Sermon Illustrations on Adversity — page 2

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When Winston Churchill lost the election of 1946 in Britain, his

wife said to him, "It might be a blessing in dïsguise."

He replied, "If it's a blessing, it's well disguised.

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The president of a Christian college was seated in his office when

a brokenhearted father, who had recently lost his only son in a tragic

accident, pushed open the door, and in anguish asked, "Where was God

when my son's life was snuffed out?"

The president, in a moment of inspiration, replied, "Right where he

was when he gave up his own Son."

"Pebble Beach on the coast of California is a lovely area that typifies the advantages of friction. Ceaseless waves thunder ashore and dash the beach. The pitiless pounding of the waves tosses and grinds the stones together. They are dashed against the rugged, ageless cliffs... This action goes on year after year. The result is round, polished stones that are collected by tourists as ornaments. Near Pebble Beach is a quiet cove. A natural formation serves as a breakwater. Sheltered by the cliff are numerous stones. They are unsought and unwanted. They have been spared the wear caused by the pounding waves. They have remained rough and unpolished."(1)

When testing times come, we may be buffeted about; but the rough edges are knocked off of our lives. The friction of trials can cause wonderful features to be brought to the surface. Believers who understand the friction of trials will be able to face life's hard times.

__________

- Emile Rousseau, Jr.

1. Nelson L. Price, {Supreme Happiness}, (Nashville: Broadman Press, 1979), 31-32

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Adversity is like the period of spring rains - cold, gloomy,

uncomfortable; yet from that season flowers and fruits have their

birth.

- W. Scott

The Real Story Behind Footprints In the Sand

Luke 16:22

The real story behind "Footprints in the Sand"

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One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord.

Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.

In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand.

Sometimes there were two sets of footprints.

Other times there were one set of footprints.

This bothered me because I noticed that during the

Low periods of my life

When I was suffering from anguish, sorrow, or defeat,

I could see only one set of footprints.

So I said to the Lord, "You promised me, Lord,

That if I followed you, you would walk with me always.

But I noticed that during the most trying periods of my life

There have only been one set of prints in the sand.

Why, When I have needed you most,

You have not been there for me?"

The Lord replied,

"The times when you have seen only one set of footprints

Is when I carried you."

_____________________________________

In 1936, 14-year-old Mary Stevenson wrote the poem FOOTPRINTS IN THE SAND saying that God gave her the words while she just pushed the pencil. From that day on, Mary gave hand-written copies of her poem to friends, relatives and strangers. She kept her 1939 copy.

In the early 60's Mary sent copies of Footprints, other poems and cookies to soldiers in Vietnam. She named her group Viet-Moms.

In December of 1984 Mary followed Kathy's advice and applied for & received a copyright on FOOTPRINTS IN THE SAND from the U.S. Copyright Office. Mary's 1939 authenticated copy of Footprints and her 1984 U.S. Copyright precede Margaret Powers' 1987 U.S. Copyright on her group of poems that she claimed included Footprints.

In 1987 copies of Footprints were being sold with Margaret Powers' name as the author of the poem. To date, numerous companies and religious organizations are paying Powers money and accolades for Mary's work.

In 1997, Kathy contacted one of the nation's top forensic scientists, Kurt Schwalbe. Schwalbe, along with his professional staff examined Mary's 1939 Footprints poem and concluded that the poem was authentic and that MARY STEVENSON (Zangare) was the author of FOOTPRINTS IN THE SAND.

Please help us in providing others with the truth. Help us undo the wrong by remembering the true author Mary Stevenson.

"The truth is the light of the world!"

_______________________

[For origin of poem according to Margaret Powers, go to HolwickID #3332]

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A man was shopping in a grocery store. His young son followed

closely behind, carrying a large basket. The father loaded the basket

with one thing after another until another customer began to feel

sorry for the boy. She said, "That's a pretty heavy load for a young

fellow like you, isn't it?" The boy turned to the woman and said,

"Oh, don't worry. My dayd knows how much I can carry." In the same

way, God knows our limitations and gives to us no burden beyond what

we can carry.

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At one time or another we all encounter adversity that threatens

our will to go on. One kind of adversity occurs when you experience a

major failure, the kind that leaves you doubting yourself. Then you

have to step back, examine your role in the failure and accept your

share of the blame. Another kind of adversity comes from events we

can't control, personal tragedies. Then we either learn to overcome

or we sink into despair.

In 1987, I learned this the hard way. My son Daniel had been born

six months earlier with congenital heart problems. He was

hospitalized for months, during which time my wife, Joanne, spent

14-hour days with him at the hospital, seven days a week. Finally,

Daniel's condition improved and we took him home.

One day in March, I talked Joanne into taking a break and coming to

New York with me for the Big East tournament. On the bus ride back, a

state trooper pulled us over and told me to make an urgent call. The

call was to the hospital, and a doctor there told me Daniel was dead.

Over the next few months there was not much to our marriage or

family life. We had religious faith, but how would we ever be able to

deal with something so traumatic? How could God do this to us? Well,

God didn't do it. Life did. There are simply parts of life we can't

understand. We knew we had to accept this and return to our lives.

Joanne and I changed our attitude from pointless negativity to

appreciation for the good we had. We turned our attention to our

three sons and tried to do positive things in Daniel's name.

We must force ourselves to appreciate the good still around us;

otherwise, the bad will ruin our lives.

- Rick Pitino, {Persistence Keeps Us Great,} USA Weekend, March

7-9, 1997 p.5

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I don't like things too claim, I picture an ocean with no wind and the

the sails up. No wind, you don't go anywhere.

George Steinbrenner, CEO, New York Yankees

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Imagine you're an 8-year-old with dreams of playing pro ball one

day.

Imagine you're gifted in football and have a great high school and

college carreer.

Imagine you then become the first African-American to start as

quarterback for an NFL team.

Imagine 25 years later being homeless and living on the streets.

Stop imagining. It happened.

Just a few months ago, former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Joe

Gilliam Jr. was discovered begging on the streets of Nashville, TN.

His life, since leaving the game back in the 70s, has been difficult.

His police record - several arrests - is more imposing than his

football records are impressive.

How does someone sink so low? Joe says, "Sometimes I like myself

and sometimes I don't." He goes on to admit to continued drug abuse.

Then he says something interesting, "Only God can help."

