Seo Sang-moon failed 271
times, but on his 272nd attempt, he passed the
academic part of the South Korean driving test.
Sang-moon will turn 70 soon and is discussing
with his wife what kind of car they should buy.
"Driving seems a bit hard, But after trying 271
times to pass the oral exam, what do I have to
be afraid of?" Sang-moon said.
—http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7511425/?GT1=6428
Illustration by Jim L. Wilson
Romans 5:4 (HCSB) "endurance
produces proven character, and proven character
produces hope."
PERSEVERANCE
The last supersonic Concorde
aircraft landed in London Heathrow airport on
October 24, 2003, and the world said goodbye to
the era of supersonic travel. The plane carrying
100 passengers was scheduled to land three hours
and 20 minutes after departing New York's JFK
airport. Thousand gathered to watch the
simultaneous landing of the flight from New York
and two other Concordes at Heathrow.
Ross Stainton the former
chief of British Overseas Airways Corporation
the predecessor to British Airways says, "It's
been a wonderful achievement." Stainton who was
part of the Concorde's development, and aboard
the debut flight said he was "Very sad, but also
very proud.
The Concorde was a joint
project of the British and French governments.
The governments hoped to sell hundreds of the
supersonic transports introducing a new era of
air travel. The plane entered commercial service
in January 1976. Flying 11 miles above the
Earth's surface, the plane flew at up to 1350
miles per hour, crossing the Atlantic in three
and a half hours. In the end only 16 Concordes
were built. After a Concorde crashed in Paris in
July 2000, killing 113 people, the plane was
modified, but never reached a point of financial
viability. The fare of $9,000 for a
transatlantic round trip was well above the
first class fare, for the Concorde's slower and
bigger competitor, the Boeing 747. Only a
wealthy few were able to experience a trip on
the unique plane.
Capt Michael Bannister,
British Airway's chief Concorde pilot, who
estimated he had logged 8,000 hours and over 8
million miles in the Concorde, said he felt a
little sadness at the final flight. Bannister
said, "What we've tried to do is to make the
retirement of the Concorde a celebration. It's
something we'd like to do with the style and
grace and elegance befitting this majestic
aircraft."
Most of the remaining planes
will be sold to museums. One of the passengers
on the final flight summed things up saying,
"Nobody will think about whether or not it was a
commercial success or not. They will say this is
another frontier which the human race has broken
through."
—Associated Press, Concorde
Takes Flight for the final time, October 24,
2003, Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim
Sandell.
Whether we think our life is
marked by success or failure, the Apostle Paul
Encourages us to keep going.
Philip. 3:12-14 NIB “Not that
I have already obtained all this, or have
already been made perfect, but I press on to
take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took
hold of me. [13] Brothers, I do not consider
myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one
thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and
straining toward what is ahead, [14] I press on
toward the goal to win the prize for which God
has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
PERSEVERANCE
Individuals who refused to
pay their taxes in southern India are now being
forced to face the music, literally. After many
residents ignored repeated demands to settle
overdue property taxes, authorities in a city in
Andhra Pradesh states have hired drummers to
play non-stop outside the offender's houses
until they pay up.
The city was due 50 million
Rupees, the equivalent of 1.15 million dollars,
in past due taxes. Offers such as waving
interest and penalties failed to recover the
amounts due. T.S.R. Anjaneyulu, municipal
commissioner of the city, said the new plan is
to make the drummers a spectacle outside the
homes of defaulters, draw them out, explain the
amount due and make arrangements to
collect.
The new plan seems to be
working. After one week of incessant drumming,
18 per cent of the tax backlog was
cleared.
—Reuters, Pay Your Taxes,
Pa-Rum-Pum-Pum-Pum, March 11, 2005. Illustration
by Jim L. Wilson
Luke 18:3-7 (NIV) "And there
was a widow in that town who kept coming to him
with the plea, 'Grant me justice against my
adversary.' [4] "For some time he refused. But
finally he said to himself, 'Even though I don't
fear God or care about men, [5] yet because this
widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she
gets justice, so that she won't eventually wear
me out with her coming!'" [6] And the Lord said,
'Listen to what the unjust judge says. [7] And
will not God bring about justice for his chosen
ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he
keep putting them off?'"
PERSEVERANCE
Dr. Bruce Shelley, professor
of church history at Denver Theological
Seminary, tells a parable about a farmer whose
old dog fell into a dry well. After assessing
the situation, the farmer sympathized with the
dog but decided that neither the dog nor the
well was worth the trouble of saving. Instead he
planned to bury the old dog in the well and put
him out of his misery.
When the farmer began
shoveling, initially the old dog panicked. But
then it dawned on the mutt that every time a
shovel load of dirt landed on his back he could
shake it off and step up. This he did blow after
blow. "Shake it off and step up, shake it off
and step up, shake it off and step up!" he
repeated to encourage himself.
It wasn't long before the
dog, battered and exhausted, stepped
triumphantly over the wall of that well. What he
thought would bury him actually benefited
him-all because of the way he handled his
adversity.
—Go the Distance, p. 51
Illustration by Jim L. Wilson
For more information on Go
the Distance, by Ed Rowell visit
Playing baseball in October
is a normal part of the game for 25 year-old
Derek Jeter, the All-Star shortstop of the New
York Yankees. The 2001 World Series was the
fifth he's played in during his brief career.
Jeter is undoubtedly one of the premier players
in the game.
When Jeter was still in
diapers, 42 year-old Mike Morgan pitched in his
first Major League game. Morgan's played for 12
Major League teams in his 24 year career, but
has never made it to the World Series, never
that is until 2001.
During the top of the 8th
inning of game 1 of the Series, Arizona
Diamondback pitcher Morgan took to the mound and
retired the Yanks in order. The third batter was
Jeter, who ended his 14 game World Series
hitting streak when he flied out to deep
centerfield.
"My father taught me a lot of
things, and one of them was perseverance,"
Morgan said. "I'm glad he did. Because I don't
think my career would have felt complete if I
didn't make it to the World Series."
Morgan will probably never
make it into the Hall of Fame, he's lost more
games than he's won and his ERA is over 4. But
after 24 years there's something no one can take
from him, the 8th inning in game 1 of the 2001
World Series. And the perseverance that got him
there.
