It has stood the test of time.
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God's book.
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The Bible.
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Still relevant in
today's complex world.
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It is written sharing
hope around the globe.
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Thanks for joining me
today. I4m John Bradshaw and
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this is It Is Written. You know,
every four years the whole world
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forgets momentarily about
its quarrels and problems and
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focuses for two weeks on
something that seems to be a
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fascination for just about
everybody---the Olympic Games.
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You can't get away from it.
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Around the world warnings
were given to people about the
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problems of coming in to work in
the morning tired and the effect
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that this might have on their
health. But of course record
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numbers of people watched the
games in spite of the warnings
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of the health professionals.
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Before the London Olympics
in 2012 there were reports about
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some of the issues that were
plaguing the games: there were
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structures--buildings--that
may not be ready on time; it was
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thought there might not be
enough security people to make
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sure the organization ran
smoothly throughout the actual
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games. Once the games
started all those concerns were
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forgotten. The minds of people
were turned to their nation's
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competitors and the question
of whether or not they would win
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medals - with gold being
metal of the preferred kind. One
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country that entered the London
Olympic Games with stellar
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expectations was Australia.
Over the years the Aussies have
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always punched well above their
weight in the Olympic Games and
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at London they were expecting to
do the same thing - especially
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in the swimming pool. They
had assembled a strong team of
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swimmers, many of whom had
been successful at the Beijing
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Olympics four years
earlier, as well as at the world
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championships. So when the
Australian swimmers took to the
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pool there was an expectation
in Australia that they'd do well
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and to bring back a significant
number of medals back to
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Australia. And one of their
mostly highly favored swimmers
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was a man named James Magnussen.
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Now James Magnusson was the
reigning world champion in the
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100 meters freestyle --
that4s one of swimming's glamour
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events. At the 2011 world
championships in Shanghai,
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China, Magnussen became the
first Australian to win the gold
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medal in that event. He was
a national hero in Australia.
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Aussies nicknamed him "the
missile". Understandably he
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placed great expectations
on himself. In fact, he said he
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thought he would win in London.
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He was now the best in the world
and he had swum the fastest time
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in history over 100
meters for any swimmer wearing a
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conventional swimsuit. Now,
that4s in contrast to those high
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tech swimsuits that were worn
a few years ago but then banned
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from competition. No one was
able to match James Magnussen in
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his favored event. So when the
London Olympics arrived James
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Magnussen was expected to win
gold for Australia. Before the
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men's 100 meters was the men's
4 x 100m relay and Australia was
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expected to dominate that race
as well. They won their heat
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comfortably and all the country
thought that they would win the
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final in a canter. Magnusson
swam first in the final and went
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out hard. In his second lap
Australia waited for the missile
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to fire, but it didn't happen.
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When Magnussen finished his
leg of the relay Australia was
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placed third --and they
ended winning bronze. In many
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countries Third in the world
would be cause for celebration.
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But for Australia there was
real disappointment. Magnussen
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himself was dejected. The weight
of a nation was on him. He felt
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like he had let his country
down. At the post race interview
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he couldn't find words to
speak and he faded into the
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background. There was no
real explanation. The game plan
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simply hadn't worked. Now
the whole of Australia began to
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worry about how James would
do in the 100 metre race itself.
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After some soul searching and
time with his coach Magnussen
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lined up in the 100 meter heat.
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He swam well and came second.
He won his semi-final quite
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convincingly. It seemed like the
missile was back. The whole of
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Australia was there with him, it
seemed. In his home town of Port
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Macquarie - a beautiful seaside
city on the coast of New South
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Wales -- almost the whole town
got up in the early hours of the
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morning to watch the final.
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There was a big screen in the
town centre. Many people went
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down there to watch. The big
screen event started at 4:30 am.
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James' race would start at 5:15.
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All sorts of of people from Port
Macquarie showed up to watch
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their home town hero. The result
of the final is now in the
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history books. James Magnussen
competed. He swam incredibly
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well. When the race ended many
Australians thought their man
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had carried the day. But the
cruel truth for Australia was
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that James Magnussen had been
beaten by Nathan Adrian from
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Bremerton, Washington by the
smallest measurable margin in
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swimming: 1 100th of a second.
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This much. Magnussen was
gracious in defeat, but the
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smiles were forced and everyone
in Australia was feeling what he
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felt. The disappointment of
being so near and yet so far.
