The New Year Challenge

Christian Comment for 27^th December 2014

Another Christmas Day has been and gone. Some of us gathered in churches to welcome the Baby Jesus – who became the man to show us what it means to be perfectly human. Others agreed with the TV host’s announcement, welcoming the ‘silly season’; a welcome break from work and school, catch up with family, and a chance to just do what comes to mind.

And the post-Christmas clock ticks on! 2014 will soon be history. When the clocks chime at midnight on New Year’s Eve, and the either loved or tedious Alde Lang Sine is sung once again, it is time for serious stock taking.

2014 was for our world a year of disasters! – One passenger airplane gone missing, still a mystery; one passenger airplane shot down, being a victim of military aggression; millions of hungry, homeless, hopeless, people. Many of them exiles, who are too frightened to return to lands where terror and death stalk. Isis – the inhuman killers who blaspheme by taking Allah’s name in vain (Allah is the Arabic for “God’).

And for Aotearoa New Zealand – the revelation that one quarter of the child supporting population are seriously deprived. In the words of the Inter-Faith Report, “One in five of our kids don’t have the fundamental essentials of life.” A slogan from the 1930s is true once more: "The rich get richer while the poor have children.”

So let us not ignore the people outside our family circle, because the clock ticks on and the grim events overseas and the present sad state in our country when it comes to kids and housing, call us to get out of our comfort zone and act. A men-created ‘doomsday’ can be prevented by our following the caring model of Jesus.

May 2015 not be a replica of 2014, but the triumph of a caring humanity.

The Rev’d Petra Barber is the vicar of the Gisborne Anglican Parish

God in my busyness

Life is so busy for many people at this time of the year but at the same time can be quite lonely. It feels like we are in a mad rush trying to pack in as much we can before the end of the year and for what reason? Does it really make our Christmas break any better and are we busy with the right things?

I am constantly challenged about taking time to talk with God and in the busyness of the season, it seems to require more effort than normal . Often the easiest opportunities to pray, are when I'm driving somewhere or biking to work. These are times when there are fewer distractions.

The song by Tim Hughes “Be my everything” captures the essence of the part God can play in our lives and has been a great inspiration for me.                                                                                            “God in my laughing, There in my weeping,                                                                                                        God in my hurting, God in my healing....                                                                                                              Be my everything, Be my everything ” 

The words of this song read like a prayer and reminds me of how God is a part of every aspect of our lives.

James 1:17 is the inspiration for the song and reads “every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shaddows” This reminds me of the gift that He gave for each one of us, in the form of His son, Jesus Christ, beginning with His birth then ending with His death to bring us life.

So why don't you unwrap the ultimate gift of Christ this Christmas, who you can experience not only in the festive season but throughout the year. Don't wait for things to settle down to talk to God, when you can talk to Him right now. He is with you in your busyness, your loneliness, your happiness.

Don McLean

Assembly of God

All a twitter...

Tweet tweet tweet - the GigArmy in Gigatowngis has been tweeting furiously for UFB.  Translation – Gisborne has been part of a competition to win free ultra fast broadband internet access,  with the community uniting  through social media to compete with larger centres such as Dunedin. 

As part of the competition, people wrote short comments on why UFB would be good for Gisborne and the overriding sentiment has been one of hope.  Hope that we would win.  Hope that winning would mean more jobs and therefore a better economy.  Hope that an improved economy would lift people out of the cycles of poverty and violence that blight an otherwise beautiful region.

Another community based vision for hope is under-way with the celebration of 200 years of the Gospel in NZ.  The Hope Project, which is supported by Churches throughout NZ has unearthed stories long forgotten about how Maori first embraced the message of hope and peace through Christ, and how they shared that message among themselves.  Other stories show that while the commonly held view is that Christianity assisted in the confiscation of Maori land, the early missionaries actually opposed that practise. 

These truths are significant to us on the coast as we continue to process the past and look to the future.  Jesus said that the truth would set us free.  While UFB and an improved economy will make a difference, spiritual issues such as unforgiveness and selfishness  will still exist leading to broken families, substance abuse and crime. Even with wealth people can feel hopeless.  True freedom, joy, and peace can only be found in Jesus.

As we work towards a brighter future for Gisborne we need to embrace all the tools available to us – community working together, technology, and a hope for peace and prosperity found in unity in Christ.  Now that's worth tweeting about.

For further information please go to www.hopeproject.co.nz.   

Larisa Hockey – Mangapapa Church.  

Larisa has been a Christian since being introduced to Jesus at Youth Group.  She believes that the bible is the word of God, a precious gift full of hope and truth, and a blueprint for a full and blessed life.

