The Olympics

The Olympics start tonight in Beijing and I'm really excited.
08/08/08 at 8 pm.
I love watching the Olympics and getting into the human interest stories they report.
We have some unique connections with the Olympic athletes.

• I went to school with Lindsay Shoop, who is competing in the eight-woman rowing events.

• When we lived in Colorado Springs I led a Bible study for the athletes on Tuesday nights at the Olympic Training Center working through the book of Romans.

• In 2004, there were six people who attended our church who were Olympics athletes. Two of those athletes, Michael Blatchford (cycling) and Reid Priddy (men's volleyball) are competing again in Beijing.

• The first wedding I officiated was of a couple who were U.S. Olympic triatheletes. (Their wedding was filmed by the show A Wedding Story on TLC).

• One of my closest friends from college and Colorado Springs is in an accountability group with Hunter Kemper (triathalon). Hunter has already had his face printed on a Wheaties box.
  

• I seriously dated a girl in college who went on to compete in Athens in archery. On dates we would sometimes go to the archery range that her father owned. She was an incredible archer. No joke.

Watch for these athletes (Lindsay, Michael, Reid and Hunter) and cheer them on.

As you get into the Olympic spirit check out this Google application for the Olympics.

And also, this fascinating little piece in the New York Times about the evolution of the Olympic torch.

Comments

[swmrr]

Hi J.R. thank you for posting your enthusiasm about the Olympics. It brought me back to a now bittersweet memory regarding a former pastor of mine in Boston, early 90's.

I had been excited about the 1992 winter olympics, partly because I they reminded me of an inspirational sermon, and partly because at that time I had heard of paul wylie, a figure skater who I had heard was attending some Bible studies at Harvard. The pastor had just given up a great deal of sports watching, including the Olympics. There was a disconnect between us, as he wanted to express his disappointment that what was sin to him was not sin to me. I wanted to express how inspirational it can be to hear about a fellow believer competing in the Games. I also wanted to talk about a passage of scripture that mentions sports and competition in the context of grace.

I remember hearing a sermon on 1Corinth 9:24, way back when I was in high school, about racing and running for a prize. I looked the verse up again and the verses before it talk about being all things to all men for the sake of the Gospel.

I am happy for all of the people you mention, and of course for Michael Phelps. I was a distance swimmer in college a long time ago. It is my prayer for Christians everywhere - pastors and parishioners alike - to find a common ground to talk about sin and conviction. I definitely want to run in a way as to get the prize. I don't want to miss out on experiencing God's grace, or in giving grace and mercy to someone under conviction.