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And then Australia began the
post mortem. For the first time
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since Montreal 1976 Australia
hadn't won an individual
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swimming medal. Instead, they
had "only" won a single gold (in
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a relay), six silvers and three
bronze. Only five countries won
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more swimming medals than
Australia. Yet one Olympic
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champion swimmer from Australia
said that the swimmers didn't
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try hard enough. Coaches
were blamed for not adequately
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preparing the athletes, and
the coaches themselves said that
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they didn't have enough
resources which were being
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diverted to other programs...
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and on it went. Now contrast
that with another Australian
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Olympian. Jessica fox raced
in the final of the K1 canoe
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slalom. She wasn't expected
to do very well but Jessica made
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the final. Now her mother had
won a bronze in the same event
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at the Atlanta Olympics in 1996.
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After her final run Jessica
found herself with the fastest
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time of all of the competitors
and she held the on to the top
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spot until until a French
paddler paddled her final run.
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Jessica was ultimately beaten by
just six tenths of a second. The
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Eighteen years old and a silver
medalist. So how did Jessica
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react? She was ecstatic and when
being interviewed she said that
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she was still 'in the clouds'.
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What a contrast between Jessica
and James Magnusson. They both
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competed. They both came second.
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Neither of them won. They both
walked away with a silver medal.
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They both felt very differently
about it. But let4s shift this
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just a little bit. What is it
do you think that God most wants
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from our lives? Is God sitting
on the edge of His throne during
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the Olympics - waiting to
see who will win gold? Is he
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cheering competitors on? The
truth is God wants every one of
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us to win something golden - but
His sights are set on far more
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than simply a gold medal.
I'll have more in just a moment.
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Time for today's Bible question.
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Why does the Bible, especially
Revelation, use so many odd
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symbols and weird beasts? Why
didn't the Bible writers just
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use plain language and say what
they mean? Different people say
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these things mean different
things. Don't you think these
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symbols and stuff just cause
confusion? Well, you know, it's
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a bit like the parables. Jesus
could have just come out and
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said, Here's how the word of
God works. Sometimes the devil
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snatches it away from people,
sometimes people grab a hold of
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it but they have no depth,
sometimes they take hold of it
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but the cares of this life mess
them up, and then there are some
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people who become very fruitful
believers. He could have done
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that but He didn't teach that
way. He taught in a way so that
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people who really wanted to
listen and search and think and
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reach out for God could be
spiritually satisfied. And those
00:08:07.86\00:08:11.43
who didn't want to give the Word
of God any real thought would
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never get it, because they never
wanted to get it. Another reason
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for this is economy. For
example, when John wrote about
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Babylon, in the New Testament
Book of Revelation, instead of
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writing tons of information
about what Babylon was and what
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it meant and who it was and so
on, he just wrote Babylon. And
00:08:28.80\00:08:33.00
because he obviously got
that reference from the Old
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Testament, his readers - who
were familiar with the Babylon
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of the Old Testament, and with
the Old Testament scriptures,
00:08:38.10\00:08:40.70
would be able to say, "WOW!
We know what he's talking about!
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Aha! This Babylon is going to
be like old Babylon, and we know
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what old Babylon was like so we
know what to expect." By using
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symbols, John could say a whole
lot in a short time, and he
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could really convey some
powerful ideas. Another reason
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symbols were used in Revelation
is that if John didn't use them
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he'd have been in big trouble.
00:09:02.90\00:09:05.13
When John wrote Revelation, he
was under arrest on the island
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of Patmos and it was the Roman
soldiers or Romans who had him
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under their authority. In
Revelation, there are actually
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times when he wrote about the
very Pagan Roman Empire that had
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him in captivity. It wouldn't
have been a good look for John
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to be writing about those very
Romans, if those Romans had then
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investigated what he was
writing. You can imagine John
00:09:29.23\00:09:31.83
might have found himself in
a bit of trouble, and all that
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work he had done would probably
have ended up on a bonfire. I
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know the symbols can be
frustrating at times, but if
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you'll study them carefully
you'll learn how they're like
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keys that unlock the prophecies
of the Bible - and indeed all of
00:09:44.66\00:09:49.13
the Bible. And your knowledge of
the Bible and your love for the
00:09:49.13\00:09:52.60
Bible will grow. To send your
Bible question, please go to
00:09:52.60\00:09:56.76
ItIsWritten.com. If you have
a Bible question for Pastor John
00:09:56.76\00:10:02.33
Bradshaw, please write to It Is
Written, Box O, Thousand Oaks,
00:10:02.33\00:10:06.23
California, 91359. Or visit
our website ItIsWitten.com and
00:10:06.23\00:10:11.63
send us your questions on-line.
