The Ultimate Human Race

People refer to the Comrades Marathon (89km’s of Running / walking / crawling) as the Ultimate Human race, but is it really? In chatting to Robyn last night about the memory verse for the kids at the Eastside Holiday club for yesterday, she reminded me of the verse in 1 Corinthians 9 Verse 24. It reads “You know that in the race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize. So run to win!”

This is so true. As athletes we are on the never ending quest to be the best and ultimately be the winner or Number ONE! But is this really what matters? Is this really what God wants? Well Yes and No! He does want us to run the race and win but He is not necessarily referring to the sporting race BUT rather the race of life. If we read from verse 25-27, this is made clearer. “All those who compete in the games use self control so they can win the crown. That crown is an earthly thing that lasts only a short time, but our crown will never be destroyed. SO I do not run without a goal. I fight like a boxer who is hitting something – not just the air. I treat my body and make it my slave so that I myself will not be disqualified after I have preached to others” (NCV). So the question then remains, am I running the race of life to honour God, to respect Him and to do what He has commanded me to do? Am I running it with the vigour and enthusiasm required to achieve the end goal and receive the prize? Am I being the boxer who hits with purpose and not just into the air? Am I treating my body with the discipline required to be an elite athlete and in turn ensure I am not disqualified from the Ultimate Human Race?

So too all of us, the sportsmen and the non, run the race with discipline, focus, goal driven enthusiasm and achieve the ultimate result that we have been set out to achieve.

SB

Running & Winning

In Phillipians 2 verse 16 it reads ‘You offer the teaching that gives life. So when Christ comes again. I can be happy because my work was not wasted. I ran the race and won’ (NCV)

Link to this verse in Phillipians 3 verse 14 it says ‘I keep trying to reach the goal and get the prize for which God called me through Christ to the life above’ (NCV)

What an amazing two verses. These are great challenges for us. The challenge of keeping on trying to reach the goal that Christ has set out for me and has called me to, is a challenge we have to lived up to every day and in every interaction we have with others and the work / sport we do. It would be amazing for each one of us to be able to say that (when Christ comes again), that we ran the race and won! This does not imply the physical sporting race but rather the race of life for Christ our Lord and saviour. Does the ‘teaching’ / things I do give life and am I contributing towards this race. Is the work I do, a waste?

So how is my race coming along?

SB

Heart vs Plan

In Proverbs 16 v 9 it reads “A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps”. For the sportsmen, on whatever level we may be competing we find that our heart has a specific desire for our possible achievements or outcomes. The reality of the matter is that the Lord directs our steps. The ultimate plan for our performance rest with Him. What is required of us as athletes is to stick to being wise in our pursuit of sporting achievements.

Well what does being wise mean? For me it entails the following:

• Having faith in God’s plan for us and bringing Him into everything we do (whether it is training or competing)
• Sticking to the plan that yourself and your coach has set up
• Doing the basic smartly and correctly
• Honouring God through the use of the talents and body He has blessed you with
• Being happy with the fact that you know that you have done everything to the best of your abilities and have stuck to it
• Honouring over fellow competitors

So guys be at peace knowing that God has a plan for each one of us, that He will guide our steps (if we believe and have faith in Him) and if it is his will that we will be triumphant.

SB

Games Xplosion

Starting the 23rd Eastside Community Church is hosting the annual holiday club. This years theme is Games Xplosion and is related around sport and the role that God plays. This is such a great and vitalpart of the young kids lives. Grades 0-7 are involved with various plays, memory verses and great fun.

It was great to see this afternoon how things were coming together with the church hall being transformed into an athletics track, stadium & bearing flags from all countries.

To all the leaders may God's strength and guidance be with you throughout this week and may His love and passion be showed through them.

SB

An Incredible Dad (check out the video at the end)

An Incredible Dad

Read the inspirational story of Team Hoyt.

What My Father Means To Me

My name is Richard E. Hoyt Jr., and I have cerebral palsy. I cannot speak or walk. To write this story, I'm using a computer with special software. When I move my head slightly, the cursor moves across an alphabet. When it gets to the letter I want, I press a switch at the side of my head.

