I have seen amazing things in my years of existing but also horrors I do not wish to speak of. They have both molded me like the clay I was formed from. Like a clay jar compared to my body it is used to contain waters where my spirit within my clay structure.
Genesis 1:26-27: 26 Then God said, ‘Let us make humankind
in our image, according to our likeness; and let them have dominion
over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the
cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.’27 So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
This simple body is in the image of God.
Genesis 2:7: 7then the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground,* and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and the man became a living being.
The image of God made from the clay of the ground having God's very breath give us life. The breath of God is the breath of life and the breath of God is the Holy Spirit. The Hebrew word is ruach meaning air in motion or breath or life.In Koine Greek it is called pneuma which means breath or breeze.
So, when we speak our words have power because we speak with God's breath. What a thought.We finite creatures have God's breath within us and when we speak his breath is exhaled. As my own vision is not clear since the day of my head injury that caused my severe headaches I see differently. Like watching a tv channel that has static the pixels are broken up on the screen and so is my view of the world. I imagine that when we speak that breath returns to its owner like a leaf falling to the ground in the fall season but in the opposite direction.
John 3:6-7: 6What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7Do not be astonished that I said to you, “You must be born from above.”
8The wind
blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not
know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is
born of the Spirit.’
So, in essence we have but a sample of God's breath within us. As the Holy Spirit like the wind goes where it chooses it can allow us to be born again. Like the cup that is full with sin how can the Holy Spirit come into us until we empty that cup so it may be filled by him.
Now image that when we praise or worship together in a Church or a meeting of people groups (Church is not a building but a body of people coming together) and everyone is singing God's praises. Each person singing exhaling praise with God's very breath to return to him whom gave it. I thought about this concept at district assembly as the building was filled and voices from many people groups were singing praises to God how it would look like if I could see the waves of God's breath returning to him with love for him. I imagine each person's had a color design to how they live their life and every color wave interwoven together and like a breeze flowing back to its creator.
That is why it is wise to speak slowly and positive of others for our words have power for within our body is the breath of God.
I thought further about this concept. My death and how my spirit would leave my body behind. The question I asked myself was if God's breath is within me then is it my spirit? I retorted back to myself with slow answer of no. I often find myself having deep conversations...lol. God's breath gives life and continues life for each morning I wake I breath in with God's very breath inside of me. But when my body dies my spirit will leave to be with God and surrounding my spirit would be the essence of God's breath. I picture it like the movies that so often have shown the spiritual bodies of people. But for more effect they give them an aura around them. In the same sense I believe that the when my spirit leaves my body God's breath will surround my spirit like an aura.
Our words have power. Our words exhale God's breath into the world. God's breath returns to him for what we have spoken be it good or bad. Let us praise Him with His breath given to each of us to life.
Tuesday 27 November 2012
Monday 26 November 2012
District Assembly
It is interesting how fast the weather changes in New Zealand. I went for a walk 3 weeks ago into that amazing park I have spoken about before and I chosen to walk on a mountain bike trail. Why not right? Well soon the weather changes and lightening was quite visible as thunder started roaring behind me and I found a little cover from the heavy rain. Under a few little trees I stood waiting for the rain to let up so I could find better cover as an unknown came passing by, I felt it was wise to pop out and tell him I was waiting for rain to stop or else he would think I was waiting for him. I find moments like that laughable. If you can not laugh at a situation in your life that is tough then you will be stressing for the rest of your life. As the rain lightened up I walked to another location only to have the rain come down harder and catch me in it for a few minutes until I found dry spots on the road I was taking and watch the fury of this storm. I was laughing at how I was keeping to the dry spots like I was playing hop-scotch (first I had to spell such a word). I finally got to the playground and question myself while I saw no children. I found cover in the deep trails as the rain continued and hail started to come down. Pea size hail beating down on you does get irritating like a sister constantly poking you in the same spot all the time. I walked the trails in peace and laughter. I was soaked. The rain lightened up so I started my way back to mentor's home and it started up out of spite to see me run until I could not and walk in the heaviest rain and hail of the day. I stopped at a local grocery place for the cover from the rain and waited and as the rain eased I walked the rest of the way without any rain. I got a warm shower and looked outside to see the sun out and bright beautiful day. For some reason I caught a fever and several infections to the loss of my voice to multiple ear aches.
