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2020 Hindsight and What's Next?

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So now that 2020 is officially in our rear view mirrors, what's next? As of today, there are two vaccines that have shown great promise for preventing COVID-19.  However, their distribution will be a slow roll out and may take several months for most people to be vaccinated. What about Tokyo 2020? The International Olympic Committee and the Tokyo Olympic Committee decided to postpone the games for June of 2020 to June of 2021. As of today, the Tokyo 2020(1) Games will be held July 23 - August 8, 2021. Like most things since COVID-19 has come onto the scene, many of the details and plans relating to the Summer Games are yet to be finalized.  What does all this mean for Beyond the Rings and my involvement in taking the Gospel to those gathered during the Olympics in Tokyo this Summer?  As of right now I am going to continue to remain faithful to the last thing God told me to do: GO!  Over the years, God has continued to both surprise me as well as provide in ways that affirm His call
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Tokyo 2020 Delay

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    Today, Friday, July 24, 2020 was to be the Opening Ceremonies and official kick off to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.  My plan, along with millions in person and many more millions watching on tv around the world, was to spend the next 17 days focused on sports, competition. culture and the Gospel.       It has been months since I have written anything regarding Beyond the Rings Olympic Ministry.   I apologize to my many faithful Olympic ministry supporters for being silent for so long.  I just recently came to the understanding that I have been in mourning about the cancelling of this Summer's Olympic ministry outreach.  Tokyo 2020, like so much with the new, unpredictable COVID-19 world in which we live, took a major hit and was postponed until next Summer.     The Summer of 2020 marks my 20th Anniversary of Olympic ministry outreach.  The Summer of 2000 found me "down under" in Sydney, Australia for my very first Olympic ministry experience.  As I have
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Why "Beyond the Rings"?

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The Olympics are athletes competing, countries bragging, and cultures mixing.  The atmosphere in an Olympic host city is unlike any I have ever experienced.  Each is unique and impacted greatly by the culture of the people of that culture and country.  People are open to meeting people from all over the world.  As in all of life, there is a significant spiritual element unseen yet very much present.  That is what is meant by "Beyond the Rings". There is more going on, much more important and lasting.  The one true God is at work in bringing lives together in this space and time for the purpose of sharing the greatest story ever told.  Men, women, boys, and girls are hearing of God's love for them, many, for the very first time.  Seeds of truth are being sown, prayers for clarity, understanding, surrender, and salvation are being lifted and lasting impacts for this life and for eternity are taking place. All of this is communicated in one image I saw after the London 201
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Preaching Source Guest Blog Post

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  Recently I had the privilege to write a blog post for The Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary's preaching website,  preachingsource.com. Click here to read  Preaching Source The Text: Removing Assumptions
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Olympic Ministry Memory: Athens 2004

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Recently I had the opportunity to display my Olympic Pins & Memorabilia at my daughter's elementary school as part of their Culture Night.  It is always an exciting walk down memory lane as I pull out each pin and memorabilia card to place on the display.  As I was putting the display away, I discovered some of my memorabilia from Athens 2004 that I had misplaced.  Athens was an incredible place to visit and the atmosphere during the Summer 2004 Olympic Games was electric.  It was, after all, the 100 year anniversary of the modern Olympics.  One of the most amazing things about being in this incredible city was the significant history represented.  From the ruins of the Parthenon to the old streets, history was present everywhere I looked.  But, without a doubt, the most significant place I was able to visit was the Areopagus, also known as Mars Hill.  This historical site is where the Athenian philosophers and leaders would gather to debate and reason truth.  It was
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Olympic Ministry Memory: Winter Olympics and Bobsledding

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Did you know that the Olympics are held every two years?  It's true!  I didn't know that when I attended my first Olympics in Sydney in the year 2000.  Beginning in 1994, the IOC separated the Summer and Winter Olympic Games and placed them in alternating even-number years.  So while this is my 20th calendar year to be involved in Olympic Ministry Outreaches, it will be my 11th Olympics. One of the things that have taken me a while to get used to is how short the time frame between the closing of the Summer Games and the opening of the Winter Games are.  Typically Summer Olympics meet in July or August of the year with the Winter Olympics meeting in February of the year.   There are about 15 months between the closing of the Winter Olympic Games and the opening of the Summer Olympic Games.  Whereas there are typically 22 months between the Summer Olympic Games and the Winter Olympic Games.  Those 7 months make a difference! (Trivia question: what city hosted the first US Oly
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Olympic Ministry Memory: Which one is your favorite?

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One of the questions I am often asked is "which one is your favorite?" It's understandable when people hear that I've attended so many Olympics over the years. But it is not an easy question to answer. Each Olympic city is unique and regardless of the country or continent, all involved want to put their best foot forward for the world to see. Whether it is Beijing, China or Salt Lake City, Utah, USA, the local Olympic committee will work hard with local authorities to make sure daily real-life issues in the city such as homelessness, crime, etc., essentially "disappear". Even though I have been to ten Olympic cities on five different continents, I have seen the very best representation of that city and culture and so must acknowledge that it is a somewhat skewed perspective. With all that being said, my typical answer to this question is along the line of "all are unique in their own way, but if I had to give an answer I would say I have two favo
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