Football and Jesus

Last Sunday we were camped at Queenstown Football Ground, Tasmania, famous, or infamous, for its gravel playing field.  https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-09-18/queenstown-gravel-oval-why-was-it-built/11499186

It was a very cold 5° C morning, and we were wearing our coats and beanies as we went for a short walk. We met two motor cyclists, preparing to leave, and struck up a conversation. I’d seen them earlier, filming as they kicked a football around the oval. One of the bikies was strapping the football onto his bike.

Turns out that it was Paul Bourke who is on a mission, riding around Australia on his Indian Motorcycle. Paul left Geelong in 2024 to see how far he could ride in an afternoon. He started kicking a football around in the towns that he visited. He was surprised to find that the boys in Katherine, NT, didn’t have footy boots. He is now riding around Australia to raise money so that kids in the outback can have footy boots.

Paul Bourke’s Aussie Adventure 🏍️

I offered to pray for the riders, saying that I am a Christian, and asking if they were too. Paul said, “Yes. Jesus is with me all the way!” I was thrilled to hear this. It’s so wonderful to know that Paul is living his Christian faith, as he seeks to serve in this special and unique way.

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

Colossians 3:23-24 (NIV)

Prayer:

Dear God, thank you for opportunities to spread the news about Jesus wherever we are. Give us the courage to speak about you, no matter what people may think about us. Remind us that your story is too important to keep to ourselves, and that people will perish without knowledge of the free salvation that you offer.

What about You?

Have you had opportunities to share your Christian faith?

Do your neighbours, colleagues, friends know you are a Christian?

If you are not a Christian, can you share the reasons why you aren’t?