On May 29, 1963, Tenzing Norgay & Edmund Hillary were the first to stand on top of the world’s highest peak, Mount Everest. Can it be that we, too, were not meant to reach the top of our “Mount Everest” alone either (Ecclesiastes 4:10, 12)? Who has the Lord brought to partner on that quest with you? What are ways to acknowledge them?

Jigoro Kano was the founder of judo, the first Eastern martial art to be accepted in the Olympics. He made an unusual request at his death. “When you bury me, do not bury me in a black belt! Be sure to bury me in a white belt.” Humility and teachability. What does it mean to you? (Psalm 25:9; James 4:6)

Ever wonder if there’s more to life than what you’re experiencing? Could it be that God has something bigger for you than what you know and are engaged in right now? Every person has potential to fulfill their destiny. But, it does not come without some kind of exchange. One has to give something up to get something better. It is not out of your reach. It will, however, require a series of transactions. Step by step, you’ll discover new realities. (Jeremiah 29:11; Matthew 25:14-30)

A few years ago, I hiked down part of the Grand Canyon with my children. We noticed the intense appreciation for water from hikers coming up past us. “Take a lot of water,” they warned. Life’s dehydrations aren’t always about the bodies need for water. There are other types. Emotional dehydration can happen by becoming a sponge to everyone’s problems without managing your own emotional supply. Good rest, quiet reflection and prayer are practical ways to refresh. (Mark 6:31)

Why are the Olympics electrifying? Where were you when you saw Michael Phelps swim his last race and win his historic 18th gold medal? Who were you with when you watched Jamaica’s Usain Bolt win his final 4 x 100 meter relay to secure his unprecedented 6 gold medals? What about Gabby Douglas and the Fab Five of U.S. Women’s gymnastics dramatic victory?

Is the thrill of the games strictly about winning or is there more? Pierre de Coubertain, founder of the modern Olympic Games stated, “The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not winning but taking part; the essential thing in life is not conquering but fighting well.”

On this grand stage viewers are mesmerized with a primordial stirring of identification – unspoken reflections that relate as much with winners but, perhaps, even more with losers on the road to greatness, who approach it in a way different from those who’ve received a seeming sprinkle of athletic magic be it in genetics, upbringing or sponsorship.

I sat beside my father to see Oscar Pistorius, the South African sprinter who is the first double amputee to compete with prosthetic legs. He finished in 9th place of the 400 meter sprint finals, but, the first thing the gold medalist did was ask Pistorius for his moniker to keep as a memento of history.

I was having breakfast when I read about Sarah Attar, the first Saudi Arabian woman to compete in track and field. Head completely covered honoring religious tradition, she came in more than 30 seconds slower than the person second to last and still hundreds gave her a standing ovation.

The spirit of the Olympic Games has much to say to Christ-followers when it comes to fulfilling the privileged, yet often neglected commission to make disciples of Jesus Christ. Society and the trappings (or distractions) that come with it hypnotize the average believer into thinking “It’s not that big of a deal.” Beware. In a day of sweltering overactivity and stress, there has rarely been a better time than right now to reach people with the Good News. So what can we learn from the Olympics about evangelism?

Olympic Insight #1 – The Only Way to Make Evangelistic Progress is to Participate

No athlete who entered Olympic Stadium in London, England, made it there by solely dissecting the the philosophies and theories of Olympic traditions and the antiquities of their given sport. Action was required. Somewhere in some relatively unknown location – imagine a dusty, uneven trail with splotchy patches of grass, a young Jamaican boy with spindly little legs began to run, to race. He got involved. As he participated his skills grew, his success increased, his sinews strengthened – as he engaged.

The apostle Paul charged a young minister named Timothy saying, “Do the work of an evangelist” (2 Timothy 4:5). He was not asking him to cogitate whether or not he had the gift. He was saying, “Get involved. Stay active. Meet people. Cultivate deeper meaning in friendship. Stick with people. Build relationships. Show them you care. Pray for God’s guidance. Share with them the hope you have in Christ when the time is right.

You cannot do evangelism by living in your own world expecting people to come to you. Go out to them. My children are all involved in sports. This allows me to be with friends, many of whom do not go to church, but, more importantly may not have a personal relationship with Christ. I am stepping out into a place of common interest for me and my friends who I believe God wants me to reach.

Olympic Insight #2 – You Can Be A Winner in Evangelism Even Before You Are Recognized

A female wrestler from Hawaii named Clarissa Chun won the the bronze medal in the 2012 Olympic games. She beat Irini Merlini of Ukraine who is the 2004 (Athens, Greece) gold medalist, who defeated Clarissa in 2008 (Beijing, China) to win the bronze. It was a moment of redemption for Clarissa. This time she was fully aware of Merlini’s ability to intimidate. She was ready and pulled out the victory in decisive fashion. For Clarissa Chun, her bronze medal may be as good as gold. She did not become a winner by achieving the medal, she became the winner she is in the process of getting there. The medal is an outward expression that affirms what she already knew on the inside, even before she was recognized.

I had a friend in his 70’s from a reserved cultural background, who would reach out to people each week in world famous Waikiki. During those many years he shared the gospel of Jesus Christ with literally hundreds of people. Yet, you may not recognize his name if I told you. There are many people doing the work of evangelism as unsung heroes. It may be you. In Acts 3:8-9, a crippled man experienced God’s healing through the ministry of Peter and John. After jumping to his feet, “…he went into the temple courts, walking and jumping and praising God. When all the people saw him walking and praising God, they recognized him…and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.”