In it all I was getting ready for the district assembly when the Church comes to together to worship and praise God for everything. It is a time where all pastors come together and we get the catch to see each other and talk about what has happened this year in our area. It is an amazing time for fellowship, for renewal, for forgiveness, for compassion, and for praising God. The first day I was there for 13 hours helping where I could and listening to what God is doing in New Zealand and how we need to be there where He is. That day was focused on the children and the youth...the Church's future and how we are teaching and molding them. The night I witnessed my youth group doing the famous Haka (Maori dance of welcoming where proud, bravery, and ferociousness is displaced).
The next day brought with it a carpooling experience because at this time I have already moved from my mentor's home to live with an amazing Korean Pastor and his wife. We listened to what had happened in the year in the district and what changes are coming for the future. I have a great respect for my mentor as his wisdom and experience is something I witness from his actions and his words. If I were a sponge I would absorb it all...(Now I am thinking of spongebob) lol. The night brought with it the focus on how the Church is not a building and how Christians are creating organic churches now. Instead trying to bring the people to the Church, we are bring the Church to the people where they are. I have agreed with this idea for years and it is good to finally see it being discussed and happening.
The next day was Sunday. I was blessed by going to the Samoan congregation, I do not understand what is not in English but my most is understood and clearly God's presence was there. After I was welcomed to eat with them. I found myself immersed into a culture that embraced my presence for the lack of understanding their language.
I was welcomed and I felt it was good to have a communal meal with pastors and congregation as we discussed topics from theology to marriage. I had to go back to Church for the second service and when I got there I found a text message from that service they went to another change for an earlier service.
It gave me time to work on the community garden. I was taking rotting grass trimmings onto the bed as seeds are already showing growth. I noticed something different. When I had donated rocks I placed around the the first and a little bit around the second bed. Each bed is about 60 feet in length and 4 feet is width, and I realized someone has found our stones to their liking. All the large stones around the bed were gone. I started laughing wondering if the person or persons brought buckets over to pick the rocks up individually. Did he/she or they do it in the light or in the darkness with flashlights? It is laughable.
That night was the end of the district assembly and it was good to see so many people show up to praise and worship together for God. Many came to seek forgiveness and renewal to charge the spiritual battery and tears were seen and crying was heard as God's presence was felt. As the night ended pastors came together for pictures and I found myself among them. It was good to call each of them my brothers.
The lesson to be learned is to take what we are given and when we are tested...laugh. God is always with us and I know He has an amazing humor. Not because he made me...lol. Simply laugh at the situation and then take a deep breath and take one step forward and continue through the test knowing He is right there with you.
In it all I was getting ready for the district assembly when the Church comes to together to worship and praise God for everything. It is a time where all pastors come together and we get the catch to see each other and talk about what has happened this year in our area. It is an amazing time for fellowship, for renewal, for forgiveness, for compassion, and for praising God. The first day I was there for 13 hours helping where I could and listening to what God is doing in New Zealand and how we need to be there where He is. That day was focused on the children and the youth...the Church's future and how we are teaching and molding them. The night I witnessed my youth group doing the famous Haka (Maori dance of welcoming where proud, bravery, and ferociousness is displaced).
The next day brought with it a carpooling experience because at this time I have already moved from my mentor's home to live with an amazing Korean Pastor and his wife. We listened to what had happened in the year in the district and what changes are coming for the future. I have a great respect for my mentor as his wisdom and experience is something I witness from his actions and his words. If I were a sponge I would absorb it all...(Now I am thinking of spongebob) lol. The night brought with it the focus on how the Church is not a building and how Christians are creating organic churches now. Instead trying to bring the people to the Church, we are bring the Church to the people where they are. I have agreed with this idea for years and it is good to finally see it being discussed and happening.
The next day was Sunday. I was blessed by going to the Samoan congregation, I do not understand what is not in English but my most is understood and clearly God's presence was there. After I was welcomed to eat with them. I found myself immersed into a culture that embraced my presence for the lack of understanding their language.
I was welcomed and I felt it was good to have a communal meal with pastors and congregation as we discussed topics from theology to marriage. I had to go back to Church for the second service and when I got there I found a text message from that service they went to another change for an earlier service.
It gave me time to work on the community garden. I was taking rotting grass trimmings onto the bed as seeds are already showing growth. I noticed something different. When I had donated rocks I placed around the the first and a little bit around the second bed. Each bed is about 60 feet in length and 4 feet is width, and I realized someone has found our stones to their liking. All the large stones around the bed were gone. I started laughing wondering if the person or persons brought buckets over to pick the rocks up individually. Did he/she or they do it in the light or in the darkness with flashlights? It is laughable.
