Category: Blog

Having had our lives disrupted by Covid Pandemic over the past two years I want to ask you a question

How are you going?

We’ve had our share of anxiety perpetrated by the fear mongering of our government, supported by many analysts with their guesses, and who could forget the epidemiologists who become household names wheeled out night after night on our television screens.

So how are you?

Feeling better knowing the occupation of Parliament is over and mandates may end, the borders are reopening, and family is coming home or are you concerned now about the rise in living costs, empty shelves at the supermarket, rising inflation and petrol in some parts in the country over $3 a litre?

And of course, the war in the Ukraine is it all impacting on your mental state?

I was recently involved in a discussion with friends about wellbeing.

They tell me that the War in Ukraine puts our problems over the past two years into perspective.

I agreed that not being allowed into a café or restaurant because I didn’t or refused to show my vax certificate was minimal to having your city pounded by the Russian army.

But at the same time, let’s not minimise our problems just because someone is going through something greater.

Right now, it is a fearful time but keep in mind, we are as our leaders say we are living in unprecedented times.

Christians around the world certainly are in no doubt what these unprecedented times are

In the Bible book of Matthew Jesus told his disciples on the Mount of Olives about todays unprecedented times as the end of the times

Matthew 24:6-

6 You will hear of wars and rumours of wars but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of birth pains.

32 2 “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. 33 Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it[e] is near, right at the door. 34 Truly I tell you; this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

You know our state of mind does have a huge bearing on how we see things.

We are not to be brought down and we’re encouraged to throw our burdens onto the Lord for He is there to help carry them. As the Psalmists says

Praise be to the Lord, to God our Saviour, who daily bears our burdens. Psalm 68:19

So going back to the idea that our problems are not as great as the people in Ukraine.

Well, it depends on the circumstances as to whether we take a victim mentality or not.

Having your home bombed may cause you rightful anxiety but is not the same thing not happening to your neighbours, your community, and your country.

You have a right to be aggrieved but you know sometimes we have to accept there are a lot of things that are out of our control.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Philippians 4:6

I was encouraged to read an article by an American born pastor and missionary Benjamin Morrison last week who along with his Ukrainian born wife and their two children who have been living for the past 20 years in Ukrainian city of

Svitlovodsk.

Putting things into perspective Morrison says Russia has been warring against Ukraine since 2014, but this is an unprecedented phase.

Still, it’s amazing how quickly one gets used to the mundane realities of war.

On day one, the news of other cities being bombed caused great anxiety in the city of where he lives

 He says the fact that the news woke us up before dawn and was very unexpected made it much worse. The intent to cause panic seemed planned.

Now, on day seven, the adrenaline has worn off. They had become used to the 8 p.m. curfew and sitting in a dark apartment at night.

Morrison said they found themselves ignoring some of the air raid sirens—especially the ones in the middle of the night, we’re so exhausted. We’ve also learned that not every siren means a bomb might drop on our heads.

Now I admit, not everyone can do what Morrison is now doing, and there are times the family heads to the bomb shelter.

Taking advantage, not sitting with his family mithering about their lot he takes it as an opportunity to share the hope of Christ with our neighbours.

“Bomb shelter ministry” is, he admits, not a ministry profile he thought he’d ever have. And yet, he is already seeing how fruitful it’s been

Our neighbours have heard more about Christ, heard more Scripture, and been led in more prayer in the last week than most would have in their lives.

In addition to the “Our Father” prayer, I’ve taken to reading various Psalms with them—a particularly fitting book for us in Ukraine, as David often cries out amid being hunted by his enemies.

One of our neighbours is the equivalent of our building superintendent. The other night in the bomb shelter, she said with tears in her eyes how thankful she was to have neighbours like us.

She said she can’t understand “where we came from.” We got to remind her that if there is something different, it is only because of the hope Christ gives us.

