drag it out,
but you were doing your things and I so appreciate that.
Now you said something in your earlier years that that

(03:48):
keeps my interest. You said favorite artists that you would
listen to? Who are your favorite artists? Because I hear
you singing, boy, you can sing, you can sing. Who
did you like growing up?

Speaker 2 (04:03):
Growing up? I listened to quite a bit of Babyface, Lionel,
Richie Luther Andross, Tony Braxton, Joe Thomas. I mean, there
was quite a list of R and B artists at
the time. Really they were, really they were dominant on
the Kenyan radio and they still are. A lot of

(04:24):
R and B music from your side of the world
is always playing on this side of our radio space.
And online and whatnot. We have a great appreciation for
R and B music, and so my favorite artists were
those Maxwell John b. You know Usha.

Speaker 1 (04:41):
You said, Maxwell Baby, you just got out love me
the Maxwell, So you just did it three yeah, yes, yeah,
I mean, I'm telling you because your sound is definitely
definitely there amongst them. I'm telling you, I can see
your project doing very well, and I'm just so blessed
you would choose to share it with me. And again

(05:02):
I shared it on my pages and my Instagram, my
Facebook just to give you that plug. No one else,
no one else. That was such a powerful title. Can
you explain where did that come from and what led
you to say no one else that deep?

Speaker 2 (05:21):
Yeah, thank you for that. And first of all, let
me just say thank you so much for sharing the
project on your social media pages with your listeners. I mean,
the point of that song, of course, was to really
just share God's hearts, God's word through music, to make
a very bold and powerful declaration of faith. And how
that started for me earlier in the year. First, let

(05:42):
me make a confession. I wasn't actually going to release
music this year because this year I wanted to focus
more on finishing and publishing my book, which is actually
a memoir, and I also wanted to go into the
business of merchandising, so basically making wearables that are, you know,
in some way representative of you know, the values and

(06:05):
the words and the messages that I share in my
creative expression. So at some point earlier in the year,
I was going to a really tough time. I was
having a really hard day, and I went into my
little studio space in a different house that we lived in.
We've we've moved houses at some point this year, and
I was sitting there just to open my laptop, pull

(06:26):
up a YouTube sumone, and just you know, encourage fight
some encouragement to lift up my spirit. But for some reason,
I had this melody humming around in my head and
I started to work on the song. And the thing
that I felt really strongly coming out of my spirit
was to write a song that shifted from you know,

(06:46):
the typical expressions, you know, the contemporary words that typically
fall into gospel songs. It was to say something that
is focused directly on the person of God, who he
is and what he is and what he is to me.
To make a declaration of faith that would lift me
up in the moment when I go through difficulty, because difficulty,

(07:08):
as I said in John sixteen thirty three, is part
of our lives. It's going to be something that we're
going to experience there now. So I wrote this song.
I actually wrote it as a demo, but I wasn't
even going to write it to do much with it.
I was just going to write it and have it
as a reminder, sort of like having a digital entry

(07:28):
diary something like that. Right, But then I sat with
it for two weeks and then I felt another very
strong impression to share with a very good friend of
mine who's called Noela Deritu, who's also an artist like me,
where partners in the game. He's based in Nairobi where
worship leaders together. We go to the same church. We've
known each other very many years, and I just sent

(07:50):
the demo over to him. He's also a music producer
and he's a multi instrumentalist, amazing guy. He probably should
have him on the show sometime soon.

Speaker 1 (08:00):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (08:01):
I was like, hey, man, I got this song and
I just really felt strongly that I should share it
with you. You know, what do you think? He heard
the song and he couldn't stop playing that demo for
almost a whole day, and it was like, Hey, I'm
happy to jump onto this if you want to develop it.
And he even added a little bit. He co wrote
parts of the song, and you know, we ended up

(08:21):
in his studio and we recorded it. Then he happened
to have been releasing an EP of his own called
Desktop Clutter It's really amazing, and he was shooting a
video for one of the songs on his EP, and
he had paid an entire day rate for the location
where he was shooting, but he realized that his video
shoot wouldn't take up all the time. So he calls

(08:42):
me up and said, hey, would you be down to
come to a video shoot at a one location sort
of situation. I was like, yeah, what do I need?
He said, bring three changes of clothes. So I packed
three changes of clothes into my car and drove over
to the next to the video shoot location the next
day and we showed the video to no one else.
You see it And somehow that's how God made away

(09:03):
for this song to come out. In fact, I was
actually saying this to someone yesterday. I feel like this
song God wanted it out on the earth, because even
though it wasn't my intention, it was his intention. And
because I'm his servant and he wanted to trust that
to me. He gave me the inspiration, the creative energy,
and the flow, and then he gave me a collaborator.
And that's how the song came out, and that's how

(09:24):
we have no one else it's based off of. I
actually have some scripture to back that up. It's out
of a Philippians chapter two, verse nine through eleven, which says,
therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him
the name that is above every day in the name,
so that at the name of Jesus, every need should

(09:44):
bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every ton confessed that Jesus Christ is Lord to
the glory of God the Father. No one else is
about Jesus being the sovereign God, the only one to
whom we can turn, the one who's mighty to save,
the one who deliver us, and the one who's always near.
That's what the song's about.

