Features
Family festival in Beach Day Out
Saturday 7 March 2015 | Published in Entertainment
Planning for this year’s Beach Day Out music festival to be held on Easter Friday (April 3) at the Safari Tours beach venue in Nikao is picking up tempo as organisers get set to run another musical event.
Manamana magic delights island crowds
Friday 6 March 2015 | Published in Entertainment
Magic tricks and illusions captivated local crowds on Rarotonga and Aitutaki this week, with Cuban magician Ariel Morales and his gorgeous assistant Rochelle Allison delighting young and old.
Creating intimacy with Jesus
Friday 6 March 2015 | Published in Church Talk
‘Pirianga mou tikai kia Iesu’ “Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known Me, Philip? Ko Toku nei nooanga roa kio kotou nei e, e kare akerai koe i kite iaku e Philipa?” – John 14: 9. These words were not spoken as a rebuke, nor even with surprise. Jesus was leading Philip on to a whole new level and dimension of experience in order for him to see and recognise who He really and truly is. After several years he had spent with his disciples, interacted with them almost anywhere and everywhere, kept no secret from them and done great and wonderful things beyond the natural and ordinary things in life. Yet, they failed to see and acknowledge who he really was. We can live a long and lasting relationship, be in marriage, at home with our children and family, at work with our bosses and employees yet still fail to fully know and understand who they really are. Jesus challenged his disciples in Matthew 16:15 when he said, ‘But whom say ye that I the Son of Man am’? It was Simon Peter who answered and said, ‘Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God’. But in John 14:8, it was Philip who posed another question when he said unto him, ‘Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth (satisfy) us’. Hence, Jesus’ reply at verses 9 - 11, ‘Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me?’. Jesus continued and said, ‘he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father. Believest thou not that I am in the Father and the Father in me? The words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself; but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works sake. Verse 14: If ye ask any thing in my name, I will do it’. Philip raised the question to clear every path of misunderstanding and to help us look no further for clarification as to who God the Father truly is, but the one Lord Jesus Christ himself. The Apostle John, Gospel writer and all the Epistles of John including the Book of Revelation, sums it all up in John 10:30: ‘I and my Father are one’. Not two or three, but wholly and holistically one. This takes us back to the first and greatest of all commandments, as found in Deuteronomy 6:4, ‘Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God is one Lord: and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might’. Jesus himself concluded and added in Mark 12: 30, ‘...and with all thy mind’. He is the One with whom we should get intimate, the Lord Jesus Christ himself. Not our wives, nor our husbands, not our fathers nor mothers, not our children nor family, not our bosses nor employees at work. Not anybody or anything alive on earth, but the Lord Jesus Christ. This is the secret of all intimacies in life. To fail our intimacy with Jesus Christ is to fail all other relationships and intimacies with anybody else. Marriage is only possible when Jesus becomes the glue that bonds the relationship. The same thing applies to all other human relationships there are in this earthly life. Being intimate with somebody means knowing that person in a very familiar and personal way. It involves knowing their likes and dislikes, their attitudes, behaviour, conduct, habits, the pros and cons, ups and downs and twists and turns about them in order to really be intimate with them. Husbands and wives can never get to really love each other until they get to fully understand, respect and accept each other as they really are (1st John 4: 7 – 12). God (Jesus) is love. We love each other because he first loved us (1st John 4: 7 – 12, 18). Loving him with all our hearts, our soul, our mind and strength enables us to love anybody there is, in all aspects of life. Many marriages fail. Businesses, governments, families and all kinds of human relationships also fail, simply because we fail our relationship and intimacy with our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ who created and made in his image and after his likeness. Paul in Acts 17: 28 declares that life is in Jesus Christ alone, ‘For in him we live, and move, and have our being...’ In Colossians 1: 18, our allegiance must be to him alone, ‘...that in all things he might have the pre-eminence’. Topmost priority, first placing of anything in our lives must be to him. All responsibilities and accountability should be accorded to him. When our intimacy is right with him, then our sincerity, honesty, dignity and integrity in our family, marriage, job and whatever commitment in life will all fall into their right place – in earth as well as in the heaven. Jesus calls his disciples and us the believers and followers of all times, generations and agse not as servants but friends. ‘Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you’. Fix our relationship and intimacy with our Creator God Jesus Christ and he will fix all of ours. A true friend watches and doesn’t stab a friend in the back with gossip, accusations, anger, jealousy, bitterness and unforgiveness. Judas Iscariot was not a good and true friend. He had some hidden agendas and ulterior motives against Jesus Christ and suffered as a consequence of his own sin. Try not to be a Judas Iscariot in whatever relationships you have. Instead, be a true friend of the Lord Jesus Christ, willing always to serve and die for him. As Christ was raised from the dead, we shall also be raised from death to eternal life. The whole discipline of life is to enable us to enter into this closest relationship and intimacy with the Lord Jesus Christ. The greatest love that anyone can show and demonstrate is this: “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you” (John 15: 13 & 14). Love and befriend Jesus and he will maximize, re-align, renew and refresh all our relationships - not in man’s way but in God’s. Jesus will save and bless all our relationship with Him. Kia Manuia rava i teia openga epetoma..Te Atua te Aroa! Bishop Tutai Pere
A touch of magic
Friday 27 February 2015 | Published in Entertainment
Rarotonga will be treated to an evening of magic when two visiting magicians show off their tricks tonight.