That night was the end of the district assembly and it was good to see so many people show up to praise and worship together for God. Many came to seek forgiveness and renewal to charge the spiritual battery and tears were seen and crying was heard as God's presence was felt. As the night ended pastors came together for pictures and I found myself among them. It was good to call each of them my brothers.
The lesson to be learned is to take what we are given and when we are tested...laugh. God is always with us and I know He has an amazing humor. Not because he made me...lol. Simply laugh at the situation and then take a deep breath and take one step forward and continue through the test knowing He is right there with you.
Tuesday 13 November 2012
Zombies
I have noticed my youth have no problem accepting the spiritual realm but however only think about it as another place to go like walking out of a house to go outside. They see no transaction or the reason for believing it is wrong to take one's life. Suicide is unfortunately very high in New Zealand and from talking with youth I can understand somehow they were taught this way. My first step to teach them correctly is bring in ideas they are familiar with such as zombies. Who does not know about zombies? Put your hand down Dave, we talked about it many times. Since 2010 there have been 638 movies made about zombies our world craves the unnatural and spiritual warfare. Here is what I would like to call the zombie rule book of what makes a zombie a zombie:
As we have learned through two thousand of years people can take scripture to mean anything they want if they do not read it in the context and the hermeneutic breakdown of its real meaning.
Isaiah 26:19-21: Your dead
shall live, their corpses shall rise. O dwellers in the dust, wake and
sing for joy! For your dew is a radiant dew, and the earth will give birth to
those long dead. Come, my people, enter your chambers, and shut your
doors behind you;
That sounds like zombies to me right? People should stay in their homes as the undead come back to punish earth. However, the verse section before this is the judgment on Moab and this section is the lament and reassurance. It is a moment where the wicked people are punished but God's people have been given a promise for a resurrection to a new life. They must be patient a little longer, until God's judgment comes. After the verses spoken of pass it leads to God's redemption of Israel. Therefore, punishment of the Israel's enemies and punishment on the wicked people in Israel then a new life comes after God's judgement and Israel is restored.
1)
Zombies are human bodies that died and have come back
to life.
2) Zombies only possess basic motor skills.
3)
Zombies cannot talk. At best they can communicate like
animals through moans and groans.
4)
Zombies have one intention: to eat the living.
5) Zombies are physical
6)
Zombie’s bodies are decaying and rotting.
7) Zombies are not capable of complex thoughts or
problem solving skills.
That being said I hope we all can agree upon the basic formula of what makes a zombie a zombie. So let's go further into this out of the 638 movies I have reviewed my personal favorites are:
(Not in any order from best to worst)
1)
Day of the Dead (1985)
2)
28 days later (2002)
3)
Resident Evil (2002)
4)
Abraham Lincoln vs. Zombies (2012)
5)
Zombie land (2009)
6)
Shaun of the Dead (2004)
7)
Dawn of the Dead (2004)
8)
Army of Darkness (1993)
9)
Night of the Living Dead (1968)
10) The
Crazies (2010)
That being said how many Christian denominations are out there currently because people have taken scripture to mean what they want it to mean? Wikipedia tells me all over the world there are around 41,000 different forms of Christianity.
So let's go to some scripture:
Isaiah 26:19-21: Your dead
shall live, their corpses shall rise. O dwellers in the dust, wake and
sing for joy! For your dew is a radiant dew, and the earth will give birth to
those long dead. Come, my people, enter your chambers, and shut your
doors behind you;
hide yourselves for a little while until the wrath is past. For the Lord comes out from his place to punish the inhabitants of
the earth for their iniquity; the earth will disclose the blood shed on it, and
will no longer cover its slain.
That sounds like zombies to me right? People should stay in their homes as the undead come back to punish earth. However, the verse section before this is the judgment on Moab and this section is the lament and reassurance. It is a moment where the wicked people are punished but God's people have been given a promise for a resurrection to a new life. They must be patient a little longer, until God's judgment comes. After the verses spoken of pass it leads to God's redemption of Israel. Therefore, punishment of the Israel's enemies and punishment on the wicked people in Israel then a new life comes after God's judgement and Israel is restored.