Speaker 1 (10:05):
Mm hmmm, Yes, that is enough, Benjamin, That is enough,
mister Webber. Oh, this is wonderful, wonderful, and that's and
that's really what it's about, you know, giving God your
all and being about his business, you know, and sharing
it with the world. And you truly are. This song

(10:27):
is amazing and I'm as all your music is, you know,
but that that song just speaks volumes to what is
out there. It's so radio ready, as they say, it's
it's it's ready, you know. Uh. And it's so funny.
It's oftentimes those kind of songs when you when you
listen to folks, they say, man, I didn't even like

(10:48):
that song, and I wasn't even gonna put that song out,
you know. But God has a way of just pushing
and allowing things to come out when it's it's the time.
And truly this is the time. You say you're a
devoted Christian, We know you a man of God. We
hear you. What's your church affiliate because I don't know

(11:10):
if it's non denominational like we were, because I see
you say devoted Christian. With's your church home at let
the Foe?

Speaker 2 (11:20):
No, Yeah, yeah, absolutely. My home church is called Karen
Viney a church. It's a church that is here in Nairobi,
Protestant church. We believe in Jesus. This is the church
that preaches the Word of God as it is in
the Word of God. And my senior, my pastor, the

(11:42):
church pastor is called Craig Loper. As it turns out,
he's actually from your side of the world. He's from America,
but his planning here. He's a missionary here. He started
the church. Really he found the church already started. But
he's been there for about fifteen years. And this is
where my family and I go to church every Sunday.

(12:02):
I serve at the church as well. I'm in the
worship team as one of the singers, as one of
the leaders, and as a musician as well. So outside
of my ministry workout, you know that I do every week,
every single day, I am planted in a church where
I am accountable, I have community, and I'm growing.

Speaker 1 (12:23):
Yes, yes, beautiful, beautiful. I know you say your songwriter
and you growing up you love to write, and and
that's near and dear to me. I love. I used
to always write, write write stories. I loved writing stories
in school while in school. What is it about writing

(12:45):
that you could say, you know, bridge the gap from
when you were younger coming up to where you are now.
Is there any changes and and if so, you know
where where is your position as far as the writing
skills and things that you bring into your ministering atmosphere
at this time that you've taken from being a child.

(13:08):
Some people, you know, they like the rhyme and poems,
you know, some people speak about poetry. What was it
for you?

Speaker 2 (13:16):
For me, it was really more stories, fiction and nonfiction.
I actually started out as a fiction story writer back
when I was a kid, though it was mostly I'd
get opportunities to write different things and different stories during
our English classes. We used to have a segment of
that called English composition writing. So that's kind of one

(13:39):
of the areas I used to really shine as a kid.
And so there was this teacher we're actually still friends
even today. My English teacher. He always he always made
mention and told me, you know, whebe, you're going to
be great if you tell stories the way, if you
continue to grow your gift the way that you've started out,
you'll be a great storyteller someday. And I'd listened to

(14:01):
that and it was encouraging. It was nice. I did
know that that was really going to be a seed
that would you know, spur me on into using creative
expression through writing in the later years, so of course
that just like you said, there are many different angles.
There are very many different forms of expression. Could be poetry,
that could be you know, whether it's information writing. For me,

(14:24):
it just felt more like weaving stories that had a
moral to them but also set a very strong foundation
for me to be able to share my faith in
a practical way. I was always enamored by the intersection
between our faith in Jesus Christ and it's practical application
in our everyday lives. And so even when I started
out as a as a fiction storyteller, I would tell

(14:47):
stories really that were very close to some of my
own life experiences, but I'd made them a little bit
abstract so that it's not about me really, It's more
about how people are engaged and how they're drawn in,
and how they see themselves in the stories, and how
they feel like the experiences they're having. Because I'm drawing
a lot from human experiences and a lot of the
things that we can all say we've gone through at