Two hundred years of Hope

How much do we Kiwis really know and understand of our nation's history in regards to the first bi-cultural Maori/European connection in Aotearoa/NZ?  I suggest that many of us know very little and many false assumptions are made.  

Christmas Day this year will mark 200 years since Samuel Marsden came from Sydney to Rangihoua in the Bay of Islands, at the invitation of Maori Chief Ruatara, to preach the Gospel of Christ at the first Church Service held in Aotearoa/NZ. This 1814 Christmas Day event marked many beginnings in this nation; the first Mission Station was established there at the invitation of Maori.  It was the first settlement of European families amongst Maori, the first School was built there, the first pastoral farming in NZ, and the first transcription of the Māori language was pioneered there by missionary Thomas Kendall.  Even the first horse in NZ was swum ashore there off Marsden's ship brought from Sydney! 

Our church is enjoying some great resources produced to mark this '200 year Bicentennial of Beginnings'.  We give thanks for the many incredible stories of how the Gospel 'Good News' of Jesus Christ spread throughout Aotearoa, primarily by Maori to other Maori in remarkable ways, before European missionaries were invited to these places.  Our East Coast story mirrors this process, as Taumata-a-Kura brought the Gospel to his Ngati Porou people, after his  release from captivity through the influence on Nga Puhi, of missionary William Williams, then based at Paihia.   

May I on behalf of Gisborne Churches, invite you to celebrate with us, this rich history of the Gospel in our region as we gather together at the House Of Breakthrough Church, Sunday 30 November, 6pm.  This Service will feature a Maori Choir and the launch of a stunning free digital e-book, 'Christianity On The Coast'.

Stewart Patrick

Leader, Mangapapa Church, Gisborne

Printed in the Gisborne Herald 22 November 2014

Respect – an old fashioned word

It seems a great shame that some of our ‘old’ words are not in common use any more and respect must be one that would make such a difference to our lives.  

It is not only the respect we could show to those close by in our community, and for our environment, it goes deeper to a respect for each person, for ourselves, and for life. It was wonderful to see the write up in the ‘Weekender’ edition in last week’s Gisborne Herald – a celebration of a short-lived,”I’m possible” life of young Hayden.  What wonderful courage shown by Hayden’s family in all they did to treat him, and themselves, with respect. 

As with all values, respect starts in the home. If it is not taught, how can it be known? If it is not shown, how can it be mirrored?   Those ‘old’ words have something in them ....’one thing leads to another’.

 Where does the ‘line’ get drawn or become blurred?  Do I keep my own property/house/living space clean and only throw rubbish around in public places?   Do I care for my possessions and willingly share them with those in need, or just take what I want when I see what others have? 

 Do I tenderly care for my family, my children, or do I mistreat them, do I not respect them as an individual, unique, gifted, worthy human being?  We have all seen the news items about children taken to Starship hospital, the latest young teen to lose his life, the elderly person found dead, alone in their home.  Each of these people deserved the respect and careful attention of others in their lives. Where were we?

Let’s revive some old words – respect, responsibility, reverence for life.

Phillipa Huberts, Voice for Life, Gisborne

Published in the Gisborne Herald Saturday 8 November

The Dublin Declaration

According to LifeSiteNews, almost 900 medical professionals have signed the Dublin Declaration on Maternal Health, launched in 2012 to declare that abortion is not needed to save women's lives. 

The Declaration states, "As experienced practitioners and researchers in obstetrics and gynaecology, we affirm that direct abortion - the purposeful destruction of the unborn child - is not medically necessary to save the life of a woman. We uphold that there is a fundamental difference between abortion, and necessary medical treatments that are carried out to save the life of the mother, even if such treatment results in the loss of life of her unborn child. We confirm that the prohibition of abortion does not affect, in any way, the availability of optimal care to pregnant women." 

Signatory Dr Eoghan de Faoite said there is a fundamental difference between life saving treatment a woman may need during pregnancy, and abortion, which is the direct and intentional taking of the life of the unborn child. He pointed out that through the Dublin Declaration, obstetricians, gynaecologists, neonatologists, paediatricians and other doctors from across the specialties of medicine and surgery testify that a country does not need legalised abortion in order to preserve maternal health and reduce maternal mortality. 

"Let us not underestimate the power of such a statement," de Faoite stressed. "This is hugely important to all of us who work to protect women and children from abortion and who seek to make this cruel injustice made illegal, and unthinkable, right across the world. Pro-life laws do not jeopardise women's health, but rather they encourage, and oblige medical professionals to do everything they must do to save a woman's life in pregnancy and do everything he or she can do to also preserve the life of the baby. Every pregnancy has two patients that need to be cared for - mother and child."

