The lessons of life in the courageous apostle, Paul!
2 Co. 11:21-28 (Message)
Since you admire the egomaniacs of the pulpit so much (remember, this is your old friend, the fool, talking), let my try my hand at it.… Do they brag of being Hebrews, Israelites, the pure race of Abraham? I’m their match. Are they servants of Christ? I can go them one better. (I can’t believe I’m saying these things. It’s crazy to talk this way! But I started, and I’m going to finish.)
I’ve worked much harder, been jailed more often, beaten up more times than I can count, and at death’s door time after time. I’ve been flogged five times with the Jews’ thirty-nine lashes, beaten by Roman rods three times, pummeled with rocks once. I’ve been shipwrecked three times, and immersed in the open sea for a night and a day. IN hard traveling year in and year out, I’ve had to ford rivers, fend off robbers, struggle with friends, struggle with foes.
I’ve been at risk in the city, at risk in the country, endangered by desert sun and sea storm, and betrayed by those I thought were my brothers. I’ve known drudgery and hard labor, many a long and lonely night without sleep, many a missed meal, blasted by the cold, naked to the weather.
And that’s not the half of it, (besides the other things, the ‘externals’) when you throw in the daily pressures and anxieties of all the churches…
James Becton Ministries/ EaglesVision EKKLESIA! 
I have read that text out of The Message several times before and every time I do it always has the same striking effect on me. Thanks for bringing it to my attention one more time.