Tupu Whakarangi Issue 237

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Issue 237

TUPU

WHAKARANGI CONTENTS --

A Spider’s Lunch P2 Only One True God P3 Waka Maumahara (cover photo) P5 Jihad to Christ P9 The Matchless Pearl P13 Piripi Taiata Hamiora P16 The Devil’s Trap P22 Death Ends All P23

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A SPIDER’S LUNCH

Work was needing to be done on our house a few years ago – things like wallpapering on the inside, and on the outside painting and replacing some rotting weatherboards. With all such jobs, it was a good feeling when it was finally done.

While replacing some rotting timber, I was fascinated to see an insect get itself tangled in a spider’s web. The unsuspecting creature just walked into the web, got its front legs caught, and in its struggle to get free, finished up hopelessly entangled. A few seconds later, out came a rather large spider and injected his poisonous fangs into his struggling victim. Then he moved away to watch the doomed insect’s death throes as the deadly poison did its work.

Then he moved in again and dragged the insect off to his lair.

It occurred to me that it must be a terrifying experience to be an insect and to get caught in a spider’s web, and then to see a great hairy monster bearing down on you with the intention of having you for lunch! I was struck by the hopelessness of the creature’s predicament – the more it struggled, the more tangled up it became with less chance of escaping.

But if we are not careful we can find ourselves in a similar position to that unfortunate insect. We can get caught in the web of sinful habits and lifestyles. The Bible says in James chapter 1, verses 14-15, “Each one is tempted when by his/her own evil desire, he/she is dragged away and enticed. Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death”.

It is all too easy to allow evil desires and habits -- drugs, alcohol, wrong sex -- to grow in our lives. Evil thoughts become evil actions, and eventually take over our lives and destroy us. Like the spider’s web, sin is easy to get into, but it’s not easy to get out of. The more we struggle, the more we become ensnared.

That bug could have been saved, but not by itself. I could have rescued it by freeing it from the web before the spider got to him. (In fact, when I told my wife about it later, she thought it was “pretty mean of me” not to have rescued it).

Like that insect, we cannot free ourselves from the web of sin. But the Lord Jesus Christ can set us free and make our lives clean and purposeful. Through His coming into the world and His death on the cross at Calvary, He has taken our punishment and defeated the enemy, Satan. He can now free us from the web of sin and because of His resurrection can also rescue us from the great “spider” of eternal death. Now He is exalted to the highest place in Heaven. If we pray to Him seeking His forgiveness, He will cleanse us from all sin, break its power over us, and make us fit for Heaven.

-- Editor

ONLY ONE TRUE GOD ANAKE KOTAHI ATUA TINO

If you were to ask people, “Who is God?” or “What is God like?” you would get all sorts of answers because there are many ideas in the world today concerning God. But many of them are wrong. How, then, are we to know the truth?

First, God has revealed something of Himself in His creation – in the things He has made. As we look at creation and begin to understand something of its immense size and complexities, whether in the leaves of the trees, the wings of a butterfly, or the stars of the night sky, we know that God must be highly intelligent and very powerful. But we can never really get to know what God is like just by looking at creation by itself. We can only get to know what God is like if He tells us, and He has done so through His Word, the Bible.

When we come to the Bible an especially important thing we learn is that there is only one true God. He is not just the God of the Maori people or the Pakeha people or the Asian people, or any other particular race.

He is the God who created all people for Himself. The Bible says, “From one man He made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth” (Acts 17:26).

Concerning this important truth, here are some verses for you to underline in your Bible. (We are quoting from the New International Version). God says in Isaiah 44, verse 6, “I am the First and I am the Last; apart from Me there is no God.” Isaiah 45, verse 5 says, “I am the LORD (Jehovah), and there is no other; apart from Me there is no God.” Verse 6 of the same chapter says, “I am the LORD and there is no other.” Isaiah 45, verses 18 and 22 tell us the same thing. Finally, Isaiah 45, verse 22 says, “Turn to Me and be saved all you ends of the earth; for I am God and there is no other.” The Bible makes it abundantly clear that all other gods are false.

But not only does the Bible tell us there is only one God, it tells us what He is like and how we can have a personal relationship with Him. What are some of the other things the Bible tells us about God? It shows us that God exists in three Persons -- God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. These are the three Persons of the Godhead who work together in perfect harmony (Matthew 28:19).

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The Bible tells us that God is ETERNAL – without beginning or end (MUTUNGA KORE). He is the one and only Supreme Being who depends on no one else for His existence. Psalm 90, verse 2 says, “From everlasting to everlasting You are God.” This statement takes us back before time began and declares that God was always there. He had no beginning. Then it takes us beyond time and tells us that God will continue to be always there. He will have no end. More than this, He will never change. He will continue to be what He has always been – the almighty God, Sovereign Ruler of the universe.

In John 4, verse 24 we are told that God is SPIRIT (WAIRUA). He does not have a physical body like us. He is not limited by such a body, but He is able to appear in human form and has done so on various occasions in order to speak with people. The greatest example of this was when God the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, became human to show us what God is like and to become the sacrifice for our sins. Through His death and resurrection we can be freed from our sins and made right with God if we accept Him as our Saviour and Lord.

As we have already seen God is ALMIGHTY (KAHA RAWA). His power and majesty are far above every other being in the universe. He is Supreme Sovereign and is both the Creator and Sustainer of everything.

