BH Bulletin - Wednesday 13 May 2020

Thought for the Day by Rich Arnold (Youth and Families Minister at Holy Cross)

​Whether we are enjoying much of lockdown life or hating it, I suspect that all of us are looking forward to some things going back to normal.  But not at the expense of being safe.  Right now, as we face this epidemic, safety is paramount.  So, in response to the Prime Minister’s announcement on Sunday, many parents are anxious about their children returning to school before it is safe to do so.  Many employers and employees are anxious about getting back to work again before it is safe to do so.  We want to be safe.  The problem is that we can’t be. 
Our fear of being unsafe is really a fear of death.  The reason we don’t want to be unsafe is because we don’t want to die.  Death is the big barrier to our safety.
Death is horrendous!  I write this as I prepare to speak (from John 11) at my grandma’s funeral.  I write this two days after hearing that my best friend’s dad has only got 3 months to live because the chemo for his brain tumour is no longer working. 
Death is horrendous! Jesus knows that.  He cares so much about the pain and grief that death causes, that when he stands at the tomb of his friend Lazarus, he weeps (John 11:35).  It has been tragic to see death’s power over us during this pandemic.  We mourn for all those who have lost loved ones.  We weep as Jesus wept. 
Of course, the government guidelines to stay at home and stay alert have been sensible- we want to save lives!  But here’s the thing: even after we ‘beat the virus,’ we will not have beaten death.  Death will continue to have its hold over us even after lockdown.  So, virus or no virus, any notion of feeling safe is just a mirage, because we won’t be truly safe until we beat death.  And we cannot beat death. 
But what if someone can? What if there is someone who not only cares about death but who can conquer it?  What if there is someone who not only weeps when he sees death but who will win against it?  What if there is someone who is the death of death itself? If someone can guarantee for us that death does not need to be final, that there is something after, then we would not just feel safe but we truly would be safe.  Praise God there is such a person!  The Lord Jesus Christ assures us of eternal safety- life with him forever, if we trust him.  He says, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26).  That’s an outrageous claim to make, given that death is so horrendous and so unstoppable.  But the claim is backed up with a miracle, as his dead friend Lazarus walked out of the tomb and removed the grave clothes he no longer needed (John 11:43-44).  Not only that, but not long after Jesus himself walked out of his own tomb, leaving his own grave clothes behind.
Do you believe this? If you do, then be assured: You have life. You have hope.  And you are as safe as you can possibly be!
Rich

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Monthly Prayer Meeting this evening at 19.30pm

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

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BH Youth Live Reminder

​Stephen and Lizzi Demetriou will be hosting BH Youth LIVE on the Lockdown PraiseUp Youtube page from 7:15-8:15pm tonight. They’ll be teaching from the Bible, playing crazy games, and getting the youth involved in mad fun challenges. If you’re 11-18, come join in the fun! Message Stephen to get involved!

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​Book review by Camilla Puzey (BH Member)

                 Living without Worry,
     how to replace anxiety with peace by Timothy Lane

​​I wanted to share a short review of this book I read about 18 months ago, which helped me then and continues to do so.  It provides such deep comfort through using bible passages and aligning them with our everyday ups and downs.  I want to focus on the word deep, as this is where we need Gods help when we feel things are too deep for us and we are struggling.  God can draw us up from a deep place and back to the surface so we can breathe again.  We can then allow grace to grow in us through our deep gratitude and appreciation for his love for us and what he does to help us when we call out to him.  This is where this really helpful book can practically guide us through this process, growing in grace so anxiety is replaced with peace.  Even flicking through it again to do this review has renewed my sense of peace and for that I am so thankful, I hope it will help you too.
Camilla 

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