Inspirational Videos

John 6:40
New Living Translation
For it is my Father’s will that all who see his Son and believe in him should have eternal life. I will raise them up at the last day.”

English Standard Version
For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”

Berean Literal Bible
For this is the will of My Father, that everyone beholding the Son and believing in Him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up in the last day."

King James Bible
And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

New King James Version
And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”

New American Standard Bible
For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.”

NASB 1995
“For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.”

NASB 1977
“For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him, may have eternal life; and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.”

Amplified Bible
For this is My Father’s will and purpose, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him [as Savior] will have eternal life, and I will raise him up [from the dead] on the last day.”

Christian Standard Bible
For this is the will of my Father: that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him will have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
For this is the will of My Father: that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”

American Standard Version
For this is the will of my Father, that every one that beholdeth the Son, and believeth on him, should have eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
“For this is the will of my Father: Everyone who sees The Son and trusts in him shall have eternal life, and I shall raise him in the last day.”

Contemporary English Version
My Father wants everyone who sees the Son to have faith in him and to have eternal life. Then I will raise them to life on the last day.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And this is the will of my Father that sent me: that every one who seeth the Son, and believeth in him, may have life everlasting, and I will raise him up in the last day.

Good News Translation
For what my Father wants is that all who see the Son and believe in him should have eternal life. And I will raise them to life on the last day."

International Standard Version
This is my Father's will: That everyone who sees the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him to life on the last day."

Literal Standard Version
and this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who is beholding the Son, and is believing in Him, may have continuous life, and I will raise him up in the last day.”

New American Bible
For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life, and I shall raise him [on] the last day.”

NET Bible
For this is the will of my Father--for everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him to have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."

New Revised Standard Version
This is indeed the will of my Father, that all who see the Son and believe in him may have eternal life; and I will raise them up on the last day.”

New Heart English Bible
This is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son, and believes in him, should have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day."

Weymouth New Testament
For this is my Father's will, that every one who fixes his gaze on the Son of God and believes in Him should have the Life of the Ages, and I will raise him to life on the last day."

World English Bible
This is the will of the one who sent me, that everyone who sees the Son, and believes in him, should have eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day."

Young's Literal Translation
and this is the will of Him who sent me, that every one who is beholding the Son, and is believing in him, may have life age-during, and I will raise him up in the last day.'

Hopefully encourage Christians to continue

A worshipful rendition of Blessed Assurance by the Bagpipe Preacher Rev. Steve Simpson

Providing scripture, ,inspiration and worship about the second coming of the Lord.

This is Tribute video to Shidoshi Frank Dux who was the inspiration to the 1988 movie Bloodsport with Jean Claude van Damme. Frank W. Dux was a student under Senzo Tanaka of the Koga Yamabushi Ryu Ninjutsu system. Bloodsport with Jean Claude van Damme is about Frank Dux.

I'm asking to be blessed with new shoes

Simon Cowell has seen a lot of things in his life, no doubt, but even he couldn’t watch this incredible balancing act audition from the Vardanyan Brothers. The crazy stunts these handsome men perform during their audition will have your heart racing!

Meet 30-year-old Gevorg and 28-year-old Andranik Vardanyan. The video opens as Judge David is getting to know the two. They are from Armenia, but they currently reside in Moscow. Once the chit-chat is finished, the two brothers move to either side of a large circular platform and climb upon it. This is where they will do their freakishly frightening act.

Alesha tells David that she “likes the way they look like they mean business,” and he comments that they look like superheroes. However, none of the judges have seen anything yet!

Gevorg, dressed in turquoise, settles on his back with his hands stretched heavenward. His brother, in red, then does a handstand from his brother’s raised hands. Andranik lowers his legs to meet his feet with his brother’s raised feet, and the two do the splits simultaneously—one on top of the other. They must have incredible leg strength! 

