Tupu Whakarangi Magazine Issue 243

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Tupu Whakarangi

COURTNEY’S STORY

“Wordly sorrow was replaced with a sorrow that made me want to get right with God.”

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MENTAL WELL-BEING

How to gain maximum effectiveness with minimum weariness.

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ISSUE 243 | WWW.MAORIPOSTAL.CO.NZ

GRAHAM BATSON

Former Superintendent and Tupu Whakarangi editor.

Contents

P — 03 Editorial

Jesus Himself made it clear when He said, “I am THE WAY, THE TRUTH and THE LIFE. No one comes to the Father except through Me”

P — 04 Graham Batson’s Tribute

He was an incredible man, with an incredible faith who did an incredible work for God.

P — 06 Courtney Thompson’s Testimony

The worldly sorrow I had was replaced by a sorrow that made me want to get right with God.

P — 10 The Life Shop

The Māori abortion rate in currently at 23%. This is so sad and so against the Māori culture that strongly believes in the sanctity of life.

P — 12 Super Bible Comics

The first 5,000 comics have been printed and are ready for distribution around Aotearoa.

P — 14 Secrets to: Mental Well Being

Through the psychology of Ihu Karaiti, will bring you maximum effectiveness with minimum weariness.

P — 18 MPA in Our Communities

My life has changed finding the Lord my Father by my side every day.

P — 20 Tamariki, he mea homei na te Ihowā

Here are two more important concepts that should be part of growing our tamariki.

“As long as I am sincere in what I believe, I’m sure Ihowā will allow me into Heaven.” This is an idea many people have. But is sincerity enough?

Suppose you wanted to travel to a certain place, and you said, “It doesn’t matter which road I take, as long as I am sincere”. More than likely, you would never reach your destination. For sincerity to be of any value, it must be based upon truth. It is therefore strange that many people do not think this rule applies when it comes to their spiritual destiny, yet Ihu Karaiti made it clear when He said, “I am THE WAY, THE TRUTH and THE LIFE. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6).

In Paul’s letter to the Christians at Corinth, he tells us why Ihu Karaiti is the ONLY way. He writes, “For what I received [from the Lord] I passed on to you as of first importance, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried and he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).

Here we have the heart of the Gospel and these truths were given to Paul by Ihu Karaiti. Paul further writes “I want you to know the Gospel I preached is not of human origin. I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ” (Galatians 1:11-12).

Ihu Karaiti, the eternal, infinite Tama of Ihowā, took upon a human form and proved through the miracles He did who He was. Then He allowed Himself to be taken by the religious leaders of the day (who hated Him because He revealed their hypocrisy), He was given a false trial and handed over to the Romans to suffer the terrible death of crucifixion. In His death and resurrection, He paid the penalty for our sin so that we could be cleansed and forgiven and belong to Him for eternity.

Do you really think Ihu Karaiti would have suffered all of that if there was some other way your sin could have been dealt with and your eternal destiny made secure? No!

IHU KARAITI IS THE ONLY WAY!

We refer to Paul’s letter to the Christians in Galatia who were being infiltrated by false teachers. Paul writes to them, “Some people are throwing you into confusion and trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse!” (Galatians 1:7-9).

Why was Paul sure the Gospel he preached was indeed the truth? Because he had received it from the risen Karaiti and it had radically changed Paul’s life. Once Paul was a fanatical persecutor of Christians; now he was preaching the Gospel he had once tried to destroy.

There are many false teachings in the world today. Ihowā gave His only Tama to provide salvation for us. The Gospel is the only way through which you and I can be saved.

Last Editorial by Graham Batson

Graham Batson

Many of you will be familiar with the name “Graham Batson”, and possibly even the man. He was an incredible man, with an incredible faith who did an incredible work for God.

Graham Batson was born 13 July 1946 and passed into the arms of his loving Lord and Saviour, Ihu Karaiti, on the morning of 21 March 2022. Seventy-five years he lived, and almost fifty of those with his wonderful God given wife, Evelyn. For forty-four of those years, they worked in service together for Māori Postal Aotearoa (formerly Māori Postal Sunday School).

Graham and Evelyn Batson joined Māori Postal Aotearoa in 1976. Graham had worked as a linotype operator for the Manawatu Standard for ten years, followed by employment in various other firms including two years with the Gospel Publishing House.

He was also involved with various Christian ministries including open air preaching, beach missions, speaking in churches, literature distribution and Māori ministries.

Graham and Evelyn were approached in 1975 by Fred Fox (the then Superintendent of Māori Postal Sunday School) concerning becoming involved with the ministry. After much prayer and seeking God’s guidance, Graham and Evelyn moved with their two daughters to Whanganui in 1976.

In 1979 Graham became editor of the Tupu Whakarangi magazine, and in 1982, following Fred Fox’s retirement, Graham was appointed as Superintendent. At that time MPA had 7500 tamariki receiving lessons monthly. There were also 50+ branch leaders around Aotearoa who would deliver those lessons to the tamariki and minister to the families.

In all the years of Graham’s leadership and service, the work has continued to expand. Not long after Graham became Superintendent, he decided to trial a new resource – bilingual text posters. These consisted of a Bible verse in Māori, with an English translation and have become increasingly popular with almost 20,000 being distributed during 2021.

