who’s heard the phrase never say never do we believe in that phrase I know a
do we believe in that phrase I know a
do we believe in that phrase I know a lot of people don’t but last year the
lot of people don’t but last year the
lot of people don’t but last year the Chicago Cubs won the World Series and
Chicago Cubs won the World Series and
Chicago Cubs won the World Series and there’s a lot of people that thought
there’s a lot of people that thought
there’s a lot of people that thought that would never happen I used to be one
that would never happen I used to be one
that would never happen I used to be one of those people I’m not anymore when I
of those people I’m not anymore when I
of those people I’m not anymore when I was 22 years old I started my career as
was 22 years old I started my career as
was 22 years old I started my career as a firefighter I loved it it wasn’t even
a firefighter I loved it it wasn’t even
a firefighter I loved it it wasn’t even like going to work it was like going to
like going to work it was like going to
like going to work it was like going to a big Boy Scout convention everything in
a big Boy Scout convention everything in
a big Boy Scout convention everything in my life at that point was going
my life at that point was going
my life at that point was going according to my plan I had a nice tight
according to my plan I had a nice tight
according to my plan I had a nice tight hold on my career everything was going
hold on my career everything was going
hold on my career everything was going perfectly one day I was at a barbecue
perfectly one day I was at a barbecue
perfectly one day I was at a barbecue and I started having some light
and I started having some light
and I started having some light dizziness
dizziness
dizziness I went home and laid down the next day
I went home and laid down the next day
I went home and laid down the next day the dizziness was still there so I went
the dizziness was still there so I went
the dizziness was still there so I went to the doctor my doctor said it’s
to the doctor my doctor said it’s
to the doctor my doctor said it’s probably to go maybe the inner ear
probably to go maybe the inner ear
probably to go maybe the inner ear infection so she’s coming home the next
infection so she’s coming home the next
infection so she’s coming home the next day I woke up the dizziness was
day I woke up the dizziness was
day I woke up the dizziness was completely gone but I couldn’t hear
completely gone but I couldn’t hear
completely gone but I couldn’t hear anything out of my left ear
anything out of my left ear
anything out of my left ear didn’t seem like vertigo anymore went to
didn’t seem like vertigo anymore went to
didn’t seem like vertigo anymore went to see an ear nose and throat doctor he
see an ear nose and throat doctor he
see an ear nose and throat doctor he said yeah it’s probably an inner ear
said yeah it’s probably an inner ear
said yeah it’s probably an inner ear infection but I’m going to send you to
infection but I’m going to send you to
infection but I’m going to send you to an MRI just to make sure everything is
an MRI just to make sure everything is
an MRI just to make sure everything is going okay okay so I’m in the semi
going okay okay so I’m in the semi
going okay okay so I’m in the semi machine thinking how in the world did I
machine thinking how in the world did I
machine thinking how in the world did I get in here
get in here
get in here next day I got a phone call from my
next day I got a phone call from my
next day I got a phone call from my doctor that’s usually not a good sign by
doctor that’s usually not a good sign by
doctor that’s usually not a good sign by the way if you get a phone call at home
the way if you get a phone call at home
the way if you get a phone call at home she said you’ve got an acoustic neuroma
she said you’ve got an acoustic neuroma
she said you’ve got an acoustic neuroma brain tumor and you need to get in to
brain tumor and you need to get in to
brain tumor and you need to get in to see one of these three neurosurgeons
see one of these three neurosurgeons
see one of these three neurosurgeons right away okay didn’t really see that
right away okay didn’t really see that
right away okay didn’t really see that in my plan so went and saw a
in my plan so went and saw a
in my plan so went and saw a neurosurgeon he had brain surgery a
neurosurgeon he had brain surgery a
neurosurgeon he had brain surgery a couple months later so there I was going
couple months later so there I was going
couple months later so there I was going according to a different plan all of a
according to a different plan all of a
according to a different plan all of a sudden but I didn’t see that coming I
sudden but I didn’t see that coming I
sudden but I didn’t see that coming I never thought that I was going to brain
never thought that I was going to brain