Julia Martin

Wife, mother, grandmother, Julia has been engaged in the battle for LIFE since the 1980’s. She believes human life is of ultimate implication because each one is created in the image of the Divine.

Published in the Gisborne Herald 18 October.

The perfect leader

“Forget democracy, let’s create a supreme leader.  I vote that we need a genetically engineered benevolent dictator”.  

Those are not my words, but the satirical writings of a Journalist, tiring of the recent ‘dirty politics’, Dot Com, et al.  And with one million eligible voters declining to use their democratic right last weekend, you would have to say there are many who agree with him.  It was a humorous read, but there is a serious here message too.  Even a democracy can end up as nasty as a dictatorship with power hungry leaders, and either system could work if you had perfect benevolent leaders or one perfect leader.  

Ah, now there’s a thought that resonates with every heart – if only there was one perfect leader you could utterly trust with everything, and somehow they had the ability to work absolutely everything for everyone, for the perfect good.  Well, I believe that perfect leader is coming. “For a child has been born--for us! the gift of a son--for us! He'll take over the running of the world. His names will be: Amazing Counselor, Strong God, Eternal Father, Prince of Wholeness.” 

Never let it be forgotten that we are living in a world that has cast out its King, Jesus Christ.  We are the direct descendants of those who joined to declare, “We will not have this Man to reign over us!” The heavens have received that King for a time, but while he is hidden from our eyes, this Living One is being made real to all who will believe and receive Him by the Holy Spirit, who is the Administrator of the King in His absence.  You cannot vote for this King, but you do get to choose Him now, or not.  

What will you do?

Stewart Patrick

Leader - Mangapapa Church

Published in the Gisborne Herald Saturday 27 September 2014

Stewart will be known by many for his earlier work with Youth for Christ, and has now been the leader at Mangapapa Church for the last few years.  He leads his church - God's church - with a strong commitment to the word of God as being the truth, and the importance of staying "in the vine".

The Ego and Poverty

Children are living in poverty in New Zealand. It is a problem. Politicians put capital letters on the words child and poverty and make the problem a minor political issue. The issue is put to the electorate. People vote, nothing is solved.

Our nation prides itself on being progressive and tolerant. The attitudes at the heart of our nation that make people tolerant and progressive are the same attitudes that allow New Zealanders to tolerate children living in poverty and secretly want to progress away from it towards a richer economic future.

Children have high dependency needs which often impact on the freedom of adults. This is not new. What is new in our society at every level is a thirst for freedom of the individual at all costs. It spawns all manner of greedy, pleasure seeking, ego-centric behaviour in adults which trickles down into the world of children. A child may go to school hungry because of this, another may go with every possible advantage money can buy but both may go to school unloved and unhappy, unable to learn. Something in our nation’s psyche needs to give if people really want to improve the lot of children in this country.   

Parents who claim to love their unhappy children have a glaring lack of knowledge about the nature and social responsibility of parental love. Governments and money cannot fix this, they have to work with it. Tolerance and progress are gods in New Zealand. These leave little room for the Christian God, a God whose son Jesus Christ taught that self-sacrifice is at the heart of all love and that freedom and happiness for all is not found in selfish behaviour but in each and everyone of us endeavouring to love others more than we love our ego.

Sue Jones

St. Marys Catholic Church

 Sue is a regular writer for Catholic publications in N.Z and is connected to the Wairoa parish of St. Peters and  St. Mary's in Gisborne.

   

Won by Love

Norma McCorvey is the Jane Roe of the infamous Roe v Wade case which, in 1973 legalised abortion in America. Poor, pregnant, uneducated, unskilled, a drug user and an alcoholic, Norma fell into the hands of two young and ambitious lawyers. They were looking for a plaintiff with whom they could challenge the Texas state law prohibiting abortion, and Norma signed on. 

Roe v Wade struck down the abortion laws of every state, and "legalised" the killing of millions of innocent children. Doe v Bolton was the companion case, signed the same day, and brought virtually unregulated abortion to all fifty states, making it legal for women to abort for any reason through all  nine months of pregnancy. Both cases were based on lies, and ironically, Norma never had an abortion. 

A mother of three, she entered a lesbian relationship,and for over two decades she worked in abortion clinics, seeing first-hand how abortion degrades women, while making abortionists "filthy" rich. But through the genuine friendship and unconditional love of Christians, and the unique influence of the Spirit of God, Norma began to change. 

At the time of her conversion she  repented deeply, and said, "I just want to undo all the evil I've done in this world."  Norma was baptised into the Christian faith a short time later. She  said, "The love I have found in God is a love that means more than the world means to me. It's a love I had to follow." In her book, Won by Love Norma writes, "It was so hard for me to believe that the Lord had forgiven me ... but gradually I have learned to trust His Word more than my own feelings." She continues, "If God can forgive Norma McCorvey ... He can forgive You." 

