The Struggle

“Life's biggest struggle: I need to pee, but I don't want to get out of bed.” (coolfunnyquotes.com)

A urinalysis is a common test used to analyze the content and chemical makeup of your urine. It is used to detect and manage a wide range of illnesses such as urinary tract infections, kidney (renal) disease, and diabetes. For example, a urinary tract infection can make urine look cloudy instead of clear. Increased levels of protein in urine can be a sign of kidney disease. Unusual urinalysis results often require more testing to uncover the source of the problem.

A urinalysis is the standard performed before surgery to identify any kidney problems. A urinalysis may be used at a doctor's office if a urinary-related disorder is suspected. The kidneys take out waste material, minerals, fluids, and other substances from the blood to be passed in the urine. Urine has hundreds of different body wastes. What you eat and drink, how much you exercise, and how well your kidneys work can affect what is in your urine. More than 100 different tests can be done on urine.

Since the test involves a visual, chemical, and microscopic examination of the collected urine, certain substances may throw off the results. Examples include:

·         Anthraquinone laxatives

·         Azulfidine (sulfasalazine), used to treat ulcerative colitis and rheumatoid arthritis

·         Levodopa (L-Dopa), a Parkinson's disease drug

·         Metronidazole, an antibiotic

·         Nitrofurantoin, an antibiotic

·         Phenazopyridine, used to treat UTIs

·         Robaxin (methocarbamol), a muscle relaxant

·         Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) 

·         Vitamin C supplements

 A regular urinalysis often includes the following tests:

·         Color. Many things affect urine color, including fluid balance, diet, medicines, and diseases. How dark or light the color is tells you how much water is in it. Vitamin B supplements can turn urine bright yellow. Some medicines, blackberries, beets, rhubarb, or blood in the urine can turn urine red-brown.

·         Clarity. Urine is normally clear. Bacteria, blood, sperm, crystals, or mucus can make urine look cloudy.

·         Odor. Urine does not smell very strong, but it has a slightly "nutty" odor. Some diseases cause a change in the odor of urine. For example, an infection with E. coli bacteria can cause a bad odor, while diabetes or starvation can cause a sweet, fruity odor.

·         Specific gravity. This checks the amount of substances in the urine. It also shows how well the kidneys balance the amount of water in urine. The higher the specific gravity, the more solid material is in the urine. When you drink a lot of fluid, your kidneys make urine with a high amount of water in it, which has a low specific gravity. When you do not drink fluids, your kidneys make urine with a small amount of water in it, which has a high specific gravity.

·         Power of Hydrogen (pH). The pH is a measure of how acidic or alkaline (basic) the urine is. A urine pH of 4 is strongly acidic, 7 is neutral (neither acidic nor alkaline), and 9 is strongly alkaline. Sometimes the pH of urine is affected by certain treatments. For example, your doctor may instruct you how to keep your urine either acidic or alkaline to prevent some types of kidney stones from forming.

·         Protein. Protein normally isn't found in the urine. Fever, hard exercise, pregnancy, and some diseases, especially kidney disease, may cause protein to be in the urine.

·         Glucose. Glucose is the type of sugar found in blood. Normally there is very little or no glucose in urine. When the blood sugar level is very high, as in uncontrolled diabetes, the sugar spills over into the urine. Glucose can also be found in urine when the kidneys are damaged or diseased.

·         Nitrites. Bacteria that cause a urinary tract infection (UTI) make an enzyme that changes urinary nitrates to nitrites. Nitrites in urine show a UTI may be present.

·         Leukocyte esterase (WBC esterase). Leukocyte esterase shows leukocytes (white blood cells, WBCs) in the urine. WBCs in the urine may mean a UTI is present.

·         Ketones. When fat is broken down for energy, the body makes substances called ketones (or ketone bodies). These are passed in the urine. Large amounts of ketones in the urine may mean a very serious condition, diabetic ketoacidosis, is present. A diet low in sugars and starches (carbohydrates), starvation, or severe vomiting may also cause ketones to be in the urine.

