ON YOUR MARK....GET SET.... GO!!!!!!

Well, it is here again!!! I am sooo excited!!! The OLYMPICS!!! Since 1972, I've been watching the Olympics. It is one of my earliest memories! I distinctly remember watching gymnastics. I was fascinated by it and wondered how anybody could flip their body through the air like that. When 1976 rolled around, I found in the funny pages an advertisement for these medallions representing each Olympic event. I begged my mom for a gymnastics one and she ordered it for me! I wore it all around and still have it to this day!

When I hear the Olympic Fanfare I get so pumped! It gives me goose bumps! I love the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat! I love the stories of athletes that win the gold on Saturday and have to be back at work at Pizza Hut on Monday to pay for their private lessons. Or the country that only had a hotel pool for their Olympic swimmer to practice in but they made it to the big time anyway! I love to see the world come together for just a moment and put aside differences to compete. I get emotional when I see the parade of nations at opening ceremonies. I am reminded of the verse in Revelation "with Your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and tongue and people and nation." It's like a little glimpse of heaven to me, when all Christians, from all over, will sing and celebrate together. And just a side note, in heaven, I will be able to run fast like Flo Jo (Florence Griffith Joyner 1988 Olympics)!! That would be 100 meters in 10.49 seconds at the Olympic trials fast! No junk in the trunk in heaven!! Can I get an Amen? ; )

I want to see every competition from table tennis to track knowing that I only have 2weeks to soak up all this Olympic goodness! Last time, I had an opening ceremony party complete with an Olympic flame in my yard! I even had toga wearing friends come over(it was in Greece last time - you know, the originators of the Olympics 776 BC). I so wanted to do that this time but life is much busier now. So, put on your red white and blue, grab your popcorn, guacamole, or whatever you like to munch on and enjoy a little bit of these Beijing Olympics! Pray for those countries that refuse our Lord! Pray for those athletes that know Him to be provided opportunities to share their faith! Learn a lesson or two about life and be thankful today you can move! GO USA!! Olympic Fanfare by John Williams removed!