(15:09):
some point, maybe not in exactly the same way, but
we've sort of experienced the same things. I would write
stories that would sort of portray that and then, of course,
you know, put in a little bit of wisdom or
put in something that I've learned, or some revelation, or
even boldly put in a scripture that relates or correlates
to what's in the story, and that sort of set

(15:31):
the stage for me to write my own story. So
you asked a question about whether that's been any different
for me or I think you have things changed since
I was a kid. Yes, I think over time I've
got more bold about sharing my faith in a creative way.
Because one thing that there's two things that I've come
to appreciate is number one, no one will ever argue

(15:53):
with your experience. So if I'm writing a story, if
I'm writing my story, my experience is unique to me.
It's how I convey that story that makes the difference
in how it is received and the impact it has.
And the second thing is that we're as human beings,
we generally love stories. Whenever someone's telling a good story
that's captivating and that has nuances, it always will always

(16:16):
be engaged and somehow we listen in. So I figured,
you know, I love words. I grasp these two components
of storytelling really well. And I think I have a
gift in this area, and I feel like God is
leading me to write my story. That's how I ended
up writing my book What If You Win? A prospective
inspired mindset, that's what it's called. But really the point

(16:37):
of telling my story was to sort of make a
value proposition about the concept of winning, where you all
know that winning is about, you know, maybe getting a trophy,
being grabbing nominated, or having a bet award or some
of the sort of you know, sort of feit to
acknowledge or appreciate valuable contribution. And I have had the

(16:59):
privilege to win some awards in my time as well,
and to see some wonderful achievements happen. But I've also
been plagued by the question of is this it is?
That all there is to it? Is that all that is?

Speaker 1 (17:14):
That? It is that what you do exactly right?

Speaker 2 (17:18):
Because you know, the thing is once you win, or
if you win in the world, or you get to
that mountaintop that you were aiming so hard for, the
thing that you realize really quickly is that it lasts
a very short time. You know, it can be long,
it can be dreary, can be whatever it could be.
But the moment you get to win the coffee, you
get to the top, that's it, you know, almost it's

(17:40):
almost as if the world moves on. It's almost as
if everything changes and it's like it almost doesn't matter anymore.

Speaker 1 (17:45):
You know. Wow, No, you You're absolutely right, Like everybody's
reaching Grammy you know, sellers, blah blah blah. You know,
but it's so crazy because I you know, the biggest
thing with me was not even that so months because
I knew the competition was it was rough, you know,
to try and get these things. The biggest thing for

(18:07):
me was, you know, I did the Power Theater. You know,
I did those kind of things, you know, the little
small uh things, you know, like talent shows. I was
really big with talent shows. I felt like if I
could win there, I could win anywhere, right because they
just was a tough audience, you know what I'm saying.
So I did. I gained a lot of expertise and
and working on the stage of the Power, But honestly,

(18:32):
it's something about just just performing and constantly being out
there before the people, and that attracts me as What
is your take on live performances, because some people prefer
to be in the studio. Some people prefer to be
live and performing in front of people. That was my

(18:52):
thing because I loved the attention I got with the people,
you know, well, whether they enjoyed it, you saw it
in their face, didn't enjoy it, you so it in
their face. I mean I experienced people crying coming, you know,
because the song was just so touching. What was that
for you? Studio or performing both?

Speaker 2 (19:12):
Actually, I love the idea being in a studio creating music,
and in fact, one of my highlights has been when
I've had the opportunity to be with other musicians, whether
it's session musicians like guitarists, bassists, pianists, and we get
together and wrap our minds around the concept of the
song and where it's trying to go and how to

(19:32):
musically express it. So being in the studio working with
great minds and coming up with great ideas, great creative ideas.
And again, like I said, I really love words, and
I love being able to write lyrics that not only
are you know, maybe cleverly written, but are also poignant
in their meaning and have a great delivery of the
message in a succinct way, in clear and memorable and

(19:56):
also interesting to listen to, and that's for the studio side.
I also absolutely love performing. I always love being on
stage because there's nothing like the thrill of being in
front of people. Of course the jitters that come before,
but once you're on there and the energy in the room, yeah,
and the bad is killing, and you've got your singers

(20:19):
with you. And I've had the wonderful opportunity of playing
concerts a lot over the years. It's been twenty years
of doing this. For me, there's there's always something special
and something new at every opportunity I'm on stage with people.
So many people have come to share different, different feedback
and even testimonies with me, whether it's of songs I

(20:41):
wrote or it's off covers I did, but specifically about
my own projects. Because I've performed for for the shows
that I've played the longest, I've performed a lot of
my own music because I have a decent enough catalog
so I'm easily able to pull off a two hours
two and a half hour show. And there's always been
something amazing about being able to bring people into the
room and them already knowing what to explain it right,

