Enough Warm-ups, Already!

Among those arriving to the stadium early were two old timers: a husband and wife who always attended these events, and who were former runners themselves. In fact, they were world-class champions whose races were the stuff of legends. They could recount, if they chose to do so, tales of close races, humiliating defeats, and former glory.

Their conversation, however, centered around the newest runners, a brother and sister. This was to be their big day, the opportunity of a lifetime.

"There they are, warming up," the old man told his wife. "They look healthy enough. Do you remember how anxious I was when I was out there?" She nodded and patted him on the arm. "Their turn now," she said, giving him a warm smile.

As the stadium filled up, the runners made their way onto the track. They were stretching, jogging, or taking off their sweats. Officials were busy checking schedules or inspecting starting blocks.

"What's happening?" the old champ asked. "Why isn't she lining up with the other women?"

"I don't know," said his wife. "Maybe it's not her heat." She looked again at the program, which listed only one race for women, one for men. The center of their attention continued to stretch and to exercise on the sidelines, even as the other women poised for the race to begin.

"BANG!" The rest exploded from the blocks, but the young athlete took no notice, continuing her stretches, losing by default. Minutes later the old couple saw their hero male runner do exactly the same thing. It was frustrating and bewildering for Abraham and Sarah to watch, as well as for the other hall-of-famers: David and Deborah, Gideon and Moses, and Rahab. Why didn't they run? You can't win if you don't run.

The biblical book of Hebrews, chapter 11, lists for us runners some of the Olympians in the audience, every one of them rooting for us. It's time we got out on the track, the race is about to begin. It's time to shed our warm-up suits and take our places at the blocks.

It's our race now, and our coach assures us of victory. But we actually have to run the race. You can warm up only so long. Then you must run! "Let us run with patience the race marked out before us, looking to Jesus?" (Heb. 12:1-2).

Steve Singleton has written and edited several books and numerous articles on subjects of interest to Bible students. He has taught Greek, Bible, and religious studies courses Bible college, university, and adult education programs. He has taught seminars and workshops in 11 states and the Caribbean.

Go to his DeeperStudy.org for Bible study resources, no matter what your level of expertise. Explore "The Shallows," plumb "The Depths," or use the well-organized "Study Links" for original sources in English translation. Sign up for Steve's free "DeeperStudy Newsletter."

MORE RESOURCES:

Best Life Week Spirituality 101 on Oprah - Examiner.com

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/0i-0fd=Rurl=http://www.pennlive.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2009/01/west_shore_bakery_owner_to_be.htmlcid=1287711754ei=p0VmSaGCKpGQmAe0tty6BAusg=AFQjCNHEPqreCVEuaH5N4J5Xh68oRXSavQimg src=http://nt1.ggpht.com/news?imgefp=Od7gP3kj0YQJimgurl=blog.pennlive.com/midstate_impact/2009/01/large_treid.jpg width=80 height=54 alt= border=1brfont size=-2PennLive.com/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/0-0fd=Rurl=http://www.examiner.com/x-1869-New-England-Fitness-Examiner~y2009m1d7-Best-Life-Week-Spirituality-101-on-Oprahcid=1287711754ei=p0VmSaGCKpGQmAe0tty6BAusg=AFQjCNE0o4fXlehuFZFuoAxojY_lVCShsgBest Life Week bSpirituality/b 101 on Oprah/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fExaminer.comnbsp;-/font nobr5 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1by Jo Levy, New England Fitness Examiner Day 3 of Oprah#39;s Best Life Week was based on bSpirituality/b. You may want to ask me what bspirituality/b has to do with b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/0-1fd=Rurl=http://www.bestsyndication.com/%3Fq%3D20090107_spirituality_101_coping_with_lifes_problems_best_life_week_oprah_winfrey_show.htmcid=1287711754ei=p0VmSaGCKpGQmAe0tty6BAusg=AFQjCNFFTy8zgxJqP2msQRj6OQHczDGx-wbSpirituality/b 101 – Job, Money, Family – Oprah’s Best Life Week on b.../b/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrBest Syndication/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/0-2fd=Rurl=http://cbs4.com/entertainment/oprah.winfrey.best.2.901795.htmlcid=1287711754ei=p0VmSaGCKpGQmAe0tty6BAusg=AFQjCNG2dP51t7OhVOgRBlahUJgNOkGbxwDay 3: Oprah#39;s Best Life Week - bSpirituality/b/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrCBS 4/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/0-3fd=Rurl=http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment_tv_tvblog/2009/01/oprahs-best-lif.htmlcid=1287711754ei=p0VmSaGCKpGQmAe0tty6BAusg=AFQjCNHJE0RMd2gpZvu7U6nhEy1WUyZG4QOprah#39;s Best Life Week continues with bspirituality/b advice, Suze b.../b/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrThe TV Guy/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1 class=pa href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/0-4fd=Rurl=http://www.wgal.com/entertainment/18436551/detail.htmlcid=1287711754ei=p0VmSaGCKpGQmAe0tty6BAusg=AFQjCNENCyAmW6dsQFqFG6KHEozwHapIlwnobrWGAL/nobr/anbsp;- a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/0-5fd=Rurl=http://www.pennlive.com/news/patriotnews/index.ssf%3F/base/news/1231308603194650.xml%26coll%3D1cid=1287711754ei=p0VmSaGCKpGQmAe0tty6BAusg=AFQjCNG5Fv1qtciL3TZAyDUfZQYgBADVUgnobrThe Patriot-News - PennLive.com/nobr/a/fontbr/font class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1287711754hl=ennobrall 11 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table

Spirituality May Help Adolescents Cope With Chronic Illness - Science Daily (press release)

