JULY 10, 2020

By Kathy Makuakane, Executive Assistant to the Senior Pastor

I was beyond tense. I was flipping through every trick in my head to try to relax as the endodontist began the root canal. I was scared, having heard horror stories. I felt suffocated by the dental contraptions jammed into my mouth. I was anxious about the cost, compounded by the uncertainty that this would fix the issue with the tooth and, if it didn’t, there would be more scary procedures and even more cost.

And then I started to recognize what felt like grief. For my entire adult life, I have enjoyed very good dental health with no need for even a filling. Now, I was lying there allowing someone to systematically and irreversibly damage my tooth. The end result might be that I would lose my tooth. MY tooth! I was grieving my tooth, as silly as that sounds. Scared, stressed and feeling very sorry for myself, I could feel tears start to rise.

Stop it, Kathy! It is what it is. This is such a small problem. Knock it off! Snap out of it!

Nope. That wasn’t working. I could not talk myself out of the emotional spiral.

Lord, I need Your help! I’m going to lose it right here in front of everybody. I feel alone, powerless, and miserable. You say You are always with me. Does that mean right now? Are You here now? Can you please show me? Papa? Please?

And then this took over my thoughts: “That’s not your tooth. That’s My tooth.”

I was stunned. I had hoped for soothing. Quite honestly, I had expected silence. Instead, by His words, it was clear God was with me indeed in that room, and His words stopped my runaway thoughts instantly, and my body relaxed.

Oh! Yes, Lord. This is Your tooth, not mine. Everything I have comes from You. Everything I have is Yours. Even my tooth. I get to use it until I don’t. Thank You that it has served me so well all these years. Thank You that the doctors may be able to allow me to use it awhile more. And if not, thank You that You are with me and that means all is well. Thank You for telling me that.

That was, for me, one of those rare, life-marking, paradigm shifts. I will always remember every detail of the room and God’s exact words: “That’s not yours. That’s Mine.” Whatever happens to me, He is with me and all is well. I will never really lose anything, because He owns it all and He Himself is enough for me.

When my mom died at the age I am now, God was there. When I lost two babies to miscarriage, He was there. When my 36-year marriage disintegrated, He was there. As I age and my body starts to fail, He is there. When a pandemic upends our lives, He is there. No matter what may come, He is there. And it is all His.

I know that my little episode was over something pretty insignificant, but the message God spoke is true no matter what we face, even the most devastating trials. I hope this will help you when you are faced with change or loss or anxiety or fear or grief. Please remind me about it when I’m faced with them too, okay? Knowing me, I will still tend to fret.

“You, Lord, are all I have, and you give me all I need; my future is in your hands. How wonderful are your gifts to me; how good they are! I praise the Lord, because he guides me, and in the night my conscience warns me. I am always aware of the Lord's presence; he is near, and nothing can shake me. And so I am thankful and glad, and I feel completely secure.” (Psalm 16:5-9)

Prayer: Lord, even Your name—Emmanuel—tells us You are with us. You have told us not to be anxious for good reason. You are good and trustworthy. Everything we have is Yours. You are with us and all is well. Thank You. Amen.

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JULY 9, 2020

By Dwaine Woo, Administrative Assistant

In the original Star Trek series there is an episode called “Day of the Dove.” Federation and Klingon crews battle one another. Not a difficult scenario to imagine. However, we later on discover that an outside entity is causing all the trouble––an alien that tampers with the minds of crew members, creating false narratives and memories that cause division and strife. After both sides realize that their hatred and anger is being orchestrated by the alien, they are able to come together to defeat and expel this enemy.

I love Star Trek! And this particular episode is a great illustration of what I feel is truly happening in the world today. With all the conflict going on, do we recognize the true enemy? 

The apostle Paul states that we are not at war with each other, but a battle for our spirit. I need to protect and arm myself against this enemy, who is the devil. When we can see who is causing this turmoil, we can fight against it. 

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” (Ephesians 6: 10-13 NIV)

Jesus warns us about the enemy, but He also points out the hope we have in Him in these following verses:

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10)

“Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”(John 8:32)

We have a great opportunity to share the Gospel, and tell the world that the answers we seek will not be found within us but with God. Only Jesus will truly set us free. We can then point to the source of strife and laugh. We can rejoice in the one true King, and start living as He intended and not as the enemy desires. We are the peacemakers, but first we must tell people about the Source of Peace.

Let me end with a prayer that’s a modified version of 1 Peter 5:8:

Prayer: Lord Jesus, Help me to be sober, to be vigilant; because my adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking to devour me. Help me to resist him, and remain steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by all who follow You in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called me to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after I have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle me. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen

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July 8, 2020

By Tim Shaw, Associate Pastor

In 1988 an earthquake shook the European country of Armenia, and in a matter of minutes 30,000 people were dead. After the shaking stopped, a father ran to an elementary school to look for his young son. What greeted him was just a mound of rubble. His boy was somewhere underneath this collapsed building. He figured out the location of where his son’s classroom once stood, and he began, with his bare hands, to pull the broken stones off the pile. Piece by piece, he lifted the shattered concrete blocks. As he did, he remembered a promise he had made to his son. “No matter what happens, I will always be there for you.”



Eight hours of digging turned into sixteen, then thirty-two, and then thirty-six. In the thirty-eighth hour this father lifted a stone and heard his son’s voice. He called to his boy, “Arman! Arman!” And the voice answered, “Dad, it’s me.” After his rescue the boy said that he told the other kids who were trapped underneath the collapsed school, not to worry. “I told them that if you were alive you would save me and when you saved me, they’d be saved too. I knew that you would keep your promise. “No matter what happens, I will always be there for you.”

That’s the kind of love our God has for us, and he has proven that through what He did in coming to our shattered world in Jesus Christ. When our lives are falling apart, when hope seems shattered, when our dreams have died, God says “I love you” with a love like this. He has come to get us. He has come to pull us from the rubble of failed relationships and broken dreams. He has come to rescue us from the destruction that the earthquakes in our lives have caused. 

There is no better news in the world than the good news that there is a God who loves us with a tenacious love like this. There is so much pain and brokenness in our lives we sometimes have a very difficult time believing this is actually true. Many of us have so many experiences of broken promises in our human relationships that we don’t know how to abide, how to rest, how to entrust ourselves to Jesus Christ, the One who has this burning, passionate, unchanging, unshakeable love for us.

A good friend of mine, who is also a Presbyterian pastor, tells a story about a trip we took together to Hawaii from California a long time ago. Steve Schibsted has used this story in a lot of sermons. He even told it one time when I was sitting in the sanctuary at his church, calling me out by name! It’s a great story but it comes at my expense. Here’s how Steve tells it. 

