Newsletter June 2015 www.joshua.org.nz As brothers in unity: Hear Him, Serve Him, Proclaim Him Owen Kowalewski National Leader Greetings Brothers At this time of year my garden is in a time of great change. The autumn and winter fruit is ready for picking, leaves are changing colour, dying and falling off, and the pruning begins. Expectations are running high, action that hopefully will bear much fruit next year. This sounds like Pentecost to me which arrives in our autumn. It is a time of great change, colour, fire, wind, gifts and fruit. The apostles had a wonderful season with Jesus after his resurrection and it was a spectacular experience. I bet they were just buzzing. You would not have seen a happier bunch of people anywhere. Then Jesus was gone, ascended into heaven. The party was over. Then what? The apostles drifted into autumn, things cooled off a bit, uncertain times were ahead. All seemed pretty miserable. Then Pentecost came, the spiritual gardener. On his arrival he removed all the dead wood, cleaned up the trees, provided fertiliser and spray and had great expectations that the apostles would produce much fruit in due season. The apostles were never the same again. You and I are the same, frightened by change, scared of being pruned. But removing anything from our life that won’t help us produce good fruit is a good thing, no matter how much it hurts. It might be that our use of the TV, internet, social media, club and drinking culture; fine dining, extra time at work, wealth accumulation, that may need some pruning and attention. The gifts of the Spirit, the scriptures, time in prayer, the Eucharist, and the sacraments are spiritual fertiliser that helps us grow. We have received gifts from the Holy Spirit. The sprays which help and support us against disease of the heart and spirit might be men’s fellowship meetings, attending Mass and receiving the sacraments, spiritual reading, and solidarity with other Christians. Now you are ready…..your Pentecost is now. Go out and spread the Good News of Jesus Christ to the world. Be the apostles. In your home, love your wife and children and extended family and spend time with them. In your workplace, be the one who promotes truth, solidarity, justice and peace. In your parish, say hello to the stranger. In your community, get involved and show people about God by your lifestyle and actions. Its June already; half of 2015 is behind us, the other half is still to happen. What have you done so far this year? What do you still have to look forward to? Are you a Christian optimist or are you a Christian pessimist? What is your vision and calling? Are you waiting for something? Go and do something! Go and live the Good News. Hamilton branch Discernment for the Hamilton branch of Joshua was recently carried out. I would like to express my sincere appreciation and gratitude to Maurice Smith, who has stepped down from the leadership position. He has served Joshua faithfully for more than 20 years and has been an apostle to hundreds of people over those years. Thank you Maurice. We wish you well in your retirement, where you can spend more time with your wife and family. After a time of prayer and discernment, and with no-one wishing to take on the branch leadership, it was decided to close down the Hamilton Branch. The men still wish to meet informally, probably in smaller house groups both in Paeroa and Hamilton. This is an exciting new initiative which may bear much fruit in the future. Small local home groups of men, less travel time, less organisation, close fellowship and support. Watch this space, times are changing. The spirit is moving. God Bless you Brothers. Owen Kowalewski Do you need prayer? We’ll pray for you Joshua Catholic Men’s Fellowship have people who consider it a privilege to pray for others. God listens and He answers emails. Email (Jim Gribble) [email protected] CC (copy to Peter Jackson) [email protected] (in case Jim is unavailable) Many healings (and verifiable miracles) continue to occur as we pray. Please feedback answers to prayer, as testimony to Jesus’ healing helps to encourage others to believe and to pray with expectation. On Sunday 22 February I awoke at 4am in a lot of abdominal pain. We were supposed to be travelling to Napier later that day as it was to be the first weekly input for an Ignation First Spiritual 2 Exercise Retreat. I really felt that I wouldn't be able to drive to Palmerston North, where I was to meet up with the Joshua NLT Leader Owen Kowalewski 62 Greerton Road Tauranga 3112 Ph 07 578 3752 [email protected] Deputy Leader, Publicity and Communications David Hall PO Box 5276, Wellesley St, Auckland 1141 Ph 09 479-5444 [email