Next, the older brother puts a sort of “platform” on his head. Think cymbal-playing monkey. You guessed it! Andranik, with moves that are both strategic and artistic, now does a headstand on top of Gevorg’s head. 

But, as if that is not enough, they continue the stunt as Gevorg sits down, stretches out his legs, touches the hands of his brother above, and returns to a standing position all while balancing his brother on his head! While the two aren’t twins, they do look a little like a mirror reflection as they perform this one. 

The final feat of the performance involves two short swords with small square tips. And, those swords are held by the teeth of the brothers. It’s insane! It doesn’t take long for the judges to determine the objective here; they plan to balance as before, but now there will be swords between the two. 

At this point, the audience is biting their nails, and the judges’ eyes grow. Simon has to look away. The nerves have gotten to him, and he can’t even take the anticipation! He gets up from his seat and walks a bit away from the stage, as though putting a little distance between himself and the act will somehow protect them.

The men shake from the effort and the tiny targets they are trying to connect are inches away from each other, but they may as well be miles apart. After several seconds of trying to get into position, the team gives up. Moments later, they reset to try the stunt again. 

It is a nail-biter! Amanda hides behind the cape of her red dress, and Simon continues to look away as Gevorg and Andranik struggle to connect the tips of their swords to complete their performance.

Audience members are clutching hands and screaming, and it feels like the brothers continue the potentially deadly stunt forever! 

Obviously, the Vandanyan Brothers get four yeses from the judges, but they leave Simon with a startling parting message. They say they have more dangerous acts to share!

“The glory of young men is their strength, gray hair the splendor of the old.” Proverbs 20:29

This all-girls choir sings a unique rendition of Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” in this performance by the Frensham Madrigals. 

Frensham is a girls’ boarding school and day school in Mittagong, Australia. And, the British band Queen is one of the most well-known rock groups of all time. Watch how these young ladies pay homage to Queen and their 1975 superhit!

Twenty high school girls are dressed in basic brown uniforms. They wear black ties and clunky brown shoes, and each has her hair fixed in a ponytail. The look is anything but rock and roll. Honestly, it’s just not very flashy—and certainly not colorful. And that’s totally fine.

Because, what the performance ‘lacks’ in costumes and crazy make-up, it makes up for with lighting and choreography that are impeccably timed and executed, and voices that harmonize and hit the notes with perfection!   

The performance opens with the girls looking down and the stage dimly lit. They sing the slow opening to the classic, but the lights come on just as they lift their faces to render the words “open your eyes.” And, heads are bowed once again when soloist Charlotte Nicholls moves forward to deliver the first verse. It’s a weighty lyric for a proper young lady!

Charlotte is joined by Katie Lee, who finishes that verse. Then, the ensemble comes back together to cry out to “Mama.” The use of shadows and light is reminiscent of the video of Queen’s own performance.   

As verse two rounds out, you might notice that three of the students have purple trim on their jacket lapels. A purple iris is the emblem for Frensham, because it is believed to represent beauty, strength, and an ability to prosper in various conditions. 

The piano bridge provides time for the singers to position themselves. Then, at the precise moment, they turn crisply toward the center to begin the operatic portion. A few more clever and music-complimenting moves bring us right to the big surprise. The crowd loves it when the madrigals take a few moments for headbanging and air guitar playing!

Just as the songstresses turned rowdy, they returned to formality for the final minute of the performance. They bring Mr. Mercury’s song to a close with lights dimmed and heads bowed once again. Great job, Frensham friends, and thanks for the fun!

“She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.” Proverbs 31:25

Bible study – Christian lifestyle

Video about THE POWER AND WONDER OF GOD'S WORD

Two elderly women give their bedridden sister the sweetest makeover, and this sweet video will move your heart and inspire your own relationships. 

In this clip there are three silver haired women. One is in the bed beaming with a huge smile while her other two sisters comb her hair and help her to feel confident. A woman says, “One sister taking care of another.” They laugh and all agree. 