We are never given his name other than the description, “a man crippled from birth” who was a beggar. Peter used his testimony as a launching pad to preach the good news about salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. Many who heard the message believed (Acts 4:4). Rest assured God knows the good work you do for the sake of the gospel even though you may not be recognized publicly. In actuality, that’s what matters most – God’s approval!

Let’s go further.

Olympic Insight #3 – Let Your Style Evolve While Your Message Remains the Same

A sport is a sport. The rules are what create the frame of competition. The level of expertise, however, requires constant development. To get to the upper echelon of Olympic level competition, more focus, more sacrifice, more finances, more practice is required. Yet the sport is the same. You may say the professionals of any sport, essentially do all the basics with phenomenal precision that often evoke an emotional reaction when you see it. No shortcuts. They work at it more than everyone else. In that sense, success is no secret.

In a similar way the good news message of Jesus Christ does not change. Men, women and children around the world are given access to God by faith in Christ, the divine Son of God who loves us, died for our sins, was buried and rose again on the third day (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). At the same time, the way in which we connect with people relationally and the progress we make in leading people to the Lord requires continuous development.

One of my favorite men in the Bible is Andrew. Each time we see him he has someone with him whom he is bringing to Jesus. Starting with his brother Peter (John 1:42). When I was a teen, a woman from my church had taken it upon herself to visit people in the hospital. She would sing songs to patients, hold their hands, pray for them and tell them, “Jesus loves you and I love you, too.” She did it for decades and has touched thousands with God’s love. A good friend of mine actively builds relationships with specific people of influence in my home state. He prays for them, spends time with them, is there when they need him. He invests years. Some have open their hearts to Jesus, but, not all. Still, he is relentless. Over time, he has seen results. There are even moments when his constant focus and passion are met with accelerating instances as though the Lord was kissing him with approval saying, go on my son, keep at it. It’s worth it.

Christians are involved in an arena significantly larger than Olympic Stadium. Social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter provide connection with more friends quicker than ever – who share openly. The door is open. Every one is eligible. You may need to get started. Or, you may need to hone your skills and keep going. Whatever it is remember 1) the only way to make evangelistic progress is to participate, 2) you can be a winner in evangelism even before you are recognized and 3) let your style evolve while your message remains the same.

Gun sales in Colorado rose sharply after a massacre during the midnight showing of The Dark Night Rises. Certification requests to carry concealed weapons are off the charts. People envision themselves in a similar scenario and want to have a chance to fight back. This prompts debate about the right to bear arms. While we attempt to carry weapons for protection, someone else could be collecting ammunition over the course of several months to carry out a sick and senseless plan to snuff out human beings in one startling moment. The result is heartache and unanswered questions. These feelings are compounded by the injustice of the press. Coverage of the savage killer sadly eclipses coverage of the victims, featuring him more than them.

Going in Circles with Gun Control

Why is it that the number of killings attributed to firearms is remarkably higher in America than in nations like Japan and England? Gun laws in those countries are much stricter, even prohibitive. “But,” one argues, “I want to have a gun just in case someone assaults me or my family.” It’s a “Catch 22.” Both sides can be argued vehemently with supporting data.

Let’s face it, there is evil in the world, much more than we realize or even want to know. Intricate schemes are being drawn up in some dingy basement or in an immaculate metro penthouse suite. A person has an idea that is connected to a cause that would justify, at least in their mind, a random shooting spree.

Do you really have a defense? Even if you had a weapon and practiced using it 10,000 times? Perhaps. But what if in the heat of the assault, your mind froze in shock of the moment? Or on that particular day, what if you left your weapon at home? Is a weapon really going to help? Maybe. There are, however, no guarantees. This is not the first mass tragedy, and it won’t be the last. Columbine was sick. The thought that it somehow planted a seed for July 20th’s carnage is disgusting.

An Obsession That Scares Satan

We have a choice to make. We can fuel the world for evil or fan the flame for good. More explicitly, we can sell our souls to the devil or surrender our lives to Jesus Christ. That decision will begin to strengthen our spines for every moral and ethical decision we will ever make. Have you heard about the “Civilized Maniacs” of the first century, otherwise known as the Apostles?Most of the Apostles died for the cause of Christ. People of the same conviction have lived throughout history. These people are so committed to Jesus that they are considered obsessed, and their actions may seem strange to many who don’t know the Lord. They love people and serve people. They forgive people, give to people and sacrifice for people, so much so, that you would swear, “If Jesus were here on earth today, that would be Him.”

Crazy people are feared because they are unsettling, unpredictable and step beyond the invisible bounds of social norms. “Civilized Maniacs” who serve Jesus are scary to the devil and his demonic cohorts. Not only are they different, they are empowered by a resurrection potency that causes darkness, evil people and satanic spirits to shiver! The mantra of these Christ-followers is found in Romans 14:8, “If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.”

I don’t believe the answer for security is in a firearm, a sword, a stick, a knife or a punch. I am also not against using any of the above to protect my family – that’s my responsibility when it is in my power to do so. However, there is too much that is beyond my control, and at some point, I need to choose someone beyond me. I choose to trust the One who created me. I also decide each day to serve Him and others for good. Will you?

There actually is a guarantee for security. It is found in the person of Jesus Christ. It’s eternal security that can be accessed by faith today and will last forever.

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My friend Dr. Steve Dorsey had a sawed-off shot gun pointed right at him. Find out what happened when he found himself staring down the barrel at a deranged gunman with a finger on the trigger. See what a modern-day “Civilized Maniac” for Jesus did. Click here to listen to Dr. Steve Dorsey’s Experience.

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