Ferdinand Magellan

• Ferdinand Magellan was the Spanish soldier and who was able to sail around the world; although it was not him who made it, but some of his men.
• Magellan's life goes to show what happens when we let pride come into our lives. The Bible says that pride comes before destruction.
  
• Magellan completely ignored advice, and that was his demise.
• How many times as we "find success" do we find ourselves "invincible?"
• Magellan's life shows us the importance of listening to counsel; especially when we are "successful."

Ludwig Van Beethoven

• Beethoven is known as one of the greatest composer's of all time.

• However, at about the age of 26 or 27 he started losing his hearing...the one thing that he needed more than anything to compose music.

• What would it be like for you to lose the one thing that you feel God has called you to do?

• This whole idea spits in the face of, "if I follow God's will everything will be perfect."

• 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 - Paul faced his "thorn in the flesh" while he was accomplishing God's will.

• How about Paul fulfilling his calling as a church planter and missionary by sitting in a prison writing letters to the churches that he helped start?

• A pastor friend of Andy's told him to never trust a man who didn't walk with a limp. In essence, never trust a man who is in leadership who has not gone through a crucible of some kind in his life.

• Beethoven was even to the point of suicide, but he pushed through because he felt like there were more things in him that he needed to compose.
• Most of the things that Beethoven is known for, at least his compositions, were done after his deafness.