·         Microscopic analysis. In this test, urine is spun in a special machine (centrifuge) so the solid materials (sediment) settle at the bottom. The sediment is spread on a slide and looked at under a microscope. Things that may be seen on the slide include:

o   Red or white blood cells. Blood cells aren't found in urine normally. Inflammation, disease, or injury to the kidneys, ureters, bladder, or urethra can cause blood in urine. Strenuous exercise, such as running a marathon, can also cause blood in the urine. White blood cells may be a sign of infection or kidney disease.

o   Casts. Some types of kidney disease can cause plugs of material (called casts) to form in tiny tubes in the kidneys. The casts then get flushed out in the urine. Casts can be made of red or white blood cells, waxy or fatty substances, or protein. The type of cast in the urine can help show what type of kidney disease may be present.

o   Crystals. Healthy people often have only a few crystals in their urine. A large number of crystals, or certain types of crystals, may mean kidney stones are present or there is a problem with how the body is using food (metabolism).

o   Bacteria, yeast cells, or parasites. There are no bacteria, yeast cells, or parasites in urine normally. If these are present, it can mean you have an infection.

o   Squamous cells. The presence of squamous cells may mean that the sample is not as pure as it needs to be. These cells do not mean there is a medical problem, but your doctor may ask that you give another urine sample.

 “Friendship is like peeing on yourself: everyone can see it, but only you get the warm feeling that it brings.” (coolfunnyquotes.com) [i]

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[i] Sources used:

·        “pH Definition and Equation in Chemistry” by ThoughtCo.

·        “Urinalysis” by Mayo Clinic

·        “Urinalysis” by MedinaPlus

·        “Urine Test” by HealthlinkBC

·         “What Is a Urinalysis?” By Jennifer Whitlock

 

 

Animals

“[If] we all love animals, why do we call some pets and others dinner?” (K. D. Lang)

Veganism is a way of living which seeks to exclude all forms of exploitation and cruelty to animals. The word vegan was initially defined as a diet free of animal-based foods (such as meat, dairy products, eggs, and honey.) The word’s meaning is commonly extended to refer to non-food products such as clothing, cosmetics, and medicine that are made without animal-derived substances. Vegans also typically object to exploitative uses of animals, from animal testing to rodeos to zoos and dolphin shows. Donald Watson, a founding member of the Vegan Society, coined the term vegan in 1944 while living in the United Kingdom.

A vegan food can contain no animal ingredients. There is an enormous variety, which includes: vegetables, fruits and berries, rice, wheat, and other grains, beans, tofu, and tempeh, soy milk and nut milks, nuts and seeds, vegetable oils, coffee, palm oil, and cacao beans. In regard to applying the word vegan to food, a chocolate bar that contains one percent milk powder is absolutely not vegan. Below are the five most common myths about veganism (along with their truths):

MYTH #1: Plant protein is inherently inferior to animal protein

TRUTH: Humans have no greater need for animal proteins than do gorillas or elephants, both of whom have far bigger muscles than we do yet are plant eaters. In fact, essential amino acids actually come from plants – not animals – though they do end up in meat. Vegans who eat a variety of legumes, nuts, seeds, vegetables, fruits, and grains as part of a balanced diet will get more than enough protein.

MYTH #2: Vegan diets aren't safe for children

TRUTH: Children develop normally on vegan diets – and even have significant health advantages. Vegan children often eat more fruits and vegetables, and don’t develop a taste for food products (like meat and dairy) which are linked to health problems later in life. Responsible parents just need to look for natural sources of the essential vitamins and minerals, and be aware of the appropriate caloric intake by age.

MYTH: #3: Vegans care more about animals than they do about humans

TRUTH: While vegans certainly do care for animals, they are also concerned about many issues that affect humans. Veganism addresses the environmental costs of meat and dairy production along with heart disease, public health crises tied to obesity, and poor conditions in slaughterhouses where workers suffer more injuries than in any other industry. Did you know eating vegan one day a week reduces your carbon footprint even more than eating locally sourced food products all week long?