“My family and I and a good friend of ours (that’s a reference to me) went to Hawaii for vacation. And as usual, we were running a bit late in getting to the airport. Our friend is the type who gets to the airport two hours before the flight, so our running late was getting him a little nervous. I just kept telling him "Tim, relax, it's only 7 minutes from our front door to the United terminal.” (Steve, his wife Leslie and young son Drew, lived close to San Francisco International Airport at the time.)

Well, we ended up being more than just a few minutes late. We were so late that United had given our seats away to other customers. Something about the flight being very full. Steve continues, “You can imagine my friend (me) was not very happy at this point. But the agent at the gate said, "Well, hold on for a second. Let's see if we can work something out."

A few minutes later she came back with some great news: "Mr. Schibsted, we have some room in business class, so we'll upgrade you free of charge. Would that be OK with you?”

Steve then went on preaching, “Now, you have to understand something to really appreciate this whole scene. We are an economy class flying family. We never fly anything but economy, so this was a whole new world for us. Flying to Hawaii is always a great experience. Have you ever noticed that? Everybody is going on vacation so everybody is happy, the customers are happy, the flight attendants are happy, everybody’s happy. But flying in business class--it's another world. There was all kinds of room. You can actually get comfortable. And they gave us seats right in front of the movie screen so there was this big area for our son Drew to play. The flight attendant addressed me as Mr. Schibsted and actually pronounced my name correctly.

“And it just got better. Before-dinner drinks, after-dinner drinks. Real silverware and table cloths with dinner. Filet mignon. Warm towels to clean your hands. Great movie. As I was sitting there I thought: this is just like God's grace. I did nothing to deserve this. In fact, I made a huge mistake. I sinned, and yet they are treating me like I had personally paid to be in business class. I kept wanting to tell the flight attendant, ‘You don't understand—I’m not supposed to be up here. The only reason I’m here is because I was so late getting to the airport.’"

Steve continues, “That’s just like grace. It’s absolutely free. Grace is a gift. It’s God’s unmerited favor. It’s something like United Airlines upgrading a customer who did nothing to deserve it. In fact, we made lots of mistakes. We didn’t deserve it. And yet there we were. A free upgrade to Hawaii. That’s just like God's love toward us. There is nothing we can do to earn it.

Steve, concludes his little sermon illustration by saying, “And you know, because I didn't deserve it, it was even more pleasurable, more fun. I totally enjoyed it. Not only that, I had a great deal of fun telling my friend (me) that this is exactly how I planned it. It was just pure joy.”

Grace is like that, a total surprise, pure joy. In John 15:9, Jesus says to His disciples, “As the Father has loved Me, so I have loved you. Abide in My love.” That is an astonishingly rich, potentially life-transforming and extremely disruptive verse of Scripture. Think about it. Jesus says to His disciples, “As God the Father has loved Him, so He has loved us. As God the Father has loved Him, so He has loved us.” 

Let’s stop and think about that for a moment. Even a meager appreciation of what Jesus is saying here should explode our hearts with gratitude that we have a God who is like the One revealed to the world in Jesus Christ. God the Father loves God the Son with a love that is beyond measuring. The love the Father, Son, and Spirit have for one another is so intense, the Triune God is described as love itself.

God the Son loves us with a love that is just as great, just as intense and unchanging as the love Jesus experienced from God the Father. That is incredible. That is love that can begin to heal and transform us. Jesus then goes on to say in the last half of John 15:9, “Abide in My love.” Jesus wants us to make our home in His love. That’s where He wants us to live our lives. He wants our lives immersed in that love. The love we see in the homecoming of the Prodigal Son is that kind of love. It’s a love that waits, that watches, that runs to embrace us when we turn towards home. It’s a love that forgives and blesses. It’s a love that encourages and enables us to begin again. It is with a love like that, that Jesus loves us. Today, He wants us to abide, rest, relax and trust His love for us.

Prayer: Gracious God, thank You for removing the debris from the earthquakes of our lives and setting us free to live liberated lives that are filled with ever deeper experiences of Your love. Come, Holy Spirit, and fill us with Your love. Help us to rest in Your love and make our home with You there. In Jesus Name we pray, Amen. 

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JULY 7, 2020

By Christian Schroppel, Middle School Coordinator

“God is faithful and He will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing He will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it.” (1 Cor. 10:13 )

What I love about this verse is how honest it is. It doesn’t read, “God is faithful and He will not let you be tested.” No, it acknowledges the fact that this life will be filled with tests and trials. There are some who claim that if you follow Jesus, your life will be perfect. But what they fail to recognize is that our world is still filled with sin. There is pain, there is suffering, there is injustice. And we will not be free of those this side of heaven.

However, there is also hope. We read in first line of the verse that “God is faithful.” Even when our own faith wanes, God’s faithfulness is immeasurable. Even when we turn our back on Him and fall prey to the temptations of the world, God is with us and He is for us. Yes, we will be tested. But we know that with God’s help we will be able to endure. 

When the darkness begins to set it, turn your eyes toward God’s light. For we know that His light shall overcome all darkness. And know that you have a community that cares about you. Even during this time of social distancing and meeting virtually, we care about you and have resources in place to help. 

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we need You in our lives. We admit that it is so easy for us to turn away from You and try to do things on our own. But, Lord, we recognize that we can’t do it without You. We ask that You would guide us back to You. Pull us closer in. We need You and we love You, Jesus. In Your name we pray, Amen. 

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JULY 6, 2020

By Roslyn Catracchia, Director of Worship

I took the plunge! I went to a restaurant, to dine in! Just me and a book, seeking some normalcy. I went to California Pizza Kitchen (CPK) in Kahala, which I’ve been going to since it opened maybe 30 years ago. I know many of the people who work there by name. 

I went there craving some normalcy, wanting some food that tasted better than what I was making at home (I can’t cook), and also craving some human “contact.” Not even to hug, but  just to see someone real and human in the flesh, instead of in a Zoom meeting. 

I was seated at a table by the window, relieved to be able to take off my mask and feel a little freer. Immediately, there were many things that felt normal to me. The awesome CPK smells, the sounds in the kitchen, the sights outside the window. 

I looked around the room a lot, forgetting my book, just watching many people trying to make it work, trying to make the best of this new “normal.” 