I am half of Team Hoyt. We are a father-and-son team, and we compete in marathons and triathlons around the world. Our goal is to educate people about how the disabled can lead normal lives. We started racing in 1979. My high school was having a road race to raise money for a lacrosse player who was paralyzed in an accident. I wanted to show this athlete that life can go on, so I asked my dad if he would push me. My wheelchair was not built for racing, but Dad managed to push me the entire 5 miles. We came in next to last, but in the photos of us crossing the finish line, I was smiling from ear to ear!

When we got home, I used my computer to tell Dad, "When I'm running, I feel like my disability disappears!" So we joined a running club, had a special running chair built, and entered our first official race. Many of the athletes didn't want us to participate, but the executive director of the event gave us permission. Soon we were running three races a weekend, and we even did our first double event a 3-mile run and a half-mile swim.

Dad held me by the back of the neck and did the sidestroke for the entire swim. We wanted to run in the Boston Marathon, but we were not allowed to enter because we had not done a qualifying run. So in late 1980, we competed in the Marine Corps Marathon, in Washington, D.C., finishing in 2 hours, 45 minutes. That qualified us for Boston!

A few years later, after a road race in Falmouth, Massachusetts, a man came up to my dad and said, "You are quite an athlete. You should consider a triathlon." Dad said, "Sure, as long as I can do it with Rick." The man just walked away. The next year, the same man said the same thing. Again, Dad said he'd do it, but only with me. This time the man said, "Okay, let's figure out what special equipment you'll need."

So on Father's Day in 1985, we competed in our first triathlon. It included a 10-mile run, during which Dad pushed me; a 1-mile swim, during which Dad pulled me in a life raft with a rope tied around his chest; and a 50-mile bike ride, during which he towed me in a cart behind him. We finished next to last, but we both loved it. Soon after, we did our first Ironman Triathlon. We've now competed in more than 950 races, including 25 Boston Marathons and six Ironmans. During every event, I feel like my disability has disappeared.

People often ask me, "What would you do if you were not disabled?" When I was first asked, I said I'd probably play baseball or hockey. But when I thought about it some more, I realized that I'd tell my father to sit down in my wheelchair so I could push him. If it weren't for him, I'd probably be living in a home for people with disabilities. He is not just my arms and legs. He's my inspiration, the person who allows me to live my life to the fullest and inspire others to do the same.

Happy Father's Day, Dad. And thank you.

(To learn more about Team Hoyt, visit http://www.teamhoyt.com/index.html.)

http://godsstory.3story.org/stories/post/2008/06/16/a_great_father_-_son_relationship

Here's a link to a Godtube video on the two men. Absolutely amazing:

http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=8cf08faca5dd9ea45513

Deuteronomy 1:29-31: "Do not be terrified; do not be afraid of them. The LORD your God, who is going before you, will fight for you, as he did for you in Egypt, before your very eyes, and in the desert. There you saw how the LORD your God carried you, as a father carries his son, all the way you went until you reached this place."

God Bless

Byron

Comrades Marathon

This weekend (Sunday the 15th of June to be precise), was the the running of the Comrades Marathon. Man I really have not worked out quite what would 'drive' a person to do this. One guy was running and completed his 43rd marathon. You do the maths (43 x 89km). That is like running from Pretoria to Port Elizabeth 3 x. that does not even include all the thousands of km's training. Anyway, i was fortunate enough to be able to go to Durban and witness this event, most of it on the back of a motor bike.

It was amazing for me to the number of people running with banners and t-shirts proclaiming Gods love and strength in their lives.

As I said I spent most of the race on the back of a motor bike. What was really cool was that the biker guys were Christian bikers. The whole day I had their 'Motto' verse running through my head.
Hebrews 4 v 12. So what did it say. Well when i got back to the hotel i quickly checked it out and this is what it said "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of my soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." Verse 13 is also special so I read it to "And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account" (ESV).

