Prayer for athletes - Champions for God!

Last night the various small groups of our church (Eastside Community Church) got together as we are going through a 40 day journey at present and the theme for this week was prayer. At a point Riaan (our Senior Pastor) challenged us all to prayer big because God’s word says we can do so and we can ask him. We were challenged to prayer for something big in our own lives, our families, our church, our communities and our country. But the key was to ask BIG! I could not help but feel that I needed to pray for our athletes. Many have just returned from Beijing Olympics, where according to the press, the public and the individuals whom think they are in the know, the SA team did poorly. Why, well we only received one medal.

Our athletes are being purely measured on medals. They are not being measured on whether they did their best, improved their times, met the objectives they had for the games. No it was all about medals. This is truly sad for me. We as South Africans are such a critical nation. We only want to win, we are not prepared to be “losers”. It just feels as though we are not spending all this energy on the right places. The place where it matters. In a previous posts I referred to various scriptures and I want to highlight a few again.

In Ecclesiates 9 verse 11 it reads “I also saw something else here on earth: The fastest runner does not always win the race, the strongest soldier does not always win the battle, the wisest does not always have food, the smartest does not always become wealthy, and the talented ones does not always receive praise. Tim and chance happen to everyone.”

In 1 Corinthians 9 from verse 24-27 it reads “You know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize. So run to win! All those who compete in the games use self-control so they can win a 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 air. I treat my body hard and make it a slave so that I myself will not be disqualified after I have preached to others.”

My prayer for our athletes and all athletes around the world is that they can become Champions for Christ. That they can learn to love him and learn to fight for the right crown. I know there are many Christian athletes out there, but my prayer is that their faith can shine through. That it can be that sweet smelling aroma that God wants it to be. And that they are not judged on how many medals they won but rather on were they champions for Christ, did they ‘fight’ with a plan or did they just hit the air. Did they use self control and worked hard to achieve the results they did and finally did they do their best, their best for God.

God Bless

SB

 

 

Time & Chance

With the Olympic show moving past the half way mark I enjoy watching the different sports. It astounds me the talent, abilities and precision that these athletes have been blessed with. As the individuals line up to compete the commentators usually refer to who is the favourite to win, who has the best world ranking for the year and what the chances are of the other competitors. On many occasions they are correct in there predictions or the winner and medalists, however there a quite few instances where the favourite is not always the winner! I have said to many an individual that once you are in the final, it is anyone’s race or anyone has a chance to win! I then sit and often wonder why did this person win and not another. Many thoughts go through my mind like, was the winner just better prepared, did the coach and athlete (who was favourite) make a mess of their final planning, did the athlete peak to soon, was the individual that won just more hungry or was this occasion just destined for a specific person!

There are so many variables that play a role in performance and especially performance on a specific day. Did an individual oversleep, or eat the wrong meal, or have equipment problems. Whatever the case may be the disappointment that I think an individual must experience, when they don’t perform like they know they are capable of is enormous. But in God’s word there is a consoling thought and passage. In Ecclesiastes 9 from verse 11 -12 it reads “I also saw something else here on earth: The fastest runner does not always win the race, the strongest soldier does not always win the battle, the wisest does not always have food, the smartest does not always become wealthy, and the talented one does not always receive praise. No one knows what will happen next. Like a fish caught in a net, or a bird caught in a trap, people are trapped by evil when it suddenly falls on them.” The challenge for athletes is to always ensure that you try your best. Do the best you can, whether it is in training or competition. God honours people who give their best and are doing it for the right reasons. Sometimes things don’t work out like we want them to, and that happens. Try and be consoled by the thoughts that ‘I have given my all, I have put everything in that I can, I have used my God given talents to the best of my abilities’ for the sport I have participated in and finally that ‘I have honoured God’ in my quest!

God Bless

SB

Praise the Lord!

“Praise the Lord! Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.”

Over the last period of time it amazes me how we as a family have been blessed. Once again you realise that God is good and great and that His endless love and mercy endures forever for each one of us. We have been blessed abundantly over the now 1 year and 8 months we have been married and over our entire existences. We are blessed with

· Family that loves us

· friends that are firm in faith and that we are able to learn from, and that care for us

· a church that we can call home, where we can grow in our faith

· a cell group where we can share our faith

· a beautiful home, that we can open the doors to friends &families

· jobs that are our passions and are not just another work!

· being able to work with people to try and assist them improving there quality of life

· being blessed by being able to work with athletes that compete at all levels of sport right through to Olympic level

I read this verse from Psalm 106 verse 1 and it just made me realise how blessed we are and that I needed to share this with all.

May you all be blessed as we have been blessed, as we try and walk a closer road with God, as we try and become Gods Champions.

SB

29th Olympiad - the number 8

Many moons ago the first modern games commenced under the leadership and guidance of Baron Pierre De Coubertin. The revival of the Olympics brought about men competing against one another, fighting for the glory and pride and olive wreath. Today starts the 29^th Modern Olympiad in a place far, far away from Olympia, Beijing China. The opening ceremony commences at 08:08 (PM) in China on the 8^th day of the 8^th month 2008.

The Olympic games is the ultimate multisport event in the world. Where the best of the best compete. Where athletes have the ability to show off their talents, hard work and perseverance that they have had over the last number of years. Many of these athletes have taken between 10 and 16 years to get to this point. Many hours of hard work, planning and preparation has culminated in this point.