protected] Secretary Gerard Honiss 49 Stanners Road Kerikeri 0295 Ph 027 840 4499 [email protected] Treasurer Greg Sullivan 14 Alberton Avenue, Mt Albert, Auckland 1025 Ph 09 846-0691 [email protected] Branch supervision Robert Saunders 12 Prospect Terrace Paeroa 3600 Ph 07 862 6326 [email protected] team leaders, and join with them to travel on to Taradale. At 5am I woke Jessie to tell her. I thought that I may have had appendicitis or something similar. At 6.30 I asked Jessie to wake my son Les, so he could take me to the hospital. We arrived about 7am and I was taken into examination room where the surgeon, Dr Bonnet, ordered a scan. During the examination he simply said ‘theatre’ and I was off to the operating theatre. By now I was crying for the pain to be relieved and I was given sedation. The doctor explained to Les that I had an ‘abdominal aortic aneurysm’ and that the only hope for me was to undergo surgery to repair the aortic artery. He also said that while he was not a vascular specialist, he had done the operation before. ‘We have a team, who are quite up to assisting. The situation could not be more serious,’ he said. Les signed the permission form, the team were assembled and told, ‘we could all be very tired by tonight’. Les rang home to update Jessie and also contacted Fr Brian Carmine, who was able to come and anoint me before the operation. Arriving at St Mary's for the 9am Mass, he arranged for a lady who knew where we lived, and another who had a car, to ‘pick up Jessie and Brigette and get them out to the hospital as Michael may well be dying right now.’ The 9am Mass was offered for my recovery. Many prayers were being offered. At around 3pm I heard the doctor say, ‘the operation’s over Michael, and everything is working as it should.’ The following morning I could hear people talking and could understand everything they said, but I could not speak myself, as I was too weak. I had the oxygen tube pressing on my voice box, and my mouth was very dry. I heard someone explaining to Jessie that I had suffered two severe cardiac arrests, and that could quite easily have more. They said this was very serious as they deprived my brain of blood and that could result in me becoming not the person they know, 'demented' in fact. If that was to occur, it could leave them with a difficult choice to make: let me go, or bring me back but quite possibly with permanent brain damage. I could hear all this, and I really felt for Jessie, but so be it if I was meant to go then. In my mind I turned to the Lord. ‘Thy will be done, O Lord, and if I am to come to You today, then please show me the way, guide me.’ I was looking for the ‘tunnel with the light at the end’ that people speak of. However, all I could see was a huge black granite-like wall, with not the faintest glimmer of light in it. At the same time, I felt completely enveloped in a glorious PEACE and from deep within me I heard a voice, ‘Not now Michael, not now…not now. I hope and pray that I will never forget the sound of that voice - gentle, loving, soft and masculine. At that moment I KNEW I would recover. Every night since then I have relived and meditated on this experience, and have come to understand that in John 14:2-3 where Jesus says that He will prepare a room and come back for us, it is very possible that He will be coming from deep within us to take us to the Father, deep within where He is always abiding. I know and believe that when we sin, we reject Jesus, but He does not reject or abandon us. I believe this, because the voice I heard came from DEEP WITHIN ME, not from the outside as when I hear you. I did not need ears to hear this voice. The Miracle Boy Later that Monday, the Sister in charge of the CC Unit introduced me as ‘the miracle boy, from yesterday's big emergency’ to the staff coming on duty. I was told that I was extremely lucky to be alive and the whole unit rejoiced with me that I was with them. As Sister removed the oxygen tube thing from my throat, she explained how ‘we are calling this a miracle because Dr Bonnet, a South African doctor who was rostered on duty saw you as you arrived, and only he (Magic Fingers) could have done the operation. He is the only person north of Wellington who could do this. They used 36 units blood, which is huge. Normally 6 to 8 units is considered large. This vast amount was needed as they had to have my heart pumping blood through the aorta to find and repair the leakages, as well as maintaining a blood supply to legs and abdomen, and it had completely ruptured. All these 'coincidences' point to someone else's presence. How they kept me alive while doing all this I have no idea, outside of the Lord. May