Just a minute: Morning Matins

1.Cor 9,24-27 prescribed for Monday after All Saints ...

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. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

Theme of the week: Spiritual Armor Hymn of the day: LSB 664; Introit: Ps.97; Reading from the Lectionary in LSB: Jer.1,1-19

Watchword from 2.Ti 2,5: "... if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor's crown unless he competes according to the rules"

The Soccer World cup is coming. Excitement is spreading. The German soccer-team is to come with Bulletproof vests. That's quite funny and so the joke is on them. Just read Hayibo.com.

Well, the idea of athletes competing is as old as civilization. Even if we don't want to go back as far as Cain & Abel, St. Paul knows all about it. Writing to the Greeks in Corinth about Athletics and Olympics and Training and Crowns and Prizes is like trying to explain Rugby to the Blue Bulls. They knew all about it. However St. Paul is not interested so much about Rugby, Soccer or Athletics for that matter. He uses it as a picture for the christian way of life.

1. Running for a goal
   
• Price - crown - certificate - medal
  
• crown that lasts forever: Eternal salvation!
• Being with Christ forever
  
2. Losing track and missing the plot
   
• Classical figure of Don Quichote fighting windmills
  
• Santana - Peirera [Allies in Iraq/Afghanistan/Pakistan fighting Al Qaida]
  
• Idea of doping: Lance Armstrong - Jan Ulrich
  
• Disqualification: Semenya Caster
  
• Students at Seminary - Pastors in the ministry - Christians in congregations
3. Training gets you on track
   
• Doing what it takes... Calculating the cost, running the extra mile, planning ...
  
• Dedication - focus - Diet/fasting - prayer - reading/listening/learning - hard work
  
• Proper equipment/tools/kit
  
• Fasting/say "No" - Less is more
4. There are special rules in this race
   
• Look up to Jesus as the "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith..." Heb 12,2
  
• cf. Phil.3,7-11
• More winners than losers for Christ's sake