1990 saw the introduction of the calendar as a Christian tool for outreach. Printing just 5000 copies the first year, followed by 8000 copies in 1991, then 15,000 copies in 1992 Graham realised the huge impact this resource was having in terms of getting the gospel into homes. As requests for the calendar grew, Graham found it no longer cost or time effective to continue to print inhouse so made the decision to outsource the calendar. Last year we had printed and distributed 33,000 maramataka.

During the late 90s, Graham realised there was a need for people who had completed the series of lessons to continue to be discipled, and he began to put together the Tupu Whakaora Studies. These are based on his own personal studies.

Graham took every need to the Lord in prayer, trusting the Lord so that every Bible lesson, every publication, etc was able to be provided free throughout the country. That is incredible, exemplary faith.

In Psalm 84 we read of a psalmist looking to go to worship at the festival week in Jerusalem, or Zion as he calls it. He is contemplating a long arduous journey, and he says:

“Ka haere atu rātou i te kaha ki te kaha; ka kitea rātou ki te aroaro o te Atua i Hiona.”

Ngā Waiata 84:7

“How blessed is the man who’s strength is in you and whose heart are the highways to Zion. Passing through the valley of Baca they make it a place of springs; the early rain also covers it with pools. They go from strength to strength and everyone of them appears before God at Zion.” vs 5-7

This has been Graham and Evelyn’s life together. They have served in oneness, for one purpose. They have been on the road to Zion. As Graham has written lessons, every lesson that has been sent is like digging a spring on that arduous journey. He digs a spring so he can supply and feed his own whānau, but not only that he leaves the spring so people who are following the same path now have a spring to drink from.

Graham has for forty-four years, been digging life giving springs. These springs fed people in prisons, people in the back blocks of Aotearoa, people all over our country, and

people have stepped onto the highways to Zion because they received the gospel that was preached.

This was Graham’s ministry, his mission and his heart.

Left Photo of Graham and Evelyn Batson.

Above and below photos taken of Graham at Māori Postal Aotearoa.

Courtney Thompson's Testimony

Tena koutou katoa

Ko Hikurangi toku maunga

Ko Waiapu toku awa

Ko Ngati Porau toku iwi

Ko Rongomai Aniwaniwa toku hapu

Ko Peter Thompson taku tane

Ko Courtney Thompson toku ingoa

E rua tekau ma whitu taku pakeke

My earliest memories were around three years old. I started having paranormal encounters, out of body experiences, sleep paralysis, sleep walking and talking. Some of these experiences were fun, others were so terrifying I remember them like it was yesterday.

Later in life these encounters led me to practice very dark witchcraft, yoga, worldly meditation and channelling spirits. I was a practicing psychic medium and owned an online and private home business which reached hundreds of people. I was a Reiki healer, and had a lot of shamanistic influence using crystals, herbs, plants and other instruments to perform energy healing. I used tarot cards and oracle/angel decks –some of which had biblical themes. My drug addiction and self-harm enhanced these

experiences when I could no longer do it sober.

I was searching for truth, for aroha and light in the darkness that was my life. I was wanting answers to why I was here and what was my purpose. I just wanted aroha but unfortunately, I was looking for it in the wrong places. No matter what I read, what I did, what I saw or how many drugs or how much alcohol I consumed, I was never satisfied.

During 2019 I was angry, depressed and full of hate towards myself and the things I had done, and also towards others and what they had done to me. I found myself in a very dark place and had a plan to end my life.

Then God showed up in a profound way. He used my broken-down car and a certain mechanic to bring me the bad news about sin, but also the good news of hope, forgiveness and most importantly being able to have a relationship with someone who truly had aroha for me. God used this method of reaching me four times. I was also researching and gathering information

about Christianity off the internet. There’s some weird stuff on there. Once I got a hold of a Bible that’s when God got a hold of my heart.

It took about four months before the Lord broke through the pride I held, and I went to church. That day was the first day I ever went to church. It was Easter Sunday and the first time I had ever heard what Easter really was about. I was crying so hard because my heart broke when listening to a detailed account of what Ihu Karaiti suffered on the cross of Calvary. I heard loud and clear that He was nailed there, not only for each and every one of us, but for ME!

“Koia anō te aroha o te Atua ki te ao, hōmai ana e ia tāna Tama kotahi, kia kāhore ai e ngaro te tangata e whakapono ana ki a ia, engari kia whiwhi ai ki te ora tonu.”

The worldly sorrow I had that made me want to end my life was replaced with a sorrow that made me want to get right with God, and finally be rescued from my

Hoani 3:16

The worldly sorrow I had that made me want to end myself was replaced by a sorrow that made me want to get right with God, to finally be rescued from my pain. Me and Him had that time together on my bedroom floor day after day for weeks on my knees in prayer, just repenting, reading the Bible and rejoicing with Him as each and everyone of Satan’s lies fell away.

”

pain. God and I had that time together on my bedroom floor day after day for weeks on my knees in prayer - repenting, reading the Bible, rejoicing with Him as each of Satan’s lies fell away.