A young man was serving the people in a table 10 feet from me. I thought I recognized him, but all I saw was a part of his face, and he wasn’t facing me. I couldn’t see his eyes, so I wasn’t sure if it was the guy I thought it was. Fifteen feet away was a family of 10, all of course “legally” not wearing masks. And there was so much laughter, actual live laughter! All of their eyes were smiling. 

And eight feet from them another family was just being seated. They looked more stressed out than the other family. But I noticed something really interesting happening among them. They were communicating so clearly with their eyes, without saying almost anything. The husband and wife were trying to get their kids situated. So much stress and worry in her eyes. So much compassion and understanding and thankfulness in his eyes. Both saying so much without saying a word. I don’t know what they were saying to each other, but clearly they knew. At one point, her son sat up on his knees on the booth chair, and he brought his eyes up even with hers, six inches from his mother’s eyes, trying to over-communicate with his eyes with her, even with his mask off. It was unforgettable.

My take-away: the eyes have it. William Shakespeare once said, “The eyes are the window to your soul.” 

1 Peter 3:3-4 speaks of giving higher importance to what’s inside of a person: “Do not let your adorning be external – the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear – but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious.” 

Well, with this time of sheltering in place, the external adorning has definitely gone to the wayside. I’m trying to remember to brush my hair in the mornings some days. 

A lot of us are struggling, finding our way, and when we’re ready, we’re reaching out to others, to give help, to get help. And in the beautiful moments when we can see each other, I feel we’re communicating more with our eyes more than ever, and to me, simply put, it’s beautiful. 

We’re getting through this. We’re learning. We’re adjusting. We’re growing. 

I’m working more on making more eye contact as I pass people in the aisles at Foodland, at Costco, hoping to pass on smiling eyes as little unspoken messages of hope. 

In these days and weeks ahead, while we are all still wearing masks in public, what creative ways might you find to reach out to others and to pass on a spark of hope to those around you?

Prayer: Dear God, please keep my eyes open to see what You have for me today. Amen.

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JULY 3, 2020

By Rosella Shishido, Director of Communications

What did one flag say to the other flag? Nothing. It just waved! (lol) Happy Independence Day, America!

Our country is 244 years old this weekend. (Imagine the five generations of your family prior to your grandparents.) It was in 1776 when 56 members of Congress gathered, voted, endorsed, and signed the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia. The historic signing of that significant document meant complete independence from Great Britain and gave birth to what we know today as the United States of America. And with that came the freedom to be our own nation.

God also offers us freedom, but a different kind of freedom. It is freedom from the eternal punishment we deserve for sinning against our holy God. We have a natural bent for sin. We’re enslaved to it, in fact. But because of this freedom God offers, we don’t have to go through the punishment due us after we die. This is only possible because Jesus took our place. He took the punishment of our sin. It other words, Jesus has rescued us from the slavery of sin and offers us freedom now and in the life beyond. 

That’s what the very familiar John 3:16 verse means:

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

Unfortunately, many people don’t appreciate this gift because they see God as constraining, particularly His teachings in the Bible. They’re seen as a list of do’s and don’ts. So where’s the freedom in that?

Imagine yourself in a car. Whether you’re the driver or the passenger, you’ll need to wear a seatbelt. You can’t be standing or changing seats inside the car when you have the seatbelt on. Seatbelts keep you in place. Yes, it limits your freedom to move, but it gives you the freedom to feel safe, enjoy the ride, and get to where you’re going in one piece.

Humor me again and imagine yourself getting a puppy. You want him to have a place to run around so you put up a fence in your backyard so your puppy can play within the safety of the fence. You didn’t build the fence to keep the puppy captive, but rather to keep out what could harm it. The fence gives freedom to your puppy to enjoy the space and the safety of your yard.

God’s teachings in the Bible are our boundaries for living. They’re not meant to give us a hard time, but rather to enjoy His blessings in safe and fulfilling ways. Think of them as fences for freedom that will benefit us in the long run.

We protect what we value, don’t we? Well, so does God. You and I are valuable to Him.

Prayer: Father in Heaven, thank You for only thinking of what’s best for us. We admit that sometimes it’s hard to see that, especially when we don’t get to do things our way. Help us to not resent the fences (aka boundaries for living) you put around us, but instead to embrace the freedom it gives. In Jesus’ Name we pray, Amen.

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July 2, 2020

by Patty Kamahele, Administrative Assistant

A couple of years ago my husband lost his oldest brother, then his youngest brother, his namesake uncle, a lifelong friend, and then a father-figure—all within a span of six months. Tremendous loss in a short amount of time to say the least.

However, in the midst of his own hurt and pain he ministered to others as their friend or family member. And as a pastor he performed most all of their memorial services. So difficult and yet he was such an example during that time as he stayed faithful to the Lord, received the comfort God wanted to give his heart, and used that comfort to help others. 

God can use the past pain in our lives to help ease the pain of others. 

His Word says, “He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.” (2 Corinthians 1:4)

The definition of comfort is “to call near, to console, to strengthen, to encourage.” 

Do you know someone who is need of comfort? Someone who may feel alone during this time of social distancing? Someone who is hurting? May you be that conduit of love from whom God’s encouragement flows, a soothing balm to ease their pain.

Or are you personally in need of that same comfort today? May I encourage you to draw near to Jesus to receive the loving solace He so wants to give your heart and soul. His Holy Spirit is the great Comforter, Helper, and Defender to help us through the difficulties of this life.

May we be a comforter to others in their time of need, and may we call out to the Lord when we are the ones in need of His comforting touch.

Prayer: Lord, we have no idea all of what another person along our path might be going through. I pray you would help us take the time to listen to them and reach out to the hurt they might be experiencing. And if we are going through a painful time ourselves, may You be the One we run to and receive the comfort You want to give our hearts. May You bring a caring friend to come alongside us. In the Name of the One who knew pain—and who knows ours—Jesus.

If you're going through a difficult time, may you receive the hope and comfort from the song "Rescue" by Lauren Daigle. WATCH IT HERE.

CHECK OUT OUR FIRST PREZ STAFF PAGE to learn more about our staff.

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July 1, 2020

By Jenny Sung, Executive Coordinator

One of the most impactful books I’ve read on leadership has been The Leadership Ellipse: Shaping How We Lead by Who We Are by Robert A. Fryling. It taught me a lot about leadership and character as a follower of Christ.

Fryling notes, “The spiritual life is a journey with many detours and difficulties. Our spiritual strength is not dependent on our success and willfulness to do what is right, but on our willingness to receive God’s righteousness in the midst of all the hardships we experience along the way. In fact, many of the metaphors of Scripture for the spiritual life are not of ever-increasing passionate from pain or limitations. Rather, they are pictures of sacrifice, of cutting back, of letting go.”