Despite considerable time spent in the bomb shelter during air raids, his city has so far avoided any actual bombing. There’s a lack of strategic targets nearby. This, along with the fact that we are at a crossroads in the country, has made Svitlovodsk a refugee destination—that and God’s providence.

This is the case with most refugees who make it this far. We are just an inn for weary travellers on the way.

 But we hope to serve them and help them experience the love and peace of Christ, even if only for a few hours.

 It is not our job to force them into faith—an evangelistic approach that rarely produces satisfactory results. Rather, we will play whatever role God grants us: to plant a seed, to water—or to harvest when ready.

He is the one who brings the fruit in his time, and we can rest in that.

All these stories should remind us of a vital truth: that God’s victory is always subversive. Whatever the Enemy intends for evil, God always takes and uses for good.

This means the more the Enemy rages, he only brings his own destruction closer.

God turns the Enemy’s weapons against him, just as David did with Goliath’s sword—and what Christ did in his death on the cross.

When the Enemy thought he finally had Jesus’ right where he wanted him, it turned out he was dealing his own death blow.

 Our Lord overcame by using the Enemy’s own weapons against him.

We take comfort in that—especially as Ukraine faces an enemy who rages, both in the Devil who loves to “steal, kill and destroy” and in those pseudo kings who are the Devil’s pawns.

Benjamin believes both will shortly find themselves overthrown by God’s wonderfully ironic victory.

Pray for the refugees we are expecting over the next days,

Pray that we will serve them well and show them the love of Christ and that God would open doors.

Pray for strength and wisdom amid so many needs.

Pray for the people who Benjamin comes into contact to come to know the beauty of the gospel in their lives.

Pray for God’s subversive victory to come swiftly against the tyrant terrorizing their country.

Pray for God to be glorified in humbling the pride of man.

Final word” regardless of your circumstances God will use you, whatever burdens you have he will carry them, and keep lifting your eyes to the heavens, because this is where your salvation will come from.

So, hearing Benjamin Morrisons story what can you do to turn your current circumstance into a positive for the Kingdom of God?

Can you turn your test into your testimony?

Now that the occupation of Parliament Grounds has ended probably the way everyone expected it to.

Its time to take a breath and reflect on the past three weeks.

There have been calls for an enquiry over the protests, but really do you think there will be culpability and fairness shown by both sides.

It depends on which side of the barricade you stood during this time as to how you viewed the protesters, the Police, the media and the government.

There is however one undeniable fact that shouldn’t be ignored and that was the reason this protest and others in various parts of the country happened.

And that was the overreaching of power by the Ardern Government who were drunk with the power they were given at the start of this pandemic.

While emergency powers were given through the parliamentary process in the form of the Covid-19 Public Health Response Act 2020 and later amendment, in which there are many.

This government has overlooked the control mechanisms put in place and that was that the order did not limit the rights and freedoms in the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990.

With well over 90% of the population receiving a double dose of the Pfizer vaccination either voluntarily, coerced, or mandated.

In 2021 Prime Minister Ardern stated no one would be forced to take the vaccine,

But the rhetoric changed almost overnight with the introduction of the Delta strain and suddenly everything changed, and it became what it was,

Really, I don’t have time to spell out the huge number of freedom and rights that were taken away from New Zealanders.

The argument that it was the right thing to do for the greater good was used but the fact remains

This government showed it would use every means possible to inject you with this vaccine.

Is it any wonder many thousands of New Zealand who were representative of all walks of life marched to protest eventually gathering and occupying Parliament Grounds?

Like all protests they used their rights to gather at the newly named “Peoples Parliament” to air their grievance,

But unlike other protests, no one from any our representation in Parliament was prepared to listen.

These protesters weren’t ignored, they were instead marginalized by those very people elected to represent them.

The question needs to be asked is Why?

Despite the protestations about threats and violence, no one and I mean no one was remotely interested in talking with this protest at any point but to be fair to the government they did engage with the protesters, but it was with batons, rubber bullets and riot shields.