{Campus Journal, }June 1996

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Arthur John Gossip was a greatly respected Scottish preacher whose

dear wife died in her middle years and left him desolate and alone.

When he was again able to climb the pulpit stairs and face his people,

the sermon he preached was "But When Life Tumbles In, What Then?" In

that great sermon - some have called it the greatest sermon of the

twentieth century - Gossip said, "You people in the sunshine may

believe the faith, but we in the shadow must believe it. We have

nothing else." Samuel Rutherford once said, "Grace grows best in the

winter."

From the sermon "How God Blesses Us in a Shaken World"

{Preaching, }November, December, 1994, p. 72

Losing A Child

Sam Ruigliano is a former NFL football coach who now coaches at Liberty University. He and his wife lost a child thirty years ago. It was a time of profound sorrow in their lives. But it was also a time when they turned to God with a renewed sense of dependence on Him.

Rutigliano, in a recent talk about the experience with an interviewer, quoted an old proverb. He said, "The things which hurt, instruct."

________

Peter King, "The Beginning of the End," Sports Illustrated (October 14, 1991) p. 74

The Tallest Trees Catch the Most Wind

When a storm comes sweeping across the landscape, it unleashes its fury against the landscape. The trees catch the force of the wind and bend and sway before the storm’s power. All trees encounter the force of the wind, but the taller the tree the more wind it encounters. The tree that stands the tallest catches the most wind of all.

THINGS AREN'T ALWAYS WHAT THEY SEEM

Submitted by Karen Cole

Email - karencole@mindspring.com

Two traveling angels stopped to spend the night in the home of a wealthy family. The family was rude and refused to let the angels stay in the mansion's guest room. Instead the angels were given a small space in the cold basement. As they made their bed on the hard floor, the older angel saw a hole in the wall and repaired it. When the younger angel asked why, the older angel replied, "Things aren't always what they seem."

The next night the pair came to rest at the house of a very poor, but very hospitable farmer and his wife.

After sharing what little food they had the couple let the angels sleep in their bed where they could have a good night's rest. When the sun came up the next morning the angels found the farmer and his wife in tears. Their only cow, whose milk had been their sole income, lay dead in the field. The younger angel was infuriated and asked the older angel how could you have let this happen? The first man had everything, yet you helped him, she accused. The second family had little but was willing to share everything, and you let the cow die.

"Things aren't always what they seem," the older angel replied.

"When we stayed in the basement of the mansion, I noticed there was gold stored in that hole in the wall. Since the owner was so obsessed with greed and unwilling to share his good fortune, I sealed the wall so he wouldn't find it." "Then last night as we slept in the farmers bed, the angel of death came for his wife. I gave him the cow instead. Things aren't always what they seem."

Sometimes that is exactly what happens when things don't turn out the way they should. If you have faith, you just need to trust that every outcome is always to your advantage. You might not know it until some time later...

Patrick of Ireland: An Evangelical Hero

Acts 16:9

It has been said that everyone is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day, perhaps reflecting some mysterious urge to wear green on March 17.

St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, laden with mythology and merriment, often have little to do with the historical Patrick, a missionary and early church leader. And while “Irish” revelers overlook the man behind the myth, many Christians also fail to see the importance of Patrick’s ministry.

What are evangelicals to think of Patrick? And what can be learned from his life and ministry?

New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary professors Rex Butler and Jack Allen believe Patrick is worthy of evangelical attention. Approaching him from different disciplines, Butler and Allen see in Patrick methods and heart attitudes beneficial to today’s church.

The title of “Saint” and St. Patrick’s Day activities, unfortunately, have left Patrick with an image problem among evangelicals.

“As Baptists, we need to avoid calling any historical figure by the title of ‘Saint,’” said Butler, associate professor of church history and patristics at NOBTS. “It is clear from the Bible, especially Paul’s letters, that all believers are saints in the sense that we are sanctified and set apart for God.”

The title “Saint,” when used by Catholic and Orthodox churches, is very technical in nature, Butler said. It refers to men and women “who exhibited extraordinary holiness and performed miracles during their lives.” These churches believe that “Saints” can intercede on behalf of people living today.

“Therefore, I refer to the hero of ‘St. Patrick’s Day’ as ‘Patrick of Ireland,’” Butler said.

Patrick was born into a Christian home in Britain, the son and grandson of clergymen. Patrick, though, exhibited only nominal Christian faith in his early years. Scholars are not certain when he was born, but many place his birth around 387 A.D.

The pagan Celtic tribes of Ireland lived in primitive conditions, worshipping nature, living off the land and frequently raiding Britain to steal supplies. In short, the tribes consisted of uncivilized barbarians. During one of their raids on the British Island, Patrick was taken captive and forced into slavery at the age of 16.

After living as a slave for six years, Patrick escaped and returned to Britain. It was during his time in Ireland that Patrick’s faith in Christ began to grow, Butler said. Shortly after returning to Britain, Patrick entered church ministry.

“Patrick’s life is a great example of how God uses adversity to draw us to Himself,” Butler said.

“Over time, he begins to have this deep conviction that God wants him to go back and take the Gospel to these horrible people,” said Allen, assistant professor of church planting at NOBTS. “Patrick voluntarily goes back to Ireland and he sets about trying to convert these pagans.”

For Allen, Patrick demonstrated a number of methods that could be beneficial in reaching 21st-century Western culture, particularly the post-Christian areas of North America.

At the basic level, Patrick’s methods are similar to the current idea of “missional” living in a cross-cultural setting, Allen said. Patrick went on his mission with a “long-haul” mentality and would stay as long as it took to reach a tribe. He and his group lived among the people, learned their habits, sought to fit in without comprise and lived out their faith and ethics among the people. Gradually Patrick was able to share the Gospel.

Patrick did not immediately confront the pagans about sin and overwhelm them with scriptural instruction, Allen said, and he preferred to slowly introduce the Scriptures to develop a “picture of Jesus” and then tell them about repentance.

“Over time...people were converted,” Allen said. “This takes a very long time. It’s slow at first, but these conversions tend to stick.”

Allen believes a similar approach is needed to reach the United States and Canada. He points to the growing number of lost people in cities such as Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Seattle, Portland and even Austin. People in these areas, Allen said, often are highly resistant to the Gospel and traditional evangelistic methods.

