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from our chaplain
from our chaplain
Students at St Andrew's are given every encouragement to grow spiritually while they are members of the College community. In the absence of our physical weekly Chapel Services, the Christian Ministry Team are committed to bringing messages of inspiration and hope in this virtual space. If you would like confidential prayer or just a listening ear, please do not hesitate to be in contact.
Reverend Gary McClellan
gmcclellan@saac.qld.edu.au
Rags to Riches
Rags to Riches
When it comes to 'rags to riches' stories there are none better than that of JK Rowling. A failed marriage, unemployment and depression all appear on her life's resume. As a single mother she sank to the depths of despair. She described herself as being “as poor as one could get in Britain without being homeless.” Rowling had hit rock bottom.
(Click to expand and keep reading)We now know what Rowling did in her tough times and that was to turn to the very thing she believed she was made for, writing. Over time her rocky path smoothed and hand-in-hand with Harry Potter, Rowling became the author of the biggest-selling book series in history.
In our last Secondary Chapel this term we continued our "What would Jesus say to..." series, and JK Rowling came under the spotlight. More importantly, each one of us was challenged to ask the same question of ourselves. What can we learn from Jesus’ words to JK Rowling?
God doesn't promise any of us a life without grief and hardships. Rowling experienced the roughest of waters. There were seasons in her life that she would rather have never lived through, yet of her own admission, these are the times that have shaped her into the person she is today. If it were not for those things that were taken away, she would never have turned to writing. Even those who love God with a deep passion undergo great hardships and struggles in life. Trust in God does not exempt anyone from life’s trials. Nor does a greater balance of good actions over bad actions.
In the Bible, Jesus uses the metaphor of God pruning a vine to produce a better crop of fruit. In the same way, God prunes his people so that they will become even more fruitful. One of the great messages that threads throughout the whole of the Bible is that God loves each one of us and always has a plan for our lives. Sometimes it is hard to see God’s plan, especially in times of great uncertainty like we are currently experiencing. However, Jesus' words ring true, not just for JK Rowling, but also to each one of us. We are more valuable to God than the beautifully clothed lilies of the field and birds of the air. It may not be the way we expect, but even during times of hardship and pruning, God will look after and care for each one of us.
Over the past months we have found ourselves in uncharted waters, and it is likely that there will many more months to go before we sail our way out the other side. During this time, please be assured of God’s deep love for you. I know that many of us will be praying for our entire College community during the days ahead.
If you would like confidential prayer for anything, please do not hesitate to be in contact.
Blessings,
Reverend Gary McClellan
gmcclellan@saac.qld.edu.au
Interested in reading the bible?
Interested in reading the bible?
Take the 16 Day Challenge. Set aside 5 minutes to read one chapter a day of Jesus' life story. Click on the link below. It'll take you straight to Chapter 1 of Marks Gospel.
Alternatively, download the Bible in One Year App and read as much or as little as you would like. This App also has audio commentary; www.bibleinoneyear.org
Everything will be ok!
Everything will be ok!
For those who love inspirational stories, click on the link below and take 10-15 minutes to read a very powerful story of a man who faced extraordinary obstacles, yet still believes that ‘everything will be ok’.
www.eternitynews.com.au/australia/everything-will-be-okay-says-the-man-who-should-know/
Gratitude Moment
Gratitude Moment
Our nation is very blessed to have a free healthcare system with skilled and committed professionals dedicated to providing quality care for everyone in our community, no matter their social standing. Each one of us, whether we use the system or not, ought to be incredibly thankful for this amazing blessing. In this short video, The Centre for Public Christianity explains the surprising origins of our healthcare system. It is certainly worth taking a few minutes to watch and give thanks for all we have.
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