I could continue through different verses of scripture and take them out of their context to mean almost anything I can think about. But if I apply contextualized hermeneutic tools and understanding of the scriptures then I will learn what it is really telling me. To take the zombie out of the equation entirely let's visit
1 Corinthians 15:35-57 (that discusses our two bodies)
The first body is the physical body, made from the dust as they will return to the dust. The second one is the spiritual one similar to Jesus' body after the resurrection. Able to eat but at the same time walk through walls.
let's see from verse 50 to 57:
50 What I am saying, brothers and sisters, is
this: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the
perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I will tell you a mystery! We will
not all die, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an
eye, at the last trumpet.
For
the trumpet will sound, and the
dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For this perishable body must put on imperishability, and this mortal
body must put on immortality. When this perishable body puts on
imperishability, and this mortal body puts on immortality, then the saying that
is written will be fulfilled: ‘Death has been swallowed up in victory.’ ‘Where, O death, is your
victory? Where, O death, is your sting?’ The sting of death is sin, and
the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory
through our Lord Jesus Christ.
So, when we pass from this existence our second body is given to us made imperishable and immortal. Zombies are not being raised up from the ground to kill the living that Hollywood has illustrated since the 60's. We are given this spiritual body that God has designed for us and won by Jesus Christ. We are the children of God given the promise of resurrection in a new life. Amen.
Monday 12 November 2012
Workshop day
It is great to come up with an idea and tell two congregations this is what we are doing. Its another thing if they show help out. lol. A week ago, I created a poster "Free Workshop to learn to create your own compost, worm bed, and seed the community garden" I said "all are welcome". I invited my guest speaker Dave Avery back again for this event. But in the confusion I was not sure if he responded back to me if he will be there. I woke up this past Saturday November 10th and left from my Mentor's house to be at Takanini Church and prep everything to be ready. I wrote on the poster the event will start at 9:00am. I got there at 8:15am to get everything ready. I bought some baked goods from across the street what they call a hot dog. It tastes good and is baked with a bread wrapped around it with cheeses on top. I remember the food...lol.
I waited...8:30am passes by and I start to worry about my speaker so I start reading up on paperwork I was given by Dave at an earlier time. Just in case if I needed to be the teacher. 9:00am comes and there is a eerie silence. The vehicles are passing by as they often do on a busy street but I was there alone. No one was there but me. It reminded me of Cleveland, Ohio again. I prayed for wisdom and patience. At 9:05am I see a shadow, as my mind works with movies I immediately about the movie called the "the Shadow" the one phrase I remember is when the shadow learned something he already knew you would hear, "the shadow knows...ha ha ha ha ha (a hard almost evil laugh)" As the shadow drew closer to me I could hear that phrase in my head and I started laughing out loud like the shadow....lol.
As the shadow formed in my sight it was Dave Avery. He showed and I was pleasantly surprised. He looked around and asked, "Is anyone coming?" I told him no worries they will show. As we started talking Pastor Kili from the Samoan service pulled up and dropped three youths and told me he was going to find some more. I was happy to hear the news that He was here and helping me find people to learn about their community garden. At 9:30am another vehicle pulled up with Kent my youth leader of the Maori service and a few of his family. But when I turned around they and their vehicle was gone. Did I just imagine it was here? I thought to myself. At 10:00am they showed back up telling me they went to driver's father's place looking for grass trimmings but found none. I told them that is ok earlier in the week I mower the grass at my Mentor's place and kept the trimmings as well as my hair, I felt was time to leave me, was all collected and waiting. At 10:15am a few vehicles pull in and soon many Samoan youth and Maori youth are standing together listening to Dave as he teaches them about the garden. I was happy to see two congregations learning about their garden and excited to do the work. At one point lawn mowers were bought out and both youth groups worked together cutting the tall grass on the property and collected its trimmings next to the compost Dave showed us how to start. He gave us tiger worms for our compost, small but always hungry.
As the day went on the ladies came and some practiced for their Sunday service while others cooked for our lunch. I had two sausages with the sweet ketchup here and it was good. I sat down with some of the Samoans and soon I was gave noodles in a bowel. I asked why and in their reply because you are a pastor. I thanked them as I did not read the outside label and my lips and tongue were burning as the juices were full of spices. Spices and me are not good friends, they turn my face a bright red....lol.
The garden activities were done and the Church property was clean. Now we needed to clean the inside, I took it upon myself to have my youth clean out the board room and move things around to use the shelves of the unused room for storage in a couple of weeks for a food pantry for the community. The extra space can be used for the children ministry on a rainy day.
