Building relationships with other people is the solution to loneliness.

I am glad to read that in the Maxim Institute Column called “Getting serious about loneliness,” in our local paper today. (The Northland Age, Tuesday, July 24, 2018)

Also young New Zealanders are lonely!

And what a surprise it is for me to read in the column that Britain has the first Minister for Loneliness in the world.

I can hardly believe it! And the author of the column is wondering how the British Minister for Loneliness will deal with one problem, namely with the problem that the government cannot love people.

Apparently the Minister is encouraging awareness of the problem of loneliness and is providing infrastructure to reduce the problem.

“An assay by the former US Surgeon General claims loneliness in the US has reached ‘epidemic levels,'” it says also in the column.

I am also told in the same column that loneliness can be bad for our physical health. Researchers say that. I have no problem agreeing with that.

The solution to loneliness is not only the relationship with other people, but first and foremost the relationship with our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ! And the Lord Jesus Christ loves us.

Please read John 3:16 in the Bible. There it says:

“‘FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD THAT HE GAVE HIS ONE AND ONLY SON, THAT WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM SHALL NOT PERISH BUT HAVE ETERNAL LIFE.'”

Please read also the following verses.

Who knows the name of the flower?

“O land, land, land, hear the word of the LORD!” – Jeremiah 22:29

Stilts support buildings in Mangonui above water level:

Mangonui in the Far North of NZ

Mangonui in the Far North of NZ

Mangonui in the Far North of NZ

Mangonui in the Far North of NZ

That is the question, I am asked.

Underneath the question it says: “Please join our effort to help the environment …”

KAITAIA: Eco Centre

There is God’s creation and Christians are called by God to be the stewards. At creation the creator gave us the cultural mandate and called us to fulfill it. Please read Psalm 8:6-8 and Genesis 2:15.

In Genesis 2:15 we read: “The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and to take care of it.”

I am made by God a steward in charge of this world.

I am glad that there are people who are concerned about the environment, that they are concerned to fulfill the cultural mandate.

In fact on the poster I am looking at it says, that 80% “of us are concerned about plastic ending up in landfill and polluting the oceans …”

I am also told that that is the reason why more than one million “people worldwide are choosing to be part of plastic free July.”

On the advertisement I am also told more about the challenge, why I should participate and I am also encouraged to take the challenge. The message is: “Avoid landfill waste” and “Reduce your eco-footprint”.

Threefold is the appointed task of a Christian, says J. I. Packer, namely evangelism (Matthew 28:16-20), neighbor-love (Mark 12:29,30) and fulfilling the “cultural mandate” (Psalm 8:6-8 and Genesis 2:15).

J. I. Packer says also: “In the biblical vision, the world belongs to God and we are, at most, his stewards charged to manage God’s world for him according to his revealed will.”