I can honestly say I no longer feel ashamed and can openly talk about everything. This is only because Ihu Karaiti has given me freedom. He’s given me the ability to not only be forgiven for what I’ve done, but to forgive those who hurt me. Reading the Bible, praying, getting to know who God is personally, what He says about me, about this world, about where we’ve come from and where we are going has really changed my life for the better.

I had an amazing year and a half of resting and being in God’s presence. Experiencing joy, peace, aroha, comfort and forgiveness in ways that are so inexpressible.

But one day God spoke to my heart. I had fleeting thought that was “Okay NOW we have some work to do.” I knew what this was but I ignored it because I was holding back on surrendering something to the Lord. He could have all of me, except this one thing. I couldn’t trust God with this, or so I thought.

“Nā ko te whakamātautauranga o tō koutou whakapono, nui atu

tōna pai i tō te kōura e memeha nei, āe rā, i te mea kua oti te whakamātautau ki te kāpura, ā, ka kitea tōna tukunga iho, he whakamoemiti, he hōnore, he korōria, ā te whakakitenga mai o Īhu Karaiti.”

1 Pita 1:7

In Peter’s first epistle, He talks about trials. That was me for about eight months where I was being distressed by various trials. I would have one after another, after another. Even though I had experienced God’s aroha and the type of joy no words can describe, I turned my back on Him because of these trials and because I hadn’t fully trusted God. I stopped studying and reading the Word. I couldn’t pray. I had no peace. I didn’t have the Lord’s presence as strongly as I did, and I was going back to all the things I shouldn’t be doing.

The proof of my faith was as Peter says –like gold, being tested and refined by fire. God was bringing everything to the surface - all the impure thoughts, attitudes, beliefs, actions. He was bringing them to the surface, scooping them up and throwing them away as I surrendered each and every one.

The biggest one was the sexual abuse I tried to hide from God. He was wanting me to not only aroha Him but TRUST Him with all my heart, mind and strength. It has been one of the most difficult lessons God has taught me so far but it has been the most rewarding.

When I was younger, I was sexually molested by two family members and three other people on and off for ten years. I was exposed to pornography when I was very young which led to a pornography addiction, then a drug and alcohol addiction to mask the shame.

My home life wasn’t the best either – we did have great moments but the lows were low. It’s one thing to experience living in an abusive environment, but watching my

siblings, especially my younger brother, being hurt is something I’ll never forget.

During primary until my second year of high school I was bullied severely by kids. That’s when self-hatred and self-harm started. So, I turned my back on God when I was eight or nine years old. I really hated Him. When immoral things were happening to me, I would cry out to God but got no answer, No one rescued me. No one saw or hear d me. I only acknowledged a God when I was shaking my fists at Him.

I couldn’t see the bigger picture back then but now I know that only God can see the bigger picture – that scared little girl wasn’t what He intended me to be. I trust that this me right now is not God’s final master piece. In 30-40 years time I still won’t be perfected but I can’t wait to see what the good Lord has in store for me. What I have been through in the past, doesn’t matter because I know that God took no pleasure in the wicked things that were done to me. No evil can dwell with Him. I am now safe in Him. He is taking what’s happened to me and what I have been through, and is going to help me use it for the benefit of others when I become a qualified sexual abuse counsellor.

When I look back now at the ways the Lord was with me especially when I didn’t care about Him, or when I fall short in seeking, trusting and loving Him with my whole heart, I see God in certain moments in my life. He has protected me from so much, and provided for me and my family far too many times to name but that shows to me the realness of these precious words “Not that we aroha God, but that HE had aroha for us first”. God formed us in our mother’s wombs. He saw us before we were born. Every day of our lives are recorded in his book - every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. His thoughts about us are so precious and cannot be numbered.

1 Hoani 4:10

By His amazing grace, we all have a purpose for life, put together before we were born. An amazing plan that only God can unfold for you when he draws you to Him. When He calls you by name to place your faith in Ihu Karaiti , don’t hesitate, don’t turn your back on Him, instead turn your back on sin - pornography, gossip, jealously, pride and hate. Turn your back on struggling to do things your own way or the way the world tells you to and turn to Him. Cry out to Him. That is the first step to finding out what His good and perfect purpose for your life is.

By Courtney Thompson

“Ko te aroha tēnei, ehara i te mea ko tātou kua aroha ki te Atua, engari, ko ia kua aroha ki a tātou. ā tonoa mai ana e ia tāna Tama hei whakamārie mō ō tātou hara.”

Photo before I attempted suicide; 9 months before I became a Christian

The Life Shop

210 Victoria Avenue, Whanganui

For any advice or enquiries, please contact Helma Vermulen

Photo of Helma holding a baby she helped save from abortion

As a Voice for Life Committee, we were always very interested in a pro-life window display in the middle of our town. It was suggested we open a second-hand shop with a pro-life window, and use the proceeds from the shop to help mothers with crisis pregnancies, with our focus on the Māori community.

A sympathetic property developer heard this and allowed us the use of an empty shop on the main street of Whanganui. After moving in, we realised we were opposite the Family Planning Clinic which refers women for abortions. This confirmed for us the Lord was with us as our Landlord had not realised this.