MYTH #4: Being vegan is expensive and inconvenient

TRUTH: Switching sauce on your pasta or the topping on your pizza or your order of salad is not difficult at all and it's often the cheaper option. And that's not to mention all of the delicious ethnic restaurants which are practically based on vegan foods like Indian, Ethiopian, Thai, and Vietnamese.

MYTH #5: Vegan diets are just unhealthy

TRUTH: Studies have found that vegans have lower cholesterol, Body Mass Index (BMI), and triglyceride levels than omnivores across the board. Vegans are 45% less likely to develop cancer of the blood, and 12% less likely to develop any form of cancer at all.

“People eat meat and think they will become strong as an ox forgetting that the ox eats grass.” (Pino Caruso)[i]

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[i] Sources used:

·        “5 Myths about Veganism – Debunked” by Goodnet

·        “Definition of veganism” by The Vegan Society

·        “Vegan Meaning? What is a Vegan” by Vegan.com

 

Zero

“I lean toward a flat tax. But I want to make it real flat like zero.” (Ron Paul)

A flat tax is an income tax system in which everyone pays the same tax rate regardless of how much income they have. These systems are in place in eleven U.S. states as of 2019[i], and several countries use this system as well including Russia, Latvia, and Lithuania. Two of the most important rules of good tax law are low tax rates and less double taxation of saving and investment. Maximum personal income tax rates, for instance, are 23 percentage points lower today in developed nations than they were back in 1980.

Corporate income tax rates have dropped by almost 20 percentage points. Many nations including Scandinavian countries are reducing tax rates on individual capital income and lowering taxes on wealth. All these reforms boost economic performance by lowering the marginal tax rate on productive behavior. It is no surprise that nations that enact these policies grow faster and create more jobs.

Governments that try to keep tax rates high, by contrast, suffer from stagnation and joblessness. Politicians from these countries complain about ''harmful'' tax competition from Ireland, Slovakia, Estonia, and the United States, but they should look in the mirror if they want to find who really deserves to be blamed.

The U.S. federal government operates on a progressive tax system. The more you earn, the greater a percentage in taxes you'll pay. For example, single taxpayers pay a 10 percent tax rate on incomes up to $9,700 in 2019, but they pay 32 percent on income over $160,725 up to $204,100.

Social Security and Medicare taxes are examples of a flat tax system already in place in the U.S. Employees pay 6.2 percent of their earnings in Social Security tax up on all earnings up to a wage base of $132,900 as of 2019. Earnings above $132,900 are exempt—the rate doesn't increase. They pay 1.45 percent of their earnings to Medicare regardless of how much they earn. As with many potential changes to the tax code, a flat tax rate comes with both advantages and disadvantages:

Advantages

·        Proponents of a flat tax cite some benefits of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) switching away from its current progressive tax system. For one thing, flat tax supporters argue the system would be fairer because everyone would pay the same rate.

·        Some flat tax proposals include closing certain tax loopholes for individuals and business owners to simplify the tax code further.

·        Some who support a flat tax argue that it could also promote economic growth because taxpayers would be encouraged to earn and invest more money.

·        To provide for low-income earners, some proposals have called for an exemption amount that isn’t taxable. If, for example, the exemption amount is $35,000 and your income is $50,000, you’d only pay a flat tax on $15,000; the amount by which your income exceeds the exemption amount if your income is below the exemption amount, you won’t pay anything at all.

Disadvantages

·        A progressive personal income tax can help equalize wealth in a country by taking a larger share from high-income groups and effectively giving a tax break to low-income groups.

·        In 1992, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) simulated the effect a flat tax would have on the after-tax income of American families. The CBO found a flat tax would increase the after-tax income of the highest earners by nearly 7% and decrease the after-tax income of the lowest earners by nearly 22%.