The day turned out better then I expected and I was so glad to see Samoans and Maori learning, working, and eating together.
I waited...8:30am passes by and I start to worry about my speaker so I start reading up on paperwork I was given by Dave at an earlier time. Just in case if I needed to be the teacher. 9:00am comes and there is a eerie silence. The vehicles are passing by as they often do on a busy street but I was there alone. No one was there but me. It reminded me of Cleveland, Ohio again. I prayed for wisdom and patience. At 9:05am I see a shadow, as my mind works with movies I immediately about the movie called the "the Shadow" the one phrase I remember is when the shadow learned something he already knew you would hear, "the shadow knows...ha ha ha ha ha (a hard almost evil laugh)" As the shadow drew closer to me I could hear that phrase in my head and I started laughing out loud like the shadow....lol.
As the shadow formed in my sight it was Dave Avery. He showed and I was pleasantly surprised. He looked around and asked, "Is anyone coming?" I told him no worries they will show. As we started talking Pastor Kili from the Samoan service pulled up and dropped three youths and told me he was going to find some more. I was happy to hear the news that He was here and helping me find people to learn about their community garden. At 9:30am another vehicle pulled up with Kent my youth leader of the Maori service and a few of his family. But when I turned around they and their vehicle was gone. Did I just imagine it was here? I thought to myself. At 10:00am they showed back up telling me they went to driver's father's place looking for grass trimmings but found none. I told them that is ok earlier in the week I mower the grass at my Mentor's place and kept the trimmings as well as my hair, I felt was time to leave me, was all collected and waiting. At 10:15am a few vehicles pull in and soon many Samoan youth and Maori youth are standing together listening to Dave as he teaches them about the garden. I was happy to see two congregations learning about their garden and excited to do the work. At one point lawn mowers were bought out and both youth groups worked together cutting the tall grass on the property and collected its trimmings next to the compost Dave showed us how to start. He gave us tiger worms for our compost, small but always hungry.
As the day went on the ladies came and some practiced for their Sunday service while others cooked for our lunch. I had two sausages with the sweet ketchup here and it was good. I sat down with some of the Samoans and soon I was gave noodles in a bowel. I asked why and in their reply because you are a pastor. I thanked them as I did not read the outside label and my lips and tongue were burning as the juices were full of spices. Spices and me are not good friends, they turn my face a bright red....lol.
The garden activities were done and the Church property was clean. Now we needed to clean the inside, I took it upon myself to have my youth clean out the board room and move things around to use the shelves of the unused room for storage in a couple of weeks for a food pantry for the community. The extra space can be used for the children ministry on a rainy day.
The day turned out better then I expected and I was so glad to see Samoans and Maori learning, working, and eating together.
Friday 2 November 2012
Reflection #4
I was thinking and often when I do I start driving deeper into the thoughts that are already there. I thought about a idea in my head that I have spoken about many times before. God gives us freedom but remains in control. How is that possible right? When I was younger my parents had me going to a Church that believed in predestination. The idea that God has planned out everything for you and what you are doing is planned by Him. If that were the case then why have Adam and Eve break away from Him in their immature finite existence. If that is the case why even bring His son to our existence?
In the same sense of how can I with my finite mind even glimpse into the reality of God's thoughts.
The moment I wake I am allowed to breath. That breath is not mine to claim but it is God's breath giving me life. The first decision comes to stay in bed or get up. The next choice is to get dressed. The next a shower. The next my hair and teeth. The next the proper clothes to wear for the day. The next devotion. Then the day continues as my choices lead me to many places. By writing out the different choices I make in just a minutes I am also going to use them as the example of God's freedom.
I am created by God. But I am not a robot. I am capable of of sincere love for God. In my perspective I can buy a toy robot and have it do everything I want and it can walk close to me with its arms extended similar to a hug. But it is only artificial love. God has given humanity freedom and with that came choice. The decision to choose from the light or the dark, or inside instead of being outside. By giving us choice we are complex finite creatures capable of sincere love in a life filled with diversity. God loves diversity. In the sight of New Zealand landscape it can be seen of the hills, mountains, forests, the many different kinds of birds and their many types of colors. I could go into the sea and find live filled with diversity from the fish to the plants. What the human race? We are diverse in our tribes, nations, and tongues. We are diverse in many cultures we create to bring together a people group.