—http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news/ap/20011027/ap-diamondbacks-morganmakesit.html
Illustration
by Jim L. Wilson
PERSEVERANCE
The Energizer Bunny first
appeared in commercials in October 1989. Two
decades later, the pink bunny pounding on a
drum, wearing sunglasses and flip-flops has kept
“going and going and going.” The symbol of
battery maker, Energizer Holdings has become so
famous that “The Energizer Bunny” is synonymous
with people who endure.
A recent advertising survey
found 96 percent of respondents recognized the
bunny, and AdAge.com named the symbol one of the
top ten advertising icons. In 2006, the Oxford
Dictionary added the term, “Energizer Bunny,”
defining it as “a persistent or indefatigable
person or phenomenon.” Chief
executive officer of Energizer, Ward Klein says
the Bunny’s message has remained consistent over
the years. Klein says, ”He speaks to longevity,
determination, and perseverance. He personifies
the American Spirit.”
--Still going and going:
Energizer Bunny enters his 20th year;
http://www.usatoday.com/money/advertising/2008-11-29-energizer-bunny_N.htm;
November 29, 2008;
Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim
Sandell
The best testimony we can
have is to be a person whose life remains
consistent. No matter what we face, we can keep
going in the strength Jesus provides.
James 1:2-4 (CEV) “My
friends, be glad, even if you have a lot of
trouble. You know that you learn to
endure by having your faith tested.
But you must learn to endure everything, so that
you will be completely mature and not lacking in
anything.”
PERSEVERANCE
Derek Redmond was prepared
for the 400m semifinal race at the Olympics in
Barcelona in 1992. He felt he was in the best
shape of his life. Despite eight operations on
his Achilles tendons over the past 4 years, he
felt very confident. His father Jim, sitting in
the stands, also had high hopes. Jim and his son
were very close and he made it to all of the
championship races.
Derek gets off to a good
start. Coming around the first bend in the track
tragedy struck. Derek’s hamstring went.
Initially he thought he had been shot because
the pain was so great. His leg would not
function. London’s The Guardian newspaper quoted
him,
“Everything I had worked
for was finished. I hated everybody. I hated the
world. I hated hamstrings. I hated it all. I
felt so bitter that I was injured again. I told
myself I had to finish. I kept hopping round.
Then, with 100 metres to go, I felt a hand on my
shoulder. It was my old man.”
Derek hopped on one leg for
half a lap before his father came to his aid.
Together they finished the race arm-in-arm to a
standing ovation. Now, some 17 years after the
race, not many people remember who won that
semi-final race or who even won the final. But,
many still remember Derek Redmond.
http://www.sportsfeelgoodstories.com/2009/04/03/derek-redmonds-olympic-spirit-1992/
Illustration
by Jim L. Wilson and David Tomme
Video-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-MRoID
(2:29)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0t-NAum8kY8
(4:31)
In the struggles and crises
of life, we know that God is by our side as we
persevere to the end.
Romans 8:37-39 (NAB) “No,
in all these things we conquer overwhelmingly
through him who loved us. (38)
For I am convinced that neither death, nor life,
nor angels, nor principalities, nor present
things, nor future things, nor
powers, (39) nor height, nor depth,
nor any other creature will be able to separate
us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our
Lord.”
PERSEVERANCE
Adam Pengilly was selected to represent his
home nation of Great Britain during the 2010
Winter Olympics in Vancouver. At one time,
Pengilly, was a bobsledder, but decided to
change over to the more challenging sport of
riding a skeleton sled. He told a
reporter, “The first run that you ever take is a
pretty scary time in your life.” He
said the first couple of years learning the new
sport were a challenge, but he kept telling
himself things would get better.
Pengilly said his hard work paid off, and he
became one of his country’s top skeleton
racers. Pengilly said his spiritual
journey mirrored his experience with the
skeleton. Pengilly, who is a committed
believer in Jesus Christ, said there were some
rough spots along the way, but now he finds
himself walking more closely with Christ than
ever. He admits he drifted from the Lord
as a teenager and college student, choosing to
live for himself rather than the Lord. He
says things changed one day after he spent a
night out with friends. Pengilly said though
they had a “good time,” he realized the futility
of living that way. At that point, he began to
look to the Lord again. He said, “I knew it was
the truth and I knew in my heart that it was
absolutely right, and so since then it’s been a
walk generally in the right direction.”
--http://www.sbcbaptistpress.org/BPnews.asp?ID=32318;
February 18, 2010. Illustration by Jim L. Wilson
and Jim Sandell
Philippians 3:13-14 (NIV) “Brothers, I do not
consider myself yet to have taken hold of it.
But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind
and straining toward what is ahead,
(14) I press on toward the goal to win the prize
for which God has called me heavenward in Christ
Jesus.”
PERSEVERANCE
A South Korean woman recently demonstrated that
perseverance pays off. After 960 attempts, 69
year old Cha Sa-soon passed all the tests and
was awarded a driver’s license. South Korea
requires both a written and driving test before
a person can receive a license. Cha took the
written test almost every day since April, 2005.
Once passing that requirement, Cha began to work
on the driving portion. Although it took ten
attempts, Cha finally achieved her goal. She
plans to buy a used car so she can visit her son
and daughter, and to help make her small
business selling vegetables more profitable.
South Korean driver earns license on 960th try;
http://www.centredaily.com/2010/05/06/1960135/south-korean-driver-earns-license.html;
May
6, 2010. Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and
Jim Sandell
Romans 12:11 (CEV) “Never give up. Eagerly
follow the Holy Spirit and serve the
Lord.”
PERSEVERANCE
A cow that miraculously escaped a
slaughterhouse in 2006 has been granted yet
another lease on life. The bovine captured
international attention when she leaped a 5-foot
fence at a great Falls Montana packing plant.
She dodged cars, trains, and dogs, before
swimming the Missouri river, and finally being
subdued by three tranquilizer darts. Employees
of the packing plant were so impressed that they
named the cow, Molly B, and had her taken to a
sanctuary to live out her life.
This past year, that sanctuary encountered
difficult times. Many of the animals there were
struggling to survive, and had to be moved.
Unless a new home could found for Molly B, some
feared it might be the end of the line for her.
At the last minute, another smaller farm
sanctuary stepped in to offer Molly B a second
chance at retirement. She will now be housed at
the New Dawn Sanctuary, which is run by a
husband and wife team. The owner of New Dawn
said she had a frank conversation with her
husband over whether they could afford to take
in another cow. The couple says they decided to
make it work they added, “We made a commitment
to her.”