The majority of the women we help are Māori. We are very thankful for this because the current abortion rate among Māori is 23%. This is so sad and against the Māori culture that strongly embraces the sanctity of life.

We have found a lot of Māori women are coerced into an abortion by being confronted with statistics on imprisonment, domestic violence, poverty and child abuse. While these statistics are not good, it is a tragedy to deny these children the right to live in a country they are indigenous to - and the highest statistic of them all is the Māori abortion rate!!

Through The Life Shop many Māori babies are saved and their mothers are helped. We introduce mothers to the House of Grace in Wellington or Hamilton where they are able to stay for up to three months and receive support and guidance with their pregnancy. We also help mothers with securing housing, vehicles and everything needed for a newborn baby.

The Life Shop sends baby necessities throughout Aotearoa. It is better to be a giver of life than a taker. We are all created in the image of God. This is one of the most important reasons for The Life Shop in Whanganui.

Abortion is Against Aroha

Ihu Karaiti said “By this everyone will know you are My disciples: if you aroha one another.” (John 13:35). Unfortunately, in our modern world, aroha has become little more than a mere good feeling instead of what it should be: the will to do good to another person, beginning with the unborn. It welcomes the stranger in the womb; it clothes the developing child with flesh; it visits the imprisoned babe with a lullaby; it feeds that tiny eternal soul with material nourishment. But the act of abortion turns away from all of this. Aroha gives, abortion takes.

Abortion is Against Language

Pro-abortionists must call it a “procedure” or a “fetus” or a “women’s choice” because they dare not describe the gross reality of it - we do to a human baby what we would not do to a mouse. Abortion survives by causing people to lie to one another, to evade the truth, or to silence opponents altogether. It is against language because it refuses to do what language was created to do: communicate. And its paradoxical effect is that those within society who clearly communicate what abortion is are soon excommunicated from society.

Abortion is Against Justice

According to the Natural Law, there is no other basis for justice except by appealing to the immutable rights of a human being. If, then, abortion is the unrestricted killing of inncoent human life (which it is), then it is the primary issue of injustice in our nation. By all measures of Justice, abortion is a crime, and it is a crime not only against our fellowmen, it is a crime against ourselves. By killing our tamariki we are killing our conscience, and by killing our conscience we are killing any ability to discern between right and wrong.

Abortion is Against Sexuality

The primary reason for the social prevalence of abortion is to prevent the punishment of promiscuous sex. Abortion encourages our society to continue its sexual degeneracy. It encourages men to treat women like meat, and women to treat children like disease. Abortion has proven to regard childbirth as a contemptible curse, rather than as a miraculous blessing, a divine co-creation, a fresh Free Will added to the world, and an eternal soul - made in the image of God.

- Points by Gabriel Finochio

“One in four New Zealand women will have an abortion across her lifetime.”

Quote from Family Planning chief executive Jackie Edmond

Super Bible Comics

Now available in Te Reō Māori through Māori Postal Aotearoa

Local Christians at Tauwhare church getting ready to deliever bags of kiwifruit and the first issues of the Super Bible Comics in Maori to the Tauwhare community.

During 2020 Māori Postal Aotearoa was offered a unique opportunity to work with Reach Beyond NZ in furthering its ministry to significantly impact the Tangata Whenua of Aotearoa.

We began working on a project to provide the SuperBible in Te Reo Māori in both digital and print form with a view to making it available for use in NZ prisons, schools, libraries, homes, churches, etc. God brought us into contact with some very generous supporters and finally to a wonderful translator. It has been amazing how God brought all these various people and organisations together, in His time and for His glory.

On Thursday 14 April 2022 Malachi & Char Williams (National Directors), Russell Hohneck (Chairman), Russell Grainger (CEO Reach Beyond), Ian McBride (Chairman Lichfield Lands Inc.), along with other staff and Board members travelled to Tauwhare to attend a dawn blessing of the new “ready to be released” TE TINO KŌRERO, translated by Dr. Tom Roa.

Te Tino Kōrero is the first in the SuperBible series, telling the story of the Bible. The SuperBible is a collection of Bible stories from Genesis through to Revelation, with twelve of them focusing on the life of Christ. The comics are presented with high quality graphics using some of the world’s most experienced animation artists. The quality of the artwork is astounding.

The Te Reo Māori Project involves translating over eighty high quality comic book Bible stories with characters from the Old and New Testaments. These are then printed in high quality and made available as a hard copy or digitally through a branded version of the SuperBible app.

The Māori Postal Aotearoa mobile app and website is currently in development for the distribution of these comics, along with our Bible lessons and studies to those who have access to mobile phones, tablets and computers. These will offer on-line viewing of the comics, children’s Bible lessons and adult Bible studies.

Working together with Kingstone Comics and Reach Beyond, Māori Postal Aotearoa now have these comics available to all New Zealanders in Te Reo.

Front Row (left to right): Atutahi Riki, Kemp Pallesen, Russell Grainger and Malachi Williams

Secrets to: Mental Well-Being

Mental health is an important area of life. The more we understand ourselves, the more we realise the significance of our mental health on overall behaviour, approach and attitude in life. Top newsmakers like Naomi Osaka, Michael Phelps, Serena Williams, Simone Biles and Prince Harry (to name a few), have expressed their concerns and struggles with mental issues openly.

