Perseverance

In 1992, Derek Redmond, Britain's star sprinter was looking to get into the finals of the 400 meter event at the Olympic Games in Barcelona.

His career was filled with injuries and this day would be no different as he tore his hamstring. Check out the short video above for a great picture of what perseverance is all about. It's about pressing on through our pain and adversity, knowing that our Heavenly Father is going to help us along the way.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
Hebrews 12:1

Pains Purpose II

On Monday night I had a deep tissue massage. It had been quite a few years since I had this done. I had always remembered it to be a very relaxing, enjoyable experience. Monday's was anything but enjoyable. In fact, it was quite painful.

The therapist said the I am a massage therapist's dream because there is so much work to be done on me. She didn't even leave my shoulders and neck area for the hour-long session. It seems like there were about 50 marbles in that region of my body that she tried to work out, hence the pain.

On my drive home I did feel a bit more relaxed in my shoulders. Then yesterday morning brought with it more pain. It had felt like I had lost a back-alley fight. I am still sore even this morning.

In spite of this pain, I am going back again on Monday because I know I need to get this worked out to help me with some issues I am having in my arms. So, this is a time when I can truly be thankful for the pain, because I know it will lead to good.

In relation to life I suppose there are a few parallels:
1. If we have pain in our life, it will lead to good if we love God and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28)
2. To get where we need to go, we oftentimes will need to fight through unpleasantness and persevere (Hebrews 10:36)
3. Like I posted about yesterday, our pain could be God preparing us to minister to others who will go through similar pain (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)

Storms

Last night, Connie (my wife) and I were driving to a meeting about a half hour away from our house. When we left our house the weather looked a little ominous but it was still clear. About half way there, we drove through a fierce storm with thunder and lightning and heavy rain. We couldn't see more than 20 feet in front of us.

In about three or four minutes we broke free of the storm and were in the clear. Connie said, "Isn't that amazing? A few minutes ago there was no end to the storm we were in and now we are in the clear!"

I mentioned to her that that was a great point and that it was a great illustration of life. When we are in the middle of our "storms," it can seem like there is no end in sight. However, if we just keep "driving," the "clearing" will be straight ahead.

While we were driving through this rain storm, we could have chosen to pull over to the side of the road. Had we done that, it would have been a lot easier; however, we would have remained in the storm for a longer period of time. In the same way, when we are caught in our storms, we need to keep pressing on, even though it will seem easier to remain still and do nothing (or pout). God will then give us victory!

Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.

James 1:12

Perseverance

The man who removes a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.
-- Chinese Proverb

If you have 12 minutes or so, it would be worth your while to check out this video. It tells the story of DJ Gregory, a 30 year-old Georgia native who was born with Cerebral Palsy. He fell in love with the game of golf and dreamt of walking every hole of every golf tournament played on the PGA tour.

In 2008, that dream became a reality. During the season, he garnered the admiration of many throughout the world, but especially that of the players he followed. They saw his determination and persistence and their respect of him grew.

During the season, he fell only 15 times...but each time he got up and pressed on. DJ had this to say to each of us, "If you have a dream, go after it! Don't let anybody say you can't do something." Great advice!

You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.
Hebrews 10:36

Dedication

So I'm sitting on the beach last week and I see a guy walking across the sand toward the ocean. He looks just like a guy I went to high school with. So I yell out his name. And wouldn't you know it...it is him. He know lives in Chicago and I haven't seen him or spoken to him (other than at a reunion) since 1981. And to prove that our God is a God of grace, that is a picture of the two of us, him wearing a Michigan shirt and me in an Ohio State shirt...and we're both smiling!

We talked briefly throughout the week but were not able to spend any significant time together (we are scheduled to get together the next time he comes into town). Mostly this was because Steve had his three young sons with him and he was enjoying time with them. However, a couple of times when I called, Steve was actually working out...on vacation!

That is dedication and perseverance. I work out when I am at home but I find it extremely difficult to do when I am on vacation. In fact, I don't even plan on it, other than walking on the beach (maybe that is why it is so difficult!). Anyway, I'm sure this was not easy for Steve either, yet he did it anyway.

Isn't this just like life? We are instructed in the book of Philippians to "press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."

Determination

Did you happen to see this in the news yesterday? It seems a six year-old boy missed his school bus in Virginia and was so intent on getting to school on time, that he drove his parents' car.

According to reports, he made at least two 90-degree turns, passed several cars, and ran off the rural two-lane road several times before hitting an embankment and utility pole about a mile and a half from school.