The other sister says, “Let’s get these bangs like she wears them. Usually they make a roll.” The other sister chimes in, “Yeah, but they’re not doing it now.” The women continue to problem solve for their sister so that her hair can look like she normally wears it. 

The bedridden sister’s hair begins to curl and one woman says, “There that’s better.” It is the sweetest moment of family encouraging one another. These sisters clearly have a close bond. 

The way that these ladies come together to support their family member who have been going through a hard time is motivational. The bond between siblings is a special gift. These women know that life is precious and they are serving their elderly sister wholeheartedly and with joy. 

In our walk with Christ, we are called to love our brothers and sisters in the Lord. No, our relationships are not perfect, but may this clip remind us to take time to invest and care for the lives of others. We can help bless those who are our siblings in Christ.

“So if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and individual members of it.” 1 Corinthians 12:26-27

Are you an animal lover or do you love thrilling experiences? Check out this video where the Irwins help relocate 10 huge alligators. 

At the start of this amazing video, we see Robert Irwin with a team of people making a game plan for a very exciting day. Robert shares, “Today we’re embarking on one of the largest animal moves in the history of Australia Zoo.” The entire reptile crew gathers as they figure out how they are going to get the ten gators. They have a fear that getting one will scare the others. Robert explains that this is a dangerous situation. They are shocked because the alligators stubbornly remain in the water. 

Finally, one gator comes after half an hour. The team catches the first gator. All the men try to catch different gators and when one takes hold they all immediately assist in pulling him out of the water. The group gets a large alligator named Bo. They are doing well, but the gators know what is happening. Due to the heat, the alligators who are loaded need to get to water again soon, so the pressure is on. 

The final two gators are very difficult. The team divides and conquers. Finally, there is one alligator left to get and the group succeeds in catching all the ten that they need to relocate south. The group celebrates this day of hard work and safely gets the gators to the truck heading for their next location.

Scripture uses an example in James 3 about how animals can be tamed, yet how difficult it is for us to tame our own tongues. As we watch these alligators be tamed one by one, may it remind us to submit our own selves to the Lord.

“All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.”  James 3:7-8

This stunning performance by a USA junior figure skater will wow you. 

14-year-old figure skater Isabeau Levito wins over the audience during the US championships at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee.  

Isabeau begins with a double axel as she skates to the Swan by Saint-Saëns from Carnival of the Animals. She grabs her foot over her head and spins beautifully. It is as if this girl is dancing on ice as light as a feather. 

The announcer shares that her most difficult jump is coming up, the triple lutz-triple loop. Isabeau nails both moves and the crowd cheers. The young woman then spins so quickly while holding onto one skate low towards the ice. This girl impresses with her fearless and playful approach to her moves. As she completes her routine, the audience cheers. 

The announcer calls Isabeau, “Absolutely stunning, technically brilliant, artistically way beyond her young years.” Isabeau ends up placing 4th in the US Figure Skating Competition. 

Due to her age, Isabeau is not old enough to qualify for the Olympics, so she explains how she felt like she did not have anything to lose. This took the pressure off of her routine and she was able to just enjoy the experience as a whole.

Isabeau chose not to worry about her performance, she simply had fun and did her best. This reminds us that we can have the peace of God with us even in moments of test and trial.

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”  John 14:27

Luke Smallbone opens up about honoring his wedding vows even through his wife’s addiction, and it’s so moving.

On our wedding day, we think we know what it means to say, “For better or for worse, in sickness and in health.” But we really don’t know where life will lead us in our marriage or what struggles and obstacles may come our way. 

Courtney was seven months pregnant with their first child. Both Luke and Courtney were overjoyed to be expecting. The only downside to her pregnancy was severe nausea. Because the morning sickness had become so debilitating, Luke convinced her to see the doctor. “She was dealing with morning sickness, so she went to the doctor and they gave her some anti-nausea pills,” Luke recalls.

