Peace With God

Romans 5:1-5

Children's Moment

- stretch arm holding golf club - suffering

- 18 holes - endurance

- better player - character

- hope to become a better player

- Paul says: "suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope"

Self-Improvement

"suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope"

- a friend of mine

- suffering from not knowing what to do

- endurance to become a successful executive consultant

- character to slow down and move closer to his family

- hope of balancing a fulfilled family life with a fulfilled professional life

Medical

"suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope"

- suffering: rushed to the ER, shocked by stroke-like symptoms

- endurance: regular treatment, medication for life

- character: scars, humility

- hope: survive, pain-free

Christ

"suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope"

- suffering at the cross

- endurance showing that death is not the end

- character leaving an imprint through the Holy Spirit

- hope that one day we shall have peace with God

Peace with God

- it is not about a calm life

- my friend's Iron Man started with a first step

- looking at world record holders to show you the way

- if you want to learn how to run you look at someone doing 100 meters in under 10 seconds

- having survived cancer or a heart attack can empower you and make you look at life from a new angle

- God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference

- if you want to turn you life around and find a new focus you don't look at content people but Christ who has gone all the way. My friend did, too.