THE STAKES SHOULD TOKYO 2020 OLYMPICS BE POSTPONED.

$15.4 billion: The value of investment in Tokyo’s new national stadium that will go (mostly) down the drain if it stands empty on the night of the opening ceremony

37%: The current favorability rating for Japan’s prime minister, Yoshihide Suga, who may fear his political fortunes are now tied too closely to the Games to cancel them.

15,500: The number of athletes who will have to put their lives on hold for a year if the Olympics are postponed yet again.

$4 billion: The potential amount of television-rights income that the International Olympic Committee may have to refund if the Olympics are not held. (It accounts for 73 percent of the I.O.C.’s revenue.)

$549 million: The amount the I.O.C. distributes in so-called solidarity and other payments to national Olympic committees large and small, in some cases making up as much as a quarter of given countries’ national Olympic committee budgets.

Courtesy: *Nytimes*

Comments

THE RENT VEIL: A Sermon review

The Rent Veil, a sermon delivered by Charles Spurgeon provides a deep theological exploration of the tearing of the veil in the temple at the moment of Christ’s death (Matthew 27:51). Spurgeon explains that this event holds profound meaning for Christianity, signifying the removal of the separation between God and humanity, ushering in a new era of accessibility to God through Christ. The sermon dives into the Old Testament practice of temple worship, where a thick veil separated the Holy of Holies—God’s earthly dwelling place—from the rest of the temple, allowing only the high priest to enter once a year. The tearing of the veil, according to Spurgeon, marks the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies and the end of the sacrificial system. Spurgeon points out that the death of Jesus is a marvel of time and eternity. Using the imagery of Aaron's rod turned serpent which swallowed the magicians', he described this miracle as one which outshines every other power mira...

PUTTING OUT A FLEECE: WHEN DOES IT GO TOO FAR?

Image Credit: In Touch Ministries Ever been at a crossroads, at the juncture of making some life-defining decisions, and found yourself asking, “God, give me a sign!” Perhaps it was for a new job, a relationship, a move across the country, or a chance to start over. You think, “Should I make this move?” So, just like Gideon, you asked for a sign, and waited for confirmation. But when does asking God for a sign become less about faith and more about avoidance? And are we sometimes, in our quest for reassurance, pushing God’s patience? The story of Gideon is a classic example of a man seeking reassurance and confirmation from God about a big national assignment. Israel, in Gideon’s time, had distanced themselves from God. They were spiritually starved, oppressed by the Midianites, and had lost every thread of intimacy with God. When the Angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he was, understandably, hesitant to believe what he was hearing. So, he “put out a fleece,” asking for a mirac...

BROKEN CISTERNS

Image: Urgentmission.org " For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water " - Jeremiah 2:13 (KJV) Central to human desire is the quest for fulfillment and satisfaction. A void exists in every heart, yearning to be filled daily. Every human pursuit aims to achieve this ultimate feat, but this relentless quest for stability and respite also harbors dangers. In seeking breakthroughs by any means, some have derailed their destinies and futures, while others have incurred immense sorrow. The devil holds millions of ignorant souls captive, pledged to him in exchange for worldly goods. As the Bible asks, "What shall it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his soul? What will he give in exchange for eternity?" (Mark 8:36-37) In our anchor text, Israel has once again forsaken the Lord, as is their custom. They quickly forget the One who...

Paragon Sleuth

Search This Blog