“What is getting fantastic results in Toronto and Montreal have been methods that look an awful lot like what Patrick did,” Allen said. “Our missionary goes in, lives among the people and begins to make friends. Over time [the missionary] tries to gather people and teach them who Jesus is.”

Lost North Americans share many common traits with the people Patrick encountered on the Emerald Isle so long ago, Allen said, describing post-Christian North Americans as “neo-pagans” due to their resistance to the Gospel and their commitment to nature.

Reaching the neo-pagans of North America, Allen said, will require costly commitments. Christians must find a way to plant themselves among the lost for long periods of time, and these believers must live out a consistent, vibrant faith. Many of the successful missionaries in these resistant areas are bivocational –- working alongside the people they’re trying to reach.

“We will not see large-scale systemic conversions unless we are willing to give this; in all honesty, we probably have to give it a decade,” Allen said. “We not only have to help people find Christ, we have to give them the tools to walk with Christ.”

For Butlers from a church historian’s perspective, Patrick’s ministry and mission methods reflect two distinct heart attitudes vital to the Christian life -- forgiveness and perseverance.

“Despite the suffering he had endured in Ireland, Patrick was willing to forgive those who had held him captive,” Butler said. “He returned to evangelize Ireland.”

Forgiveness and the call of God landed Patrick in Ireland. But it was a rugged perseverance that kept him there for the long term, Butler said.

Patrick was not the first missionary to Ireland, Butler noted. Thirty years before Patrick launched his mission, a man named Palladius was commissioned as a missionary to the Emerald Isle, but Palladius soon became discouraged and moved on to Scotland.

“Patrick, however, persevered in his mission, preached the Gospel throughout Ireland ... and established churches and monasteries,” Butler said. “Furthermore, the Irish Christians, following Patrick’s example, left their homeland to spread the Gospel in Scotland, Britain and Europe.”

________

Gary Myers is director of public relations at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.

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[Original illustration at this number was moved to HolwickID #16445]

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No flowers wear so lovely a blue as

those which grow at the foot of the frozen glacier; no stars

gleam so brightly as those which glisten in the polar sky; no

water tastes so sweet as that which springs amid the desert sand;

and no faith is so precious as that which lives and triumphs in

adversity. Tried faith brings experience.

Spurgeon

Life Has Lumps

Job 1

GLers,

This article will appear in The Road Creek church of Christ Bulletin, 11/15/98.

Life Has Lumps!

By Glen Young

Dan considered himself to be the best carpet-layer in his city. The job was a simple one, just one room, nothing complicated. To finish, had taken him an hour longer than he anticipated. He hurriedly picked up his tools then stood back and admired his work. To his chagrin, he noticed a lump underneath the carpet. Being a smoker, he automatically felt his shirt pocket for his cigarettes and sure enough, they were gone.

He didn’t want to spend more time on this job so he took his hammer and tapped down the lump until it was smooth. As he was leaving, he opened the door of his truck and saw his cigarettes on the front seat. Simultaneously, the lady of the house call out, “Have you seen my parakeet? “

Truth is, life has lumps! It is not the lumps that make life miserable. It is how we deal with them that causes us so much pain. Failure to deal with the lumps of life according to God’s way, will not only cause unhappiness in the present but will also cause the loss of our future happiness.

Life’s lumps come in a variety of ways. There is financial loss, the tragedy of death and the various illnesses which inflict the body. In the Bible we read of a man who suffered all three. Job was his name. God gave the devil permission to test Job because he was a man of impeccable character (Job 1). In the course of one day, Job suffered financial loss and the tragedy of the death of all his children, yet, he did not sin by blaming God.

On another occasion, God permitted the devil to afflict Job’s health. He became covered with boils from the soul of his feet to the crown of his head, and again, he did not sin, even when his wife told him to curse God and die (Job 2:1-10).

What lessons do we learn from Job? That, we must never foolishly blame God when life hands us lumps. And that, “God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.” Psalms 46:1. We cannot endure the lumps of life without His mighty hand to help.

There is one more lump in life that needs our attention. It is the ‘lump’ of personal sins. Sins cannot be hidden under the carpet. To try, will cost one dearly. “He that covereth his transgressions shall not prosper: But whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall obtain mercy.” Proverbs 28:13.

Associated with any sin, is the temptation to hide it. Even when the sin has created a ‘lump’ which is visible to all. The tendency is to take a hammer and pound the ‘lump’ rather than admit, confess and renounce the sin.

Instead of hiding sin and allowing it to stink up our lives, do as David. “I acknowledged my sin unto thee, And mine iniquity did I not hide: I said, I will confess my transgressions unto Jehovah; And thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. (Selah)” Psalms 32:5.

Glen Young

12121 Regina-Belcher Hwy.

Elkhorn City, KY 41522

(606) 784-9883

ICQ # 21600240

#15773

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The Emperor Moth

Jude 1:3

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| My Source:

| LAKE HILLS BULLETIN

| Volume 30, #7, 2/14/99

| Chattanooga, TN 37416

|------------------------------

| Author: Tony Williams

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THE EMPEROR MOTH

by Tony Williams

The story is told of a man who found a cocoon of an emperor moth. He decided to take it home to watch the moth come out. One day, a small opening appeared in the cocoon. The man sat and watched the moth for several hours as it struggled to force its body through that little hole. It finally reached the point where it seemed to stop making progress. The man thought that the moth had made it as far as it could out of the cocoon and it was stuck. Out of kindness the man decided to help the moth. According to the story, he took a pair of scissors and snipped off the remaining bit of the cocoon so that the moth could get out. The moth had a swollen body and small shriveled wings. The man fully expected that the body would shrink and the wings would grow to be able to support the moth in flight. Neither ever happened.

The bloated moth spent the rest of its life crawling around on the floor. The man in his kindness and haste did not understand that the restricting cocoon and the struggle required for the moth to emerge were necessary to move fluids from the moth's body to its wings. Without the struggle, there could be no flight.

Sometimes people ask why God allows trials and tribulations in this world. The answer lies in the fact that we derive great benefit from the struggle. The troubles we face teach us more about ourselves. I know from a personal perspective, I have learned much more from my failures than I ever have from my successes. Personal loss reminds us that this world is not our home. Personal triumph is not possible without personal tragedy. God, the all knowing Father, allows trials because He sees with an eternal perspective. Our faith should be great enough to allow us to see adversity as an opportunity, not a tragedy.

Are You A Potato, An Egg, Or Coffee Bean?

