5 Things I Learned From The Summer Olympics

Hi... my name is Danny... and I am an Olympiholic!!!

I can't seem to get enough of it!! While I was on vacation... I stayed up until 3:00 one morning to watch men's volleyball preliminary matches (It wasn't even a semi-final!). I'm into everything from track and field to beach volleyball to (of course) swimming! Yeah... I'm "that guy" who screams at the TV... cheering on my favorite athletes... like they can actually hear me. I really can't help it.

WOW! Was Saturday night exciting... or what??? During the 4 X 100 Medley... U.S. swimmers, Jason Leszac, Aaron Piersol and Brendon Hansen helped their teammate, Michael Phelps make Olympic history. Eight gold medals in one Olympics! Are you kidding me?!? That was HUGE!!!

Did you hear about this?

The Baltimore Ravens had the medal race up on the Jumbo-tron during an exhibition game in Baltimore.

On Friday night, in Jacksonville, Florida... Bruce Springsteen announced that Michael had won his 7th medal... and then proceeded to dedicate the song "Born in the U.S.A." to him! Can you imagine that?

OK... so here are 5 things that I have learned from the Summer Olympics in Beijing:

It takes a team
After the relay victory, Michael Phelps screamed, "I couldn't have done it without you guys," as he hugged his teammates. Even though Michael Phelps is now considered the greatest individual athlete in the history of sports (what are your thoughts on that?). He could never have achieved it without his team. For one thing... there were not enough individual events for a swimmer to single-handedly win 8 medals in one Olympics. Even if there were 8 opportunities for individual gold... he could not possibly be the champion that he is today without his coaches, teammates and family by his side. The fact is... none of us can do life alone. We have to be able to draw from each other's gifts and learn from each other's successes and failures. No matter what you do... it takes a team to win.

To be a champion...
you've got to act like a champion
As I listen to all of these incredible athletes talk about how they got to Beijing... a few things are very evident...

They all train like they are a champion
They all eat like they are a champion
They sleep like they are a champion
They all dream like they are a champion
They all believe that they are a champion

Not a single one of these guys or gals boarded the plane to China... expecting to lose.

What if we really acted like we were Christ followers? What would happen if we all trained like true followers of Christ. Of course... we would have to have the diet of a Christ follower. We can't run this race without praying and being in the Word. If we don't... we will eventually become sick and dehydrated... and fall on our faces right in the middle of the track. We've got to keep our eyes on the prize and believe... like followers of Christ... that we are going to WIN. BTW: disqualification... is not an option.

Sometimes you've just got to play hurt
These Olympic athletes would never have even qualified for their events if they had "thrown in the towel" when they broke a nail (OK... so that was a little extreme)... or called in sick because they "just didn't feel like training today". They got to Beijing by putting their heads down and pushing through the pain and the adversity. In ministry... there are going to be days when we feel (physically) sick. Even more often... we deal with emotional or spiritual fatigue. You know what... sometimes we've just gotta play hurt. And in that moment of weakness... that is when God shows us how strong He is... and how much we really depend on Him.

The United States of America
is still the greatest nation on the planet
I am sorry if you think I am old fashioned by saying this... but I LOVE MY COUNTRY! No matter what people say... no matter how the media tries to "skew" it... not matter how "uncool" it is to say it... I AM PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN! There! Deal with it! There has been talk about "Is it a ‘cool’ thing to say, in this day and age?" Sure it is! No... it's not a perfect country... but Kobe Bryant was right when he said... it's still the greatest country in the world.




Don't leave anything in the pool
That is a phrase that I have heard several of the swimmers use throughout the competition. What a great way of describing their best effort. When Michael Phelps finishes a race... he doesn't leave anything in the pool. It means that he gave all he had. There were no regrets. There wasn't one thing that he would have done differently.

WOW! That's how I want to live my life. I sure don't feel like I have always done that up to this point... but it is definitely something to strive for. In September we will be kicking of a new series called "On Month To Live". I can't wait! It is going to be an amazing experience both in the weekend services and in our small groups. So... do you want to learn how to live a life of no regrets? Do you want to learn how to live like you were dying? Do you want to live passionately, love completely, learn humbly, and leave boldly to create a legacy that endures for generations after you’re gone. Then you will not want to miss a single week of this powerful message series.