Pastor Mike’s Garage February 22, 2022

*Pastor Mike’s Garage- Feb 17/2022*

So, I was watching the Olympics last night. We’ve had it on a fair bit
this winter, partly because it’s been a refreshing change from what has
dominated so much of our airwaves as of late, partly because the winter
Olympics are the only one where Canada gets even remotely competitive! I
enjoy watching many of the winter sports, my favourites are hockey, the
biathlon, and curling. I think the reason I like watching curling is that I
have curled and at my age it is the only sport I could possibly dream I
could still be even remotely competitive, not that I was ever near that
good!

I was watching Brad Gushue’s men’s team play Great Britain last night
when I started thinking about what it must be like for anyone to get to
that level of play and to be representing your country halfway around the
world in a globally televised event! The amount of pressure that would
weigh on their minds would be unbelievable! I admire Brad, he always seems
so calm, collected and down to earth even when his team has its back
against the wall! I’m at the age where I can’t leave home without taking my
favourite pillow so I can try and get a good night’s sleep! To think of the
level of commitment and dedication that most of these athletes endure
throughout the year is mind boggling, let alone the thousands who have that
same level yet never make it! I was watching one evening on NBC as they
featured one of the male US athletes. He was at Beijing representing his
country in the luge, something he had also done four years ago. While he
was out of medal contention already, he was lamenting the fact that he had
come under considerable criticism because he chooses to enjoy and take part
in a few sports throughout the year and it was thought that if he just
focused and practised on the luge solely all year long he would be more
competitive. He was honest in stating that he just didn’t enjoy the luge
enough to give it that level of commitment!

As I thought about all of this my mind went to the verses in the bible
that compare our lives as a Christian to a athlete. How committed am I? How
dedicated am I? How passionate am I? I’m just going to close by including a
few verses on the subject.

2 Timothy 2:5 Also if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not win the
prize unless he competes according to the rules.

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run,
but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win.
Everyone who competes in the game’s exercises self-control in all things.
They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.
Therefore, I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as
not beating the air; but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so
that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.

1 Timothy 4:8 for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness
is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life
and also for the life to come.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the
Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not
your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore, glorify God in
your body.

Hebrews 12:11-13 All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but
sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields
the peaceful fruit of righteousness. Therefore, strengthen the hands that
are weak and the knees that are feeble, and make straight paths for your
feet, so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, but
rather be healed.

Pastor Mike