šFurther thanks being sent outš
In these challenging times, we are forever thankful and grateful to all of those dedicated and extremely hardworking essential workers who have being working so hard on the front line and behind the scenes.
ā¾ All of the nurses and doctors who give every single ounce of themselves to keep us alive.
ā¾ All of the first responders who work ungodly hours to try and keep us safe & alive.
ā¾ All of the supermarket workers and shelf stackers who work under such trying times.
ā¾ All of the truck drivers who get our products to the supermarkets.
ā¾ All of the farmers who work tirelessly to make sure that we all have enough meat, milk, fruit & veggies to feed our loved ones.
ā¾ All of the postal workers who make sure the mail (bills) get through in time.
ā¾ All of the rubbish truck drivers and collectors for keeping out streets clean.
ā¾ All of those workers working behind the scenes, busying themselves packing up our goods that we have ordered online.
ā¾ All of those incredible workers who are in the assisted living field.
ā¾ All of the courier workers who deliver our goods to us.
ā¾ All of those people who are caring for all of the animals including the zoos
But let's not forget two very important groups either, they are:
ā¾ The various telcos who have kept on working to make sure that we have access to the internet and phones, thus allowing us to keep in touch with our loved ones and being able to order online.
ā¾ All of the power companies that have continued to provide power with the increased load in these times.
This has allowed us all to watch what we want on T.V. or computers etc ... as well as keeping up with the news and also to keep our wee ones amused with all of their various gadgets.
Fingers crossed there won't be any blackouts with this wet weather here as well as the colder temperatures kicking in.
To all of us for mostly not losing our minds while in lockdown.
Let's not forget that our kindness and compassion that we are well known for worldwide, has shown through in spades.
Well done everyone. Keep up the good work.
We can do this people, we really can.
As Jacinda said, "Stay the course, stay in your bubble and don't squander what we have achieved by giving the virus a chance it will only too readily accept if we do that."
To EVERY single person who has been working behind the scenes to keep us all safe and be able to continue living our 'new normal' lives, šTHANK SO VERY MUCH FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEARTS AND KEEP UP THE AWESOME WORK YOU ARE ALL DOINGš
The Gospelās Relevance Today**
The Gospel, meaning āgood newsā, is the cornerstone of the message contained in the Bibleās first four booksāMatthew, Mark, Luke, and John. While these records were written approximately 2,000 years ago, a natural question arises: why is this Gospel still relevant and vital for us today? This analysis seeks to explore what the Bible itself defines as the Gospel and to understand its enduring significance.
**Defining the Gospel: Core Biblical References**
The Gospel is not a vague concept; Scripture provides clear descriptions of its content and focus.
* **The Gospel of the Kingdom:** In Matthew 4:23, as Jesus begins his ministry, he is described as āpreaching the gospel of the kingdom.ā This immediately establishes that the good news is centrally about a kingdomāthe Kingdom of God. His accompanying miracles served to validate the authority of this message.
* **The Gospel of Jesus Christ:** Mark 1:1 opens with, āThe beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.ā Here, āChristā is a title meaning āanointed oneā. Thus, the good news is intrinsically about Jesus: his identity as the Anointed One and his unique status as the Son of God.
* **The Gospel of Godās Grace:** In Acts 20:24, the Apostle Paul speaks of his mission to ātestify the gospel of the grace of God.ā Grace signifies an undeserved gift. This reveals that the Gospel involves a gift from God, offered not because it is merited, but out of His benevolence.
* **The Gospel of Salvation and Peace:** Romans 1:16 declares the Gospel is āthe power of God to salvation for everyone who believes,ā breaking down barriers between Jew and Gentile (Greek). Furthermore, Romans 10:15 calls it the āgospel of peace,ā pointing to a future state of peace brought about by this message.
* **The Gospel Summarised:** 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 provides a foundational summary. Paul reminds believers of the gospel he preached, āby which also you are saved.ā He then states its core historical facts: āthat Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.ā The Gospel is therefore rooted in the sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus.
In synthesis, the Gospel is the good news of **salvation and future peace in the Kingdom of God**, made possible by **the grace of God** and **the obedient sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ**, and offered to all who believe.
**Old Testament Foundations: The Gospel Preached to Abraham**
A crucial question is whether the Gospel is confined to the New Testament. Scripture shows its foundations were laid much earlier. Galatians 3:8 states explicitly that āthe Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, āIn you all the nations shall be blessed.āā
This reference points back to Genesis 12:1-3, where God made profound promises to Abraham: to make him a great nation, to bless those who blessed him, and that āin you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.ā These promisesālater reaffirmed to Isaac and Jacobāform the bedrock of the Gospel hope. The good news of salvation through Christ is the fulfillment of how **all nations** would be blessed through Abrahamās āseed.ā
**The Gospelās Personal Relevance: Good News for You Today**
How does this ancient message become āgood news for youā today? The application is clearly outlined in Galatians 3.
* **Access through Faith in Christ:** Galatians 3:26 declares, āFor you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.ā The promise made to Abraham is now extended to anyone with faith in Jesus.
* **The Role of Baptism:** Verse 27 explains, āFor as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.ā Baptism is the God-appointed act of faith that identifies a believer with Christās death and resurrection.
* **Unity and Inheritance:** Verses 28-29 reveal the glorious outcome: āThere is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christās, then you are Abrahamās seed, and heirs according to the promise.ā Through the Gospel, all barriers are removed; believers become spiritual descendants of Abraham and heirs to the promises of the Kingdom.
This Gospel was once a mystery hidden in Godās purpose (Ephesians 3:3-9). Now, it has been revealed: the unsearchable riches of Christ, offering salvation to all who heed the call, believe the message, and are baptised into him.
**Conclusion: An Enduring and Open Invitation**
The Gospel is far more than a historical account; it is the living, powerful good news of Godās plan for salvation. It is rooted in promises to Abraham, accomplished through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and open to all people without distinction. It offers a tangible hopeāthe hope of resurrection, peace, and an inheritance in the coming Kingdom of God. This is why the Gospel remains profoundly relevant. It is an invitation to listen, believe, and stand firm in this hope, linking our lives today to the eternal purpose of God.
Poll: š¤ What skills do you think give a CV the ultimate edge in a robot-filled workplace?
The Reserve Bank has shared some pretty blunt advice: thereās no such thing as a āsafeā job anymore šš
Robots are stepping into repetitive roles in factories, plants and warehouses. AI is taking care of the admin tasks that once filled many mid-level office jobs.
We want to know: As the world evolves, what skills do you think give a CV the ultimate edge in a robot-filled workplace?
Want to read more? The Press has you covered!
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53.9% Human-centred experience and communication
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14.4% Critical thinking
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29.1% Resilience and adaptability
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2.6% Other - I will share below!
Poll: Should complete designs be shared with the public, or should the community help shape the designs from the start?
The Post recently shared an opinion piece on the Harbour Crossing and why a more democratic approach might be needed šš²š
While most decisions sit within the political arena, many organisationsālike NZTAāmanage long-term projects that go beyond party lines. Politics can sometimes disrupt progress, and the next Harbour Crossing is a big decision that will affect all Aucklanders.
Weād love your thoughts: Should near-complete, shovel-ready designs be shared with the public, or should the community have a hand in shaping the designs from the start?
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80.8% Community feedback and transparency is needed.
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19.2% No. This would be impossible in practice.
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