The number 8 has significance for the Chinese people however for Christians around the world it signifies new beginnings, moving from the old to the new. So at 08:08 (Chinese Time PM) on this day may we as Christians go into prayer. Prayer for the athletes

· that will be competing at these games and becoming leaders within their countries and communities,

· that they will be able to profess their faith and if they are none believers draw closer to God,

· that this will be the start of new beginnings for me

· that as Christians we are able to celebrate the life that God has given us and the talents he has blessed each one of us, especially the athletes competing.

May these games be a blessing to all and may we all enjoy watching the remarkable feats that these athletes will accomplish.

SB

Alpha & Omega

Started reading the book of Revelation today. I could not even get past verse 8 and already I see such key elements. Verse 8 is so powerful, powerful because it comes from our Lord God Almighty. It reads “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, who was and who is to come, the Almighty”. Wow, it is just so amazing how God is everything. He is the beginning and the end! What a mighty God we serve.

God Bless All,

SB

Got Resitance? Stick with the Periodisation & Reflect!

I was preparing for cell for tonight and was going through John 16. We have been going through the book of John over the last period of time. What an awesome book. So many important aspects are brought to life in John and particularly the works of Jesus whilst on earth. It has been amazing to see how He operated whilst on earth, everything with a bigger plan in mind. Just the same as all our Olympians have had a bigger plan, a specific periodisation, so too Jesus Christ had a specific periodisation for his time on earth.

Many key points stood out for me in this chapter however the one that stood out the most was the last verse. Verse 33 reads “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world”. In this chapter Jesus is talking about the Holy Spirit coming into the disciples and our lives when he left earth to return to the Father. He champions us in verse 32 where he says “Behold, the hour is coming (referring to his crucifixion), indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone”. He champions the disciples and us to be scattered around the world and to spread his gospel and the tell of him. However like he says in verse 33 that we will have tribulation, things won’t always be plain sailing, but what we can take from all of this is that Jesus overcame the world. He overcame the most difficult and conquered death on the cross. So whatever trials and tribulations we may experience, we need to have heart that He overcame it all and because of his death on the cross for our sins we may live in this world.

This is particularly applicable to the Olympians that start competing in three days. I am sure that over the numerous years of training and preparation for these games they have all experienced difficult times. They have experienced times when they wondered how they would get through the next training sessions, or when they were not sure if they should carry on, or if it was all worth it. But they did and I trust and pray that many of them did it through the strength that God gives them and the fact that he suffered a worse fate for each on of us. For those whom got through situations but don’t believe in God, my prayer is that when they are in Beijing that they would have the time to reflect on the fact that it is through God’s grace that they have managed to be there.

Another verse that stands out for me is from Verse 21 where Jesus refers to the women whom is pregnant and gives birth. Once the baby is born she no longer remembers the pain and anguish of the birth but is happy and delighted with her new child. Just the same many athletes will forget, as they compete, about all that pain and hard work they have put in and some will achieve the success of the medal. I trust that they will reflect on where they have come from and where they have been, the difficult training sessions, the competitions where they did not always perform as they would have liked to, but now be thankful for the strength God gave them and the blessing he gave each one of them with the talents to compete at this level.

Olympians, may this be a games of reflection and honouring of God.

God Bless

SB

No Secrets

I open the Campus Beeld newspaper (of the Tuks, University of Pretoria) this morning and paged – of course – to the back page, SPORT. A big portion was around the Tuks Rugby winning the prestigious Carlton League final this weekend. The First team, along with many others won their league. The once picture that stood out for me was one of the 1^st team celebrating after their win. With his backed faced to the camera one of the players was no longer wearing his rugby jersey but rather a white t-shirt with the inscription ‘Jesus is Alive’. Once again it showed me that there is a revival happening, that individuals especially sportsmen are becoming more and more willing to share their faith. This is so awesome and inspirational.

It is so exciting for me to see this is happening across the sports and in particular in sports that have credibility within the society. Jesus is Alive and He is alive in the sporting world and He is alive in sportsmen’s lives.

SB

Its never too late, BUT Just Do It!

I received a really cool and suprising email this last few days. It was from a swimmer that I new previously who stopped comepting over the last 2 years. It was in response to the Gods Champions blog. I trust the individual wont mind - no names - but i have put an snippet from the email in here.

"it seems that God is doing so much with swimming at the moment and making a stand within it. I was always so disappointed in myself that i didnt make more of an impact in other people lives for Christ when I had the chance for so many years, but we all grow and learn from our mistakes. Its so inspiring watching swimmers grow in christ as it has always been viewed from the inside as a sport that is about dedication, but so secular in its persuit of drinking and sex unfortunately. Im writing to you to encourage you in your stand for christ its so awesome that you want to make a difference from the inside..."

This was so inspiring. Guys it is never too late to start and try make a difference and testify to our faith. The important thing is too learn from our mistakes and make that stand. Make that stand now! And dont wait any longer. As mentioned in the email as sportsmen there are opportunities all the time, so seize the moment and Just do it!

Just as the individual encouraged me to to stand for Christ i want to encourage one of you that read this blog to make a stand. If you have not up until now it is not too late, but start! Once again it is encouraging to see what is happening and to the person who emailed thanks for your words.

God bless
SB

PS> 5 days and counting and the whole world goes on a watch the Olympics mode!