--http://www.dailynews.com/news/ci_17279772.
Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell
2 Corinthians 4:8-9 (CEV) We often suffer, but
we are never crushed. Even when we don't know
what to do, we never give up. (9) In
times of trouble, God is with us, and when we
are knocked down, we get up again.
PERSEVERANCE
A stray dog who survived an attempt to put
him to sleep has become a canine celebrity.
The dog named Wall-E was among several dogs
abandoned when an Oklahoma shelter closed. Due
to overcrowding, a vet tried to euthanize the
puppy. The dog was found alive the morning
after he received two does of a lethal
sedative. Since word of the dog’s
survival has gotten out, 3,000 people have
expressed interest in adopting him and $1200
has been donated for his care.
Animal welfare officials say they are sending
the most promising people a formal
application. They say they are concerned for
his safety, as some people have said they want
to breed the dog to make money. Veterinarian
Amanda Kloski said, “It’s been crazy.” She
added, “We’ve gotten some applications that
are obviously a no, but there’s been some that
I say, ‘Wow, I wish they’d adopt me and my
son.” Kloski says they expect to neuter Wall-E
before he is sent to a new home.
--Okla. Dog’s Life Changes After Rising From
‘Dead’, March 16, 2011, Illustraton by Jim L.
Wilson and Jim Sandell
Romans 5:4 (HCSB) "endurance produces proven
character, and proven character produces
hope."
PERSEVERANCE
A Mexican fasted herself to the royal
wedding. Estibalis Chavez camped outside the
British embassy in Mexico City and fasted in
an attempt to gain a trip to see the Royal
wedding of Prince Willaim and Kate Middleton.
During her fast, Chavez lost 17 pounds. An
anonymous donor finally granted her wish and
sent her off to join the festivities.
Prayer can sometimes seem like such an
effort. We may engage in prayer for a long
time with no apparent answer from God. In the
end however, God does reply and it is always
just in time.
-- Oddnews-
http://www.oddnews.org/component/content/article/1-odd-news/434-fasting-mexican-gets-her-wish-to-see-royal-wedding-afp.html
Illustration
by Jim L. Wilson and Miguel Martinez
Luke 18:7-8(NASB) 7 now, will not God bring
about justice for His elect who cry to Him day
and night, and will He delay long over them? 8
"I tell you that He will bring about justice
for them quickly.
PERSEVERANCE
In June 2011, the oldest-known working light
bulb in the world celebrated the 110th
year it has burned bright. The bulb hangs in a
California fire station, and officially holds
the world record. No one knows how the bulb
has been able to shine for so long without
burning out. It has not only shone brightly,
but endured some initial glitches when it was
put into service in 1901. There was a week
with several power outages in 1937, and others
during the 1970s the bulb has endured.
The bulb is not a typical bulb. Adolphe
Chailet, the man who originally competed with
Thomas Edison to make the best bulb, designed
it. Though Edison’s bulb design is widely
used, Chailet’s design is shining brightly.
Lynn Owens, the person in charge of the light
bulb centennial committee said, “Nobody knows
how it’s possible. . .We’ve had scientists
from all over the country look at this light
bulb.”
--The World’s Oldest Light Bulb has Been on
for 110Years,
http://newsfeed.time.com/2011/06/16/the-worlds-oldest-light-bulb-has-been-on-for-110-years
;
June 16, 2011. Illustration by Jim L. Wilson
and Jim Sandell.
Matthew 5:14-16 (CEV) (14) You are like light
for the whole world. A city built on top of a
hill cannot be hidden, (15) and no one would
light a lamp and put it under a clay pot. A
lamp is placed on a lampstand, where it can
give light to everyone in the house. (16) Make
your light shine, so that others will see the
good that you do and will praise your Father
in heaven.
PERSEVERANCE
Life is rough. Sometimes, it is really rough.
In those times, it is easy to want to quit—to
just give up and go home. But the truth is the
rough times gives us strong footholds to
progress in life.
Gospel singer Wintly Phipps says, “If the
mountain was smooth, you couldn’t climb
it.”
--www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMF_24cQqT0
Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and John Bohrer
2 Timothy 4:7 (HCSB) I have fought the good
fight, I have finished the race, I have kept
the faith.
PERSERVERANCE
Steve Saint is no stranger to difficult
times. His father was killed while
trying to bring the Gospel to the Waodani
people of Ecuador in 1956. Since then,
Saint founded a ministry called I-Tec which is
based on the idea of using the latest
technological advances to bring the news of
Jesus to untouched parts of the world.
Recently, while Saint was testing a new device
for the ministry, part of it broke and hit him
in the head, leaving him paralyzed below the
neck. After the accident, he underwent
surgery to relieve pressure on his spine.
Though he cannot feed himself at present,
Saint says he hopes new and advanced
technologies may help him walk again.
Saint posted a video on the internet telling
how he had never felt so helpless before in
his life. Despite the circumstances, he said
he had never wondered or even asked God why
the accident happened. Instead he used
the message to encourage those who were
concerned about his condition. Saint urged
believers to look beyond their situation and
gave God everything, no matter how
insignificant it might seem. With tears in his
eyes Saint said, “Let’s give Him everything.
No holds barred, nothing held back.” He
added, “He only expects us to give Him what we
have. For some of us, that’s not very much,
but at certain points in our life, it’s
enough.”
--Paralyzed Steve Saint: ‘Give God All You’ve
Got.’
http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/us/2012/June/Paralyzed-Steve-Saint-Give-God-All-Youve-Got,
June 21, 2012, Illustration by Jim L.
Wilson and Jim Sandell.
2Corinthians 4:8-10 GNB “We are often
troubled, but not crushed; sometimes in doubt,
but never in despair; there are many enemies,
but we are never without a friend; and though
badly hurt at times, we are not
destroyed. At all times we carry in our
mortal bodies the death of Jesus, so that his
life also may be seen in our bodies.”
PERSERVERANCE
In 2012, James Doggette celebrated his 101st
birthday. If you ask the residents of
his hometown of Beaumont, Texas they’ll say
Doggette does not act his age, especially when
he preaches. They say when he gets up to
deliver God’s word, they often believe they
are seeing a hearing a much younger man.
Doggette has been a minister since 1951, In a
45 year career he pastored eight churches in
Mississippi and four more in Texas, including
serving as an interim pastor for many of them.