(21:04):
and even big surprise by what they find on there
and knowing that someone's life was touched, you know, and
the impact for them meant that they would look at
life through a different lens or they appreciated the encouragement
that came out of my music. Encouragement is a really
big deal for me. There's something that I really love

(21:24):
to do. I'm always encouraging people and music is a
very powerful way to encourage people. It's memorable, it stays
with us, you know. I'm sure you have favorite songs
from twenty years thirty years ago. Somehow the way they
touched you, you know that that still feels real for
you now. So that's the power of music and I
love to use it to do that. So the short
answer to your question is I love both the studio

(21:45):
expression the live performances. The challenge of being able to
hold people's attention and give them value and of course
entertain them and them but leave them with something that
is meaningful that they can take with them. That for me,
always does it.

Speaker 1 (22:00):
Yes, Yes, I agree, I agree. Yeah, the studio I'm
not so you know, I don't know, I just feel
like it's so technical. I mean, I'll go in of course,
you have as a recording art if you do that.
But you know, I just love the impact of being
live and it's just that's just a thing for me,

(22:20):
you know, just to see the people and get the
feel of the people. This show is based on the
test you spoke in terms of things, Uh, the test
that we go through in life that take us to
our rich testimonies. What does that sound like for you
when I say your test? What is your test that

(22:41):
take you to your testimony, your journey?

Speaker 2 (22:47):
I think for me, the most outstanding tests that I
went through was growing up in a single parent home.
My parents marriage didn't work out very early on, and
so as a young boy growing into a young man,
you know, growing up without the presence of my father,

(23:09):
whom I knew, I knew, I could recognize, but he
just wasn't present in my life growing up. And there
was a lot of complexity that came with that, because
identity issues, you know, just trying to find my place
in the world, trying to resolve the dysfunctions and some
of the gaps that you know, I sort of became
aware of as I matured. That really brought on a

(23:33):
lot of different experiences that were mostly hard and later
on in my life. I think somewhere between my twenties
and my thirties, I had the opportunities, the opportunity to
sit with him twice. And you know, it was a
difficult meeting because you know, he wasn't exactly ready to
sort of meet me halfway. I was doing it really

(23:54):
because I needed closure. But I'm giving you the summary
of it. But the ten it was really just the
gap that I felt that him not being there, my
father not being there, left me with. And the downside
of it was there were a lot of identity issues
that I struggled with, you know, knowing who I am,

(24:15):
finding my place in the world, and I think the
outside of that was it led me to wanting to
know God the Father a lot more because I was
I was really seeing yearning for for someone or something
to fill that void or to help me find significance.
Who am I? You know, what does God's word say
about me? And how does God see me? My earthly

(24:37):
father may not be the picture, but what does my
heavenly Father think of me? And that made me really
pursue that. But of course there was a lot of
there were a lot of gaps in the experience of
my life. One of those was because my mom was
raising three children, my siblings, and I am the oldest
of three. You know, the finances were stretched, and so
there are a lot of things I missed out on,

(24:59):
and even even for college university, I had to figure
my way around that. And so it always felt like
as if I was living life from a place of disadvantage.
And that's how it always looked and felt. But as
a intuitive realized that that was the stage being set
for me to really experience the hand of an ever present,
faithful God who's near, who hears our prayers, who hears

(25:22):
even our size, like you know, just you don't know
what to say. You just distraught or maybe despairing, and
that's the thing that comes out of you. He understands that,
and he has a way of reaching you right where
you are and lifting you up, you know, just like
it says. And this poor man cried, and the Lord
had him, and he lifted him out of his despairs

(25:43):
and out of all his trouble. I've experienced that many
different times in my life, even now as a husband
and as a father, you know, becoming a father without
really having a blueprint of what a father looks like
or what a father does. You know, God has not
only given me a blueprint in his word, but He's
also given me, you know, strong Christian men who are mature,

(26:03):
who are consistent and faithful to to sort of walk
with me and also help me along this journey. God
has shown himself not only in his work, but even
in my human interactions and experiences. And in a way,
the test or the difficulty or the gap or the
deficit that I've faced has become the stage set for
one experiencing God the Father, to discovering my identity and

(26:25):
my purpose, and three building community that helps me to
exist in a place where I'm being fed, but I'm
also feeding others in that way, in an ecosystem, so
to speak. So in summary, that's that's been my test.