never thought that I was going to brain surgery
surgery
surgery lose my hearing wear hearing aids but I
lose my hearing wear hearing aids but I
lose my hearing wear hearing aids but I kind of figured that everybody has that
kind of figured that everybody has that
kind of figured that everybody has that one story in their life that
one story in their life that
one story in their life that changes the direction a little bit and
changes the direction a little bit and
changes the direction a little bit and that’s going to be my story that you
that’s going to be my story that you
that’s going to be my story that you know the one that you tell over and over
know the one that you tell over and over
know the one that you tell over and over and over again the people so I figured
and over again the people so I figured
and over again the people so I figured that was mine
that was mine
that was mine at 33 years old I’d always taken a
at 33 years old I’d always taken a
at 33 years old I’d always taken a proactive approach to going for my
proactive approach to going for my
proactive approach to going for my yearly physical
yearly physical
yearly physical we have a hard history my family and
we have a hard history my family and
we have a hard history my family and high cholesterol so I thought you know
high cholesterol so I thought you know
high cholesterol so I thought you know I’ll be proactive but I didn’t smoke
I’ll be proactive but I didn’t smoke
I’ll be proactive but I didn’t smoke I stayed in somewhat decent shape and by
I stayed in somewhat decent shape and by
I stayed in somewhat decent shape and by that I mean like a small pair or skinny
that I mean like a small pair or skinny
that I mean like a small pair or skinny Homer Simpson type shape so while I was
Homer Simpson type shape so while I was
Homer Simpson type shape so while I was there she said well is anything going on
there she said well is anything going on
there she said well is anything going on like well my wife at the time thinks I
like well my wife at the time thinks I
like well my wife at the time thinks I pee too much she’s like what like as a
pee too much she’s like what like as a
pee too much she’s like what like as a firefighter we tend to peel on you know
firefighter we tend to peel on you know
firefighter we tend to peel on you know because the last thing you want to have
because the last thing you want to have
because the last thing you want to have happen to you is be on the stuck on a
happen to you is be on the stuck on a
happen to you is be on the stuck on a call and have to go so we tend to go a
call and have to go so we tend to go a
call and have to go so we tend to go a lot oh I should say very often she’s
lot oh I should say very often she’s
lot oh I should say very often she’s like well that makes sense let me do a
like well that makes sense let me do a
like well that makes sense let me do a prostate exam while you’re here so we
prostate exam while you’re here so we
prostate exam while you’re here so we did that she’s like well there’s some
did that she’s like well there’s some
did that she’s like well there’s some blood here have you been having any
blood here have you been having any
blood here have you been having any bleeding’s like yeah off and on she’s
bleeding’s like yeah off and on she’s
bleeding’s like yeah off and on she’s like it’s probably internal hemorrhoid I
like it’s probably internal hemorrhoid I
like it’s probably internal hemorrhoid I need to send you to a gastroenterologist
need to send you to a gastroenterologist
need to send you to a gastroenterologist so he could take care of it okay so off
so he could take care of it okay so off
so he could take care of it okay so off I go and see a gastroenterologist
I go and see a gastroenterologist
I go and see a gastroenterologist so as I’m there seeing him he’s like
so as I’m there seeing him he’s like
so as I’m there seeing him he’s like yeah I’m sure it’s an internal
yeah I’m sure it’s an internal
yeah I’m sure it’s an internal hemorrhoid we need to do a colonoscopy
hemorrhoid we need to do a colonoscopy
hemorrhoid we need to do a colonoscopy to make sure that that’s what it is and
to make sure that that’s what it is and
to make sure that that’s what it is and we could take care of it there so he
we could take care of it there so he
we could take care of it there so he must have seen the concerns look on my
must have seen the concerns look on my
must have seen the concerns look on my face he’s like what’s up I’m like well
face he’s like what’s up I’m like well
face he’s like what’s up I’m like well the last doctor that told me a test was
the last doctor that told me a test was
the last doctor that told me a test was going to be nothing I had brain surgery
going to be nothing I had brain surgery
going to be nothing I had brain surgery couple months later
couple months later