These words reminded me of the apostle Paul, someone who gave up all he had, suffered tremendous trials, and stood only on the righteousness that came by faith in Jesus Christ. This was the person who had status and power. From the human perspective, he actually had every right to be righteous––of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee;  as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless. (Philippians 3:5-6 NIV)

But Paul released what he knew, calling it garbage because he knew what truly mattered. Paul wrote this to the church in Philippi: “But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.” (Philippians 3:7-12, NIV)

During this difficult season of struggle, turmoil, and unrest, we stand together as followers of Jesus. Our spiritual strength in life is not because of our own righteousness, but because of His righteousness. All else is loss.

Prayer: Dear Jesus, open our hearts to receive You. May we know You in a deeper way, standing on Your righteousness that comes through faith. Amen.

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June 30, 2020

By Chaz Umamoto, Coordinator of Worship Ministry Support

This past week during The Other Six days small group meeting I was really impacted by Tim Keller’s video about biblical rest. How we as believers work for God, and how He created the Sabbath. Now this epiphany comes as a great challenge to me and my household as COVID-19 and quarantine. While for some in our community this has been a season of forced rest, both my wife and I have continued to work. We are so thankful that we have been employed during this time, and we get to work together from home. As challenging as it has been, it has also been a huge blessing. For example, we got to work together on the music video “The Hawaii Blessing” together (no pun intended).

During my times of reflection and private worship, I keep coming back to Luke 4:14-19:

14 Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. 15 He was teaching in their synagogues, and everyone praised him. 16 He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, 17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

I’ve always read this as the moment Jesus began his public ministry by proclaiming the “Year of the Lord’s favor,” followed by His community chasing Him out of the church while threatening to throw Him off of a cliff. The “Year of the Lord’s favor/Jubilee” references Isaiah 61:1-3, which is a shout-out to its original declaration in the Law given to Moses by God as recorded in the book of Leviticus. This theme is undeniably near and dear to God’s heart as it’s weaved throughout scripture.

Jubilee was meant to be a time when ...

·       Resources were redistributed

·       Grace was given to those imprisoned for financial debt

·       Massive parties were thrown

·       Where families were reunited

·       Where the land was given time to heal

·       And God’s people were to rest.

I see great unrest in the world today, and it’s clear things aren’t as they should be. I think God is using this time for us to seek Him.

As long as I’ve been a Christ-follower, I’ve heard the church pray for revival in all of its shapes and forms. I can’t really say if I’ve ever truly seen a huge spiritual movement in my lifetime, but I think we’re in the midst of it. Now I could be wrong, but I think God is answering those prayers. And despite all else I’m hopeful that as we are all getting ready to celebrate to reunite with one another in person, God is also getting ready to celebrate with us as we unite in our worship to Him.

Prayer: Lord, I pray that you help us to see beyond our nature and to see with Your eyes, feel with Your heart, and move with Your Spirit’s guidance. Help us to embody Your character and seek Your will in all things big and small. I accept that You are using this time to heal our land, and our hearts before You open the doors and let the party in. I am so excited and cannot wait to see how You will move in the season to come. Thank You for creating rest so that we too can enjoy all that You’ve done, and all that You continue to do through us Your people.

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June 29, 2020

by Matt Yamamoto, Director of High School Ministry

“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” (Galatians 6:7-10)

I love this verse, and I believe that it is an especially timely one for us as God’s representatives in the world. Now more than ever, our homes are our safe havens. They keep us safe from the diseases of the world, whether they be physical ones like COVID-19, or societal ones like racial tension. We feel safe in our homes because once we close the front door or the garage door behind us, we seal off the world. Our homes are our places of refuge, sanctuary, and sanctity. Nobody knows what happens when we retreat into our citadels. I believe that this lulls us into a false sense of security. We forget that there is still one who sees and knows.

 And that’s God.

This isn’t meant to scare anyone, but it’s just a reminder to us all that we will all be held accountable for our actions whether we are cognizant of God’s presence or not. We all want God around when we are in need or struggling. We want a God that is close to us then, but do we want God to be close to us when we are not in crisis?

One day, God will ask each of us what we did in response to COVID-19 or the social unrest that is plaguing our nation. Did we view them as evils in this world to shelter away from, or did we see them as opportunities to do good in this world for the glory of our Lord and Savior? No one will ever know one way or another. Our friends, family, and loved ones won’t know and probably won’t care, but God will and does care.

The good that we do matters to Him, and He takes note of it. The Scripture passage encourages us not to grow weary in doing good. It promises that God sees what we are doing, even when no one else does, and He will reward us for being faithful in this way. The world needs us to stand up and show it what God’s good character is really like through our actions now more than ever.

Prayer: Lord, we praise You that You’re all-knowing, all-seeing, and all-powerful. Help us to be mindful of Your presence, and be aware on how we can continue to honor you and serve others. In Jesus’ Name we pray, Amen.

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JUNE 26, 2020

By Rosella Shishido, Director of Communications

The Great Divorce by Christian theologian C.S. Lewis is one of my favorite fiction books. So much so that I (along with co-worker Kathy Makuakane) recommended to our life group that we do a study on it. No, the book is not about the dissolution of a couple’s marriage, but rather the separation of heaven and hell. (What??? Read my brief explanation at the end of this devotional.)*

I don’t find it easy reading C.S. Lewis books, The Great Divorce included. Most of the time I have to read each page twice before I can fully understand what’s going on (lol). But what drew me into the story was a curious phrase that the previous owner of the book had scribbled on the margins of one of the first few pages of Chapter 1.

The chapter opens with people standing in line at a bus stop in Grey Town (Hell) waiting for the bus to Heaven (remember now, this is fiction). It started as a long line, but as time passed, some of those in line did things that made them lose their place. Yes, they intended to board the bus but ended up not doing so, either because they changed their minds or something happened that prompted them to say no to the opportunity to go to Heaven.

And that’s where the previous book owner wrote on the margins of the page: “how we disqualify ourselves.”

That made me think of the many times I’ve disqualified myself from opportunities the Lord gives me to help someone, or to step out in faith, or to be bold, or to take better care of myself. By disqualifying myself, I am, in effect, saying no to God.

I disqualified myself when ....

• Given an opportunity to serve Him, I said, “But I’m not qualified to do that.”

• Given an opportunity to help someone, I said, “But it’s inconvenient right now.”

• Given an opportunity to step out in faith, I said, “But what if I didn’t hear You right, Lord.”

