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.
