Scott and I have reunited in Christchurch after the adventure of New Zealand 2015…
Tomorrow is Scott’s birthday! But today, we took a 23 mile bike tour around the wreckage and restart of Christchurch after the devastating earthquakes of 2011. 185 precious lives were lost, and 164 people were seriously injured…
Many homes, buildings and businesses were destroyed. The rebuilding of the city continues as the people of Christchurch strive for its rebirth…
Here at the Re:Start Mall Shops, shipping containers have been erected as storefronts for people who lost their city center businesses in 2011…
My prayers go out to the people of Christchurch. May they, and all of New Zealand, rediscover God’s Everlasting Love in Jesus Christ:
“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:31-39 ESV)
My heart loves New Zealand, her people, and the guests who enjoy her for a moment in time. During this adventure, I have sought to make God’s ways and grace known through God’s own Son, to the new friends I have met along the way. However, I think the following is an ironic and telling inscription which sits above the entrance to the Canterbury Museum in Christchurch, where the plans for Christchurch’s rebuild are displayed to the public: “Lo these are parts of HIS ways but how little a portion is heard of HIM”…
My New Zealand 2015 adventure concludes with 776 miles of bike touring traveled, plus 137 miles of mountain biking singletrack enjoyed, as well as 3 dream trout caught and released while fly fishing; but, my real hope and prayer is that the friendships I have been blessed with in this country will grow and flourish in time. May God reach this dear country with the gospel of His grace, through a spiritual rebirth that only His Son, Jesus Christ, can provide.
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