Church Talk
Prayer – come as we are
Friday 3 October 2014 | Published in Church Talk
Dressing up on Sundays, especially to go to church is part of Cook Islands life.
What is Gods will for the world's governments?
Friday 26 September 2014 | Published in Church Talk
At THE VERY core of this Psalm 82 is Gods condemnation of Israel’s Civic Leaders for obstruction of the justice system.
Our own undertaking – na tatou Uaorai e rave
Friday 19 September 2014 | Published in Church Talk
Bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ...te akatuikaa anga atu i te aumanako ravarai i te akarongo i te Mesia ra” – 2 Corinthians 10:5b.
God has a purpose for you
Saturday 13 September 2014 | Published in Church Talk
Most people struggle with three issues: The first is the issue of identity – Who am I?
God continues to be involved in our story, He wants the best for us
Friday 5 September 2014 | Published in Church Talk
What is your story? Jesus has called us to be witnesses. It is like when people look at you, they get the BIG picture. It’s all about enacting and sharing what happens from within. The challenge is how we see and value our journeys. Admittedly, the journey is not all rosy, but very real and in that scenario God is also very real in His pleading and dealing with us. In the Bible, God always wants the best for us and He demonstrated and lived through it in sending His Son who gave up His life for you and me. His journey offers us a lot of encouragement in firstly dealing with our journey and witnessing to others.In one incident, Jesus went across the lake with His disciples, on arrival a man possessed by demons came to challenge Jesus, however, in the course of their discussion he gave his heart to Jesus and wanted to follow Him, but Jesus told him you go to your home and tell them what the Lord has done for you. The little information given in the Bible in Mark 5, tells us this guy had a very rough history. People were afraid of him, he yells and howls day and night among the tombs and was clearly possessed by demons. Imagine then what is included in his story, life before meeting Jesus and his life after meeting Jesus. Jesus told him tell your friends and family about the change that happened in you. He did, and many people were amazed with his story and they heard and saw it themselves.This last week, in a seminar we were doing with our pastors, we were asked to share a little bit of our story. So here is my short story and I entitled it “in a nutshell”. “Wow what a journey!!! I grew up in a family that loved the Lord. My dad was a pastor and my mum worked in the Mission office. I’m glad I had wonderful parents who loved me and gave every opportunity to me to do better in life. I left home at a very young age and went over to New Zealand to do my high school years there. I was living with my aunty who did not share the same values as that of my parents. I stopped attending church and started to do things which would break my parent’s hearts. I returned to Rarotonga and got involved with friends who were also sorting themselves out. Then for a good year or so I got involved with clubbing, alcohol and smoking. In fact, I played in a local band in clubs. I still loved the Lord, my parents and family.I was going to church to please them, but, will definitely go out at night.My parents sent me to Fulton College in Fiji. I arrived in Fulton drunk and slept my first night there on a table. I was intoxicated. I do not even know up to this day why I wasn’t sent straight back on the next flight. I made friends in Fulton and would sneak to Suva to party hard. That went on for the first year I was there. A Solomon islander friend talked to me and suggested I become a pastor because of my voice. I laughed at it, and three years later I graduated from the ministerial course.Today, I love the Lord with all of myself, for working behind the scene in my life. He has given me a wife suggested by the same friend who asked me to be a pastor, he gave me three wonderful children. I have so many questions to God about my life, but I’m content because I know despite my zig-zag journey, I remain a priority to him. I love Him heaps. God continues to be involved in our story, He wants the best for us. We have the picture of Him standing at the door of our hearts, knocking and wanting to spend quality time with us. With so much negativity happening around us, needless heartaches and pain, the collapse of morality and the respect of others, it is high time to get God seriously involved in our life. There is no other way for us as we face challenging times whether it is personally, with our family, our community and the wider world we live in.We have an enemy who is putting all the blame on God for the sufferings, calamities we’re facing. Even with strong destructive opposition to God by Satan, the Bible tells us that God in His love for us won the victory for us with all of His heart to share with us now and for evermore.In John 10:10 – “The thief's purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give life in all its fullness.” Continue with God, because it’s a winning partnership with eternal consecrations. Have a great weekend and continue your story in the Lord. Blessings Pastor Eliu SDA Church
'We walk by faith, not by sight'
Friday 29 August 2014 | Published in Church Talk
In the gospel of Jesus Christ, faith is the first principle. Faith is the foundation of belief and conversion and the basic principle of strong religious feelings and beliefs.
The meaning of priesthood
Friday 22 August 2014 | Published in Church Talk
On Sunday August 24, two priests of the Diocese of Rarotonga will be celebrating 60 years of priesthood.
The Christian attitude to Government
Friday 15 August 2014 | Published in Church Talk
In Romans 12, Paul wrote that we should be living sacrifices, transformed in our minds so that we please God and do his will.
Thinking clearly about your problems (Part 2)
Friday 1 August 2014 | Published in Church Talk
It is amazing that when you remember God always has your best interest at heart, that he has a great plan for your life, and that he is worthy of your trust.
Let's celebrate freedom of choice
Friday 25 July 2014 | Published in Church Talk
It’s that time of the year where we celebrate our being self-governing for 49 years. This celebration compounded us more by just the recent snap election.
Good and faithful servants
Friday 18 July 2014 | Published in Church Talk
In the book of Matthew there is an instruction given by Jesus to his disciples to go out and teach the gospel to all the earth.
5th commandment: Look after yourself
Saturday 12 July 2014 | Published in Church Talk
One of the advantages of being a church leader is one gets invitations to various events happening in the community.
Church Talk: Get out and vote
Saturday 5 July 2014 | Published in Church Talk
With elections taking place next week, our Church Talk correspondent Mauri Toa thought this poem by Louis Gander says it all…
Youths give a helping hand
Friday 27 June 2014 | Published in Church Talk
Youths from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints rendered service to the community by collecting recyclable rubbish along the Avatiu Stream waterway last Saturday.
'It's election time – E Tuatau Ikianga Teia'
Friday 27 June 2014 | Published in Church Talk
Text: Psalm 75: 6 & 7, “For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south.
Thinking clearly about your problems
Friday 20 June 2014 | Published in Church Talk
Your mind is an amazing creation of God. It handles billions and billions of bits of information. It can process 800 memories a second for 75 years and never get tired.
One day at a time
Friday 13 June 2014 | Published in Church Talk
Two nights ago I met a happy young couple in the shop in Muri, we exchanged greetings and they asked me, “How’s things’? I replied, “Taking it one step at a time”
Church Talk: Why sacrifice?
Friday 6 June 2014 | Published in Church Talk
Sacrifice – one of the definitions from the Oxford Dictionary include – An act of giving up something valued and treasured for the sake of something else regarded as more important or worthy.
Church Talk: Finding God in all things
Friday 30 May 2014 | Published in Church Talk
Jesus told stories to his disciples and to the crowds to convey the mystery of the kingdom of God.
Church Talk: Let your light shine
Friday 23 May 2014 | Published in Church Talk
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven (Matthew 5:16).