Comments on: The Olympic Trials http://www.beenthinking.org/2008/06/25/the-olympic-trials/ with Mart De Haan and Friends Fri, 19 Mar 2010 17:52:43 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: chfranke http://www.beenthinking.org/2008/06/25/the-olympic-trials/#comment-1592 chfranke Thu, 26 Jun 2008 11:12:08 +0000 http://www.beenthinking.org/?p=226#comment-1592 An aside to Laurie St.Lyon, I, too, find people's dedication to sports out of balance. There is far too much emphasis on all types of sports in general. To me, I would be embarassed to earn the money Tiger Woods, Bret Farve or the hundreds of other athletes make. From the amateur stand point, one of their eyes is on that piece of metal but the other eye is on the potential fame and fortune that that medal will bring. Having been sports challenged most of my life, I may identify too closely with the loosers and the joy of the competition gets badly tainted. But, I can see the positives in the sports world, too. The discipline athletes must take to train themselves is remarkable. Their aim for perfection is noble. Their performance at times can be breathtaking. As a human, it is something I would not want to miss during my lifetime. And the whole olympic event gives us a glimpse of a time when we will all come together and lay down our arms to join in fellowship across manmade boundaries on this earth. It's a baby step toward some future time where repressive regimes melt away and we all come together as one family. Many of the athletes we will be seeing quietly hold these views and praise the Lord for the little part they can play in bringing that about. In the end, for me, the pros outweigh the cons and I can thrill in the spectacle of it all. An aside to Laurie St.Lyon,
I, too, find people’s dedication to sports out of balance. There is far too much emphasis on all types of sports in general. To me, I would be embarassed to earn the money Tiger Woods, Bret Farve or the hundreds of other athletes make. From the amateur stand point, one of their eyes is on that piece of metal but the other eye is on the potential fame and fortune that that medal will bring. Having been sports challenged most of my life, I may identify too closely with the loosers and the joy of the competition gets badly tainted.
But, I can see the positives in the sports world, too. The discipline athletes must take to train themselves is remarkable. Their aim for perfection is noble. Their performance at times can be breathtaking. As a human, it is something I would not want to miss during my lifetime.
And the whole olympic event gives us a glimpse of a time when we will all come together and lay down our arms to join in fellowship across manmade boundaries on this earth. It’s a baby step toward some future time where repressive regimes melt away and we all come together as one family. Many of the athletes we will be seeing quietly hold these views and praise the Lord for the little part they can play in bringing that about.
In the end, for me, the pros outweigh the cons and I can thrill in the spectacle of it all.

]]> By: Laurie St.Lyon http://www.beenthinking.org/2008/06/25/the-olympic-trials/#comment-1591 Laurie St.Lyon Thu, 26 Jun 2008 09:34:18 +0000 http://www.beenthinking.org/?p=226#comment-1591 Hello Mart, Enjoy starting the day with your blog (after my Daily Bread)and I am glad to see someone enjoying the prospect of the olympics. here in London we are saddled with the 2012 games. I say saddled as I have not spoken to one Londoner who wants it! I understand your spiritualisation of the games (after all Paul did the same) but to me the the three things that come from the Olympics are: 1. The wasted years and resources to watch one person run, throw, jump better than another. All for a piece of metal. None of it of lasting value. 2. That it typifies the "get to the top of the tree" "push on regardless" mentality that you talked about. Rather than the humility,compassion,and charity that should characterise our Christian life. 3.The hypocrisy of it is staggering.A celebration of mans achievement in sport a reaching across boundaries, for the sake of the (amateur)sport. The reality is its being held in one of the most repressive regimes in the world where preparation have cost thousands their homes, liberty and even life. Not something to celebrate and most of the athletes are "sponsored" full time at a higher rate than I earn. They are professional in all but name. Sorry to be a wet blanket but the whole thing leaves me cold. So a question that might be better in another blog ‘You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.” Do we worship sport and are christians caught up in it serving another God? Hello Mart,

Enjoy starting the day with your blog (after my Daily Bread)and I am glad to see someone enjoying the prospect of the olympics. here in London we are saddled with the 2012 games. I say saddled as I have not spoken to one Londoner who wants it!