Could it have all been part of the plan to get the timing right, use negative rhetoric against the occupiers, get middle New Zealand on side, ensure the protest gets to a tipping point have the Police clean it out and then tell the country how bad it was.

Certainly, Ardern who on election night promised to govern for all New Zealanders was nowhere to be seen exercising leadership.

Her actions and the later actions of the speaker of the house only galvanised the opposition, until it inevitably ended the way it did with violence.

Watching from afar, to me there were two occupations of Parliament.

One was the daily footage from the protesters from their Camp Freedom

The other was the one painted by the Government fuelled by the media cheer team.

Like most New Zealanders, I do not condone the violence and some of the fringe elements of the protestors, nor the actions of some police officers but the reasons why this uprising took place rests fairly and squarely, I believe with the occupier of the ninth floor of the Beehive.

I have said it often, I fear for this country.

What Jacinda Ardern has shown us is how easy and how quickly it is to change a nation.

The team of five million was divided just six months ago and supposedly conquered,

A large portion of New Zealanders stood by and applauded as one protester put it “this girl in a skirt” overrode the rights and liberties of New Zealand.

Believe me when I say the caste has been set for the future for a new world government and like we have seen in the past few months it will happen quickly.

I said I fear for this nation.

While the Government stands up for the rights of Ukraine on the international stage it’s ironic that the National Museum in Auckland is being lit up in support of freedom for Ukraine, there is an encampment on the lawn outside protesting the lack of freedom for people in our own country.

I noted earlier the safeguards of the Covid 19 Health Response Act earlier.

It was one sentence in a myriad of words, but I ask the question

I ask, how many times have we heard this government and others say this bill or that one has protections for the rights of individuals built into them?

I think the occupation of Parliament showed Dare I say it, the guys at the Tui brewery were right when it coined the phrase, Yeah, right.

Doesn’t matter what or who is in power, they rule only for themselves.

Even looking through the Bible at the Judges of Israel, there were good ones and not so great.

But take this thought with you today,

There will soon be an end to all this anguish when real leadership will rule the earth and that is the hope that I long for is when the King of kings, Lord of Lord takes his place and brings an end to all mistrust of governments when, Jesus rules this earth with love. Amen?

Finally, now the kids are back at school I want to ask the question of parents.

Have you looked, asked, or thought about the school’s curriculum?

I reason I ask the question is simple.

As parents we are no longer permitted to enter some school grounds let alone have access to your child’s classroom and teachers.

I want to state categorically, this podcast should not be seen as any form of criticism of teachers as they are paid to teach our children.

The question is what it is, they are teaching.

When my parents dropped me off, sorry, I should tell the truth.

When my parents said goodbye to me as I started my two-mile hike to school each morning on a cold frosty Otago morning.

They were right to assume I was going to learn how to read write, add and a little about my world, and of course being a Catholic School, something about God.

But today’s curriculum is far wider ranging as it touches on subjects that even I, as a parent could never imagine would be taught, even when I dropped my boys off at school (yes, I did)

Today’s curriculum is now designed to teach children to think about the world around them. It teaches them there is no God

It teaches them there is no gender\It teaches them the world they are going to inherit is going to end in disaster because their parents and their grandparents were irresponsible with the planet

It teaches them that their actions are someone else’s responsibility

It teaches them truth is subjective

It teaches them that events in history were wrong, and we need to rewrite it so its palatable to this generation.

And of course all the while it is grooming our children to believe what the state wants them to believe.

A recent news item on TVNZ showed a group protesting the rights of freedom outside a Christchurch School while the Prime Minister was visiting.

Social media went wild as did the reporter suggesting children shouldn’t be subjected to this type of behaviour.

Hmm I would have thought a teacher may have been able to turn this event around into a teaching moment rather than shield children from reality.

I know the country is split on the idea of children attending the Freedom occupation of Parliament grounds.

The government also made the point that Oranga Tamariki should step in.

