7.0 The Endurance Race

1. The Endurance Race Endurance /ĕn-do r′əns, -dyo r′-/ Noun o͝? The act, quality, or power of withstanding hardship or stress. The state or fact of persevering. o͝? You would think that topics would run short after 6 mini e-books, but at church this morning I was reminded of how short my endurance (stamina) had become. What does a Cancer Warrior endure? Here’s a list of possibilities. Debt Load Right out of the gate, debt load is a tough one. It can come from being under insured, inability to work or a combination of both. I know of people with huge debt loads due to insurance not paying for certain treatments and those who have had reduce or eliminate working. Other financial heart aches include credit card debt, collections, unpaid car payments, unpaid house payments, utilities, grocery money, soup kitchens, food pantries. Long-term Treatments Choices, decisions and family. You can’t make everyone happy so do what is best for you. Make decisions that fit where you are at. Personally I past on having treatments due to the side effects which one surgery already put me through. So I wait for insurance to see if they will pay for a surgery that will take care of the cancer and for another surgery to keep my bladder working. What’s Your Endurance Race?

2. Here are stories of three people suffered great hardship in their day. Back to My Man Job’ The first, and perhaps most popular story of perseverance that comes to mind, is the epic story of Job. His example was one of extreme pain and sorrow. Yet through it all, Job stayed true to God and his faith. Job was a faithful man, blameless and upright. He served God and was a diligent follower. Satan wanted to prove a point to God, that he could break man’s will. So he asked if he could torture Job and God allowed it. The only restriction God placed on Satan was he could not take Job’s life. In the course of one day, Job was told by different servants that all his belongings and possessions, livestock and ten children had been killed or destroyed by natural disasters or thieves. Despite all this, Job still praised God, even in his sorrow. Next Job was afflicted with terrible skin sores and yet, he persevered and praised God. In his grieving and illness, Job’s friends came and sat with him. Despite the terrible advice they offered him, Job still praised God. But soon his praises turned to questions, bitterness and anger. Job questioned how a just God could allow such terrible things to happen, even to a faithful servant. God eventually intervened and implored Job to be brave. Realizing the power of God and overcome by it, Job recognized God’s true character and accepted his own faults and constraints as a human. Job also intervened for his friends and God had mercy on them, despite their horrible advice. God then had mercy on Job and restored his health and all his possessions, granting him twice as much as he had previously, more children and a long prosperous life. Job’s story is the ultimate test of faith and example of perseverance in the Bible. Even in the darkest times, through death and turmoil, questions of faith and God, Job was faithful and trusted God’s plan. Believe the Bible or not, what if your life hung on a deal made between to super powers and your single job was to endure the hardship? Loose it all without complaint, with your friends telling you to curse God and die. If yo want it all back multiplied then what will you do?

3. Apostle Paul My Example of What Tough Is Paul is the ultimate example of perseverance in the New Testament. No one has a better conversion story, going from killing Christians to becoming one, than Paul. Yet after his conversion, he became so on fire for the Lord that he faced many trials and persecutions. No one details this better than Paul himself. In 2 Corinthians 11:23-33. He was … Imprisoned repeatedly Flogged Exposed to death again and again Received 39 lashes five times Beaten with rods three times Pelted with stones Shipwrecked three times Just to name a few! But let’s hone in on 2 Corinthians 11:30, “If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.” Paul embodies what it means to persevere in the faith. His letters in the New Testament tell his story and are a crucial example of perseverance in the Bible we must follow. Paul puts his health challenge another way. “We don’t always get what we want,” Paul says in The Vine 2 Cor 12.8 “Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” From what I have read elsewhere Paul’s affliction was blindness, so others had to write his content. Just a Thought “We all get our hardships. Some easier and some worse than others.” Bryan L. Come what may, all bad fortune is to be conquered by endurance. Virgil “The main thing about an endurance challenge is that you have to endure. Not so much physically, but mentally. Your mind gives up first. Not your body.” Milind Soman