He has outlived two wives, and has five
children.
Doggette has filled pulpits around Beaumont
five times in the past year. The last time he
preached, the congregation said he stood
behind the pulpit for half an hour, did not
use an outline, and spoke with the passion and
energy of a much younger man. When asked
about his longevity, Doggette credits God’s
grace. He says he never even thought much
about age until he reached 100 years of age.
He still drives a car, and says, “Christ and
church are still my life.” When asked
about his ability to faithfully serve for so
long, Doggette replied, “If you stay young on
the inside it change up what you see in the
mirror.” --Jim L. Wilson and Jim
Sandell.
Texas minister still preaching at 101,
http://rss.ag.org/articles/detail.cfm?RSS_RSSContentID=23221&RSS_
OriginatingChannelID=1184&RSS_OriginatingRSSFeedID=3359&RSS_Source=rssFile_3359;
July
6, 2012,
I Corinthians 4:2 ESV Now it is required that
those who have been given a trust must prove
faithful.
PERSEVERANCE
A woman from California sacrificed her job in
order to see her son play in the 2012 Little
League World Series. Billie Ann Tomei lost her
job because she wanted to take vacation time
to cheer her son during the championship game.
When she asked for the time off, her boss
refused and said if she went, she should write
herself her last paycheck. Tomei decided to go
anyway, and proved her dedication again when
through a series of circumstances there were
no rental cars left in Philadelphia to get her
to Williamsport. She gave her last $400
dollars to a taxi driver and told him to take
her as far as the money would go. The driver
ended up taking her all the way to her
destination, deducting $150 dollars from the
price of the trip. Tomei’s sons team scored 10
runs in the final three outs of regulation to
force extra innings, but ended up losing the
championship to a team from Tennessee. Despite
the outcome, Tomei refused to let any obstacle
keep her from being with her son at an
important time of his life. --Jim L. Wilson
and Jim Sandell
Mother loses job to cheer on son and
husband’s Little League World Series run, by
Cameron Smith,
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/highschool-prep-rally/mother-loses-job-cheer-son-husband-little-league-160800643.html
;
Accessed August 27, 2012.
Romans 12:21 (HCSB) Do not be conquered by
evil, but conquer evil with good.
PERSEVERANCE
The only people who may have more time on
board an airplane than Tom Stuker are the
pilots. In 2012, Stuker achieved a rare honor,
becoming the first passenger to fly 1 million
miles on United Airlines in a calendar year.
Stuker’s job as a sales consultant requires a
lot of travel. Just a couple of years ago, the
airline named a plane after him because he had
logged 10 million lifetime flight miles.
Stuker says he prefers to sit in the aisle
seat when he flies, and in the 7,000 plus
flights he has been on, he has never seen the
oxygen masks come down, or had an emergency
landing. He says there have been aborted
takeoffs and landings, as well as a share of
the realities of life experienced in-flight.
When asked about his plans for the coming year
Stuker said he will cut back a little and only
fly 500,000 miles. When asked how he felt
after the equivalent of 40 trips around the
world in less than a year, Stuker laughed and
said, “Tired. I know I’ll never fly this much
again in a year.”— Jim L. Wilson and Jim
Sandell
Extreme traveler flies 1 million miles in a
year,
http://www.nbcnews.com/travel/travelkit/extreme-traveler-flies-1-million-miles-year-1C7661414,
Accessed:
December 20, 2012.
Ecclesiastes 1:14 (ESV) I have seen
everything that is done under the sun, and
behold, all is vanity and a striving after
wind.
PERSEVERANCE
A postcard sent to two sisters in Elmira, New
York arrived at the right address, but ended
up in the hands of another family because it
arrived nearly 70 years after it was sent. The
card was sent in July, 1943 from Illinois. It
was sent to Pauline and Theresa Leisenring by
their parents who were visiting their brother
at a Medical center during World War II. The
family that lives the address now, Adam and
Laura Rundell said they were surprised when it
arrived at their home in mint condition. They
described it as an unexpected treasure. The
Rundells did some research and offered the
card to relatives of the original sisters,
because both since passed away. Karen
Mazurkiewicz, a spokeswoman for the U.S.
Postal Service in Buffalo says sometimes, old
letters or postcards are found in an old
mailbag or behind machines. Since mail was not
sorted by machine in 1943, she thinks someone
may have found it and put it back in the mail.
Mazurkiewicz said, “As long as three is a
deliverable address, the Postal Service will
deliver it. — Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell,
Postcard mailed in 1943 finally arrives, by
Jennifer Kingsley,
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2012/11/23/postcard-mailed-in-1943-arrives/1723477/
Accessed
November 23, 2012.
John 14:4 (ESV) And you know the way to where
I am going.”
PERSEVERANCE
When a person is suffering from depression,
there are times when they just can’t make
their body do anything, even if they know a
little exercise would be the best thing. Paige
Waehner says she has helped a lot of people
find the motivation to exercise, but admits
that depression is especially hard to deal
with because it often involves a crushing
fatigue and the feelings that you don’t care
about anything. In those cases, exercise might
help, but the person doesn’t want to do
anything. Waehner says the best answer she has
found is to recommend one movement at a time.
She also says depression is not the time to
set impossible goals, but to resolve to do
something. She says, she asks, Can You
question. Can you stand up? Can you walk
across the room?, Can you open the door?. If
so, she says the key is to keep taking one
step at a time and not set impossible goals.
She recommends something that is accessible,
simple, and soothing, then go as far as
possible. She says, the best way to overcome
depression is a mindset of “You think You
Can’t, but You Can.”— Jim L. Wilson and
Jim Sandell
Exercise for Depression, by Paige Waehner,
http://exercise.about.com/b/2013/03/28/exercise-for-depression.htm,
Accessed March 28, 2013.
Philippians 3:14 (ESV) I press on toward the
goal for the prize of the upward call of God
in Christ Jesus.