I understand your spiritualisation of the games (after all Paul did the same) but to me the the three things that come from the Olympics are:

1. The wasted years and resources to watch one person run, throw, jump better than another. All for a piece of metal. None of it of lasting value.

2. That it typifies the “get to the top of the tree” “push on regardless” mentality that you talked about. Rather than the humility,compassion,and charity that should characterise our Christian life.

3.The hypocrisy of it is staggering.A celebration of mans achievement in sport a reaching across boundaries, for the sake of the (amateur)sport. The reality is its being held in one of the most repressive regimes in the world where preparation have cost thousands their homes, liberty and even life. Not something to celebrate and most of the athletes are “sponsored” full time at a higher rate than I earn. They are professional in all but name.

Sorry to be a wet blanket but the whole thing leaves me cold.

So a question that might be better in another blog ‘You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.” Do we worship sport and are christians caught up in it serving another God?

]]> By: daisymarygoldr http://www.beenthinking.org/2008/06/25/the-olympic-trials/#comment-1587 daisymarygoldr Wed, 25 Jun 2008 23:31:47 +0000 http://www.beenthinking.org/?p=226#comment-1587 Oh-h-h, now I see! Don't know how I missed the "cut throat" point:( maybe I got sidetracked by the 1st pic (just kidding:) Thanks for clarifying that! Oh-h-h, now I see! Don’t know how I missed the “cut throat” point:( maybe I got sidetracked by the 1st pic (just kidding:) Thanks for clarifying that!

]]> By: Mart De Haan http://www.beenthinking.org/2008/06/25/the-olympic-trials/#comment-1585 Mart De Haan Wed, 25 Jun 2008 21:21:39 +0000 http://www.beenthinking.org/?p=226#comment-1585 daisymarygoldr, I agree with what you are saying. Seems like you are looking what it means to compete, in times of trial, against anything that would rob us of God's approval and lasting rewards. That's so important. By contrast, I'm focusing on what it means to compete with the kind of confidence in a Provider God that can keep us from doing anxiety-related, "cut-throat," or "under-handed" things-- in an attempt to try to assure that we win at any cost to "fair-play" or the good of others. (Probably just muddied the water even more :-). daisymarygoldr, I agree with what you are saying. Seems like you are looking what it means to compete, in times of trial, against anything that would rob us of God’s approval and lasting rewards. That’s so important.

By contrast, I’m focusing on what it means to compete with the kind of confidence in a Provider God that can keep us from doing anxiety-related, “cut-throat,” or “under-handed” things– in an attempt to try to assure that we win at any cost to “fair-play” or the good of others. (Probably just muddied the water even more :-).

]]> By: daisymarygoldr http://www.beenthinking.org/2008/06/25/the-olympic-trials/#comment-1584 daisymarygoldr Wed, 25 Jun 2008 19:23:29 +0000 http://www.beenthinking.org/?p=226#comment-1584 Not sure if I’m getting what you are trying to communicate today… Rather than seeing a resemblance I see a stark contrast-unlike the Olympic trials (nice pics!) that cause immense pressure followed by utter disappointment, trials for a Christian are essential to develop the spiritual character in the hope of eventually becoming Christ-like. The Bible talks about ‘striving for mastery’, ‘contending for the faith’, not by our own strength but by His strength manifested in our weakness. Therefore, competitiveness is a God-given gift which we use not for ‘self’ but for ‘His’ glory. “Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever” (1Cor. 9:25)! Not sure if I’m getting what you are trying to communicate today…
Rather than seeing a resemblance I see a stark contrast-unlike the Olympic trials (nice pics!) that cause immense pressure followed by utter disappointment, trials for a Christian are essential to develop the spiritual character in the hope of eventually becoming Christ-like. The Bible talks about ‘striving for mastery’, ‘contending for the faith’, not by our own strength but by His strength manifested in our weakness.