When a parent takes their child to say, a super rugby game, which is filled with frenzied spectators displaying tribal loyalties, where some times behaviour is not the best, where security and even the police are required to take action, no one and I mean no one sees anything wrong in the kids being there.

They are learning life.

Just the same as being at a protest, they are learning and are exposed to life which will help them form their own opinions, not the ones the state teaches them, but there own based on family values and reactions. 

Which brings me to this point.

Our world is full of differing ideas and opinions, different challenges, different lifestyles and especially here in New Zealand, different cultures.

We have many beliefs, but the one which overrides all is that New Zealand is a great place to live, work and play.

And the reason for that is because of the multi culturism we have living within our boundaries.

So yes I believe it is important to be taught learn and understand the varied differences within our society.

We need to learn for example why and what a Muslim is

We need to learn and understand what a member of the gay community is about

We need to learn and understand about our indigenous people.

We need to learn and understand about everything in our lives

We need to learn and understand these things in a truthful way.

Our children do not need to see a kaleidoscope view where everything is fragmented and not normal.

We need our children to learn and understand that there is diversity in our nation.

But they also need to learn and understand they are a part of that diversity.

Because someone in school is Muslim, gay, or indigenous doesn’t mean we need to educate them on becoming one

My comments are aimed at the increasing influence that the gay community is having on both our children and our lives.

My sons are my sons, your daughters are your daughters, they are not pronouns, your son is not odd because he’s playing with dolls instead of kicking a ball. Your girl is not in the wrong body because she wants to work on your car rather than learning to sew.

We all have differing views on the LGBT community, but I believe, and that belief is based on knowledge gained from the Bible which is written by the creator of mankind and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.

You know, the school teaches them a lot of things parents disagree with.

As a parent you roll your eyes, mutter under your breath what next, but the sad thing is you accept it.

Imagine if every parent who disagreed with the curriculum and wanted them to return to teaching them how to read how to write and be able to spell, speak properly without saying “like” every second word, how much better New Zealand would be.

I am not suggesting we take our children from school, but at least question what they are learning .

Finally

We, you and I should be our children’s teachers, they should learn from us about life.

We need to teach our children what is right and what is wrong and truth in all things, not the overreaching state.

Deuteronomy 4:10 say

Only be careful and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.

Also Deuteronomy11:10

Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

Above all teach them about your love for God, Proverbs 22:6

Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.

Our country is heading in a very dangerous direction.

Rather than demonstrating a commitment to the protection of the rights of its citizens, our leader ,Jacinda Ardern, like Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau appear far more interested in following the playbook of the World Economic Forum

Protest action from both protesters and the response from government look to mirror what is happening in Canada and New Zealand.

Let’s look at what is happening in Canada first

Trudeau has made it clear to the Canadian people that opposition to his political views absolutely will not be tolerated.

Trudeau has committed grave violations against the rights of Canadian protestors by assuming unprecedented emergency powers.

Despite the clear violations of the rights of Canadians, most leaders in the West and most of the establishment media have been largely silent about – or even supportive of – his actions.

In fact, Trudeau’s actions are in keeping with the prevailing agenda of a large and growing segment of the Western world.

You may recall when Covid 19 was first detected the Prime Minister declared a nationwide state of emergency which was followed by the Covid19 Public Health Response Act which gave our government a huge range of powers.

We have already seen an overreach of power in New Zealand.

As the West increasingly turns its back on many of the biblical values upon which it was built, it is opening itself up to increasing totalitarianism.

People who understand the connection between freedom and faith in God need to denounce Trudeau’s totalitarianism in all its forms.

If people around the world don’t boldly and peacefully stand up for their values and freedoms in the public square, what Canada has become is what New Zealand will become – and the descent of our world into totalitarianism won’t stop there. 

