Professor of Perseverance Podcast

Ep 011 God and the Spider

During World War II, a US marine was separated from his unit on a Pacific Island. The fighting had been intense, and in the smoke and the crossfire he had lost touch with his comrades.

Alone in the jungle, he could hear enemy soldiers coming in his direction. Scrambling for cover, he found his way up a high ridge to several small caves in the rock. Quickly he crawled inside one of the caves. Although safe for the moment, he realized that once the enemy soldiers looking for him swept up the ridge, they would quickly search all the caves and he would be killed.

As he waited, he prayed, "Lord, if it be your will, please protect me. Whatever your will though, I love you and trust you. Amen."

After praying, he lay quietly listening to the enemy begin to draw close. He thought, "Well, I guess the Lord isn't going to help me out of this one.." Then he saw a spider begin to build a web over the front of his cave.

As he watched, listening to the enemy searching for him all the while, the spider layered strand after strand of web across the opening of the cave.

"Ha, he thought. "What I need is a brick wall and what the Lord has sent me is a spider web. God does have a sense of humor."

As the enemy drew closer he watched from the darkness of his hideout and could see them searching one cave after another. As they came to his, he got ready to make his last stand. To his amazement, however, after glancing in the direction of his cave, they moved on. Suddenly, he realized that with the spider web over the entrance, his cave looked as if no one had entered for quite a while. "Lord, forgive me," prayed the young man. "I had forgotten that in you a spider's web is stronger than a brick wall."

We all face times of great trouble. When we do, it is so easy to forget the victories that God would work in our lives, sometimes in the most surprising ways. As the great leader, Nehemiah, reminded the people of Israel when they faced the task of rebuilding Jerusalem, "In God we will have success!" [Nehemiah 2:20]

Remember: Whatever is happening in your life, with God, a mere spider's web can become a brick wall of protection. Believe He is with you always. Just speak His name through Jesus His son, and you will see His great power and love for you.

Author Unknown

Thanks for listening in advance and have a bless day.

 

To learn more about James, visit Professor of Perseverance. You may also contact him through email, James@professorofperseverance.com or call 615 – 336 – 2181

 

Ep 010 Live Life From The Heart (Heart and Double Lungs Transplant) – Mark Black

Born with a life-threatening heart defect, he underwent two open-heart surgeries before the age of one. Twenty-two years later, he survived an extremely dangerous heart and double-lung transplant.

 

After that, he became the first man in history to run a marathon with someone else’s heart and lungs. Then he did it 3 more times.

 

The author of “Live Life from the Heart”, he travels the globe as an author, speaker, and coach, spreading his unbelievable story of perseverance and hope to more than 150,000 people across North America.

 

00:01 Mark Black Opening Statement

01:28 Introduction Dr. James Perdue

03:27 Mark’s Story

09:41 When We All Deal With Particulate Challenge

12:23 Name of Valve Problem at Birth

14:12 Age of 12 Mark Knew Heart Transplant was in The Future

15:10 Sports Activity

15:57 Bubble Wrap

17:32 Purpose in Life

20:40 Giving Up is Easy / Positive Mental Attitude

26:33 Heart Transplant List

33:46 Donor

34:36 New Life

37:34 Special Nurse

38:31 Medication

39:15 Making History – First Person to Run Marathon with Someone else’s Organs

42:00 Mark Motivational Statement

 

To learn more about James, visit Professor of Perseverance. You may also contact him through email, James@professorofperseverance.com or call 615 – 336 – 2181

Ep 009 Prisoner of War For Nearly 6 Years – Captain Charlie Plumb

Captain Charlie Plumb has lived what he believes to be the American Dream. As a farm kid from Kansas, he fantasized about airplanes, although he felt certain he would never have the opportunity to pilot one. It would be the United States Navy who afforded Plumb the opportunity to live out that dream.

 

After graduating from the Naval Academy, Plumb completed Navy Flight Training and reported to Miramar Naval Air Station in California where he flew the first adversarial flights in the development of what would be called The Navy Fighter Weapons School, currently known as “TOP GUN.” Charlie Plumb flew 74 successful combat missions over North Vietnam and made over 100 carrier landings.

 

On his 75th mission, just five days before the end of his tour, Plumb was shot down over Hanoi, taken prisoner, tortured, and spent the next 2,103 days in an 8-by-8 foot cell as a Prisoner Of War. During his nearly six years of captivity, Plumb distinguished himself as a pro in underground communications. He was a great inspiration to all the other POWs and served as chaplain for two years.