Therefore, competitiveness is a God-given gift which we use not for ‘self’ but for ‘His’ glory. “Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever” (1Cor. 9:25)!

]]> By: drkennyg http://www.beenthinking.org/2008/06/25/the-olympic-trials/#comment-1582 drkennyg Wed, 25 Jun 2008 18:16:17 +0000 http://www.beenthinking.org/?p=226#comment-1582 Thanks, Mart. I'm reminded of some who think they can make deals with the Lord. Like "if you do this, I'll do that" kind of thing. If I have the opportunity I remind them that God doesn't even have to make any deals - He's got it all anyway so He's probably not even listening. There is a strong tendency to cheat and think of it wrongly as just getting the competitive edge when in fact simple reliance on God to provide and fair preparation is all that we need. Then win or lose we have done our best and more importantly done what is right. Thanks, Mart. I’m reminded of some who think they can make deals with the Lord. Like “if you do this, I’ll do that” kind of thing. If I have the opportunity I remind them that God doesn’t even have to make any deals – He’s got it all anyway so He’s probably not even listening. There is a strong tendency to cheat and think of it wrongly as just getting the competitive edge when in fact simple reliance on God to provide and fair preparation is all that we need. Then win or lose we have done our best and more importantly done what is right.

]]> By: rdrcomp http://www.beenthinking.org/2008/06/25/the-olympic-trials/#comment-1579 rdrcomp Wed, 25 Jun 2008 15:09:31 +0000 http://www.beenthinking.org/?p=226#comment-1579 I would feel a lot better if I could tell you that I always depend on God like Jesus did in the wilderness. Instead God sometimes backs me into a wall where I have no other choice but to depend on Him--and He comes through. Amazing. You'd think I'd gradually get more dependent on Him, and maybe I am (but just a little). It sure seems that I'm a hard headed, self reliant, disciple most of the time. But you can't beat God's grace. Because of Jesus, He loves me anyway. Sweet. I would feel a lot better if I could tell you that I always depend on God like Jesus did in the wilderness. Instead God sometimes backs me into a wall where I have no other choice but to depend on Him–and He comes through. Amazing. You’d think I’d gradually get more dependent on Him, and maybe I am (but just a little). It sure seems that I’m a hard headed, self reliant, disciple most of the time. But you can’t beat God’s grace. Because of Jesus, He loves me anyway. Sweet.

]]> By: Francisco Trevino http://www.beenthinking.org/2008/06/25/the-olympic-trials/#comment-1576 Francisco Trevino Wed, 25 Jun 2008 14:36:05 +0000 http://www.beenthinking.org/?p=226#comment-1576 Good morining Mart. Another eye opener. God Bless You. As father of teenagers, we spend some weekends on soccer fields watching the games of our childeren. It's easy to get sucked in the emotions of the game together with the love of our children. Invariably I keep thinking: "How can I help my children make it to the top?" And ideas start pouring about special summer camps, extra training at home, seeking right relationships, etc. Which I think are good ideas, but I'm not starting at the right place. Praying and leaving these struggles in the hands of Jesus and putting God in first place. Then how can the outcome (win or loose) be wrong! Thank you. Good morining Mart. Another eye opener. God Bless You. As father of teenagers, we spend some weekends on soccer fields watching the games of our childeren. It’s easy to get sucked in the emotions of the game together with the love of our children. Invariably I keep thinking: “How can I help my children make it to the top?” And ideas start pouring about special summer camps, extra training at home, seeking right relationships, etc. Which I think are good ideas, but I’m not starting at the right place. Praying and leaving these struggles in the hands of Jesus and putting God in first place. Then how can the outcome (win or loose) be wrong! Thank you.

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