While both Trudeau and Ardern paint themselves as champions of the oppressed, they have chosen to forcefully persecute “a fringe minority,” segregating this group from the rest of society, all for declining to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

Both leaders portray themselves as a “liberal,” they refuse to protect the basic rights of citizens to speak freely, to make their own medical decisions and to protest peacefully.

Both Trudeau and Ardern are following the exact same playbook being used across the world and New Zealanders will note the familiarity.

> Declare a crisis

> Construct a narrative around the crisis

> Push the narrative via establishment media

> Use the narrative to consolidate power

> Slander, censor and persecute all those who oppose the narrative 

This strategy has been used across the world in response to the pandemic time and time again.

As those who value the freedoms that have been passed down to us by previous generations, we must look to Trudeau’s Canada as a cautionary tale.

We must choose leaders who are dedicated to upholding truth and defending human liberty, rather than those who seek to transform our societies into technocratic regimes – regimes run by unaccountable scientific and political “experts,” who manufacture and exploit crises in order to centralize power and crush all dissent.

If we want a future in which the truth can be spoken freely, we must speak the truth now.

If we want societies in which the God-given freedoms of men and women are protected, and in which our God-given values are cherished, we must not compromise when corrupt governments step outside their rightful bounds.

We must peacefully oppose such tyranny and live as those who know that the authority of God is higher than any government.

We must elect leaders who refuse to conform to the agendas of godless international institutions, but who will instead cherish and fight for the truths, values and freedoms so many in the West have died to defend.

One of the ways the global cabal is attempting to implement The Great Reset and the Fourth Industrial Revolution is by putting global supply chains at risk to bring the economy to its knees.

The narrative being sold to the public goes like this.

The new wave of COVID-19 infections caused by various Greek-letter variants, major disruptions due to natural disasters (attributed to climate change), and cyber-attacks targeting key industries are causing worker shortages and the inability for ships and other major transport systems to reach their destinations. 

This “shortage” of workers and goods such as food and computer chips plays right into globalist stooges’ hands.

As prices skyrocket, the economy will further deteriorate, and panic will rule the day.

People desperate for basic necessities will turn to looting and violence which will give governments a new excuse to lockdown and subdue their populations.

The true narrative points to global forces using these unfolding calamities as the perfect convergence of manufactured “problem-reaction-solution” scenarios.

These “existential” crises are deliberately put in motion to move the world towards global governance based on the UN (Agenda 2030) Sustainable Development goals, a new blockchain based financial system, and a China-like surveillance state.

Pandemics, climate change, cyber terror, and manufactured supply shortages are trojan horses used to remove individual rights, destroy nations and governments, and push people into a new technocratic society. 

All of these events allow governments to implement “emergency” measures while consolidating more power.

As these scenarios play out, control mechanisms such as biometric surveillance, smart technology, social credit, Universal Basic Income, mandatory vaccination, and digital ID/wallet systems are steadily materializing.

A new article in the Insurance Journal provides details to the changes rapidly taking place as the global supply chain is threatened. The article states:

Events have conspired to drive global supply chains towards breaking point, threatening the fragile flow of raw materials, parts, and consumer goods, according to companies, economists and shipping specialists.

Automakers, for example, are again being forced to stop production because of disruptions caused by COVID-19 outbreaks. Toyota Motor Corp said this week it had to halt operations at plants in Thailand and Japan because they couldn’t get parts.

Buckling supply chains are already hitting New Zealand but more importantly the United States and China, the world’s economic motors that together account for more 40% of global economic output.

This could lead to a slowdown in the global economy, along with rising prices for all manner of goods and raw materials.

Ports across the globe are suffering the kinds of logjams not seen in decades, according to industry players.

The China Port and Harbour Association said that freight capacity continued to be tight.

A cyber attack hit South African container ports in Cape Town and Durban this week, adding further disruptions at the terminals.

If all that were not enough, in Britain the official health app has told hundreds of thousands of workers to isolate following contact with someone with COVID-19 — leading to supermarkets warning of a short supply and some petrol stations closing.