PERSEVERANCE
Most of the cars built in the 1970s are long
gone, but a small spacecraft launched in 1977
is still going, traveling through space at
38,000 miles an hour. Voyager 1 has been on a
journey for 35 years and is now 11 billion
miles from the sun. Ed Stone signed on with
the mission in 1977 and only expected it was
last 5 years. Stone says the spacecraft is on
the verge of bursting through the bubble our
sun creates around itself and will become the
first manmade vehicle to reach interstellar
space. He says Voyager 1 still records data on
an eight-track tape and is less sophisticated
than a cell-phone or iPod. Yet, the vehicle
has made some important discoveries such as
volcanoes on a moon of Jupiter called Io, and
sent back important information about the
rings of the planet Saturn. Stone says to
conserve power, Voyager’s functions are slowly
being shut down, but it will continue to
function until around 2025. He says the
spacecraft is extending man’s reach further
every day. He added, “This mission probably
has had more discoveries than any other
planetary mission ever had, because it’s seen
so many different worlds.”—Jim L. Wilson and
Jim Sandell
Voyager is approaching solar system's outer
limit, http://www.cbsnews.com/
8301-18563_162-57586758/voyager-is-approaching-solar-systems-outer-limit,
Accessed
May 29, 2013
1 Corinthians 15:58 (CEV) (58) My dear
friends, stand firm and don't be shaken.
Always keep busy working for the Lord. You
know that everything you do for him is
worthwhile.
PERSEVERANCE
Orvile Rogers says he has run over 40,000
miles in his lifetime, and even though he is
95-years- old, he has no intention of slowing
down. Rogers started running after a book
inspired him years ago, and started running
competitively at age 90. Rogers says he has
had a life-long love of running. And the book
Aerobics by Dr. Kenneth Cooper got him to join
the running revolution, and he has set his
sights on record setting goals. Rogers has
competed in track and field events on the
national and international levels for the past
five years. Even after suffering a stroke,
Rogers was not deterred. He says the stroke
left his left hand and leg paralyzed, but he
overcame and was running again after a couple
of months. Rogers says he expects to be the
oldest participant at most events, and that
can be a benefit. He adds, “I don’t expect any
competition in this age bracket.”—Jim L.
Wilson and Jim Sandell
RUNNER, 95, BREAKS WORLD RECORDS,
HTTP://GMA.YAHOO.COM/BLOGS/ABC-BLOGS/RUNNER-95-BREAKS-WORLD-RECORDS-102427682.HTML,
ACCESSED
JULY 4, 2013.
Hebrews 12:1-2 (CEV) (1) Such a large crowd
of witnesses is all around us! So we must get
rid of everything that slows us down,
especially the sin that just won't let go. And
we must be determined to run the race that is
ahead of us. (2) We must keep our eyes on
Jesus, who leads us and makes our faith
complete. He endured the shame of being nailed
to a cross, because he knew that later on he
would be glad he did. Now he is seated at the
right side of God's throne!
PERSEVERANCE
Diana Nyad is a great exemplar of
persistence. At the age of 28 she attempted to
swim from Cuba to Florida without a shark
cage. No one had ever done it before. She
failed. Then she failed again, and again. She
tried and failed 4 times. Finally on her 5th
try at age 64 she succeeded. For 53 hours she
battled through jellyfish stings, sunburn, and
dehydration. She is the first and only person
to make the swim outside a shark cage.
At times I become discouraged at my
discipleship failures. Like Diane and the
apostle Paul, I will press on toward the goal.
--Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell
The Week, September 13, 2013 p. 4
Philippians 3:14 (NIV) I press on toward the
goal to win the prize for which God has called
me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
PERSEVERANCE
At his heaviest, Marlon Gibson weighed 409
pounds. Today, he weighs 160 pounds, and is
quick to point out that he did not use
surgery, or a special diet plan. Gibson says
what motivated him to lose weight was he saw
his wife tear up while they were watching a
television program about a weight loss
competition. She told him that she was afraid
he wasn’t going to be around long because of
his weight. Despite being heavy all his life,
and never being taught healthy eating
patterns, Gibson set out to lose weight. He
said it was hard work, but it was worth
it. Gibson said he liked eating when he
was younger, and learned to equate food with
affection. He never was big about exercising
either. Gibson offered encouragement to those
thinking about losing weight. He said, “I
always tell people it’s the three P’s:
persistence, passion, and perseverance.”
—Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell
Man loses 245 pounds with the three P's, By
Jan Christensen,
http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/09/health/weight-loss-marlon-gibson/index.html?hpt=hp_t5,
Accessed
September 9, 2013.
Philippians 3:14 (NASB) I press on toward the
goal for the prize of the upward call of God
in Christ Jesus.
PERSEVERANCE
Deep in the Maine wilderness on a January
winter day, 57-year-old Nicholas Brown was in
a snowmobile accident. The crash caused him to
break his leg. With no possibility of help,
Brown crawled on 2.5 miles on his elbows. The
night was dark, the temperature was below
freezing, but over the rolling hills after six
long hours he finally reached a friend’s
home.
While the difficulties we face may not be the
same kind, the perseverance Nicholas Brown
showed is helpful in all the trials of life.
--Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell
World, February 22, 2014 p18.
James 1:12 (ESV) (12) Blessed is the man who
remains steadfast under trial, for when he has
stood the test he will receive the crown of
life, which God has promised to those who love
him.
PERSEVERANCE
Did you happen to read the recent article
that claimed: “the Faster You Die, the More
Popular the Game?” People enjoy a challenge.
As it turns out, video game designers are
purposefully making their games more
difficult—and gamers love it! People who play
these games post videos on their improvement,
and are encouraged to plant hints in the games
that help others succeed. Through
perseverance, people find hope. —Jim L.
Wilson and Brian Vogelesang
Romans 5:3-4 (ESV) (3) Not only that, but we
rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that
suffering produces endurance, (4) and
endurance produces character, and character
produces hope,
PERSEVERANCE
In A Long Obedience in the Same Direction,
Eugene Peterson says, “Perseverance is not the
result of our determination; it is the result
of God’s faithfulness.”
So when we are tempted to compromise our
faith, or when we think we have no strength
left to endure—we should remember God’s
faithfulness. ––Jim L. Wilson and Marla
Harper
A Long Obedience in the Same Direction by
Eugene Peterson (P. 133)
Hebrews 10:23 (ESV) Let us hold fast
the confession of our hope without wavering,
for he who promised is faithful.