·        That doesn’t work with a flat income tax rate. In this scenario, any tax revenue the IRS loses through a lower rate on high-income earners must be made up by low-income earners.

 “The 9-9-9 plan would resuscitate this economy because it replaces the outdated tax code that allows politicians to pick winners and losers, and to provide favors in the form of tax breaks, special exemptions and loopholes. It simplifies the code dramatically: 9% business flat tax, 9% personal flat tax, 9% sales tax.” (Herman Cain) [ii]

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[i] Colorado (4.63), Illinois (4.95), Indiana (3.23), Massachusetts (5.05), Kentucky (5), Michigan (4.25), New Hampshire (5), North Carolina (5.25), Pennsylvania (3.07), Utah (4.95), and Tennessee (2) use the flat tax system percentage as shown above for 2019.

 

[ii] Sources used:

·        “Flat Tax is the Way of the Future” by Daniel J. Mitchell

·        “What Is a Flat Income Tax System?” By Tonya Moreno

·        “What is a flat tax on income?” by Ben Luthi

 

Addictive

“Fitbit makes getting in shape as addictive as checking Facebook and Twitter.” (Time Magazine)

Company producing activity trackersFitbits are activity trackers. These are wireless-enabled wearable technology devices that measure data such as the number of steps walked, heart rate, quality of sleep, steps climbed, and other personal metrics involved in fitness. While these devices appear to increase physical activity, there is little evidence that they improve health outcomes.

Before October 2007, Fitbit was named Healthy Metrics Research, Inc. Fitbit is headquartered in San Francisco, CA. Fitbit was founded on March 26, 2007 by James Park and Eric Friedman. In February 2018, Fitbit announced that it would partner with Adidas to release an Adidas-branded Fitbit Ionic, which was released on March 19, 2018. In August 2018, Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBS) announced a partnership with Fitbit in which BCBS included Fitbit's wearables and fitness trackers in its Blue365 program. In 2019, Google announced its intention to buy Fitbit for $2.1 billion.

How to make the most of your Fitbit experience:

Create goals Most Fitbit trackers allow you to set and adjust daily goal—such as activity, exercise, weight, hydration, food, and sleep targets— at anytime straight from your app [How to set goals]. Your daily progress towards these benchmarks can be seen on your dashboard. With certain devices, you can also set a “main goal”, which programs your tracker to alert you via lights and/or vibrations when you hit it. To see if your device has this capability, click on the “Account” icon in your Fitbit app, choose the device you’re using, click on “Main Goal” and choose one.

Customize your dashboard The quick-glance tiles on your Fitbit dashboard aren’t set in stone. You can add, delete, edit and rearrange them from your app and fitbit.com so they best support your needs and goals.

Dive deep into your data The detail screen you’re brought to when you click on a dashboard tile isn’t static either. For many, you can scroll through the top panel to see more data analysis and even get one-week, one-month, three-month, and one-year averages. You may also be able to click on the day-by-day stats that make up the rest of the screen to further investigate a specific day. This is where you can find information like sleep quality, your longest stationary period, how much time you spent in each heart rate zone, and more.

Get competitive Want to compete against others? Create a group on fitbit.com and add friends. From there you can view the leader board to see how you rank against other members and have discussions. If your friends list is feeling thin, don’t worry: Soon you’ll be able to find other like-minded people through in-app groups.

Improve battery life How long your tracker’s battery lasts depends on which device you have, your usage and settings, and other factors. Look up your device to learn specific ways that may help extend its battery life.

Log naps If your tracker automatically detects sleep (all wrist-based Fitbit trackers do), then any nap you take that lasts longer than an hour will be saved in your sleep history. For anything shorter, you’ll need to manually log your sleep.