Country was then prescribed an anti-nausea medication which relieved her symptoms.

“They would work for a while, but then they would stop working and the doctors told her to take more. The doctors were all good with it, but before long I could see some behavioral changes,” he said.

But Courtney also realized when she took the medication, it made her feel an overwhelming sense of calm. The more she took, the happier and calmer she felt. All the while, Luke had no idea she had begun to abuse her medication.

Guilt and shame began to eat Courtney alive and she knew she needed to get off the medication so she tried to do it alone and in secret. That’s when she knew was in trouble as she began having severe withdrawal symptoms. In an act of courage, Courtney called Luke. At the time he was on tour with his band For King & Country.

One night, we had a show in Austin, Texas, and she was back home in Nashville. She called me and said, ‘I need you to come home. I can’t stop taking these pills.’ She’s never asked me to come home off the road like that before.”

When Luke got home, he realized Courtney had a serious problem as he held her body through the shaking from the withdrawal.

Wanting her to get the help she needed, he took her to a treatment center when she was seven months pregnant. As Courtney worked through detox and stayed in treatment, Luke learned what it really meant to love someone in sickness and in health. Each day he would drive Courtney to her outpatient therapy sessions which then turned into several years of counseling for the couple.

Luke realized during this journey together that marriage vows don’t mean less just because you’re a few years into marriage. “It’s always just as important as the first time you say it as making a commitment to live out those vows ten years down the road or thirty years down the road, fifty or sixty whatever it might be. That vow remains a vow,” he said.

He realized how vital and precious it is to give the gift of grace, especially in addiction, especially when we don’t feel like the other person deserves grace. “That’s when grace becomes real,” Luke reflected.  

It is God’s amazing grace that enabled Luke to love his wife through her addiction and recovery. What a blessing it is to listen to his story. What a powerful testimony!

“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,” Ephesians 5:25

It doesn’t get more incredible than this, an 8-year-old girl learns sign language and forms a special bond with a deaf delivery driver.

Children are resilient, kind, and naturally want others to feel included. They also can make friends with just about anyone. From the cranky old lady who lives down the street to the delivery driver who makes frequent stops in the neighborhood. But Tallullah McLellan is making waves around the world after she formed a unique friendship with Tim Joseph.

Amidst the lockdown and pandemic last year, Tallullah got to know Tim. Because of the lockdown, the McLellan residence was relying on deliveries instead of shopping. So when Tallullah happened to answer the door one day to receive a delivery, she quickly learned that Tim was deaf but she managed to sign, “Have a nice day,” because she had learned it in class.

This kind-hearted girl wanted to communicate more with Tim and she learned how to say, “Thank you, Good Morning” and is continuing to learn more sign language because she says Tim puts a smile on her face. Because of the pandemic, Tim has become an essential part of personnel that the McLellan's as well as others in their neighborhood rely on. They know he works long, hard, and late hours but they also worry that he gets lonely because not many people know sign language.

Tullullah’s mom Amy captured one of their conversations on camera and proudly posted it online. She was delighted that her daughter has such a kind heart. But she never expected the video to go viral. The video has now been shared more than 22 million times and the comments that are rolling in have Amy gushing with pride.

One viewer commented, “Just beautiful, it brought tears to my eyes and I just love to see people being good towards one another.” Another added, “There is nothing like connecting to other people. I love seeing people of different age, race, nationalities, and languages connect to each other.” And I think we all agree with this comment, “This is the world I want to wake up to every day.”

May we look to our children to take a few lessons on kindness and friendship! Thank God for this heartwarming story. May it inspire us to be like Tullullah and make a new friend.

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Saying “I do” to the love of your life is one of the most precious, pivotal moments in a person’s life. We dream of our wedding day not just because we get to celebrate with the love of our life but also because it’s the beginning of the next chapter. This bride’s emotional vows to her stepson have the groom in tears. And there absolutely was not one dry eye in the room. 

