Dear Friend

We have all been caught up in the tragedy of the Christchurch earthquake this week.  I found the speed with which information was forthcoming incredible.  I received a phone call within about three minutes of the event from one of our pastors and then another a few minutes later.  They told me of their immediate experiences and the consequences in their surroundings of that moment.   Thereafter because of the power and phone outages I was telling other pastors with whom I made contact of the specifics concerning magnitude, damage in the city centre etc, because we had access to the images and reports on TV and internet pages.

As we watched those pictures we were drawn into the pain, bewilderment, confusion, horror, helplessness, and hope, of it all even though not in the midst. Then as time has gone on some of those things have deepened, as stories of close shaves, miraculous escapes, and heartbreaking losses, have pierced our beings with an amalgam of joy and sadness.  I had tears welling up a number of times as I have looked and at the videos and news reports and listened to individuals that I called.

We are a nation in shock and mourning.

It is at times like this that the vitality of Scripture comes true in our experience such as Psalm 46 (The Message)

God is a safe place to hide, ready to help when we need him.
   We stand fearless at the cliff-edge of doom,
      courageous in seastorm and earthquake,
   Before the rush and roar of oceans,
      the tremors that shift mountains.

Jacob-wrestling God fights for us,
      God-of-Angel-Armies protects us.

Attention, all! See the marvels of God!
      He plants flowers and trees all over the earth,
   Bans war from pole to pole,
      breaks all the weapons across his knee.
   "Step out of the traffic! Take a long,
      loving look at me, your High God,
      above politics, above everything."
Jacob-wrestling God fights for us,
      God-of-Angel-Armies protects us.

I pray this is the proclamation you can confidently make with your people at this time.