Manually log activities If you currently use a Fitbit One, Zip, Flex, or Charge, which don’t offer SmartTrack, or you’re doing an exercise that doesn’t require steps (indoor cycling, the elliptical) or involves complex, step-based movements (like tennis), manually logging the activity can improve the accuracy of this activity’s contribution to your caloric burn. It’s also a great option on days you forget your tracker at home. Here’s how to use manual tracking, as well as edit or delete automatic entries.

Request a weekly progress report Curious how you’re doing or want to make sure you’re tracking towards your goals? You can opt into getting a weekly summary—that includes weekly totals, daily averages, badges earned, comparisons with friends, and more—within your notifications.

Set a bedtime reminder Hopefully you’ve taken advantage of your ability to set a sleep schedule, but how about a bedtime reminder? Scheduling an alert that prompts you to start unwinding 30 minutes before your bedtime target can help you maintain a consistent sleep schedule, which experts say may benefit your health.

Share pictures Have you ever seen someone share on social media cool pictures of their workout or screenshots of their dashboard, badges, or other accomplishments? You can do that, too—and straight from your Fitbit app! Here’s how to share your exercise, stats and accomplishments, Adventure landmarks, challenge results, and badges. Later this month sharing gets even easier with the launch of Fitbit Community.  

Sync with other apps. Do you ride with Peloton, sweat with Fitstar, stay organized with Amazon Alexa, or train your brain with Lumosity? These apps and many more can sync with your Fitbit account for easy data sharing. Take a look at all the apps currently compatible.

Wake up with a silent alarm. A gentler, more partner-friendly way to start the morning actually exists. Learn how to set a silent alarm that wakes you with vibrations, and then discover 13 other ways silent alarms can be helpful—you can set up to eight on every Fitbit tracker except Zip.

 “I have no doubt (that in the future) wearable devices like Fitbit will know my blood pressure, hydration levels and blood sugar levels as well. All of this data has the potential to transform modern medicine and create a whole new era of personalized care.” (Michael Dell) [i]

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[i] Sources used:

·        “12 Not-So-Obvious Things to Know About Your Fitbit Tracker” By Danielle Kosecki

·        “Fitbit” From Wikipedia

This topic is inspired by my wife, Bobbi, who takes her Fitbit with her everywhere she goes.

Principles

“Two principles for happy a life:  Use things not people. Love people not things.” (Anonymous)

Happiness is a skill that can be mastered. It is not abstract and unreachable. Happiness is a personal thing.  Your happiness way is not the way of others. It is a verb.  It’s not stagnant.  Ask these questions of yourself: “How happy am I?” and “How happy am I with my life?”

The happiness that we all want involves both private and public happiness. Private happiness belongs to a particular individual while public happiness involves the happiness of society as a whole. We need to learn ways that will allow us to attain private happiness, and understand public happiness by maintaining harmony between the two. There are seven Principles in The Way of Happiness:

Don’t Fall for the “If-Then” Trap Don’t fall for the “if-then” or “when-then” traps … “I’ll be happy if I get that job,” “I’ll be happy when I get that house,”  “I’ll be happy if I get that relationship.” It’s easy to put your happiness “out there” instead of “right here.” The effective strategy is to enjoy the journey.  Find your happiness now, here, with what you’ve got, from where you are.  You can choose what you focus on.  Focus on the things in your life that lift you.  That’s the happiness way. Most importantly, remember that it’s the journey and the destination, and sometimes the journey is all we’ve got, so make the most of it.

Drive from Happiness This is where you have to look inside, and answer the tough questions.  What do you like to do?  What makes you happy?  What do you want to do more of? It’s very easy to keep doing the things that we think others expect from us, or want for us. Instead, look inside and find the things that really do make you happy, and do more of that.

Focus on Fulfillment When you live a meaningful life, you make your actions, your choices, and your moments count.  You achieve this by deciding who you want to be, and what experiences do you want to create. A simple strategy to focus on fulfillment is to focus on “the greater good” and give your best where you have your best to give.  It’s about playing to your unique strengths, and sharing your gifts with the world.  This will help you rise above the trials of daily living, and help you find a higher ground. Do more meaningful things, by making meaning in the things that you already do, and choose to do.  You are the most significant meaning maker in your life.  A simple way to add more meaning is to identify a passion you believe in.

