Ahipara in the Far North of New Zealand

“‘We want to hear from you about how best to work together to prevent suicide,'” I am reading in the article “Talking about suicide prevention,” in our local paper.

This morning before buying the paper, I have actually been thinking about the prevention of suicide.

I have learned that it all has to do with relationships. Especially when people are going through dark times they need someone to talk to. They need also somebody who is listening to them.

It is not always easy to find somebody to talk to or somebody who is willing to listen to us.

That’s why it is so important to have a living relationship with our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Now you have heard from me and thank you very much for the encouragement to write this.

the Salvation Army in Kaitaia

“‘We live in a generation where we believe we can do anything and God will love us anyway,'” said the General of the Salvation Army.

We hear a lot about the love of God, but not very much about the wrath of God. In Proverbs 15:29 we read in the Bible:

“THE LORD IS FAR FROM THE WICKED BUT HE HEARS THE PRAYER OF THE RIGHTEOUS.”

Have you ever heard that the Lord loves us anyway, no matter what we are doing?

“Church Unlimited”

Today I attended the service at TE AHU, “Church Unlimited”. The guest speaker spoke especially to the young people and it was a blessing to listen to her.

A pohutukawa tree in Pukenui

Es gibt Leute, die erweisen Anbetung und Verehrung dem Geschaffenen, anstatt dem Schoepfer.

Die Freude am Wunder der Natur erfuellt sie jeden Tag.

Fuer sie ist es wichtig, die Natur gesund zu erhalten. Wir erinnern uns da sogleich an den Klimawechsel. Hoeren wir nicht viel davon in unserer Zeit? Ich denke ja.

Sie freuen sich an den Blumen, den Wolken, den Feldern, den Waeldern, den Bergen und den Tieren.

Und natuerlich auch an den Voegeln, in Neuseeland Kiwis and Kakapos.

Sie geben selbst Spenden, damit diese Voegel nicht aussterben und ermutigen auch andere fuer diese Sache Geld zu geben. Sie erfahren Heilung von der Natur. Die Natur troestet sie, gibt ihnen Kraft und Lebensfreude.

Sie gehen sogar so weit, dass sie sagen, dass die Natur die Heimat fuer die Seele ist.

Die Bibel sagt von solchen Menschen, dass sie die Wahrheit Gottes mit der Luege vertauscht haben.

Die Bibel sagt in Roemer 1:25:

“Denn sie haben die Wahrheit (=das wahre Wesen) Gottes mit der Luege vertauscht und Anbetung und Verehrung dem Geschaffenen erwiesen anstatt dem Schoepfer, der da gepriesen sei in Ewigkeit. Amen.”

Das ist nach der Uebersetzung von Hermann Menge.

Ahipara, in the far north of New Zealand

SMLE

GOING INTO TOWN NOT LONG AGO TO DO SOME BUSINESS I DID NOT MISS READING THE FOLLOWING SIGNS. THEY PUT A SMILE ON MY FACE.

Number one:

“INVEST IN YOUR HAIR, IT IS THE CROWN YOU NEVER TAKE OFF …”

Number two:

“GIVERS NEED TO SET LIMITS BECAUSE TAKERS RARELY DO.”

I HOPE THEY PUT A SMILE ON YOUR FACE AS WELL.

The Cross

“BUT SEEK

Matthew 6:33

Intr.:

FIRST

• HIS KINGDOM AND
• HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS,

End:

AND ALL THESE THINGS WILL BE GIVEN TO YOU AS WELL.”

The Cross

“THE LORD SAYS,

Isaiah 3:16,17

Intr.:

‘THE WOMEN OF ZION ARE

• HAUGHTY,
• WALKING ALONG WITH OUTSTRETCHED NECKS,
• FLIRTING WITH THEIR EYES,
• TRIPPING ALONG WITH MINCING STEPS
• WITH ORNAMENTS JINGLING ON THEIR ANKLES.

End:

THEREFORE THE LORD WILL BRING SORES ON THE HEADS OF THE WOMEN OF ZION.'”

“SMOKEFREE”

On May 31, 2017, we celebrate World Smokefree Day.

Health promoters are concerned about our physical health.

But there is not only our physical health, there is also our spiritual health to think about.

Health promoters are concerned about the future of New Zealand and the physical health of future generations.

How can we protect the physical health of future generations? First of all by not exposing them to second-hand smoke. Secondly by not passing dangerous habits on to them.

Central to the smoke-free plan is actually the protection of children and future generations. The goal is to have New Zealand smokefree  by 2025, so that our children and grandchildren will be able to enjoy tobacco-free lives.

Our physical health is important, but when are we going to learn that our spiritual health is more important than our physical health?