Thinking clearly about relationships
Friday 27 February 2015 | Published in Church Talk
What about the times when you just don’t feel anything but apathy about your relationship? What when a husband no longer loves a wife or a wife no longer loves a husband? What do you do then?
Soldier's efforts to be remembered
Saturday 21 February 2015 | Published in Weekend
This year will commemorate the 100th Year of the Cook Islands men enlisting in the New Zealand Army, and the Cook Islands Soldiers of World War One committee, (CISWWO) is planning to make the 2015 commemoration a big success.
Cook Islanders fought for the Empire
Saturday 21 February 2015 | Published in Features
This feature by Helene Kay and Grace Hutton of the Cook Islands Soldiers of World War One committee, provides an insight into the contribution made by some of the Cook Islands men who volunteered for service in ‘The War To End All Wars’. The New Zealand-based committee is planning a series of special events this year to commemorate the 100th year of Cook Islanders enlisting in the New Zealand army.
Christ's return topic of much speculation
Friday 20 February 2015 | Published in Church Talk
The Bible is full of promises concerning the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. These promises have long been a topic of debate and much speculation.
Fifty Shades proves popular
Tuesday 17 February 2015 | Published in Entertainment
It seemed every woman on Rarotonga was at the Fifty Shades of Grey premiere last week, and despite its controversial subject, organisers say the film was well-received.
Local artists ranked with best from NZ
Monday 16 February 2015 | Published in Entertainment
Art pieces on offer in today’s BCA Gallery’s autumn art auction are the strongest line up of works yet for the Taputapuatea gallery.
Spiritual strength through service
Friday 13 February 2015 | Published in Church Talk
Honey is one of nature’s most beneficial foods. In fact, nutritionists tell us it is one of the foods that includes all the substances: enzymes, vitamins, minerals, and water, necessary to sustain life.
Art to go under the hammer
Thursday 12 February 2015 | Published in Entertainment
Works of art by significant Cook Islands, Pacific and New Zealand artists will go under the hammer this coming Monday for the 3rd BCA Catalogue Auction.
Motone grows music touring circuit
Tuesday 10 February 2015 | Published in Entertainment
Motone, in partnership with Tahiti Music production company Infinaty, is growing the music touring circuit with Kahiki and Mo Newport supporting French Reggae star Balik de Danakil this week in Papaete for the annual Bob Marley Memorial concert at the Royal Tahitian.
Beachside concert proves an all-round success
Monday 9 February 2015 | Published in Entertainment
The Creative Centre turned up the volume on Betela Beach on Saturday, raising an estimated $4,000 to help people in need through the Beats of Betela concert.
Integrity and why it matters
Friday 6 February 2015 | Published in Church Talk
Recently I had to give some spiritual input to the teachers of Nukutere College and St Joseph’s.
Two new Cardinals for Pacific
Friday 6 February 2015 | Published in Church Talk
In January, Pope Francis named new cardinals in order to keep the number of current Cardinals at 120. The pleasant surprise was that two of the new cardinals come from Oceania.
Get into the beat at Betela
Thursday 5 February 2015 | Published in Entertainment
Sun, sand, music and fun are on the agenda this weekend as Beats of Betela prepares to get a party started.
Recognising the one true faith
Friday 30 January 2015 | Published in Church Talk
Most people do not take kindly to the claims of Christians that there is only one true faith.
Opuu makes talent top three
Thursday 29 January 2015 | Published in Entertainment
It’s all hands on deck for Manihiki beauty queen Elva Mamia Reitapu Opuu as she undergoes final preparations and rehearsals for the Miss World South Auckland 2015 crowning night this Saturday.
Church Talk 'Without Jesus Christ all is permissible'
Friday 23 January 2015 | Published in Church Talk
Naringa Kare Iesu Mesia Rave Akaope tatou i to tatou anoano’
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