BH Bulletin - Monday 11 May 2020

Thought for the Day by Daniel Chapallaz (BH Member)

Habakkuk 1
2 How long, Lord, must I call for help,
    but you do not listen?
Or cry out to you, “Violence!”
    but you do not save?
3 Why do you make me look at injustice?
    Why do you tolerate wrongdoing?
Destruction and violence are before me;
    there is strife, and conflict abounds.
4 Therefore the law is paralyzed,
    and justice never prevails.
The wicked hem in the righteous,
    so that justice is perverted.
5 “Look at the nations and watch--
    and be utterly amazed.
For I am going to do something in your days
    that you would not believe,
    even if you were told.
6 I am raising up the Babylonians,
    that ruthless and impetuous people,
who sweep across the whole earth
    to seize dwellings not their own.
12 Lord, are you not from everlasting?
    My God, my Holy One, you will never die.
You, Lord, have appointed them to execute judgment;
    you, my Rock, have ordained them to punish.

​ Habakkuk is a short book of the Bible, but is packed with so much action. I had the privilege of being able to teach it to Rooted, our 11-14s group earlier this year. The book has felt even more relevant now than it did back in February.
In the first chapter, Habakkuk complains to God about the violence and wickedness among his people. God’s people are even disobedient to his law, yet it looks like God doesn’t care. But, God responds to Habakkuk and promises to do something extraordinary, something that Habakkuk would not believe! It sounds amazing! If I was Habakkuk, I’d be feeling excited at this point. It sounds like God’s going to do something amazing to get rid of evil and Habakkuk would be able to live in peace. Yet, God says that he is going to send in a huge, mighty army – the Babylonians. They have horses which are quicker than leopards, and they devour their enemies like an eagle devours its prey.
God says he will deal with Habakkuk’s situation in a completely different way to how Habakkuk would expect. He sends in this massive, terrifying army. It seems the opposite of amazing.
Yet, in 1:12, Habakkuk recognises that God is everlasting, he is holy and he is a rock. Even in this situation, Habakkuk does not lose sight of who God is, even if he thinks the punishment God is sending is ridiculous.
We may wonder why God would allow Covid-19 to happen. It seems so bizarre to us that God would allow it to happen. But let’s not lose sight of who God is. He is everlasting, he knows the end from the beginning. He knew before anyone else that we’d be in this situation and he knows when it will end.
He is holy, his eyes are too pure to look on evil. Even in this situation he calls us to be his holy people, people that live distinctly from people in the world around us.
He is our rock. He is firm and immovable. We can find our place of safety in God our Rock.
He is still God; he does not change and we can trust him even in the midst of Covid-19. 

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Lockdown praise up

Lockdown, praise up! are short videos aimed at young people but suitable for everyone to get our hearts and minds looking up higher.

Everyday there will be a brand new video up on our YouTube Channel.
Lockdown Praise Up! 10 minutes a day from the book of Isaiah.
Please click on the link below.
https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCLfW_6eqLlfr82_QD0JVsGw

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Monthly prayer meeting this Wednesday 13 May at 19.30

This is a great chance for us to get together as a church to pray.  A zoom link will be sent out to all those that receive BH news electronically.  If you don't receive a link and would like to join the meeting please contact the church office.

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Update from BH mission partners the Friths working in Bolivia

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Another Voluntary Staff Worker?

We'd love to have a second Voluntary Staff Worker to work alongside Alex from September. It's a role where you dip your toe in Full time Christian ministry to see if it might be for you, and over the years many have found it hugely helpful as they consider the next step in their lives.
We're looking, but haven't been successful in finding someone for the role. Could it be you? You don't have to be just out of uni. Maybe you're recently retired. Or you've left school and are having a gap year but don't know quite what to do with it. Maybe you're looking at a career break.
Or could it be someone you know? Or someone that someone you know, knows? I'm convinced there are people out there who would be great in this role and for whom it would be a thrilling next step in following Jesus.
If you know someone, or would like to talk this through more, do contact me.
Phil Moon

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