The Olympics and Prayer!

The Olympics provide a great opportunity to pray for much of the world as we watch the athletic events. What can we pray for?

1.  We can pray for the countries represented during the events we watch.  If you have a copy of Operation World you can use it to read about the specific country and its needs.  If you are in Athens, you can borrow a copy from the dcf library.

2.  China.  The chinese government will use the opportunity for mass propaganda of how wonderful and modern China is.  The truth of the matter is that they are still one of the world’s worst violators of human rights.  The followers of Jesus who meet together and refuse to become part of the state church are heavily persecuted.  The chinese also greatly censor journalist and information their people are able to access through the internet.  For example, according to Amnesty International their website is blocked at the Olympic venue.  

3.  Christian athletes.  We can pray for them to be a good testimony on and off the field.  We can pray for them to use the opportunity they have to speak to other athletes, to journalists, and to fans.  Romans 15:13 would be good to pray for them, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

4.  Human rights issues to be covered well in the media.  ESPN did a story about this with the USA basketball team.  Earlier in the year players like Lebron James and Kobe Bryant were on the record against China’s support of the Sudanese government (think Darfur) and how the Olympics would be an opportunity for them to take a stand and use their immense platform to make a difference.  Lebron went as far as to say that he didn’t care if it cost him a contract with Nike because this was more important.  Now the general response from the players and coaches is, “We are here to play basketball, and we will let the politicians handle those issues…whatever happens, happens.”  Talk about pathetic.    Romans 15:13 would be good to pray for them, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

5.  For God to work by the power of the Holy Spirit to use the many believers who will be there sharing the Good News about Jesus and a great response!  (I Thessalonians 1:4-6), “For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.”

6.  Tibet.  We can pray for the political freedom of Tibet, but more importantly that they would receive their spiritual freedom in Jesus. I had the opportunity to speak to the Dali Lama for a few minutes a number of years ago.  (Perhaps that would be a good subject for another post.)  

7.  Ask God to show you other things to pray for during these weeks.  When we want to pray and ask God for things to pray about, He is faithful to show us.

As we seek to love our 6.69 billion neighbors, let’s remember to pray about these things as we watch the Olympics!

Advertisement

 

A Hero Inspires…

I was recently moved by a story I saw on ESPN’s “Outside the Lines” about the Summerville, South Carolina, High School basketball team.  Louis Mulkey was an assistant coach, and the Captain of Engine 15 for the Charleston Fire Department.  He had coached the 8th grade team with the goal that his 8th graders would win the state championship five years later.  Before that 5th year began, tragedy struck.  Louis Mulkey and eight other fire fighters lost their lives on a June 18, 2007.  

The team honored their mentor and friend by placing a fireman’s hat in the school colors on the 4th seat on the bench.  The fireman’s hat was put there for every game.  The team played exceptionally well during the regular season and went into the playoffs.  In the semi-final game they were losing with only a few minutes to play, and they were tired.  Their fans began chanting, “Louis Mulkey, Louis Mulkey, Louis Mulkey”.  The players were inspired and pulled out the win.  In the championship game they won a tightly contested contest by only 1 point.  

On the way home, about 1 AM, the team stopped by the grave of Louis Mulkey.  They placed the championship trophy by his tombstone, and some of the players left their championship medals there as a way to say thank you for the difference this man had made in their lives.

The scene reminded me of what we find in the book of Revelation chapter 4 verses 9-11, “Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say: 

‘You are worthy, our Lord and God, 
to receive glory and honor and power, 
for you created all things, 
and by your will they were created 
and have their being.'”

In the Scriptures we are also told that the followers of Jesus will received crowns and jewels based on faithfulness and stewardship of what we have been entrusted with.  I don’t think we will be wearing those around, but instead will have the opportunity to follow the example we are given.  We will have opportunity to bow at the feet of Jesus and say thank you.  Until that time, how we live our short days on this earth can be a thank you to Jesus.  May those of us who believe in Him be encouraged to live a life filled with love and grace in response to what our Savior has done for us. Please remember that we can only lived this sort of life by being filled with love and grace by God Himself to overflowing.  II Corinthians 9:8, “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.”
——

If you click the Outside the Lines link in the post you will see the ESPN video.  It has a couple of neat parts of the story that I didn’t mention. 

 

Life back in Athens…

It has been a good and busy time since returning Tuesday night.  It is hard to believe it is already Friday afternoon.  House Fellowship on Wednesday night, dinner with my family on Thursday evening, and a leaders’ meeting early this morning were the highlights of the week.  I’ve also managed to get back on the basketball court twice. Wednesday hoops felt rough, but today I felt much more energetic.  The ball was generally at a high level of quality too.  Unfortunately, it ended with one of the guys spraining his ankle.  I hope for his sake it isn’t too bad.  Basketball at Ramsey has been a great opportunity for me to get some exercise and also get to know some people that I otherwise would have no contact with.

In the very near future the other elders in our church and I will begin a study through Alexander Strauch’s book, Biblical Eldership.  I am looking forward to our collective growth through that investment of time, prayer, thought, and practice.  If you are in leadership in a church and have read this, how about dropping me a note with your opinion.  Or if you are interested in the Biblical perspective of church government – both how it should be organized and applied, then I recommend it.  It makes sense to believe that God cares about how His church is should be organized.  Traditionally the church has ignored most of God’s instruction on this subject to its own detriment.

Don’t forget to pray for rain – boy do we need it!

 

Monday – Attack of the man thigh!

I remember back to junior high when our basketball team had the old hand me downs from many years prior. It was always a battle for the two pair of larger shorts because most of us would be stuck wearing shorts that were way too short and way too tight.  Well on Monday I took a trip back in time because I failed to take any shorts to Mexico.  In order to fellowship with my Mexican brothers on the basketball court, I had to borrow a pair from one of them.  My translator Christian (who grew up in California) laughed and laughed.  He also had possession of my camera and took about 50 pictures of permanent proof of my humiliation.  I also didn’t realize that we had to walk several blocks down the main street of the city to be able to play.  Yes, people noticed and made sure that I knew that they noticed.  Being one of the very few white people in the area and being 6’4″ or 193 cm for those on the metric system, I already stand out.  Bring on the attack of the man thigh, and I am a one man circus!

I can’t believe that I putting pictures of this on net.  But if my humiliation can bring a little laughter to your day, then I guess it is a price worth paying.  Yes I am having to work hard to convince myself of that!

Walk of humiliation begins.

man thigh and my wife refers to my ankle brace as an “ankle chap”

Attack of the man thigh!

The giant has the ball – be afraid.

It rained hard, but we just kept having fun.

Ye dare not come closer to the hoop.

A good time was had by all.