Steve Irwin and Peter Brock - God's gifts
Hi guys, Fred here again.
Legends come… Legends go…
It’s been a time for collective reflection by the Australian people. We’ve all been rendered thoughtful by the 5th Anniversary of 9/11. Al Gore’s documentary film on global warming is challenging. Then the life of the King of the Mountain came to a sudden end up against a tree. Just after the Crocodile Hunter’s life came to a sudden end on the barb of a stingray.
Those last two men – Steve Irwin and Peter Brock – have both frequently been described as larger than life. As best as I can figure that’s a way of saying that each one came to represent something in our collective Australian psyche that was out of the ordinary – something about our fears and dreams. Probably about wildlife, danger and pushing the boundaries in Steve Irwin’s case. And probably about speed, danger and pushing boundaries in Peter Brock’s case.
These men were regarded as legends in their own time by their contemporaries. And legends reveal something of the God who made them!
I have no idea whether either man acknowledged Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord. I hope they did. Their ‘followers’, in many situations, idolised them. Now you and I might recoil at that thought. But I reckon we can learn something here about our God, and at the same time, help others process these sad endings.
If Steve Irwin was especially gifted with wildlife then that very fact points us to the creator of Steve Irwin who made the wild creatures, and him, and gave him that gift in the first place.
If Steve Irwin had a way of dealing with people that was captivating, again that points us to the creator of that giftedness.
If Steve Irwin could establish a zoo that gave joy to thousands, that points us to the creator of that first zoo in the Garden of Eden.
If Steve Irwin had a sense of humour he received it as a gift. Its presence revealed the hand of the creator who put it there.
If Steve Irwin had a gift for organisation, think about how his life reveals something of the original organiser.
If Steve Irwin had a gift for drawing the best out of a team and encouraging them to excellence – well, who does that remind you of?
If Steve Irwin loved the beauty and intricacies of nature he was a walking/swimming billboard of the creator who gave Adam dominion over the earth.
So there! I think we can honour what famous, well known, powerful, free people can do and have done. But we do it with thanksgiving for what the creator has given us through that person.
(A motor-sport afficionado could write something very similar for ‘Brocky’).
Such honouring doesn’t negate the fact that all of us, them included, are simply unable to build the bridge to God that all of us need. Each and every one of us needs to be humbled before the Cross to find that bridge. Brilliant they may have been, but like all of us, lacking the holiness and perfection that can only come in Jesus Christ.
Remembering that, it's also okay to thank God for the joy and blessing such iconic people have brought to many lives!
Something humorous
I have here before me a receipt from Dan Murphy’s Liquor chain. It records the fact that I bought a carton of red wine and a carton of white wine. Having sampled both types I can only say they were surprisingly pleasant to the palate. Why am I telling you this? The total bill for 24 bottles (cleanskins!) was $47.60. That’s $1.99 / bottle – which is cheaper than bottled water. Which prompted my son-in-law to quip that we might have to ask the Lord to change the wine into water!
Have a good week
- Pastor Fred
Just a reminder, that you are free to use this material, send it on to anyone else.
Legends come… Legends go…
It’s been a time for collective reflection by the Australian people. We’ve all been rendered thoughtful by the 5th Anniversary of 9/11. Al Gore’s documentary film on global warming is challenging. Then the life of the King of the Mountain came to a sudden end up against a tree. Just after the Crocodile Hunter’s life came to a sudden end on the barb of a stingray.
Those last two men – Steve Irwin and Peter Brock – have both frequently been described as larger than life. As best as I can figure that’s a way of saying that each one came to represent something in our collective Australian psyche that was out of the ordinary – something about our fears and dreams. Probably about wildlife, danger and pushing the boundaries in Steve Irwin’s case. And probably about speed, danger and pushing boundaries in Peter Brock’s case.
These men were regarded as legends in their own time by their contemporaries. And legends reveal something of the God who made them!
I have no idea whether either man acknowledged Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord. I hope they did. Their ‘followers’, in many situations, idolised them. Now you and I might recoil at that thought. But I reckon we can learn something here about our God, and at the same time, help others process these sad endings.
If Steve Irwin was especially gifted with wildlife then that very fact points us to the creator of Steve Irwin who made the wild creatures, and him, and gave him that gift in the first place.
If Steve Irwin had a way of dealing with people that was captivating, again that points us to the creator of that giftedness.
If Steve Irwin could establish a zoo that gave joy to thousands, that points us to the creator of that first zoo in the Garden of Eden.
If Steve Irwin had a sense of humour he received it as a gift. Its presence revealed the hand of the creator who put it there.
If Steve Irwin had a gift for organisation, think about how his life reveals something of the original organiser.
If Steve Irwin had a gift for drawing the best out of a team and encouraging them to excellence – well, who does that remind you of?
If Steve Irwin loved the beauty and intricacies of nature he was a walking/swimming billboard of the creator who gave Adam dominion over the earth.
So there! I think we can honour what famous, well known, powerful, free people can do and have done. But we do it with thanksgiving for what the creator has given us through that person.
(A motor-sport afficionado could write something very similar for ‘Brocky’).
Such honouring doesn’t negate the fact that all of us, them included, are simply unable to build the bridge to God that all of us need. Each and every one of us needs to be humbled before the Cross to find that bridge. Brilliant they may have been, but like all of us, lacking the holiness and perfection that can only come in Jesus Christ.
Remembering that, it's also okay to thank God for the joy and blessing such iconic people have brought to many lives!
Something humorous
I have here before me a receipt from Dan Murphy’s Liquor chain. It records the fact that I bought a carton of red wine and a carton of white wine. Having sampled both types I can only say they were surprisingly pleasant to the palate. Why am I telling you this? The total bill for 24 bottles (cleanskins!) was $47.60. That’s $1.99 / bottle – which is cheaper than bottled water. Which prompted my son-in-law to quip that we might have to ask the Lord to change the wine into water!
Have a good week
- Pastor Fred
Just a reminder, that you are free to use this material, send it on to anyone else.
posted by Boomerexy at 10:54 PM
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