May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had. Romans 15:5
The story is one of resolute endurance.
It occurred in the Antarctic in 1914-1917, during the Imperial Trans-Atlantic Expedition. Its ship, the Endurance, became trapped in pack ice and was slowly crushed before the shore parties could be landed.
The crew escaped by camping on the sea ice until it disintegrated, then by launching the lifeboats to reach Elephant Island and ultimately South Georgia Island. It was an incredible experience and thanks to the leadership qualities of Ernest Shackleton, not one of the 28 members of the crew perished. All survived. Just this year, the well-preserved stern of the ship “Endurance” was discovered in 10,000 feet of water, 106 years after its demise.
Books have been written about Shackleton’s leadership qualities. Shackleton was a cautious leader and a man who would never ask his men to do anything he would not do himself. He was also good at improvisation, a man not afraid to throw away the rulebook or abandon plans if they were not working.
Imagine being stranded on ice for 19 months in the world’s harshest climate, often without light for months on end. Imagine being cut off from the outside world without any forms of communication. No smartphones, tablets, laptops, telephones or faxes, not even a telegraph machine or carrier pigeon! Imagine helming a crew of 27 tired and demoralized men, all of whom depend on you for survival. What would you do in that life threatening situation?
Shackleton’s leadership skills are taught in business schools. He was mission focused, improvised when necessary. He freely shared information with his team, even when it was not good. He learned from his mistakes and made corrections when necessary.
But perhaps Shackleton’s greatest character of leadership was endurance. He never gave up and encouraged his team to never give up.
The Bible tells us to have endurance and not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. Paul tells us to not grow weary in doing good. As Christians, we need endurance, so that when we have done the will of God we will receive what Jesus promised. Those who endure in the faith to the end will be saved.
How is the endurance of your faith?
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SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES
Only GOD: Our moon is 27 percent the size of our planet and yet our planet is so small that 1.3 million Earths can fit inside our sun. While our sun contains 99.86 percent of the mass in our solar system, it is just one of 200 billion stars in our galaxy. Astrophysicists estimate that our galaxy is just one of between one hundred billion and two hundred billion galaxies in the universe.
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When darkness seems to hide His face
I rest on His unchanging grace
In every high and stormy gale
My anchor holds within the vale.
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Psalm-34-4
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There are 4200 recognized religions in the world. Which one is yours?
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Paul warned that “the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:4). Here is how he responded: “What we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ.”
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Have you heard of the latest designer dog? It’s the rage… the all-new St. Pit. It is a cross between a pit bull and a St. Bernard. It will bite your leg off and then go get help.
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QUOTES YOU CAN USE
If you are playing “Follow the Leader,” you must get out of your chair. Max Wilkins
Adopt the pace of nature, her secret is patience. Ralph Emerson
We don’t take Jesus’ word for knowledge, but for transformation. Cindy Heiberg
We need to join Jesus’ mission now and not tarry in the wilderness. Andy Ivey
Worship is essential to the Word of God. Laura Hedstrom
Without Good Friday, the resurrection would be impossible. Bishop Sharma Lewis
If you want your children to be intelligent, read them fairy tales. If you want them to be more intelligent, read them more fairy tales. Albert Einstein
I never considered a difference of opinion in politics, in religion, in philosophy, as cause for withdrawing from a friend. Thomas Jefferson