The flames were lit for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games on October 22, 2009 in Olympia, Greece. Keeping up with an ancient tradition there was a lighting ceremony for this exciting event. Olympia is the home of the Olympic flame and it was where the ancient Olympic Games took place about 3,000 years ago. There are many references to these ancient games throughout the Bible. And the Christian life has been compared to an Olympic competition.
According to tradition, the flames are always ignited in Olympia, Greece. The sunlight is used to ignite the Olympic flame by focusing the sun on a metal reflector. After the lighting ceremony, the Olympic Torch Rely began by transporting the Olympic Flame to Athens, Greece, where the first modern games took place in 1896. It arrived in Athens on October 29 for the handover ceremony, where the Olympic Flame was handed over to the Canadians for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics. In attendance was Greek's President Karolos Papoulias and Her Excellency the Right Honorable Michaëlle Jean, who is the Governor General of Canada.
The Olympic Flame arrived in Victoria, the capital of British Columbia on October 30, which started the Canadian Olympic Torch Rely and the count down to the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics. The Torch Rely will run its course for the next 106 days to arrive on February 12, 2010 just in time for the Opening Ceremonies in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Which is the second largest country in the world. This will be the third time that Canada will host an Olympic event. This Torch Rely is to be considered the longest in Winter Olympic history, traveling all throughout Canada.
But there is another competition known as the Christian Olympics that began over 2,000 years ago with the lighting of the flame of fire, at the divine Opening Ceremony, that still burns today. This is the longest and largest running competition in the world. The flame still burns today because there has not been a closing ceremony in order to extinguish the flame since it began. And when it will close remains a mystery, but what we do know according to the Bible, it could happen any day, any hour, any minute, any moment, at the twinkling of an eye. Until then there is still time to go for the gold.
The Christian Olympics: Going for the Gold Crowns is the unveiling of the Bible’s comparison of the Christian race to the Olympic Games. Why is the Christian life compared to the Olympics? Because Christians are in an Olympic competition too, a spiritual athletic competition such as spiritual boxing, hurdling, and wrestling. When Christians see themselves in an Olympic game, it helps them to better understand and survive the Christian life. Becoming victorious through their difficulties, hardships and the trials that they face everyday. You would be amazed how seeing your self as an Olympian will help you through your problems and circumstances. And how to be an overcomer of the temptations of the devil. Order your copy of The Christian Olympics-Going for the Gold Crowns today at:http://www.amazon.com/Christian-Olympics-Going-Gold-Crowns/dp/1597815306
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Monday, August 24, 2009
The Special Olympics Got Game Too
Eunice Kennedy Shriver passed away on Tuesday August 11,2009. She was the founder of the Special Olympics and a lifetime advocate for people with intellectual disabilities. The Special Olympics is a movement of sports training and athletic competition for those that have intellectual disabilities. Shriver believed that people with intellectual disabilities deserve the same opportunities and experiences as others.
No matter what the disability, a person still has a talent, a skill, and a gift to give to the world when encouraged doing so. Using sports as a display of abilities brings about respect, acceptance and inclusion. Persons with disabilities benefit by seeing in themselves that they too have talents and it helps them to feel better about themselves. It also serves as a teaching tool to those who may have thought that disabled people were useless until they were afforded the opportunities to witness their grand performances.
The venue of sports has a way of bringing people together from all walks of life, nationalities, cultures, races and backgrounds. Along with the exercises, discipline and vigorous training that it takes to be athletically fit to play a specific sport; building character, strength, strong muscles, and team work.
No wonder the Bible is full of metaphors that compare the Christian life to that of an athlete. Since everyone seems to be able to relate to sports, God used these metaphors to help us understand the Christian life. No matter what physical or mental state we are in, we all have talents, skills, and gifts that have been given to us by God. But many times we are not encouraged to use them or to even find out what they are. Which is especially frustrating for those that have disabilities. Instead we must go after them, train, and master our skills like an athlete does for his specific sport. Athletes know what their talents and skills are and will train in that specific sport. Some people spend their time going after a talent that they do not have because they like it. Or because someone else has the talent that they want. But not athletes, they will not train in a sport that they do not have the talent for. They are content with their own God given abilities and not the abilities that someone else has. They know that they can find their significance and place in society by using their own God given talents and skills. Which is what Eunice Kennedy Shriver did to help the intellectually disabled find their significance through the Special Olympics.
S.E.Gregg
www.Christianolympics.org
No matter what the disability, a person still has a talent, a skill, and a gift to give to the world when encouraged doing so. Using sports as a display of abilities brings about respect, acceptance and inclusion. Persons with disabilities benefit by seeing in themselves that they too have talents and it helps them to feel better about themselves. It also serves as a teaching tool to those who may have thought that disabled people were useless until they were afforded the opportunities to witness their grand performances.