 

00:01 Captain Charlie Plumb Opening Statement

02:01 Introduction Dr. James Perdue

04:22 What do the number 2,103 mean to you?

05:23 Explain The Advance of Adversity During COVID-19 Without Having Charmin As A POW.  

06:39 Waste Adversity

07:46 Forgive Yourself

08:23 Underground / Hidden Communication

09:54 Shot Down

12:35 Training / Prepare If You Become A POW

15:07 Positive Mental Attitude

16:48 Details About Commination

21:18 Support System

26:55 Mind Didn’t Get Infested

27:24 Play The Game

28:48 The Leaders

30:02 Kept In Touch With Other POWs

31:08 The Rat

37:07 Life After POW – Coming Home

40:36 Captain Plumb Motivational Statement

 

To learn more about James, visit Professor of Perseverance. You may also contact him through email, James@professorofperseverance.com or call 615 – 336 – 2181

Ep 008 Ironman / Paratriathion – Jacob Sharff

Life was good and Jacob was at the top of his sport, and had a girlfriend who loved him very much. He was following his dreams without a worry in the world.

 

Then, January 26, 1999, on an idle Tuesday morning, his dreams were abruptly put to sleep.

 

While driving to high school with a friend, Jacob was involved in a horrifying car accident. His best friend was driving and Jacob was the passenger in the front seat as his friend slammed into a stopped community transit bus at about 60 mph. In an instant, Jacob’s life forever changed.

 

He took a helicopter ride to the hospital. During the commute his heart flat-lined, and luckily was resuscitated by a defibrillator. Once at the hospital, it was determined that the blunt trauma from the car accident internally tore his descending aorta. Jacob awoke three days later, only to learn this random car accident would result in ischemic paralysis. Basically, he would be paralyzed and confined to a wheelchair for the rest of his life.

 

00:01 Jacob Sharff Opening Statement

02:01 Introduction Dr. James Perdue

02:27 Jacob’s Story Youtube link:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIXzZyptOK8

04:39 Paratriathion

07:53 Jacob’s business https://howirollsports.com/

10:08 Mad at The World

14:05 Mad At The World

15:22 Why Me?

16:04 Hope

18:51 Depression

19:00 Parent Support / Suffered Along

21:26 Support System

23:47 Jacob’s Opinion

30:02 Stay Active

36:08 Jacob’s Motivational Statement

39:22 Be Stronger Than All Your Excuses Closing

 

To learn more about James, visit Professor of Perseverance. You may also contact him through email, James@professorofperseverance.com or call 615 – 336 – 2181

Ep 007 October 10th Two Important Men – Fred Webber and Brice Hall

Two inspiring men came into my life as God had plan. They left an impression on me that I honor them on October 10^th.

Mr. Brice Hall used to umpire some of my high school baseball games and after my injury, when I became a coach, Mr. Hall was still on the diamond. Fun Fact: he was born on 10 / 10 / 10 – October 10^th, 1910. He was a great inspiration for the young ball players because of his age in his late 80s. He kept doing what he loved – not at home dying but living on a baseball field.

Mr. Fred Webber and I met in the hospital. Mr. Webber with a kidney stone and I with a spinal cory injury. When he was discharged from the hospital, he wrote a powerful motivational letter which dates back to October 10^th, 1983. I read his letter every year.

Thanks for listening in advance and have a bless day.

To learn more about James, visit Professor of Perseverance. You may also contact him through email, James@professorofperseverance.com or call 615 – 336 – 2181

Ep 006 Overcoming Spinal Cord Injury – Mike Morrow

When an automobile accident left Mike a paraplegic it was a hard pill of life to swallow. Knowing how to accept challenges because of being an athlete Mike was determined to persevere and overcoming his paralyzing obstacles.

Sherri and Mike have been married for 30 years and have two children a son Nathan and a daughter Riley. Mike is a successful coach, baseball and football, while also being an award-winning educator.

One unique discussion point... It used to make me very angry when someone told me, "Oh, I forgot you were in a wheelchair." Now I've matured and now take that as an ultimate form of flattery/compliment, Mike says.

00:01 Mike Morrow Opening Statement

01:28 Introduction Dr. James Perdue

06:08 Mike’s Story

07:37 Frustration as Relearning Life as a Spinal Cord Injury

10:02 Mike Discusses the Need of a Good Seating Cushion

12:24 How Mike Got Injured

15:11 Sharing Pressure Sore Story

17:33 Spinal Cord Injury with Sexuality

20:46 Not As Frustrating After Looking Back

26:20 Learn Patience After Injury

27:14 Driving Again

31:21 What Motivates Mike?

