PPic: Oberon Golf Course - Links Pro Am 2006

PGA Chaplain Bible Studies

Study 17 – May 12th to 18th 2008.
Reading – John Chapter Ch15: verses 26 to.

Saying Goodbye?

Jesus said; “The Helper will come-the Spirit who reveals the truth about God and who comes from the Father. I will send him to you from the Father, and he will speak about me. And you too, will speak about me, because you have been with me from the beginning. __ But I am telling you the truth: it is better it is better that I go away, because if I do not go, the helper will not come to you. But if I do go away, then I will send him to you.” John Chapter 15: verses 26 to 77, Chapter 16: verse 7. (Good News Bible)

Annika Sorenstam this week has announced her retirement from Professional golf at the end of the year at age 37. With 72 Career titles, 10 majors and still winning this year, she wants to start a family and her body clock is ticking away. Saying goodbye to a great athlete will be hard for women’s golf and for her.

Saying goodbye is very difficult when you care about someone deeply. Our daughter Alison has just left for a year travelling throughout Europe. A year is a long time knowing that you cannot see her if you want to. I organised a funeral last week and the grief at the loss and saying goodbye was very evident in the service. It is one of most difficult moments in life saying goodbye to someone you love.

Chapters 13 to 17 of John is called a farewell discourse of Jesus to his disciples. All throughout these chapters are references to Jesus saying goodbye and leaving the disciples. They are yet to understand what all this means. Jesus will be taken away when arrested and crucified and there are time when he refers to this loss. After his rising from the dead there is another farewell in view for Jesus as well. Then Jesus as the disciples know him will leave them permanently; but only to send another in his place. But rather than an emptiness that we feel when we have to say goodbye to someone we love, with God there is no ultimate goodbyes as there is in this life.
We never have to say goodbye to God, even though for a brief moment Jesus said this to his disciples. Jesus speaks continually of another coming in his place; someone like him and the Father. He is called the Holy Spirit who will be to the disciples of Jesus as a helper, one who will stand beside them and be with them, to support and guide them through life. God promises never to leave us or forsake us. So Jesus seeks to reassure his followers that even though he is leaving them, in a short while they will receive the helper the Holy Spirit.

This Sunday in churches is Trinity Sunday, a day we reflect on how Jesus has transformed our understanding of God. Throughout the bible God is known in different ways, but none more clearly than in Jesus’ life. Jesus speaks of God as his Father; and the Holy Spirit who remains with us. Jesus is exulted to God’s right hand side in glory, one day to return.

Over the last few years I have read a number of atheist books and what stands out is their strong belief that this life is all there is, so we may as well get used to it and accept it.
To see life in such narrow terms is sad, because God can be found when we earnestly seek after him. And in knowing God, there are no goodbyes with God.

Prayer.
Lord Jesus, thank you for your great plan that while leaving this world, you did not leave us as orphans. We praise you that you gave us your Holy Spirit, as the guarantee we are your children and the one who leads us to the truth in Jesus. Amen.

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• 20th – 21st September 2008.
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