Ihu Karaiti started his teachings with a sermon on the most sensitive topic of mental well being (Matthew 5:3-10). He knew that every person is in the search for happiness, and spoke on attitudes that bring happiness in one’s life. The principles given by Ihu Karaiti are the output of living Christ in one’s life. The results are not produced by one’s efforts to live a “said” life but by having that LIFE in us.

The eight principles which comprise the Beatitudes are the best prescription for mental and spiritual health.

Dr James Fisher, a well-known and widely travelled psychiatrist, went throughout the world looking for the positive qualities that make for good mental health. He said: “I dreamed of writing a handbook that would be simple, practical, easy to understand and easy to follow; it would tell people how to live - what thoughts and attitudes and philosophies to cultivate, and what pitfalls to avoid in seeking mental health. And quite by accident I discovered that such a work had been completed in the Beatitudes.”

What an amazing admission! Once a

person absorbs the principles which underlie the Beatitudes - and lives by them - that person will never again fall prey to serious depression or despair.

BEATITUDE #1- BLESSED ARE THE POOR IN SPIRIT, FOR THEIRS IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN

This beatitude refers to spiritual poverty (the need for Ihowā) - a willingness to throw away our own self-sufficiency and open our hands to receive Ihu Karaiti.

Luke 8:40-56 tells of one occasion when Ihu Karaiti passed along a road and a multitude thronged around Him. There was a wahine in deep need who came timidly through the crowd and touched His garment.

I encourage you to reach out and touch Karaiti in a definite and personal way. Touch Him now - today. Touch Him for forgiveness, for cleansing, for power over temptation, over fears, over anxieties, over everything that stands in the way of your personal happiness. As Ihu Karaiti gave Himself to those who needed Him when He was here on earth, so He does today.

BEATITUDE #2 - BLESSED ARE THEY WHO MOURN, FOR THEY WILL BE COMFORTED

The promise attached to this Beatitude is that you will be comforted. The word “mourn” has reference to more than just sorrowing over the death of one we aroha; it includes all those experiences in life where we may feel crushed, broken or pouri.

A better translation of this verse is: “Hari are those who know what pouri means, for they will be given courage and comfort.”

Why should people who are caught up in the throes of pouri experiences be hari? The conclusion of the verse gives the answer: ‘for they will be comforted’.

And what then? Out of the comfort they receive, they are able to give comfort to others. 2 Corinthians 1:4 says: ‘For Ihowā gives us comfort in all our trials so that we in turn may be able to give the same sort of strong sympathy to others in their troubles.’

BEATITUDE #3- BLESSED ARE THE MEEK FOR THEY WILL INHERIT THE LAND

A universal truth - the universe does not respond to the aggressive, who approach it in a demanding spirit. It is the meekthose who are yielded, submissive and compliant - who inherit the earth.

The quality of meekness (humility or gentleness) described in this Beatitude is not the result of natural temperament, but comes from knowing Ihu Karaiti and abiding in Him.

Most of us feel that we are too aggressive by nature and would therefore not be able to be a meek and mild person. This is correct as it is not a matter of natural disposition but a quality produced by the Wairua Tapu.

Consider the powerful and extraordinary nature of David - and yet observe his meekness. Consider Paul the apostle - a master mind, a powerful and outstanding personality, and yet consider his great humility and gentleness. How did these men get to be like this? Not because of a natural proneness toward meekness, but because they were indwelt by Karaiti and the Wairua Tapu. Meekness is not a matter of genes; it is a matter of grace.

BEATITUDE # 4 – BLESSED ARE THEY WHO HUNGER & THIRST FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS, FOR THEY WILL BE SATISFIED

Everyone thirsts after something - success, fame, stable relationships, financial security, etc. But there is a thirst which is common to every human manawa - the thirst for happiness.

Notice, however, that Ihu Karaiti does not say: “Blessed are those who thirst for happiness”, but “Blessed (hari) are those who thirst for righteousness.”

Happiness, therefore, is a by-product. To experience happiness, one must focus on something other than its pursuit. Those who reach out for happiness are for ever unsatisfied - the more they strive, the less they find.

Happiness is not something you find, but something that finds you.

BEATITUDE #5- BLESSED ARE THE MERCIFUL, FOR THEY WILL BE SHOWN MERCY

What does it mean to be merciful? One of the best ways to understand the word is to compare it with grace. Someone has defined the two words thus: “Grace is associated with men in their sins. Mercy is associated with men in their misery.”

While grace looks down upon sin and seeks to save, mercy looks upon the miserable consequences of sin and seeks to relieve. Mercy is compassion plus action.

The Paipera Tapu teaches us that a true merciful person feels compassion and concern to such an extent that he is not content until he does something about the plight of the one with whom he comes in contact.

The story of the Good Samaritan is a classic illustration of being merciful. Others saw the tāne but did nothing to help him. The Samaritan, however, crossed the road, dressed his wounds, took him to an inn and made provision for his comfort. Mercy is compassion plus action.

BEATITUDE # 6 – BLESSED ARE THE PURE IN MANAWA, FOR THEY WILL SEE IHOWĀ

The concluding words of this Beatitude are often misunderstood. Many believe them to have reference to one’s eternal reward in heaven.

