GODventureZ -- LIFE! through Pictures

Sunday, March 2, 2014

NINE-Month "ART-Baby" -- Naselesele Church

June 4, 2013...

JESUS, joy, love...

After one month -- back part of church completed at last...

GOD provided the found blade (on church floor) to sharpen my drawing pencil; the hours of Zac Poonen sermons on my MP3; the book from Soko and Waqa (from Tuvununu) to use as measuring/straight-edge for the "stations-of-the-Cross" frames; "Steps to CHRIST" to read during snack-breaks.

This side of the church designed with Bible stories in Fijian language...

Especially during the last leg of painting this work (January-February), i was visited by these "friends" quite frequently -- passing over and around my head like buzzing devils.

Joyful Naselesele KidZ always ready for a picture...

Quiet time with Fijian music -- vinaka to Leone and Petero...

Another month gone by -- just a little more than halfway done with this side of the wall, with Fruit of the Holy SPIRIT -- Vua ni Yalo Tabu...

A very dear friend -- Jo Dean (Taveuni's all-around helper for a better/cleaner environment), with her family -- taking souvenir photos of JISU Na Sala, Na Dina, Na Bula...

Luisa with Kani and Jotama...

Young Maika, with his babysitter friend...

Veramu, just a-visiting -- in the background: Enai Vakatekivu -- In the Beginning GOD...

Catholic Mothers -- including Filo, Kaba, Kelera, Magdalena, Tila...

Taveuni -- the Garden Island, where everything grows EVERYwhere...

Just outside the church door -- my favorite food...

Sweet-sounding swifts sometimes visit for a "look-n-see"...

And Fijian mourning doves...

Lunch -- uncooked Chow is a Fijian snack food with which i've developed a taste...with biscuit crackers and tuna.

Daki -- our house pup...

Precocious gal -- is our Fane...

Precocious boy, is our young Jone -- in the background is the front part of the church -- JESUS is the Way and the Resurrection...

Finished work -- a "nine-month baby" art project-- third week of February 2014...

Commissioned to paint the mural -- completed end of July, 2014...

Finalized by Naselesele Village architect Kanito Yava -- August, 2014, with a statue of the Risen Saviour -- CHRIST JESUS...

We love JESUS, because He first loved us. (1 John 4:19)

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Nau MARAIA - A Quiet and Gentle Spirit

"Blessed are the dead who die in the LORD from now on, 'YES' says the SPIRIT, "that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them." (Revelation 14:13)

Melania Maraia Kele (left, with her daughter Ana) -- outwardly manifested "the incorruptible beauty of the hidden person of her heart -- a quiet and gentle spirit, which is very precious in the sight of GOD." (1 Peter 3:4)

Naselesele Village cemetery (Taveuni, Fiji)...

Nau Ma's burial site (background, left)...

After the burial, accompanied with prayers and hymns, loving hands decorated Nau Ma's "resting" place...

The butterfly explains "metamorphysis" -- "IF anyone is in CHRIST, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17)

For those In CHRIST -- "GOD will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." (Revelation 21:4)

Nau Maraia -- "ia na vakayalo ga sa vuni, e na ka sa sega ni vuca rawa, na yalomalumalumu kei na yalomalua, oqori sa ka talei sara e na mata ni KALOU." (1 Vola i Pita 3:4)

Some of Nau Maraia'a loved ones...

Saturday, September 21, 2013

WATER BAPTISM -- Public Profession of CHRISTian Faith

Talatala (pastor) Keperiele Duana, brother Jone -- with Suli and Jese, who were about to baptized...making public their commitment to CHRIST JESUS.

Baptism -- total immersion -- at the freshwater spring just outside Naselesele Village (Taveuni, Fiji). Our brother Jese Tamanikaiyaroi about to be immersed...

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit... (Matthew 28:19)

Our brother Suli Peckham, being baptized by Talatala Duana ("sui ni sarisari").