Which brings me back to my thought of God's freedom for us to choice but still remaining in control. As each choice I wrote above there is always a different or many different decisions that could have taken place. Take for example a path that is walkable with each choice I have and choose another pathway I create. Each choose I make I create another pathway, another ripple effecting my surrounding and those individuals of their pathways. Each choice a free decision to make. God knows all these trillions of choices per person but allows the freedom for us to choose always reminding us of the main pathway to Him.
Take another example on the visual appearance of a green leaf. One main line from stem to the end of the leaf but many different branches reaching out the extent of that leaf, each branch a choice leading further out but remaining how God has intended its design. Similar to the leaf there is one main pathway but few ever choose it.
Freedom in our choices allows us the ability to love with sincerity to our Father. Each choice we make ripples in the pond of those around us. Our choice effects others and by doing many can be lead on different paths. Therefore, it is theme through out the Bible for a community of believers. A community with freedom to choose to worship and praise together in diversity of our creation in the acknowledgment of our finite minds can conceive.
I hope I have not confused you to much...:)
In the same sense of how can I with my finite mind even glimpse into the reality of God's thoughts.
The moment I wake I am allowed to breath. That breath is not mine to claim but it is God's breath giving me life. The first decision comes to stay in bed or get up. The next choice is to get dressed. The next a shower. The next my hair and teeth. The next the proper clothes to wear for the day. The next devotion. Then the day continues as my choices lead me to many places. By writing out the different choices I make in just a minutes I am also going to use them as the example of God's freedom.
I am created by God. But I am not a robot. I am capable of of sincere love for God. In my perspective I can buy a toy robot and have it do everything I want and it can walk close to me with its arms extended similar to a hug. But it is only artificial love. God has given humanity freedom and with that came choice. The decision to choose from the light or the dark, or inside instead of being outside. By giving us choice we are complex finite creatures capable of sincere love in a life filled with diversity. God loves diversity. In the sight of New Zealand landscape it can be seen of the hills, mountains, forests, the many different kinds of birds and their many types of colors. I could go into the sea and find live filled with diversity from the fish to the plants. What the human race? We are diverse in our tribes, nations, and tongues. We are diverse in many cultures we create to bring together a people group.
Which brings me back to my thought of God's freedom for us to choice but still remaining in control. As each choice I wrote above there is always a different or many different decisions that could have taken place. Take for example a path that is walkable with each choice I have and choose another pathway I create. Each choose I make I create another pathway, another ripple effecting my surrounding and those individuals of their pathways. Each choice a free decision to make. God knows all these trillions of choices per person but allows the freedom for us to choose always reminding us of the main pathway to Him.
Take another example on the visual appearance of a green leaf. One main line from stem to the end of the leaf but many different branches reaching out the extent of that leaf, each branch a choice leading further out but remaining how God has intended its design. Similar to the leaf there is one main pathway but few ever choose it.
Freedom in our choices allows us the ability to love with sincerity to our Father. Each choice we make ripples in the pond of those around us. Our choice effects others and by doing many can be lead on different paths. Therefore, it is theme through out the Bible for a community of believers. A community with freedom to choose to worship and praise together in diversity of our creation in the acknowledgment of our finite minds can conceive.
I hope I have not confused you to much...:)
A walk into the past of New Zealand
This past Thursday I was given the chance to go on a trip with my mentor and fellow 365M students from Nazarene Theological Seminary. We meet each other Wednesday night and it was good to see each other again. We were allowed to go to a Bible study and listen to the sermon "When life hurts there is hope". I could have spoken up about my own life and say there is hope. However, there is wisdom in being an observer and simply listening to where the discussion goes and who are the speakers. Knowledge is power. The Bible study concluded and one fellow student told me one of the ladies asked them if I was a real life hobbit....lol.
The next day came and through a warm shower to wake me up and my devotions to feed me I was ready for the day to begin. As three students including myself, which most of the time I sat in the middle, in the back seat we were off to visit the places of history in New Zealand. The drive to each location was not long but the length of my legs did not agree. We arrived to our first location seeking a ferry across the bay of islands. It was nice to be on a ferry and smell the water and feel the wind brushing against my face. We arrived in Russell and visited the oldest Church in New Zealand. The first time to visit us was the graveyard as we found Maori and Pakeha (Non-Maori) lay next to each other in this scared place. The Church was small but plagues on its walls told of its history in remembering those who fell in war. It was sad to see the graves of five year olds and yet romantic to see a husband and wife buried with each other. I guess I am a hopeless romantic. We walked through Russell and found ourselves back on the ferry. I sat on the top of the boat and imagined from the pages of "The Bible & Treaty" by Keith Newman how hundreds of European ships sat in this bay.