By His almighty power everything was created and is kept working. Power in the hands of men is not always safe, but power in the hands of God means the safety of the universe. He will never misuse His power for it is coupled with His perfect wisdom.

That which sets God apart from His creation more than anything else is the fact that He is HOLY (TAPU). This is shown in Isaiah 6, verse 3, where Isaiah, as a young prophet, had a vision of God. The seraphim (special angels) were calling out, “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of His glory”. The truth of God’s holiness is seen in many other parts of the Bible as well. Holiness means that God is absolutely separate from all that is impure or evil and that He Himself is completely pure and perfect. He cannot tolerate wickedness or sin and will finally punish all that is sinful, including us if we do not turn to Him for forgiveness and cleansing. God’s holiness is hard for us to understand because we are so unholy.

But not only is God holy, He is also LOVE (AROHA). This is seen most clearly in the great sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ for us. One of the best known verses in the Bible is John 3, verse 16, “For God so loved the world (you and me) that He gave His one and only Son (the Lord Jesus), that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” “Koia ano te aroha o te Atua ki te ao, homai ana e ai tana Tama kotahi, kia kahore ai e ngaro te tangata e whakapono ana ki a ia engari kia whiwhi ai ki te ora tonu.”

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God originally created us for Himself so that we could have a meaningful relationship with Him. But our sin (the evil things we do, say and think) has separated us from God and ruined our relationship with Him. But because of God’s love we do not need to remain in our ruined condition for He gave the Lord Jesus to take the punishment for our sin and make the way open for us to come back to Him. However, if we reject His love the only thing left for us is His judgment.

Another important thing about God is that He is ALL-KNOWING, as Psalm 139, verses 1 to 12, reminds us. There is nothing that God does not know or that He is not aware of. God does not need to learn anything because He already knows everything. This means that God knows all about us, even the secret things we would not want anyone else to know.

We cannot hide from God nor can we hide anything in our lives from Him. Even though He knows all about us He still loves us and wants us to receive Him into our lives.

The most important thing in all of life is to be right with God. This can only ever happen, as we are willing to turn from our sin and accept the Lord Jesus as our Saviour and Lord.

– Editor.

COVER PHOTO

Waka Maumahara Memorial Waka to Pura McGregor OBE Early Days: Te Pura Manihera was born in 1858 at Karatia pa on the Whanganui River, the daughter of Te Manihera, a chief of NgaPoutama-nui-Awa (Matahiwi and Karatia/ Hikurangi). Her mother was Hohi Hori Kingi of Ngati Ruaka and Ngati Rangi tribes. Raised in turbulent times, she soon became famous as a strikingly attractive young woman travelling with her uncle Te Rangihiwinui during his various campaigns.

Married Life: In her early 20s she caught the eye of Gregor McGregor, born in Whanganui in 1858, the son of Gregor and Catherine McGregor, later farmers at “Aird”, Fordell. Without parental blessing, Gregor married Pura in 1879 aged 21.

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From their new home “Te Mawae” at 129 Harrison Street they became increasingly involved in the local community and although living largely according to European custom, she never forgot her people and became known to them as Pura Makarika (McGregor).

One of her strongest involvements was with the Whanganui Beautifying Society and she was their Queen in a Carnival, which she won, to raise funds to lay out and plant Virginia Lake. As a result the society got the job of creating the reserve. Assisting with that, Pura and Gregor set about gathering plantings from up the Whanganui River. She was also involved in numerous other fund-raising causes including assistance for soldiers in World War 1 and for the welfare of Maori women. As a lady of rank and paramount chieftainess, she spent her life helping the wide community.

Later Days: In 1919 Pura became the first Maori woman to be awarded the Order of the British Empire for her services to the community. As her days drew to a close, both Maori and Pakeha friends planned that she have an appropriate memorial at Virginia Lake. She died at “Te Mawae” on 4 March 1920.

In 1921 the original memorial was erected. “Tiki” was the description attributed to this decorated waka. This waka, sourced by Gregor, was decorated with a rafter pattern from Pura’s meeting house, “Poutama”, by T W Downes, well known artist, historian and River Trust Board supervisor. This original waka was removed due to rot in 1988 and in 1990 the family planted a totara tree on the site.

Today: Recently the Virginia Lake Trust decided to investigate the possibility of a suitable replacement for Pura’s memorial, and after appropriate consultation and approvals, commissioned an artist with Whanganui tribal affiliations, Cecelia Kumeroa, to design this sculpture in Corten (weathering steel), with the original kōwhaiwhai (rafter) patterns now a cut-out replica. The design at the very base is Tumango-rangi, a version of Mangapare -- found on whare all along the River. This design signifies perseverance, strength and determination. The site was opened by His Worship, the Mayor of Whanganui, Hamish McDouall, 18 September, 2020.

The photo on this page shows the original memorial.

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From a Prison Inmate The following was the response to the question, “If you are a true Christian, would you like to write a short paragraph on how you became a Christian”?

“I have always believed in a Creator. At what stage I truly believed in Jesus I am not sure, but I rebelled against God’s will and laws for many years. Yet, over those decades His Word kept being shown to me by believers. Eventually I came to a point where I could not deny Him and my heart convicted me. I then fully repented and called on Him for forgiveness, and have been on that path ever since”.

This inmate is working through Series 1 of the Romans lessons and received 100% for his last set. These lessons are available FREE to anyone who would like to do them. Just send us your name and postal address and we will mail the first set to you. (See our contact details. page 8).

