By Matt Yamamoto, Director of High School Ministry

“Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, yet I prefer to appeal to you on the basis of love. It is as none other than Paul—an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus—” (Philemon 1:8-9)

When we first come across Paul, he was “breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples.” At that point in his life, he was the Jewish Captain America. He was well-liked, learned, an up-and-comer in his profession, in the top echelon of Jewish society. If he were alive today, he’d be a young trader in the New York stock exchange, polished, confident, and well put together.

When faced with something he was opposed to, in this case, the believers, young Paul’s solution was to throw them all in jail. Let’s stop and think about that for a second. It’s not even that he wanted to throw the Christians on his street in prison, he was so opposed to them that he traveled from city to city to lock them up.

That Paul is a far cry from the Paul we encounter in the passage above. If the two Pauls were to stand side by side, they would be unrecognizable as the same man. It’s no wonder that God gave him a new name. 

How did he go from being the hammer pounding down nails to one making an appeal on the basis of love?

Spiritual transformation.

In the eyes of the world, God ruined Paul. God loved Paul too much to allow him to remain THAT guy. God loved him so much that He stopped Paul in his tracks, literally. 

Paul went from someone that the world approved of to someone that God approved of. This is the whole point of our lives and the cross. Salvation is not the end product that God had in mind when He died for us. It was only the beginning. Transformation was and is the goal. 

If you were to die today, what would your story be? Whose approval have you won? Would you be unrecognizable if you were standing next to your younger self, worthy of a new name?

Jesus loves you so much that He doesn’t want you to remain THAT guy, but like Paul, you have to be a willing participant in the journey. How is God trying to shape you and transform you today?

Prayer: Dear loving and patient Father, thank You for what You did on the cross and its gift of not just salvation but more importantly, a relationship with You. Thank You for loving us so much that You want us to grow. Help us to understand the beauty of spiritual transformation and walk along that journey with You. Amen.

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By Marianna Meachen, Director of Care Ministries

Since March, we have been living in what I have begun to call "The Time of COVID." It has certainly been different from anything we have ever experienced. I am an introvert, so initially, for me, it seemed okay. I was working from home, doing Zoom meetings every week. I even adopted two new dogs. For others, the sameness has been difficult. I have to admit I recently started to feel some tension myself.

This tension reminded me of a 1993 movie called Groundhog Day. In the film, a cynical TV weatherman named Phil Connors, played by Bill Murray, finds himself reliving the same day over and over again when he goes on location to the small town of Punxsutawney to film a report about their annual Groundhog Day. He is angry at being there, thinks the assignment is below him, and is generally unpleasant. He is in the midst of circumstances he never wanted to be in and is frustrated with the sameness he experiences day after day.

And while he still awakes to the same day (Groundhog Day) each morning, he begins to change his life. He knows what will happen each day, so he begins to change his attitude toward others; he then starts to find ways to change. At first, he is reluctant, but his perspective changes after seeing his behavior's effect. He eventually endears himself to the townspeople, his crew, and the woman he wants to impress.

Have you tried to adapt to your circumstances? Have you looked at what you can do rather than what you can't? Have you reached out to others? Have you sought help from a counselor? It's okay to feel sad, frustrated, depressed, but we don't need to stay that way. There are helps available through First Prez, as well as many other community resources.

Hebrews 13:8 says–––Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. That is a sameness that we cherish, we cling to, and need. Let us choose to follow Jesus and ask Him to guide us through COVID-19, and find comfort in His consistency, His love, grace, and mercy.

Prayer: Abba, Father, You know we have grown weary of the circumstances we live in with COVID-19. We want things to be the way they used to be, but we know that life has changed, possibly forever. Let us look to you for the constant in our lives. Be our friend, our guide, and our hope. If there is a change to come, let it start within us as we continue to cling to You. We thank You that You are always there for us. We give You praise, honor, and glory even as we sometimes struggle. We love You, Lord, and we ask all of this in the precious name of Jesus. Amen!

