Lessons from “Hansie”

 

I recently watched the 2008 movie “Hansie” based on part of the life of international cricketing star Hansie Cronje. Hansie had a stellar career as South African cricket team captain, only to fall from grace and face a lifetime ban from cricket due to his involvement in match-fixing scandals.

Hansie Cronje was a phenomenally talented cricketer and inspirational captain. As such he also gained lucrative sponsorship deals. He came from a loving family and was happily married. Why then would he risk his career and reputation?

I watched this movie twice within a period of a few weeks- once with my husband, and again with our church connect group when we were having a movie night. During the second viewing I scribbled a few notes in an attempt to understand the answer to the above question. Of course, the movie probably took some liberties with reality, but some of the temptations portrayed have implications for most of us.

 

A Gift 

In the movie Hansie is approached by a go between for bookmakers who offer him a large sum of money to throw the next match. Stunned, Hansie refuses. That’s okay, says the insider. Here’s a present for you anyway. He leaves Hansie with an envelope full of cash. Later the bookmakers are seen laughing, saying words to the effect of “they always refuse at first but still they keep the money.”

Some gifts are truly free. The grace of God and new life in Jesus Christ is free for anyone who asks.

Other gifts come with very long strings attached. They can imply an obligation to the giver. Attractive gifts can blind a person to the motives behind them. They can be the source of addiction and dependency.

 

Isolation

As Hansie’s career grows, we see a man living an intensely busy life, spending long periods of time away from his family, wife and, although not stated in the movie, probably his local church as well.  Cults often use separation from these things to ensure adherence to themselves. Connection to one’s spouse, true friends and church community help to keep a person grounded. Ironically it can be the desire to provide one’s spouse with material wealth that can drive a person to work long hours or work away from home, when the relationship would be better served with more time together and fewer material comforts.

 

Diminishing the seriousness

Satan is the father of lies, half-truths and harmful assurances. Here are some of his favourites:

“You’re not doing anything wrong.”

“Everyone else is doing it, so why not you?”

“Nobody will ever know.”

“You’re not hurting anyone.”

 

The same sort of lies was told to Adam and Eve, and have been told to all generations since the fall. Satan has only one purpose, which Jesus describes in the Biblical book of John 10:10

 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

Sin ultimately destroys the sinner, as this movie demonstrates, sometimes privately, sometimes in a very public way.

 

Wanting out

God has placed within us a conscience. He tells us:

“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13

For those who’ve been drawn into sin, there is often a deep underlying shame about what they are doing and a desire to get free from the situation. Sin has a way of making one feel trapped, unable to break free. If it involves others they can coerce or use threats to keep one involved.

Yet there is hope. It may come from the point of despair, but it is there.

 

Repentance

“If we confess our sins, he [God] is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9

When we cry out to God, the devil is defeated. God is sovereign. He is faithful to His word. Repentance requires that we confess our sins to God and turn from them. It also may require us to apologise to anyone that we have wronged in the process and make amends if applicable.

Repentance may also involve getting help in the form of counselling. Other helps include connecting with Christian friends and church community and becoming serious about connecting with God through quiet times, Bible study and prayer.

 

Hansie Cronje died in a plane crash at the age of 32. At the time of his death, he had seemingly turned his life around and enjoyed a close relationship with God. Perhaps that is the last and best lesson we can learn from his story.

 

 

Halloween

 

So here we are on the 31^st October 2020. Most importantly it’s my nephew Adrian’s little boy’s birthday, so we are celebrating all the joy and love that Sean has brought into our lives. As well, it’s Halloween. While most Australians don’t celebrate this occasion, there’s been a concerted effort in recent years to promote festivities, especially encouraging children to dress up and collect lollies.

What many people don’t understand that anything involving witchcraft is a form of the occult. This is a realm of Satan and his demons which is very real. We are warned throughout the bible to have nothing to do with occult practices- astrology, fortune telling, Ouija boards, summoning up spirits casting spells and any other practices which invoke spirits other than those of Christ.

“When men tell you to consult the spirits of the dead and the spiritists who whisper and mutter, shouldn’t a people consult their God instead? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living? To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn” (Isaiah 8: 19,20)

“You must not turn to mediums or spiritists; do not seek them out, or you will be defiled by them. I am the LORD your God.” (Leviticus 19:31)

“He sacrificed his own son in the fire, practiced sorcery and divination, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did great evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking Him to anger.” (2 Kings 21:6)
 

The reason for this is God’s first commandment- to have no other Gods than Himself. When we trust in God alone, we have no reason to fear that He loves us and wants the best for us. A Christian obedient to God’s word will not take part in occult practices. We depend on God to lead and guide us through His Holy Spirit. We practise prayer, reading and meditation upon His word, the Bible, and Christian teaching and fellowship in a church community. It’s people who do not know Christ or His word that involve themselves in seemingly “harmless” occult practices. They do not know that to do so may expose themselves to satanic influences and spirits which can be the source of addictions and troubles. The Bible tells us that Satan and his demons are liars, ones who seek to kill, steal and destroy.