The thought contained in this Beatitude, however, is not so much related to seeing Ihowā in heaven, but to seeing Ihowā now in His creation. Not to see Ihowā is to fail

to find the meaning of life and to see no purpose in anything. Such a condition can produce an emotional overload on the personality that leads inevitably to despair.

It has been said: “Those who can’t see the why, have little energy to cope with the what”. Seeing Ihowā is being acquainted with Him, sensing His acceptance, comprehending what it means to be forgiven and made anew.

BEATITUDE #7 – BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS, FOR THEY WILL BE CALLED THE TAMARIKI OF IHOWĀ

Peace-making is a positive attitude that produces good spiritual and mental health. The promise of the seventh Beatitude is that peacemakers ‘will be called tāma of Ihowā’. But why?

Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones puts it like this: ‘The meaning of being called the tāma of Ihowā is that the peacemaker is a tamaiti of Ihowā and that he is like his Pāpā.’ If I were to pick out the one verse that most perfectly expresses the meaning of the Christian gospel, it would be this:

“Arā, i roto te Atua i a te Karaiti e hohou ana i tā te ao rongo ki a ia, kore ake e whakairia ki a rātou ō rātou hē; ā kua tukua mai ki a mātou te kupu mō te houhanga rongo.” 2 Koriniti 5:19

“In Christ God was reconciling the world to himself and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.” (2 Corinthians 5:19, RSV)

Those who are inwardly reconciled to Ihowā and seek to reconcile others to Him and to each other are the healthiest and the happiest people on earth.

What do we conclude from this? We are most like God when we are bringing people together in reconciliation, and those who try to reconcile others are doing the work of heaven - for it is heaven’s work to reconcile us.

BEATITUDE #8 – BLESSED ARE THEY WHO ARE PERSECUTED BECAUSE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, FOR THEIRS IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN

How does this Beatitude contribute to our good mental and spiritual health? It does so by encouraging us to stand up and be counted.

The famous missionary doctor and scientist Dr Albert Schweitzer, when addressing a group of medical men in Africa many years ago, said: “You cannot be healthy unless you stand for something - even at a cost”.

The person who unashamedly identifies with Ihu Karaiti and stands up for Him knowing that their stand will produce, in one form or another, inevitable persecution experiences an inner release from fear that affects every part of the personality in the most positive way.

Have you thought about your soul?

Have you ever stopped to wonder What this life is all about? Why you’re here and where you’re going When your lease of time runs out? Maybe you’ve been far too busy, Trying hard to reach your goal; Would you let me ask you kindly, Have you thought about your soul?

You may reach the highest portals, And your dreams may all come true, Wealth and fame may be your portion, And success may shine on you. All your friends may sing your praises, Not a care on you may roll; What about the great tomorrowHave you thought about your soul?

Don’t forget your days are numbered Though you may be riding high, But, like all of us poor mortals, Someday, sure you have to die. Your success and fame and glory, Won’t be worth the bell they toll; Let me ask you a question, Have you thought about your soul?

If you’ve never thought it over, Spend a little time today; There is nothing more important, That will ever come your way, Than the joys of sin forgiven, And to know you’ve been made whole, In the name of Christ my Saviour, Stop and think about your soul.

Cease using up precious energy trying to find ways to make it through this world. Follow the blueprint Ihowā made as laid out in these eight Beatitudes and yours will be a life which, through the psychology of Ihu Karaiti, will bring you maximum effectiveness with minimum weariness. Choose any other way and you will experience minimum effectiveness with maximum weariness.

Article by Dr Avish Petras Pastor Riverside Christian Church Whanganui

Maori Postal Aotearoa in our Communities!

Wairarapa Balloon Festival 2022 Article by Haydee

Muir

This Easter saw the freedom to have events without the limits of Covid. Finally the hot air balloon festival was returning after a three year hiatus. It’s absence had left a huge void in our community.

I was looking forward to seeing the hot air balloons take flight. The balloons are so majestic as they float through the crisp morning air, as if being held up in the sky by the finger of God. As much as I was looking forward to seeing the hot air balloons, it was not my focus. My eyes were set on the hearts of children.

In the heart of almost every child lies a fascination for balloons. What better way to reach a child than with a balloon? I had party balloons with polka dots and others with big smiley faces.

The Lord says “A gift opens the way for the giver” Proverbs 18:6. That was what I was about to do. Give the gift of life. Nothing worth happening, happens of it’s own accord. It takes effort.

My friend and I rose early on Easter Friday morning, while it was still dark and cold. We arrived in Carterton at 5:45am. The sky was still black. We set up and starting pumping our balloons, with gospel tracts at the ready. The MPA Easter Tamariki A Ihowā were our favourite. The children trickled in at first.

It was still very black and extremely cold. We could barely be seen but as the sun

rose, it soon became a steady pace. The hot air balloons were a kaleidoscope of colour, slowly inflating and rising from the earth. It was if they were ‘standing upright’, their baskets still tethered to the ground. As the hot air balloons slowly drifted off into the skies; we were overwhelmed by a long queue of eager children.

