Never Give Up

I was reading tonight and came across the story of Admiral James Stockdale, the highest-ranking US officer taken prisoner in Vietnam. During 8 years as a hostage, he was tortured regularly, and had no reason to think he would ever be released or see his family again. Yet despite his horrific circumstances, Stockdale became a beacon of hope for other prisoners in the camp. He developed secret methods of communication to fight effects of isolation, and taught other prisoners how to create coping mechanisms to deal with the enemy's torture tactics. In short, he kept faith alive in a situation where most people would have long since let it die.

According to Stockdale, what separates people is not the presence or absence of difficulty, but how they deal with the inevitable difficulties of life. His own life experience confirms the powerful belief that one can actually come back from difficulties STRONGER, not weaker.

The Stockdale Paradox states that "in every circumstance, you must retain faith that you will prevail in the end regardless of the difficulties and, at the same time, confront the most brutal facts of your current reality...whatever they might be."

Leave Your Mark

Over the past 4 weeks, I have been sharing a series of messages entitled, "Leave Your Mark." The main text for the series is Esther 3:14 -- "Who knows but that you have come to a royal position FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS?" Simply put, this is our time. This is our destiny. We have been called by God to shine like stars in the universe (Phil. 2:15).

Of course, this series has also been part of our first-ever capital fund-raising campaign. So, I want to say a huge THANK YOU to everyone who has stepped out in faith to support the vision of The Bridge Church. However large or small your financial gift, thank you for leaving your mark on this generation.

Now, I encourage you to give as much as you can, as fast as you can! Let's watch and be amazed as God performs miracle after miracle in the lives of our church family. As we take that "next step," He will always make a way where there seems to be no way. Thanks for going on the journey with Michele and me. We love you all!