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all  wickedness." 1 John 1:9.

Julia Martin

Wife, mother, grandmother, Julia has been engaged in the battle for LIFE since the 1980’s. She believes human life is of ultimate implication because each one is created in the image of the Divine.

Brotherhood

On a cold and miserable afternoon earlier this month I was reflecting on what to pen in this week’s column. The hot topics of the day came to mind. The All Blacks and the Wallabies clash at Eden Park. The recent funeral of a friend was weighing heavily on my mind. Nicky Hagar’s new book ‘Dirty Politics’ is receiving some very mixed reactions. All of these subjects and many more are typical water cooler topics of the day. 

But when I weighed these up against what is going on in Iraq with ISIS terrorists forcing people to vacate their homes and head for the hills to escape being slaughtered because they would not convert to a radical branch of Islam, I sensed that I found a more worthwhile, meaningful and germane story to comment on. 

It always seems uncomfortable to get too excited about what is going on in overseas countries. We can easily get whipped up over the perceived need for the Gisborne to Wairoa rail link or the pros and cons of fracking but where is our appetite for human rights in general, and more specifically the right of all peoples to live in peace in their own homeland. Out of sight, out of mind ? 

I find it hard to comprehend that we have become so desensitized that what is happening to innocent people in the Middle East today is being glossed over and largely ignored because we are so immersed in events within our own nation’s borders. How often do we hear the words, “Live and let live.” Keep out of my patch and I will keep out of yours. 

This ISIS terrorist threat has enunciated an apocalyptic ‘end of day’s vision’ that must be acknowledged and responded to. We too are also part of their world visionary plan. Time for us all to begin to look out for each other for the continuation of our world the way we know, love and enjoy it !

Garth Hibbert
St Andrews Presbyterian Church 
Garth is a Gisborne born retired business administrator who for the past 15 years has written short stories, anecdotes, columns and reflections about life and current affairs. He is a believer in the Christian faith and a servant of his Lord.


Published in the Gisborne Herald 23 August 2014

Six People

Recently I have made a priority to spend time just one on one with my son, so every Monday afternoon him and I head out for a bike ride, throwing a ball etc.

We have done many things together as a family and enjoyed every minute but to have this time together as father and son is great.  Often as men we think we need to be teaching our kids lessons every time we are with them I have seen how just hanging out with no ‘teaching’ agenda has been great for our relationship. To put aside the stresses of the day and give him the time he deserves has been good for me as well as my son. 

I have thought about the many tamariki out there in our community who don’t have fathers and how can we as a community show love and care for these ones. They say it takes six good adults to help form and shape a well- rounded person, six people that contribute by being caring and consistent.  We have welcomed other trusted men and woman into the lives of our children; my wife and I realize from our own lives the importance of having good mentors and role models. This community approach to raising our children helps give them a greater multi dimensional way of seeing the world. As with the body of Christ we all have different God given skills and giftings that can contribute to the lives of others. Is there space in our busy lives to mentor and help grow others less fortunate? They often are the ones who end up teaching us.

 Even involving a young person in our normal everyday activities can make a huge impact on them, you don’t have to make additional time in your busy week just bring them along side you and your families routines, washing the car, going to the beach etc.  Of course there is an importance of getting to know the rest of the whanau to build trust, this in itself is a great way to connect community.

A work colleague of mine told me that one of the best memories he had as a young nine year old boy was when a youth group leader picked him up and took him to buy a loaf of bread from the local dairy once a week.

When someone takes the time to care it can be an influence that can last forever.

Much Love,  Jason Akuhata-Brown

Jason and his wife Councillor Meredith Akuhata-Brown are well known in Gisborne for their work in the community, particularly in Kaiti where they live alongside the people they care for and learn from.

Published in the Gisborne Herald 16 August 2014

Doors

In the near future, we are going to live in an old villa in the country.  The villa has been altered at various times in its history, resulting in a mixture of styles from different eras.  One of the interesting features of the house is the doors, which have a smooth modern look.  Most people would think the doors are not part of the original house.  The doors are in fact solid native timber with nice panels and have been covered with a thin veneer to modernise the appearance of the house.

The current state of the doors, remind me of an account in the Bible in the book of Samuel.  “......The Lord does not look at the things people look at.  People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Sam 16:7).  God chooses a young shepherd boy David, to defeat Goliath and become the king of Israel.  David completely relies on God for strength.

The God at the centre of this story is alive today just as much as He was in the time of David.  I have personally experienced the transformation by God from a “door” vulnerable to damage, to one with a solid timber core that has God has created me to be.  God has gently removed the veneer that I had and exposed a depth and dimension in my character that I believe can only be created by Him. 

