I'm writing to you from Norway where I've been following their national team's advances in the qualifications for the European Championships in Football.  A few days ago they made it through to the next round with a 4-0 win over Hungary.  The goals were exciting to watch and it was a beautiful first day of summer in the stadium in Oslo.  What impressed me the most though was not just the connect between boot and net, but the link in spirit with those in the stands and those on the field.

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge cloud of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especailly the sin that so easily hinders our progress. And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us.   We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from start to finish."

See any parallels with the European Qualifiers?  Neither do I.  Not really, I don't think that often about those who've already finished their life of faith.  Maybe I should ?  Are they really cheering us on ?  One of the reasons I don't is because I'm too self centered and I think the race or the championships depend on me.  That  verse ...Hebrews 12:2 said something totally different though:

" We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from start to finish."

I'll have to think about that some more.

Another thing that struck me about the Norwegian national players was their teamwork.  Particularly in the goal set up by Jon Carew, he skillfully drew out the goalkeeper as he came in from the wing position.  Then seeing his own shot had maybe a 70 percent chance of finding the back of the net, he deflected to his centrefielder who took it on the fly with a straight shot down the middle.  The goal was great, but what followed impressed me even more.

Daniel Braaten who took the shot just stood there locked in position.  None of this skidding on both knees into the turf, ripping off his shirt and pounding his chest with his testosterone filled fists...he just stood there.

Of course all his team mates pounced him, trounced him and did the ceremonial jig, but there was also this about it:

They applauded each other...

" Don't be selfish, don't live to make a good impression on others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourself.  Don't think about your own goals, but be interested in others too, and in what they are doing. "  Philippians 2:3

Maybe you're 'over' these far fetched athletic analogies.  I am too. But when was the last time you even looked up another KKI nation's website to catch up on what they were doing.  Did you ever write and let them know you thought it was great?

" Encourage each other as long as it is still called today so that none of you loses heart and becomes hardened against God."   Hebrews 3:13

Some things to think about...

Carol Kauffman