00:10:11.63\00:10:13.63
It Is Written is dedicated
to sharing the gospel around the
00:10:15.86\00:10:18.83
world. Our dream is to
impact the world for God. Our
00:10:18.83\00:10:22.80
television program is only
one aspect of how we try to
00:10:22.80\00:10:25.36
accomplish that. To discover
more about It is Written, I
00:10:25.36\00:10:28.66
invite you to visit our website
itiswritten.com and browse the
00:10:28.66\00:10:32.80
dozens of pages that describe
what we do and how we do it. You
00:10:32.80\00:10:36.63
will also find an archive of
past programs in script form,
00:10:36.63\00:10:40.10
and as a streaming video
and audio files, along with many
00:10:40.10\00:10:44.33
other helpful inspirational
resources. Let's get to know
00:10:44.33\00:10:47.46
each other better. Visit our
website itiswritten.com today.
00:10:47.46\00:10:49.96
This is It Is Written.
00:10:49.96\00:10:50.43
Thanks for joining me today.
00:10:50.43\00:10:52.83
You know in the book of
Mark chapter 10 and verse 45,
00:10:52.83\00:11:01.30
the Bible says this,
"For the Son of man also
00:11:01.30\00:11:05.33
has not come to be served, but
to serve, and to give his life
00:11:05.33\00:11:09.43
as redemption for many". When
I look closely at the words of
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Jesus I find it hard to think
that Jesus is going crazy over
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the Olympics, that he is setting
his clock so that he does not
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miss any of the events. That
Jesus entered into the sorrow
00:11:19.73\00:11:23.36
that James Magnusson experienced
at his loss. I don't think that
00:11:23.36\00:11:27.13
Jesus is going to be spending
his days planning for that great
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Olympics in the sky when he will
assemble the greatest athletes
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ever to fight for the title of
swimmer of the galaxy. I don't
00:11:33.13\00:11:36.80
think it's going to happen that
way. I don't think that when
00:11:36.80\00:11:39.06
Jesus is taking his people into
his kingdom he will be lining
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them up according to the amount
of Olympic gold medals they have
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won. Or even by our professions
so that the brightest scholars
00:11:44.06\00:11:47.90
all line up first. No - God will
be lining us up according to our
00:11:47.90\00:11:51.63
characters. Now am I saying that
God is not interested in what
00:11:51.63\00:11:55.10
you or I are doing or what
athletes are doing? Oh, no I
00:11:55.10\00:11:57.56
don't mean that. In fact
the apostle Paul speaks at some
00:11:57.56\00:12:02.13
length about the athletes of his
day. The beginning of organized
00:12:02.13\00:12:05.83
games began with Alexander the
Great after he had conquered the
00:12:05.83\00:12:08.50
world. He had organized games
for Greece and for his soldiers.
00:12:08.50\00:12:13.06
Sports were introduced into
Palestine and a gymnasium was
00:12:13.06\00:12:15.66
erected in Jerusalem. During
the time of the apostle Paul the
00:12:15.66\00:12:18.93
games were well established and
by then everyone had heard of
00:12:18.93\00:12:22.00
the Greek Olympic Games.
The Gentiles loved the games but
00:12:22.00\00:12:25.96
they were repugnant to the pious
Jews because they were of a
00:12:25.96\00:12:29.70
demoralizing character. And
there was good reason for the
00:12:29.70\00:12:32.70
Jews to be put off. Those
who took part in the contests
00:12:32.70\00:12:36.50
competed naked. The Olympic
games were held every four years
00:12:36.50\00:12:41.06
in Olympia in honor of the
god Zeus. They had a variety of
00:12:41.06\00:12:44.43
games including leaping,
and racing, and quoits, spear
00:12:44.43\00:12:47.76
throwing, and wrestling.