We visited Waitangi where the treaty took place. What treaty? The treaty that allowed NZ to be governed by British rule while the Maori people were allowed their independence and were able to keep their land and all their treasures. We watch a movie explaining the treaty and how without it the Maori people would have faded into the history books. However, the movie never mentioned how essential the Missionaries were in the treaty. We saw Maori war canoes and Thomas Hobbs home. I could see the steps I have taken were steps taken by millions of others. I was not alone. My camera flashed many times taking in what words could not express in the lands beauty, history, and peace.
We visited several locations during the day but the important one to me was visiting Marsden's cross. I felt the drive there we were about drive off the road and into the sea. The walk showed how unkempt the location was and it was sad. This cross symbolized the first location in NZ where the Gospel was preached on Christmas day in 1814. The first location where Christianity was opened to be spoken on NZ land. It was not the European influence but the Maori Chief that wanted it to happen.
It was good to stand beside this memorial and look out to the bay of islands and imagine how many war canoes and European boats were pushed to the shore and how everyone was together to hear the word of God.
I am glad I was allowed to be given the insight into the history of NZ. I will admit the drive seemed to unwind my personality as I was the most spoken person out of five people. But my headaches rolled me in and reminded me when my word limit was met and every word after would cost me in pain. Oh headaches you are thorn in my side and I know you are smiling about that. You are like a neighbor I can not stand but somehow always has a key to my home and comes down any time you want.
Overall, the trip was amazing and I saw so many beautiful landscapes of NZ and I saw the locations of history. It was fun hanging out with the rest of the 365M students.
The next day came and through a warm shower to wake me up and my devotions to feed me I was ready for the day to begin. As three students including myself, which most of the time I sat in the middle, in the back seat we were off to visit the places of history in New Zealand. The drive to each location was not long but the length of my legs did not agree. We arrived to our first location seeking a ferry across the bay of islands. It was nice to be on a ferry and smell the water and feel the wind brushing against my face. We arrived in Russell and visited the oldest Church in New Zealand. The first time to visit us was the graveyard as we found Maori and Pakeha (Non-Maori) lay next to each other in this scared place. The Church was small but plagues on its walls told of its history in remembering those who fell in war. It was sad to see the graves of five year olds and yet romantic to see a husband and wife buried with each other. I guess I am a hopeless romantic. We walked through Russell and found ourselves back on the ferry. I sat on the top of the boat and imagined from the pages of "The Bible & Treaty" by Keith Newman how hundreds of European ships sat in this bay.
We visited Waitangi where the treaty took place. What treaty? The treaty that allowed NZ to be governed by British rule while the Maori people were allowed their independence and were able to keep their land and all their treasures. We watch a movie explaining the treaty and how without it the Maori people would have faded into the history books. However, the movie never mentioned how essential the Missionaries were in the treaty. We saw Maori war canoes and Thomas Hobbs home. I could see the steps I have taken were steps taken by millions of others. I was not alone. My camera flashed many times taking in what words could not express in the lands beauty, history, and peace.
We visited several locations during the day but the important one to me was visiting Marsden's cross. I felt the drive there we were about drive off the road and into the sea. The walk showed how unkempt the location was and it was sad. This cross symbolized the first location in NZ where the Gospel was preached on Christmas day in 1814. The first location where Christianity was opened to be spoken on NZ land. It was not the European influence but the Maori Chief that wanted it to happen.
It was good to stand beside this memorial and look out to the bay of islands and imagine how many war canoes and European boats were pushed to the shore and how everyone was together to hear the word of God.
I am glad I was allowed to be given the insight into the history of NZ. I will admit the drive seemed to unwind my personality as I was the most spoken person out of five people. But my headaches rolled me in and reminded me when my word limit was met and every word after would cost me in pain. Oh headaches you are thorn in my side and I know you are smiling about that. You are like a neighbor I can not stand but somehow always has a key to my home and comes down any time you want.
Overall, the trip was amazing and I saw so many beautiful landscapes of NZ and I saw the locations of history. It was fun hanging out with the rest of the 365M students.
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