Caine - Unstoppable: running the race you were born to win

Unstoppable will encourage you to run the race God has placed before you with new confidence, no matter what the circumstances. It will remind you that God can and will use anyone who trusts him fully and relies on his strength.

JOYCE MEYER, Bible teacher and bestselling author

Christines passion is impressive from a distance, and even more inspirational up close. Every time Im around her, Im reminded of how great an impact one person can make. She believes that Gods power is limitless and his purpose is unstoppable. Her faith is contagious, and I believe after reading this book youll discover the same passion to run your race for Gods glory.

STEVEN FURTICK, lead pastor, Elevation Church and New York Times bestselling author of Crash the Chatterbox and Greater

Chances are, most days you dont feel unstoppable. But God has a calling for your life that involves faith, perseverance, and possibly even danger. In Christine Caines amazing book, Unstoppable, she will inspire and instruct you to run your unique raceand with Christs help, nothing will stop you from glorifying God.

CRAIG GROESCHEL, senior pastor of LifeChurch.tv and author of Fight: Winning the Battles that Matter Most

ZONDERVAN

Unstoppable

Copyright 2014 by Christine Caine

ePub ISBN: 978-0-310-34118-5 Copyright July 2014

Requests for information should be addressed to:

Zondervan, 3900 Sparks Dr. SE, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49546

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Caine, Christine.

Unstoppable : running the race you were born to win / Christine Caine. 1st [edition].

pages cm

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN 978-0-310-34117-8 (softcover)

1. Christian life. I. Title.

BV4501.3.C3355 2014

248.4dc23

2014008438

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations marked MSG are taken from The Message, copyright 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.

Scripture quotations marked NASB are taken from the New American Standard Bible, copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from The Holy Bible, New King James Version, copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from The Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Any Internet addresses (websites, blogs, etc.) and telephone numbers in this book are offered as a resource. They are not intended in any way to be or imply an endorsement by Zondervan, nor does Zondervan vouch for the content of these sites and numbers for the life of this book.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher.

Published in association with the literary agency of David O. Middlebrook, 4501 Merlot Avenue, Grapevine, Texas 76051

Cover photograph: Shutterstock

Interior design: Greg Johnson/Textbook Perfect

First printing May 2014

To my pastors, Brian and Bobbie Houston.

Thank you for taking a risk and giving me the opportunity to step into my lane and run my race.

I love you both dearly.

CONTENTS

I grabbed Nicks hand and, for what must have been the hundredth time, said, I cant believe were here at the Olympics! The Olympics, Nick! Isnt it awesome?

He could barely hear me above the roar of the crowd, but he didnt need to. He could read not only my lips but the glow on my face and could feel the electricity in the air.

Awesome! he shouted back, squeezing my hand.

We took in the view together the massive stadium filled with light and color and motion and 110,000 spectators, the buzz of conversations in who knew how many languages, the red track below surrounding the vibrant green and stunning yellow infield, and the runners taking their positions.

The year was 2000 Saturday, September 30. The place, Sydney, in my homeland of Australia. Id celebrated my thirty-fourth birthday a week before, and being here felt like the best birthday gift of my life. I was mesmerized by the sheer size of this state-of-the-art stadium. It made me feel so tiny, a speck in this massive crowd, yet I felt connected, as if being here bonded me to every Olympic athlete and every spectator since the first Olympic Games in ancient Greece.

Though Im Australian by birth, Greek blood runs through my veins. I am Greek through and through. The image of the five interlocking Olympic rings fluttering on the Olympic flags above us and plastered all over Sydney in fact, all over the world made my heart swell and my chin lift at the thought of the ancient Greek tradition that had inspired all these nations to join together in promoting a peaceful and better world through sportsmanship, friendship, solidarity, and fair play. You got it I was bedazzled, sold out, and on fire with Olympic spirit!

I love all things sport and always have. I competed as a runner in high school, and running is still my favorite workout. As a spectator, Ive always been partial to the 4 100-meter relay, and the womens relay in particular. It seemed too good to believe that my husband, Nick, and I were about to watch this very race in person. Eight countries were competing in the final race for gold. I was cheering for the USA team to take the medal.

THE LEGACY

Before the 2000 Sydney Olympics, the USA womens 4 100-meter relay team had won the gold medal nine times out of sixteen Olympics. Coming into this race, they were the reigning Olympic champions, having won the gold in 1996. As they prepared to carry on that legacy, I was ready to cheer them on to victory.

Nick and I watched the runners moving onto the track, four per team. The energy of the crowd surged as the teams were announced and cameras zoomed in on the runners faces, magnifying them on the massive screen that seemed to float in the evening sky. White lines marked the three exchange zones, each 20 meters in length, in every lane. The first runner, the starter, would cover about 100 meters and enter the first exchange zone to meet the second runner, who would already be running, arm stretched out behind, hand open, ready to receive the baton that had to be handed off within that 20-meter exchange zone. Runner two would carry the baton to the second exchange zone and hand off the baton to runner three, who in turn would run about 100 meters, handing off the baton to the anchor, who would carry it across the finish. The entire race would be only one lap, 400 meters, and take less than one minute.

The runners took their positions starters at their staggered starting blocks, the second and third runners and the anchors at their places in their respective exchange zones. The raucous noise of thousands of people suddenly quieted. A hush fell over the crowd. The tension was palpable. I held my breath, awaiting the start gun.