They had chariot racing, boxing,
00:12:47.76\00:12:51.30
running in amour. Now you just
didn't turn up on the day and
00:12:51.30\00:12:54.73
compete. The competitors usually
went on a special diet and
00:12:54.73\00:12:57.63
preparation, they stayed under
supervision at one place, they
00:12:57.63\00:13:01.00
exercised their bodies regularly
and when they competed, they had
00:13:01.00\00:13:04.26
to obey all the rules.Very much
like today. Paul was aware of
00:13:04.26\00:13:08.73
this when he wrote to the
Corinthians. He wrote to the
00:13:08.73\00:13:10.73
Corinthians and said
these words, "And every man that
00:13:10.73\00:13:14.36
striveth for the mastery is
temperate in all things. Now
00:13:14.36\00:13:17.70
they do it to obtain a
corruptible crown; but we an
00:13:17.70\00:13:20.96
incorruptible" (That's I
Corinthians 9:25). And to his
00:13:20.96\00:13:25.56
young friend Timothy he wrote
these words, he said, "And if a
00:13:25.56\00:13:30.20
man also strive for masteries,
yet is he not crowned, except he
00:13:30.20\00:13:35.03
strive lawfully" (II Timothy
2:5). When an athletic event was
00:13:35.03\00:13:40.56
completed, a herald proclaimed
aloud the name of the victor and
00:13:40.56\00:13:44.53
the city from which he came. He
was presented with a palm branch
00:13:44.53\00:13:47.86
by the judges, and the prizes
were given out on the last day
00:13:47.86\00:13:50.40
of the games. There was only one
winner per event, crowned with
00:13:50.40\00:13:54.43
an olive wreath made of
wild-olive leaves from a sacred
00:13:54.43\00:13:57.33
tree near the temple of Zeus
at Olympia. This was a matter of
00:13:57.33\00:14:01.20
honor for the competitors.
But nevertheless Paul says that
00:14:01.20\00:14:04.50
their reward was something that
they strove after even though
00:14:04.50\00:14:08.86
there was only one reward per
event. But then Paul contrasts
00:14:08.86\00:14:13.43
the reward that the athlete
received with the reward that
00:14:13.43\00:14:17.06
the Christian receives. He said
these words, "so run to win!
00:14:17.06\00:14:23.33
They do it to win a prize that
will fade away, but we do it for
00:14:23.33\00:14:27.30
an eternal prize. (1 Cor 9
24-25). So we are called on to
00:14:27.30\00:14:33.30
"run to win". Peter had the same
thought in mind when he wrote
00:14:33.30\00:14:38.16
this in 1 Peter 5:4, the Bible
says this, "you will receive the
00:14:38.16\00:14:44.66
crown of glory that does not
fade away" (1 Peter 5:4). James
00:14:44.66\00:14:49.03
Magnusson was clearly
disappointed when he lost and
00:14:49.03\00:14:51.93
yet he was only reaching for
something that WOULD fade away.
00:14:51.93\00:14:56.06
According to he Bible it's a
whole lot better to be a nobody
00:14:56.06\00:14:58.80
and yet be striving for
the crown that God will give to
00:14:58.80\00:15:01.50
those that love Him. God wants
to give us something that we can
00:15:01.50\00:15:04.63
have for all eternity -- not
simply a prize we have for just
00:15:04.63\00:15:07.76
a short time before the memory
of it becomes consigned to the
00:15:07.76\00:15:10.96
history books. Do you remember
the name Johnny Weissmuller?
00:15:10.96\00:15:14.63
Johnny Weissmuller won two gold
medals for swimming during the
00:15:14.63\00:15:18.93
1920s. You might remember
that he went on to become the
00:15:18.93\00:15:21.06
"Tarzan" of his era. But I can't
think of any other Olympian from
00:15:21.06\00:15:24.73
that time. They have faded from
the mind of mankind and now the
00:15:24.73\00:15:28.23
only memory of them is held
online or in the library. And
00:15:28.23\00:15:31.66
even it I read about them I
doubt if I would have heard of
00:15:31.66\00:15:34.23
any of them. Paul said "They
do it to obtain a corruptible
00:15:34.23\00:15:38.63
crown; but we an incorruptible"
(1 Corinthians 9:25). This will
00:15:38.63\00:15:42.00
be placed on our heads by Jesus'
own hand. What a day that will
00:15:42.00\00:15:46.70
be! For each of God's children
there'll be a crown of victory.