Another recent article from The Conversation details how extensive the shortages are, stating:

It expands to include a whole range of products like lumber and other building materials, tools, foodstuffs, seeds, furniture, cleaning supplies, aluminium cans, jars, pools and pool equipment, chemicals, bicycles, camping gear, household appliances and replacement parts of all kinds.

In many cases supply chains have been simultaneously squeezed on both ends — supply and demand.

The empty store shelves that dotted the landscape at the beginning of last year’s plandemic is only a taste of what is to come.

I have already spoken about shortages of food supplies in a previous podcast, but here in new Zealand our farmers are also facing shortages and increasing pressures from the government towards “sustainable farming: which will reduce their output.

You may recall the story of a container ship which blocked both lanes of the Suez Canal and kept vessels from crossing for an entire week leading to inflated oil prices and long shipping delays.

These events along with a “cyber pandemic” could easily trigger a worldwide crisis. World Economic Forum frontman and globalist Klaus Schwab has warned of an event to come that could make the coronavirus “pandemic” seem like a small disturbance. 

The World Economic Forum sponsored Cyber Polygon events have been creating simulations of massive cyber-attacks that could completely disrupt finance, global trade, power grids, and life as we know it. 

The question is not Will these simulations go live in the near future but when?

“We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.”  (1 John 5:19)

On January 27, 1945, Soviet troops liberated Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi death camp.

 It is estimated that at least 1.3 million people were deported to Auschwitz between 1940 and 1945.  

Of those, approximately 1.1 million were murdered.

Just 10 days before the liberation, the Nazis gave the order that all remaining prisoners be killed.

As Soviet troops approached, camp inmates were forced on death marches.  

About 15,000 died in that evacuation.  

Those who survived the marches were transported to other camps.  

The Soviets liberated about 7,000 sick and dying inmates at Auschwitz.

The annual commemoration of International Holocaust Remembrance Day is on January 27 was an initiative of the State of Israel at the United Nations.

 Resolution 60/7 was passed in November 2005 and this day now serves as an international warning to the dangers of genocide.

The 60/7 resolution states, “The Holocaust, which resulted in the murder of one third of the Jewish people, along with countless members of other minorities, will forever be a warning to all people of the dangers of hatred, bigotry, racism, and prejudice.”

“To one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.” (James 4:17)

Jewish Holocaust survivors and their children are painfully aware of those who stood by and did nothing in the Holocaust.

We must never forget those who suffered during the Holocaust!

All genocides, including the Holocaust, can only take root when the local population allows such persecution to take hold.

 Even though some supported and even facilitated policies of persecution, most of the people stood by quietly, not objecting in any way, afraid to speak out, or at worst, simply indifferent to what was happening to their fellowman.

Holocaust survivor and international author Elie Wiesel in his 1986 Nobel Prize acceptance speech revealed the powerful part that bystanders played:

“I swore never to be silent whenever and wherever human beings endure suffering and humiliation.  

We must always take sides.  

Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim.  

Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.”  (Nobel Prize)

This is a day for everyone to pause and remember the millions whose lives have been taken from them or changed beyond recognition.

This includes not only the victims of the Holocaust and Nazi persecution, but the subsequent genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia, Darfur, Myanmar and other countries.  

It is a day both to honour the survivors of these catastrophes and to learn from what they experienced to better inform our own lives today.

This is a day for learning the lessons of the past and for realizing that genocide does not just happen; it is the result of a process that occurs over time when growing racism, discrimination, and hatred are left unchallenged and unchecked.

Moreover, it is a day for each of us to check our own heart for passivity in the face of hatred.

“Yeshua said, ‘If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains.’”  (John 9:41)

If we claim to follow Jesus the Messiah and see His truth that others don’t see, we then have a responsibility to not stand by, but reach out with love,  hope, and compassion as Yeshua would do.

Discrimination has not ended, nor has the use of the language of hatred towards the Jewish people.

