True, genuine, undeniable worship i believe is born of the understanding of the Majesty, Strength, Power, Authority of the Lord God.
Compared to the insecurity, frailty, brokenness, fallibility of Humanity.
Held together in the ever piercing light of Gods Grace, the fact that in spite of all our short comings or even perceived successes he loves us.
So much so that he sent his Son... Sent his Son, gave up His son, gave up his boy.
For me and the rest of the broken people that inhabit this planet.
How can i not fall to my knees when faced with this gift, when this light is put into my life how do my eyes not burn, i cant stare at it because i see it and it hurts.
How can one who has done so much, do so much still.
It doesn't make sense to me... why God does what he does, what he sees in us that makes him love us, but regardless he does.
Tonight i found Gods Grace in the words of my friends, (first letters of first names) C, A, S, L, K, N.
Maybe not even in their words but in their presence, in the creation of an environment in which i feel comfortable to play touch, and then talk about my failings as a man.
My prayer for my life is this "Lord i have thoughts and plans, but above all i want and am, may your will be done, and as your son did in the garden may i choose the path you lay below me rather than the path above anyone else"
Monday, December 14, 2009
Monday, December 7, 2009
Nga Rua Wahia
Draw close, welcome, people of the land and of the world, so you can see the source of song, so that you can see the guardians, so that you can see Tohu Kākahi and Te Whiti o Rongomai, the man who brings together the grievances of the country, the man who unfurled the emblem, who planted the seed of peace as a foundation for the world.
I have a passion, maybe that's not the right thing to say.
I have a broken heart for my people, for Maori.
I am Maori, Ngati Maniapoto is my iwi, Tainui my waka.
Stereotypically in this country Maori are no more than heavy drinking, wife beating, children killing mongrels.
Our culture is heavily, heavily dependant on self medication, drinking, drugs.
We are heavily immersed in the gang culture.
My heart has been broken for my people for a while now, too many young Maori hear the stereotypes about themselves, about drinking, smoking, drugs, stupidity, worthlessness.
The worst part of it is so many young Maori believe these stereotypes.
So many people accept these labels forsaking their culture and the beauty within.
On the morning of November 5 1881 the invasion force led by two Members of Parliament, both Cabinet Ministers entered Parihaka. More than 2000 Parihaka people sat quietly on the marae while children greeted the army.
Parihaka is one of the most beautiful examples of peaceful resistance in a world consumed by violence, predating Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr two thousand Maori men and women sit on a marae whilst their tama and wahine greet the men who would destroy, rape, pillage and kill, to see this in comparison to the state of my people today breaks my heart, there is such strength, intelligence, mana, and authority in Parihaka, and the same ideals shown that day are those i wish to emulate in my lifetime and in the ministry I am apart of.
This is the true heritage my people hold in their veins, and this is what i desire to show them, and possibly myself.
Influenced by Shane Claiborne's book Irresistible Revolution, and my experiences this year as a part of the Intermission course at Carey Baptist Bible college
I have decided to move to Nga Rua Wahia at the end of 2010 to start a home of hospitality with the aim of one day becoming a home for Maori youth in the foster care system here in New Zealand.
For the first few years I plan simply to immerse myself in the community hoping to partner or interact with several community groups and churches situated nearby.
Becoming a part of the community rather than a rescuer, making strangers neighbours, and projects people rather than have the mentality of a saviour.
I want my mentality and lifestyle to be scripturally based, so I am currently studying the scriptures in order to ascertain the lifestyle choices I will need to make.
I dont know nearly as much as i would like to about my culture, so my first year down there will also be a year of study at the Wananga in Hamilton, and hopefully close study with Turanga Wai Wai Marae
I hope to achieve this by having close ties to the Marae in Nga Rua Wahia, to churches close by, and by having an open home, open fridge policy.
I plan to get involved in the community through local schools, events, etc.
BYM has also expressed an interest in helping in anyway they can, even in terms of finding people for me to partner with.