Spirituality Is Key To Kids#39; Happiness - Science Daily (press release)

San Carlos honors Geronimo#39;s courage, spirituality and intellect - Arizona Silver Belt

The spiritual tragedies in Obama#39;s choice of Pastor Rick Warren - Examiner.com

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/4i-0fd=Rurl=http://www.examiner.com/x-806-SF-Spirituality-Examiner~y2009m1d7-The-spiritual-tragedies-in-Obamas-choice-of-Pastor-Rick-Warrencid=1287118650ei=p0VmSaGCKpGQmAe0tty6BAusg=AFQjCNFIWo6Et8MzTzzlXp1ZWVW1o0m9Ogimg src=http://nt0.ggpht.com/news?imgefp=CI83Uq0G7sIJimgurl=image.examiner.com/images/blog/author/img455Bonder-Saniel.jpg width=80 height=67 alt= border=1brfont size=-2Examiner.com/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/4-0fd=Rurl=http://www.examiner.com/x-806-SF-Spirituality-Examiner~y2009m1d7-The-spiritual-tragedies-in-Obamas-choice-of-Pastor-Rick-Warrencid=1287118650ei=p0VmSaGCKpGQmAe0tty6BAusg=AFQjCNFIWo6Et8MzTzzlXp1ZWVW1o0m9OgThe bspiritual/b tragedies in Obama#39;s choice of Pastor Rick Warren/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fExaminer.comnbsp;-/font nobr19 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1by Saniel Bonder, SF bSpirituality/b Examiner Most people aren’t thinking a whole lot, right now, about the Pastor Rick Warren/Obama Inauguration controversy. b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

University Professor: ‘I liked the message of awareness and ... - The Epoch Times

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/5-0fd=Rurl=http://en.epochtimes.com/n2/content/view/9960/cid=1287832717ei=p0VmSaGCKpGQmAe0tty6BAusg=AFQjCNHAPv272fY_SrFPHxNyaH03iTQ84wUniversity Professor: ‘I liked the message of awareness and b.../b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fThe Epoch Times,nbsp;NYnbsp;-/font nobr10 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1“I liked the message of awareness and bspirituality/b,” said Mr. Greenaway. “That’s how I live my life, with compassion and kindness. b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/5-1fd=Rurl=http://en.epochtimes.com/n2/content/view/9852cid=1287832717ei=p0VmSaGCKpGQmAe0tty6BAusg=AFQjCNG9Ilulegp1D8CuGbEVzVPXqzt0ngArtist: It Is #39;very spiritually uplifting#39;/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrThe Epoch Times/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/5-2fd=Rurl=http://en.epochtimes.com/n2/content/view/9948cid=1287832717ei=p0VmSaGCKpGQmAe0tty6BAusg=AFQjCNFIl6Ablo1CowMSrFtR1EKgbknUqAMore Than Meets The Ear – Profound Inner meaning of DPA Deeply b.../b/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrThe Epoch Times/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/5-3fd=Rurl=http://en.epochtimes.com/n2/content/view/9955cid=1287832717ei=p0VmSaGCKpGQmAe0tty6BAusg=AFQjCNER3bWZIl6nO-RaBxZ4y5P2BbOPSgDivine Performing Arts Returns to Enthrall Canadian Theatregoers/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrThe Epoch Times/nobr/font/fontbrfont class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1287832717hl=ennobrall 47 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table

Rabbi Cohen to study at Jewish spirituality institute - Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle

A closer, faster walk with thee - Los Angeles Times

Transcript: Oprah panel on Larry King Live - CNN International

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/8-0fd=Rurl=http://edition.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/TV/01/07/larry.king.oprah.transcript/cid=1286651027ei=p0VmSaGCKpGQmAe0tty6BAusg=AFQjCNG64FNzNNf7LBNEJNxw3cS3N9uQDgTranscript: Oprah panel on Larry King Live/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fCNN Internationalnbsp;-/font nobrJan 6, 2009/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1He is the bspiritual/b adviser to Oprah. He will be a guest on Oprah#39;s Best Life week tomorrow. How is Oprah fitting bspirituality/b into all of this? b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/8-1fd=Rurl=http://cbs4.com/entertainment/oprah.winfrey.weight.2.900059.htmlcid=1286651027ei=p0VmSaGCKpGQmAe0tty6BAusg=AFQjCNHSKFBM7mZrjKskIr2US8X7DDQbKgOprah#39;s Best Life Week Begins On CBS4/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrCBS 4/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/8-2fd=Rurl=http://newsblaze.com/story/20090106083410reye.nb/topstory.htmlcid=1286651027ei=p0VmSaGCKpGQmAe0tty6BAusg=AFQjCNEzNnTNVhfQEixLrSmwqIdv7ulIAgOprah Winfrey Embarrassed By Her Weight/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrNewsBlaze/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/8-3fd=Rurl=http://www.examiner.com/x-1869-New-England-Fitness-Examiner~y2009m1d3-Oprah-New-Year-New-Year-for-all-of-uscid=1286651027ei=p0VmSaGCKpGQmAe0tty6BAusg=AFQjCNFEYuJae-sFDeUyXAdWvW-t_5JvOwOprah#39;s New Year New You for her and us/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrExaminer.com/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1 class=pa href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/8-4fd=Rurl=http://cbs4.com/entertainment/oprah.winfrey.weight.2.900910.htmlcid=1286651027ei=p0VmSaGCKpGQmAe0tty6BAusg=AFQjCNH_-YnEkyo60kmtlkHKQb8UqICM_wnobrCBS 4/nobr/a/fontbr/font class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1286651027hl=ennobrall 164 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table

Good books in bad times - Christian Science Monitor

Spirituality - Google News

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