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By Pastor Steve Peich

Ever go into a Google search for something that seemed a bit nonsensical, but came out the other side with an important insight? That’s what happened when I Googled “why water creates a whirlpool when it goes down a drain” (don’t ask me why I was curious about that). The word for this phenomenon is called a vortex. 

I know the word vortex sounds like some kind of fabric for ski suits, but a vortex is created by forces that want to go in opposite directions. So in the case of tub water, gravity and weight want to force the water down the drain, but air in the pipes wants to push upward through the same hole. These opposing forces create that churning whirlpool you see in the drain.

So how does that lead to anything worthy of the word insight? Well, it dawned on me that sometimes, perhaps often, our lives with God resemble this kind of convergence of “opposing forces” that want to go in different directions. Don’t we all at some point feel the vortex between doubt and faith, praise and lament, our pain and God’s promises? 

Fortunately, the book of Psalms helps us to pray and live well in the spiritual vortex. One type of Psalm that does this is what some scholars call Psalms of Disorientation (also known as lament and imprecatory psalms). Disorientation Psalms are those prayers of raw expression. They are words of people who find their once smooth circumstance in life and their clear doctrines of God suddenly or painfully altered. They are left feeling devastated, alienated, fearful, and even traumatized. One researcher says that 40% of the psalms are infused with words and expressions of disorientation. In other words, it was a very common way to pray and sing as a follower of God in the ancient world.

You see an example of this in Psalm 6:2-3:  

Be merciful to me, Lord, for I am faint; O Lord, heal me, for my bones are in agony, my soul also is struck with terror, while You, O Lord—how long?

You can just hear the physical and emotional trauma, as well as their wrestling with disappointment toward God. Are You going to be there for me God? Lord, where are You? How many of us have lived those exact feelings? 

What I really appreciate here is the awkwardness of the grammar in verse 3. The sentence itself feels incomplete and twisted with discomfort: “my soul also is struck with terror, while You, O Lord…how long?” Sometimes real, raw, and effective prayers are ineloquent. Sometimes they don’t flow with coherence, but simply stumble out of our mouths in a disjointed manner. 

But the pain is just one stream of the vortex. The other is in verse 9: “the Lord has heard my cry for mercy; the Lord accepts my prayer.” 

At first we may think, how does verses 2 and 3 jive with verse 9? One minute it’s like, “God, where are You?” And then next minute the writer is totally convinced that God is right there with them. That in a nutshell, is life in the vortex: we can’t deny our agony, but we also can’t deny our God. 

Let me invite you to come to God in prayer today just as you are. Come with all your ambivalence and your inarticulate sentences. Come to Him as one on a journey between doubt and faith, joy and sorrow, your pain and His promises. I’m confident that He will meet you there in the honesty of the vortex. 

Prayer: Lord, right now my soul is swirling with doubts and fears, hurt and pain, as well as a desperate hope that You are with me. Please make known Your presence to me today. Help me to remain faithful in the vortex. Amen.

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By Roslyn Catracchia, Director of Worship

Two weeks ago Pastor Dan and Hawaiian Islands Ministries hosted a webinar led by Pete Greig called God On Mute. The title intrigued me. And honestly, I’ve amassed a significant list of questions for God over the years—questions that have seemingly gone unanswered. 

So I clicked on the link at 9 am that Saturday morning, unsure of what I had hoped to get out of it, but the hour and a half far exceeded my expectations. I knew it would be good. I’d heard Pete Greig speak several times before, and found him always thoughtful, always real. But this “real” was on a whole ‘nother level. He spoke about the hardest times of his life, which were so painful and difficult. And he shared how he wrestled with God about his frustrations and questions, and about why God seems so often silent and unresponsive. 

Instead of being discouraged by all he was sharing regarding his struggles, I felt encouraged – almost as if I’d been given permission to question God out loud as well, and give voice to my doubts and frustrations. As Chris Pan preached on October 25th, sharing from the Pray As You Go prayer app: 

“There can be pressure from other Christians to not feel depressed or anxious or lonely. As if it must be a sign of lack of faith. We can internalize that judgment, so that becomes a lack of acceptance of my condition and of myself. This can make me feel more depressed or anxious or lonely. But how about I let myself feel what I feel. I sit quietly with it and allow it to be whatever it is, just now. Just as I am, I let the God who loves me look at me and be with me.”