Once upon a time a daughter complained to her father that her life was miserable and that she didn't know how she was going to make it.

She was tired of fighting and struggling all the time. It seemed just as one problem was solved, another one soon followed.

Her father, a chef, took her to the kitchen. He filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Once the three pots began to boil, he placed potatoes in one pot, eggs in the second pot, and ground coffee beans in the third pot.

He then let them sit and boil, without saying a word to his daughter.

The daughter, moaned and impatiently waited, wondering what he was doing.

After twenty minutes he turned off the burners. He took the potatoes out of the pot and placed them in a bowl. He pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. He then ladled the coffee out and placed it in a cup.

Turning to her he asked. "Daughter, what do you see?"

"Potatoes, eggs, and coffee," she hastily replied.

"Look closer", he said, "and touch the potatoes." She did and noted that they were soft.

He then asked her to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg.

Finally, he asked her to sip the coffee. Its rich aroma brought a smile to her face.

"Father, what does this mean?" she asked.

He then explained that the potatoes, the eggs and coffee beans had each faced the same adversity - the boiling water. However, each one reacted differently.

The potato went in strong, hard, and unrelenting, but in boiling water, it became soft and weak.

The egg was fragile, with the thin outer shell protecting its liquid interior until it was put in the boiling water. Then the inside of the egg became hard.

However, the ground coffee beans were unique. After they were exposed to the boiling water, they changed the water and created something new.

"Which are you?" he asked his daughter. "When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a potato, an egg, or a coffee bean?"

In life, things happen around us, things happen to us, but the only thing that truly matters is what happens within us.

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It's In the Valleys I Grow

Job 2:11

IT'S IN THE VALLEYS I GROW

Sometimes life seems hard to bear,

Full of sorrow, trouble and woe

It's then I have to remember

That it's in the valleys I grow.

If I always stayed on the mountain top

And never experienced pain,

I would never appreciate God's love

And would be living in vain.

I have so much to learn

And my growth is very slow,

Sometimes I need the mountain tops,

But it's in the valleys I grow.

I do not always understand

Why things happen as they do,

But I am very sure of one thing.

My Lord will see me through.

My little valleys are nothing

When I picture Christ on the cross

He went through the valley of death;

His victory was Satan's loss.

Forgive me Lord, for complaining

When I'm feeling so very low.

Just give me a gentle reminder

That it's in the valleys I grow.

Continue to strengthen me, Lord

And use my life each day

To share your love with others

And help them find their way.

Thank you for valleys, Lord

For this one thing I know

The mountain tops are glorious

But it's in the valleys I grow!

(This poem was written by Jane Eggleston who currently lives in Virginia. Her son Jeff states, "She is a wonderful person, loves Jesus and has been the best mother anyone could ever ask for." What a fitting tribute to any mother.)

Embracing Adversity

Acts 7:9

"Show me someone who has done something worthwhile, and I'll show you someone who has overcome adversity." -- Lou Holtz

Success in life depends upon being strong people with clear goals and indomitable spirits. Unfortunately most of us aren't born that way. We grow that way. And that growth can either come from us entering willfully into situations that will cause us to grow, [...] or from the way we react when circumstances come upon us without our consent. The latter is what we call adversity.

Most of us spend our lives trying to avoid adversity, and I guess that is just as well. We shouldn't pursue adversity, but when she arrives, we should welcome her as a foe who, though our interaction with her, will make us into better people. Every contact we have with adversity gives us again the opportunity to grow personally and professionally and to forge our character into one that will achieve much later on.

With that in mind, here are some thoughts on adversity...

ADVERSITY BRINGS OUT OUR RESOURCES. Horace said, "Adversity reveals genius, prosperity conceals it." When everything is going well, we coast. There isn't a lot of stress, and we don't have to draw too much on the resources that reside within us. But when adversity comes we begin to draw upon each and every resource that we have in order to conquer the circumstances at hand. Adversity then, keeps us sharp. It keeps us using our personal muscle, if you will. That is a good thing because we grow through the use of our resources.

ADVERSITY BRINGS US TOGETHER WITH OTHERS. Sure a team can have their problems with each other, but when they step on the court, when they experience the adversity of facing another obstacle, they pull together. One for all and all for one, as they say. The next time you experience adversity of some kind, keep your eyes open for how it can bring you together with your family, your co-workers or your team. Then when you are through it, you will find a bond that was created that wasn't there before.

ADVERSITY MAKES US BETTER PEOPLE WITH STRONGER CHARACTERS. Never underestimate the power of adversity to shape us inwardly. How will courage, discipline and perseverance ever flourish if we are never tested? After adversity, we come out stronger people and able then to use our character and influence in an even greater way to lead those around us and to improve their lives as well as our own.

ADVERSITY MAKES LIFE INTERESTING. John Amatt said, "Without adversity, without change, life is boring." How true. Have you noticed that while we are in the middle of adversity we only long to get out of it, but we then spend a lifetime recounting it to anyone who will listen? This is because it spices life up a little. Imagine how boring life would be if everything always went well, when there was never a mountain to be climbed.

Question - If you are in the middle of some adversity right now, what resources are you drawing on? Who are you drawing closer to and working with? What part of your character is being tested, and built up? What can you do to view this adversity as one who will be better for it on the other side?

Remember the words of Napoleon Hill - "Every adversity, every failure, every heartache carries with it the seed of an equal or greater benefit." Believe it, it is true!

===================================================

Chris Widener is a popular speaker and writer

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Committing To the Commitment

At the age of 67, Thomas Edison watched as fire destroyed much of his work and equipment. Time to retire? Time to hang up the lab coat?

No way.

“All our mistakes are burned up,” the inventor said. “Now we can start anew.”

There is a time to retire, but Edison knew his time hadn't come. The fire that consumed his work didn't destroy the fire that burned within him to continue his work. Edison's commitment remained.

People tend to associate commitment with emotions. If they feel the right way, then they can follow through on their commitments. But true commitment doesn't work that way. Commitment is not an emotion; it's a character quality that enables us to reach our goals.

Emotions go up and down all the time, but commitment must remain rock solid. A solid team - whether it's in business, sports, marriage or a volunteer organization - must have team players who are solidly committed to the team.