Speaker 1 (26:39):
That is test. That's right, and we all know that,
you know, we need those tests to make us stronger
and as His people, you know, without them, you know
where would we be. Right, It makes us strong. You know,
most people don't even see it like that, but it does. It.
It takes us from the ways and the byeways to

(27:01):
make us who we become as Christians, strong in faith,
and warriors for God, and and just showing God's people
as this platform you know is, and and of course
yours as well, showing God's people. Just you know, it's
not about how many times it's fall, it's about how

(27:21):
many times you get up and you try to start
back over. Because we're not perfect and we know that,
and God most definitely knows that. I I can't imagine
uh you know, uh, just speaking to someone and not
being able to set the tone as to the test
that I've gone through that take me to be who
I am today. Uh, be it, you know, whatever a

(27:44):
journey God has on on on our agenda in ministry.
But I truly, truly, truly blessed God for for this conversation,
because You're so real, you know, and and I like
it real, you know, we are we are saying we
have to be of course, courses of what we say,
how we say things, but the truth is delight, you know,

(28:05):
to hide behind truth and facts as to how it
bridges our gaps and makes us the pillars of the
communities that we need to be as saints of God
or God's people. You know, it's imperative that we get
understanding and It's so funny. I tease with people are like,
you know, sometimes He got to leave those thorns, as

(28:27):
they say, in our side, so that we can remember
just where not to revisit. Right, If I were going
to ask you what thorn would you say? Would be
something that you can focus in on, you know what
I'm saying, like off the top of your head that
you feel that God has delivered you passed, but it's

(28:52):
not like you've forgotten it, because daily we have those
that have to remind us as to where not to go.
What would that be for you?

Speaker 2 (29:03):
Wow, There's quite a few, but one interesting one perhaps
maybe one that you might not be expecting and I
didn't expect and be sharing as well. But I think
one thorn that has consistently stayed with me is a
physical one. I actually have a physical thorn on my body.
I am among those who have this very interesting benign

(29:26):
condition called kiloid growths. And kiloid growths are basically benign
growths that happen on the body because of, in simple terms,
its inability to heal and stop healing when the wound
has sort of formed protective covering. So you know, like
when you get injured body you know, your body would

(29:47):
probably you know, you bleed, but then it will form
a scab, and depending on the side right you might
have a scar, but it would be something that would
be you know, you know, integrated into the rest of
your skin. For me, there are parts of my body
that don't heal that way. If I do get an injury,
the body heals, but it forms a growth where the
injury was. And one of the things that that has done.

(30:08):
Of course, I've always hated when I was a kid,
growing up, as a young adult, growing up and becoming
a man, I hated those kiloids cars because it meant
I couldn't take my shirt off at the swimming pool
with confidence and just enjoy myself. And I always felt
different from people. But somehow, as I've grown older and
matured and perhaps even learned to accept myself exactly as

(30:30):
I am, it has become a reminder of my identity.
You know, I may feel in my physical self that
I'm different from others. So I have a strange kiloid's
car and it doesn't look so great. The interesting thing, though,
is that it's on the back of my shoulders and
some on my chest, so they're not visible unless I
take my shirt off, but I am aware of them.
They're significant. What they've now become a representation of is

(30:54):
my identity in Christ that even though I have some
sort of deformity, as it were, it's not really that bad,
but it does feel like a deformity because it's unusual,
and it's not something that I can get rid of
because even if I have them removed. I had one
removed and it grew right back. Even if I have
them removed, they'll still grow right back and they'll still

(31:14):
be right there with me. So there's it's it's almost
as if they're going to be with me the rest
of my life. Whereas everybody else has, you know, perfect
skin or a perfect condition, so to speak, comparatively, for me,
it's different. I don't have that. And that Thorne has been,
in a sense, not only one in one part of
my life, something that made me really dislike my appearance,

(31:36):
but now on this side of my perspective, because really
that's what changed my perspective. It has become a reminder
that you know, first of all, we're not perfect, we
never will be. Second of all, you know these athlete
suits that we have. One day we're going to leave
them behind them. God will give us perfect bodies. But
while we're here, our identity in Christ is not hindered
by our physical deformities or our physical impediments. So it's

(32:00):
become in a sense, like a beautiful thing I have.
And I'll call them beautiful scars because of what they signify.

