“Programs, systems and methods sit well in the ivory towers of monasteries or in the wooden arms of icons. Head knowledge comes from the pages of a theology text. But the invitation to know God - truly know Him - is always an invitation to suffer. Not to suffer alone, but to suffer with Him.” - Joni Eareckson Tada

“Faith in God offers no insurance against tragedy.” - Philip Yancey

“No pain, no palm; no thorns, no throne; no gall, no glory; no cross, no crown.” - William Penn

“We cannot learn without pain.” - Aristotle

“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” - Martin Luther King, Jr.

“For man's greatest actions are performed in minor struggles. Life, misfortune, isolation, abandonment and poverty are battlefields which have their heroes - obscure heroes who are at times greater than illustrious heroes.” - Victor Hugo Author of Les Miserables

“’Tis easy enough to be pleasant, when life flows like a song. But the man worthwhile is the one who will smile when everything goes dead wrong.” - Ella Wheeler Wilcox

“The quickest way to change your attitude toward pain is to accept the fact that everything that happens to us has been designed for our spiritual growth.” - M. Scott Peck

“Don’t worry, be happy.” - Bobby Mcferin

“I can’t stand that song!” - Paul Morris

“Adversity and loss make a man wise.” - Welsh Proverb

“Problems are to the mind what exercise is to the muscles, they toughen and make strong.” - Norman Vincent Peale

“Those who dive in the sea of affliction bring up rare pearls.” - Charles Spurgeon

“It is not every calamity that is a curse, and early adversity is often a blessing. Surmounted difficulties not only teach, but hearten us in our future struggles.” - James Sharp

“Once you see your affliction as a preparation to meet God, you won't be quick to call it suffering again. Even though I have rough moments in my wheelchair, for the most part I consider my paralysis a gift. Just as Jesus exchanged the meaning of the Cross from a symbol of torture to one of hope and salvation, He gives me the grace to do the same with my chair. - Continued…

… If a cross can become a blessing, so can a wheelchair. The wheelchair, in a sense, is behind me now. The despair is over. There are now other crosses to bear, other “wheelchairs” in my life to be exchanged into gifts.” - Joni Eareckson Tada

“For it is commendable if you bear up under the pain of unjust suffering because you are conscious of God.” - 1 Peter 2:19 (TNIV)

Hey Paul, What’s an Ossuary?!

James, son of Joseph,brother of Jesus

1. The Father of Judas (Luke 6:16) 3. The Son of Zebedee, the brother of John (Acts 12:2) 2. The Son of Alphaeus (Mark 3:18) 4. The brother of Jesus (Acts 15:13)

“‘Where did this man get these things?’ they asked. ‘What's this wisdom that has been given him, that he even does miracles! Isn't this the carpenter? Isn't this Mary's son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren't his sisters here with us?’ And they took offense at him.” - Mark 6:3 (TNIV)

“ Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat. When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, ‘He is out of his mind.’” - Mark 3:20-21 (TNIV)

“ Jesus’ brothers said to him, ‘You ought to leave here and go to Judea, so that your disciples may see the miracles you do. No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.’ For even his own brothers did not believe in him.” - John 7:3 - 5 (TNIV)

Trials (Testing of our faith) Maturity Perseverance

“The experiences of camp life show that man does have a choice of action. There were enough examples, often of a heroic nature, which proved that apathy could be overcome, irritability suppressed. Man can preserve a vestige of spiritual freedom, of independence of mind, even in such terrible conditions of psychic and physical stress… everything can be taken from man but one thing: the last of human freedoms – to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way…” - Dr. Viktor Frankle

“Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” - Luke 9:23 (TNIV)

“I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death.” - Philippians 3:10 (TNIV)