The venue of sports has a way of bringing people together from all walks of life, nationalities, cultures, races and backgrounds. Along with the exercises, discipline and vigorous training that it takes to be athletically fit to play a specific sport; building character, strength, strong muscles, and team work.
No wonder the Bible is full of metaphors that compare the Christian life to that of an athlete. Since everyone seems to be able to relate to sports, God used these metaphors to help us understand the Christian life. No matter what physical or mental state we are in, we all have talents, skills, and gifts that have been given to us by God. But many times we are not encouraged to use them or to even find out what they are. Which is especially frustrating for those that have disabilities. Instead we must go after them, train, and master our skills like an athlete does for his specific sport. Athletes know what their talents and skills are and will train in that specific sport. Some people spend their time going after a talent that they do not have because they like it. Or because someone else has the talent that they want. But not athletes, they will not train in a sport that they do not have the talent for. They are content with their own God given abilities and not the abilities that someone else has. They know that they can find their significance and place in society by using their own God given talents and skills. Which is what Eunice Kennedy Shriver did to help the intellectually disabled find their significance through the Special Olympics.
S.E.Gregg
www.Christianolympics.org
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Who Are The Spiritual Superstars ?
Superstars are celebrities who are well known, in fact, everyone knows him or her. Celebrities are people that have fame, are renown, widely recognized, famous and are well-publicized people. They are household words. When you say his or her name everyone knows whom you are talking about. What makes them superstars is that there is no one like them, they are the best at what they do. No one can top them. Superstars are very successful and the best in their particular field, having accumulated a lot of wealth and material gain. You know that you are a celebrity with superstar status when you become a sensation for the tabloids. Get followed around aggressively by the paparazzi and be courted by the media, like such superstars as Michael Jackson, Queen Elizabeth, Michael Phelps, and Oprah Winfrey. .
But who are the Spiritual Superstars?
Spiritual superstars are also well known and very successful and the best in their particular field. They also have fame, are renown, widely recognized, famous and are well-publicized people. They are household words. When you say his or her name everyone knows whom you are talking about.
But spiritual superstars’ fame and renown recognition is in heaven around the throne of God. And God Himself publicizes it giving them wide recognition. A perfect example would be a man in the Old Testament of the Bible that all of heaven was talking about, whom God considered to be His servant, and his name was Job. A book in the Bible is named after this spiritual superstar
He was from the land of Uz and was a very wealthy man.”...the greatest of all the men of the east.” (Job 1:3). And “.. that there is none like him in the earth,...”(Job 1:8) because he was a perfect man who was upright, who feared God, and the type of man that would turn away from anything that was evil. Here we see that he met the criteria of being a superstar because there was no other person like him in the world. He was the best in his service to God. The world may not have considered him a celebrity or superstar. People living on the earth may have never heard of him during a particular time of his life. But God had the whole host of heaven talking about Job Job’s name became a heaven hold word. When Job’s name was mentioned in heaven everyone knew whom they were talking about.
Job was a spiritual superstar just because of the simple fact that he feared God. His status of superstardom caused him to be treated just like a celebrity by the way he was watched and followed by the tabloids and the paparazzi.
Because Satan was like and still is the tabloid reporter walking around the earth looking for a scandal to present something sensational about a spiritual superstar. And he and his demons are the paparazzi that follow the spiritual superstars relentlessly everywhere they go hoping to catch them doing something that will discredit their superstardom. As in the case of Job, when God was proudly bragging to Satan about His spiritual superstar, it was revealed that Satan had been aggressively following. Job. And had figured out a way to knock Job from his spiritual superstar status. God allowed Satan to go ahead with his scheme to destroy every material thing that Job had along with his children. But in the midst of his tragedy, Job remained faithful to God and kept his spiritual superstar status. As if that was not enough, Satan had another scheme and that was to cause Job to become sick with excruciating, endless pain. And again God gave His permission and though Job suffered he still remained God’s spiritual superstar. Because he endured the pain, suffering, criticism and the ridicule that often follows a superstar, along with the false accusations, the humiliation and the isolation.
After a period of time, God healed Job, blessed him, and gave Job more riches than he had before. Now Job is a household name and everyone knows that he was a spiritual superstar. But we would have never known about Job if he had not gone through such tremendous suffering. Because before all of this happened to Job, no one in the world knew that Job was God’s spiritual superstar. The world may never know who the spiritual superstars are until God reveals it on earth through their suffering, the effects of spiritual superstardom.