WHY ROMANS IS SO IMPORTANT . . .

Paul’s letter to the Romans has been termed the most systematic and profound presentation of the Gospel in the whole of the New Testament. It shows that salvation is available by God’s grace alone, through personal faith in Christ because of His completed redemptive work.

Studying this book has meant a turning point in the lives of many. One of the most notable cases is that of the reformer, Martin Luther. At the heart of the Gospel, in his estimation, was the doctrine of justification by faith – the teaching that Christ’s own righteousness is imputed to those who believe, and on that ground alone, they are accepted by God.

TITIRO KI TENEI! A FREE magazine designed just for the younger age group.

Colourful Pictures Interesting Stories Puzzles Samples gladly provided Contact details page 8 7

THE VULTURE’S END Some years ago a group of tourists were viewing the Niagara Falls when they were startled by piercing shrieks which rose above the roar of the cataract. Looking upstream they saw a floating mass rushing towards them and heading for the Falls. On it was a huge bird with its mighty wings outspread, rending the air with its terrifying cries.

Nearer and nearer it came and louder and louder were the shrieks of the terrified creature as it sped on with ever increasing pace, until at last with one wild scream, it was swept over the Falls and disappeared. What was the meaning of this weird incident?

Days before, far up country, a buffalo had been drowned. A soaring vulture had caught sight of the floating carcass and had lighted on it. Fastening its talons deep into the hide, it began to feast on its sumptuous meal. The swirling waters constantly swept over the carcass, but the vulture went on feeding, gorging itself to the full. Satisfied at last, it endeavoured to mount and fly away back again to its far away nest.

But it was powerless to rise. While it had been feasting ravenously the overlapping waters had frozen its talons into the hide and it was held as in a vice. Hence its terrifying cries, its helplessness and its ultimate fate.

There is a lesson in this for us. If we allow ourselves to be engrossed with sinful things day by day, they will eventually so enslave us that we will be in danger of dying unsaved and being engulfed in Hell for eternity. Many a person who has known the Gospel and has intended to be saved some day, has allowed their chance of salvation to slip by while they have gradually drifted deeper and deeper into sin, and finally have died unsaved and lost forever.

TUPU WHAKARANGI

Had that vulture not been so taken up with its meal, it could have flown away at the first signs of the freezing. How wise it is for us to take the present opportunity and be saved from sin and its awful power and consequences now by believing in the Lord Jesus Christ who died for us and rose again to be our Saviour and Lord.

(Growing Heavenward)

ISSUE 237 FEBRUARY 2021 Editor: Graham Batson Mail: PO Box 10, Whanganui 4540 Email: info.maoripostal@gmail.com www.maoripostal.co.nz

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Jihad to Christ A Muslim comes to Christ

 Continued from last issue PART TWO

the Bible or the Koran had to be correct.

I started reading what Jesus said: One of them was pure gold and the other “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the had to be a fake, but which one...? beginning and the end, who was and is Vowing to decide for “The Truth”, I to come, the Almighty” (Revelation 1:8). stayed up late many nights comparing Christ also said to the Jews: “Truly, truly many details between the Koran and I say to you; before Abraham was born I the Bible. At some point during my AM (the eternal God)” -- John 8:58. (See study I prayed saying: “God, You are the also Exodus 3:14).

Creator of Heaven and earth, the God It amazed me to find similar claims of Abraham, Moses, and Jacob; You are between Jesus and Mohammed. These the beginning and the end, You are ‘The claims were serious, as Mohammed Truth’, ‘the only Truth’, the maker of the said: “I am the beginning of all creation true Scripture, the one and only Word of and the last prophet”. He also said: “I God. I suffer to find your truth, I want to was a prophet of Allah while Adam was do Your will in my life, I long for Your love still being molded in clay”. Moreover he and in the name of ‘The Truth’ I ask this. claimed to be the intercessor for Muslims AMEN!!!” in the Day of Judgment.

I wanted real gold and would not These things always puzzled me. If settle for an imitation. I had to scratch Mohammed claimed all that he claimed extremely hard to look beyond the then who was Jesus who also claimed surface of the world’s plastic religions. to be our Redeemer and Saviour? That question troubled me a great deal: One I had believed in the Koran as the of the two claims had to be a lie for there word of God because it had modern could not be two redeemers. Either scientific laws, and only a book with Christ or Mohammed had to be the a divine origin could have scientific redeemer and intercessor for mankind -- facts written a thousand years before

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their discovery. I spent a month using a computer program searching for scientific clues in the Bible. I made the amazing discovery that every verse in the Koran that was a scientific miracle and that had led me and millions of Muslims to believe in the Koran was already in the Bible. Many stories in the Koran had serious errors and with my knowledge on history and archeology I knew that the Koran had serious faults.

With many of these discoveries my belief that the Koran was a miracle was in question because the Bible had all of these miracles hundreds and even thousands of years before. My foundation was shaken, and I felt the sinking sand under me. Even the nations mentioned by the prophet Ezekiel in chapter 38 whom God will destroy, most of them are Muslim nations growing towards Islamic Fundamentalism today.

God led me to discover through my study of the Bible, hundreds of detailed and unique verses concerning prophecies fulfilled to the letter. No man has ever presented such detailed predictions of future events without having more errors than truth. God is the only one who holds the key to future events, and only the Bible has the key, not the Koran which lacks most important elements -- “Salvation and Redemption”.

