Church Talk
Justification by faith
Friday 21 May 2010 | Published in Church Talk
Paul is dealing with people caught in hypocrisy at the time. But the words he speaks can be so easily put to us today! We compel others to live in a way which we do not live ourselves. We change what we believe because of sin in our lives. If the Word says something, we […]
'Passing the torch'
Friday 21 May 2010 | Published in Church Talk
Passing of the Torch before the opening of the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games or even the South Pacific Games is becoming a familiar sight. The spectacular pageantry of the opening ceremonies cannot begin until the final carrier of the torch arrives in the stadium. The torch symbolically links the modern games to their 2700 years […]
In the name of Christ, stop!
Friday 14 May 2010 | Published in Church Talk
Charles Colson, in his marvellous volume ‘Loving God’, told the story of Telemachus, a fourth century Christian. He was a peace-loving, beauty-loving man who lived in a remote village, tending his garden and spending much time in prayer. One day he thought he heard the voice of God telling him to go to Rome, so […]
The power of positive living
Friday 7 May 2010 | Published in Church Talk
No one can deny the fact that we are living in a difficult time. Every day we face personal challenges, from the satress of living in a growing high-cost, competitive environment, to the difficulty of establishing genuine, true friends and building trust-worthy relationships. Thank God we still have some measure of extended family cohesion, although […]
Catholics welcome new priest
Friday 30 April 2010 | Published in Church Talk
Last Thursday night Father Freddy Kaina was ordained in a moving service. He was inducted into the priesthood in front of his proud parents Kaina Kaina and Marii Kaina, family members from overseas and a huge congregation of Catholic parishioners from across the Cook Islands. The Manihiki community paid special homage to their son by […]
Living the word
Friday 30 April 2010 | Published in Church Talk
Three theology students were discussing the relative merits of different translations of the Bible. One argued for the New Revised Standard Version: “It’s closer”, he said, “to the original Hebrew and Greek. Another preferred the New Jerusalem Bible: the layout made it very readable and he found the notes superb. The third student said that […]
Father Freddy ordained
Saturday 24 April 2010 | Published in Church Talk
After a moving ordination on Thursday night, Father Freddy Kaina was to conduct his first public mass this morning at St Joseph’s Catholic Cathedral at 11am. Father Kaina was inducted into the priesthood in front of his proud parents Kaina Kaina and Marii Kaina, family members from overseas and a huge congregation of Catholic parishioners […]
Apostolic Church online
Friday 23 April 2010 | Published in Church Talk
As part of an effort to unite its branches near and far, the Apostolic Church is on the Net. “Jesus the Light of the World Apostolic Cathedral II” has launched a blog in order to consolidate its church congregations here in the Cook Islands and overseas. Church member Rebekah Daniel was responsible for launching the […]
Thanksgiving thanks
Friday 23 April 2010 | Published in Church Talk
Dear Editor, Please allow me to use your column, on behalf of the members of the Religious Advisory Council, to thank ALL the churches and people that came to support the Thanksgiving Service last Sunday evening at the National Auditorium. To all the pastors, bishops, elders and all the members of your churches and fellowship, […]
Colourful mamas spread God's word
Friday 23 April 2010 | Published in Church Talk
Sporting stunning head eis, beautiful rito hats and colourful uniforms, the women of the Vainetini conference gathered for another day of fellowship and discussions yesterday. Hosted by the Avarua parish at the Sinai Hall, the mamas of the Cook Island Christian Church were all smiles, despite the rain. Secretary of the Avarua Women’s CICC fellowship […]
Freddy joins priesthood
Friday 23 April 2010 | Published in Church Talk
Thirty-eight-year-old Manihiki man Freddy Kaina will from today on be known as Father Kaina. Kaina was ordained into the Cook Islands Catholic Diocese last night at St Joseph’s Catholic Cathedral in Avarua in front of a large crowd of proud family members and parishioners. Kaina was born in Manihiki in 1972 before he moved with […]
He is risen
Friday 23 April 2010 | Published in Church Talk
Wherever I travel, I try to pay a visit to the town cemetery. It is a time of contemplation, of reflection on the meaning of life and the inevitability of death. In the small cemetery in the town of Santa Clara, Utah, I remember the preponderance of Swiss names which adorn the weathered tombstones. Many […]
Public call to thanksgiving
Friday 16 April 2010 | Published in Church Talk
Members of the public are invited to this Sunday’s thanksgiving service at the national auditorium organised by the Religious Advisory Council. The evening thanksgiving service will start at 6.30pm with representatives from the various religious denominations on the island to read key scriptures through the service. There will also be items of praise and worship […]
Are you a Barnabas?
Friday 16 April 2010 | Published in Church Talk
We all need people like Barnabas in our life, people who listen to us, affirm us and spur us on to be our best selves. After his dramatic conversion on the road to Damascus (Acts chaper 9) Paul had a complete turnabout and became a passionate follower of Jesus. “He began at once to proclaim […]
A gospel crippled by lifestyle
Friday 9 April 2010 | Published in Church Talk
God has called us to a lifestyle which glorifies Him. Are we not told to glorify God in whatever we do (1 Cor. 10:31)? How many of us do? Look at the believers in Christ of today. We see all manner of lifestyles which do not glorify Him – swearing, getting drunk, hate, sexual immorality. […]
What's different about a Christian
Friday 9 April 2010 | Published in Church Talk
In these verses Paul is thinking of the Christians as the chosen people of God, and his mind runs along three lines. He thinks of the fact of God’s choice. Paul never thought of himself as having chosen to do God’s work. He always thought of God as having chosen him. Jesus said to his […]
What if Christ hadn't risen from the dead?
Thursday 1 April 2010 | Published in Church Talk
Once a South Sea Islander proudly displayed his Bible to an American soldier during World War II. “We’ve outgrown that sort of thing,” the soldier said. The Islander smiled back and said, “It is a good thing that we haven’t, if it weren’t for this book, we would have eaten you by now.” Whether the […]
Holy Week in focus for Catholic Church
Thursday 1 April 2010 | Published in Church Talk
Holy Week is the focal point of the Catholic Church this week leading up to Easter weekend. Today is known as Holy Thursday. The mass for the ‘Last Supper’ will start at 7pm at St Joseph’s Cathedral in Avarua. A selected number of parishioners will have their feet washed during mass to portray how Jesus […]
How to rebound from failure PART 2
Friday 26 March 2010 | Published in Church Talk
The first principle of success is found in Luke 5.3, “Jesus was in the boat with the disciples.” Christ’s presence made a big difference! So the first principle for successful living is this: You must appropriate God’s presence in your life. That’s the starting point. Nothing has greater influence in your personal success than whether […]
Three local Harvest student graduates all in ministry today
Friday 19 March 2010 | Published in Church Talk
This Photo is of a 1997 graduation from Harvest Bible College in Melbourne. Harvest Bible College is a Pentecostal College recognised by the Assemblies of God in Australia and open to people from across the Christian spectrum. Three Cook Islanders – Charlie Hosking (far right back row), Nooroa George (far right in second row) and […]