The year is 1984, The Olympic games are being held in Los Angeles and one of the
hottest tickets is the Women's 3000 meter. The events features two of the top women
long distant athletes. Their stories are remarkable. Zola Budd was originally from South
Africa, but moved with her father to England. Not only was she highly competitive, she
was very good. She also ran bare-foot. Mary Decker-Slaney was American and the
reigning world champion, ranked number one in her sport. She was prepped and
prepared to take on all comers. All the others runners would run in the shadows of Budd
and Decker-Slaney. The only thing still undecided was who would win. Who would
bring home the coveted Gold Medal.
 
And the winner is-Maricica Puica of Romania. WHAI HAPPENED??
 
Just over halfway through the race, Budd and Decker-Slaney, running in a pack with
other competitors, 'collided', with Budd stepping on Decker-Slaney's foot causing
Decker-Slaney to fall into the infield of the track-out of the race, and also causing Budd
to finish in 7th place.
 
Dreams, plans, hopes, literally years of training and competing, gone. Regardless of
what they accomplished together, and they both had significant careers after the
Olympics, the world remembers the 'collision'.
 
Your response is probably, SO? 42 years ago? What's that got to do with me?
 
In Galatians 5:7 Paul asks the Galatian Christians, "You ran well. Who hindered you
from obeying the truth?" In today's modern paraphrase, Who 'tripped' you? Verse I
makes it clear it wasn't God. The scripture tells us that the enemy comes to steal, kill,
and destroy. By ripping Believers, he steals, kills, and destroys dreams, plans, hopes,
joy, peace, comfort, visions, purpose, strengths, gifts, ministries, futures, and sometimes
faith. But he can't steal, destroy, erase, rob, or eliminate God's Grace, God's Promises,
or your place in His Kingdom.
 
Budd and Decker-Slaney tripped over each other. One finished the race, one was carried
off the track, but neither one quit The 84 Olympics was not their last race, they raced
against each other for several more years.' Defeat doesn't happen when you fall, defeat
happens when you quit.
 
PauI was worried about the Galatians. What was happening to them? How would they
respond? Was this the beginning of the end for them, or the strengthening of their faith,
and the return to fully relying on God and His Grace-alone. These are also Paul's words
to them, "I have confidence in you, in the Lord {that you will have no other mind" verse 10
    Amen,                        Run!!!  Run to Jesus   
                                            Run with Jesus
            Prayers Blessings and Love,
                   Bro. Tom and Sister Sue