Vanessa decided to take it one step further and include her new bonus son, Henry. In her emotional vows to her stepson, Vanessa promised to love and support him for the rest of her life. "Henry, I know I wasn't there the day you came into the world. I wasn't there for your first steps or your first words, but I promise I will be there for many more of your firsts." She added, "I promise to love you as if you were my own, and lastly, I promise I will be the best wife for your dad, and I promise to be the best stepmom I can be for you.”

Tears flowed freely down her face and her voice shook as she read these precious vows to her new bonus son, Henry who was also smiling through his emotional tears too. Vanessa wanted Henry to know just how important he was as a part of this new family they were creating together. But the best about this whole story was that it was all captured on camera—including the groom’s reaction. Not only was Craig surprised, but he was also grateful and overjoyed that he had found someone who would love his son just as much as he did.

Vanessa’s act of love revealed to Craig just how much Henry meant to her and she wanted Craig to understand she took her new role seriously. She wasn’t just going to the woman Henry’s dad was married to, just was going to be the best stepmom possible.

This is by far one of the most emotional, heartwarming, and touching moments in wedding videos and it would seem the public agrees. The video was posted to Facebook and has already gone viral with over 45,000 views. Maybe that’s because creating a family is absolutely precious or maybe it’s because it reminds us of how God adopted us into his family.

“He predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will” Ephesians 1:5

While most people would run from the sounds of fire alarms alerting danger, two very special teens ran towards the danger and now they are being praised as heroes and the dramatic rescue was captured on a doorbell camera.

Teens Anthony Lombardi and Mario Comella save three dogs after noticing smoke at a neighbor’s house. They not only saw the smoke and heard the smoke alarms wailing, but they also heard the frantic barks and howls of three dogs trapped inside. 

The boys knew the neighbors and had their contact information stored on their phones. They called the owners to tell them the house was on fire when the owner of the home gave the boys the code to unlock the door to get those precious, furry family members to safety. Once the door was open, they started calling for the dogs to come out of the smoke-filled house. Only two of the three dogs didn’t hesitate! They knew they were in trouble and Faith and Boo bolted outside to safety.

That’s when the teens learned that a German Shepherd pup named Chase was trapped in his crate. The teens didn’t hesitate to run inside the smoke-filled home to get the puppy to safety. Their act of bravery saved the lives of three furry family members and also the home from going up in flames. 

After the fire was put out, everyone learned that one of the dogs had accidentally started the fire. A cutting board was sitting on top of the stove and one of the dogs jumped up the stove and turned on the burner. 

"These are very easy to turn on, so she jumped up and put them on high. It smoldered for an hour,” said the house owner, and now they are getting safety covers on the burner handles to prevent any future accidents.

No matter how the fire started, everyone is grateful for the courageous teens who acted quickly to get the dogs to safety and contact authorities to put out the fire. 

We pray Anthony and Mario continue to be courageous as they grow up!

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9

Life is something to be honored. In this video, a 100-year-old veteran celebrates his birthday with a boogie-woogie dance. 

As we hear the music, “Get Down Tonight” by John Travolta, an older man is dancing alongside a young woman in a dance studio. Jack Becker is a marine veteran from Oregon. He served in World War II and has lived a full life. For his 100th birthday party, his family had a dance party with all three of his daughters present. 

In this clip, we see Jack grooving and pointing excitedly as the song says, “stayin’ alive.” This song means so much to Jack because he is 100 years young and rejoicing at the long life he has been given! As they dance seeing how low they can go, his granddaughter says, “No lower, are you sure?” Jack replies, “no lower.” The family is smiling and dancing together while having the best time at a very special birthday party.  

I love how this video highlights the generations in one room. Life is a gift and not everyone is able to celebrate their 100th birthday. Jack has been blessed with a long life by today’s standard. His loved ones come alongside him dancing, and they show him lots of care and support. 