39:10 Losing Everything All At Once

40:02 Closing

To learn more about James, visit Professor of Perseverance. You may also contact him through email, James@professorofperseverance.com or call 615 – 336 – 2181

Ep 005 Don’t Quit Before The Blessings – Byrd Baggett CSP

The word that best describes Byrd Baggett is original.  His story is unlike any other, as he speaks from experience.

He was an All-American athlete at the University of Texas, had successful careers with two Fortune 500 companies, and then the bottom fell out of his life!

During a five-year period, his mother died - his best friend died - he spent three days in cardiac intensive care – he was a passenger in a plane that lost power and dropped 16,000 feet over the Rocky Mountains - he was downsized from an executive position at the age of 42.  Finally, he and his family lost all their possessions in a bizarre moving van fire.

That’s when he decided that things needed to change!

00:01 Byrd Baggett CSP Opening Statement

02:56 Introduction Byrd Baggett CSP

06:54 Byrd’s Story

08:58 Near Plane Crash

14:01 Don’t Give Up Before The Blessings

14:44 Two Important Responsibility of a Leader

16:50 Sometimes We Don’t Know What We Loss

17:32 Did your unselfish prayer during near plane crash lead to more change in life?

19:54 Sequence of Life

21:16 Look through the windshield not rear-view mirror

23:52 Hope Comes in a Form of a Letter and a Dog

26:22 Let Go and Let God

28:36 Carl’s Story

32:11 Byrd’s Wife Asked A Powerful Question.

37:20 Byrd’s Final Thought  

To learn more about James, visit Professor of Perseverance. You may also contact him through email, James@professorofperseverance.com or call 615 – 336 – 2181

Ep 004 Blessed to Be Alive and Moving – Vincent Phipps CSP

Vincent Phipps CSP sustained a spinal cord injury on September 11, 2007 unlike most other spinal cord injury. He walks and moves as normal as possible but still has side effects.

His will and determination to persevere is nothing short of a miracle. His thrive to overcome adversity still is evidence of his triumph over tragedies. Vincent’s positive attitude and perspective for life will encourage you to continue during your struggles.

00:01 Vincent Phipps CSP Opening Statement

02:08 Introduction Vincent Phipps CSP

06:02 Vincent’s Story

10:23 Spinal Cord Injury Different From Most Other Injuries

14:01 Vincent Talks About Injury Level

16:32 Paralyzed Sweat Glands

18:45 There Are Differences in Each Injury

19:25 First Time Vincent Realized His Life Has Changed

21:47 How to Help Someone Else

27:50 After your injury, did surviving lead you into starting your own business?

32:27 Two Types of People To Listen To

34:07 Vincent’s Daughter Advice About Haters

36:58 Amplify Your Attitude So That Your Excellence Is Your Best Evidence

 

To learn more about James, visit Professor of Perseverance. You may also contact him through email, James@professorofperseverance.com or call 615 – 336 – 2181

Ep. 003 Rainbow Bridge - Short Story

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

Author unknown...

 

To learn more about James, visit Professor of Perseverance. You may also contact him through email, James@professorofperseverance.com or call 615 – 336 – 2181

Ep. 002 When Tragedy Comes in a Parent's Life Through Their Children – Dr. Bruce Battles Story

Dr. Bruce Battles a father of three, grand parent of two grandchildren, and currently teaches fourth and fifth grade students at a school district in Arkansas. He is sharing his story of his son Ethan in a fight for his life. Ethan’s story of life threaten challenge is every parent’s nightmare to overcome difficulties and persevere in life. The adversity is a tough one for parents when feeling helplessness while children know in their heart parents will make everything better. 

00:01 Dr. Bruce Battles Positive Statement

02:14 Introduction Dr. Bruce Battles

04:25 Bruce First Thanksgiving In Tennessee

06:45 When tragedy Enters Your Life

08:35 Education Bruce’s Guided Principle

12:46 Bruce’s son Wesley’s Accident

20:04 Bruce feeling helpless

21:37 Wesley crying – Dad Will Fix It

22:39 Encouragement For Wesley

24:21 Wesley Fully Recovered

31:49 Another Family Prayed

34:07 Funny Story

36:52 Bruce’s Motivational Tips

 

To learn more about James, visit Professor of Perseverance. You may also contact him through email, James@professorofperseverance.com or call 615 – 336 – 2181