1. A PRAYER FOR A CROWN THE TRUTH ABOUT COMPETITIONS

2. Definition: com·pe·ti·tion (kòm´pî-tîsh¹en) noun1.The act of competing, as for profit or a prize; rivalry.2.A test of skill or ability; a contest: a skating competition.

3. Rivalry between two or more businesses striving for the same customer or market.--Microsoft booksehelf Basics, Microsoft Office 97

4. Simulation, practice, and imitation of war:...there is another kind of thing the world calls play, namely game. Though often used loosely, a game proper is a contest. The spirit of it is the spirit of competition, of beating the other felloweither by surprising him in exploit, or by attaining the ultimate of putting him out of action.

5. It exalts the victor, and humiliates the loser. While the natural play is an imitation (simulation) of work, this artificial play is an imitation (simulation) of fight, an imitation of war. The spirit of natural play is the spirit of work. The spirit of the game is the spirit of war.--W. E. Howell, General Conference Department of Education. RH 3-25-1926.

6. Is there a healthy competition? Is it good if your left eye will compete with your right eye? Is it good if one would like to see things and hinders the other? Or it is better for the eyes to help each other to see things? Is it healthy if your brain will get all the food from your digestive system and will prevent others from sharing it with the other body parts?

7. Lesson from the body Built From the Food We Eat.--Our bodies are built up from the food we eat. There is a constant breaking down of the tissues of the body; every movement of every organ involves waste, and this waste is repaired from our food. Each organ of the body requires its share of nutrition… Built From the Food We Eat.--Our bodies are built up from the food we eat. There is a constant breaking down of the tissues of the body; every movement of every organ involves waste, and this waste is repaired from our food. Each organ of the body requires its share of nutrition…

8. …The brain must be supplied with its portion; the bones, muscles, and nerves demand theirs. It is a wonderful process that transforms the food into blood and uses this blood to build up the varied parts of the body; but this process is going on continually, supplying with life and strength each nerve, muscle, and tissue. {CG 378.3}

9. The church as the Lords body The bonds of unity which unite member with member of the church are to be as firm and harmonious in their operation as are the different parts of the natural body. The hands, head, and feet are so closely united, and so mutually dependent, that one member cannot live and act independently of the other members. The life and Spirit of Christ sustains and causes to flourish every particular member of his own body, and they live because Christ lives in them.

10. As the branch cannot live or bear fruit except it abide in the vine, no more can ye except ye abide in Christ. The apostle writes, "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ" [Gal. 6:2]. "For we are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones" [Eph. 5:30]. --Ms 44, 1900, p. 15. Ellen G. White Estate Washington, D. C. Sept. 8, 1988. {19MR 370.2}

11. One God Two Prayers My prayer was Dear Father, please help my favorite team to win this game. Please give them more skill and endurance….please let them win in Jesus name. Amen. It was a basketball game in a gymnasium in our hometown and my favorite team was trying hard to win the game. What I didnt realize was, there were people praying with the same prayer for their team. I didnt realize that we were praying against each other till the Lord had opened it to me!

12. A Prayer To Bless Other? The apostle Peter exhorts the church, "Be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another; love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing." 1 Peter 3:8, 9. {PP 520.3}

13. Praying to one God? O Father, please help me to drive better and faster… and dont let me fail this time… O lord, please help my car go faster than my friends and let me win the game. amen

14. What are the principles behind competition? Jeremiah 9:23,24 Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the Lord.

15. PRINCIPLE 1: INTER- DEPENDENCE TRUTH: THERE IS NO COMPETITION BETWEEN GOOD THINGS; THEY ARE IN UNITY, IN HARMONY AND MUTUALLY DEPENDENT UPON ONE ANOTHER. TRADITION: COMPETITION INITIATES OR MOTIVATES PEOPLE TO BECOME COMPETITIVE. WITHOUT COMPETITION, THERE IS NO PROGRESS.