I knew at that moment I would have to be a fool knowing all of this to continue worshipping a different god than the God of the Bible. I really thought that with my prayer that God would lead me to the Koran, but that was not the case. In fact it was the other way round and I had to give up my pride and be open-minded to truth.

God says in the Bible: “For I am God, and there is no other; I am God and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things are not yet done, saying My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure.”

--Isaiah 46:9-10.

God did not only foretell future events, but declared them and brought them to pass, unlike the Koran which simply uses terror tactics to constrain Muslims to believe. Since I did not believe that the Bible was corrupted, I spent many days searching the Bible for Mohammad as he claimed to be in it, but never found him. If the Bible had been corrupted it had to have happened after the prophet Mohammed, since the Koran always speaks of the Bible that was “between his hands” at his time. From that time until now Muslims have failed to prove its corruption, and not one piece of historical or archeological evidence has been discovered to disprove the Bible.

Even the death of the Muslim prophet was different than the death of Jesus, as Mohammed died on his favorite wife’s lap, “Aisha”, while Jesus died on the cross in order to redeem us and pay for our sins. I feel sad that hundreds of millions of Muslims today live without ever hearing or being challenged with this kind of evidence.

It was astonishing to me to find that Muslims and the rest of the world recognizes three main religions that worship God, even though God said that He is One and His Word is One. I was blind, but with the Bible only I began to see -- I mean really SEE!!! With so much Biblical prophecy fulfilled, showing the return of Israel to their own land, the attitudes of Muslims and the world towards Jews, surely the second coming of Christ is near.

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Man has never changed: He still kills his brother as Cain killed his brother Abel. The only difference is that we don’t behead and stab each other in battles as much as we used to. We simply wage chemical warfare to exterminate each other like bugs, as human life is becoming less and less valuable. I began to see that sin is the source of all man’s problems, and that the Devil is man’s worst enemy, not the Jews, of whom Hitler exterminated 6 million over 75 years ago.

What is ironic today is that tons of literature is being sold denying the Holocaust even existed. I ask myself if the world today so foolishly denies the Jewish Holocaust despite all the evidence we have, why should I still wonder that most of the world today denies the Messianic claim of Christ and the accuracy of the Bible, especially when the evidence is all around!

gather all the nations to battle against Jerusalem, the city shall be rifled, and the women ravished” (Zechariah 14:2).

In Islam I was taught that the second coming of the Messiah was in Islamic prophecy. He is portrayed as the one to break the cross and kill the pig, another setup for Muslims to follow the false messiah, the Mehdi, the coming modern Antiochus Epiphanies.

Contrary to Mohammed’s prophecy, the Bible informs its readers that the outcome of the siege in the time of Jacob’s trouble will not be the total annihilation of the Jews, but that Christ Himself will descend to the Mount of Olives for judgment as he fights the enemies of Israel. Unfortunately, it will then be too late for repentance and redemption for non-believers.

The word “Truth” was stuck in my heart day and night, pounding on my soul as I continued to compare the two books, and finally concluded that the Bible can be proven beyond any shadow of a doubt to be true gold, not only by hundreds of ancient prophecies that have come to pass, but by one ancient word created by God from the time of Jacob until our generation, for all who doubt, and that word is – “Israel”.

God opened my heart and mind and led me to see how people today deny all the proofs He has provided for us in His Word, and instead adapt themselves to false forms of worship. The Lord began to show me the Satanic influences which affected my way of thinking because of my Islamic background. I was led to view the world and the meaning of life and saw the need for salvation. We all Israel’s existence as a nation today, can see today man’s goal for World and the re-gathering of the Jews from Government waiting for the Devil to be ALL parts of the world, is an irrefutable the king! proof, that the Holy Bible is the true “Babylon” is being revived from Word of God, as God scattered them the grave to unite the world one more throughout the whole world, and retime, only we have changed its name to gathered them again from ALL nations “The New World Order”, when it should back to their original land in fulfillment of be called “The New Babylon”. I started His promises in the far past. He said, “I reading the Bible and began to wonder will gather you from ALL the nations, and why Zechariah prophesied: “For I will from all the places where I have driven