Instead of worrying about getting one year older, they are celebrating the joys and blessings of this new age that Jack has been given. This is truly a milestone worth remembering and they did it in style. 

“Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.” Isaiah 46:4

Alexandra Trusova has already earned a place among the superheroes of figure skating with her Wonder Woman ice skating routine that is a positively gravity-defying spectacle! And, in addition to her stunning demonstration of athleticism, there’s a lot about this waifish Russian skater that’s not as obvious!  

Watch as Alexandra (a.k.a. Sasha) takes to the ice in a basic, black trench coat. That’s not the blingy bodysuit we are accustomed to seeing, but it sets the subdued and subtle tone for the opening of her performance.

After the applause fades, we hear the sound of a helicopter. Alexandra, as Wonder Woman, looks to the skies with an expression that indicates she knows there’s something bad coming—a battle that will soon need to be fought. Until that clash, Wonder Woman skates in quiet contemplation to “Song to the Siren.” This is the calm before the storm.

At about 1:30 minutes into the video, Alexandra spins and kneels, and unties her belted coat. That action might be the only one in the entire video that seems to challenge Alexandra in any way! As she becomes unbound, she looks up toward the audience, seemingly excited to show them what comes next. That expression belongs to Alexandra rather than Diana’s alter ego! The remainder of the video is set to “Wonder Woman Defending/And What Rough Beast.” 

Now we see Wonder Woman in all her glory. Though this WW version has a tiny frame at about 5’2” and 93 pounds, she’s fierce in her blue, red, and gold costume. Her bedazzled headband and “bracelets of submission” complete the look and provide all the power she needs! Alexandra runs, slides, skate-kicks, and spins for nearly 90 seconds until the music and mood calms again. 

Within mere moments, Alexandra is precariously close to the ice in a back-bending and bone-breaking maneuver. The fight has resumed, and this move may be a visual representation of some of Wonder Woman’s more extreme pickles! In the end, Wonder Woman is the victor and Alexandra comes in 3rd place at the 2022 contest in Tallinn, Estonia. 

Here’s what you may not know about 17-year-old Alexandra. She is sometimes referred to as the “Russian Rocket” and the “Quad Queen.” The first moniker is obvious. The second, though it could point to an amazing muscle group, is because Alexandra is the first female skater to master four distinct types of quadruple jumps.

Alexandra’s red hair matches the fiery persona she assumes in this routine, but that’s not her natural color. And, you may have noticed that she holds a substantial bun at the back of her head. She’s changed colors, but the skater’s hair is famous for its extreme length. It extends well past her waist. Imagine coloring all of that!

Finally, at the ripe old age of 16, Alexandra is the subject of a biography titled The Girl Who Defies Gravity. With all of her accomplishments, she may be the character in a young woman’s performance one day. She’s certainly a real-life wonder!

“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Psalm 139:14

In this video clip, a precious little girl is processing her anxieties. This nervous cheerleader finds her courage after the crowd cheers her on.

Normally a cheerleader is focused on lifting the spirits of others, however, in this video, a crowd encourages her. As the clip starts, a mom shares that her daughter who is only 6 years old is having her first cheerleading competition. The little girl who is standing front and center wipes away tears on her uniform. The mother tells her, “let’s go!” and that she was going to be fine. She cheered, “Let’s go, Anna!”

Suddenly, people all in the crowds began to clap and cheer for her. Anna begins to take a few deep breaths and pulls herself together. The young girl begins to smile and begins her cheer. She is the team captain and she grew in confidence ready to start! 

So many times in our own lives, we too can feel like this little girl. We can be overwhelmed by emotions and in need of support to keep pressing on. Just like the crowd cheered for Anna, the Lord and His angels are motivating us. Whatever we feel discouraged or anxious about, this video reminds us that we are not alone. In fact, Hebrews tells us that we are surrounded by a cloud of witnesses who are cheering us on right now. Be encouraged today.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.” Romans 10:11-13