00:15:46.70\00:15:50.36
Each of us will receive the
victor's palm and the shining
00:15:50.36\00:15:53.06
harp. Then we will live with God
for all eternity. In a moment -
00:15:53.06\00:15:58.56
the apostle Paul compares
himself to an Olympic athlete.
00:15:58.56\00:16:01.73
I'll be right back. In Matthew
4:4 the Word of God says "It is
00:16:01.73\00:16:08.80
written 'Man shall not live
by bread alone but by every word
00:16:08.80\00:16:13.00
that proceeds out of the mouth
of God'." Every Word is a one
00:16:13.00\00:16:16.73
minute Bible-based daily
devotional presented by Pastor
00:16:16.73\00:16:19.63
John Bradshaw and designed
especially for busy people like
00:16:19.63\00:16:24.40
you. Look for Every Word on
selected networks or watch it
00:16:24.40\00:16:32.43
on-line everyday on our website
itiswritten.com. Receive a daily
00:16:32.43\00:16:39.06
spiritual boost. Watch Every
Word. You'll be glad you did. In
00:16:39.06\00:16:46.86
1988 Canadian sprinter Ben
Johnson won the gold medal in
00:16:46.86\00:16:50.96
the 100 meters at the Seoul
Olympic Games, setting a world
00:16:50.96\00:16:54.03
record in the process - 9.79
seconds. Fast. But... Johnson
00:16:54.03\00:16:59.36
was later found to have been
using anabolic steroids - the
00:16:59.36\00:17:02.26
performance-enhancing drug
stanozolol was in his system,
00:17:02.26\00:17:05.16
and he was disqualified
and stripped of his gold medal,
00:17:05.16\00:17:07.46
which later went to track legend
Carl Lewis. Over the years a LOT
00:17:07.46\00:17:11.36
of sportspeople have
been found to have used
00:17:11.36\00:17:13.60
performance-enhancing drugs.
00:17:13.60\00:17:14.60
Baseball players, cyclists,
football players, weightlifters,
00:17:14.60\00:17:17.00
runners, swimmers... many of
whom have ruined their careers
00:17:17.00\00:17:21.86
and destroyed their health in
the process. East German coaches
00:17:21.86\00:17:25.26
systematically loaded
their athletes with performance
00:17:25.26\00:17:27.56
enhancing drugs in the lead
up to the 1976 Olympic games in
00:17:27.56\00:17:30.90
Montreal, and some of the
East German Olympians produced
00:17:30.90\00:17:33.70
record-breaking performances
as a result, thanks to those
00:17:33.70\00:17:36.50
substances. Sports people
continue to take huge risks with
00:17:36.50\00:17:40.56
their health by putting these
things into their bodies - and
00:17:40.56\00:17:43.63
why do they do it?
00:17:43.63\00:17:47.10
Because when you're
operating at that level
00:17:43.63\00:17:47.10
and the stakes are so high -
just a little stronger, a little
00:17:47.10\00:17:50.56
faster and you could win a gold
medal or receive a multi-million
00:17:50.56\00:17:53.66
dollar contract. So even
a slight advantage is often
00:17:53.66\00:17:56.63
considered to be well worth it.
00:17:56.63\00:17:58.23
Of course many athletes
don't use these things, but many
00:17:58.23\00:18:01.16
clearly have and do. Why? To
get an advantage. What are you
00:18:01.16\00:18:06.23
willing to do to get an
advantage in your spiritual
00:18:06.23\00:18:08.66
life?
00:18:08.66\00:18:12.26
Isaiah 40:31 tells you
how you can get a spiritual
00:18:08.66\00:18:12.26
edge. But they that wait
upon the LORD shall renew their
00:18:12.26\00:18:15.13
strength; they shall mount up
with wings as eagles; they shall
00:18:15.13\00:18:18.23
run, and not be weary; and
they shall walk, and not faint.
00:18:18.23\00:18:21.36
Increased spiritual strength
and energy, guaranteed, when you
00:18:21.36\00:18:24.70
'wait upon the Lord, ' when you
trust in Him & allow Him to be
00:18:24.70\00:18:27.90
the leader and the guide of your
life. Are you 'waiting on the
00:18:27.90\00:18:30.63
Lord'?