Point Your Camera on Purpose You’re the director of your life.  Point your camera at the things that you want more of. Is it pain or pleasure? You get what you focus on. It’s a powerful choice and metaphor. It’s easy to test.  Simply start pointing your camera at better scenes each day, and watch what unfolds in yourself, and the world around you. Best wishes on discovering you path of happiness your way.

Raise Your Frustration Tolerance The beauty of this insight is that it works in an instant.  All you have to do is decide not to be frustrated by all the little things that don’t go your way on a daily basis.  There are so many things that can cause frustration in your day if you allow them.  Don’t get mad at the tree go around it.  Don’t get frustrated by the traffic, leave earlier.  If it happens, it happens.  Focus on what you control, and let the rest go. 

Find the humor in it.  Find the lesson. If you raise your frustration tolerance, you can instantly raise your overall happiness level on a daily basis. Too many things in your day could set you back. The key is to practice selective intolerance, so you can live your life at a higher qualify. Deal with the setbacks, and go with the flow while living your vision, mission, and values.

Set Your Own Happiness Level We each have our own happiness level.  Some people have an overall happiness of 8 or 9 out of 10.  For others, it’s more like a 5 or 6.  Embrace it, and start from where you are. One of the best things you can do is find simple ways to gradually improve your overall happiness level.  One of the worst things you can do is compare your happiness level to others, or beat yourself up for not being a sparkly, happy person. As simple as it sounds, people that lead happier lives don’t worry about whether they are happy every waking moment.  They focus more on living their values, and focusing on fulfillment.  Happiness happens along the way and at more frequent doses now.  Sometimes, people just have to appreciate what they have.

Spend More Time in Your Values Living your values is a simple way to add more happiness to every day.  If you spend a lot of time at work, the best way to make the most of it, is to connect your work to your values.  For example, if you like to learn, then master your craft.  If you like to help others, find a way to contribute and give back, using your skills, experience, and knowledge.  If you value excellence, then make your work about excellence. When you spend more time in your values, you enjoy the journey more, regardless of the destination.

“Happiness and freedom begin with a clear understanding of one principle: Some things are within our control, and some things are not.” (Epictetus)[i]

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[i] Sources used:

·        “7 Ways to Bake Happiness into Your Life” By J.D. Meier

·        “The Principles of Happiness” by Happy Science

 

Change

“Use your smile to change the world. Don’t let the world change your smile.” (Dental Implant Centers)

Tooth loss is an unfortunate, common reality for many people. Years ago dentures and bridges were the only way to take care of this issue. These methods are known to cause discomfort to the wearer as well as have a fairly painstaking maintenance routine. Dental implants are an easy, permanent, and natural feeling replacement for missing teeth.

A dental implant is an artificial tooth “root” made of titanium metal that is placed in the mouth by an oral surgeon. It fuses to the jaw bone and becomes the best permanent fixture in the mouth that can support a dental prosthesis like a crown, bridge, or denture. Here are a few things you should know about dental implants if you’re considering them:

Dental implants are less expensive over time: Dental implants tend to be an expensive procedure up front requiring a substantial investment either all at once or in instalments. With the proper care dental implants don’t require any more upkeep than normal teeth. But, other tooth replacement options such as dentures and dental bridges are not one-time fixes and generally require further attention or replacement throughout your lifetime. This means that many people who choose dental implants actually save money in the long run. Dental implants tend to be an expensive procedure up front, requiring a substantial investment either all at once or in instalments.

Dental implants have a high success rate: Dental implants have one of the highest success rates of 95 to 98 percent. Moreover, dental implants have been around for over 30 years and have a proven track record supported by thousands of comprehensive studies. Of course, the success rate varies based on the dental health of the individual undergoing the procedure and the skill and expertise of the person performing the procedure.