He be praised for this. Michael Coleman - 20 March 2015 Joshua North Shore Invite a friend and come join us at our monthly meeting A warm welcome to all men to our next meeting on Wednesday 24 June. Thursday 18 June 2015, 7.30pm Come and join other men of faith for an inspiring talk, prayer, praise and worship led by William. Topic: ‘Living God’s Will and God’s Ways’ Speaker: Barry Reynolds Time: 7.30pm-9.30pm Place: St Joseph’s Centre, 1 Fred Thomas Drive, Takapuna at Connolly Hall, Guilford Terrace, Thorndon (behind Sacred Heart Cathedral) Theme is ‘Pray: Our Father, your kingdom come’ Speaker: Michael Powell (Second talk) Contact John Taylor 04 389 8915 or 021 107 8538 or email: [email protected] Contact: Basil Ph 443 5755 or 027 261 2585 Two events in early August At our last Joshua meeting Robert Loretz mentioned about EMMAUS COROMANDEL a 5-day event for individuals and families in the Coromandel. The event will be held from Wed 15 July to Sun 19 July 2pm. The atmosphere and settling is ideal for personal time-out and reflection. There are excellent speakers and a choir from Sydney will also grace the occasion. Copy and paste this address into your Internet browser: www.google.co.nz/?gfe_rd=cr&ei=W9dnVfLdKbHu 8wfI7oDwCg&gws_rd=ssl#q=emmaus.kiwi Joshua car parking fundraiser at St Anne’s School, Newtown on Saturday 1 August 2015 between 7am and 2pm. For more details contact Steve Ready 04 970 7715 or 027 356 9555. Wellington men’s 1-day retreat - Saturday 8 August 2015, at Home of Compassion, 2 Rhine Street (off Murray Street), Island Bay. For more details contact John Taylor 04 389 8915 or 021 107 8538 (or watch out for emails in the coming weeks). Palmerston North branch - worth a visit Our monthly meeting began with prayer and a welcome, followed by a time of praise and worship. Much discussion was had after a reading of the following Sunday’s Gospel, the Pentecost experience. A DVD was viewed of Fr Michael Gilbert CS&R from the 2011 retreat at Willow Park. The theme, ‘Praising Our June meeting will be on Tuesday 23 Meeting Report for May 19 God is to Glorify God’ was well received by the eleven men present and led to some robust discussion. Prayer, praise and worship followed, and a social time over supper sealed a special evening. Note that our June meeting has been put back to Tuesday 23, due to the absence of the leader and Music Man. 3 Six words to a better marriage: ‘May I’, ‘Thank you’, and ‘Forgive me’ 13 May 2015 Pope Francis delves into marriage counselling with a new series focused on ‘real life’ 4 The Pontiff started a new series of audience talks looking at the ‘real life’ of families today. The closer two people are to each other, the more care is required in respecting the other’s freedom and feelings, Pope Francis has said. The Pope was speaking at his weekly general audience in St Peter’s Square earlier today, starting a series of audience talks he said would look at the “real life” of families today. Pope Francis’ main talk focused on the three phrases he often recommends families use frequently: May I? Thank you. Forgive me. The words are simple, he said, and hearing the Pope advise their frequent use could make someone smile at first, but, he added, “when we forget them, it’s no laughing matter, right?” The three phrases, he said, “open the path to living well in a family, living in peace.” Without them, he continued, the family’s foundation develops “cracks that can even make it collapse.” “Sometimes it seems that we are becoming a civilisation of bad manners and dirty words as if they were a sign of emancipation. We hear them so often, even publicly,” he said. “Kindness and an ability to say ‘thank you’ are almost seen as a sign of weakness.” In addition, he said, “for believers, gratitude is at the very heart of faith. A Christian who does not know how to give thanks is one who has forgotten God’s language.” The audience was held on the feast of Our Lady of Fatima. The Pope began the gathering by praying silently before a statue of Mary and, after a Portuguese aide summarised his talk, the pope asked him to lead the Hail Mary in Portuguese. The aide complied, his voice breaking with emotion at the surprise request. Pope Francis said a “very wise” woman once told him, “‘gratitude is a plant that grows only in the soil of noble souls.’ The nobility of soul, the grace of God, pushes one to give thanks. Gratitude is the flower of a noble soul.” Asking permission, even to do something that one thinks one has a right to do as a husband, wife, parent, son or daughter is a sign of respect, the Pope added, and one that builds trust. “The more intimate and profound love is,” he said, “the more it requires respect for the other’s freedom and an ability to wait for the other to open the door of his or her heart.” The most difficult and most important phrase of all, he said, is “forgive me.” “It’s not for nothing that in the prayer Jesus taught us, the Our Father, which summarises all the things essential for our life, we find this expression: ‘Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us,’ ” Francis said. Joshua national retreats 2015 Willow Park, Auckland 9-11 October BlueSkies, Christchurch 30 October-1 November Joshua NLT encourage all men to calendar these events and where necessary start making cheap flight bookings. We offer anyone who wants the opportunity, to start paying for the event now by instalments and details can be obtained from Greg Sullivan (treasurer). A Ministry to Men Gerard Honiss National Secretary Some years ago I read an article about the effectiveness of Children’s Ministries. It would seem this is an area in which most churches direct most of their energy and resources. The author of the article had conducted extensive research into the effectiveness of many ministries and I was startled by the reported findings. Child ministries are only effective in the context of a practising Christian family! • If the child or children are the only members of a family involved in church then approximately only 1 in 6 children will retain their faith as an adult. • If the mother is involved in the church then the odds of a child retaining their faith is about 1 in 2. • If the father is involved in the church then the odds increase to about 80% or 4 in 5 children remaining in the church. I have seen the reality of this research in my own family where today I am joined in faith by my wife and 4 of our 5 sons. I cannot say they are all catholic but they are all committed to a life in Christ Jesus. I can also see this pattern mirrored in other families. However I do feel I need to make a qualification here, that the example of the father is not just one of going to mass or doing religious stuff, but rather a father who outwardly lives his faith, prays with his family and speaks openly with his family about his faith and what is right and wrong. In fact, the conclusion made in the article and that I also arrive at, is that perhaps the most effective area of ministry should be to MEN! I do not think it is any small coincidence that the Bible consistently portrays the Patriarchal model as the ideal society/ family. To any women reading, I make no apology. I recognise your role, but a man should be the head. If you are not modelling this in your family, then I suggest you ponder this seriously. Being a head doesn’t mean being an authoritarian. It’s where the buck stops, the final arbiter of disputes, being a leader socially and spiritually, the definitive example. I think this article also reinforces to men just how important the father’s influence over his family is, and should encourage us to participate more fully in our children’s formation. I am very aware that many of our readers’ families have now grown up and moved on, but I don’t think that means our job is finished. Perhaps your influence has diminished, but I am convinced that where we have maintained positive relationship, in the mind of a child, a parent is always respected. They may agree to differ, but good counsel, given in the right spirit will still be accepted. And why should our influence stop with our children? I know one grandmother who each month writes a letter to all of her grandchildren. She deliberately reflects on what God has been doing in her life, past and present and how she is praying 5 for them in their various challenges. This may not be a strategy for you, but perhaps consider how when you’re speaking to your own children, your words often have little impact as you seem to be too close to a situation. But when Uncle Fred or the neighbour across the road, says exactly the same thing, its influence is magnified. When I recognised this in my own family I used to plot with other men to come and deliver messages on my behalf, especially if I was absent. It really seemed to work! Perhaps you could sit down with cousins, nephews or grandchildren and take on the role of mentor. You will never discover the extent of your influence until you try! But should we confine our activities to just family? Heck no! As steel sharpens steel, so do men encourage men. The model of Full Gospel Businessmen’s Fellowship International, another ministry to men, is to invite other men to a meal and share with them personal testimony. I was associated with FGBMFI for many years and can testify to how powerful a tool it is. In so much of the church today I