4. The Persistent Widow Jesus tells us a parable (story) of a widow in Luke 18:1-8. It is a perfect example of perseverance in the Bible we can follow. It details how a widow goes before a Judge, who doesn’t fear God or man. She pleads with the Judge to right a wrong done to her by her adversary. She continually pleaded with him to do so. After a while, he caved and even though he didn’t fear God or man, he avenged her wrong doing. She essentially wore him down. The parable goes on to highlight how God will avenge his children—believers— even more swiftly than an earthly judge. When we continually cry out to God, he hears us. This is a story to show us that persistently pleading with God, talking with him, praying and persevering in faith, will reap His rewards. He hears our prayers and listens to His children. Take heart brothers and sisters. God hears us! This example of perseverance by a widow is told to show us that whatever our problems are, even if we think they’re too little or too big, should be lifted up to God daily. He wants to hear from us. So we should bring them to a God who is mighty enough to solve them. How long did this widow persist? Until the judge gave in. That’s one tough lady. How long does this endurance race go, months, years, many years, a lifetime? The question is what can we do to pace ourselves right now. Maybe you already have the solution. But lets look at this from a “I need a plan” point of view. Consider These Things Too many late nights bring up questions like this one. What weighs us down or holds us back in our Endurance Race? Secondary health issues of course. Fatigue can be a big one. Infections. Financial road blocks. Loss of income is a huge road block to financial recovery. Kids that do not care? Since this one is connected to divorce its like a rain storm that follows you everywhere you go. Family members trying to get involved? Good intentions can be really bad so be careful who gets to say what. Spiritual issues – oh yes and that can involve an attitude toward God. An attitude toward God can include disliking him because He hasn’t healed you. Tough one! Our own feelings running a muck. Will the treatment plan work? When you don’t know what the outcome is going to be, feelings can get a little iffy. Take a deep breath and find something to do to get your mind off your fears.

5. The Water Treatment Plant “How Is It With Your Soul” Bryan L. Most homes have garbage disposals and what goes in the garbage disposal ends up at the Water Treatment Plant to get cleaned and reused. From the book Perpetual - The Season of Despair - Despair breeds within us something far worse than losing our life, it can make us lose our reason for living. If you believe in God, this would be a good perspective for you. The Vine says, Do not give up on God. 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 (Jesus talking to Paul), But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” When your health declines and heads for the Water Treatment Plant, remember that in our weakness things can be changed. Sickness is reversed. The body finds a way to heal itself. The doctor comes back with cancer free. The Vine says - You can’t go around what God wants you to go through. 2 Sam 23.11-12 Shammah (he’s a soldier) stayed “stationed” in the battle field). Maybe that is where some of you are with me in a battle field. If we have soul issues the battle field will keep moving with us, until. Get to your until moment. Stay stationed, until. Remain at the water treatment plant, until. Until /ŭn-tĭl′/ Preposition Up to the time of. Before (a specified time). Wait Until Break Through Comes!

6. What Comes After A Breakthrough? “There is no breakthrough without a breakdown.” Tony Robbins It’s 11:34pm. Something has to happen to initiate a breakthrough. What if your breakthrough is being in remission and the drugs have stopped the B_st_rd for now. Is that a breakthrough? Maybe your on an alternative plan and you’ve gotten your disease under control or your cancer free. Is that a breakthrough? Yet some of use are waiting for our breakthrough. What is that something? What if your breakthrough has come. Hallelujah! What do you do next? Are their secondary health issues that need to be dealt with? I’m there. What does your financial road to recovery look like? What ever you do, make it worth while plan. We will skip divorce related cancer pain since I don’t have any answers for you. What about those family members? Keep them at arms length and get on with your new life. Spiritual issues? Take God out for coffee and tell Him how you feel. Feelings, I’m no better on that subject. Seek wise counsel it can help.

7. With Respect to All Cancer Warriors He loves you and wants you to run your race. Bryan L. - One of many Cancer Warriors On LinkedIn Support this Cancer Warrior You can download the entire Cancer Warrior Eight Part Series Slide Share https://www.slideshare.net/BryanLong20 which includes - 1.0 The Money Gap & Cancer Warrior 2.0 The Bigger Money Gap & Cancer Warrior The Original Cancer Warrior 1.0 The Cancer Warrior 2.0 Aftermath 3.0 The Lost Chapters 4.0 Fight to the Finish 5.0 Unbalanced 6.0