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you, says the Lord, and I will bring you Now I hurt for them and pray peace for to the place from which I cause you to be Jerusalem continually, and instead of carried away captive” (Jeremiah 29:14). laughing at images of the Holocaust on Tv. I weep for them. I am even ready The true God never changes, He to give my own life for them, as did my remains the same. I also learned that Lord. I say it despite the outcome of the hate that could come from my own fellow my one time enemy, the Jews, were Arabs and Muslims. chosen by God to write God’s Word, and Yes I say it to the whole world, I God’s plan of salvation through Jesus the Messiah who is the only Messiah love Jews. I love them because of their and Redeemer for man. I also learned Messiah. I love them because they that Jesus, the Man from my hometown brought light to the world, and through was a Jew, and even my hometown was them came the light and the truth, for Jewish ‘Beth-Lechem’, which means that I love Jews. I no more despise them ‘Home of the Bread’, as He said: “I am and I know from the Bible that the Jews are God’s chosen people to give light the Bread of Life, he who comes to me to Arabs and to the whole world, if we shall never hunger, and he who believes only allow them, for God made them in me shall never thirst” (John 6:35). a blessing to the world. We need to Beth-Lechem was given its name love and support them as God said to before Jesus came to this world. He was Abraham: “I will bless those who bless from the people of my enemy the Jews, you and I will curse him who curses you, and He died for my sin. I never heard of and in you all the families of the earth an enemy who dies for another enemy shall be blessed” (Genesis 12:2). and loves him so much that he allowed himself to be beaten, spat on, mocked Knowing the truth transferred my and finally crucified. Can your enemy way of thinking from believing in Hitler die for you? Yet He said: “Love your to believing in Christ, from believing enemies, bless those who curse you, do lies to knowing the truth, from being good to those who hate you, and pray spiritually sick to being healed, from for those who spitefully use you and living in darkness to seeing the light, persecute you” -- Matthew 5:44. from being damned to being saved, from doubt to faith, from hate to love, and The Truth was in front of my very from evil works to God’s grace through eyes, knocking constantly on my heart, Christ. This transformation taught me and wanting to come in. I called on The that without the true Word of God things Truth and He answered. I was blind could look good on the surface but in the and sought the truth, and now I see. He core lays deception. I accepted Jesus knocked on my door and I opened, and the Messiah, as my Lord and Saviour, now He had set me free! Christ said, “I who died for all of our sins. To Him I am The Way, The Truth and The Life, no submit. one comes to the Father except through Me”. -- John 14:6 Jesus said: “Come to me all you who labour, and are heavy laden, and My way of thinking, my feelings, and my goals in life began to change. I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28 I began to feel for the Jewish People.

Thank you Lord Jesus for fulfilling All the hatred left me, the desire to see Your promise! them hurt is no more a thing in my life.

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The Matchless Pearl -- Author Unknown

David Morse -- American missionary to India -- became great friends there with the pearl-diver, Rambhau. Many an evening he spent in Rambhau’s cabin reading to him from the Bible and explaining to him God’s way of salvation.

Rambhau enjoyed listening to the Word of God, but whenever the missionary tried to get Rambhau to accept Christ as his Saviour - he would shake his head and reply, “Your Christian way to heaven is too easy for me! I cannot accept it. If ever I should find admittance to heaven in that manner - I would feel like a pauper there... like a beggar who has been let in out of pity. I may be proud - but I want to deserve, I want to earn my place in heaven -- and so I am going to work for it.”

Nothing the missionary could say seemed to have any effect on Rambhau’s decision, and so quite a few years slipped by. One evening, however, the missionary heard a knock on his door, and on going to open it he found Rambhau there.

“Come in, dear friend,” said Morse.

“No,” said the pearl-diver. “I want you to come with me to my house, Sahib, for a short time -- I have something to show you. Please do not say ‘No’.”

“Of course I’ll come,” replied the missionary. As they neared his house, Rambhau said: “In a week’s time I start working for my place in heaven; I am leaving for Delhi -- and I am going there on my knees.”

“Man, you are crazy! It’s nine hundred miles to Delhi, and the skin will break on your knees, and you will have blood-poisoning or leprosy before you get to Bombay.”

“No, I must get to Delhi,” affirmed Rambhau, “and the immortals will reward me for it! The suffering will be sweet - for it will purchase heaven for me!”

“Rambhau, my friend - you can’t. How can I bear you to do it - when Jesus Christ has suffered and died to purchase heaven for you!”

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But the old man could not be moved. “You are my dearest friend on earth, Sahib Morse. Through all these years you have stood by me in sickness, in want - you have been sometimes my only friend. But even you cannot turn me from my desire to purchase eternal bliss...I must go to Delhi!”

Inside the hut Morse was seated in the very chair Rambhau had specially built for him - where on so many occasions he had read to him the Bible.

Rambhau left the room to return soon with a small but heavy English strongbox. “I have had this box for years,” said he, “and I keep only one thing in it. Now I will tell you about it, Sahib Morse. I once had a son...”

“A son! Why, Rambhau, you have never before said a word about him!”

“No, Sahib, I couldn’t.” Even as he spoke the diver’s eyes were moistened.

“Now I must tell you, for soon I will leave, and who knows whether I shall ever return?

My son was a diver too. He was the best pearl diver on the coasts of India. He had the swiftest dive, the keenest eye, the strongest arm, the longest breath of any man who ever sought for pearls.

“What joy he brought to me! Most pearls, as you know, have some defect or blemish only the expert can discern, but my boy always dreamed of finding the ‘perfect’ pearl one beyond all that was ever found. One day he found it! But even when he saw it - he had been under water too long... That pearl cost him his life, for he died soon after.”

The old pearl diver bowed his head. For a moment his whole body shook, but there was no sound. “All these years,” he continued, “I have kept this pearl - but now I am going, not to return, and to you, my best friend - I am giving my pearl.”

The old man worked the combination on the strongbox and drew from it a carefully wrapped package. Gently opening the cotton, he picked up a mammoth pearl and placed it in the hand of the missionary.

It was one of the largest pearls ever found off the coast of India, and glowed with a lustre and brilliance never seen in cultured pearls. It would have brought a fabulous sum in any market.

For a moment the missionary was speechless and gazed with awe. “Rambhau! What a pearl!”

“That pearl, Sahib, is perfect,” replied the Indian quietly. The missionary looked up quickly with a new thought: Was not this the very opportunity and occasion he had prayed for - to make Rambhau understand the value of Christ’s sacrifice? So he said, designedly, “Rambhau, this is a wonderful pearl, an amazing pearl. Let me buy it. I would give you ten thousand dollars for it.”

