Worthy of the calling

Olympics - good stuff - height of human endeavour

Emma Twigg

Hamish Bond & the men’s 8

Dylan Schmidt

Women’s sevens

John Walker

Came from nowhere to second place, and under the previous world record in what has been dubbed the greatest race of all time with Filbert Bayi of Tanzania.

Remarkably, the runners in third, fourth and fifth also ran the fourth, fifth and seventh fastest 1,500m times to that date. Five national records were broken. Sir Roger Bannister, the Englishman who 20 years earlier had been the first runner to break four minutes for the mile, called it "the greatest race I have ever seen".

Olympics - brings out the worst in us

rank commercialism

Drug cheats

Political one-upmanship

Munich

Moscow

Montreal

1976 - Why don’t we talk about it?

40 years since 1981 Springbok tour.

The events that started that in motion began 5 years earlier in 1976

16-18 June Soweto uprising. 176-700 school children killed by police. White students protest against the killing of children.

June 19 UN security council pass resolution 392 condemning the killings.

African nations call on NZ to withdraw from tour. NZ, with backing of Rob Muldoon, refuse.

30 June All Blacks begin tour of south Africa

African nations call on IOC to exclude NZ from Olympics. IOC refuse.

July 16 28 African nations, beginning with Nigeria, anounce boycott of Olympics.

July 17 1976 Olympic opening ceremony.

July 24 1976 All Blacks play test match against SA

July 31 1976 John Walker wins gold.

“We will now go home.” said Jean‐Claude Ganga of the Congo Republic, one of the African leaders who pressed for the pullout. “We apologize to Montreal. This is not a boycott of Canada or Montreal, but simply of New Zealand.”

Long tradition of pretending there’s nothing wrong

Not that we’re rascist, as such, but we turn a blind eye to rascism in our midst, and we justify and support rascist attitudes.

violence against and suppression of women

violence against children - tied up with rascism

climate change denial

anti-vaxx & covid denial

Housing crisis

Why am I telling you all of this?

When one part of the body isn’t working, the whole thing deteriorates

As kiwis, we’re so individualistic. As long as I’m OK, everything is OK. But the truth is that when one part of the body suffers, it is like a cancer that eats away at us from the inside.

As Christians, we’re called to a higher calling

Speak the truth, in love

Got to be honest about ourselves, and with one another.

Grow up, New Zealand.

Deceitful Doctrine

The disinformation dozen

Reconciliation

Tutu

Venus & Daniell

Had to be reconciled to themselves and to one another

Use our gifts for the building up of the whole body

Bring out the best in one another

Grace

Over all, and through all, and in all

The fullness of Christ

Jesus is our inspirational figure - our John Walker

Jesus is our loving wife who carries us through the dark times

Jesus is our partner who brings our the best in us

Jesus is more than any of that, because he takes us where we cannot go by ourselves - beyond ourselves and into grace.

Beyond our selves into humility, gentleness, truth and love.

Beyond ourselves into the whole measure of the fullness of Christ

Benediction

The New International Version Chapter 4

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.