Suli Peckham -- baptized, totally immersed from head to foot -- officially our brother In CHRIST!

JESUS: "May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that You sent Me and that You love them as much as You love Me." (John 17:23, NLT)

Seventh Day Adventist Church members -- singing a Fijian hymn from the heart.

Qio -- SDA member and videographer -- congratulating brother Suli on his decision to fully committing his life to JESUS.

Jewel and Qio --like father, like daughter!

Our sister Eunice -- influencing young minds to loving our altogether lovely LORD JESUS.

Karolina, Waqa, Vili, Luisa and Kasanita -- at the SDA church, singing a beautiFUL hymn -- especially for the baptism celebration.

Talatala Keperiele Duana -- with a humorous Q&A with the young ones before getting down to the business of preaching: "If the spring is dirty, so is the water."

JESUS: "Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks." (Matthew 12:34)

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer. (Psalm 19:14)

Saturday, August 31, 2013

TUVUNUNU Green Pastures and Still Waters

Tuvununu Lodge -- less than a 10-minute walk from Naselesele Village (Taveuni, Fiji)...

Noni fruit -- almost daily, very early in the morning, Soko would gather fallen noni -- for his wife, Waqa, to be made into noni juice.

Waqa and Soko -- almost 60 years married -- who lived out their CHRISTianity as a lifestyle, not a religion.

Sun-ripened bananas -- ready to be savored as we enjoyed the gorgeous view from the veranda...

GOD's gift for the early riser...

Soko's desk -- a snippet of life in a picture...

GOD's Promise -- I set my rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth...the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. (Genesis 9:13, 15b)

Biu, from Qamea, comfortable on her leafy perch -- picking my favorite food: mango fruit.

Kids from Naselesele Village and Qamea -- enjoying Waqa's kindness and generous hospitality...

Biu, Nita and Mereone -- having fun with Daisy's newest family members...

Waqa and kidZ -- during our early morning devotion.
Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it. (Proverbs 22:6)

Mereone "Mr Bean" -- full of smiles and funny faces...

Daisy trying to be patient as her teething babies drank her milk...

Ropate -- Class 5 at Naselesele Primary -- enjoying this pup's company...

Biu's chosen favorite -- "Dipstick"...

This little one checkin' out rLn...

Kasanita's artistry -- for Waqa's birthday celebration...

Waqa's very delicious chocolate cake -- from the Matei Bakery.

Waqa Osborne -- Soko's wonderFUL wife and sister In CHRIST...
Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies. (Proverbs 31:10)

The LORD JESUS is our Good Shepherd -- our Jehovah Jireh. In CHRIST, we have all we need -- we lack NOthing. He makes us to lie down in green pastures and He leads us beside still waters. He restores our souls. He leads us in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake. Though we walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Death, we will fear no evil for You are with us. You prepare a table before us in the presence of our enemies. You anoint our heads with oil. Our cups overflow. Surely goodness and mercy and grace shall follow us all the days of our lives. And we will dwell in Your house, O LORD JESUS, forever and evermore! Amen.

GODventureZ -- Adventures with GOD

LIFE is an adventure! It's like a long (or short) corridor with many doors. Some doors are dark and ominous--while others beckon with light and warmth. Some doors seem ordinary with muted hues--while others glitter and catch the eye. Some are painted in exciting, vibrant colors--while others with Caution! Do NOT Enter! NO Trespassing! Some are transparent, while others are like mirrors reflecting your image.

Doors, doors, doors! Choices, choices, choices!

All kinds of doors--all designed to catch the imagination... all vying for attention... tempting us to look, stop, inspect closer and wonder--is this THE door that will open up to LIFE!--that abundant life everyone longs to live here on earth?

From birth to death are many doors to walk through. Which one(s) do we choose to open, that we may venture into LIFE!?

Through the choices we make, we can either venture in with GOD--walking with Him by our side, sheltered under His wing, surrendered to His wisdom...

Or we can venture in alone, GOD-less, foolishly thinking to go through each "Let's Make a Deal" door under our own finite intelligence, our own meager power.