• Given an opportunity to stand up for something, I said, “But what if I fail?”

• Given the blessing to sleep, I said, “But I have to finish this thing first.”

That last point is what I struggle with the most. Like most Americans today, I have the very bad habit of not getting enough sleep. The Harvard Medical School reports that “one in five Americans sleeps less than six hours a night, a trend that could have serious personal health consequences.”

Getting enough sleep is a way to honor God with my body. To deny myself of sleep is to disqualify myself from being able to serve God in my best capacity. The simple act of sleeping should validate my trust in God as my Provider, and so why do I keep depriving myself of sleep? Perhaps it’s a reflection of my lack of trust in God. 

“Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain. In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat––for He grants sleep to those He loves.” (Psalm 127:1-2)

Sleep is, then, a gift from God we receive daily. And by staying up later than we should, we not only disqualify ourselves, we refuse a generous gift from God Himself. 

Prayer: Father, I’m sorry for the many times I’ve disqualified myself from the opportunities You give me to serve You, help others, and take better care of myself. I want to make wise decisions by saying yes to what You’re asking me to do, instead of looking for reasons why I can’t do it. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

*The Great Divorce is in response to another book written in 1793 called The Marriage of Heaven and Hell by William Blake, who claimed that there actually is no separation between good (heaven) and evil (hell), and that it’s necessary to have both. Like mixing black and white resulting in the color grey­­. But C.S. Lewis contends that it can’t be so. There’s no diminishing the line between good and evil. One cannot have both Heaven and Hell. It’s either one or the other, thus the great divorce.

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JUNE 25, 2020

By Roslyn Catracchia, Director of Worship

I don’t know about you all, but everything has been breaking in my house over the past two months. I’ve called the plumber twice; put towels on the floor to sop up the leak in the roof; my friend Jerry has rigged a 3-by-2 “cork” to fill a gaping hole in the wall until I get a new AC unit put in; and I’ve stuck Kleenex in more holes in several bathroom windows.

I’ve talked to friends who are going through similar situations in their houses. I don’t know if things are breaking down because we are using them more, or we are just noticing more things in the house since we’re always home. Whatever the reason, it’s happening, and I’m noticing.

I have to do something about these things breaking in my house, starting with prioritizing (thank you, Mary Hicks, for helping me to really get that concept, instead of simply feeling overwhelmed!). So when the water faucet wouldn’t stop dripping and the knob just turned and turned, I knew the plumber was the next guy to call.

I’ve learned that when plumbers see this specific faucet problem, they will tell me they cannot fix it (it’s happened to me before) because the parts are cheaply made. I knew he was gonna say that. This wasn’t my first rodeo! So before he could say any more, I said “planned obsolescence.” He was surprised that I actually knew something about plumbing!

“Planned obsolescence” (yes, that’s real term) is a horrible but important concept my dad taught me years ago. He said that people actually MAKE THINGS TO BREAK. I’m sorry for screaming those words out just now with the all caps, but the venting felt a little good, so thank you! But seriously––what a concept! Make things to break – plan it, build it, so just about the time when the warranty is gonna expire, it’s simply going to stop … working. Period. Planned obsolescence.

It didn’t used to be like that. But apparently many excellent companies that built things to last have gone out of business because people didn’t need to purchase new ones to replace the original. They lasted, and lasted, and lasted. 

Thinking of how things break and are planned to last only for a short time, I am deeply thankful that we can have a relationship with God that is built to last for eternity.

That makes me think of a song I love called “Excavate” from the movie Joshua. Here are some of the lyrics:

When they excavate these ruins

thousands of years from now,

Will they wonder what I was doing,

Who I was and what my life was about?

When my riches lie in ruin on the landscape of my past,

Will they uncover that I was pursuing the things in life that really last?

Where your treasure is,

The things you love are a part of you,

And there will be your heart.

I sing that song often to myself. And I make choices in my life based on the message of this song, which is based on the messages of the Bible.

I am grateful that God has no beginning and has no end, and that He offers life everlasting to those who put their trust in Him. This reminds me of the Apostle’s Creed, which is what I believe and which makes a reference in the very last line to the life everlasting I’m talking about:

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth:

And in Jesus Christ His only Son, our Lord;

Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

Born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate,

Was crucified, dead, and buried;

He descended into hell;

On the third day He rose again from the dead;

He ascended into Heaven,

And is seated on the right hand of God,

The Father Almighty;

From there He shall come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian church,

The communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,

The resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.

Prayer: Thank You Heavenly Father, for the true and lasting friendship You offer to each and every one of us, for Your endless, deep, and abiding love, which is as far from planned obsolescence as the east is from the west. Thank You for walking steadfastly by our sides as we try each day to live our lives investing in others, seeking you, and pursuing the things in life that really last. Amen.

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JUNE 24, 2020

By Tim Shaw, Associate Pastor

We are all living through exceptionally challenging, and at times, quite frightening times. There's uncertainty about the future, and our lack of clarity about what is next can lead to increasing anxiety. One of the things I’ve noticed in my own life is that giving in to my fears can sometimes lead me to make unwise decisions. Fear can be an extremely important emotion that alerts us to real dangers ahead. But being debilitated or immobilized by fear is something God wants to help me overcome.

In Luke chapter 22 there are a number of dramatic scenes that make Jesus’ disciples fearful. I’d encourage you to reread that chapter. It’s remarkable how many incredibly important events are recorded in it. 

One dramatic scene takes place at the last meal Jesus has with His disciples in an Upper Room just before His arrest and crucifixion. At that dinner, Jesus suddenly announced to His disciples that one of them would betray him. When he said that in the middle of dinner, something unexpected happened. All His disciples did something that seems to me somewhat out of character. All of them turned to Jesus and asked, "Is it me? Am I the one?" You don't get that detail in Luke 22. You find that very important piece of information in Matthew 26. 

The fact that all of the disciples ask, "Is it me?" is quite surprising. These guys were super competitive with one another. They frequently had arguments about which of them was the greatest. They had one of those disagreements right here in Luke 22. They got in a discussion about who was the greatest. The greatest what? The greatest fisherman? The strongest man? The fastest fishing net cleaner? The most spiritual? It doesn't matter. Do you remember when John boasted in his gospel that he outran Peter to the tomb? Why did John think we needed to know that detail? Well, because they were super competitive.

Since these guys are so competitive, you'd think that when Jesus says in the middle of dinner that one of them was going to betray Him that they'd look at one another and try to figure out which of them was going to do this dastardly deed. BUT that is not what they do. When Jesus said, “Tonight, one of you is going to turn your back on me and cut me loose,” they ALL said, "Jesus, is it me? Is it me?" That was a stunning outbreak of humility and honesty. Every one of them––John, James, Nathaniel, Matthew and even Peter––apparently, wondered out loud whether they could be the one who would sell Him out.