Today the United Nations is once again standing by and doing nothing while Israel fights for its survival.  

It is vastly outnumbered by those who hate her.

  But there is one advantage that has consistently and miraculously tipped the scales in favour of Israel, and always will.  

The Jewish nation, although small and outnumbered, has a distinct advantage — God is on her side.

“Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the LORD’s hand double for all her sins.”  (Isaiah 40:2)

To the protesters in Wellington who now occupy the grounds of Parliament.

Don’t stop, you have accomplished a lot already.

Under trying conditions, you are putting up and not responding to provocation but refused to take the bait.

You have kept your heads and supplied a model for the rest of the country.

The momentum you have started is growing by the day with groups starting to form in other parts of the country who are standing with you.

Slowly the country is starting to listen to what the minority of the team of 5 million have been trying to tell them.

There have been suggestions this protest will grow but you have to stay strong and committed.

To move forward the protest must have leadership, be united and have a clear goal and above all be disciplined.

Protesters must remain calm, resolute, but not stop or deny the freedoms of others while trying to achieve the goal.

This movement once it has direction and leadership should then be able to decide the direction the protest takes.

It needs to decide what happens as the political process bends in the direction that you’ve insisted upon.

Once this has happened, I am guessing you will pack up and return home to what should be a normal life.

But for those who are the more radical and there is a remnant amongst you, they will want to stay on, and to be fair, that is something the leadership will have difficulty in managing.

But to you protesters who have given up the comfort of your homes, who have jobs, those who stood against the mandates who lost their jobs, the many who have joined you, the business people who support you, or the growing swell of similar groups.

You are standing for an end to mandates and an end to the two tier system created by this government.

You are standing in support for the Freedom of rights for all New Zealanders.

You are standing for an end to the hardships imposed by governments actions.

And above all, you are showing that while we as kiwis will normally go along with things, we are prepared to stand up and voice our disapproval when something is not right.

We stand with you in Wellington in support, we pray for ears and eyes to be open but above all we pray for God to defend New Zealand, and a normative piece and the reestablishment of our psychological and social wellbeing.

Using Covid 19 as a shield, the New Zealand Government led by the charismatic Jacinda Ardern has legislated many policies which has changed the culture of the country, but the bad news for New Zealanders there is more to come. Mike Bain from Christian Voice New Zealand provides a biblical comparison of the Ardern government and its future.

With growing dangers and uncertainties everywhere and the global economy spiraling downward, people everywhere are hungry for leadership and direction unlike any other time in human history.

The world’s prospects for the future are gloomy and getting worse. Everyone knows it. And everyone knows that we need someone who can offer hope and chart a clear course for solving the worlds mounting crises.

British historian, philosopher of history, Arnold Toynbee and Henri Spakk from the United Nations noted,  the nations are ready to give the kingdoms of the world to any one man who will offer us a solution to the world’s problems.

In Forbes magazine, an eminent British historian Paul Johnson said that “there’s one lesson to be learned above all others; there is no substitute for prudent, strong and courageous leadership.”

This is what the civilized world lacks and must find soon.

The bible predicts that such a leader is coming, in fact may already be here.

In a 1999 Newsweek Poll 19% of Americans believe the Antichrist is on earth today. That’s 1/5 who believe that the antichrist is alive and well and is our midst.

The world is ripe for a peacemaker, especially one who can bring peace to the Middle East and the question is, what would the world give for someone who could bring about peace?

What’s changed?

As far as God is concerned, nothing has changed, he still has a purpose for this earth, and he has a purpose for each one here.

What has changed is mankind, mankind is looking to other men who are infallible for redemption, but there is no human man who can save the world.

God’s purpose for the earth has been clear from the first words in written in the Bible, and that was to provide a home for mankind, where they would be able to live in peace and harmony.

But the world has continually rejected God until we have come to where we are today.

Armageddon is a war that will shed the blood of the armies of the world, it will be something that will make the Hitler’s Third Reich that bathed Europe in blood, pale by comparison.

