Welcome to The Pastors’ Pen, an update for life at Southern Cross.
Do you have much energy!? It’s a tiring time, isn’t it? This week I heard a Christian leader from QLD encourage us to ‘take it easy’. There is a long way to go for recovery in our city. It will not be a sprint; it will be a marathon and take years to come out of this tragedy.
Somewhat appropriately, we begin our new holiday preaching series this weekend in 2 Timothy, with the series titled, Run the Race. It is the apostle Paul’s last words to Timothy. He will remind Timothy that the Christian life is a marathon. It is hard, long, gruelling, painful, but so so so worth it! On top of that, our caring father God grants us the resources for this race, God’s word, which equips us for every, yes every, good work.
But how do we have the energy to receive this word when we are so so so tired!? Be creative. Call a Christian friend from outside the Northern Rivers. Let them speak God’s word into your life. Listen to Christian music. Grab one verse for the term and just rest in it. Listen to the Bible being read on Audio. Grab a devotional by a beautiful Christian teacher. Whatever you do, get fuel for this marathon. Pick up a friend from your Gospel Community and bring them along as we gather on Sundays if they are just finding it all too hard to be motivated to come.
We have a long road ahead. We saw that on Wednesday night at the CoM meeting. Weekly giving is down. Properties need restoring. We will meet for our AGM. We don’t want it to be a marathon meeting. We want to provide what we know, inform you all, and then pray for the road ahead. We are thankful for pledges from some Sydney churches to assist us in getting through 2022. But this pathway ahead will take a number of years to recover. So we look to our faithful shepherd to guide us on this challenging journey ahead.
1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
Psalm 23:1-4
SP