“Sahib! What do you mean?”

“Well, I will give you fifteen thousand dollars for it, or if it takes more - I will work for it.”

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“Sahib,” said Rambhau, stiffening his whole body, “this pearl is beyond price. No man in all the world has money enough to pay what this pearl is worth to me. On the market a million dollars could not buy it. I will not sell it to you. You may only have it as a gift.”

“No, Rambhau, I cannot accept that. As much as I want the pearl, I cannot accept it that way. Perhaps I am proud, but that is too easy. I must pay for it, or work for it...”

The old pearl-diver was stunned. “You don’t understand at all, Sahib. Don’t you see? My only son gave his life to get this pearl, and I wouldn’t sell it for any money.

Its worth is in the life-blood of my son. I cannot sell this - but I can give it to you.

Just accept it in token of the love I bear you.”

The missionary was choked, and for a moment could not speak. Then he gripped the hand of the old man. “Rambhau,” he said in a low voice, “don’t you see? My words are just what you have been saying to God all the time.”

The diver looked long and searchingly at the missionary, and slowly, slowly he began to understand. “God is offering you salvation as a free gift,” said the missionary. “It is so great and priceless that no man on earth can buy it. Millions of dollars are too little. No man on earth could earn it. His life would be millions of years too short. No man is good enough to deserve it. It cost God the life-blood of His only Son to make the entrance for you into Heaven. In a million years, in a hundred pilgrimages, you could not earn that entrance. All you can do is to accept it as a token of God’s love for you - a sinner.

“Rambhau, of course I will accept the pearl in deep humility, praying God that I may be worthy of your love. Rambhau, won’t you accept God’s great gift of Heaven, too, in deep humility, knowing it cost Him the death of His Son to offer it to you?”

Great tears were now rolling down the cheeks of the old man. The veil was beginning to lift. “Sahib, I see it now. I have believed in the doctrine of Jesus for the last two years, but I could not believe that His salvation was free. Now I understand. Some things are too priceless to be bought or earned. Sahib, I will accept His salvation!”

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

John 3:16

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Once when Philip was asked by a clever pakeha if he believed that Jesus turned water into wine, he said, “Yes, I believe that, and in my home he turned beer into furniture!”

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PIRIPI TAIATA HAMIORA 1898 -- 1962

PHILIP SAMUEL was born in the Morrinsville district of Waikato, in the year of 1898. His father was Taiata Hamiora of the Ngati Haua tribe. His mother, Rititia Irihei, was of the Tuwharetoa tribe of the Taupo district.

Trained as a jockey, Philip, did a lot of horse riding in his early days and became well known at race meetings in Waikato and Auckland districts.

In the year 1929 he was living with his wife and family at Kereone near Morrinsville. His home was well known to the Morrinsville police because of the drinking parties at weekends.

New Zealand law at that time did not allow Maori people to take liquor away from hotel premises – but Philip found a way to get large quantities to his home

16

and also became quite clever at street of Morrinsville one evening making home-brew. He himself had he heard singing. It came from a become a drunk. large tent. He went to have a look.

Standing outside he listened to the Around this time two Christian words that were being sung: ladies from the Morrinsville Gospel Hall decided to try and start a Sunday “Have you any room for Jesus, School for the Maori children of the He who bore your load of sin, Kereone Pa. They met with a lot of As He knocks and asks admission, opposition from Philip Samuel and Sinner will you let Him in? other Maori men of the Pa. This Have you any time for Jesus surprised the two Christian ladies As in grace He calls again? because they knew that Philip was an Oh today is time accepted, assistant to the local Maori minister.

Tomorrow you may call in vain.”

When the opposition became too strong for the two ladies, they took Philip went inside. He sat down a Christian man along to help. His and listened to the preacher. The name was Jim Forlong. sermon was about two ways – the Phil did his best to oppose Jim and way to Heaven and the way to Hell yet he realised that Jim had some- – the narrow way that leads to eterthing he would like to have. Once nal life and the broad way that leads Philip and his friends made as much to destruction. Philip realised that he noise as they could during a service. was on the broad way, and he also They wanted to see if they could stop knew where it would end.

Jim from praying – but he went on As he sat that night in the tent, he with the prayer. Philip knew in Maori realised he was hopelessly lost – custom that if a prayer or a song can without Christ and without hope. He be stopped it is a bad omen. knew Maori geneology and culture, The Maori proverb says, “Ki te he had church and religion and had whati te waiata he aitua.” “If the flow been christened and confirmed and of the chant is broken it is an evil took communion in the church, but sign,” but the prayer went on like he now knew that he was lost beflowing water. Philip knew he was cause he had never accepted Christ beaten and he began to be troubled as Saviour. in his heart. In his own words he said, “For three months I was really troubled. I could not work properly and could not sleep, but I was too proud to ask Jim for help.”

He was in the church and in the tribe, but out of Christ. When the service was over and everyone gone, there was Philip Samuel still sitting on the seat. The preacher, the late Philip began to improve his life. He Charlie Gedge, asked him if anything tried several times to stop drinking was wrong. Philip replied, “Everything but usually ended up worse. He is wrong, nothing is right.” realised he had no power to change The preacher asked a second himself. Walking along the main question: “Are you saved?”