As many of you may have read in Patty Kamahele’s devotional on October 21, she shared that her beautiful, dear husband Francis recently passed away. I’ve known Patty and Francis for such a long time. My heart broke when she told me the news. I know he is in heaven with his Lord and Savior. But I’ve rarely seen a couple who are so clearly soul mates. Soon after he passed, I was driving and thinking of her, praying for her, knowing how much she is hurting because they were soul mates. And it hit me that I was still hurting from my mom’s passing, and the thought hit me that my mom was my soul mate. The tears flowed, and I talked with God out loud, telling Him how much I still hurt, and how deeply I missed her still. I didn’t expect to feel the wave of emotions so strongly almost three years later. But it came. 

I’m so thankful for Pete Greig keeping it real as he spoke to us. So thankful that, at the urging of his wife, he wrote the book called God On Mute based on their questions and struggles. I purchased the audiobook, which I’ve listened to almost twice in a week. Then I went to Logos bookstore and got a real book that I can hold in my hands, underline, and highlight. I know it’s going to be one of my favorite books that I will read again and again. 

If you are feeling deeply low, if you are feeling like God is silent, I encourage you to reach out to someone. If the first person doesn’t respond in a helpful way, don’t give up, find someone else! And if you are a reader, I encourage you to get Pete’s book, either audiobook or one you can hold in your hand, and turn the pages filled with life-giving words. 

I know I’m going to continue to have questions. The world turned upside down in 2020 for many of us. It would be unnatural to NOT have questions. But I’m encouraged by Pete’s keeping it real to me, myself, keep it real with God, and just talk with Him about everything. Absolutely everything. 

What a friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!

O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer.

(from the hymn What A Friend We Have In Jesus by Joseph Scriven)

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You that as we draw near to You, You draw near to us. Thank You that we can tell You everything, sometimes simply with tears and groans too deep for words. Thank You that You hear our every cry, and that You are with us in times of celebrations, times of laughter, and times of tears. Thank You for reminding us that we are not alone, and that we can always come just as we are. Amen.

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By Rosella Shishido, Communications Ministry Coordinator

“And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is My disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.” (Matthew 10:42)

If you’ve had a biopsy, you know it’s not fun.

I had one a few months ago. Samples of tissue needed to be extracted from a suspicious area in my lung and be examined in a lab. During the procedure I needed to take deep breaths as directed, and that’s why they could only partially sedate me. They also gave me a bit of anesthetic to numb the area, allowing the procedure to be almost painless.

But in spite of knowing all that, and in spite of my prayers and prayers of family and friends, I still had anxiety over it. I dreaded the thought of a long needle poking my lung several times, and I wasn’t convinced it would be painless.

On the day of the procedure, and before each time tissue was extracted, the radiologist would tell the nurse, “Tell her (meaning me) to take a deep breath and hold it.” What the heck? Why couldn’t he just tell me directly when I could totally hear him? Why instruct the nurse to tell me?

I  found out why soon enough.

The way the nurse said “Take a deep breath, and hold it” was totally different from how the radiologist said it. Hers was gentle and comforting. And to top it off, she put her hand over mine every time she said it. After I breathed out, she withdrew her hand.

The gentle instruction to take a deep breath and the placing of her hand over mine would seem like little things that won’t matter much, but to me they were huge! Her words were comforting, and her touch was reassuring. She knew what I needed, and she knew when and how to help me.

This reminded me of how we all have roles to play. We may not all have the opportunity to do great things that impact the world, but we all have opportunities to do little things that benefit those around us, especially if we do them with great love, as the hands and feet of Jesus.

Or perhaps you’re the recipient of such acts of kindness, like how I was during the biopsy. Let’s be grateful for those moments! When someone sends you a card to encourage you, give thanks! When someone makes you a home-cooked meal or sends you a restaurant gift card to help you as you recover from an illness or surgery, give thanks! When someone calls you or sends you a text message to tell you they’ve been praying for you, give thanks! These “little things” are big after all, especially when done with great love.