There is a strength and solidity that have resulted from a faith in God.  There is also a hope in God that I can hold onto daily.  You too can start the process by simply asking God to strip back the veneer in your life and reveal the character, He has created in you.

Don McLean

Assembly of God

Amid the darkness

War in the Gaza Strip, murder in the skies above the Ukraine, and persecution of Christians in Iraq:  everywhere we look we can see death and destruction.  And yet if we look for it we can also see the good around us.  The Commonwealth Games have started, celebrating unity, perseverance, and the potential of the human body; Maori language week has promoted unity through he taonga te reo; and a “gratefulness challenge” is doing the rounds on social media.

Are we wrong, or “shallow” to focus on these glimpses of light when there is so much darkness in the world?  No, I don’t think so.  Nearly two thousand years ago, in a time of racism, slavery, and persecution Paul said to the believers “Whatever is true, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.” (Phillippians 4:8).  Then as now, focusing on the good helps fortify our minds against the darkness around us.  That is not to say we can ignore what is going on - we are told to “mourn with those who mourn” (Romans 12:15) and we should add our voices to the call for justice and freedom – but as we celebrate what is good we are saying “there must be another way.”  And there is:  Jesus said “I am the way, the truth and the life,” (John 14:16) giving us hope and direction for our personal lives and assurance for eternity.  He also promised to come back to restore this world of death and destruction to God’s perfect design of a world of joy, freedom, and life. 

So as we wait for His return, seeking out moments of light, and speaking out against the darkness, we can trust in a God who has an ultimate plan, and earnestly pray “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven…” 

Larisa Hockey

Mangapapa Church

Larisa moved to Gisborne with her Gizzy-born husband John, in 2006 and joined Mangapapa Union Parish where she is now one of the worship leaders.  Larisa, who has been a Christian since learning about Jesus at the Kaukapapakapa (North of AKL) Youth Group, is passionate about the power of the Gospel to transform lives and believes that this starts at home.  "Love God, love others."

Protecting Life in El Salvador

Earlier this year, in a highly published ruling, Bolivia's Constitutional Court bucked the recommendations of two UN committees to decriminalise abortion - and instead, handed down a surprise ruling which continues to protect the unborn. According to a Life News report, the court's arguments for protecting life were "original", asserting "ancient indigenous cosmic beliefs that life is in constant perpetuity, without beginning or end; therefore everything that is life or 'could potentially generate life' is protected by the Bolivian constitution". The Bolivian President Evo Morales says, "Any abortion is a crime."

Also of interest is that in El Salvador, the smallest country in Central America, it is illegal for a mother to abort her child. Underdeveloped countries like El Salvador depend on foreign aid to help improve the country. But such aid usually comes with "reproductive rights" strings attached. After returning from a foreign assistance meeting in Europe, one cabinet minister said, "All these people want to do is talk about abortion." In 1988, abortion became illegal in El Salvador, but the victory was tenuous. Pro-lifers knew the only way to guarantee protection for the unborn was a constitutional amendment that no treaty could override. For the amendment to be enshrined in the constitution, it had to be ratified by a two-thirds majority during the next parliamentary period. It seemed impossible, but the pro-lifers said, "We have to try. We have to do our best." People prayed, and when the time came for the vote, the first person to speak was a socialist woman who said, "I'm going to give my vote as a woman and as a medical doctor for the constitutional amendment." After that, there was no vote against it.

It may be highly significant that the name El Salvador means "the saviour" or "the rescuer".

Julia Martin

Wife, mother, grandmother, Julia has been engaged in the battle for LIFE since the 1980’s. She believes human life is of ultimate implication because each one is created in the image of the Divine

What a game!

Last Saturday night, I was glued to the screen as England and the All Blacks played their hearts out.  What a cliff hanger!!   

Even when the odds in favour of the All Blacks seemed overwhelming, each player remained focused on their task, working solidly and steadily towards their desired end.

Only one team celebrated victory.  The other team, however, did not experience defeat, even though the players lost. They had given their all in pursuit of the goal. Surely honour was also theirs. 

Winning isn’t everything. Success can’t always be easily measured.  

I am reminded of the Apostle Paul. Executed for his allegiance to Jesus Christ, Paul died an apparent failure. Yet, because of his life and work, the good news of Jesus’ redeeming love spread across the known world.

            

As his life ends, Paul seems do a little self-reflection. His questions review not his success in the world but the centre of his life focus -          

            Have I done the best I could for Christ whom I serve?

            Have I gone as far as I could for Christ whom I honour?

            Have I been faithful to Christ who has been faithful to me?