couple months later so he’s like it’ll be fine so we
so he’s like it’ll be fine so we
so he’s like it’ll be fine so we scheduled a colonoscopy I’m at the
scheduled a colonoscopy I’m at the
scheduled a colonoscopy I’m at the hospital he comes into the room before
hospital he comes into the room before
hospital he comes into the room before he starts a procedure and just see how
he starts a procedure and just see how
he starts a procedure and just see how I’m doing he’s like I’ll talk to you
I’m doing he’s like I’ll talk to you
I’m doing he’s like I’ll talk to you after the test so I wake up and I see
after the test so I wake up and I see
after the test so I wake up and I see this look on his face of just somberness
this look on his face of just somberness
this look on his face of just somberness like what’s going on
like what’s going on
like what’s going on he said we had to stop the procedure oh
he said we had to stop the procedure oh
he said we had to stop the procedure oh really
really
really we couldn’t get the scope past the two
we couldn’t get the scope past the two
we couldn’t get the scope past the two tumors that were in your colon we’ve
tumors that were in your colon we’ve
tumors that were in your colon we’ve done biopsies and I’m telling you right
done biopsies and I’m telling you right
done biopsies and I’m telling you right now and then there was this pause and
now and then there was this pause and
now and then there was this pause and then he looked at me and said you have
then he looked at me and said you have
then he looked at me and said you have cancer
you ever have one of those moments where
you ever have one of those moments where you know that your life is not going to
you know that your life is not going to
you know that your life is not going to be the same after that
be the same after that
be the same after that that was that moment for me everything
that was that moment for me everything
that was that moment for me everything at that point seemed to go in slow
at that point seemed to go in slow
at that point seemed to go in slow motion and time seemed to stop it led to
motion and time seemed to stop it led to
motion and time seemed to stop it led to more doctor’s appointments it led to a
more doctor’s appointments it led to a
more doctor’s appointments it led to a surgeon’s appointment and the next week
surgeon’s appointment and the next week
surgeon’s appointment and the next week I had colon surgery turns out I had
I had colon surgery turns out I had
I had colon surgery turns out I had stage 3 colon cancer with no history of
stage 3 colon cancer with no history of
stage 3 colon cancer with no history of cancer and my family so everybody was
cancer and my family so everybody was
cancer and my family so everybody was quite surprised at all that so started
quite surprised at all that so started
quite surprised at all that so started chemotherapy kind of a long road a lot
chemotherapy kind of a long road a lot
chemotherapy kind of a long road a lot of dark days in there one of the darkest
of dark days in there one of the darkest
of dark days in there one of the darkest days I had during chemotherapy my 13
days I had during chemotherapy my 13
days I had during chemotherapy my 13 year old dog died at that point I just
year old dog died at that point I just
year old dog died at that point I just needed a break like okay I need a break
needed a break like okay I need a break
needed a break like okay I need a break from my wife I need a break from my
from my wife I need a break from my
from my wife I need a break from my small son at the time I’m gonna go to a
small son at the time I’m gonna go to a
small son at the time I’m gonna go to a movie so there was this movie out called
movie so there was this movie out called
movie so there was this movie out called the rookie it was a baseball movie about
the rookie it was a baseball movie about
the rookie it was a baseball movie about a 39 year old guy who’s a high school
a 39 year old guy who’s a high school
a 39 year old guy who’s a high school teacher who takes a second chance at
teacher who takes a second chance at
teacher who takes a second chance at becoming a professional baseball player
becoming a professional baseball player
becoming a professional baseball player it was fantastic it was exactly what I
it was fantastic it was exactly what I
it was fantastic it was exactly what I needed to see at the time because he
needed to see at the time because he
needed to see at the time because he gave me a new passion a new fire and I
gave me a new passion a new fire and I
gave me a new passion a new fire and I as I left it I left the theater with a
as I left it I left the theater with a
as I left it I left the theater with a new saying of never saying never
new saying of never saying never
new saying of never saying never anything is possible
anything is possible
