Turangawaewae - Finding a place to stand

Ko tenei te wiki o te reo Maori.
This is Maori Language Week. 


Maori gain a sense of identity in their whakapapa which explains their link to land (especially their marae which is their place to stand in the world) and to people.  As Christians our primary identity is in Christ, so when I speak in Maori my whakapa is as follows:

Ko kawere te maunga          -  Calvary is the mountain
Ko te rongopai te waka        - The gospel is the canoe
Ko te ora hou te awa             - New life is the river
Ko Ihu Karati te tangata        -  Jesus is the man

As we mature our relationship with God we find that when all else is sinking sand, we
can stand on Christ the solid rock. In fact, God is the very ground of our being
(Tilloch).  In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus.

So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you,
and he will place you on a firm foundation. 1 Peter 5:10

He kororia ki te Atua i runga rawa. Maungarongo ki te whenua. Whakaaro pai ki nga tangata katoa.
 Praise to God in the highest, peace to the land, goodwill to all people.