Dental implants help to preserve remaining healthy teeth: If you don’t replace a failed tooth, your healthy teeth will begin to shift into the open space, which causes your teeth to become weaker and vulnerable to decay. Dental implants allow you to leave your healthy teeth alone while giving you longer-lasting, fully-functional replacements for your missing teeth. A fixed bridge is the most common option for replacing missing teeth when there are healthy teeth remaining. However, this solution often requires the alteration of otherwise healthy teeth by filing them down to the proper size to fit into crowns that act as anchors for the bridge.

Dental implants prevent bone loss: Unlike fixed bridges, dental implants can preserve the health of your jawbone. Once a tooth is lost, the bone in that area begins to deteriorate over time because the jawbone is no longer receiving stimulation. Dental implants replace the roots of the missing teeth, imitating the stimulation of the jawbone, and preventing further deterioration.

Dental implants restore function and make eating easier: Dental implants allow you to retain your love of eating and enable you to enjoy a natural, satisfying chewing experience. As well it will naturally restore your smile so no one will ever know you lost a tooth. Chewing with dental implants is equivalent to chewing with your natural teeth. For someone used to the hassle of dentures or worried about the restrictions that come with other dental treatment options, dental implants are an incredible alternative. Go ahead and have your favourite chewy favourites and eat all the crunchy carrots you want. Dental implants allow you to retain or regain your love of eating.

 “500,000 people get dental implants each year.” (Anonymous)[i]

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[i] Sources used:

·        “5 Things You Need to Know About Dental Implants” by Parke-Rogers

·        “5 things you should know about dental implants” by Crookes & Jenkins

·         “5 things you should know about dental implants” by Dr Thomas Joseph

 

Well Done

“I am going to run the race to hear you say, ‘Well done’.” (TheWordfortheDay)

We have all these great people around us as examples. Their lives tell us what faith means. So we, too, should run the race that is before us and never quit. We should remove from our lives anything that would slow us down and the sin that so often makes us fall. ² We must never stop looking to Jesus. He is the leader of our faith, and he is the one who makes our faith complete. He suffered death on a cross. But he accepted the shame of the cross as if it were nothing because of the joy he could see waiting for him. And now he is sitting at the right side of God’s throne. ³ Think about Jesus [who] patiently endured the angry insults that sinful people were shouting at him. Think about him so that you won’t get discouraged and stop trying. (Hebrews 12:1-3, ERV)

How to endure the end of the race (series summary):

·        Listen to the crowd cheering you on.

·        Lose the weight holding you back.

·        Look to Jesus for help.

 

1.     Think about His honor in you being connected to Him.

¹⁶ So we have no reason to despair. Despite the fact that our outer humanity is falling apart and decaying, our inner humanity is breathing in new life every day. ¹⁷ You see, the short-lived pains of this life are creating for us an eternal glory that does not compare to anything we know here. ¹⁸ So we do not set our sights on the things we can see with our eyes. All of that is fleeting; it will eventually fade away. Instead, we focus on the things we cannot see, which live on and on. (2 Corinthians 4:16-18, VOICE), see Hebrews 12:2 above

2.     Think about His hostility in the way people treat Him.

People made fun of him, and even his friends left him. He was a man who suffered a lot of pain and sickness. We treated him like someone of no importance, like someone people will not even look at but turn away from in disgust. (Isaiah 53:3, ERV), see Hebrews 12:3 above

“If you want to know who God is, look at Jesus. If you want to know what it means to be human, look at Jesus. If you want to know what love is, look at Jesus. If you want to know what grief is, look at Jesus. And go on looking until you’re not just a spectator, but you’re actually part of the drama which has him as the central character.” (N. T. Wright)[i]

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[i] Inspired by the sermon “Look at Jesus: Marathon, “(installment three, final) Sunday November 24, 2019, Pastor Dave Jansen, CenterPoint Gahanna Church Gahanna, OH.