Let's look at four things every team player needs to know about being committed:

1. Commitment is usually discovered in the midst of adversity.

You never know the level of your commitment or that of a team player until things get tough. Every one of us could stay committed to a marriage if everything was always good. Every one of us could stay committed to good health as long as we were healthy. The trick is to stay committed to the commitment when the economy takes a turn for the worse or when you lose your biggest account or when your plant burns to the ground.

Commitment, because it is a character trait, is revealed, not built, by adversity.

2. Commitment does not depend on gifts and abilities.

Commitment and talent, I have found, are unconnected. Many very talented people lack commitment. Many people who lack skills and talent are tremendously committed. So if you find somebody who's extremely talented, there is no guarantee that there is a high level of commitment.

For this reason, it becomes a great day when we connect talent with commitment - for ourselves and for those on the teams we lead. The moment that happens, the team goes to a whole new level.

3. Commitment results from choices, not conditions.

In writing about choices, Frederic Flach notes that most people look back on their lives and point to a specific time and place that marks a significant life change. “Whether by accident or design,” Flach writes, “there are the moments when, because of a readiness within us and a collaboration with events occurring around us, we are forced to seriously reappraise ourselves and the conditions under which we live and to make certain choices that will affect the rest of our lives.”

Our commitment springs from those choices.

4. Commitment lasts when it is based on values.

Establishing commitment from a team is a critical piece of leadership, but leaders I work with are equally concerned about sustaining that commitment.

I've found the only way to sustain commitment is to link it with the personal values of an individual. Once your commitment is based on your values, you have no problem sustaining it. Values are what drive your choices; they transcend your talents and skills and they stand up under the tests of adversity.

Commitment based on something other than solid values usually is a house of cards; when the wind kicks up, the house comes down.

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Quotes By Abraham Lincoln

QUOTES BY ABRAHAM LINCOLN:

No man is good enough to govern another man without that other's consent.

Am I not destroying my enemies when I make friends of them?

You have to do your own growing no matter how tall your grandfather was.

Whatever you are, be a good one.

Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power.

Whenever I hear anyone arguing for slavery, I feel a strong impulse to see it tried on him personally.

If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?

-- Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865)

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[Original illustration at this number was a duplicate of HolwickID #5082]

Sermon On the Mount (1)

Luke 6:17

Luke 6:17–36 — Sermon on the Mount (1) « Leader information shown in this fashion »

A. Introduction

1. that this is the same occasion as found in the parallel passage, Matthew 5–7, seems likely in view of its placement within the story of the life of Christ, the order of presentation, and the various teachings given

2. yet, there are some differences between the two (which we will not be examining, other than to mention that the record in Matthew is in much longer and in more detail, while Luke gives a few items that Matthew doesn’t)

3. and, given that the Teacher repeated His lessons elsewhere — because how seldom we learn the first time we are taught something! — there is no reason that this could not be a record of a separate event in Jesus’ life and ministry

4. despite differences, there is no discrepancy between these two

B. The multitude — Luke 6:17–19 (NKJV) — 17 And He came down with them and stood on a level place with a crowd of His disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem, and from the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear Him and be healed of their diseases, 18 as well as those who were tormented with unclean spirits. And they were healed. 19 And the whole multitude sought to touch Him, for power went out from Him and healed them all.

1. with whom did Jesus go down the mountain (see verses 13–16)?

a. « the twelve apostles that He had chosen plus those others who had accompanied Him up the mountain »

2. “level place”

a. from the word “foot” so can mean the plain or base

b. but also, and more likely here, can describe a flat spot or a ledge (Scottish, “bench”) on the side of a hill or mountain— a natural platform for the preacher

3. what groups of people do we find in attendance?

a. the disciples « — the Twelve plus the larger crowd of those who followed to hear His teaching »

b. the multitude « — from all over the country and beyond »

(A) those coming « to hear his teaching »

(B) those coming « to be healed of diseases »

(C) those coming « in spiritual torment »

4. was Jesus unaware that “power went out from Him to heal” — compare Mark 5:25ff, Luke 8:43ff (another such incident)?

a. « in that case, the healing of the woman with the issue of blood, Jesus was aware that power had proceeded from Him and we should understand the same here »

b. what was the basis of such healing? « — Jesus’ power, people’s faith in Him. Why He healed in this fashion — without a personal pronouncement of healing — we are not told nor can we determine; but we do know that with all of Jesus’ actions it was not an involuntary but a deliberate work of the One who came to do the works of the One sending Him. »

C. Happiness in the face of ________________ « you fill it in; I would use a word like adversity or problems » — Luke 6:20–23 (NKJV) — 20 Then He lifted up His eyes toward His disciples, and said: “Blessed are you poor, For yours is the kingdom of God. 21 Blessed are you who hunger now, For you shall be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, For you shall laugh. 22 Blessed are you when men hate you, And when they exclude you, And revile you, and cast out your name as evil, For the Son of Man’s sake. 23 Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! For indeed your reward is great in heaven, For in like manner their fathers did to the prophets.”

1. to whom are these words addressed? « — the disciples »

2. what are the adversities listed? … the corresponding blessings?

a. « poverty now — inheritance in the kingdom of God »

b. « hunger now — satisfaction in the future »

c. « sorrow — triumphant laughter will come »

d. « being hated – leaping rejoicing, heavenly reward »

e. « being excommunicated, ostracized from family & synagogue »

f. « being reviled (insulted) and having name considered evil »

3. in pronouncing blessings upon those experiencing these things, how are these promises limited or qualified (at least for the last set « — and by implication for those preceding » )?

a. « that they be experienced for the sake of the Son of Man »

b. « that they are following in the line of God’s true prophets »

4. are the experiences listed conditions of entrance to the Kingdom? « — discuss; also are they inevitable results; if not, what is the point … when they occur enjoy the attending blessing — the reward and the blessing are not the motivation for the worship and the service of God; but they are there for our consolation and our comfort in times of difficulty; they should never be disparaged or made light of … to do so is to insult the One giving them to us »

D. Sadness in the face of ___________________ « you fill it in; I would use a word like advantages or comforts » — Luke 6:24–26 (NKJV) — 24 “But woe to you who are rich, For you have received your consolation. 25 Woe to you who are full, For you shall hunger. Woe to you who laugh now, For you shall mourn and weep. 26 Woe to you when all men speak well of you, For so did their fathers to the false prophets.”