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I [Jesus] have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10

If you have unwittingly taken part in such practices, it’s important to repent and ask God’s forgiveness for your actions. He is faithful and will forgive. If you feel exposed to satanic influences, remember that at the name of Jesus, satan and his demons must back down. Call upon the name of Jesus and you will be safe in His care. Pray continually to Him. Above all, be on the winning team- repent and believe in Jesus, the One who died that we might be redeemed from sin and able to enter into fellowship again with our Heavenly Father God.

A prayer

 Heavenly Father God

We lift Your name high tonight above all earthy things

You alone are worthy of honour and praise

the very breath the non believers use to deride Your name

comes from You.

You are more powerful than the mighty

Greater is Your Spirit than any spirit of darkness and deceit

May the name of Jesus vanquish every foe

Calm every fear

Defend the oppressed

and comfort the sorrowful.

Be with each of those who love You Lord

and may those who do not know You

Yet come to the knowledge of who You are.

Amen.

For my sons

 

My chicks have grown

Too soon their fledgling wings grew strong

And they have flown

Each on their own path, singing their own song

I can no more

Keep them safe from harm

In the shadow of my breast

Keep them fed and warm

In the safety of a calm nest

And I will sing again one day

I will find my own flight

Waking to a new dawn

Watching the endless starry night

Together or apart

In a place so warm and small

Deep within a heart

Somewhere they’ll hear my call.

© Jo Collett 2020

Ruth, a story for our times

It’s perhaps no surprise that two of the churches that I’m most associated with have, independently of each other, chosen to embark on a study series of the book of Ruth. Ruth’s story appears in the Bible after the book of Judges, a book which describes the depravity and sin that had overcome the world at this period of time. Account after account describes the immorality and falling away from God; then, like a refreshing shower on a scorching, parched landscape, we read the story of faithfulness, generosity, temperance, honesty and lives lived according to God’s principles.

It’s a story of difficult times- famine and loss of life. Yet we see God’s provision and guidance in the midst of loss. It’s a story of an actual historical episode, yet we see symbolism here in the character of Boaz- the family member who becomes the “kinsman redeemer” for Naomi and Ruth, redeeming their family property and marrying Ruth to provide both a home for them and a child to continue their family line. In the same way Jesus steps into our sinful, broken lives and redeems us, adopting us into the family of God and giving us a life, hope and a future.

Ruth is one of the few women mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus, listed in Matthew chapter 1. She was, in fact, the great-grandmother of King David. God took a Moabite woman and grafted her into the family line of Jesus. Look at how God used the trials of the time. If there had been no famine in Israel, Naomi and her husband would have not travelled to Moab, where the sons married. Had the sons and her husband not died, Naomi and Ruth’s story would have been completely different.

Through it all we see the character of godly men and women. Naomi must have been a loving mother-in-law for Ruth to remain so steadfastly committed to her. Ruth declares “your God will be my God” ( v.16), perhaps not realising at that moment how God would lead and provide for them. Ruth proves herself hard working and trusting as she cares for Naomi. Boaz, whom God leads the women to, exemplifies a man who follows God- obedient to God’s laws, hard working, protective, honest and morally upright.

We are reminded as we read the book of Ruth that although we live in a world which is beset with troubles of all kinds, if we strive to live as God desires, to please Him, He will be faithful to us. His steadfast love never ceases. He will never leave us or forsake us as we journey through this life and He will direct and guide us always.

Twenty twenty, a year of illumination

This year of vision

Illuminating all within

A mirror cracked and clouded

Plans forgone

Lives gone

The certainty of uncertainty

The depths of pain

Bitterness and rage

Of those who rail against injustice

burning in their own flames

the mirror turns, we see

fear

hidden behind a mask

alone in a room

no hand to hold

through a looking glass

Alice colours pictures of rainbows

And plays with her kitten wondering when

School will be school again

The mirror turns, reflecting

Lights of compassion

Gifts to a stranger

Faces on a screen

The courage to continue.

Twenty twenty, year of vision

May the light of hope

Illuminate the way forward

Jo Collett  18/6/2020