This is a quote from Ryan Hall, the American record holder in the marathon:

It isn’t the records or championships or medals that make life fulfilling, it’s the life of following Christ. Jesus said, “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10) When I’m following Christ closely, there’s a contentment and satisfaction in my life that is far greater and longer-enduring than any good race I’ve ever run. I’m convinced that the good life is the life of discipline following hard after Christ.

Now as I prepare for my first [Olympics], I feel God calling me to run free. To run free from having to make the team, free from the worries of needing to prove myself, free from the riches of this world, free to run with a heart full of passion and praise for God, free to pour myself out for Him, not for me. One of the reasons I enjoy working out on my own is because it’s easier for me to simply praise God with my body as I run. When I’m out here running with the spirit of worship, there’s nothing like it because of my connection with God. I like to refer to this road as my sanctuary because some of my most intimate moments with God have been out here on this road.
Having God’s power, self-belief and determination coupled with hard work doesn’t mean that all of us can be the best in the world. There’s only one person who can say they are the best in the world, and they can only boast of this for a short time. So what does this mean for the rest of us who believe and strive to be the best in the world and yet we fall short of our goal? If we can’t accomplish our goals, does this make us all failures? Are ninety-nine percent of the people out there wasting their lives because they never made it to the top? Of course not! The hope I want to encourage you with is that we all can run with Him and experience the joy that is more fulfilling than any performance or accomplishment we can dream of. We can all have the satisfying abundant life that God has promised us.

This is my vision for [the Olympics]: that everything would fade away—all the accolades and rewards, and everything that is at stake—and in my mind’s eye it will be just me out there running with my God, praising Him in my sanctuary. If I can praise God with all my body, mind and soul [at the Olympics], then I’ll walk away form the finish line satisfied, no matter what the outcome, and that will be a satisfaction that no one can take away from me.




© 2010 Beyond The Ultimate - Olympic, Professional & College Christian Athletes and Coaches

ALEX

THAT was very good points and things we need
to remember in our life's

dgrimm60

ALEX

there was a movie call "Chariots of Fire"
one of the atheltes was running for GOD I think

dgrimm60

Yes, Eric Liddle; the son of missionaries to China. He refused to run on Sunday and was under a lot of pressure and called a trader to his country, but held firm and they allowed him to run in 2 other races. His major race was the 100 meter, which was being held on Sunday. They let him run in the 200 and 400 meter, he was not expected to do well in the longer distances, but he won both.

He returned to China as a missionary, and suffered as the Japanese came at the start of WW2, eventually taken prisoner by the Japanese he died of a brain tumor while in confinement. There is a fantastic cartoon about him by the Torch light series by Vision Video (I was just watching it today while showering and getting dressed for work)

The only way a person can be a christian and a well known and celebrated athlete is to be 'blissfully ignorant' of the sabbath commandment and of the true sabbath day. I base this statement on a near life long observation of both. I can remember watching sports on TV as early as 4 years old. It wasn't too much longer afterwards that I first heard of the seventh day sabbath.

Most high school competitions occur on Friday night or on Saturday, but never on Sunday. Satuday is a main day on the sports calendar for college sports competition. NFL football is mostly played on Sundays, but they practice a lot on Saturdays. They also play a lot of 'important' football games on saturdays as well.

They ran a marathon here recently on the weekend of the MLK holiday. The run is usually on Sunday. So, I suppose a person could be a top notch marathon runner and keep the sabbath.

The only way a person can be a Christian is to dedicate their life to, and follow Jesus Christ. Whatever Jesus gives His servants to do, is okay to do on Sabbath. Jesus redefined Sabbath-keeping. We must be born again. We must be converted. We must leave the past behind and follow Jesus. Just as our bodies have many parts which all function every day, there are many workers in the Lord's vineyard. We cannot all be preachers. When a line worker has dedicated His life to the Lord, his work is just as sacred as the work of the preacher, and may be done every day without condemnation.

I doubt seriously that a sabbath believing football strong safety can deliver a bone jarring tackle during a saturday afternoon game, and still be operating in the will of the Lord. I don't see it.

KOUNTZER

yes I agree with you a athlete playing on SABBATH
and try give honor to GOD would be hard


dgrimm60