1. the word “woe” here is not the formulation of a curse, but the sincere expression of grief, sadness, indignation, disappointment — it is the attitude of a loving God to those who either refuse or treat lightly His gracious work of salvation — and to whom are these words addressed? « — every indication is that it is still the disciples who are being addressed! »

2. what are the advantages listed? … the corresponding losses?

a. « rich (now) — you are now receiving all the comfort you will ever get »

b. « well-fed, satisfied, sated now — its emptiness will be shown — there is a difference in words from verse 21; there the word is to have your needs fully met, as one would provide fodder to the heard; here the idea is of fully filled, maybe even being stuffed, with an accompanying enjoyment »

c. « merry now — lamentation & remorse will come in the future »

d. « enjoying the praise of men — they are following the false prophets who served for hire »

3. what is it that can make these advantages objects of grief when they could equally be a blessing (consider Job, for example)?

a. « they are perceived as a matter of one’s due or right »

b. « the Giver is ignored in their enjoyment »

E. Love — (1) Response to Enemies — Luke 6:27–31 (NKJV) — 27 “But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. 29 To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either. 30 Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back. 31 And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.”

1. What are the various enemy actions? … the believer’s response?

a. « hate — love »

b. « curse — blessing (thanksgiving) »

c. « despiteful use — prayer »

d. « abuse — acceptance »

e. « imposition — graciousness »

2. here we have an explanation of the law of love; the Holy Spirit is careful to define what love is (as we will soon see in Romans) so we are not misled by the way the world has perverted it …

F. Love — (2) Marks of its Reality — Luke 6:32–36 (NKJV) — 32 “But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back. 35 But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. 36 Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.”

1. What are the marks of human charity?

a. « can coexist with any manner of continuing sinfulness »

b. « done for what you get (praise, acceptance, reward) »

2. What are the marks of Divine love?

a. Romans 5:8

b. 1 John 4:10

Happy Adversity?

James 1:2

On the back of a wedding anniversary card were some wiggly lines drawn by our 3-year-old grandson. Alongside was a note from our daughter explaining that Trevor told her what he had written: “I’m writing a letter for your love and happy adversity.”

Trevor’s “mistake” has become our watchword, because “happy adversity” embodies the biblical principle of facing difficulties with joy: “Count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience” (James 1:2-3).

From our perspective, adversity is anything but happy. We have the idea that the Christian life is supposed to be trouble-free, and we see little value in hardship. But God sees it differently.

J. B. Phillips’ translation of James 1:2-3 reads: “When all kinds of trials and temptations crowd into your lives, my brothers, don’t resent them as intruders, but welcome them as friends! Realize that they come to test your faith and to produce in you the quality of endurance.”

Affliction does not come as a thief to steal our happiness, but as a friend bringing the gift of staying power. Through it all, God promises us His wisdom and strength.

So don’t be offended if I wish you “Happy Adversity” today. — David McCasland

Be assured beyond all doubting,

In the trial you’re passing through,

That the Lord’s great love and mercy

Is at work for good in you. — Anon.

Life’s burdens are designed not to break us but to bend us toward God.

Wrenching Good Out of Evil: the Story of Nien Cheng

On the evening of August 30, 1966, Nien Cheng sat alone in her Shanghai home, reading. Toward midnight, she heard a truck stop in front of her house. Moments later a gang of Red Guards burst through her front door. The leader stepped up. “We are the Red Guards. We have come to take revolutionary action against you!” he said.

The gang proceeded to ransack Cheng's home. Cheng — a wealthy woman with ties to England — was thrown in prison; her daughter was also taken from her. She was accused by the Communist government of spying for the British. The charge was false — but powerful people were about to make her a sacrificial lamb, somebody who would discredit Chairman Mao's opponents.

At a kangaroo court, the prosecutor demanded that Cheng confess. She was outraged. “I have never done anything against the Chinese people and governments,” she declared.

Cheng was taken back to prison. It was the beginning of seven years of torture, illness, and endless efforts to make her confess. But Cheng resolved never to make a false confession. Although raised Buddhist, she had become a Christian as a teenager. During her years behind bars, she later wrote, “I was not afraid. I believed in a just and merciful God, and I thought he would lead me out of the abyss.”

As I note in my new book, The Good Life, Cheng's captors were astounded at her ability to resist. Here she was, the poster child of the decadent capitalists; they were certain that someone who enjoyed her privileges would crumble once the material props of her old life were removed.

But the measure of Cheng's life was not found in what she owned. During her suffering, one thing kept her sane: her belief in the truth. Through committing herself to the truth, she never lost her humanity — and she remained unaffected by the appalling changes in her circumstances.

Cheng's embrace of the truth also allowed her to envision that justice would eventually prevail, and that good could come out of this evil. In this, Cheng was fortified, of course, by her Christian faith. Alone among the world's great religions, Christianity gives value and meaning to evil and suffering. British novelist Dorothy Sayers captured the essence of this. Christianity, she wrote “affirms ... that perfection is attained through the active and positive effort to wrench a real good out of a real evil.” This is the essence of what Christians call redemption, and it underscores another truth: We have to understand the evil in ourselves before we can truly embrace the good in life.

In 1973, Cheng was finally released and later immigrated to America. I had the privilege of hosting a dinner that Prison Fellowship gave in her honor in 1987.

Cheng's life perfectly illustrates the fact that the good life is not conferred by wealth or possessions. Just as important, it cannot be denied even in the midst of horrific adversity. In fact, as I discovered in my life, we often find true meaning and purpose in deprivation, when all the distractions of modern life are stripped away.

The good life, you see, is realized in our ability to hold fast to the truth — and the human dignity that rests upon it.

________

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A Sheltering Tree

John 11:5

Shortly before his death, Samuel Taylor Coleridge wrote Youth and Age in which he reflected over his past and the strength of his earlier years.

To me, the most moving line in this quaint work is the statement: “Friendship is a sheltering tree. . . .”

How true . . . how terribly true! When the searing rays of adversity’s sun burn their way into our day, there’s nothing quite like a sheltering tree — a true friend — to give us relief in its cool shade. Its massive trunk of understanding gives security as its thick leaves of love wash our faces and wipe our brows. Beneath its branches have rested many a discouraged soul!

Let me name a few. Elijah was ready to quit. Depressed and threatened, he turned in his prophet’s badge and wrote out his resignation. God refused to accept either. He gave him rest, good food, and a “tree” named Elisha — who “ministered to him” (1 Kings 19:19-21). Using the analogy by Coleridge, Elijah rested in the shade of Elisha’s “sheltering tree.”