I need help with this project, prayer is a necessity, prayer for partnership with churches and organisations down near Nga Rua Wahia, a job down there as well, accommodation, and funding, (funding issues are always tricky arent they) prayer for endurance with this vision, commitment and perseverance
But the most important aspect of prayer is this, pray that the lords will be done rather than my own in this ministry He has chosen me for.
In the book of John we see Jesus gathering his disciples, the scriptures say this "43The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, "Follow me."
44Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. 45Philip found Nathanael and told him, "We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."
46"Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?" Nathanael asked.
"Come and see," said Philip.
Can anything good come from there... yes, out of Nazareth and out of Nga Rua Wahia and out of the blood spilled in Parihaka good can come. Yes.
So my plan is to study scripture, keep in contact with BYM ministries, learn about my culture and try to do what God is prompting in the breaking of my heart.
Prayer would be invaluable, scripture priceless any way you can contribute to this would be muchly appreciated.
Also if this same cause breaks your heart please, get in contact with me Trent_hohaia@hotmail.com.
God Bless i hope to keep you updated with the going on's
Trent
I have a passion, maybe that's not the right thing to say.
I have a broken heart for my people, for Maori.
I am Maori, Ngati Maniapoto is my iwi, Tainui my waka.
Stereotypically in this country Maori are no more than heavy drinking, wife beating, children killing mongrels.
Our culture is heavily, heavily dependant on self medication, drinking, drugs.
We are heavily immersed in the gang culture.
My heart has been broken for my people for a while now, too many young Maori hear the stereotypes about themselves, about drinking, smoking, drugs, stupidity, worthlessness.
The worst part of it is so many young Maori believe these stereotypes.
So many people accept these labels forsaking their culture and the beauty within.
On the morning of November 5 1881 the invasion force led by two Members of Parliament, both Cabinet Ministers entered Parihaka. More than 2000 Parihaka people sat quietly on the marae while children greeted the army.
Parihaka is one of the most beautiful examples of peaceful resistance in a world consumed by violence, predating Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr two thousand Maori men and women sit on a marae whilst their tama and wahine greet the men who would destroy, rape, pillage and kill, to see this in comparison to the state of my people today breaks my heart, there is such strength, intelligence, mana, and authority in Parihaka, and the same ideals shown that day are those i wish to emulate in my lifetime and in the ministry I am apart of.
This is the true heritage my people hold in their veins, and this is what i desire to show them, and possibly myself.
Influenced by Shane Claiborne's book Irresistible Revolution, and my experiences this year as a part of the Intermission course at Carey Baptist Bible college
I have decided to move to Nga Rua Wahia at the end of 2010 to start a home of hospitality with the aim of one day becoming a home for Maori youth in the foster care system here in New Zealand.
For the first few years I plan simply to immerse myself in the community hoping to partner or interact with several community groups and churches situated nearby.
Becoming a part of the community rather than a rescuer, making strangers neighbours, and projects people rather than have the mentality of a saviour.
I want my mentality and lifestyle to be scripturally based, so I am currently studying the scriptures in order to ascertain the lifestyle choices I will need to make.
I dont know nearly as much as i would like to about my culture, so my first year down there will also be a year of study at the Wananga in Hamilton, and hopefully close study with Turanga Wai Wai Marae
I hope to achieve this by having close ties to the Marae in Nga Rua Wahia, to churches close by, and by having an open home, open fridge policy.
I plan to get involved in the community through local schools, events, etc.
BYM has also expressed an interest in helping in anyway they can, even in terms of finding people for me to partner with.
I need help with this project, prayer is a necessity, prayer for partnership with churches and organisations down near Nga Rua Wahia, a job down there as well, accommodation, and funding, (funding issues are always tricky arent they) prayer for endurance with this vision, commitment and perseverance
But the most important aspect of prayer is this, pray that the lords will be done rather than my own in this ministry He has chosen me for.
In the book of John we see Jesus gathering his disciples, the scriptures say this "43The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, "Follow me."
44Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. 45Philip found Nathanael and told him, "We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."
46"Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?" Nathanael asked.
"Come and see," said Philip.
Can anything good come from there... yes, out of Nazareth and out of Nga Rua Wahia and out of the blood spilled in Parihaka good can come. Yes.
