WINTER OLYMPICS 2010 - NOW HISTORY
WOW!! ...... they were it seems, so many are saying, the greatest
Winter Olympics EVER! It sure was a show-case for Canada, one of
the most beautiful areas of the world to have a Winter Olympics.
There were more nations than ever participating, more athletes
than ever. The Canadian people blew apart with joy and
enthusiasm. Only the second time that the USA was on top with
most medals, and a record setting medal count for them. It was a
record setting "gold medal" count for Canada, no nation ever, has
won so many gold medals - 14 in total, smashing the old record of
10 for a single nation.
I think the world came to know and understand the Nation of
Canada in a larger and better way than ever before, and yes, as
one commentator for Canada said, "Sorry if you thought Canada was
just one frozen north land all winter long."
Again it was a time of surprises, the unexpected, slips, spills,
and thrills. On the replays some of it funny, some of it
shocking, some of it sad, the saddest being the death of a "luge"
athlete just before the games began, as he was practicing. There
were the times of exquisite perfection in some events. Many times
when just fractions of seconds separated the gold from silver
from bronze, and even from 4th and 5th place. Such is modern
sports.
It is so good to see that nations can come together in peace,
friendship, and co-operation. What a shame politicians and those
with guns and armies can't do the same.
It was nice to see a few "old" ones (in their 30s) finally get
their gold medal after 2 or 3 previous, not so good showings in
Winter Olympics, I think of the Canadian guy who finally got gold
in parallel sky-boarding downhill ... whatever it is technically
called, and in just about white out conditions.
Being a "sports kid" all of my childhood years, athletics,
football (soccer), cricket, in Britain, I know what effort must
go into being good at it, just being "good" (not top of the pack)
takes time and effort. Being good at anything worthwhile takes
time and effort.
We as Christians, to be good at it, takes time and effort. It
takes dedication of mind, to study God's word, to pray, to fast,
to grow in grace and knowledge, to prove all things and to hold
fast to that which is good. It takes effort, a setting of the
will and mind to put on the whole armor of God on a daily basis.
It takes dedication, enthusiasm, an endurance to keep on keeping
on, to fight the good fight. It takes mental, emotional, and a
righteous mind-set, to keep on the straight and narrow pathway to
the Kingdom of God. It takes a humility of mind, a crying out at
times for God's help and power through the Holy Spirit, to pick
ones self up after crashing, to get back in the race and battle
on to the finish line.
I'm reminded of the lady who in a cross country ski practice in
these Winter games, crash and fell about 15 feet down into rocks.
She got back up with broken ribs and banged up this and that,
went to the start line of the race, and won a bronze medal. Then
there was the young lady in ice-skating, her mother dies of a
heart-attack just shortly after arriving at the Games to see her
daughter compete; the young lady keeps going through the rounds,
and wins a bronze medal.
Brethren, they did all of this, put in time and effort, to maybe
win a physical medal, or just to finish in their chosen sport.
How much more should we be determined to fight the good fight as
the apostle Paul put it, so we can obtain an EVERLASTING CROWN
that will never fade or get old. He that remains faithful to the
end Jesus said, will be given an eternal crown of righteousness,
a crown of victory in the very FAMILY of God. If you have not
done so, or if it's been a long time since you did, maybe now is
a good time to read or re-read and study my study called "A
Christian's Destiny!"
That truth will BLOW YOU AWAY, like as not any Olympic Games can!
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