Speaker 1 (32:07):
Yeah, amen, Amen, beautiful they are. God is good and
we have them. You know, as our age, you know,
you go through stuff. You end up taking certain medicines
as you're older, you know, and it takes like I'm
going through the losing hair syndrome, and it's a lot.
Like you said, it's a lot that you have to

(32:28):
weather through as we grow and as we age, you know.
But God still uses us. Praise God, Yes, it still
uses us Mighty, you know. And because people, you know,
you come across people that are going through the same things,
it's not and you would think that they're not you
know what I'm saying, But you know, you'd be amazed
as you talk and as you pray together, and as

(32:50):
you come together under one a court, you find it.
There's a lot of people that have about a lot
of familiarities in regards to things that are we call challenging,
you know, uh, be it mentally, be it, you know,
physically challenges or challenge. And again, these many tests allow

(33:10):
us to be sympathetic and and and and and like
you said, are a strong uh presence for people that
are going through you know, these various things. And I'm
sure that you know, even even in you talk and
you you you know, saying that you know because I
have family members that that have gone through that, and

(33:31):
it is it is challenging, you know what I'm saying,
as as most things that disable us and you know,
make us look a little different that it does it
to us. So I really appreciate you just saying that.
And and I thank you because there are people listeners
out there, you know, that that feel that they have
challenges that they you know, they don't know if they're

(33:53):
strong enough to overcome. And and with that, what would
you say to those people that are listening? What advice
would you give to them in regards to pushing on
regardless of what it looks like as I put.

Speaker 2 (34:08):
It right right, that's a really wonderful thought and perspective
to sort of bring to the table. The thing is
the human the human experience, like I said a moment
earlier is going to be right with challenges. Challenges are
going to be part of, you know, our everyday experience.
You know, when you start the day and you know
you have breath and life and strength in your body

(34:30):
and the you know, on an open horizon of possibilities,
you don't really know what the day is going to bring.
You're just sort of going to figure it out as
you get there. And sometimes some days go well, smoothly
perhaps and eventually, but there are days when things get
really difficult. The one thing that I'm really starting to
appreciate is, you know, what is in some way or
in some context meant by Galician six'. Nine it, says

(34:53):
therefore to not be wary in well doing for the proper.
Time if you do not give, up you will reap a.
Harvest so there's the there's this there's this potion pool
from the word Of, god this compulsion that we should
never give up on doing the right thing and going
in the right path and doing the things that we
know we're called to, do but also the things that

(35:13):
we know will benefit those around, us because we do
owe it to, uh you, know to our, environments to
our interactions to our relationships to be able to to
share what Gifts god has given. Us even Even. Timothy
timothy was, told you, know find interflame the gift That
god has given. You you, know because at the end
of the, day the gift wasn't for, You it's for
the other. People but on the other hand of, that you,

(35:35):
know the human the human experiences that you do get,
weary AND i love that that's something that is also
acknowledged In galatians six.' nine i think the Advice that
i'd give is there's this dichotomy you're going to find
yourself in, where yes as a, human being you do,
get tired and sometimes you, get weary and sometimes even
your faith gets shot out of. The sky but there's always,

(35:57):
a place there's always an open door for you to Return,
to god for him to fill you with, his strength
to fill you with, his power and to show you
his vision and to give you his desires and his
plans and his revelations to keep you going because at
the end of, the day we're here to fulfill purpose
and to bring. Him glory so there is the place
to acknowledge, your hurt, your tiredness, your frustration, your struggle

(36:21):
sometimes even when you feel like, giving up and those
are perfectly. Human, emotions rather those. Are humans those are
human emotions that are, perfectly normal and they must be
acknowledged and processed because you're going to need to be
able to do that in order to. Move forward but
on the, other Hand as god, strengthens you the strength
you receive is for continuing on the path of doing the.

(36:44):
Good thing whatever the good thing is, for you if it,
is serving if, you're encouraging if it, is speaking if
it is, you know cleaning up in, the house if
it is showing up at a job that maybe you're even.
Struggling with because at the end of, the day all,
of that, in hindsight will become a Testimony of. God's
faithfulness can also mature you and also be a gift
that you share with someone who's going through the experiences

(37:06):
that you're. Going THROUGH and i really feel like a
lot of the experiences that we have are really just
a way for us to connect with others through empathy
because others are going through the. Same thing and because
you've probably gone through a difficult experience and, overcome it
you can encourage someone who's going through theirs and might
not see what the end looks like up in. The.

(37:26):
Middle yeah so my encouragement is really it's the dichotomy
of being able to plant yourself and drawing Strength From god's,
god's world but also processing your humanity in a healthy
and positive and forward moving way that allows you to
not negate, your experience but To allow god to sit
right in the middle of it and to bring something

(37:49):
wonderful out. OF it i think that's Really what.

Speaker 1 (37:51):
I'd, say wow that's. So, beautiful, yes, yes yes that's
what we want. To do we definitely always want to.
Do that. God's, people well, you know this is that
POINT where i have to ask you to give your
information so that people know how to, contact you because
you are REACHABLE and i love that you know you

(38:11):
are and in regards to them getting, your book, your somebody,
you know your clothes and stuff like that ensemble and
everything that you have, to offer so you can definitely
offer that at this time.