hear people say that their faith is a personal thing. Well I want to show you that Christ COMMANDED us to boldly proclaim the Good News! As Joshua men we also need to become evangelists and I think our fellowship is an ideal forum to encourage and mentor other men, not just in the faith but also in Triumphant Living! Of course we can share with them anywhere, but in our meetings they should be able to encounter the Power of God’s transforming Holy Spirit. Joshua is supposed to be more than just a great spiritual boost each month, it is supposed to equip and prepare men to be evangelists and effective ministers to other men. Men can transform our families and our Church! Who does all the praying for the prayer requests? Joshua has a group of men who talk to God in prayer, seeking His will. How can I become involved in praying for others? Simply ask God to reveal His grace through hearing the prayer request. Am I really ‘qualified’ to do this? Everyone who talks with God is ‘qualified’. ‘Ask and you will receive.’ Who do I contact to become part of the team? Email Jim Gribble - [email protected] or Peter Jackson - [email protected] H owever we read it, discover it, accept it, receive it, or do our best to avoid it, we all have it. Responsibility is something that God expects us to demonstrate, both in relation to His service and also living in communities, whether friendly or not! All the resources, all the opportunities, a guaranteed supply of power and wisdom needed, God still requires us to use them responsibly, according to His plan, to be effective. 6 Responsibility we all have it! Take ownership of what scripture is saying. If it says ‘do’, then we should ‘do’. If it says beware and stay away from something, we need to honour God and do what is right. We need to be responsible for what we have, what we say, and how we manage both what we are desperate for, as well as what abundances fill our lives. We need to claim, pray, move, and expect both challenges and fulfilment. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says, ‘Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.’ Stop, be responsible, together with me, make the following proclamation. I know it is nothing new for a Joshua man to say this statement, but let’s make it a proclamation. Advertise the message in our houses (with actions and signs), get a bumper sticker, demonstrate it as a lifestyle, tell our mates (and non-mates) about it. Wake up, stand up and proclaim it for us and our houses. No-one else can do this for us. Sometimes we have to stand alone, at other times we can share our responsibilities. The emperor penguins have a system whereby the females lay an egg, then pass it to the male who protects and nurtures it day and night. This commitment doesn’t need a law or a rule. No matter what blizzards and PP en to aper storms throw at them, they know their responsibilities. While this is happening the female is away from the scene having a big feed and enjoying a better climate. Fair, or not, responsibility is paramount in the emperor penguins lives. With the recent Irish rejection of God’s design for marriage (to be solely between a man and a woman) I overheard a lunchroom conversation where one person said to another that the church had ‘lost that one, it will now need to change.’ I pick my battles, some just end up going nowhere, and this was one I had to pass comment on that statement. I replied, ‘No, the church hasn’t changed, or lost. To those who believe marriage is between a man and a woman, the belief still exists. Nothing has changed in the church. Life will always be what people choose, we in the church choose to believe that marriage is defined by a commitment between one man, Jack Ponting one woman and one God. The Irish vote does not mean “defeat” to a Christian, or the demise of the church.’ There was a pause, a little reflection suggesting that some rethinking might be in order. The first person added, ‘The church has no right to tell us what to do.’ I voiced my agreement and acknowledged that it would be wrong for the church to have such a requirement. My thoughts are that we should leave the conviction to the Holy Spirit, but we still need to lead the ‘horses’ to water. The response from the third person in the room was, ‘Yep, live and let live is what I say.’ We ended the conversation there, seemingly all comfortable that we’d had our point heard. There was no anger, just shared opinions prevented from spreading as untruths. I believe this is how conversation works when we choose to be guided by the prompting of the Holy Spirit and speak up, living up to our responsibilities.
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