Each child greeted us with a beaming smile, delighted not only to get a balloon on a stick, but a Tamariki A Ihowā book as well. By the time we had served the very last child, our feet and hands were frozen cold. More than two hours had ticked by. Our stomachs were empty, but our hearts were full knowing we had placed a book of hope into each precious hand.

On Easter Monday, we went to Solway Show Grounds, to repeat what we had done two days before. One day is never quite like another, despite the best laid plans. This day began in the half dark. We lost 45 minutes waiting for the event to open very late to the public. It started fairly well, then a bit later it went quiet.

In that lull, two of my favourite little people ran out to greet me - Jennifer and Annika. We chatted for a little, then Jennifer said “I’m frozen”, so I placed my woolly hat on her head. Just minutes later she was still very cold so I offered her my balloon pump and told her “You better pump balloons to stay warm.” So she did! Before long, Annika wanted to help, so I charged her with giving out the gospel tracts. She and Jennifer had helped me before, so giving out tracts was nothing new.

Before long, we had a queue I could see no

end to. Little did I know, that God had sent me these ‘little miracles’ just when I needed them. I could not have imagined the long line of children queueing for a balloon; nor know that we would desperately need all the help we could get in those last minutes! I was so thankful to God for them! He had planned it all!

The two of us took a couple of days to recover. The balloon festival ended, but our ‘commission’ had not. It was school holidays, so we returned to the local park each day during the school holidays to continue our balloon outreach. We made an effort to spend an hour a day in the playground. By the end of the holidays 500+ gospel tracts had gone out. How was that possible? It blew our minds!

So much more can be accomplished by working two-gether, but three or four is even better! Thank you Lord. Thank you Annika and Jennifer.

In Our Correctional Facilities

Dearest Māori Postal Aotearoa

It has been a blessing having you in my life and there are no words that could ever express how thankful I truly am. My life has changed finding the Lord my Father by my side every day and all of this is from the work that you and all your team do, so once again God bless you all Māori Postal Aotearoa.

Kia Ora and thank you for blessing me with the cards in scripture of Te Reo and in English. Know that you are giving light in the darkness of prison. You are setting captives free.

Your work is so important to the hurt, the neglected, rejected in prisons of unforgiveness. When individuals know they are forgiven for every wrong those inner thoughts and attitudes begin to change.

May your ministry continue to bless others with the greatest hope the loving relationship of God through Christ Jesus our Lord.

I didn’t come from a Christian family but one of alcohol, abuse and neglect. A family of Christians kept asking me to go to church - they never gave up, they kept asking. I saw their downcast countenance. It affected me and one day I said “yes” and it was the best decision of my life. My foundation was built on the rock. Jesus knew I would respond. It doesn’t make me perfect, I am unrighteous in a lot of ways, but my stand is on a foundation that will never fail. The love of God through Christ Jesus. There is no other way.

Bless you.

Written from Ngawha Prision, Northland

“Nā, ko te wāhi e whakaminea ai te hunga tokorua, tokotoru rānei, he whakaaro ki tōku ingoa, kei reira ahau kei waenganui i a rātou.”

Matiu 18:20

Written from Tongariro Prison

Tamariki, he mea homai na te Ihowa _

Tamariki are the most precious koha Ihowā has given us in this life.

But hang on, is that right you might ask? What about the koha of salvation that he offers us through Ihu Karaiti?

Certainly salvation is the greatest and most costly koha. The salvation koha is an incomparable koha - it is Ihowā offering us eternal life through Ihu Karaiti.

The similarities are there, but the differences between the two koha are incredibly great.

Koha of Salvation - Ihowā ensures our birth into His whānau is secure for all eternity. Koha of Tamariki - We can only take care of our tamariki for today with no guarantees for tomorrow.

Koha of Salvation - We don’t work for the koha from Ihowā. It is a koha of grace to all those who accept His offer of salvation. Koha of Tamariki - Our tamariki, although a koha from Ihowā, are a lot of mahi.

Koha of Salvation - Ihowā ensures that every tamaiti of his makes it to heaven. This is His promise to all who are in His whānau.

Koha of Tamariki - There is no guarantee we can make for our tamariki, for we have no control over the future.

With the koha of tamariki, it is parents

who have the responsibility to grow them up and handle all the trials and disappointments along the way. In the last Tupu Whakarangi magazine we explained a few vitally important truths about growing our tamariki - namely, the importance of loving, guiding and teaching our tamariki.

Here are two more important concepts that should be a part of growing our tamariki.

TEACH YOUR TAMARIKI TO HONOUR YOU, THEIR PARENTS

Paul writes in his letter to the Ephesians “to honour your father and mother” (which is the first commandment with a promise).

Respect of parents is vitally important. Tamariki will not automatically honour their parents and need to be taught how. Honouring parents is necessary as it flows onto honouring their teachers, their bosses and living as respectable people in society.

Honouring others starts at home. When honour is not taught and our tamariki are left to work out their own standards, their path in society will be hard.

Honour means to respect and consider

“Whakahōnoretia tōu pāpā me tōu whaea - ko te ture tuatahi tēnei i runga i te kupu whakaari.”

Epeha 6:2

others as more important than their own selves. It means learning to obey those in authority.

