Beijing

At 8:00 PM on 8-8-08 – the summer Olympics begin. Hopefully.

Every athlete planning to compete in the Olympic events will throw aside every thing that might impede them in their course: Excess weight; Extra body fat; Poor sleep patterns; Negative emotional influences; All surplus baggage must go. Likewise, followers of Jesus on their race to heaven must throw aside every thing that might hinder them in their Christian race.

Whatever weighs down or holds our hearts or affections to this earth is to be carefully avoided. No person, with the love of the world in his or her heart, can reach the kingdom of heaven. All unreasonable affection and desire for this present life and world must be thrown off.

Care for the present life, or love for it, is a dead weight on the soul that pulls it down when it should rise upwards, and pulls it back when it should press forward. Cut it loose. Throw it off. Don’t allow anything to slow you down.