May we all work and pray for better justice and peace for all in this world!
Brother Tom+ OPA

Interesting sermon and great to be reminded the need for us to not just be Sunday Christians but to indeed live out what we learn and teach every day of the week. I must say, it is an ongoing struggle to live a Christ-like life following the teachings, philosophies and ethics of the Saviour i.e. humility, faith, repentance, submission, charity, love, stewardship and many other important virtues and characteristics.

I hope I can do better to keep Christ centered in my life despite what is going on around the world. Christ taught that we are to be in the World but not of the World and hopefully I can do better this year to live up to that expectation.

I kōrero tahi māua ko taku karangawhaea i tēnei wiki i taha ake nei mō Hōne Kā. E ai tāna anō he tino pūkōrero ia, kei a ia anō hoki mō te whakarawe i te kupu.

Kua kaikā nei au ki te pānui i ō kauwhau e te hoa.

Nā tōu hoa Moromona,

nā Tāne

Rev Adrian Lance Neha Toki.

I agree I have yet to see the movement really take on board the feelings of the long term oppressed i.e. the indigenous peoples of the land. They seem to be mostly focused on the mainstream and not on local indigenous issues such as poor access to health, education and justice.

They need to hui face to face with indigenous peoples and support our plights.

It is ironic that the Occupy movement squats on our land.

Interesting blog piece. I do too wonder what state of mind the Anglican church in Australia and New Zealand must have been in to have allowed an openly anti-LGBT minister be a key note speaker at the conference. For Australia I suspect it is due to the polarizing political environment that is being created through the legalization of civil unions (Queensland legalized civil unions on December 1st, with much controversy over the lack of community consultation).

The religious community in Australia is very much against civil unions and most things LGBT. It is very difficult for our LGBT brothers and sisters to maintain the faith (of any religion) and be true to their sexual orientation. In my religion for example to be LGBT means a spiritual death of sorts – excommunication which rips the individual right out of the religious community and world that they have lived in.

Thank you for continuing to be a shining beacon for the LGBT community in New Zealand and the world over.

Ko taku tūmanako, ka paki te huarere ā te Rā Tapu nei mō koutou ko ō hoa e whakaritea ana ki te minitatanga.

E hoki ake ana ngōku whakaaro ki tētehi waiata Kuki Airani i whakarangona ai e au nōku i Aotearoa…ka whēnei ngā kupu “”Auraka e mataku…’aere, ‘aere ki mua!” Nō reira e hoa, kaua e mataku, haere, haere ki mua!

I agree with you. I am no longer surprised at the cruel, insensitive, and stupid things that politicians say. As you probably know, my country is on the brink of financial disaster because of the stubbornness of politicians. I wish we could fire them all!

Like you, I have never experienced the suicide of a friend or family member. I am sure that I would be devastated. I would wonder if there were anything I could have done to help him or her. I would worry for their closest loved ones, who will probably blame themselves in some way. I would never deny the deceased a Christian funeral or burial. It is not my place to judge, but rather to try to heal and help as best I can.

In another twist on this topic, as I age, I wonder what I might do if I learned that I had an incurable disease that promised a long period of suffering for myself and those around me. If it were possible to decide when to die with dignity, rather than wasting away and being a burden on others, would I consider doing so? With Saint Paul, I might say, “For me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” {Phil 1:21}

Please hold our Chapter meeting in Toronto in your prayers this week. You are in my prayers every day.

Brother Tom+ OPA