And he responds with conviction: “... the time for my departure is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (2 Tim 4:6-7). How blessed to come to the end of life knowing that one has done the very best possible to honour the One who committed His all for us. To all who share in the restoring work of Christ, be encouraged.  “Keep alert, stand firm in your faith, be courageous, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love." 1 Cor 16: 13-14

 Rev Shirley Barker-Kirby

HEALING

Driving a nail in, the hammer glanced off the nail and hit my finger with great force. My finger was half its normal diameter for a short while until it swelled, and it was very painful. I said Aaaaah! The good doctor dressed it and gave me antibiotics to avoid infection. Now, eight months later, the bone chips have grown back on, the new nail is grown and my finger is nearly normal again. It is so good to have my finger back. I am so thankful for all of the medical people, for their great knowledge, skills and care, and to the fantastic health system in this country. 

Healing is an incredible, in-built, property that we all have. Our body is healing from many injuries and sicknesses almost continuously, yet most of this we are completely unaware of unless we stop to think about it. Think about a cut on your finger, it bleeds. If we had no healing, that bleeding would go on forever, your finger would be permanently very sore and unusable, and you would have to dress it every day to stop the blood getting on everything. Next week you cut or bruise another finger. Now you have two fingers permanently unusable. Very soon your whole body would be painful, bleeding, diseased, broken, disfigured, itchy, smelly, etc. I would say Aaaaah again. A friend and I thought we might only live a week if our ability to heal ceased. 

So I am extremely thankful to God for making us so that that we heal. Jesus healed many people using power he had as the Son of God, and he will heal us, both physically and spiritually. 

Alan Radcliffe

For Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship

Alan and his wife Joan have been members of the Gisborne Christian community since 1974, attending the Te Hapara Anglican Church and Mangapapa Union Parish.  Alan joined Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship somewhere in the 1980’s, and over the years held positions on the Takitimu (Gisborne) Chapter committee including 5 years as Chapter president. The Chapter is in recess at the moment.   A busy surveyor, God is at the centre of Alan's work, as evident in his motto "In God we live and move and have our being."

Praying for 230 girls

On 15 April, two hundred and thirty precious young girls were abducted from school to satisfy the evil desires and objectives of Boko Haram terrorists in Nigeria.  At the time of writing it appeared that these girls had likely been sold as slaves.

Can we imagine the families’ horror and grief, their frantic efforts to find their girls, while the government has been slow to react?   If we let ourselves we can imagine  -  and we should, because it is the voices of the people that motivate leaders to action.  International social media campaigns have spread awareness and, perhaps inspired by these campaigns, many countries,  including New Zealand, have offered help, placing pressure on the Nigerian Government to search for the girls.  Nigeria’s delays however may have already led to great suffering.

This raises the question – if the girls were Christians, attending Christian schools  (see the Robin Harris’ blog in the spectator.co.uk.), why then did God allow this terrible thing to happen?  The short answer is that there is great evil in the world, but also great good and we can be reassured that “God works to turn all things for good for those who love him” Romans 8:28.   Already we can see some good as the religious war and political corruption in Nigeria are being exposed to international attention.   Maybe the issue of slavery – 27 million people, largely women and children, are enslaved in the world – will be addressed.  And maybe we will one day hear individual stories of strength, comfort, renewed faith to come out of the situation.

In the meantime what can we do?  We can lobby our Government to continue to place pressure on Nigeria to commit to finding the girls.  We can pray that the girls and their families will find their strength and comfort in God.   We can pray for, and campaign for, an end to slavery worldwide.  And we can treasure our own girls for, as the old saying goes, “there, but for the grace of God, go I". 

Larisa Hockey - Mangapapa Church

A christian since Youth Group days, Larisa Hockey is one of the Worship Leaders at Mangapapa Church, where she has attended since moving to Gisborne in 2006 with local-born husband John.  She believes in the word of God as the basis of a fullfilling life, and that Christians have an important role to play in issues affecting our community, country and beyond as they are called to be "the light of the world."

Anzac Thoughts

What is it that makes people turn out in their thousands for Anzac Dawn Parades? 

For generations who are comfortably distanced from war the commemoration service seems to stir a deep need in people.   Dawn Parade is sufficiently secular and occurs sufficiently seldom that it provides a reason and the means to ‘act out’ that felt human need which has much to do with the human faculty of memory.

This deep need is akin to the need of human beings to worship a God. It seems human beings are hard wired to acknowledge someone or something that is completely outside, or other,or more perfect than all that we know makes up the human person. Nostalgia, the yearning for a more perfect time, is a common symptom of this hard wiring. The self-help industry provides many alternative means for fulfilling this longing. Science is getting better at explaining such human frailties but in the end science fails to explain completely what Christians would say is simply a longing for perfect love.