anything is possible during that last month of chemotherapy I
during that last month of chemotherapy I
during that last month of chemotherapy I decided I wanted to mark it with
decided I wanted to mark it with
decided I wanted to mark it with something big how can I celebrate this
something big how can I celebrate this
something big how can I celebrate this big event well I saw an ad for the
big event well I saw an ad for the
big event well I saw an ad for the Chicago Marathon not really a big runner
Chicago Marathon not really a big runner
Chicago Marathon not really a big runner but I figured that not for another five
but I figured that not for another five
but I figured that not for another five months I got plenty of time to do this
months I got plenty of time to do this
months I got plenty of time to do this so I went to the running store got
so I went to the running store got
so I went to the running store got myself a pair of shoes talked to a
myself a pair of shoes talked to a
myself a pair of shoes talked to a friend of mine that was a running coach
friend of mine that was a running coach
friend of mine that was a running coach at the local high school
at the local high school
at the local high school got a plan together I’m ready the day of
got a plan together I’m ready the day of
got a plan together I’m ready the day of the marathon I learned a bunch of things
first of all 26.2 miles is really far so
first of all 26.2 miles is really far so I started all too fast hurt my knee
I started all too fast hurt my knee
I started all too fast hurt my knee limped around took forever but I
limped around took forever but I
limped around took forever but I finished so at least I can say I did it
finished so at least I can say I did it
finished so at least I can say I did it it was after that I knew that I’m never
it was after that I knew that I’m never
it was after that I knew that I’m never going to be a fast runner I’m never
going to be a fast runner I’m never
going to be a fast runner I’m never going to qualify for Boston but if I
going to qualify for Boston but if I
going to qualify for Boston but if I could inspire other people somehow
could inspire other people somehow
could inspire other people somehow through me torturing myself for a day
through me torturing myself for a day
through me torturing myself for a day maybe that’s my calling so I was back to
maybe that’s my calling so I was back to
maybe that’s my calling so I was back to work as a firefighter going according to
work as a firefighter going according to
work as a firefighter going according to my plan again falling back into the same
my plan again falling back into the same
my plan again falling back into the same old mindset of I’ve got that tight
old mindset of I’ve got that tight
old mindset of I’ve got that tight control on my plan then another page
control on my plan then another page
control on my plan then another page turned I got divorced that was it it was
turned I got divorced that was it it was
turned I got divorced that was it it was at that point someone told me an
at that point someone told me an
at that point someone told me an expression when God wants to get your
expression when God wants to get your
expression when God wants to get your attention he throws a pebble at you if
attention he throws a pebble at you if
attention he throws a pebble at you if you ignore the pebble
you ignore the pebble
you ignore the pebble he throws a rock if you ignore the rock
he throws a rock if you ignore the rock
he throws a rock if you ignore the rock he’ll throw a brick if he ignore the
he’ll throw a brick if he ignore the
he’ll throw a brick if he ignore the brick he’ll dump the house
brick he’ll dump the house
brick he’ll dump the house so having gone through brain tumor and
so having gone through brain tumor and
so having gone through brain tumor and colon cancer and a divorce the thought
colon cancer and a divorce the thought
colon cancer and a divorce the thought of having a house dumped on me really
of having a house dumped on me really
of having a house dumped on me really didn’t seem all that appealing at the
didn’t seem all that appealing at the
didn’t seem all that appealing at the time so I give shortly after that
time so I give shortly after that
time so I give shortly after that another firefighter suggested I go to
another firefighter suggested I go to
another firefighter suggested I go to his church I’d been by that church a
his church I’d been by that church a
his church I’d been by that church a million times driven by it okay I’ll go
million times driven by it okay I’ll go
million times driven by it okay I’ll go at some point I got steered into this
at some point I got steered into this
at some point I got steered into this one parking lot and I got out of my car
one parking lot and I got out of my car
one parking lot and I got out of my car and I see cars people walking that way