PERSEVERANCE
A cell phone belonging to an Oklahoma man
made a journey halfway around the world before
he got it back. Kevin Whitney says he lost his
phone when he bent over to work on a copper
bottom door and it fell into a grain pit and
went up the elevator. Whitney said when the
phone disappeared into a bin full of 280,000
pounds of grain he knew he would never see it
again. Little did he know that was the
beginning of a nine-month journey for the
phone. It hitched a ride in a truck to another
grain facility in Oklahoma and then traveled
along the Arkansas and Mississippi river to
Convent Louisiana, and then was loaded onto a
ship headed for Japan. Though mixed in with 2
million bushels of grain sorghum, a grain mill
worker in Japan found the phone and called
Whitney. Whitney said, “It’s crazy. I can’t
believe it. What really shocked me about it
all was what a small world it is. There are a
lot of meaningful pictures on it so we are
real glad to get the phone back.”—Jim L.
Wilson and Jim Sandell
Unbelievable journey: Chickasha man loses
phone, gets it back from another continent, By
La’Tasha Givens,
http://kfor.com/2014/07/03/unbelieveable-journey-chickasha-man-loses-phone-gets-it-back-from-another-continent/?hpt=us_bn8
,
Accessed July 4, 2014.
Ecclesiastes 11:1 (HCSB) Send your bread on
the surface of the waters, for after many days
you may find it.
PERSEVERANCE
In 1931, Miriam McMichael, a schoolteacher
from Maine, sent a nine-page letter from her
home to her mother who lived in Pittsfield
Maine. A postal worker recently found the
letter at the Pittsfield post office who knew
it was old because the letter has a two-cent
stamp on it. Both of the original women have
since died, but official were able to track
down the family, and delivered the letter to
the granddaughter of the original recipient.
The post office said the task was complicated
because the family had changed the spelling of
their last name at some point. They admitted
they still did not know how the letter had
been lost. Ann MacMichael, the woman who
received the late letter, said she thought it
was ironic that the writer of the letter
apologized for not writing sooner.—Jim L.
Wilson and Jim Sandell
Letter Written in Maine 83 Years Ago
Delivered,
http://abcnews.go.com/Weird/wireStory/letter-written-maine-83-years-ago-delivered-24393433
,
Accessed July 2, 2014.
Proverbs 3:27–28 (HCSB) When it is in your
power, don’t withhold good from the one it
belongs to. 28 Don’t say to your neighbor, “Go
away! Come back later. I’ll give it
tomorrow”—when it is there with you.
PERSEVERANCE
Herman “Hy” Goldman celebrated him 101st
birthday by going to work, just like he
usually does. Goldman says he is happy to
still be working and doesn’t plan to quit
after 73 years at the same job. Other than a
brief absence to serve in World War II,
Goldman has worked at Capital Lighting since
1941. He was originally hired to sell items
and stock and clean the displays. Now,
Goldman’s job is rebuilding items that are
damaged or unusable. He lives near his job,
and still drives himself to work every day.
—Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell
His 101st birthday present? Another day at
work,
http://news.yahoo.com/101st-birthday-present-another-day-212848504.html,
Accessed
August 19, 2014.
Philippians 3:14 (HCSB) I pursue as my goal
the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in
Christ Jesus.
PERSEVERANCE
Despite going through two years of hardship,
a church in Cape Cod Massachusetts has plans
to rebuild after an arsonist burned their old
building to the ground. The church broke
ground on a new and larger building exactly
two years after the old building was
destroyed. Pastor Myron Heckman told a
local paper that the new building will be
bigger and more fire resistant and should take
about 18 months to complete. He also said much
of the work will be done by volunteers from
the congregation because many of them have
construction experience.—Jim L. Wilson and Jim
Sandell
Cape Cod church burned to ground rising from
ashes,
http://www.wcvb.com/news/cape-cod-church-burned-to-ground-rising-from-
ashes/29963962?utm_campaign=WCVB&utm_content=cJTZ0A&utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=trueAnthem:+Trending+Content#!cJTZ0A,
Accessed
November 27, 2014.
2 Corinthians 4:8-9 (NIV) We are hard pressed
on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but
not in despair; (9) persecuted, but not
abandoned; struck down, but not
destroyed.
PERSEVERANCE
Timothy Payne, served in the 82nd Airborne
for 11 years before he was medically retired
due to injuries he sustained when he stepped
on a 25-35 pound IED.
Payne has turned his energy to athletics in
an effort to stay motivated. He participated
in the Chicago Marathon, New York City
Marathon, L.A. Marathon and the Boston
Marathon with the help of the Achilles Freedom
Team and scuba divers through the Soldiers
Undergoing Disabled Scuba Diving, or S.U.D.S.,
program. He also competes in track and field
events and swimming for the Army team.
“I would never have found Jesus unless I had
lost my legs because I was so focused on the
mission at hand, destroying the enemy and
protecting our country. That all changed, and
it's a blessing. I just do what I can now for
others, and I just keep on going." --Jim L.
Wilson and Gay Williams
2 Corinthians 9:8 (HCSB) And God is able to
make every grace overflow to you, so that in
every way, always having everything you need,
you may excel in every good work.
PERSEVERANCE
A penny isn’t worth much, but they can be
quite valuable. Otha Anders, who lives in
Ruston, Louisiana, recently redeemed 45 years
of pennies that he had collected in plastic
jugs and was able to deposit $5,136.14 into
his bank account. –Jim L. Wilson
Given enough time and perseverance, even
worthless pennies become valuable.
Revelation 2:2-3 (HCSB) I know your works,
your labor, and your endurance, and that you
cannot tolerate evil. You have tested those
who call themselves apostles and are not, and
you have found them to be liars. (3) You also
possess endurance and have tolerated ?many
things? because of My name and have not grown
weary.
PERSEVERANCE
Adrianne Haslet-Davis
promised that one day she would run the Boston
Marathon. She made the vow while recovering
from losing the lower part of her left leg in
the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing. She was
standing among the spectators when the
explosions ripped through the crowd. Running
with a running blade, she kept her promise
this year. She had to rest for an hour at the
seventh mile because her stump began to swell,
but she persevered and finished the race. –Jim
L. Wilson and Rodger Russell.
The Week, April 29, 2016 p.
5
PERSEVERANCE
Lenworth “Kip” Williamson
made a resolution on January 1, 1989 that he
would run every day. Twenty-seven years later
Williamson is still running and in May 2016,
he marked 10,000 days. Williamson said he was
always an outdoor runner and the winter of
1989 was mild, so he decided to keep running.
He said he had read that if you do something
for 21 days, it would become a habit. Now,
regardless of the weather runs at least three
miles a day. At least one day each week,
Williamson runs between six and eight miles.