The followers of Jesus Christ see something of this otherness, or perfection in him. In Sunday worship Christians remember Calvary and the power of God who raised Jesus from the dead to life.  Resurrection memory contains the kind of perfection for which human beings long whether they are conscious of that longing or not.Worship of God allows Christians to ‘touch’ the perfect love of God each Sunday and this ‘touching’ satisfies human nature in a deeper way than those secular, quick fix solutions.

Ask anyone who went to a Dawn Parade what they were remembering and it will not just be fallen soldiers. Absence of loved ones and the general, more impersonal theme of suffering, death and resurrection will be in the mix somewhere along with the human longing for peace which perfect love brings.

                                                                                                                                     Sue Jones

Sue is a member of the Wairoa parish of St. Peters and a past member of St. Mary's Gisborne where she continues to have connections.  Sue is a paid, published Catholic writer.  She had her first article published in 1987 and since then has had dozens more published in Catholic publications in N.Z.

Jesus and the homeless

Gisborne Herald – Christian Comment –26^th April 2014.

It has become apparent that there are growing numbers of homeless people on the streets of Gisborne. 

At this time of the year I don’t encounter them in our CBD during my early walk, but I see them asleep under the stars. One morning in March there were two snuggled down on the concrete entranceway to our church Community Centre. Two hours later I entered the church from a rear door and came across two others sound asleep huddled together on the ground using collapsed supermarket cartons as a mattress. When woken they were apologetic and gathered their meagre belongings and moved on. What better place than the borders of a church to sleep and have a sense of safety within the confines of God’s sanctuary. When the congregation began to arrive they were told of our overnight guests. There was considerable comment, some positive and some negative. I thought, ‘How would Jesus have responded ?’   

The word "poor" occurs 205 times in 197 verses in the KJV Bible. God's view on the poor is very clear about how we should treat them.   Let us look at what God's opinion of the poor is.  Jesus is an excellent example of what a poor person was in his day. In fact, it is safe to say that Jesus was a homeless person at least some of the time (see Luke 9:58). The people that Jesus associated with were homeless and poor as well. 

There are calls from “responsible people” to "clean up the streets" by having the police "sweep" the street people away and target them by issuing “Trespass Notices.” Is this the attitude that God wants us to have towards the disadvantaged ?   We are not going to alleviate poverty in our cities or raise anyone out of poverty either, by giving to beggars or making donations to organizations designed to help them. To accomplish this objective we need to address the universal causes of poverty. Until that happens maybe we should become more compassionate to everyone, including the homeless. You never know, one day a relative or friend of ours may be one of them…

Garth Hibbert

Saint Andrews Presbyterian Church

Garth is a Gisborne born retired business administrator who for the past 15 years has written short stories, anecdotes, columns and reflections about life and current affairs. He is a believer in the Christian faith and a servant of his Lord.

Choices at Easter

Gisborne Herald Weekender - Easter Column 2014

     by Stewart Patrick

Easter is a pleasant time of the year for many – a holiday, family gatherings, weddings, chocolate and tasty food – all those hopefully nourishing your body and soul (mind, will and emotions).  But Easter celebrations at its centre are around death and new life and it is a time when all should ask, “How am I doing in my spirit?  How am I actually at my centre, my heart beliefs?” 

Just a casual look at our society, shows that all is not well at both our individual and collective ‘centre’ this Easter time.  Lawmakers surely must admit they have no answers to people’s deep problems and subsequent poor choices, and so this year we have yet more chemical substances available to individuals that may briefly mask a deep centred pain, but will degrade and destroy the person. This week we learned Gisborne/Tairawhiti tops the suicide rate in NZ but we also know suicide as an option to escape deep pain, is a problem that the rich and famous struggle with equally.  Don Brash admitted this week he seriously contemplated suicide as he struggled with failed marriages, guilt from affairs and behaviours he cannot explain, that brought him to a deep trough of depression.

The message of Easter is fantastic news for these and any who will look away from their addictions, issues and messed up identity, and see Jesus.  He declared; "This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life”.  (John 3:16 MSG).  Then the Apostle Paul says to those who do believe on the Son of God; “There, away from any effort of your own, discover how the God of perfect peace, who fused you skillfully into oneness – just like a master craftsman would dovetail a carpentry joint – has personally perfected and sanctified the entire harmony of your being without your help!  He has restored the detailed default settings.  You were re-booted to fully participate in the life of your design, in your spirit, soul and body in blameless innocence in the immediate presence of our Lord Jesus Christ”.  (1 Thessalonians 5:23 Mirror Bible)

Do you see it? A ‘whole life’ involves spirit, soul and body and who is responsible for making it whole?  It is God – not you!  So what must I do, that God will not do for me?  I must choose.  Not even wisdom can override choice; people must choose.  The Prodigal (reckless) Son in Jesus famous parable in Luke chapter 15 is not chased after by the Father, but he is let go, gets to rock bottom and there it says “he came to himself”.  As he reflected on his true sinful state at the centre of his being, then choosing to take a step toward the father, the father runs toward him and welcomes him home with a grand party.