Speaker 2 (38:27):
Right right the easiest way to get in touch with
ME is i have a website that compiles, you know
of course my main, creative offerings, my podcast, my books and,
my MUSIC and i also have a contact page which
allows for anybody who wants to reach out to me
to email. Me DIRECTLY but i also Have a WhatsApp

(38:50):
bought on my website which allows anyone who would rather just,
you know send Me a WhatsApp message directly or get
my number, Through there you're able to. Do that and
my web site. Is Www Dot solfire Inspiration Soul fire
inspiration as one word Dot com solfireinspiration. Dot com so

(39:12):
that would be the place where you. Can come you
can see my work and you can also get directly
in touch. With me you can go through. My profile
you can also look at my. Merchandise page you can,
you know click to see the different platforms on which
my book. Is available actually have. Two books my latest
one Is Called What If. You win my previous one
is a Devotional called Let. The lighting both are there

(39:35):
and you can be able to peruse those and listen
to the audiobook or get. The Ebook and i'm reachable
through that. One PLATFORM and i also have my social
media links posted on there, as well so to connect
on Social, media instagram that's, You, know twitter Or, x
facebook all of those around there, As well so that

(39:57):
would be the place to go to and thank you.

Speaker 1 (39:59):
So much you are, The, Man benjamin you the man
you got all that. Hooked, UP man i tell you
who YOU a. Pr person let, me say let me
let me get, that number because you got it, all
TOGETHER and i, mean it. It's enjoyable even going on.
YOUR site i enjoyed. It IMMENSELY and i don't say
that often going on people's website because sometimes it's. Just

(40:20):
overwhelming but you are so organized and you got it.
SHOW together i so. Appreciate That because i'm not really.
COMPUTER savvy i can tell you me and the computer, be,
battling Baby and i'm talking about. EVEN phones i, TELL
you i. DON'T know i am not a. Computer person
this was definitely not, my arena. You KNOW so i
just thank you for just making. It simple, so listeners

(40:42):
you are going to be blessed going on, his website,
but definitely YOU know i. Had you you know you're
kind of special today because my birthday is TOMORROW and i,
Just yeah i'm gonna be sixty. One baby i'll, Tell
you i'm a, season thing one of them. SEASONS things
i definitely. Thank you I'M so i am. So, excited,

(41:08):
no SERIOUSLY because i, was LIKE should i do a
SHOW should? I NOT should i just go and, enjoy it?
You KNOW but i do enjoy doing. This Show and
i'm just so BLESSED that i brought you From the
motherland and you come on. This show, and truly you
guys have been a blessing for this. This platform AND
again i want to thank you and your community of
people just for loving on the testimony and making the

(41:32):
testimony what it. Is today it really is. A movement
it's a movement and it's about us coming together under
one accord for the sake of spreading the good news
of just How good. God IS but i am gonna
ask you to pray at. The end but before you,
Do that i'm gonna, ask you a wonderful self to

(41:54):
sing happy birthday. To me WHY, Wouldn't i WHY Wouldn't
i let me? Hear that.

Speaker 2 (42:03):
All right here It is.

Speaker 3 (42:06):
Happy birthday, To you happy birthday, To you, happy Birthday,
Dearms faul.

Speaker 2 (42:26):
Happy birthday. To you and.

Speaker 1 (42:45):
That's beautiful thank you, So much thank you. So, MUCH
yes i had just been Serenaded By benjamin and again
before we, GO anywhere i just want you to pray
us OUT and i just want to thank positive power
twenty one for just bringing Me every tuesday at Nine
Pm eastern. Standard time and thank you listeners for always

(43:07):
coming back to this platform and blessing us so that
we can be then a blessing. To you now you
Could pray god bless.