After reading this blog answer these questions:
What is the criteria for being a superstar?
What is the difference between a spiritual superstar and a superstar?
Who are the tabloids and the paparazzi for the spiritual superstars?
Is suffering part of being a spiritual superstar ?
S.E.Gregg
Saturday, May 30, 2009
The Day of Pentecost, The Divine Opening Ceremony of The Christian Olympics
Wynnewood, PA, May 30,2009, Christians all over the world will celebrate the Day of Pentecost, the anniversary of the Church, this Sunday May 31,2009. Which is one of the most important holidays on the Christian calendar beside Christmas and Easter (Resurrection Sunday). Celebrations for The Day of Pentecost always occurs fifty days after Resurrection Sunday, the resurrection of Jesus Christ, as it did in the book of Acts, chapter 2.
The Day of Pentecost was the beginning of Christianity, the Church, and the Christian race known as the Christian Olympics. It was the ‘divine’ Opening Ceremony of the Christian Olympics. This very dramatic and miraculous event was reminiscent of the lighting of the flames at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games.
“...Just as the Ancient Olympic Games had their first Opening Ceremony in Greece and was centered on religion – the Christian Olympics began about 2000 years ago in Jerusalem. Fifty days after the resurrection of Jesus Christ, The Day of Pentecost. The disciples and other followers of Christ were sitting together – when suddenly the sound of a rushing mighty wind came from Heaven and filled the house where they were sitting. Then there appeared tongues that looked like fire and it sat on each of them. Then they were filled with the Holy Spirit, who enabled them to speak in other tongues (languages), the wonderful works of God (Acts 1, Acts 2).
This was the “divine” Opening Ceremony, just as the modern Olympic Games began by lighting a flame of fire – the fire that symbolizes the Holy Spirit opened the Christian Olympics....”(The Christian Olympics: Going for the Gold Crowns, By S.E. Gregg, page 12 paragraphs 1 and 2).
In The Christian Olympics: Going for the Gold Crowns ($13.99, 1-5978-1530-6, $21.99, 1-5978-1531-4) you will not only discover how the Bible compares the Christian life to the Olympic Games but also the revealing of God’s prophetic plan for the end times. With such subjects as the Rapture, the Judgment Seat of Christ, the Tribulation, the Second Coming of Christ, the Millennium, the Second Death, and the New Heaven and the New Earth.. All of these subjects are explained through the spiritual athletic competition making God’s prophetic plan for the end times easier to understand.
“Enthusiastically recommended as inspirational reading for all practicing Christians.” Midwest Book Review
Order This Bestseller Today at: www.Christianolympics.org
Award winning author, Bible school graduate, gifted Bible teacher and Bible curriculum writer, S.E. Gregg is the author of the best selling book Evangelism Counseling and the salvation tract “God Became a Man.” The Christian Olympics sprang from a newspaper article which Gregg wrote titled “The Christian Olympics are still going on!” Gregg lives in the Philadelphia area.
The Day of Pentecost was the beginning of Christianity, the Church, and the Christian race known as the Christian Olympics. It was the ‘divine’ Opening Ceremony of the Christian Olympics. This very dramatic and miraculous event was reminiscent of the lighting of the flames at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games.
“...Just as the Ancient Olympic Games had their first Opening Ceremony in Greece and was centered on religion – the Christian Olympics began about 2000 years ago in Jerusalem. Fifty days after the resurrection of Jesus Christ, The Day of Pentecost. The disciples and other followers of Christ were sitting together – when suddenly the sound of a rushing mighty wind came from Heaven and filled the house where they were sitting. Then there appeared tongues that looked like fire and it sat on each of them. Then they were filled with the Holy Spirit, who enabled them to speak in other tongues (languages), the wonderful works of God (Acts 1, Acts 2).
This was the “divine” Opening Ceremony, just as the modern Olympic Games began by lighting a flame of fire – the fire that symbolizes the Holy Spirit opened the Christian Olympics....”(The Christian Olympics: Going for the Gold Crowns, By S.E. Gregg, page 12 paragraphs 1 and 2).
In The Christian Olympics: Going for the Gold Crowns ($13.99, 1-5978-1530-6, $21.99, 1-5978-1531-4) you will not only discover how the Bible compares the Christian life to the Olympic Games but also the revealing of God’s prophetic plan for the end times. With such subjects as the Rapture, the Judgment Seat of Christ, the Tribulation, the Second Coming of Christ, the Millennium, the Second Death, and the New Heaven and the New Earth.. All of these subjects are explained through the spiritual athletic competition making God’s prophetic plan for the end times easier to understand.
