CityView Magazine

10 | May/June 2016 BY RAN DOLINGER W e all go through tough times, yet still we think we are the only ones. Early on in the Iraq war, soldiers on their way home were told they were going to be in Iraq for another three months. Tour lengths ex- tended from 12 to 15 months. Soldiers had already turned in their equipment and another unit had already taken their place. eir "foxhole improve- ments" that had taken them all year to build had to be re-constructed. No one serving had been required to remain in the fight that long. Families back home were distressed. Soldiers were despair- ing. Even soldiers who are professionals at discipline and suck up hardship like a sponge had to turn to faith in order to finish their mission. Faith is what helps us face hardships with hope. e oldest way to hold on to hope in times of trial is faith. In the Bible, Chap- ter 11 of Hebrews recounts the saints from times past and what they did through faith. e list of those mighty deeds done by faith reminds us that we are surrounded by others who have had it harder than us and yet they pressed on until the end. ose who have gone before encourage us not to quit our own races, but rather run with endurance the course that is set before us. In think- ing about the Bible's hall of heroes, we can look past our present sorrows and hold onto a future of hope. Just as those who have gone before us, we learn to cast off that which hinders mission ac- In Hard Times, Faith Gives Hope Chaplain Ran Dolinger offers words of wisdom through the experience of those who have gone before us faith Tickets online at www.cfrt.org or call 910-323-4233 ON STAGE @ Auto. Home. Life. Retirement. They all matter, so wrap them all in a blanket of Nationwide® protection. We put members first, because we don't have shareholders. SM Join the Nation® that knows what's important. Combine your policies and save up to 25% Not all Nationwide affiliated companies are mutual companies and not all Nationwide members are insured by a mutual company. Nationwide, the Not all Nationwide affiliated companies are mutual companies and not all Nationwide members are insured by a mutual company. Nationwide, the Not all Nationwide affiliated companies are mutual companies and not all Nationwide members are insured by a mutual company. Nationwide, the Nationwide N and Eagle Join the Nation, What's precious to you is precious to us and We put members first because we don't have shareholders are Nationwide N and Eagle Join the Nation, What's precious to you is precious to us and We put members first because we don't have shareholders are service marks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. © 2014 Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. NPR-0718AO 8/14) service marks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. © 2014 Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. NPR-0718AO.2 (8/14) service marks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. © 2014 Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. NPR-0718AO.2 (8/14) worthw@nationwide.com Phone: (910)488-5056 WALKER WORTH AGENCY Walker Y Worth, III What's precious to you is precious to us. SM Auto. Home. Life. Retirement. They all matter, so wrap them all in a blanket of Nationwide ® protection. We put members first, because we don't have shareholders. SM Join the Nation ® that knows what's important. Combine your policies and save up to 25% Walker Y Worth, III WALKER WORTH AGENCY Phone: (910)488-5056 worthw@nationwide.com Not all Nationwide affiliated companies are mutual companies and not all Nationwide members are insured by a mutual affiffiliated company. Nationwide, the Nationwide N and Eagle Join the Nation, What's precious to you is precious to us and We put members fifirst because we don't have shareholders are service marks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. © 2014 Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. NPR-0718AO.2 (8/14) complishment. Christians focus on Je- sus Christ as the hero who both made the way and showed the way. He showed us the way by His life and, ultimately, made the way by His death. As all who have gone before us, in faith we can face death itself with victory. We need to remember that we are not alone. We are not the first, and it is not the worst. However difficult our jour- ney becomes, we are not the only ones who have trudged that trail. Veterans of other wars have always faced simi- lar trials. One of the elders of my con- gregation served in three wars. During World War II, he was deployed for three years straight. Not only did he survive, he thrived. He is someone to look up to. His story gave me hope when things got rough in my own life. e lives of veterans continue to give inspiration and hope during soldiers' times of desperation. Don't quit. Others have survived and so can we. Tales of heroes tell you

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