The self-centeredness that stops a tamaiti honouring others is the same self-centeredness that drives friends and acquaintances away.

It is vital parents teach their tamariki how to show honour. To do this, teach your tamariki from the wisdom of the Paipera Tapu. The book of Proverbs is an excellent book to teach your tamariki.

PRACTICE CONSISTENT STANDARDS

Again in Ephesians, Paul gives some excellent counsel from Ihowā. He writes to fathers, “do not provoke your tamariki to anger”.

Epeha 6:4

As fathers, we can frustrate our tamariki so they become angry, discouraged, and at times give up hope. Here are some ways to make sure we never fall into that situation.

1. Be Consistent with Rules

Our tamariki are frequently testing the boundaries. They can pester to get what they want until we give in to their request. We are now teaching them not to take “no” for an answer, that rules and standards can easily be shifted, and that guardians can be manipulated.

So what happens? The next day they ask for something that you have already said no to, and they ask again and again and again. If we are tired or stressed we can angrily yell “I said NO! You are grounded for not taking no for an answer!” That is a huge provocation to anger for the tamaiti, and is inconsistent with how we operated previously. The tamaiti is confused, uncertain and discouraged.

It is important we are consistent with our rules. This gives clear boundaries for the tamaiti to learn respect and obedience.

2. Be Consistent – Walk the Talk

It is vital that we live what we teach our tamariki. If we teach our tamariki godly standards but do not practice those same standards, that is hypocrisy. Tamariki will ignore everything we try to teach them if they do not see us living out the same morals and standards we are teaching.

3. Be Consistent in your Encouragement

Tamariki are provoked by discouragement and tamariki never complimented or encouraged by their parents are destined for trouble. Those who are always told what is wrong with them and never what is right, soon lose hope and become convinced they are incapable of doing anything right. They long for and thrive on encouragement from Māma and Pāpa.

Encouragement is necessary for their mental and spiritual growth, and can turn the manawa of a tamaiti to Ihowā.

“Me koutou hoki, e ngā mātua, kei whakapātaritari i ā koutou tamariki kia riri; engari whakatupuria ake rātou i runga i te whakaako, i te whakatūpato a te Ariki.”

4. Be Consistent in Keeping Promises

We have all broken promises. We have seen the tears, the pouri face and the distrust that arises when we break promises, and often we make greater promises to try and make up for it … sometimes only to break those also. Broken promises are a huge provocation to anger and discouragement.

When we break promises, we teach our tamariki they can’t trust us and so when we teach the promises that Ihowā makes, they put Ihowā in that same untrustworthy box.

This can have eternal consequences. Ihu Karaiti promises eternal life to all those who trust in Him. He promises to never leave us or depart from us through life. He promises to seek our good in everything and always be on our side. Those promises are eternal and life changing.

Every parent would desire their tamaiti to believe Ihowā. It is important that we keep our promises so as to teach our tamariki how to trust Ihowā.

Next issue we will look at how to instruct our tamariki from the Paipera Tapu.

Article by Russell Hohneck

“Nā, he taonga pūmau nā Ihowātamariki,ngā ko ngā hua anō o te kōpū tāna utu.”

Nga Waiata 127:3

Eliahna

10:15

Eliahna Garcia, one of the nineteen children killed by a teenager at Robb Elementary School, Texas in May 2022, would pray every night out loud and shared the Gospel on social media before she died.

Ellie, a 9 year old victim of the mass shooting at the school in Uvalde, had posted a TikTok video, saying:

“Hey, guys. I just wanted to give you a little catch-up. Jesus. He died for us. So when we die, we’ll be up there with Him. In my room, I have three pictures of Him.”

Her father, Steven Garcia, shared how his daughter loved to pray and posted a photo that he took in January of his young daughter laying on her bed with her hands folded in prayer.

“Caught my Ellie Gee in the middle of her talk with our Almighty... I love you baby girl and I love the way you pray,” he wrote at the time.

“She prayed every night out loud so we could pray with her,” Garcia added. “I remember this day. We had just bought a lamp and she wanted to sleep with it on so she aired up her air mattress, gave us a hug and kiss and went to pray as mum made treats in the kitchen! These memories are all I have left.”

Maori - English

Words: _

Aroha - Love

Epeha - Ephesians

Hari - Happy

Hoani - John

Ihowā - Jehovah God

Ihu Karaiti - Jesus Christ

Koha - Gift

Koriniti - Corinthians

Mahi - Work

Māmā - Mother

Manawa - Heart

Matiu - Matthew

Nga

Waiata - Psalms

Paipera Tapu - Holy Bible

Pāpā - Father

Pita - Peter

Pouri - Sad / Sorrow

Tama - Son

Tamaiti - Child

Tamariki - Children

Tāne - Man

Wahine - Woman

Wairua Tapu - Holy Spirit

Whānau - Family

“And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. 14 But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.

15 Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” 16 And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.”

Mark 10:13-16 ESV

“He pono tāku e mea nei ki a koutou, ki te kāhore e rite te tango a tētahi i te rangatiratanga o te Atua ki tā te tamaiti nohinohi, e kore ia e tomo ki roto.” Māka

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