16. PRINCIPLE 2: LIGHT TURNS AWAY DARKNESS TRUTH: COMPETITION EXISTS BETWEEN GOOD AND EVIL BECAUSE SOMEONE HAS CHOSEN TO BECOME EVIL. EVIL STARTED THE COMPETITION AND COMPETITION STARTED THE EVIL. THE EVIL TAKES AWAY THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN GOOD AND EVIL, THE EVIL WANTS TO DESTROY WHATEVER IS GOOD WHILE GOOD PRESERVES WHAT IS GOOD AND RESTORES WHAT BECOMES EVIL, BUT IT DOES NOT COMPROMISE WITH EVIL. TRADITION: COMPETITION IS NECESSARY BECAUSE IT HELPS US TO SEE WHAT IS GOOD AND WHAT EVIL IS.

17. PRINCIPLE 3: SUCCESS IS DEPENDENT UPON UNITY AND HARMONY IN CHRIST TRUTH: COMPETITION EXISTS BETWEEN EVILS; EACH ONE WOULD LIKE TO BE ABOVE THE OTHER. THEIR SUCCESS IS DEPENDENT AND MEASURED UPON THE FAILURE OF OTHERS. TRADITION: COMPETITION HELPS THE PERSON TO BECOME STRONG AND SKILLFUL TO FACE THE LIFE'S CHALLENGES. IT IS THE STRONGEST MOTIVATION TO AIM HIGH AND SUCCEED.

18. PRINCIPLE 4: HUMILITY IS THE ONLY WAY TO EXALTATION TRUTH: COMPETITION LEADS TO FAILURE, HUMILIATION AND DESTRUCTION, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE GOOD LIVES FOREVER. TRADITION: COMPETITION BRINGS HIGHER STANDARD, GREATER SUCCESS IN LIFE AND GREATNESS.

19. Somebody must win! Praise the Lord, he didnt let me down!

20. Somebody must be defeated! Uh, uh I lost the game…I think I didnt pray hard enough. I dont know why He let me down???

21. Is God partial? Divine Love Impartial.--Christ came to this earth with a message of mercy and forgiveness. He laid the foundation for a religion by which Jew and Gentile, black and white, free and bond, are linked together in one common brotherhood, recognized as equal in the sight of God.

22. … The Saviour has a boundless love for every human being. In each one He sees capacity for improvement. With divine energy and hope He greets those for whom He has given His life.--7T 225 (1902). {1MCP 244.2}

23. Impartial love to others… Before the entrance of evil, there was peace and joy throughout the universe. All was in perfect harmony with the Creator's will. Love for God was supreme, love for one another impartial. Christ the Word, the only begotten of God, was one with the eternal Father,--one in nature, in character, and in purpose,--the only being in all the universe that could enter into all the counsels and purposes of God…

24. …By Christ, the Father wrought in the creation of all heavenly beings. "By him were all things created, that are in Heaven,... whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers;" [COL. 1:16.] and to Christ, equally with the Father, all Heaven gave allegiance. {GC88 493.1}

25. SERVICE NOT COMPETITON By the terms of our stewardship we are placed under obligation, not only to God, but to man. To the infinite love of the Redeemer every human being is indebted for the gifts of life. Food and raiment and shelter, body and mind and soul--all are the purchase of His blood… By the terms of our stewardship we are placed under obligation, not only to God, but to man. To the infinite love of the Redeemer every human being is indebted for the gifts of life. Food and raiment and shelter, body and mind and soul--all are the purchase of His blood…

26. …And by the obligation of gratitude and service thus imposed, Christ has bound us to our fellow men. He bids us, "By love serve one another." Galatians 5:13. "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these My brethren, ye have done it unto Me." Matthew 25:40. {Ed 139.2}

27. (Prov. 4:20-22). Health in Obedience to God's Law.--The love of Jesus in the soul will banish all hatred, selfishness, and envy; for the law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul. There is health in obedience to God's law. The affections of the obedient are drawn out after God… (Prov. 4:20-22). Health in Obedience to God's Law.--The love of Jesus in the soul will banish all hatred, selfishness, and envy; for the law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul. There is health in obedience to God's law. The affections of the obedient are drawn out after God…

28. …Looking unto the Lord Jesus, we may encourage and serve one another. The love of Christ is shed abroad in our souls, and there is no dissension and strife among us (MS 152, 1901). {1BC 1105.5}