He told a local newspaper that he will
continue running as long as his legs work.—Jim
L. Wilson and Jim Sandell
Man Runs For 10,000
Consecutive Days,
http://www.klove.com/news/2016/05/23/man-runs-for-10000-consecutive-days.aspx,
Accessed
May 23, 2016.
Ephesians 6:18 (HCSB)“Pray at all times in the Spirit with
every prayer and request, and stay alert in
this with all perseverance and intercession
for all the saints.”
2 Timothy 4:7 (HCSB) “I have fought the good
fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the
faith.”
PERSEVERANCE
Michael Edwards faced an
uphill battle to become an Olympian. He was
born on December 5, 1963 into a normal home
where his mother worked in an aluminum-door
factory and his father worked as a plasterer,
as did his father and his father before him.
After failing at other
attempts to secure a spot on the British
Olympic team, Edwards succeeded as an Olympic
ski jumper. One reporter said, “He was a
heavy, farsighted man who, oddly enough,
became the best ski jumper in the entire
United Kingdom.” In the 1987 World
Championships, he became the first British
Olympic ski jumper to qualify since 1928.
His dream was finally
achieved by his “never give up” attitude.
“Eddie the Eagle,” wore six pairs of socks
inside hand-me-down ski boots with an attitude
to ignore the voices that were telling him to
quit. He achieved a status that very few ever
do, becoming an Olympic Athlete. The 22-year
old athlete told the press: “In my case, there
are only two kinds of hope—Bob Hope and no
hope.”
God wants us to stand firm
in the face of great opposition. It is God’s
strength which helps us to stand rock solid on
the foundation He puts us on when we place our
faith and trust in Him. We should stand
courageously against every opposing voice
trying to sway us away from our faith. Staying
alert to the barriers we face from our culture
should be a top priority in the life of every
growing follower of Jesus. –Jim L. Wilson and
Kevin C. Hall
1 Corinthians 16:13–14
(HCSB)“Be alert, stand firm in
the faith, act like a man, be strong. 14
Your every action must be done with love.”
PERSEVERANCE
Melissa
Kitcher became lost after she made a wrong
turn about 3 miles into the 13.1 mile run of
a half-marathon. The race director said he
had no idea Kitcher was still on the course
until her husband called hours later to ask
about her. She said her phone had frozen
before the race, but she wasn’t worried
because she knew her family would come
looking for her. Kitcher was found after
nightfall, but was not injured. She said
despite her experience, she will run another
Half-marathon soon and plans to finish this
time.—Jim L. Wilson & Jim Sandell
Hebrews
12:1 (HCSB) “Therefore, since we also have such a
large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let
us lay aside every weight and the sin that
so easily ensnares us. Let us run with
endurance the race that lies before us,”
PERSEVERANCE
A sanitation crew in Long
Island, New York spent hours digging through
tons of garbage before they recovered a lost
wedding ring. Colleen Dyckman said she
accidentally throw out her rings after
cooking the night before. She didn’t realize
they were gone until the next morning. By
the time, she realized the rings were gone;
the sanitation crew had already picked up
the trash. On an impulse, she chased down
the truck and had had the truck taken to a
special area at a local recycling center.
After digging for almost three hours,
Dyckman was ready to give up, but the
workers kept on. About an hour later, one of
them found the lost rings. To thank them,
Dyckman baked brownies and bought pizza and
cookies for the crew. Edward Wiggins, a
manager at the site where the truck was
taken to be searched said, “No one really
likes or hears about unsuccessful stories,
but they do take the same amount of work and
effort. But at the end of the day, this is
our job as civil servants. If a resident
needs assistance and we can do it, we will
always try.”–Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell
Galatians 6:9 (CSB)“Let
us not get tired of doing good, for we will
reap at the proper time if we don’t give up.”
PERSEVERANCE
In the last five years Mary
Shertenlieb has dealt with leukemia three
times. This year she took on the Boston
Marathon but sixteen miles into the race,
which occurred under wet and cold
conditions, medics told Mary that
hypothermia has taken hold and she needed to
quit. Her husband suggested that she warm up
at home and finish the remaining ten miles
later. At 12:15 a.m. the couple crossed the
finish line together. Shertenlieb said, “I
never thought I would feel this happy being
in last place.”
A lot of finishers were ecstatic
at the finish of the marathon. None were
more so than Mary who finished over 15 hours
after she started. She may have been last,
but her perseverance proved to be greatest.
The Risen Christ in speaking to John tells
him that staying firm in the faith is the
way to life, no matter how long it
takes.—Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell.
The Week May 4, 2018 p4
Revelation 2:10 (CSB)
Don’t be afraid of what you are
about to suffer. Look, the devil is about to
throw some of you into prison to test you,
and you will experience affliction for ten
days. Be faithful to the point of death, and
I will give you the crown of life.
PERSEVERANCE
Xia Boyu first attempted to
climb Mount Everest in 1975. He was forced
back by high-altitude storms close to the
summit. The Chinese mountaineer lost both
his feet on the climb. But Xia kept trying
and finally at age 69 he finally conquered
the 29,029-foot mountain. It was his fifth
attempt and he was the third double amputee
to succeed. Boyu said it was a “personal
challenge, a challenge of fate.”
The apostle Paul told his young
friend in the faith to “never quit.”
Throughout the letters he wrote to Timothy,
Paul continually encouraged Timothy to keep
striving, don’t give up. Victory will be
worth the struggle. —Jim L. Wilson and
Rodger Russell.
The Week, May 25, 2018 p. 4.
2 Timothy 4:7 (CSB)
I have fought the good fight, I
have finished the race, I have kept the
faith.
PERSEVERANCE
Tiger Woods returned to
pro golf in 2018. After his fourth back
surgery, his most recent one in February of
2017, many wondered if it would even be
possible to walk let alone play golf again.
Woods was thought to be the greatest golfer in
history but because of injuries and personal
issues his career has been on pause on and off
for the last 5+ years. Throughout 2018, Woods
made strides at every tournament but nobody
expected him to win. That is why it was a
surprise for Woods to pull off the victory at
the Tour Championship, which is the PGA’s
year-end tournament. Woods said he needed to
fight off his tears when he realized he was
going to win.—Jim L. Wilson and Bobby Oh
James 1:12 (CSB) “Blessed
is the one who endures trials, because when he
has stood the test he will receive the crown
of life that God has promised to those who
love him.”