So my plan is to study scripture, keep in contact with BYM ministries, learn about my culture and try to do what God is prompting in the breaking of my heart.
Prayer would be invaluable, scripture priceless any way you can contribute to this would be muchly appreciated.
Also if this same cause breaks your heart please, get in contact with me Trent_hohaia@hotmail.com.
God Bless i hope to keep you updated with the going on's
Trent
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Jesus For The Homeless
It is through the ministry of food that we must feed those who are both starving for nourishment and starving for more.
Recently I have been blessed enough to be a part of a ministry run by a friend and brother of mine from church Duncan Tang, partnered with other followers.
A ministry with a servant focus "We are a group dedicated to sharing the love of Jesus to the poor and homeless, by providing for their physical and spiritual needs.
We want all those who have been rejected and written off by society, to experience and be transformed by the love of God".
While journeying with these people over the past two weeks I have seen great things had great conversations and met great people (both from the street and the group)
When dealing with people on the street it seems to me many issues arise, issues of safety, fear, stereotypes, pride.
All of these infectious and self perpetuating.
It seems to me the key to breaking these walls down is equality specifically the attitude of friends rather than rescuers.
The admission that we in houses are no better/worse, than those on the streets and that although what we are doing on the streets is service, it is not a job.
It is life, it is relationship, community, it is approaching people whom Jesus both approached and is.
Not from a standpoint of authority nor superiority, but from equality.
Food achieves this, with the majority of street people being maori or pacific islander food is and will continue to be a focal point of their culture, gatherings were always enriched with the beauty of sharing meals and time, it is out of this eating together, seated together, talking together and living together that serving takes place and relationships form.
Meals make homeless people friends, treasured valuable people in our lives whom we care for, laugh with, cry with and love with.
Jesus feeds the five thousand and then leaves across the lake to capernaum and the five thousand follows him when they find him he says this to them.
26Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, you are looking for me, not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. 27Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval."
Then in the next chapter we see Jesus describing himself as the bread of life, which he has just given these five thousand in the chapter previous which has fulfilled them.
That is the food we offer, that is the seed we must sow
It is the fulfilment of more than food, it is the questions people ask when we share with them that is the true nourishment "why are they eating with us" "what drives these people" "where is this coming from" and the answer is Jesus.
Recently I have been blessed enough to be a part of a ministry run by a friend and brother of mine from church Duncan Tang, partnered with other followers.
A ministry with a servant focus "We are a group dedicated to sharing the love of Jesus to the poor and homeless, by providing for their physical and spiritual needs.
We want all those who have been rejected and written off by society, to experience and be transformed by the love of God".
While journeying with these people over the past two weeks I have seen great things had great conversations and met great people (both from the street and the group)
When dealing with people on the street it seems to me many issues arise, issues of safety, fear, stereotypes, pride.
All of these infectious and self perpetuating.
It seems to me the key to breaking these walls down is equality specifically the attitude of friends rather than rescuers.
The admission that we in houses are no better/worse, than those on the streets and that although what we are doing on the streets is service, it is not a job.
It is life, it is relationship, community, it is approaching people whom Jesus both approached and is.
Not from a standpoint of authority nor superiority, but from equality.
Food achieves this, with the majority of street people being maori or pacific islander food is and will continue to be a focal point of their culture, gatherings were always enriched with the beauty of sharing meals and time, it is out of this eating together, seated together, talking together and living together that serving takes place and relationships form.
Meals make homeless people friends, treasured valuable people in our lives whom we care for, laugh with, cry with and love with.
Jesus feeds the five thousand and then leaves across the lake to capernaum and the five thousand follows him when they find him he says this to them.
26Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, you are looking for me, not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. 27Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval."
Then in the next chapter we see Jesus describing himself as the bread of life, which he has just given these five thousand in the chapter previous which has fulfilled them.
That is the food we offer, that is the seed we must sow
It is the fulfilment of more than food, it is the questions people ask when we share with them that is the true nourishment "why are they eating with us" "what drives these people" "where is this coming from" and the answer is Jesus.
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