Why do all the disciples have this moment when they wonder whether they might be the one? It was probably because they were afraid of what was unfolding all around them, and they were uncertain whether they could withstand that coming pressure.

We are living in very difficult times. Every day we seem to face new challenges that are piled on top of old familiar ones. Jesus knows and understands that we are living in anxious times, and He wants to again speak a strengthening word to us.

The most common command in the Bible is some form of “Don’t be afraid.” It occurs over 200 times. Psalm 56:3 says, “When I am afraid, I will trust in You.” Fear is something we must battle. If you are isolated and lonely, take steps to reach out to someone. If you are concerned about the unknown and are feeling paralyzed, pursue more information from trustworthy sources. You might consider watching a summary of the news instead of watching it all day long. If you’re  discouraged by your own failings, remember that we serve a God who is merciful and is ready to forgive you and raise you to your feet and encourage you on your way. Don’t let failure immobilize you.

Living with anxiety can be exhausting. Make sure you take care of yourself. Eat healthy meals and make sure you get enough sleep each night. Turn off the TV, and put your smartphone away before going to bed. Go for a walk. Get some exercise. Meditate on Scripture. Spend time in prayer. These are some of the things I’m reminding myself to do in these uncertain times.

Back in March I said in a sermon that things are NOT only as they seem. It is so important that we remember that. Things are not ONLY as they seem. There is a greater reality that frames these days through which we are living. Yes, the challenges, the pain, the threats are real, but there is more to reality. We are not alone. Our God is with us and He is utterly trustworthy. Live with courage. Face your fears. Give them to Jesus. Draw closer to Jesus and know the strengthening, steadying in-filling of His Spirit. Fear not as you entrust yourself to Him.

Prayer: Gracious and Loving God, we are so grateful that you are a God who cares so deeply for us. You are a solid rock upon which we can build on our lives. In every storm, in every difficulty, in seasons of uncertainty and fear we can rely completely on You. Steady our hearts and mind. Fill us afresh with your Holy Spirit that we might live with courage and hope. In Jesus Name we pray, Amen.

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JUNE 23 2020

By Karen Makishima

I love the song “The Blessing,” adapted from the book of Numbers and several other passages in the Bible. I find myself singing it over and over (my poor neighbors!). My favorite line in the song is–– “May His favor be upon you and your children and their children and their children and their children.” Something about knowing that the faith legacy is being passed down from generation to generation fascinates me. This is our purpose. This is our mission being lived out.

My grandmother passed on her Christian faith to my mom. My mom passed it on to me. And now I am passing it on to my kid, my fav son-in-law, and grandkids. NOTHING brings me more pleasure than to see  them walking with the Lord. I have glimpses of this legacy being lived out ....

• When I get pinged after my fav son-in-law starts and finishes a Bible series in his Bible app. I love that ping!

• When my daughter, fav son-in-law, and grandkids, who live in Washington, watch our online worship services and then have faith discussions together as a family.

• When I watch my granddaughter worship her Creator with her hands held high surrendered to His love.

• When I watch my other granddaughter grapple with if Jesus really rose from the grave.

One day I hope to see my great-grandkids loving and seeking out the truth found in our Lord. The verse 3 John 1:4 says, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” Ask any parent or grandparent. There is indeed NO GREATER JOY!

But I am also aware that not everyone chooses to follow Jesus. It’s very sad when those we love choose not to walk with the Lord, and we don’t get to see the legacy of our faith passed down. God gives each of us free choice. There is no magic formula that says if you do this thing then the result will be children who love the Lord. Some of the people I love choose not to follow Jesus. 

We can be intentional by planting seeds of love and nurturing the soil, but ultimately it is up to the person to choose whether to accept Jesus as Savior or not. It is so heartbreaking to see people of great faith whose loved ones have chosen not to walk in the Lord. 

At our Christmas service we hand out satin rosebuds to everyone in attendance as prayer reminders for their specific requests, whatever they may be. When the prayers have been answered, people send back their roses. Then we add them to the rose wreath that we display on Christmas, which shows God’s faithfulness to His people.

When I look at that wreath, I know that many of those answered prayers are about family and friends choosing to follow Jesus. I am just in awe of how God’s people have lifted them up in prayer. It’s such a joy when loved ones are now walking in the truth. For indeed there is no GREATER JOY!

Prayer: May the Lord bless you and keep you; may the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; may the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace. (Numbers 6:24-26)

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June 22, 2020

By David Chang, Director of Ministry Support

Like many keiki who grew up in Hawaii, I was raised in a multi-cultural household. Dad was born here and spoke fluent Pidgin-English. That meant a single sentence could contain Hawaiian, Chinese, Portuguese, Filipino, Japanese, and, yes, even English words. :) Growing up we didn’t differentiate the cultures; we just integrated them.

My Mom was like Ruth in the Bible, who left her native country and went to a foreign land because of love. I remember her teaching us the Chinese culture and language. Since the “Black Lives Matter” protests began, I began to recall some of those language lessons. When Chinese people refer to themselves, they say “Tong yen,” which could be translated “people of the Tong (dynasty).” But when they referred to people who are not Chinese, they sometimes used the term “foreign-devil”. 

Please understand I’m not judging my Mom. She’s an amazing woman. She made 90 last year and still can run rings around her great-grandchildren. I think these Chinese terms came from a culture that had been exploited by foreign invaders interested only in profit. I want to think that these terms originated from a people who were hurt, and that these terms were expressions of fear and not hate.

Interestingly, in my Mom’s village, most of the households were Christians. Church services were held regularly in her home. I am fortunate that when Mom came to Hawaii, she not only taught us the Chinese culture and language, she taught us God’s way as well.

As I think about racial injustice, I am realizing that it may be born of fear and not hate. Perhaps a way to reduce racial injustice is to reduce the fear. There’s a verse that says:

There is no room in love for fear. Well-formed love banishes fear. Since fear is crippling, a fearful life—fear of death, fear of judgment—is one not yet fully formed in love. (1 John 4:18 Message)

Prayer: Lord, help me to stop giving room for fear. Help me to stop using the language of fear. Help me to realize that to continue in fear is to settle for a crippling life. Help me to be surrendered to You. Please fully form Your love in me. In Jesus name, Amen.