"He was very intent on getting to school," said Northumberland County Sheriff Chuck Wilkens. "When he got out of the car, he started walking to school. He did not want to miss breakfast and PE."

Obviously there are some bad parts of this story...but don't you love his determination and persistence?

Go here to read the whole story.

I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3:14

Habits

Do you have a New Year's Resolution?

Each year, I try to evaluate my life and look at changes I can make to help me in my life. My eating habits are almost always on the list. This year I have several other things that God is working on in me that are important changes for me to make.

I recently read this from an unknown author which I thought was very good:

I am your constant companion.

I am your greatest asset or heaviest burden.

I will push you up to success or down to disappointment.

I am at your command.

Half the things you do might just as well be turned over to me,

For I can do them quickly, correctly, and profitably.

I am easily managed, just be firm with me.

Those who are great, I have made great.

Those who are failures, I have made failures.

I am not a machine, though I work with the precision of a machine and the intelligence of a person.

You can run me for profit, or you can run me for ruin.

Show me how you want it done. Educate me. Train me. Lead me. Reward me.

And I will then...do it automatically.

I am your servant.

Who am I?

Many of you know this, but the answer is "a habit."

We all have habits, some good, some not so good. Habits are very powerful, but bad habits are not so powerful that they cannot be turned around. With God's help anything is possible!

I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.

Philippians 4:13

The Little Things

Yesterday afternoon my son, Robbie and I raked leaves. We are fortunate where we live as we are able to burn leaves which makes it kind of fun (my son and I have a pyro streak in us!).

Anyway, the leaves were a little damp from the previous day's rain so they didn't burn real well; however, they did burn well enough to get rid of them. About two hours after starting the fire it was just smoking and I figured it would eventually burn out.

This morning as I left for work, I noticed a flame in the pile of leaves. I was amazed. 14 hours after starting the fire it was still burning. There must have been a couple of embers that kept up the good fight and this morning they caused an actual flame to appear.

This was an encouragement to me. Sometimes I feel like the small things I do day in and day out don't really matter. But this fire reminded me that even the seemingly inconsequential things can develop into something important if I just stick with it.

Just Try Try Again

Sir James Dyson in a Fast Company Magazine interview had this to say:

You once described the inventor's life as "one of failure." How so? I made 5,127 prototypes of my vacuum before I got it right. There were 5,126 failures. But I learned from each one. That's how I came up with a solution. So I don't mind failure. I've always thought that schoolchildren should be marked by the number of failures they've had. The child who tries strange things and experiences lots of failures to get there is probably more creative.

Not all failures lead to solutions, though. How do you fail constructively?We're taught to do things the right way. But if you want to discover something that other people haven't, you need to do things the wrong way. Initiate a failure by doing something that's very silly, unthinkable, naughty, dangerous. Watching why that fails can take you on a completely different path. It's exciting, actually. To me, solving problems is a bit like a drug. You're on it, and you can't get off. I spent seven years on our washing machine [which has two drums, instead of one].

Persistence

I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:14

I have often heard it said that the most successful people are those who have failed the most. The reason for this is that nobody is perfect. We will all fail from time to time. Those who succeed do so because they keep going. Babe Ruth is one of baseball's all-time home run leaders yet he also at the top of the list of those who struck out the most.

Zig Ziglar had this to say from his book, Something Else to Smile About:

Somebody once said the difference between a big shot and little shot is that the big shot was the little shot who kept on shooting. There's much truth in that witticism. The reality is, no matter what our target might be, we seldom hit it on the first try unless the target is low, which means the accomplishment--and the rewards--will be insignificant.

In bow shooting, experienced archers test the wind by using the first shot to judge its strength and direction, enabling them to zero in on the target with their following shots. In short, archers learn from their mistakes. That's good advice for all of us. Success in business, athletics, science, politics, etc., seldom comes on the first effort. Walt Disney went bankrupt a number of times and had at least one nervous breakdown before he made it big. Athletic skills are acquired over a long period of time and after countless hours of practice. Authors by the hundreds can tell you stories by the thousands of those rejection slips before they found a publisher who was willing to "gamble" on an unknown.

It's more than just a cliché that persistent, enthusiastic effort produces powerful, positive results, that failure is an event--not a person--and that the only time you must not fail is the last time you try. Whatever your target might be, chances are good that you're not going to hit the bull's eye on the first effort you make at being "successful." The key is persistence and the willingness to try again in the face of those early misses.

You can learn from those early mistakes and if you do keep on shooting, it's just a question of time before you, too, are hitting the bull's eye.