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Philip replied. “No, I’m lost.”

from many of his old drinking mates and his family and relatives also The preacher then read John 1:12 turned against him. But in the years from the Bible: “As many as receive that followed many of those same Him to them gave He the power to people turned to Christ themselves. become children of God.”Philip remembered that these were the words For more than 30 years he he had heard from Jim Forlong. preached the Gospel up and down New Zealand. Once when he was After a few minutes the pakeha asked by a clever pakeha if he preacher and Philip knelt together believed that Jesus turned water into side by side and the preacher said, wine, he said, “Yes, I believe that, “Will you now come to Christ – will and in my home he turned beer into you confess your sin and accept Him furniture.” right now as your Saviour?”

Philip was a loyal supporter Philip said, “I will” and he then of the Maori King and became asked the Lord Jesus to come into well known as a preacher on the his heart and save him. courtyard at Ngaruawahia. Often At that moment Philip Samuel at large gatherings he would be passed from death to life and was seen standing up to proclaim the born into God’s family. (See John 3:3). Gospel in Maori. At the Centennial He was now a member of the true celebrations of the Maori King church, to which every true believer movement he was chosen to preach belongs. His life was completely at the official service. There he stood changed. He no longer wanted to with his Bible in his hand, dressed drink, and his home was changed. in a traditional feather cloak, and His wife and family soon realised he he preached from two verses from was a new man. Instead of drink, he the Bible, John 14:6, where Jesus began to bring home furniture and said ,“I am the way, the truth and food. He went through a hard time the life”, and Hebrews 13:8, “Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today and forever.” He pleaded with chiefs, elders, parsons and others to come to Christ for forgiveness, peace and salvation.

The late Dr Maharaia Winiata, who was among those listening, said afterwards, “That man’s message is the answer to every problem we have in Maoriland today.”

Philip with the late Ernie Edwards who was a full time Christian worker among the Maori people for over 40 years.

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Here is the A.B.C. of the Gospel, Rukumoana Marae near Morrinsville, the heart of the message that Philip hundreds of people came from all Samuel preached:– parts of New Zealand to pay their respects to the memory of Philip A is for ALL. Romans 3:23 says, last Samuel.

“ALL have sinned and come short of Maori men from the East Coast the glory of God.” That ALL includes and other areas said, “We first heard you. way of salvation from our brother B is for BUT. Romans 5:8 says, the Samuel and we are glad we accepted “BUT God commends His love to his Saviour as our Saviour too.” us in that although we are sinners When a memorial stone was later Christ died for us.” Can you say as you read this, “Yes I believe He died erected in the Rukumoana cemetery by his sons and daughters, it was for me?” by a leading representative C is for COME. Matthew 11:28 unveiled of the Maori King and the words on says, “COME unto me ALL ye that the stone were read to the people. are weak and heavy laden and I will The words are: give you rest.”

PHILIP TAIATA SAMUEL – Have you come to Christ yet for BORN 1898 BORN AGAIN 1931 peace and salvation?

Will you accept this challenge from the story of a Waikato - Tuwharetoa Maori Christian? Will you, as you read these words, COME to Christ as Philip Samuel came? Philip found that for more than 30 years the Lord Jesus was not only his Saviour, but also his helper and friend. He passed away in September, 1962.

HE BEING DEAD YET SPEAKETH.

If you died today, could there be written on your memorial stone the date on which you were born again?

If you are not born again, you are outside of God’s family. If you need any further help, please write to: The During the days of mourning Editor, PO Box 10, Wanganui. Email: while his body laid in state on the graham.mpa@gmail.com

Philip with a group of Maori Christians some time in the early 1950s.

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HIS NAME IS HOLY HE TAPU IA INGOA

“You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses His name” (Exodus 20:7).

There is a very concerning trend in our society and we need to be made aware of it. It is the increasing tendency to use God’s name or the name of the Lord Jesus Christ as swear words. This evil practice has existed for many years, but over more recent times it has become alarmingly worse. In the Ten Commandments God warns against doing so, and there is special judgment for those who disobey. Today, through literature, videos and Tv it is common place, and in some Tv programmes it is staggering to see how prevalent it has become, where it is presented as though it is just a normal part of everyday speech. But it is a serious evil, and a terrible insult to God Himself.

Why do people do this? Why do they pick on God’s name? You never hear people use the name of Mohammed or Buddha, or even Stalin or Hitler for that matter. It is always the name of God or Jesus Christ that is used in this degrading way and sometimes it is combined with other filthy and vile words.

The fact that people pick on the name of God rather than that of someone else is not only evidence of the existence of Satan, but that He hates anything to do with God. He especially hates the name of God because it represents all that He is: It represents His purity, holiness and goodness, and if he can use God’s creatures to degrade His name he will indeed do so.

When you hear someone use God’s name or the name of the Lord Jesus as a swear word, that person is being directly used by Satan to insult God. And that person places himself in line for special judgment, for God has said that He “will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses His name”. Jesus Himself said, “But I tell you that men will have to give account on the Day of Judgment for every careless word they have spoken” (Matthew 12:36).

What does the name of God or the Lord Jesus Christ mean to you? To the true Christian who has received Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord they are wonderful names – far too precious to be used in the unholy way many people do. The name of God reminds us of the almighty supreme One who created all things by the word of His power and who showed His love for sinful people like you and me by giving His eternal Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to die in our place. Jesus Christ loved us to the extent of giving Himself as the ultimate sacrifice for our sins and how dare we use His name as a swear word! He now occupies the place of highest authority in Heaven and is able to save you from the penalty and power of your sin.

