Rev. Kenneth Fellenbaum

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Milford, Connecticut, United States

Bible Verse of the Day

Saturday, February 27, 2010

Be An Olympian in Life

The 21st Winter Olympic Games held in Vancouver, Canada comes to a conclusion this Sunday night (Feb. 28). Chances are you were among the more than one half of all Americans who watched the events on television.

In the Olympics, held every four years, there are only three medals awarded per event; bronze, silver and gold. The athlete dreams of winning the gold and mounting the center podium as their country’s national anthem is played. These incredible individuals train and practice for years in preparation for the competition. Their personal stories of sacrifice and commitment are truly inspiring to hear. They appropriately command the world’s attention and admiration.

The culmination of years of determined effort is often separated by a mere fraction of a second between the top performers. I always thought that the most disappointing finish was not to come in second but fourth place. Those finishing runner up to the winner at least receive the silver but you get no medal for fourth place. This is also true for all the others who finish below the top three positions.

What they do take away with them is the experience of representing their country and competing with the world’s best in the Olympics—an honor all by itself. No doubt they also derive satisfaction from the training, discipline and exercise in their sport.

Anyone can appreciate and realize the lessons from life that can be learned from these amazing individuals. You are not just a “winner” when you achieve the top spot on the platform—everyone who works hard and gives their best effort is truly a “winner.” Unlike the Olympics, life provides us with many opportunities to “grab the gold.” We would do well to emulate the dedication and hard work of the athletes and approach life with their level of seriousness and commitment.

In addition to the accolades and applause from family, friends and co-workers there is the simple satisfaction from knowing we have done well. If you fall down, get back up and keep going. No doubt the greatest reward will be hearing, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21& 23).

This can be realized if we heed the exhortation of Apostle Paul. “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever” (1 Corinthians 9:24-25).

Because he practiced what he preached, Paul could say near the end of his life, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:7-8).

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

The Greatest Thing

Everyone has asked himself or herself the great question of antiquity and of the modern word as well: "What is the greatest thing in the world?" You have life before you--you can only live it once. What is the noblest object of desire, the supreme gift to covet? In 1 Corinthians Chapter 13 the Apostle Paul says that the greatest thing in the world is love.

First, he stresses the importance of love, "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames,but have not love, I gain nothing" (1 Cor. 13:1-3). In essence, without love you are a zero.

Secondly, the Apostle describes what love is. Fifteen different words and phrases are used to emphasize what love is or is not. "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres" (1 Cor. 13:4-7). Only God's love is this perfect.

Thirdly, Paul contrasts love with other things that seem important. In doing so he points out that love is the greatest thing because it is permanent. "Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away" (1 Cor. 13:8). And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love" (1 Cor. 13:13). Love is the greatest because it lasts.

Love is perhaps the most misused word in the English language. That is because we use the word to mean so many different things. The ancient Greeks had several different words for love. If our love conforms to the pattern that the Scriptures set forth, then we truly have the greatest thing in the world.

Love is to be shared with others. Christians are to be known for their love. "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another" (John 13:34-35). Believers are to love one another and reach out in love to the world.