Once again an amazing verse. The word of God is living, and this is encouraging to think that the Bible is as relevant today as it was thousands of years ago and it will be until the ends of time. The word of God gets to the point of the matter, to the deepest roots of our existence. It is the challenge for us to live by it and to use it as our Blue Print of life.

As for Verse 13 it is encouraging and challenging to think that everything we do, feel, say and believe is visible to God. We are all Naked & Exposed to Him. the final challenge is that we will all one day give account for our lives, actions, thoughts and interactions and that none of it will be hidden. So in everything we do lets keep ourselves firmly focused on Him and go to God for our source of strength and direction.

SB

Ricardo Katza & the UEFA Champions League Final

Our church (Eastside Community Church), along with Ambassadors in Sport, hosted a viewing of the UEFA Champions league final between Manchester United and Chelsea on the evening of the final. This was held at the Church, outside (man it was freezing), and they invited Ricardo to come to the game and watch along with share his testimony. This was a mere 3 days after Supersport United had won the PSL championships.

During the half time interval Ricardo shared his testimony of faith and how God had a hand in his career all the way. It was amazing to hear his life story and how he had to boldly stand up against family when he became a Christian.

He truly believes that God has a plan for his life, has directed his life accordingly and in turn protected him throughout his career so far.

Ricardo, keep going!!!

SB

Sportsmen Showing their Faith

Over the last month i have been pleased and amazed to see high profile sportsmen from high profile sports publicly displaying their beliefs. On two occasions within the period of two weeks I saw two sportsmen wearing t-shirts displaying their love for God.

In the first instance, in the sports section of a local publication in Pretoria, RSA, I saw one of the Blue Bulls (Vodacom Cup) team members, after winning this prestigious competition for developing of young rugby talent in South Africa, wearing a t-shirt (at the trophy handing over ceremony) with the inscription Acts 1 v 8. This fascinated me and lead me to go upstairs and check what the verse said. It read "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth" (ESV).

What a challenging and inspiring verse. The fact that we as people can receive power from God when the Holy Spirit has come upon us is truly promising and amazing. The real challenge is then to live up to the second part of this verse, to be God's witnesses to the ends fo the earth. Where ever we go to be His witness and to testify of Him and His grace, passion and enduring love for us.

I believe this verse is so applicable to the sports men and women. They truly do often travel to the 'ends of the earth' in their sporting quests. What an opportunity they have to be the testament of faith.

In the second scenario I was watchign the final match of the local soccer PSL tournament. If SuperSport United drew the match they woudl win their innagural domestic football championships. Which they did and after the game the PSL proceeded to hand of the winning teams cheque and the trophy. This was all broadcast live on TV and when they were receiving their trophy I saw that their Captain Ricardo Katza was wearing a different t-shirt and reading it said ("Jesus is Alive"). Once again amazing how he was bold enough to wear this esepcially considering he is the captain and secondly that he was not wearign the club outfit and sponsors logo. Bold yes, but strong for Jesus!

SB

Tuks Swimmers

I have been inspired by the faith of some of our Tuks swimmers and in particular their willingness to honour God through their efforts in the Pool and when they are in their personal lives. It has brought a tear to my eye to see them profess their faith either when they were competing to be qualify for the Olympic games (in April, in Durban SA) or back at home base at the pool.

A few in particular have really stood out for me. Suzaan Van Biljon and Lize-Marie Retief whom were vocal about their faith and strength from God both at these championships and at the World Short Course, where Lize achieved a very respectable 5th place and Suzaan a Gold in the 200m Breaststroke & Bronze on the 100m Breaststroke. There they were not afraid to tell the world why they are swimming well and who is providing their strength.

Byron Ferguson also stands out for me and in particular the efforts he is making with the younger swimmers. Unfortuantely Byron narrowly missed qualification for Beijing but the improvements he made at the Trails is phenomenal. The initiating of prayer time at nationals and the launching of 'Tuks Men For Jesus' along with swimming friend Fouche' Venter has been awesome.

Well done Guys, i truly believe that your hearts are in the right place.