PERSEVERANCE
Eric White dropped out of high
school and was homeless at the age of 15, but
his life is drastically different today, after
he persevered on and refused to give up.
White’s parents divorced when he was in ninth
grade, and he was forced to drop out of school
to help his mother pay the bills.When
his mother struggled with drug addiction, his
life fell apart and he ended up with no place
to live, and spent weeks living under a
bridge, or staying with anyone who would allow
him to stay. White could not read well, but
gained employment leading a crew at a pool
company. He worked hard and eventually founded
his own pool company. After selling that
company, he founded his dream company and
continues to work hard every day. White said,
“If you dream about starting a business no
matter what it is, do it today. Anything is
possible if you just try.” –Jim L. Wilson and
Jim Sandell
Hebrews 6:12 (CSB)12
so that you won’t become lazy but will be
imitators of those who inherit the promises
through faith and perseverance.
PERSEVERANCE
The social isolation
and quarantine brought on by the Covid-19
pandemic has spurred extraordinary feats of
perseverance. James Campbell ran a 26.2-mile
marathon in his back yard. He covered the
short path more than 7000 time in just over
5 hours earning $22,000 for charity. —Jim L. Wilson and
Rodger
Russell.
World Magazine,
5/23/20 p. 19
Philippians
3:14 (CSB) “I pursue as my goal the prize
promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ
Jesus.”
PERSEVERANCE
The social isolation
and quarantine brought on by the Covid-19
pandemic has spurred extraordinary feats of
perseverance. Tobias Weller a 9-year-old
autistic boy with cerebral palsy earned
$100,000 by completing a marathon on his
walker. He walked on the street in front of
his house for 70 days cheered on by friends
and family. —Jim L. Wilson and Rodger
Russell.
The Week, 6/19/20 p.
5
Isaiah
40:31 (CSB)
“but those who trust
in the Lord
will renew their
strength;
they will soar on
wings like eagles;
they will run and not
become weary,
they will walk and
not faint.”
PERSEVERANCE
The social isolation
and quarantine brought on by the Covid-19
pandemic has spurred extraordinary feats of
perseverance.When Tom Moore turned 100, he sat out
to raise 1000 pounds for the National Health
Service in the U.K. His goal was to walk 100
laps around his garden. By the time he
completed the challenge he had raised over
32 million pounds ($40 million.) —Jim L.
Wilson and Rodger Russell.
World Magazine,
5/23/20 p. 16
Isaiah
46:4 (CSB)
“I will be the same
until your old age,
and I will bear you
up when you turn gray.
I have made you, and
I will carry you;
I will bear and
rescue you.”
PERSEVERANCE
Patti Bacchus spends a lot of
time combing the beaches in front of her
Mayne Island home in British Columbia.
Usually, she finds a lot of trash, but
occasionally she makes unique finds. One
morning, she found a Frisbee, a $20 bill,
and an iPhone 7 in a waterproof case.Bacchus
said she charged the phone and her husband
guessed the easy password. She found a
contact labeled, “Mom” and sent a text
informing the person they found the phone.
She discovered the phone belonged to the
woman’s 16-year-old son and he had lost it
while white-water rafting eight months
earlier. Bacchus said solving the mystery
and returning the phone was a fun diversion
from the monotony of the pandemic. She
added,” I’m keeping the $20 and the Frisbee,
and I’ll keep picking up garbage off the
beach. I think the moral of the story is go
clean up a beach and buy a good case for
your phone.”—Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell
“Let us not get tired
of doing good, for we will reap at the
proper time if we don’t give up.”
PERSEVERANCE
A museum in Germany
used the free time created by the pandemic
to create a display that set a new Guinness
World record. Frederik Braun and his team
used the mandated shut down at the museum to
set up a display with a model train and
nearly 3000 glasses filled with varying
amounts of water.They
attached mallets to the train and as it
passed the glasses it played 2840 notes of
classical music. The rendition of classical
pieces by Strauss and Beethoven resulted in
the longest melody ever played by a model
train.After setting the record Braun said,
“Had there not been a lockdown we would have
thought about the project for a minute and
then buried it as impossible.” ---Jim L.
Wilson and Jim Sandell
Pay close attention
to your life and your teaching; persevere in
these things, for in doing this you will
save both yourself and your hearers.
PERSEVERANCE
Dan Schoenthal dreamed
of hiking the Appalachian Trail for years.
When he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s
disease in 2015, his goal became more
urgent. In 2020, Schoenthal hiked the first
300 miles of the 2200-mile trail just to see
if he could do it.His
goal
is to finish his quest, six years after his
original diagnosis. The Appalachian Trail
Conversancy said thousands of people attempt
to hike to entire trial every year, but only
one in four makes it. Schoenthal said he
hopes to finish the hike by the fall of
2021. He reported waking up a little stiff
and sore very morning, and though he has a
tremor in his left arm and left leg he is
pressing on. He added, “I’m going to listen
to my body and if my body says to slow down
or stop that’s what I’ll do. But so far, so
good.”—Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell
Therefore we do not
give up. Even though our outer person is
being destroyed, our inner person is being
renewed day by day.
PERSEVERANCE
In You'll Get
Through This: Hope and Help for Your
Turbulent Times, Max Lucado writes, “Your
pain won’t last forever, but you will. What
is coming will make sense of what
is happening now. Let God finish his work.
Let the composer complete his
symphony. The forecast is simple. Good days.
Bad days. But God is in all days.”
You’ll Get Through
This, page 86.
Romans 8:28 (CSB)
We know that all
things
work together for the good of those who love
God, who are called according to
his purpose.
PERSEVERANCE
Friends and family
welcomed Dave “Dinger” Bell back to dry
ground when the former Royal Marine
arrived in England after rowing across the
Atlantic Ocean. Bell’s team believes
he is one of the first people to row from
New York to England unsupported.Bell
reported that on the trip he was stung
by a jellyfish, hit by huge storms and then
revealed that he had a fear of open
water. On his trip, Bell kept followers up
to date through a blog and posted
pictures. His said his final effort was
rowing non-stop for 40 hours to get
through challenging weather off the coast.
When Bell arrived, he hugged his
father. As he celebrated with a cup of
coffee and a plate of chicken and pasta,
Bell said, “I’m never doing anything
dangerous again.”—Jim L. Wilson and Jim
Sandell
