26 Feb, 2010

Making Peace!

Kramer, Coach Make Peace After Mistake Cost Them Gold.

Sven Kramer and his coach Gerard Kemkers have talked over their parts in the most embarrassing blunder in Olympic speedskating and agreed to get on with business.

Kemkers took the blame for directing Kramer into the wrong lane in Tuesday night's 10,000 meters, a move that got the world champion and overwhelming favorite disqualified despite finishing with the fastest time.

But Kemkers's job is safe.

"The past years were simply too good to drop someone just like that," Kramer said.

Back at training Wednesday in Richmond, B.C., Kramer was focusing on Kemkers's positive contributions to his career: "Three times world champion, four times European champion, so many World Cups and Olympic gold in the 5,000 meters."

The disqualification was shocking enough for occasional viewers in Vancouver. In the Netherlands, where the sport is like a national institution, the unprecedented mistake from such an experienced and successful combination has dumbfounded fans and critics.

"It happened. It is done with. It is terrible," Kramer said. "The medal is in South Korea and we will never get it back."

Story and Photo http://news.google.com.

Matthew 6:14-15 (NLT)

“If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.

What does God's Story have to say about Forgiving Others?

Jesus gives a startling warning about forgiveness: If we refuse to forgive others, God will also refuse to forgive us.  Why? Because when we don't forgive others, we are denying our common ground as sinners in need of God's forgiveness.  God's forgiveness of sin is not the direct result of our forgiving others, but it is based on our realizing what forgiveness means.  It is easy to ask God for forgiveness but difficult to grant it to others.  Whenever we ask God to forgive us for sin, we should ask, Have I forgiven the people who have wronged me? (Life Application Study Bible)

Connecting My Story To God's Story

  • Ask God to reveal any area of your life in which you haven't sought His forgiveness.
  • Accept the forgiveness that God has offered you.
  • Thank God for His forgiveness!

Connecting Today's Story, My Story, and God's Story to Others

  • Is there someone you still need to forgive?  Communicate that forgiveness to them sometime this weekend.
  • If you hear the story of Kramer and his coach while watching the Olympics, ask whoever you are with how they would have reacted. 
  • Do you have friends who are finding it hard to forgive one another?  Talk with each of them about today's God's Story Scripture and walk with them down the path of forgiving one another.
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