LONGWOOD, FL (PRWEB) February 4, 2006 -?
As the world gears up for the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy, a new book in the religion/spirituality market informs readers about the most enormous and longest competition the world has ever seen, the Christian Olympics, otherwise known as the ?Christian race? that the apostle Paul wrote about nearly 2,000 years ago.
In The Christian Olympics: Going for the Gold Crowns ($ 12.99, 1-5978-1530-6, $ 20.99, 1-5978-1531-4)) author S.E. Gregg unveils the Bible?s comparison of the Christian race to the Olympic Games. Paul wrote to a Hellenistic culture?one steeped in Greek philosophy, culture, and athletics?and so for the Christians of his day, marathon foot races run by Greek Olympians provided the perfect metaphor for the endurance, longevity, and persistence needed to successfully finish the race of faith. Those who do, Gregg reminds us, will receive crowns of gold from the Lord Himself. A new understanding and exhilaration for the Christian life, pursued with the vigor of a spiritual athlete, will help readers to endure their problems and suffering. As a result, Gregg hopes to stoke the fires of passionate living for God and encourage readers to look forward to what is ahead.
Weaving in applications for both individuals and families, Gregg developed Biblical strategies to help us run our races well, just as athletes develop a game plan to help them win their competitions. Gregg examines the rich comparative examples Paul gave us in the Epistles:
1. The lighting of the flame at the Olympics is reminiscent of the fire of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost which was the ‘divine’ Opening Ceremony.
2. When Paul said to ?run the race with patience,? he was referring to actual marathon foot races popular in the Greco-Roman culture.
3. Just as successful ancient Olympiads received crowns made of laurel leaves, believers who run the race of faith to the finish line will receive crowns of gold at the Closing and Rewards Ceremonies in the sky!
Just as a marathon is a long, one-person endurance test, so too is our walk of faith. And like athletes in training endure suffering and setbacks from exercise?strained muscles, sore bodies?the Christian also suffers when living for God in the midst of a perverse world; but it is beneficial to their spiritual growth as a workout is to the athlete. The author has a unique way to help Christians see themselves as true players in an Olympic game, by helping them to visualize themselves in a spiritual athletic competition which has never been done before.
A Bible school graduate, gifted Bible teacher and Bible curriculum writer, S.E. Gregg is the author of the best selling book Evangelism Counseling and the salvation tract ?God Became a Man.? The Christian Olympics sprang from a newspaper article which Gregg wrote titled ?The Christian Olympics are still going on!? Gregg lives in Philadelphia.
Xulon Press is the world?s largest Christian publisher, with more than 2,500 titles published to date. Retailers may order The Christian Olympics through Ingram Book Company and/or Spring Arbor Book Distributors.
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