There is an account about a professor from Stanford University. When he was an undergraduate student, he overslept and got to class just as his professor was passing out an exam. He also noticed that there were two problems on the blackboard and figured that these were to be studied for next week's lecture, so he copied them down in his notebook. He said these were the toughest problems he had ever tried to solve and worked on them for the better part of three days. One he was able to solve and the other simply stumped him. He turned in his work the following Monday. 

Early the next week, his professor knocked on his dormitory door and showed him a paper he would be presenting at the next meeting of the International Mathematics Society. The paper was written about one of his students who had solved an unsolvable problem. Not even the great and gifted Einstein had been able to tackle the problem, let alone solve it. The student, now a famous mathematician, said, "If I had known those problems were unsolvable, do you think I would have even tried? I doubt it."

I can't imagine that many folks would actually try to do something that can't be done. At the same time, I have met and continue to meet people who won't take no for an answer and who believe in their heart they'll finish a job, even if it'll kill them in the process. "If I don't succeed, I will accept that it couldn't have been done anyway, so there!"

When I think about stuff like this, it makes my head hurt. Then I remember our good biblical man called Saul, who we know better as Paul. He should not have been able to do much of anything. From an ancient source, Paul was short, bald-headed, bow-legged, with eyebrows that met in the middle and a hooked nose. He was no charmer, by a long shot. In his own words, he lets his readers know that he has had to work hard, spent considerable time in prison, was almost killed, stoned once, was given 40 lashes about five times, beaten with sticks three times and shipwrecked. I don't believe I would want to stand too close to Paul. He was in constant danger, often hungry, thirsty, tired and cold. If I were put in jail and shipwrecked — as romantic as that may sound — I just might accept the possibility that I wasn't cut out to be an apostle.

Ever flunked a test, missed an opportunity, made a huge mistake, missed the boat, come up a day late and a dollar short? Ed Gibson failed the first and fourth grades, but ended up as an astronaut. Abraham Lincoln ran for office seven times and lost every race and yet became one of our most celebrated presidents.

I believe that some of you thought you couldn't survive one more day. Some of you were ready to put your dreams aside, call it quits and just plain old pull the plug. But something happened! You found the strength to carry on!

You are the hero in this story! You are here to teach us what true life is all about. You help us ask the unanswerable questions, "Where do we fit in the scheme of things? Are we destined for greatness?"

The answer is decided by how we live life. Each and every one of us is chosen. We may not get our names in the history books, but there is a book of life with a reserved space for our names. What must we do to win that prestigious honor? Simply live one day at a time to the best of our ability. The honor will be given to us by Almighty God. We leave the details up to Him.

There is the story of a cleaning woman who was hired to take care of the studio of a famous artist. He was known for creating remarkable pieces of sculpture. Every afternoon, she came in to sweep up the bits of marble and piles of dust. Finally, one evening, she walked in as the artist was finishing his project. She looked at his work and exclaimed, "Why, that's Abraham Lincoln! How did you know he was in there?"

Only God knows what we will have accomplished. He knows because He is the Creator, the beginning and the end. We are His works of art.

Thanks, God!

I have recently heard of a friend of ours who has been seriously injured in a terrible accident. His recovery will be lengthy and difficult, but he has a wonderful supportive wife who will be by his side all the way and he is one tough and determined man who will teach us how to fight the pain and just plain get well!

We are praying for you and yours. Keep us up to date.