*flurries*

???Flurries??? What am I, CRAZY? Summer is coming to an end and fall is approaching. Niether of which (normally) include FLURRIES. Well, I'm thinking about flurries today (amidst the drizzle and drear) because I'm thinking about the Winter Olympics. Although it feels so far away, really, it's just around the corner and...hold your breaths, people...we're going!

You heard me...we're going to the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, B.C. Jim is on the hockey team, I'm doing a little figure skating and Josefine just took up curling. She rocks at it. Okay, okay...you got me. We're not competing (that would just be hilarious...me, in a figure skating get-up? HA!), but we are participating.

Baptist Mid-Missions cooridinates a ministry (Medals for Glory) during events such as these. And, believe it or not, the past ministries of such nature are a part of Jim's and my love story. *sigh*

Back in 2002, we both participated in Medals for Glory during the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah. He, with his church and I, with my college. I didn't know him and he didn't know me. We were both in our own worlds, seeking God's guidance and following Him step by step. It's probably a good thing we didn't know eachother. I was an immature (was???) college student and, face it people, he is nine years older than me. I would have been totally eeked out by the prospect. See, God's timing is perfect.

Moving on. When we met, that was the one thing we had in common, therefore the one thing we talked about...there's no better thing to have in common with your spouse-to-be than ministry, no? And, surprise-surprise, God used just that to turn our eyes toward Germany with the 2006 World Cup Outreach - a brother ministry to Medals for Glory, you could say. Both of us were very interested and, well...the rest is history.

Now, we're thinking this is a thing we just do...go to world sporting events and share the gospel. Eh, why not? It's kind of like brushing your teeth. You don't have to, but it's a good thing if you do. What comes out of your mouth is more of a blessing than if you hadn't brushed your teeth, right? :) Anyway, if God wills, we'll be at the 2010 Winter Olympics with bells on (Jingle Bells, that is).

Well, it's time to train. I figured if the athletes train like mad, than I'd better get my witnessing weights out and pump some figurative iron (because we all know I'm not pumping any literal iron!). It's pretty convicting when I think about it. Here I am, serving God...running the race...for an eternal reward and I don't think I could say I'm as committed to my "event" as, say, Michael Phelps, whose rewards will someday disintegrate with all other things physical on this earth.

I Corinthians 9:25-26a

"And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.

Therefore I run..."