00:18:30.63\00:18:34.36
You'll get a great
advantage when you do with no
00:18:30.63\00:18:34.36
negative side-effects.
Let's live today by Every Word.
00:18:34.36\00:18:38.00
Planning for your financial
future is a vital aspect of
00:18:41.46\00:18:44.26
Christian Stewardship. For this
reason, It Is Written is pleased
00:18:44.26\00:18:47.56
to offer free planned giving and
estate services. For information
00:18:47.56\00:18:51.66
on how we can help you, please
call 1.800.992.2219. To receive
00:18:51.66\00:18:56.73
additional material on the
advantages of life-income plans
00:18:56.73\00:18:59.83
such as a Charitable Gift
Annuity, which can provide you
00:18:59.83\00:19:03.83
with tax benefits and income for
life, call today or visit our
00:19:03.83\00:19:08.03
special website:
www.hislegacy.com. You could
00:19:08.03\00:19:13.46
also write to It Is Written,
Planned Giving and Trust
00:19:13.46\00:19:16.60
Services, Box O, Thousand Oaks,
California 91359. Our toll-free
00:19:16.60\00:19:22.63
number again 1-800-992-2219
and our web address:
00:19:22.63\00:19:28.33
www.hislegacy.com. If there was
00:19:28.33\00:19:34.26
something in today's program
that you'd like to study in
00:19:36.53\00:19:38.80
greater depth and detail, visit
our website itiswritten.com
00:19:38.80\00:19:43.43
where you will discover
additional spiritual resources
00:19:43.43\00:19:46.43
along with free Bible study
guides on a host of topics.
00:19:46.43\00:19:49.83
Visit itiswritten.com today.
00:19:49.83\00:19:53.86
Thanks for joining me today on
It Is Written. The Apostle Paul
00:19:53.86\00:19:57.26
compared himself to an Olympic
racer when he wrote these words:
00:19:57.26\00:20:00.60
I press toward the mark for the
prize of the high calling of God
00:20:00.60\00:20:04.66
in Christ Jesus" (Philippians
3:14). And he says in 2 Timothy
00:20:04.66\00:20:09.03
4:7: "I have finished my
course". The writer to the
00:20:09.03\00:20:13.30
Hebrews sees the Christian's
race as being run with endurance
00:20:13.30\00:20:17.23
before a great crowd of
spectators. We read this in
00:20:17.23\00:20:20.20
Hebrews 12:1. "Therefore we
also, since we are surrounded by
00:20:20.20\00:20:24.36
so great a cloud of witnesses,
let us lay aside every weight,
00:20:24.36\00:20:29.16
and the sin which so easily
ensnares us, and let us run with
00:20:29.16\00:20:34.30
endurance the race that is
set before us" And that advice
00:20:34.30\00:20:38.86
belongs to us today. Paul refers
to this when he talks about
00:20:38.86\00:20:42.53
wrestling, a modern day sport
for sure. The contest with Satan
00:20:42.53\00:20:46.80
he likens to a wrestling match.
00:20:46.80\00:20:49.10
In those wrestling bounds in
the ancient olympic games, the
00:20:49.10\00:20:52.30
winner was the wrestler
who succeeded in first throwing
00:20:52.30\00:20:54.90
down, and then holding down his
opponent with his hand upon his
00:20:54.90\00:20:57.56
neck. When Paul wrote to the
Romans: "Strive together with me
00:20:57.56\00:21:01.56
in your prayers" (Romans 15:30),
he was wanting them to put the
00:21:01.56\00:21:05.53
same energy into their prayers
as a wrestler would put into his
00:21:05.53\00:21:09.00
efforts to win his contest. In
writing to the Corinthians Paul
00:21:09.00\00:21:12.76
also refers to boxing. Here is
what he says, he writes: "Thus I
00:21:12.76\00:21:19.26
fight: not as one who beats the
air. But I discipline my body
00:21:19.26\00:21:23.96
and bring it into subjection"
(I Corinthians 9:26-27). He is
00:21:23.96\00:21:28.76
thinking of keeping his body
under control lest if he fails
00:21:28.76\00:21:31.70
to do so he be disqualified as
an effective Christian worker.
