Usian Bolt was born on August 21, 1986 in Sherwood Content, Jamaica. He grew up obsessed with sports, excelling in football and cricket.  At high school, his cricket coach encouraged him in athletics. It was a good decision. He first gained notice as a track prodigy at the 2002 world junior championships. Before a crowd of 36,000 in Jamaica's National Stadium in Kingston, Bolt, then just 15 years old, won a gold medal in the 200-meter race. He became the youngest male world junior champion in the history of sports.

By 2007, he was the fastest man in track and field history, setting his first 100-meter world record; and a year later, at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, he rose to international fame.  In China, Bolt won titles in the men’s 100-meter sprint, the 200-meter, and 4x100-meter, setting new world records in all three events.

He has the title of being the fastest human who's ever lived based on known records. In 2009, at the World Athletics Championship in Berlin, he ran the 100-meter dash in 9.58 seconds, with an average speed was just over 23 mph and a top speed closer to 30 mph.

He amazed fellow athletics and fans alike, but he may be challenged by two runners from biblical days. The Bible tells the stories of Elijah and Philip as fast runners.

The story of Elijah is recorded in 1 Kings 18. “The power of the Lord came upon Elijah and, tucking his cloak into his belt, he ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel.” The Bible does not record how fast Elijah ran, but we do know that it was a miraculous speed.

King Ahab was riding in his chariot to stay ahead of the storm and it is believed that his top speed would have been 35 miles per hour. The distance from Carmel to Jezreel was about 20 miles and if Ahab was pushing his horses, then it is likely Elijah ran even faster than Usain Bolt’s world record and at a much longer distance.

The story of Philip and the eunuch is recorded in Acts 8.  “Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him anymore.” In a flash, Philip then appeared in Azotus preaching the good news. The distance was about 30 miles to the north. Estimating a flash is one second, a track and field judge might calculate his speed at 30 miles per second or 108,000 miles per hour. This was another miraculous speed. In the finite mind of man, Philip’s run and Elijah’s run would be completely impossible. But as the angel told Mary “... with God nothing will be impossible.” 

I’ve recently been struggling with what the doctor tells me is Athlete’s Foot.  You know, at this point of my life, I am glad to be associated with the word athlete no matter how uncomfortable it may be. 

So I’ve been using this over the counter stuff and it works, but when I stop using it, the Athlete's Foot immediately returns. So, I went back to my doctor and told him, “You know, I need something more powerful to kick this thing.  I'd like to completely get rid of it.” 

He said, "Ok, I’m going to give you the most powerful drug on the market." 

After I got the prescription filled, I read the little paper that came with it. It contained a list of all of the weird things this drug might do to those who administer it. 

There, I also found the results of a controlled study.  Sixty percent of the people found the drug effective.  Of course, in a controlled study, there are those who are given a placebo, instead.  Forty-four percent of those who took the placebo also found it effective.

I was amazed to read that forty-four percent of the time the placebo did the job.  That’s almost as good as the actual medication!  As I considered those numbers, I thought to myself, that is an illustration of the power of hope!

I have always been drawn to the thief on the cross and to Jesus' compassionate response to him. The thief knew he didn't deserve paradise, yet Jesus promised it to him simply because he asked. It's a beautiful picture of the simplicity of grace.