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June 19 2020

By Rosella Shishido, Director of Communications

It hadn’t been a good week. I was feeling blah. Sometimes I would describe it as being in a funk–––lethargic, discouraged, disconnected, unqualified. It felt like nothing I did mattered. All I wanted to do was stay in bed, not do anything, and not take care of anybody. I felt useless.

But thankfully Jesus doesn’t give up on us easily. Every day I would feel His nudge to spend quiet time with Him, even just to read the Bible. And so I did that, even if it felt like I was just going through the motions. I trusted that Jesus would somehow get me off this funk by speaking to me through His Word. 

And remarkably He did!

The readings for that day in the Bible plan I’m on were chapters 3 and 4 of the book of Exodus in the Old Testament. God told Moses that He had chosen him to lead the Israelites out of slavery from Egypt and into the Promised Land, but Moses doubted that he was the right guy for the job.

Moses answered, “What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you.’

Then the Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?”

“A staff,” Moses replied. The Lord said, “Throw it on the ground.”

Moses threw it on the ground and it became a snake, and he ran from it. Then the Lord said to him, “Reach out your hand and take it by the tail.” So Moses reached out and took hold of the snake, and it turned back into a staff in his hand.

“This,” said the Lord, “is so that they may believe that the Lord, the God of their fathers––the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob––has appeared to you.” (Exodus 4:1-5)

“What is that in your hand?” I’ve read that verse many, many times before, but that morning––boom! I felt a quickening in my spirit. It was like the question was meant for me.

“What is that in your hand?” God asked me.

And what came to mind right away were the God-sent blessings I had at that moment and continue to have today: a loving family (two Black Labs included), friends, a job, a house, talents, skills, spiritual gifts, money, health, freedom to pray and read the Bible, access to technology, clean water, electricity ...... 

My mental list went on and on and on.

God’s message for me through that verse was this: God has blessed me, and I am to use what I already have to accomplish what He has called me to do. He has already given me the resources I need. He has also given me family and friends who can cheer me on when the hard times roll in. I am not invisible to Him or to others. 

I also realized that I had other things in my hand. Sadly I was holding on to past hurts, regrets, the what-could’ve-been’s, and the what-I-wish-I-had’s. Time to let go, God said. Time to let go.

What about you? What’s in your hand? 

Start a list. And remember to include your God-given talents, skills, and spiritual gifts that make you unique. 

Prayer: Lord, thank You for the countless blessings You’ve given me! Please help me to steward them well in ways that will point people to You, and promote wellness, compassion, justice, kindness, and peace. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

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June 19, 2020

By Pastor Steve Peich

Ephesians 6.4 “Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.”

The greatest feeling in my life was when I became a father. I had held only one infant for a very brief time in my entire life up until that point. But when my wife was taking a well-deserved nap, I sat there in her room, on a rocking chair, and in silent awe held my daughter. It was the one time in my life where the whole world felt perfect. Of course, the next day when we took her home and experienced the first night of crying, “perfect” kind of left the building. 

I had no idea raising kids would be such a challenge. I can’t tell you how easy it was for me, even as an ordained minister, to “exasperate” my kids (I have two) and how challenging it would be to “bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.” So, after three decades of Dad-hood, let me share just a couple of thoughts.  

First, as a dad, be a thermostat, not a thermometer. Thermometers are instruments that react to the atmosphere of a room. Thermostats, on the other hand, set and modulate the atmosphere. As a dad, do you just react to what is going on around in the chaos of family life or with the mistakes of your child? Or do you set the atmosphere, set the healthy environment in which peace, grace, and wisdom has a greater chance of showing up when difficult things arise? When we are calm and rational, it can be contagious. As Proverbs 15.1 reminds us: “A gentle answer will calm a person’s anger, but an unkind answer will cause more anger.”

Furthermore, the thermostat does not consist of just two settings to control the environment of the room – e.g. high or low; it has a range of settings. The task of being a good dad requires that we have a range of ways to respond to our kids depending on the incident, their personalities, or how they respond to certain actions or messages of critique or praise, etc. In other words, dads need to be men of wisdom. Wisdom, in part, is knowing the right thing to say or do in the right way, at the right time, for the right reasons, and to the right degree. Some dads see every problem as a nail, so their solution always feels like a hammer.

To put it another way, there is not a one-size-fits -ll response that is always appropriate, be it for praise or for discipline. Your kids have different temperaments, emotional responses to guidance and encouragement, as well as to strong words or discipline, etc. To correct or encourage my son was often different than the way I handled such things with my daughter. They are very two different personality types. It’s up to you to discern through the Holy Spirit what is the best response to modulate the situation given what your child is like. As Proverbs 16.21 says: “The wise in heart are called discerning. Their gracious words make them better teachers.”

The “training and instruction of the Lord” has a better chance to take root in our children if we have been “thermostat” dads. You may be the biggest Bible your child will ever read. They will learn so much about God by how they experience you – especially in those difficult and stressful moments.

Prayer: “Lord, give me a discerning heart to respond wisely to the needs of my children. Help me to regulate my emotional world so that the best of You comes through my life with them. Show me how I can help them in knowing and experiencing You in the richest way possible. Amen.”

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June 17, 2020

By Jeff Page

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. (Matthew 5:26)

See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will He not much more clothe you—you of little faith? (Matthew 6:28-30)

A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, don’t You care if we drown?” (Mark 4:37-38)

Recently I went into a time of prayer with a significant amount of unrest concerning the state of our world. The pandemic, the quarantine, the murder of George Floyd, and the rioting left me deeply unsettled. As I approached Jesus in prayer, I was surprised at the image of Christ I encountered in my mind. There was Jesus, calmly laying in a green field with a stalk of long grass resting between His teeth. 

As I accepted His invitation to join Him, He calmly asked me, “Have you noticed the birds today?” 

Bewildered I replied, “Um… I’m really upset here.” 

“I know. Have you smelled a pikake, or plumeria lately?” He was completely relaxed.

“Really? I’m wrestling with darkness and suffering that is smothering our nation, and our world; the evil and injustice of it all…” 

“When was the last time you pondered birds-of-paradise or an orchid in bloom?” 

“Jesus, I’m really upset here, and I have some things to talk about.” 

“I know you do,” Jesus said, “But I have surrounded you with reminders of what is true and good and beautiful for a reason. Only someone well-grounded in the lessons they teach will be of any help.”

For most of the day I was dazed and unsatisfied by Christ’s relaxed and easy posture. It was totally out of sync with reality that I was experiencing. If Chicken Little ever had a reason to declare the sky falling, now was his time. 