00:21:31.70\00:21:35.20
And what applies to Paul in that
situation certainly applies to
00:21:35.20\00:21:39.10
us. As we can see the Apostle
Paul was fond of making use of
00:21:39.10\00:21:43.03
popular sporting events
to illustrate truth. To the
00:21:43.03\00:21:46.10
Philippians he spoke of
"striving together for the faith
00:21:46.10\00:21:49.33
of the gospel" (Philippians
1:27). The words "striving
00:21:49.33\00:21:52.86
together" actually mean "acting
as athletes in concert." In the
00:21:52.86\00:21:57.23
language of modern athletics, he
was thinking of the importance
00:21:57.23\00:21:59.73
of what we call "team spirit" in
the church. When Jude urged his
00:21:59.73\00:22:05.13
readers to "earnestly contend
for the faith which was once
00:22:05.13\00:22:08.06
delivered unto the saints" (you
read that in Jude 3), he was
00:22:08.06\00:22:11.33
using another athletic word. One
of the chief forms of amusement
00:22:11.33\00:22:14.53
among the Romans -- the early
Christian era -- was to condemn
00:22:14.53\00:22:18.36
criminals, and especially
Christians, to fight with lions,
00:22:18.36\00:22:21.60
bears, elephants, or tigers in
the amphitheatres of the empire
00:22:21.60\00:22:24.43
before huge crowds of
spectators. The crowds would
00:22:24.43\00:22:28.70
urge on the beast by throwing
darts or by shouting in sort of
00:22:28.70\00:22:32.50
a maddening spirit. Then they'd
watch the poor victim be torn to
00:22:32.50\00:22:36.63
pieces by the animal. Paul
referred to this practice when
00:22:36.63\00:22:40.16
he said, "If after the manner of
men I have fought with beasts at
00:22:40.16\00:22:44.50
Ephesus" (I Corinthians 15:32).
00:22:44.50\00:22:46.60
So what is God's counsel us to
do today? Most of us will never
00:22:46.60\00:22:50.10
have to prepare for an Olympic
games. But we do have a far
00:22:50.10\00:22:53.60
greater prize to reach for. Not
a medal that will eventually be
00:22:53.60\00:22:57.40
forgotten about but a life that
we will live for all of eternity
00:22:57.40\00:23:01.43
with Jesus. That is a wonderful
thing to strive for. We can
00:23:01.43\00:23:05.16
explore the universe with Jesus
as our guide. There are some
00:23:05.16\00:23:08.60
simple things that Jesus advises
us to do. In the book of Joshua
00:23:08.60\00:23:12.63
(24:15) Joshua said 'choose you
this day whom you will serve...
00:23:12.63\00:23:18.06
but as for me and my house we
will serve the Lord". What good
00:23:18.06\00:23:23.16
advice. You can wake up each
morning and put the day into
00:23:23.16\00:23:27.16
God's hand. The first thing we
can do every day is to reach out
00:23:27.16\00:23:30.33
to God and say "Lord I dedicate
this day to you, please use me
00:23:30.33\00:23:34.63
in your service that I might
serve you and give honour to you
00:23:34.63\00:23:38.60
during this day. In Luke 13:24
Jesus tells us to "strive to
00:23:38.60\00:23:45.00
enter through the narrow gate"
Like an athlete that is striving
00:23:45.00\00:23:49.56
for a gold medal, God wants us
to strive. In the days of Paul
00:23:49.56\00:23:53.43
there was only one winner.
00:23:53.43\00:23:54.80
Everyone else was a loser.
With God we can all winners. He
00:23:54.80\00:23:58.76
doesn't line us up according to
what we have won or achieved in
00:23:58.76\00:24:01.26
this life. If that were the case
only the fortunate, or well off,
00:24:01.26\00:24:05.16
or well educated would reach
his kingdom. God looks upon us
00:24:05.16\00:24:08.53
according to our characters
- and the good news is that He
00:24:08.53\00:24:12.16
will give us His righteousness
and live His life in us. You
00:24:12.16\00:24:17.43
can't be a loser - and you'll
always be a winner - when you
00:24:17.43\00:24:21.26
choose Jesus as your own.