There is a deception involving the belief by those who need to make a choice that they cannot do so, that it is impossible in certain areas of life to choose a different way.  Many believe they are stuck with their obsessions, addictions, anger, self-righteousness and all other deeds of their flesh life – body and soul life.  We hate to be confronted with this truth, but we are doing exactly what we want to do and chose to do.  A man may say “I’m addicted to pornography”, but you can bet he is not watching it when he is with his wife and children, so how can he be ‘addicted’ when he is choosing when and where he watches pornography?  We are not unable to choose; we simply do not want to choose the right thing.  At that point we are in unbelief in Jesus Christ’s work in us and constantly choosing against Him.  We have to decide between the words of Jesus in our spirit or the voice of our flesh – living solely from our body and soul desires.  When we choose the voice of our flesh life, it is an inescapable fact that we have chosen bondage and have chosen on the side that resists the Spirit.  We are where we are today by personal choice.

The Cross of Christ this Easter invites you to recognize this incredible mysterious truth - that your inner life was killed with Him on that cross that Good Friday and a new inner life of the resurrected Jesus Christ is waiting to be revealed in you by His Holy Spirit.  It’s your choice.  What will you do with it? 

Stewart Patrick

Leader, Mangapapa Church

Corner Atkinson Street and Ormond Road

Gisborne

Easter 2014

Christian Comment for 19th April 2014 

 

The year 2014 already carries a heavy weight of international political crises. Syria is a long standing conflict with over one million displaced refugees. The Ukraine is the latest conflict; elsewhere, conflicts in Africa, Egypt, and Thailand grow.

Some Kiwis believe that this is none of our business – and change TV channels. In New Zealand the divorce of religion and politics has been encouraged – by political leaders and by some elements in the churches. This cannot and should not be done!

 

Christians, Jews, and Moslems, have holy books, and historic insistence, not to ignore politics. In our Old Testament prophets read the signs of world events to better guide their people. To name just two: the prophet Isaiah witnessed the Assyrian Empire overrunning the Middle East; the prophet Jeremiah witnessed t he rise of Babylon – and its fall.

 

As for Jesus -- his ministry was conducted in a Roman occupied country. He was exposed to collaborative High Priests and to rebellious Zealots, and His (Jesus’) apparent threat of being the spokesman for another allegiance “The Kingdom of God”, led to His execution by the Roman governor.

Jesus was very concerned about national and international crises.

 

And what about St Paul? He tried to counter Roman persecution of the infant Church in his letters. He, too, died for trying to oppose the worst aspects of international thought – control.

The dark side of Church history is that sometimes the Church opted for alliances with the “powers that be”.

Christians have always been in the middle of power struggles. Let us not put our heads in the sand. We must confront our current crises by being the praying force behind those who seek to solve them.

In this time of Easter let us follow the Risen Christ on the road to human unity.

 

 

The Rev'd Petra Barber
Vicar of the Gisborne - Te Hapara Anglican Parish
Vicarage at:
9 Joanne Street, Lytton West,
Gisborne 4010, NZ

Be the change...

The French have a saying, ‘Tout comprendre, c’est tout pardonner.’ To understand all is to forgive all. If we truly knew what has gone on in the lives of people we meet everyday I’m sure that we would all be more gracious and forgiving to one another in this community. 

We all are aware of the social stats. on this region and how little seems to be improving and yet there is a huge amount of resources, money and services in place here to effect change, surely! I have at times said to myself “how can people not take these opportunity and improve their lives”? I am reminded of the importance of care over cure or as William Booth put it Soup, Soap and salvation. To suggest to someone who has had generations and layers of dysfunction, ‘here is everything you need be motivated and fix yourself' is unrealistic. The importance of showing love and care to those we meet everyday is advancing God’s kingdom here on earth. I wonder if the unseen gestures and acts of kindness by the many who ‘believe’ to those less fortunate would activate the changes we all hope for, how much more receptive to God’s great news of redemption would people be when they are shown grace, patience and kindness? I have heard the saying Hurt people hurt people, does that also mean that Loved people love people?

There are many opportunities to be involved in community groups outside of the church building and opportunities to extend the grace God has given to us! 

I have to use one of my wife’s favorite quotes (she’ll forgive me) from Gandhi.

“Be the change you want to see in the world.”

Much love, Jason Akuhata-Brown