Speaker 2 (43:18):
Let's. PRAY father i just want to thank you for
this time that we've been on. This call thank you
for the words that, we're speaking for ceremonies that. We've
shared thank you for the conversation we've had and just
how enriching it. Has been thank you for the listeners
that are tuned into. The show you know each one,
by name you know the hairs on, Their head you've,

(43:38):
counted them you've. Numbered them you knew them from the
days they. Were born you knew them before they were
born onto. This EARTH and i want to thank you
that the timeline of their lives are already firmly on,
your hand and you know all the events of. Their
LIVES and i want to thank you because you have
made a great plan, to prosper not, to harm to
bring good into, their lives and to give them an experience,

(44:00):
of yourself to work, with them to carry, them through to,
mature them to bless them and to prosper them in
the ways that matter them and their children and their
generations and their relationships. Around THEM and i pray that
you will continue to show yourself strong in all the
situations of. THEIR lives i pray that you bless the
work of. Their hands that pray that you bless. THEIR
interactions i pray that you bless even the words and

(44:22):
the thoughts and the meditations of. Their HEARTS and i
Pray the lord in the areas where they're trusting you for,
a miracle for, a Breakthrough, the lord you would show.
Yourself Strong the Word of god tells us whatsoever we ask,
in prayer if we believe, we've received it shall be ours.
For SURE and i thank you that you have already,
done this because even before we utter a word, in
prayer you. Already answered you already know what we're going,

(44:43):
to ask and you know how to meet the point Of.
Arn amen that's a single one, Of us and, AS
well i pray that You Bless miss paula as she
celebrates as she comes into the birthday celebration of her
sixty one years On this thank you for your faithfulness
in her life and. Her family thank you bless her
and give us strength and continue to shower how with.

(45:04):
Your love thank you for the way that she has
allowed herself to be open a vessel that you would
use to be a ministry to people on this platform
and in the different ways that she interacts with, other
people even through. Her music and a Prayer, that lord
you continue to strengthen her and to show her. Your
faithfulness let her have an experience of you that she's
never had that transforms radically even how she sees and

(45:26):
knows and walks. With you and for all, OF us
i pray that you continue to bless us with our
families and bless every aspect of. Our Lives in, JESUS
name I, Pray, Amen.

Speaker 1 (45:37):
Amen, Amen, amen god, Bless you Man. Of god judge men.
Same me happy BIRTHDAY and i. LOVE it i.

Speaker 2 (45:44):
LOVE it i.

Speaker 1 (45:45):
Love it i'm so google. THANK you, I mean and
if anybody want to shout out before, WE go.

Speaker 2 (45:55):
I definitely want to shout out, my wife who has
been a very strong supporter of me and with me
These past we've actually known each other twenty, one years
we've been married. Fifteen years we'll be celebrating. FIFTEEN years
i just want to Bless bless god for my wife
and of course, my daughters who are, amazing friends amazing
little people who are curious and fun. And ADVENTUROUS and

(46:16):
i definitely want to shout out my very Good Friend
no elder, it too With whom i've done no one
else the song that y'all are listening to. And enjoying
he's been a great brother brother in. The faith god,
bless Him and god bless all.

Speaker 1 (46:27):
Of you, thank you thank you. So MUCH and i
tell you this is the open. Door policy you can
always come back when you got some new stuff that
you want, to promote and, you know just talk some
more ABOUT like, i said, your podcast whatever you want.
To do this is your this is. Your home we.
Welcome you AND again i just. Bless you this is

(46:48):
just a blessing, to me coming straight From, the motherland
and that means everything, to me because it's all about
our people looking up, our people, you know and that,
means everything and That's what god wants us, to do love.
One ANOTHER so i thank you and appreciate. You listeners
you have been blessed by this wonderful Man. Of god

(47:08):
again On another tuesday at nine Pm easton standard time on.
The testimony so thank you for coming back and not
finding it robbery to be here, with me spending wonderful
time with our wonderful Guests Like. BENJAMIN webb i, Love
you god. Bless you and again you know my. Birthdays tomorrow, So,

(47:29):
Hey hey I'm just i'm just being A real i'm
just going. Through IT but i just really am so
blessed to be able to reach that ten day age of.
Sixty one been losing a lot, of folks so it's
a blessing to be able to open my eyes and see.
Another day, AND again i just thank you to be
able to hear you. Serenade Me, Mister webbing thank you,

(47:49):
So much god. Bless you and again thank. You listeners
thank you see You. Next tuesday.

Speaker 2 (48:06):
H m h.

Speaker 4 (48:15):
M hm. Hm hm, the testimony, the testimony the Testimony.

Speaker 1 (48:31):
With, paula fria.

Speaker 3 (48:37):
The Diva For, Christ day.

Speaker 1 (48:42):
Wattle Youtuning every tuesday and nine he's since then.

Speaker 2 (48:49):
The time.

Speaker 1 (48:53):
You are listening to the testimony with hosts Pubri ak
de or crime any case you don't know what that.
Stands for it's the finely inspired vessel appointed and anointed
for a time such, As, this Hey every tuesday at Nine.

(49:14):
Pm eastern you don't want to miss go and SPEAKER.
That tromo now come, ON, Now, tmo now come.

Speaker 4 (49:24):
On now