Perhaps you have been careless in the way you have used His name, and maybe you have not realised the seriousness of doing so. You need to be willing to turn from all your sin and receive the Lord Jesus into your heart and life. Then, you too, will love His name and value it in the way that you should. Allow Him to break the evil habit of profaning His holy name and don’t be Satan’s tool in this way any longer. – Editor.

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THE INCOMPARABLE CHRIST More than nineteen hundred years ago, there was a Man born contrary to the laws of life.

He lived in poverty and was reared in obscurity. Only once did He cross the boundary of the country in which He lived; that was during His exile in childhood.

He possessed neither wealth nor influence. His relatives were inconspicuous and had neither training nor formal education.

In infancy He startled a king; in childhood He puzzled religious leaders; in manhood He ruled the course of nature, walked upon the waves as pavement, and hushed the sea to sleep.

He healed the multitudes without medicine and made no charge for His service.

He never wrote a book, and yet perhaps all the libraries of the world could not hold the books that have been written about Him. He never wrote a song, and yet He has furnished the theme for more songs than all the songwriters combined.

He never founded a college, but all the schools put together cannot boast of having as many students.

He never marshalled an army, nor drafted a soldier, nor fired a gun; and yet no leader ever had more volunteers who have, under His orders, made more rebels stack arms and surrender without a shot fired.

He never practiced psychiatry, and yet He has healed more broken hearts than all the doctors far and near.

Once each week multitudes congregate at worshiping centres to pay homage and respect to Him. The names of the past, proud statesmen of Greece and Rome have come and gone.

The names of the past scientists, philosophers, and theologians have come and gone. But the name of this Man multiplies more and more.

Though time has spread over nineteen hundred years between the people of this generation and the mockers at His crucifixion, He still lives. His enemies could not destroy Him, and the grave could not hold Him. He stands forth upon the highest pinnacle of Heavenly glory, proclaimed of God, acknowledged by angels, adored by saints, and feared by devils, as the risen, personal Christ, our Lord and Saviour.

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“P” – THE DEVIL’S TRAP An inmate’s warning “Everything in my life had a purpose until I was introduced to the drug “P”. I had heard all the things about it – how it keeps you awake longer, how it makes you think clearer. So I tried it and, yes, all the things I was told appeared to be true, so away I went. Almost every day I was smoking it, but I did not notice that my partner, who means the world to me, was slowly drifting away.

Reality was no longer part of my life. It seemed another person had taken over my body. I became a puppet of the devil and when he pulled the strings I moved. I am now in prison, having been found guilt of methamphetamine charges. Some I do know I was not guilty of, but the jury found me guilty.

I am walking with the Lord now. He has been in my life for 12 months. My partner wants to call it quits.

I pray every day to stay strong in our love. But me being out of her sight gives her reason to have me out of her mind.

I thank the Lord Jesus that He has given me strength to stay on this earth and to be able to tell my story of the fake world caused by “P”. In the real world it is the devil’s trap to destroy what is beautiful and lives that can only be fulfilled by God.”

METHAMPHETAMINE EFFECTS Some short-term side effects: False sense of well-being, convulsions, twitching and jerking, aggressive behaviour, increased heart rate and muscle tension, grinding of teeth, stimulation of the adrenal gland, constriction of blood vessels, rise in blood pressure, impaired speech, dry itchy skin, loss of appetite, hallucinations, acne and sores, paranoia, insomnia.

Some long-term effects: Malnutrition, liver damage, brain damage, severe weight loss, fatal kidney and lung disorders, insomnia, permanent psychological problems, lowered resistance to illness, stroke, coma, death.

METHAMPHETAMINE LAWS AND PENALTIES  Methamphetamine is a class A drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act and therefore attracts severe penalties.  Manufacturing, importing, dealing and possession for supply can lead to a life sentence.

Possession of five grams of methamphetamine (a teaspoon) is enough to warrant a conviction for possession for supply.  Those caught importing the precursors of methamphetamine (pseudoephedrine and ephedrine) without a licence can attract jail sentences of up to eight years.  Possessing a pipe or utensil for smoking methamphetamine is also an offence and can result in a one year jail term or a fine of up to $1000.

For help, phone your nearest branch of Drug Arm or contact: The Editor, “Tupu Whakarangi” who can refer you to professional help.

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DEATH ENDS ALL!

I was talking to an atheist one day, and he said, “I do not believe what you are preaching.” I replied, “You have told me what you do not believe. Perhaps you will tell me what you do believe”.

He said, “I believe that death ends all”.

“So do I,” I responded. “Shake on it!”

“What!” he exclaimed, “You believe that death ends all?”

“I certainly do,” I replied, whereupon he said, “You are a strange Christian” and I said, “I am sure of that. There is none other like me in the whole world! As a Christian I assert the belief that death ends all”.

He said that he had never heard of such a thing, and I added, “It’s time you heard something new.” He said that I was playing with him.

I continued, “Death ends all your chance of doing evil, death ends all your joy; death ends all your projects, all your ambitions; death ends all your friendships; death ends all the Gospel you will ever hear. Death ends it all for you and you go out into eternal darkness.

“Death ends all my wanderings, all my tears, all my perplexities, and all my disappointments, all my aches and pains. Death ends it all and I go to be with my Lord in glory”.

He said, “I never thought of that!” I led that fellow to Christ just by agreeing with him that death ends all!

-- Author unknown.

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