Up Pike's Peak

0:00You know what I'd like? I'd like an AI assistant that can help me find my car keys. Thanks for joining us today. You're listening to Lafagan with Phil Callaway. Bob Salon has set the world record for pushing a peanut up Pike's Peak in Colorado using only his nose. I am not making this up. The 53-year-old completed the 13-mile climb in seven days, breaking a record that has stood since 1963. To accomplish this feat, he wore a modified mask with a dollar-store spoon attached to it. Using only his face, he scooped and flicked the peanut up hill. I'm still not making this up. As you might imagine, there was some wear and tear on the peanuts. A few rolled away, a few fell in the cracks. By the end of the week, Bob had gone through about two dozen of them. Come on, that is nuts. The tradition began as a bet in 1929. Bob became only the fourth person in history to complete

1:03the challenge, and the first in this century. Talk about patience. Seven days of pushing a peanut uphill, I would have lost interest the first time the peanut rolled backward. Patients mean staying the course, and Bob apparently knows a thing or two about that. Historia reminds me of another one that I'm not making up. Years ago, a young man applied to become a missionary to India. A mission board member named Mr. Martin was assigned to evaluate him. He asked the applicant to arrive at his house at six o'clock in the morning. The young man traveled along distance and arrived right on time. Mrs. Martin welcomed him in and asked him to wait. So he waited, and waited, and waited. More than an hour passed before Mr. Martin finally entered the room. Without apology, he asked a series of questions. Do you know the Lord Jesus Christ? Yes, sir. Have you had any education? Yes, sir. Then came the real test. Can you spell cat? The young man was puzzled, but politely answered, good, said Mr. Martin,

2:06can you spell dog? By now, the applicant was probably wondering if he'd accidentally applied to kindergarten, but he answered anyway. After that, he was thanked for coming and sent home. Later, when the mission board met, Mr. Martin explained, I tested his self-denial by making him rise early and travel a great distance. I tested his patience by making him wait. I tested his humility by asking insulting questions. He passed every test. I recommend him wholeheartedly. Well, to be honest, my patience would have run out about the time I was spelling cat. How about you? Have you ever prayed, Lord, give me patience and please hurry. Most of us would prefer to develop patience in light traffic, short lines and smooth flights. We'd like growth without inconvenience, faith without uncertainty. That's not how it works. Patience can be painful. It grows when things take longer than we'd hoped. It develops when we embrace what we do not know and can't control. It thrives when we trust God's timing

3:10more than our own. Trust that He knows what He's up to, but He will follow through on His promises. James 1-3-4 says, When your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow. I'll be honest, those aren't my favorite words in scripture, but they're so true. Truth is, God has been remarkably patient with us and continues to be. So if you're waiting for answers, for direction, for healing, or simply praying for life to make sense, please don't lose heart. God is still at work. Could it be that patience isn't learned in giant leaps at all? Maybe it's learned one small push at a time, kind of like a peanut, one nudge forward, then another, then another. And before you know it, by God's grace, you've made it all the way up the mountain. Good news is always welcome. And in a world full of headlines that leave us discouraged,

4:11laugh again has a better story to tell. The good news of Jesus Christ. Every day, your prayers and generosity help us share that message of hope and joy with people across Canada. Thank you for helping make laugh again possible through your generous gifts. To donate, visit us online at laughagain.org. laugh again, truth bringing laughter to life.