Paul had a similar experience. In fact, the trees in his life significantly sustained him. There was Barnabas who stood by him when everyone else ran from him (Acts 9:26-27; 11:25-26). There was Silas, his traveling companion over many an otherwise lonely mile (15:40-41). When you add Dr. Luke and Timothy and Onesiphorus and Epaphroditus and Aquila and Priscilla, you find a veritable forest of sheltering trees. Even Jesus enjoyed Lazarus, Martha, and Mary. Even He was refreshed beneath those sheltering branches from Bethany (John 11:5).

But of all the trees God placed beside His choice servants, one human redwood looms the largest, in my opinion. David was hunted and haunted by madman Saul. Between Saul and David, however, stood a sheltering tree named Jonathan. Loyal and dependable, Jonathan assured David, “Whatever you say, I will do for you” (1 Samuel 20:4). No limits. No conditions. No bargain. No reservations. Best of all, when things were at their worst, he “went to David . . . and encouraged him in God” (23:16). Why? Because he was committed to the basic principles of a friendship. Because he loved him as he loved himself (18:1). It was the kind of love that causes men to lay down their lives for their friends, as Jesus put it (John 15:13). No greater love exists on this globe.

Beneath whose branches are you refreshed, dear reader? Or, dare I ask, who rests beneath yours? Occasionally, I run across an independent soul who shuns the idea that he needs such a shelter, feeling that trees are for the immature, the spiritual babes, or those who haven’t learned to trust only in the Lord. It is that person I most pity, for his horizontal contacts are invariably superficial and shallow. Worst of all, his closing years on earth will be spent in the loneliest spot imaginable — a hot, treeless desert.

So, then, let’s be busy about the business of watering and pruning and cultivating our trees, shall we? Would I be more accurate if I added planting a few? Growing them takes time, you know . . . and you may really need a few when the heat rises and the winds begin to blow.

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[Original illustration at this number was a duplicate of HolwickID #20939]

Carrot, Egg Or Coffee

A daughter complained to her father about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved a new one arose.

Her father, a chef, took her to the kitchen. He filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to a boil. In one he placed carrots, in the second he placed eggs, and the last he placed ground coffee beans. He let them sit and boil, without saying a word.

The daughter sucked her teeth and impatiently waited, wondering what he was doing. In about twenty minutes he and turned off the burners. He fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. He pulled the eggs out and placed them a bowl. Then he ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl.

Turning to her he asked. “Darling, what do you see.”

“Carrots, eggs, and coffee,” she replied.

He brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. He then asked her to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard- boiled egg. Finally, he asked her to sip the coffee. She smiled as she tasted its rich aroma.

She humbly asked. “What does it mean Father?”

He explained that each of them had faced the same adversity, boiling water, but each reacted differently.

The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. But after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak.

The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior. But after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened.

The ground coffee beans were unique however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.

“Which are you,” he asked his daughter. “When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean? “

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How about you? Are you the carrot that seems hard, but with pain and adversity do you wilt and become soft and lose your strength?

Are you the egg, which starts off with a malleable heart? Were you a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a divorce, or a layoff have you become hardened and stiff. Your shell looks the same, but are you bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and heart?

Or are you like the coffee bean? The bean changes the hot water, the thing that is bringing the pain, to its peak flavor reaches 212 degrees Fahrenheit. When the water gets the hottest, it just tastes better.

If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and make things better around you .

When people talk about you, do your praises to the Lord increase? When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest, does your worship elevate to another level?

How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

II Corinthians 4:8-9 – We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed.

Adversity Is A Severe Instructor

Edmund Burke once said:

Adversity is a severe instructor, set over us by one who knows us better than we do ourselves, as He loves us better, too. He that wrestles with us, strengthens our nerves and sharpens our skill. Our antagonist is our helper. This conflict with difficulty makes us acquainted with our object and compels us to consider it in all its relations. It will not suffer us to be superficial.

The International Dictionary of Thoughts, p. 11

The Molasses Collapse

Job 30:15

On a warm winter day in Boston, Massachusetts (January 15, 1919), many Bostonians came outdoors to enjoy the warmth. Some spread their lunches in the shadow of the Purity Distilling Corporation's massive molasses tank. This steel structure was 50 feet high and 90 feet in diameter. On that day, it was nearly filled to the top with 2.3 million gallons of molasses.

Suddenly, there was a sound like machine-gun fire, as the rivets holding the tank together began to pop out. With a roar, the weakened seams split open, and the tons of molasses spewed out. The first wave was about 30 feet high and destroyed everything in its path. Several people died instantly. The suddenness with which the tank burst caused pieces of metal to fly through the air like shrapnel. One piece sliced through a pillar of the Boston Elevated Railway, causing the railway to collapse.

After the flood subsided, molasses clogged the street up to three feet deep in some places. Some survivors had to have their clothing cut off. Trapped horses had to be destroyed. The death toll reached 21, with more than 50 injured.

It may not be molasses, but sometimes in life our problems can overwhelm us just like that. With no warning, and during times when we think everything is going all right, our lives can suddenly be turned completely around. Since none of us knows when such tragedies may occur, we should all be prepared spiritually. Staying close to the Lord, and maintaining a proper relationship with Him helps us to know that when the bottom falls out (or the tank collapses), we will have the resources necessary to carry us through.

________

(The Timothy Report, Swan Lake Communications, SwanLC@aol.com, July 5, 1999

Adversity, Suffering & Christ’s Healing

1 Samuel 16:1

On Aug. 25, 2017, Hurricane Harvey made landfall near Corpus Christi, Texas. The wind and rain left behind devastating flooding that forced thousands to feel from their homes. But even after the water receded, the psychological impact on the survivors remained.

Four months later, a survey found that 18 percent of survivors regularly felt hopeless and nervous. For those whose homes sustained significant damage, it jumped to 48 percent.

One teacher listened to students and colleagues share their survival stories. But the challenges of rebuilding her own home and hearing the challenges of others led to increased anxiety and depression, and she was put on medical leave from work.

Heavy rainstorms continued to make many survivors nervous. But they encouraged each other to fight through the anxiety.