Later I recalled an experience I had when flying through a winter storm into my hometown of Buffalo, New York. The plane lurched up and down and banked left and right. Nauseous and afraid, I looked toward the front of the plane where I saw a flight attendant yawn. I was terrified. She was yawning. She knew about the plane what Jesus knows about our universe: the person in control is immensely competent and will handle the turbulence. 

Have you noticed the birds today? 

Prayer: May the birds and the flowers teach you their lessons. May the nearness of God and Jesus' astonishingly calm demeanor (peace) guard your heart and mind in our tumultuous world. Philippians 4:5-7

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June 16, 2020

By Jenny Sung, Executive Coordinator

“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8)

One of the most memorable groups I’ve ever been part of was a Micah Group. Micah Groups were an initiative of Fuller Seminary’s Ogilvie Institute of Preaching – a multiethnic, trans-denominational movement (based on the Bible verse Micah 6:8) of diverse Christian men and women leaders addressing pressing issues of justice. Being part of the first Micah group in the state of Hawaii (October of 2015), I was excited to participate in thoughtful dialogue amongst different viewpoints and perspectives. These conversations required more listening than talking; more surrender than persuasion.

In one of our monthly Micah group discussions, a pastor and Intervarsity ministry staff member taught us about the Hawaiian word pono. Moani had been integral in helping the group reach further into boundaries that are laced with complexities of the annexation of the state, the injustice some Native Hawaiians feel, and the bridges that must be built as we demonstrate the love of Christ to one another.

After hearing more than one pastor say, “We cannot experience the fullness of revival without the native Hawaiian people of this land,” Moani felt God inspired her with a vision that would stimulate the reconciliation between Christians and native Hawaiians. Her vision became Ho‘olohe Pono, an experience based on the Hawaiian phrase that means to listen carefully, well, and rightly.

Pono means righteousness or justice, and she explained how the word related to community. If the whole of the community is not well, then no one is well. The idea of pono encompasses the whole of the people and community. It is about all of us, together, perpetuating righteousness in our land. We are all called into community.

In the book “Welcoming Justice: God's Movement Toward Beloved Community,” John Perkins writes: “God made His love visible to the world in the person of Jesus Christ. And Jesus Christ made His love visible to the world in His unselfish death on the cross for our sins. So it becomes our responsibility as the Body of Christ to so live out His life on earth as to make the love of God visible in our time and in our community” (p. 33).

As followers of Jesus, we follow a greater call to join His movement of His mission in this world, from where we currently are to beyond the walls we stay in. We live in a fallen world, the signs so evident around us. How do we make the love of God visible in all areas of life? How do we contribute to the wholeness of community?

Even though it’s been five years since this particular discussion of pono and community, I feel the questions are still relevant, now more than ever. I pray that we will act justly and love mercy, walking humbly with our God as we cross boundaries from church to unchurched, from similarity to diversity, from fear to courage in all our communities and environments, passionately engaged in God’s mission in the world.

Prayer: Dear God, thank You for loving us and sending us Your Son, Jesus. Help us to be the people of God, making Your love visible to all areas of life. Help us to bring the wholeness of community to our lands. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit and guide us with Your wisdom. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

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June 15, 2020

By Marianna Meachen, Director of Care Ministries

Scripture passage: Psalm 23 

Today I am exhausted–physically, mentally and emotionally. I feel as though I have walked through the valley of the shadow this week. Perhaps you, too, are exhausted. We have been walking through so much this spring. I have talked with, prayed with, and encouraged many people over those weeks, and it has been my privilege to do so. But today my well ran dry. 

It has been a difficult week. So much hatred, division, and vitriol. Friends and colleagues at odds with one another, much less those who live in different parts of our country with completely different lives from different cultures and with no true understanding of the other. Everything has taken its toll, and so today I found myself in tears, crying over the dissension and discord that has overtaken our country, a country I love with all my heart. A collective people I love. 

As I cried I thought of Jesus when He was in the Garden at Gethsemane. The Bible says as He prayed He began to be “sorrowful and troubled.” He began to weep as He thought about what lay before Him. Jesus said, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death.” (Matthew 26:38)

I stood in the Garden of Gethsemane in Israel two years ago and tried to imagine what it felt like for Jesus to face what was coming. Today I felt as though I had a minute glimpse of what it felt like to be so overwhelmed with sorrow for the world. In my angst, something beautiful happened. 

Leslie Paez, our office manager, let me talk for twenty minutes as she listened lovingly and nonjudgmentally about how I felt. I then sent a message to three people who were waiting on me to finish an assignment due that day. I was to let them know when I was done so they could finish their part. Instead I let them know I had nothing left to give. I was honest about my exhaustion and I apologized for my failure. Did they rail against me and tell me that the project could not be completed without my part? Did they ignore me, which would have made me feel worse? 

No, Jenny Sung said, “Soul care, Marianna, for sure. Thank you for being honest, and I think your realization of that is very brave and wise. Take the time you need.” Rosella Shishido echoed that sentiment and said, “That wasn’t a failure, Marianna. We can cover for you.” David Chang texted me a prayer of blessing asking God to let “there be streams of living water” fill me and flow around me. 

This is how we love and care for one another, lifting us when we are down, caring for us just as Jesus’ followers cleaned and bound His wounds after the crucifixion. Pastor Dan, Pastor Tim, and I spoke this week about the sadness we felt at what is happening in our country. Pastor Tim shared what his sophomore Algebra teacher, Mrs. Ward, from Corona Del Mar High School would say to him when he would raise his hand as when she was talking. “Mr. Shaw, put your hand down,” she would say. How could he listen to what she was saying when he was thinking about what he wanted to say?

May we all heed her advice. Let’s put our hands down and just listen. May we listen to one another before we speak with all of our attention focused on what the other has to say EVEN when we don’t understand it or agree with it. Only then can we begin to build relationships, learn to trust, and begin to be reconciled one with another. 

And yes, I understand what I am saying sounds very simplistic, but we have to have a starting point. If we could open our ears and our hearts and as well be on our knees in prayer to the One who can truly change things and listen to His voice, we can be begin to heal our land.

The 23rd Psalm says, “Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil for You are with me.” God is with us. Trust Him, go to Him for counsel, listen to Him first and then act with His love in your heart. He is the Way!

Prayer: Abba, precious and holy Father, we need You to heal us and heal our land. Give us Your peace. Let us listen to Your voice and act as Jesus would so our country might be healed. We ask that we move forward with every knee bowed and every tongue confessing that Jesus Christ is Lord! May we then walk in harmony and one accord. In Jesus’ precious name we pray, Amen.

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