2124 days ago

❣The Great Realisation❣ It's perfect💖

Fiona from Henderson

Kiwi poet Tomos Robertson (aka Tom Foolery) and the fairytale video that's gone viral - it's FANTASTIC!!!
www.youtube.com...
&
www.nzherald.co.nz...

Here's the poem in its text form for those who want it:
''Tell me the one about the virus again, then I'll go to bed.

'But my boy, you're growing weary, sleepy thoughts about your head.

'Please! That one's my favourite. I promise just once more.

'Okay, snuggle down my boy, though I know you know full well
the story starts before then, in a world I once dwelled

'It was a world of waste and wonder, of poverty and plenty
back before we understood why hindsight's 2020

'You see the people came up with companies to trade across all lands.
But they swelled and got bigger than we could ever have planned

'We'd always had our wants, but now it got so quick.
You could have everything you dreamed of in a day and with a click.

'We noticed families had stopped talking. That's not to say they never spoke.
But the meaning must have melted and the work life balance broke.

'And the children's eyes got squarer and every toddler had a phone. They filtered out the imperfections but amidst the noise, they felt alone.

'And every day the sky grew thicker, til we couldn't see the stars. So we flew in planes to find them while down below we filled our cars.

'We'd drive around all day in circles. We'd forgotten how to run. We swapped the grass for tarmac, shrunk the parks till there were none.

'We filled the sea with plastic because our waste was never capped. Until each day when you went fishing, you'd pull them out already wrapped.

'And while we drank and smoked and gambled, our leaders taught us why,
it's best to not upset the lobbies, more convenient to die.

'But then in 2020, a new virus came our way.
The government reacted and told us all to hide away.

'But while we were all hidden, amidst the fear and all the while, the people dusted off their instincts, they remembered how to smile.

'They started clapping to say thank you, and calling up their mums.

'And while the cars keys were gathering dust, they would look forward to their runs.

'And with the sky less full of voyagers, the earth began to breathe. And the beaches brought new wildlife that scattered off into the seas.

'Some people started dancing, some were singing, some were baking. We'd grown so used to bad news but some good news was in the making.

'And so when we found the cure and were allowed to go outside, we all preferred the world we found to the one we'd left behind.

'Old habits became extinct, and they made way for the new. And every simple act of kindness was now given its due.

'But why did it take a virus to bring the people back together?' “Well, sometimes, you got to get sick, my boy, before you start feeling better.”

'Now lie down, and dream of tomorrow, and all the things that we can do.
And who knows, if you dream hard enough, maybe some of them will come true.

'We now call it the Great Realisation, and yes, since then there have been many.

'But that's the story of how it started, and why hindsight's 2020.'

More messages from your neighbours
4 days ago

🧩😏 Riddle me this, Neighbours…

The Riddler from The Neighbourly Riddler

I am an odd number. Take away a letter and I become even. What number am I?

Do you think you know the answer?

Want to stop seeing these in your newsfeed? No worries! Simply head here and click once on the Following button.

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8 days ago

The Gospel’s Relevance Today**

Steve Bostin from Christadelphians New Lynn

The Gospel, meaning ‘good news’, is the cornerstone of the message contained in the Bible’s first four books—Matthew, 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 “preaching the gospel of the kingdom.” This immediately establishes that the good news is centrally about a kingdom—the Kingdom of God. His accompanying miracles served to validate the authority of this message.

* **The Gospel of Jesus Christ:** Mark 1:1 opens with, “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” Here, “Christ” is a title meaning ‘anointed one’. 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 God’s Grace:** In Acts 20:24, the Apostle Paul speaks of his mission to “testify the gospel of the grace of God.” 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 “the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes,” breaking down barriers between Jew and Gentile (Greek). Furthermore, Romans 10:15 calls it the “gospel of peace,” 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, “by which also you are saved.” He then states its core historical facts: “that 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.” 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 “the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, ‘In you all the nations shall be blessed.’”

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 “in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” These promises—later reaffirmed to Isaac and Jacob—form the bedrock of the Gospel hope. The good news of salvation through Christ is the fulfillment of how **all nations** would be blessed through Abraham’s “seed.”

**The Gospel’s Personal Relevance: Good News for You Today**
How does this ancient message become “good news for you” today? The application is clearly outlined in Galatians 3.

* **Access through Faith in Christ:** Galatians 3:26 declares, “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.” The promise made to Abraham is now extended to anyone with faith in Jesus.

* **The Role of Baptism:** Verse 27 explains, “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” Baptism is the God-appointed act of faith that identifies a believer with Christ’s death and resurrection.

* **Unity and Inheritance:** Verses 28-29 reveal the glorious outcome: “There 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 Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” 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 God’s 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 God’s 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 hope—the 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.

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