and I see cars people walking that way
and I see cars people walking that way towards some buses and people walking
towards some buses and people walking
towards some buses and people walking across the street to go to the church
across the street to go to the church
across the street to go to the church well right then his girl gets out of her
well right then his girl gets out of her
well right then his girl gets out of her car I asked her am I going the right way
car I asked her am I going the right way
car I asked her am I going the right way to get to this church she’s like yeah so
to get to this church she’s like yeah so
to get to this church she’s like yeah so I walked across the street with her and
I walked across the street with her and
I walked across the street with her and she kind of showed me around the church
she kind of showed me around the church
she kind of showed me around the church she says now that I had a look of a lost
she says now that I had a look of a lost
she says now that I had a look of a lost puppy that day but she showed me around
puppy that day but she showed me around
puppy that day but she showed me around the church and then after the service we
the church and then after the service we
the church and then after the service we were standing up by our cars again and
were standing up by our cars again and
were standing up by our cars again and we were talking for a long time I told
we were talking for a long time I told
we were talking for a long time I told her everything that happened that got me
her everything that happened that got me
her everything that happened that got me and to the point in the parking lot that
and to the point in the parking lot that
and to the point in the parking lot that day and she’s a standing there with her
day and she’s a standing there with her
day and she’s a standing there with her jaws wide open so she gave me her number
jaws wide open so she gave me her number
jaws wide open so she gave me her number and said I know you don’t know anybody
and said I know you don’t know anybody
and said I know you don’t know anybody here so if you have any questions about
here so if you have any questions about
here so if you have any questions about the church or anything give me a call
the church or anything give me a call
the church or anything give me a call okay
okay
okay so the next day I called her we started
so the next day I called her we started
so the next day I called her we started talking about the church and just life
talking about the church and just life
talking about the church and just life in general and things that happen a
in general and things that happen a
in general and things that happen a couple months later we started dating it
couple months later we started dating it
couple months later we started dating it was at that point that I started to
was at that point that I started to
was at that point that I started to embrace the concept that God may have
embrace the concept that God may have
embrace the concept that God may have had an angel waiting for me in the
had an angel waiting for me in the
had an angel waiting for me in the parking lot that day to show me let go
parking lot that day to show me let go
parking lot that day to show me let go of your plan because I’ve got a better
of your plan because I’ve got a better
of your plan because I’ve got a better one for you so shortly about a year
one for you so shortly about a year
one for you so shortly about a year after a couple years after that we got
after a couple years after that we got
after a couple years after that we got married at that same church then in
married at that same church then in
married at that same church then in addition to my son from her first
addition to my son from her first
addition to my son from her first marriage we had set of twins a boy and a
marriage we had set of twins a boy and a
marriage we had set of twins a boy and a girl and as if that wasn’t crazy enough
girl and as if that wasn’t crazy enough
girl and as if that wasn’t crazy enough we had another kid so there I was having
we had another kid so there I was having
we had another kid so there I was having all these things happen well in 2007 I
all these things happen well in 2007 I
all these things happen well in 2007 I wanted to celebrate five years
wanted to celebrate five years
wanted to celebrate five years answer free some people might go on a
answer free some people might go on a
answer free some people might go on a cruise go out to a really nice dinner
cruise go out to a really nice dinner
cruise go out to a really nice dinner not me I signed up for triathlon never
not me I signed up for triathlon never
not me I signed up for triathlon never done a triathlon before I don’t like
done a triathlon before I don’t like
done a triathlon before I don’t like that marathon thing but what could
