The Olympics are almost upon us and anticipation is in the air.  I just know that I will enjoy watching all manner of sports over the next few weeks that I wouldn't dream of watching at any other time.  A strange transformation is about to take place where-by all New Zealanders miraculously become fans of cycling, shot-put, rowing, and weighlifting. Fancy that!

So what is it about the Olympics that makes us like this?  Well, I think there's something about it that captures our collective imagination.  Somehow we know that we ought to be the best in the world, at least in some thing, and the Olympics gives us an opportunity to prove it.  Our notion of "Kiwi-ness" binds us together and somehow each of us identifies with those great athletes as "one of us".  The fact that its the athletes who have put in the hard work and will be the ones who win, place in the medals, come fourth (doh!), or get to participate doesn't seem to make any difference. This is us -  NZ against the world.

These big sports events tie us together in a sense of togetherness that is reminiscent of good community.  It was the same with the Rugby World Cup last year.  For a couple of months we were all (well most of us) part of this great big Rugby family, cheering on the AB's and full of pride at our victory.

There is something spiritual about all this too.  Really? I hear you say.  Well, yes, I think there is.

Striving for the best and achieving victory is all part of God's plan!  Doing it together, with a crowd to cheer us, helps us to get there. 

Hebrews 12:1 says:
"As for us, we have this large crowd of witnesses around us. So then, let us rid ourselves of everything that gets in the way, and of the sin which holds on to us so tightly, and let us run with determination the race that lies before us."

Enjoy the games!

It’s been lovely to sit in front of a roaring fire the past few nights! I’m sure there will be plenty more opportunities for that as winter increasingly makes its presence felt. 

Along with the cold, for many people, comes financial hardship at this time of year. With electricity prices rising, the price of basic food and day-to-day items soaring, many people find it increasingly difficult to make ends meet. There can be a tendency in our culture to say “let’s give a hand up, not a hand out”…and this can be a good thing – when it happens! However, the reality is that so often people go without either a hand up or a hand out and have to make it through life in very hard circumstances. 

A couple of weeks ago I read an article that came out of research from the University of Waikato (can be found on our FB group). The article says that, “According to the OECD at least one in five New Zealand children live in severe or significant hardship…”. Researcher Professor Hodgetts of the University is quoted as saying that, “New Zealand had gone from one of the most equitable societies – in terms of income distribution – to one of the worst. And the cracks are getting bigger...” 

As Christians, how seriously do we take these issues? What is our God-driven response to such challenges? For me this is not a political issue, it’s a human one. How do we respond to people within our own fellowship who come against hard times? (maybe you or I are "that person"?) How do we respond to the person who we bump into on the street or who comes to Church looking for assistance? 

Jesus says “Blessed are the poor in spirit.” Philip Yancey in his book “The Jesus I Never Knew” writes: “One commentary translates that ‘Blessed are the desperate.’ With no-where to turn, the desperate just may turn to Jesus, the only one who can offer the deliverance they long for.” (p. 114) 

So as we sit in front of the fire place let’s consider those who don’t have any wood for the fire. Let’s consider the opportunity we have to share the love of Jesus with others, and the possibility that they may just find the life of this Jesus that we talk about, lived out in our actions too. 

Arohanui, 
Pastor David Auty