BOOKS

“Why write a book?” it says on the bookmarker.

Seven reasons to write a book are given:

To share my PASSION, to spread my KNOWLEDGE, to share my EXPERIENCE, to celebrate my HERITAGE, to advance my CAREER, to promote my BUSINESS and to enjoy the CHALLENGE.

“Why write a book?” The answer is also given at the end: “Because you can.” What an encouragement!

I live in the Far North of New Zealand.

I live in the FAR NORTH

At the beach

“No matter how advanced its progress, any generation that neglects its spiritual and moral  life is going to disintegrate,” says Billy Graham.

We are certainly not neglecting the education of the mind in our generation. We are making progress all the time. Are there already babies who can work iPhones?

But we are neglecting the moral and spiritual education for sure.

MORAL EDUCATION:

Here we are talking about our behaviour. What is good behaviour? What is bad behaviour? What is right behaviour? What is wrong behaviour? I remember what was written on my school reports: “Behaviour: very good.”  Moral education is relating to the distinction.

SPIRITUAL EDUCATION:

We have physical, material needs. But we have also spiritual needs. Spiritual education relates to our belief. The Lord Jesus Christ says that we do not live on bread alone. He says also that we live on the Bible. The Lord says also: “‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'” (John 14:6)

President Theodore Roosevelt said:

“WHEN YOU EDUCATE A MAN IN MIND AND NOT ON MORALS, YOU EDUCATE A MENACE TO SOCIETY.”

Are we disintegrating?

“Create a hideaway you’ll never want to leave …”

I am reading that on the front cover page of a  flooring catalogue. It is all about “Winter Living.” For those who don’t know, JUNE – AUGUST is winter here in New Zealand. (But I live in Kaitaia, the “Winterless North.”)

KAITAIA, THE “WINTERLESS NORTH”

Reading that reminds me of the hiding place David talks about in the Bible.

In Psalm 32:7 he calls the LORD his hiding place. He says that the LORD will protect him from trouble. He says also that the LORD will surround him with songs of deliverance.

In the verses before he admonishes the godly to pray to the LORD while he may be found. There we read also about the promise that the mighty waters will not reach the godly.

The hiding place of David is also my hiding place. I do not need to create a hideaway, my hiding place existed before I was ever created, but my hiding place is a hideaway I will never want to leave.

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