A neighborhood Facebook group in a hard-hit Houston neighborhood posted these words during a storm months later: “It’s just rain. Just a little rain.... Repeat until the rain stops!” The words reminded survivors that they weren’t alone in their struggle to heal after Harvey.(1)

The lasting impact of Hurricane Harvey should teach several lessons to all of us: 1) Adversity can come into our lives at any time. 2) Healing isn’t always easy. 3) Words can be both harmful and helpful. 4) “Getting over it” is easier said than done. 5) The best comforters are fellow sufferers who can empathize with us.

A lot to get over

On earth we’re surrounded by adversity and suffering, and the pain can sometimes be greater than we feel we can bear.

One of the most difficult subjects for me to talk about is suffering. I don’t like to discuss it. I don’t like to read about it. I wish we could all avoid it.

But adversity is inevitable for everyone on earth, and the Bible says we should not think it strange when it happens to us.

On one level, of course, we do have to try to eventually get over things and “accept the things we cannot change.” Dr. Elizabeth Kübler-Ross once explained that in the face of loss or heartache, our emotions go through a “grief cycle,” which might include shock, denial, bargaining, anger, depression and eventual acceptance and adjustment.

The problem comes when we get “stuck” in that cycle. When someone tells us to “get over it,” they’re probably trying to nudge us on to a healthier stage of life.

In the Bible we read about the prophet Samuel who had chosen and mentored King Saul. When Saul fell into sin, Samuel was devastated. In 1 Samuel 16:1, the Lord asked him, “How long will you mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go; I am sending you to Jesse the Bethlehemite. For I have provided Myself a king among his sons.”

It wasn’t easy, but Samuel obeyed.

Yet we have to remember that the deeper the wound, the longer the recovery. If I stub my toe, it takes a few minutes for the pain to subside. But if there’s a car wreck with major injuries, it’ll take weeks, months or even years to recover.

The same is true for the soul. The deeper the hurt, the longer the healing.

Reckless words / healing words

Sometimes the pain just doesn’t seem to end, the tears don’t stop, the illness doesn’t subside, and the wounds just seem to get deeper. So we need to pray for wisdom to say the right words to those going through such times.

Remember Proverbs 12:18: “Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.”

When a friend needs encouragement, learn to deliberately consult the Lord before opening your mouth. Then as you weep with those who weep, speak the words God gives and remember to prayerfully point them to Christ.

When you think you can’t get over some deep hurt or loss, remember how the Father of glory stood silently by as His Son suffered scourging and crucifixion, that by His stripes we can be healed. If you or someone you know can’t move on, take hold of His nail-scarred hands and let Him help.

Only Jesus can heal our deepest hurts, and He can help you and me. Move on over to Him.

________

(1) Brittany Martin, “When Heavy Rain Falls, Anxiety Returns for Many Survivors of Hurricane Harvey,” The Washington Post, August 24, 2018, .

________

The Ghastliness of "Queen For A Day"

Job 21:23

From 1956 to 1964, one of the most popular daytime television programs was “Queen for a Day,” a game show that rested on a simple, and savage, premise. In each episode, four women who had suffered recent hardships spoke candidly about their experiences on live TV. At the end of the half hour, one woman would be crowned queen and showered with prizes. One of the so-called misery shows of that era, along with “Strike It Rich” and “Glamour Girl,” it largely featured working-class contestants: widows whose husbands had been killed in hunting accidents, mothers of chronically sick children, grocery-store owners who couldn’t afford to stock their stores. In addition to the prizes, each winner was granted a request for some product or service, which tended to be practical and not infrequently macabre. One contestant entered the show in the hope of hiring a carpenter to patch the bullet holes above her bed left by her husband’s suicide. Another, a Holocaust survivor, wanted funds to have her tattoo from Auschwitz removed.

Old episodes can be found online, but they are hard to watch. The contestants aren’t versed, as reality-show stars are today, in the grammar of television; they have trouble maintaining eye contact with the host, and nervously wrap their handkerchiefs around their fingers. The plainspoken dignity with which they narrate their misfortunes is frequently astonishing. “I had two handicapped sons,” one contestant says. “I lost them, and then I took care of an elderly lady in a wheelchair. She passed away, along with my mother and my father, and then my husband passed away. I feel that I would like to have a vacation.” At the end of each episode, audience members applaud for the woman they think is most deserving. The cheers are measured by an applause meter, which rises, predictably, in relation to the severity of a woman’s suffering. The winner is given a jewelled crown and a sable-trimmed robe, plus appliances, new clothes, a vacation.

The television writer Mark Evanier has called “Queen for a Day” “one of the most ghastly shows ever produced,” but it’s merely a crude example of a formula employed by more recent series, such as “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” and “American Idol,” which also favor contestants who have endured adversity. The appeal of such narratives is ancient, perhaps even primal, recalling the promises of religious traditions: that tribulation begets atonement, that karma will settle all scores, that those who mourn will receive their reward. Surely suffering should get you something — if not redemption and eternal life, then mass sympathy, modest fame, and an Adler automatic sewing machine. The ghastly element of “Queen for a Day,” no less crucial to its appeal, is the starkly transactional way in which this justice is enacted. No matter how fervently we believe that the bearing of pain deserves reward, we blanch when the calculus is made transparent, or when a victim takes too active a role in her own compensation, cashing in on life’s raw deals. God rewards long-suffering in his own time. Deals and bargains are the jurisdiction of the Devil, who was always more in touch with modern economics.

But the truth is that we make these kinds of bargains all the time, trading pain for something better. Studies have identified evidence of “post-traumatic growth,” a phenomenon in which searching for the good in a major life crisis results in higher psychological functioning and other mental benefits. The events we consider most central to our identities are often tragedies — an illness survived, an addiction tamed, a financial difficulty overcome — as though we believed adversity to be the price of wisdom and personal improvement.

What makes it effective

It seems these three ministers were talking about prayer in general and the appropriate and effective positions for prayer. As they were talking, a telephone repairman was working on the phone system in the background. One minister shared that he felt the key was in the hands. He always held his hands together and pointed them upward as a form of symbolic worship. The second suggested that real prayer was conducted on your knees. The third suggested that they both had it wrong -- the only position worth its salt was to pray while stretched out flat on your face. By this time the phone man couldn't stay out of the conversation any longer. He interjected: "I found that the most powerful prayer I ever made was while I was dangling upside down by my heels from a power pole, suspended 40 feet above the ground."