I am talking about the prophecy in the bible that says that Jesus Christ will come back to the earth, this is often referred to as the second coming.

If you are a Christian, it is a time for you to act so that you can rejoice.

Today is the time for you standing on the edge of the greatest piece of history and to to recognize it and have faith that it is about to happen and faith that the promises contained in the Bible will be delivered.

Imprisoned in Rome awaiting execution the apostle Paul is portrayed in a Netflix Movie about his final days as a bit of a solemn character.

 The Christian community eagerly awaited his letters, which eventually came from their much-loved apostle helped them understand his trials and the tribulations they may one day face.

In earlier biblical accounts, where Paul was incarcerated, he prayed, and sang songs.

Paul was eventually freed after God hearing his supplication shook the earth and the doors of the jail were flung open.

I mention this because the self-proclaiming apostle Brian Tamaki has found himself in a similar position.

Thankfully not awaiting execution.

Perhaps the best way to describe Brian Tamaki could be to suggest he has a polarising effect on people.

I must state, right now, I have never met him or been in his presence.

And to be fair, I am not one who would condone and yet not condemn what he does in his church.

From the outside looking in Tamaki leads a very passionate congregation.

One can only look at the difference Destiny Church has made to so many within the South Auckland community.

He certainly is a leader of people, and that is the point I want to make today.

Brian Tamaki leads, but it is with the grace of the GOD he serves as the reason why.

Recent events have seen Tamaki imprisoned for standing against the tide of totalitarianism sweeping across this nation.

In the past, I have often called for our churches to unite, but it keeps falling on deaf ears.

But Brian Tamaki along with his Destiny Church congregation has read the feeling of this country correctly.

Their stand under the “Freedoms and Rights Coalition” banner is exactly what church leaders in this country should be doing.

They should be shouting the message from their pulpits and from the street corners, from anywhere they will be heard.

Except for a few and I mean a few- Five to be exact

Brian Tamaki is very much on his own.

Is it the churches in this country simply disagree with his stand?

Or is it they are erring on the side of self-preservation.

Is it they are held back by the members of their congregation who only want warm fuzzies from their pastors?

Or is it some pastors just don’t relish the idea of supporting a man who is standing for freedom from tyranny, freedom of rights and above all the freedoms which are GOD given in this nation.

Without a doubt Christianity in New Zealand as it is everywhere else in the world, big business.

Maybe they have seen how the Government has looked to remove the tax status from Destiny Church and Family First, because of their stance in standing up and telling the Government when I is wrong.

While Churches in New Zealand, once referred to as Godzone, are being dictated by this socialist leaning government, as to who and how many can attend a church service.

When churches are being leaned on to provide housing and food for the needy because of this governments inability to manage an economy.

When this country is destitute of love for our creator.

When the government promotes a division and segregation to its society

When it fails to protect the vulnerable in our communities

When the government mandates loss of employment because you refuse to undertake a still, unproven experimental procedure

You must ask who it is, they represent.

At least Brian Tamaki was arrested or standing up for the downtrodden, how many other pastors or church leaders can say they could be arrested for their sermon last Sunday.

Brain Tamaki is not everyone’s cup of tea,

Bu, just look at where his support is coming from.

Not just Destiny Church, not just from anti vaxxer, not from the fringe elements, its coming from the average New Zealander who sees Brian Tamaki being the salt and the light in this dark country.

I’m guessing Tamaki will be finding it tough going in Mt Eden Prison.

But you can only applaud his courage, his conviction, and his faith, to stand against the tide and speak out for not just his congregation but for all the oppressed in this country.

Like the congregations of Philippi, Galatia, Corinth, and Crete awaited news from behind bars during Paul’s internment.

Many from the South Auckland region and across the nation will be awaiting the release of Brian Tamaki.

Let’s hope its not too long, and may he continue to have the courage to speak out.