“Enthusiastically recommended as inspirational reading for all practicing Christians.” Midwest Book Review
Order This Bestseller Today at: www.Christianolympics.org
Award winning author, Bible school graduate, gifted Bible teacher and Bible curriculum writer, S.E. Gregg is the author of the best selling book Evangelism Counseling and the salvation tract “God Became a Man.” The Christian Olympics sprang from a newspaper article which Gregg wrote titled “The Christian Olympics are still going on!” Gregg lives in the Philadelphia area.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Michael Phelps Confessing....Josh Davis’ Medals Missing.....
It appears that we have marched through the months of March and April without any Olympic scandals.
As you will recall, during the month of February, Michael Phelps, who has won the most medals than any Olympian, made the headlines. But it was not what the world was expecting. Apparently a photo surfaced catching him in the very act of smoking marijuana. Even though he apologized, he disappointed his fans, lost an endorsement, and was suspended by USA Swimming.
As if that was not enough in the same month, Olympian Josh Davis reported that some of his medals were missing. Davis who does motivational speaking, takes his medals with him to show to young people. After returning from a trip, he left them in his unlocked vehicle while attending a basketball game. Later he noticed that the medals were missing from his travel bag. Thankfully a couple of days later they were found.
What will be the next shocking news in the media about an Olympian? Will there be any surprises this month? Be assured that this is not the first and will not be the last. Those that receive Olympic medals are not flawless and will make mistakes. The medals of gold, silver, and bronze are a valuable, tangible commodity and can be lost or stolen
But you will never hear about Christian Olympians that have received their gold crowns making mistakes, being an embarrassment, and a disappointment. Because they will not actually receive their Gold Crowns until they go to heaven. Which is a benefit because they will never have to worry about rust corrupting it or thieves breaking in to steal their Gold Crowns. (St.Matt.6-19-21)Do you think that maybe, just maybe, this is why God planned for it to be this way ?
As you will recall, during the month of February, Michael Phelps, who has won the most medals than any Olympian, made the headlines. But it was not what the world was expecting. Apparently a photo surfaced catching him in the very act of smoking marijuana. Even though he apologized, he disappointed his fans, lost an endorsement, and was suspended by USA Swimming.
As if that was not enough in the same month, Olympian Josh Davis reported that some of his medals were missing. Davis who does motivational speaking, takes his medals with him to show to young people. After returning from a trip, he left them in his unlocked vehicle while attending a basketball game. Later he noticed that the medals were missing from his travel bag. Thankfully a couple of days later they were found.
What will be the next shocking news in the media about an Olympian? Will there be any surprises this month? Be assured that this is not the first and will not be the last. Those that receive Olympic medals are not flawless and will make mistakes. The medals of gold, silver, and bronze are a valuable, tangible commodity and can be lost or stolen
But you will never hear about Christian Olympians that have received their gold crowns making mistakes, being an embarrassment, and a disappointment. Because they will not actually receive their Gold Crowns until they go to heaven. Which is a benefit because they will never have to worry about rust corrupting it or thieves breaking in to steal their Gold Crowns. (St.Matt.6-19-21)Do you think that maybe, just maybe, this is why God planned for it to be this way ?
Saturday, January 31, 2009
SPIRITUAL FITNESS
Most of the topics for newspapers, magazines, talk radio, and other media for the New Year has to do with loosing weight, eating healthy, and exercising. These topics bring loads of advertisements for such things as diet books, diet foods and loads of weight loss products, whole food products, along with exercising equipment to keep in shape.
All of this to help us to live and eat healthier so that we can be physically fit.
But what about our spiritual fitness? We are not just physical beings. We are spiritual beings as well and need to address the needs of our spiritual nature.
To be spiritually fit we have to feed our spiritual nature with spiritual food and do spiritual exercises. Spiritual fitness also involves spiritual training and spiritual discipline.
As we take care of the physical, let us not forget the spiritual as well. One of our spiritual exercises is walking by faith. Unlike physical walking where we can see where we are going, spiritual walking is by faith and not by sight.(2 Cor.5:7). Walking by faith is believing God’s promises will be fulfilled even when we can’t see them. With the gloomy situation that the world is in today, we need spiritual fitness more now then we ever did before. Having a healthy spiritual life will also help us with our physical fitness.
My book: The Christian Olympics: Going for the Gold Crowns can help you to become spiritually fit. You will discover other spiritual exercises that are beneficial to your spiritual life. In times like these we cannot survive. without spiritual fitness. Get On Your Mark, Get Set, And LET’S GET SPIRITUALLY FIT !!!
http://www.christianolympics.org/
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