Are you going to finish strong? Nick Vujicic

My good friend Patrick Troughton sent me this video clip of a most remarkable man called Nick Vujicic. As you can see from the clip he has no arms and legs, yet he is, to use his own words, 'so full of verve'. God came into his life when he was fifteen years old and has used him to bring hope and inspiration to millions around the world.I have posted a short biography of him below (from Wiki) and hope you will find it inspirational.AK

Nick Vujicic (born December 4, 1982) is a preacher, a motivational speaker and the director of Life Without Limbs, an organization for the physically disabled. He regularly gives speeches across the world on the subject of disability and hope.

Early life
The first-born child in his devout Serbian Christian family, Nick Vujicic was born in Melbourne, Australia with the rare Tetra-amelia disorder: limbless, missing both arms at shoulder level, and having one small foot with two toes protruding from his left thigh. Initially, his parents were devastated. Vujicic was otherwise healthy.


Growing up
His life was filled with difficulties and hardships. One was not being able to attend a mainstream school because of his physical disability, as the law of Australia required, even though he was not mentally impaired. During his schooling, the laws were changed, and Nick was one of the first disabled students to be migrated to a mainstream school. He learned to write using the two toes on his left "foot," and a special device that slid onto his big toe to grip. He also learned to use a computer and type using the "heel and toe" method (as demonstrated in his speeches). He can also throw tennis balls and answer the phone. He can also shave and get a glass of water (also demonstrated in speeches).


Epiphany
Being bullied at his school, Nick grew extremely depressed, and by the age of eight, started contemplating suicide. After begging God to grow arms and legs, Nick eventually began to realize that his accomplishments were inspirational to many, and began to thank God he was alive. A key turning point in his life was when his mother showed him a newspaper article about a man dealing with severe disability. This led him to realize he wasn't the only one with major struggles. When he was seventeen, he started to give talks at his prayer group, and eventually started his non-profit organization, Life Without Limbs.

Career
Nick graduated from college at the age of 21 with a double major in Accounting and Financial Planning. He began his travels as a motivational speaker, focusing on the topics that today's teenagers face. He also speaks in the corporate sector, although his aim is to become an international inspirational speaker, in both Christian and non-Christian venues. He regularly travels internationally to speak to Christian congregations, schools, and corporate meetings. He has spoken to over two million people so far, in twelve countries on four continents (Africa, Asia, Australia, and North America).

By the age of 25, Nick hoped to become financially independent. He wishes to promote his words through television shows such as the The Oprah Winfrey Show, as well as by writing books. His first book, planned for completion by the end of 2009, is to be called No Arms, No Legs, No Worries!

His motivational DVD, Life's Greater Purpose, is available on the Life Without Limbs website.[8] Most of the DVD was filmed in 2005, featuring a brief documentary about his home life, and how he does regular things without limbs. The second part of the DVD was filmed at his local church in Brisbane, and was one of his first professional motivational speeches. His motivational speeches can be seen on the Premiere Speakers Bureau Website. Vujicic currently lives in California.

His secular DVD "No Arms, No Legs, No Worries" is available online through his corporate motivational speaking company "Attitude Is Altitude."

Nick's first worldwide television interview, featured on 20/20 (ABC) with Bob Cummings was aired on March 28, 2008.

'It is not the critic who counts':Who said this?

It is not the critic who counts;
not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles,
or where the doer of deeds could have done them better.
The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena,
whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood,
who strives valiantly;
who errs and comes short again and again;
because there is not effort without error and shortcomings;
but who does actually strive to do the deed;
who knows the great enthusiasm,
the great devotion,
who spends himself in a worthy cause,
who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement
and who at the worst,if he fails,
at least he fails while daring greatly.
So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.”

Another man who made a difference-George Verwer

If you have twenty minutes to spare, watch this. It is a video of George Verwer speaking the day after he received his honorary Doctorate of Divinity from Biola University.After the introduction you will hear George speak with great passion to the young graduates.I personally have been blessed by both his books and friendship over the years- he has never ceased to inspire me.But more than that,through the missionary organization he founded (O.M.), many thousands have been trained as evangelists with thousands more coming to know Christ through them.He was truly one man who made a massive difference.Catch his passion.

One man who made a difference-Oskar Schindler

This film clip is taken from the ending of the superb movie Schindler's list.The Allied forces have arrived in German occupied Czechoslovakia and Schindler must leave the factory, or be arrested, which he had used as a front to save his Jewish 'workers'. will be arrested. In this very emotional clip he is saying good bye to the Jews he had saved from the concentration camps,and death.He had saved about eleven hundred of them, but still he feels he could have done more.

Schindler was only one man. He was also a playboy who had become very wealthy due to the war, but by this stage, after almost a miraculous change, he had spent all his money on bribes protecting the Jews from the Nazis death camps.For this he was became a hero to the Jews for what he did. Those who were saved by him or who were part of later generations of those he had saved are known as Schindler's Jews.( See a short biography of Schindler as the first comment).

We too have only one life and each of us have the opportunity now to use it for good, today and for the rest of our lives. Let us pray each day for ourselves and others that we will be used by him:'Let your Kingdom come in us, let your will be done on earth in us as it is in heaven'.Christ said to his disciples:"My food,is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. Do you not say, 'Four months more and then the harvest'? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. Even now the reaper draws his wages, even now he harvests the crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. Thus the saying 'One sows and another reaps' is true. I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor." We have only one life to do this, may we be his servants in the harvest field he has assigned for us.

Encouragement from Spurgeon

“These were potters, and those that lived among the plants and hedges: there they lived with the king for his work.”
1 Chronicles 4:23
POTTERS were not the very highest grade of workers, but “the king” needed potters, and therefore they were in royal service, although the material upon which they worked was nothing but clay. We, too, may be engaged in the most menial part of the Lord’s work, but it is a great privilege to do anything for “the king;” and therefore we will abide in our calling. The text tells us of those who dwelt among plants and hedges, having rough, rustic, hedging and ditching work to do. They may have desired to live in the city, amid its life, society,and refinement, but they kept their appointed places, for they also were doing the king’s work. The place of our habitation is fixed, and we are not to remove from it out of whim or to suit our fancy, but seek to serve the Lord in it, by being a blessing to those among whom we reside.

These potters and gardeners had royal company, for they dwelt “with the king” and although among hedges and plants, they dwelt with the king there. No lawful place, or gracious occupation, however mean, can debar us from communion with our divine Lord. In visiting hovels, swarming lodging-houses, workhouses, or jails, we may go with the king. In all works of faith we may count upon Jesus’ fellowship. It is when we are in His work that we may reckon upon His smile. All you unknown workers, who are occupied for your Lord amid the dirt and wretchedness of the lowest of the low, be of good cheer, for jewels have been found upon dunghills before now, earthen pots have been filled with heavenly treasure, and ill weeds have been transformed into precious flowers. Dwell with the King for His work, and when He writes His chronicles your name shall be recorded.
CHS