that marathon thing but what could
that marathon thing but what could possibly go wrong
possibly go wrong
possibly go wrong so I had some friends of mine that did
so I had some friends of mine that did
so I had some friends of mine that did an Ironman triathlon in Wisconsin sounds
an Ironman triathlon in Wisconsin sounds
an Ironman triathlon in Wisconsin sounds good I’ll sign up turns out Ironman is a
good I’ll sign up turns out Ironman is a
good I’ll sign up turns out Ironman is a 2.4 mile swim followed by a hundred 12
2.4 mile swim followed by a hundred 12
2.4 mile swim followed by a hundred 12 mile bike then you run a full marathon
mile bike then you run a full marathon
mile bike then you run a full marathon of 26.2 miles well it took me all 16
of 26.2 miles well it took me all 16
of 26.2 miles well it took me all 16 hours to finish this thing but I
hours to finish this thing but I
hours to finish this thing but I finished it was truly an amazing
finished it was truly an amazing
finished it was truly an amazing experience earlier I said you should
experience earlier I said you should
experience earlier I said you should never say never and here’s why when we
never say never and here’s why when we
never say never and here’s why when we embrace and hold on tightly to our plan
embrace and hold on tightly to our plan
embrace and hold on tightly to our plan and our plan only we’re going to miss
and our plan only we’re going to miss
and our plan only we’re going to miss some great opportunities for ourselves
some great opportunities for ourselves
some great opportunities for ourselves we need to embrace the concept that
we need to embrace the concept that
we need to embrace the concept that there’s other things going on according
there’s other things going on according
there’s other things going on according to our plan and sometimes sidestepping
to our plan and sometimes sidestepping
to our plan and sometimes sidestepping things is really the plan if we embrace
things is really the plan if we embrace
things is really the plan if we embrace it if somebody would have told me when I
it if somebody would have told me when I
it if somebody would have told me when I was 22 years old that I was going to
was 22 years old that I was going to
was 22 years old that I was going to have a brain tumor
have a brain tumor
have a brain tumor colon cancer get divorced run a marathon
colon cancer get divorced run a marathon
colon cancer get divorced run a marathon triathlon I never would have believed
triathlon I never would have believed
triathlon I never would have believed that never but here I am 15 years
that never but here I am 15 years
that never but here I am 15 years cancer-free married to my wife now for
cancer-free married to my wife now for
cancer-free married to my wife now for almost ten years I have four kids I’m
almost ten years I have four kids I’m
almost ten years I have four kids I’m training for my second Ironman and my
training for my second Ironman and my
training for my second Ironman and my 25th marathon and if anybody here is
25th marathon and if anybody here is
25th marathon and if anybody here is thinking that they could never do that
thinking that they could never do that
thinking that they could never do that I’d suggest you take a good look at this
hey if I can do this anybody can my
hey if I can do this anybody can my favorite bible verse is Philippians 4:13
favorite bible verse is Philippians 4:13
favorite bible verse is Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who
I can do all things through Christ who
I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength I try to embrace that
gives me strength I try to embrace that
gives me strength I try to embrace that verse as much as I can because it gets
verse as much as I can because it gets
verse as much as I can because it gets me off of my plan and onto God’s plan
me off of my plan and onto God’s plan
me off of my plan and onto God’s plan we may not see it in its entirety as it
we may not see it in its entirety as it
we may not see it in its entirety as it unfolds but the more we hold on tightly
unfolds but the more we hold on tightly
unfolds but the more we hold on tightly to our plan we can’t embrace what’s
to our plan we can’t embrace what’s
to our plan we can’t embrace what’s really out there when we embrace the
really out there when we embrace the
really out there when we embrace the unexpected anything is possible
unexpected anything is possible
unexpected anything is possible so I’m encouraging you to never say
so I’m encouraging you to never say
so I’m encouraging you to never say never
never
never because it truly does open the door to
because it truly does open the door to
because it truly does open the door to other things thank
other things thank
other things thank [Applause]
”
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