We can choose GOD into our ventures, making them GODventureZ (LIFE!--abundant and blessed); or we can choose to go solo, without GOD, creating missed-ventures.

GODventureZ is about adventuring through life with GOD. Through these personal photographs, stories of LIFE! unfold...

my Prayer For You

i ask GOD to give you a complete understanding of what He wants to do in your life, and i ask Him to make you wise with spiritual wisdom. Then the way you live will always honor and please the LORD, and you will continually do good, kind things for others. All the while, you will learn to know GOD better and better. i also pray that you will be strengthened with His glorious power so that you will have all the patience and endurance you need. May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father, who has enabled you to share the inheritance that belongs to GOD's holy people, who live in the light.

(Colossians 1:9-12)

I AM The True Vine

I am the True Vine, and my Father is the Gardener. He cuts off every branch that doesn't produce fruit, and He prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. You have already been pruned for greater fruitfulness by the message I have given you. Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the Vine, and you cannot be fruitful apart from Me.

Yes, I Am the Vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in Me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing. Anyone who parts from Me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. But if you stay joined to Me and My words remain in you, you may ask any request you like, and it will be granted! My true disciples produce much fruit. This brings great glory to My Father.

I have loved you even as the Father has loved Me. Remain in My love. When you obey Me, you remain in My love, just as I obey my Father and remain in His love.

I have told you this so that you will be filled with My joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!

I command you to love each other in the same way that I love you.

And here is how to measure it--the greatest love is shown when people lay down their lives for their friends.

You are My friends if you obey Me. I no longer call you servants, because a master doesn't confide in his servants. Now you are My friends, since I have told you everything the Father told Me. You didn't choose Me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using My name. I command you to love each other.

The Sermon on the Mount

GOD blesses those who realize their need for Him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is given to them.

GOD blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

GOD blesses those who are gentle and lowly, for the whole earth will belong to them.

GOD blesses those who are hungry and thirsty for justice, for they will receive it in full.

GOD blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

GOD blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see GOD.

GOD blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of GOD.

GOD blesses those who are persecuted because they live for GOD, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

GOD blesses you when you are mocked and persecuted and lied about because you are My followers.

Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted, too.

You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it useful again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.

You are the light of the world -- like a city on a mountain, glowing in the night for all to see. Don't hide your light under a basket! Instead, put it on a stand and let it shine for all.

In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

Don't misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to fulfill them.

Psalm 33

Let the godly sing with joy to the LORD, for it is fitting to praise Him. Praise the LORD with melodies on the lyre; make music for Him on the ten-stringed harp. Sing new songs of praise to Him; play skillfully on the harp and sing with joy.

For the word of the LORD holds true, and everything He does is worthy of our trust. He loves whatever is just and good, and His unfailing love fills the earth.

The LORD merely spoke, and the heavens were created. He breathed the word, and all the stars were born. He gave the sea its boundaries and locked the oceans in vast reservoirs.

Let everyone in the world fear the LORD, and let everyone stand in awe of Him.

For when He spoke, the world began! It appeared at His command.

The LORD shatters the plans of the nations and thwarts all their schemes. But the LORD's plans stand firm forever; His intentions can never be shaken.

What joy for the nation whose GOD is the LORD, whose people He has chosen for his own.

The LORD looks down from heaven and sees the whole human race. From His throne He observes all who live on the earth. He made their hearts, so He understands everything they do.

The best-equipped army cannot save a king, nor is great strength enough to save a warrior. Don't count on your warhorse to give you victory-- for all its strength, it cannot save you.

But the LORD watches over those who fear Him, those who rely on His unfailing love. He rescues them from death and keeps them alive in times of famine.

We depend on the LORD alone to save us. Only He can help us, protecting us like a shield. In Him our hearts rejoice, for we are trusting in His holy name.

Let your unfailing love surround us, LORD, for our hope is in You alone.