Contact: S.E. Gregg, Christian Olympics, 610-761-9631, victory@christianolympics.org

LONGWOOD, Fla., May 24 /Christian Newswire/ -- As Christians anticipate Pentecost Sunday on May 27, 2007, the birthday of the Church and the beginning of the "Christian race/Christian Olympics", a new spirituality book reminds us about the most important competition history has ever seen, the Christian Olympics, otherwise known as the "Christian race" that the Apostle Paul wrote about nearly 2,000 years ago. In The Christian Olympics: Going for the Gold Crowns (paperback, $12.99,1-5978-1530-6; hardcover, $20.99,1-5978-1531-4) author S.E. Gregg unveils the Bible's comparison of the Christian race to the Olympic Games.

Paul wrote to a Hellenistic culture--one steeped in Greek philosophy, culture, and athletics--and so for the Christians of his day, marathon foot races run by Greek Olympians provided the perfect metaphor for the endurance, longevity, and persistence needed to finish the race of faith. A new understanding and exhilaration for the Christian life, pursued with the vigor of a spiritual athlete, will help readers to endure their problems and suffering. As a result, Gregg hopes to stoke the fires of passionate living for God and encourage readers to look forward to what is ahead.

Weaving in applications for individuals and families, Gregg develops biblical strategies to help us run our races well, just as athletes develop a game plan to help them win their competitions.

Gregg examines the rich metaphors Paul gave us in the Epistles: 1) the lighting of the Olympic flame is reminiscent of the fire of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, the "divine" Opening Ceremony; 2) when the book of Hebrews says to "run the race with patience," it refers to actual marathon foot races popular in the Greco-Roman culture; and 3) just as successful ancient Olympiads received crowns made of laurel leaves, believers who run the race of faith to the finish line will receive crowns of gold.

A Bible school graduate, gifted Bible teacher, and Bible curriculum writer, S.E. Gregg is the author of the best-selling book "Evangelism Counseling" and the salvation tract "God Became a Man." The Christian Olympics sprang from a newspaper article Gregg wrote titled "The Christian Olympics are still going on!" Gregg lives in the Philadelphia area. Retailers may order The Christian Olympics through Ingram Book Company and/or Spring Arbor Distributors. www.Christianolympics.org.