Today I want to offer you this
00:24:21.26\00:24:27.93
special, free book on the
subject of God's promises,
00:24:27.93\00:24:30.93
including some of the very
promises God makes to use to
00:24:30.93\00:24:34.66
reassure us that he is there for
us even when we fall. You will
00:24:34.66\00:24:37.70
find it very encouraging. It is
called God's promises. Dozens of
00:24:37.70\00:24:41.83
promises from the Word of God
with encouragement for you to
00:24:41.83\00:24:44.63
know God and grow in his grace.
00:24:44.63\00:24:45.90
This is going to help you in
your daily walk with Jesus. Just
00:24:45.90\00:24:48.23
call or write and I will send
you God's promises. There is no
00:24:48.23\00:24:50.53
cost or obligation. It is
absolutely free. Just all this
00:24:50.53\00:24:52.53
number: 1.800.253.3000 and ask
for God's Promises. You can call
00:24:52.53\00:24:54.53
24 hours a day. If the lines
are busy, please just keep on
00:24:54.53\00:24:56.56
trying. You can also request
your free copy of God's promises
00:24:56.56\00:24:58.56
by writing to It Is Written,
Box O, Thousand Oaks, California
00:24:58.56\00:25:06.56
91359 and we will mail a copy to
00:25:09.13\00:25:15.13
your address in North America.
00:25:18.66\00:25:20.46
Please note, this free book is
limited to the supply on hand.
00:25:20.46\00:25:25.26
For immediate access, you
can download a free, electronic
00:25:25.26\00:25:28.26
version of this book,
God's Promises, from our website
00:25:28.26\00:25:31.46
itiswritten.com. It Is Written
is a faith-based ministry made
00:25:31.46\00:25:34.73
possible by viewers like you. I
want to say Thank you to you for
00:25:34.73\00:25:38.76
your support of It Is Written.
00:25:38.76\00:25:39.76
To support the world-wide
outreach of It Is Written, to
00:25:39.76\00:25:43.06
make it possible for people
to continue receiving this
00:25:43.06\00:25:45.53
broadcast, your tax deductible
gift may be sent to the same
00:25:45.53\00:25:49.20
address or you can give on-line
at It Is Written.com. Thank you
00:25:49.20\00:25:54.40
for your continued
support. Our toll-free number is
00:25:54.40\00:25:59.43
1.800.253.3000 and our web
address is itiswritten.com.
00:25:59.43\00:26:04.06
Let's pray together. Our Father
in heaven, we thank you today
00:26:04.06\00:26:08.66
for the certainty that we can
win through Jesus and salvation
00:26:08.66\00:26:13.70
never has to be for us a loss
or even a matter of coming in
00:26:13.70\00:26:16.76
second. I thank you that you
encourage us to strive, that is,
00:26:16.76\00:26:19.96
to strive to yield, to strive to
surrender, to put the important
00:26:19.96\00:26:24.06
things first, and to press
towards the mark. Bless us this
00:26:24.06\00:26:29.13
day because soon we know
Jesus is coming back. On that
00:26:29.13\00:26:32.73
wonderful day we will receive as
Paul said, not a gold metal, but
00:26:32.73\00:26:37.63
a golden crown, a crown of gold
that will never fade away. I ask
00:26:37.63\00:26:42.73
that that day will come soon. In
Jesus' name, amen. If you're a
00:26:42.73\00:26:51.30
regular viewer of It is Written,
there's a chance you are curious
00:27:11.93\00:27:15.16
of who we are and what we do.
00:27:15.16\00:27:17.36
This ministry is dedicated
to sharing the gospel around the
00:27:17.36\00:27:20.80
world. There are many ways we
try to accomplish that. To get
00:27:20.80\00:27:25.63
an inside view through written
and visual reports, photos and
00:27:25.63\00:27:29.83
videos, visit our website
itiswritten.com and while you
00:27:29.83\00:27:33.13
are there you will also discover
the many inspirational resources
00:27:33.13\00:27:37.33
that are available to help you
in your Christian walk. I invite
00:27:37.33\00:27:42.36
you to visit itiswritten.com.
00:27:42.36\00:27:44.03
You'll be glad you did. Thanks
for joining me today. I look
00:27:44.03\00:27:48.20
forward to seeing you next time.
00:27:48.20\00:27:49.70
Until then, remember t Is
Written: man shall not live by
00:27:49.70\00:27:54.23
bread alone, but by every word
that proceeds from the mouth of
00:27:54.23\00:27:58.00
God.
00:27:58.00\00:28:00.06