And guess what? When you do these “little things,” Jesus sees ‘em all! “No simple act of mercy escapes His watchful eye.” That’s actually a line from a beautiful song that has touched my heart recently. It’s called “Little Things With Great Love” by Porter’s Gate. May you be encouraged as you listen to it here.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I’m grateful that nothing escapes Your eye. You see my needs, and You see other people’s needs. Help me to recognize the opportunities You’ll give me this week to do little things with great love that could be a blessing to others. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

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By Roslyn Catracchia, Director of Worship

Yesterday I was given an unexpected gift. I went to the First Prez campus at Koʻolau like I usually do every other Wednesday to help the pastors with filming the different segments of the sermon. I was particularly tired because the day before had been an extra-long workday. But I got up, put myself together, grabbed a cup of coffee, drove to Koʻolau, and waited at the gate for the crew. 

When I arrived, I was greeted by the chickens, roosters, and a few smiling hikers. That should have given me the first clue. The smiling hikers. Hmmm, I thought, I haven’t hiked since I broke my hand a couple of years ago. Too afraid to fall …

The film crew arrived. I let them in the gate, then joined them in the atrium of Koʻolau. I was tired when I woke up earlier in the morning, but quickly became alert and focused as I operated the teleprompter for Pastor Tim giving the announcements. And by 9:30 am, I was wide awake, especially after hearing Pastor Tim praying such life-giving words. Hmmm, I thought, what a great way to wake up, hearing such life-giving words!

Then Chris Pan and the crew gathered their equipment together to head out to the golf course to film Sunday’s message. Chris had been planning it for weeks, and the day was finally here! My responsibilities were done for the shoot, but he asked me if I wanted to come out with them … for fun! I thought, hmmm, I’ve got a million things to do, but … why not! 

So we set out on golf carts, and away we went! I haven’t been out of the house to be in nature like that since … I can’t remember when. We went to a number of different locations on the property, and traveling from spot to spot, I think my cheesy smile got bigger and bigger, but no one could see it because of my mask! Many times, I thought we were surely going to take a tumble in the golf cart, and I’d squeeze the railing extra tight, but we didn’t! And after a while, I shouted out, “This is more fun than Disneyland!”

Spoiler alert – Chris Pan’s message this coming Sunday, Oct 25th, is awesome. It’s one I’ll be listening to again and again, and going back to the website to watch again and again. As we filmed one segment, I thought to myself, “Hmmmm, this sounds familiar. Why does it feel so familiar?” He was quoting Psalm 121: 

I lift up my eyes to the mountains—

Where does my help come from?

My help comes from the Lord, 

The Maker of heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot slip—

He who watches over you will not slumber…

Read Psalm 121 here when you have a chance, the whole Psalm. It’s not long! And it’s life-giving. 

Psalm 121, A Song of Ascents. Just the night before I went to sleep listening to the meditation app Whispers From God, and the Scripture I had chosen was “A song of Ascents.” I wonder now if I had chosen that at all or if the Holy Spirit had led me to choose that one last night. Hmmm. 

Then I remembered that I had written a devo back in April called “Lift Up Your Eyes!” Goodness, had I gotten back into the habit of looking down? After such a life-giving lesson God had given me back then? Yes, I had! And it reminded me of one of my favorite quotes by Madeleine L’Engle in her book Walking on Water — “The Holy Spirit does not hesitate to use any method at hand to make a point to us reluctant creatures.”

Why are we such stubborn, reluctant creatures?! I don’t know. But right now, I’m still smiling from yesterday’s gift. And right after this, I’m going out for a walk, for no other reason than to get away from my computer and to look UP, to lift up my eyes to the mountains, which we have! Wherever you are on this island, you can see the Koʻolau or the Waiʻanae Range. Mountains? We got ‘em! 

I remember Pastor Sim Fulcher saying something about how long it takes to either break or learn a habit. I thought he had said 2 weeks, but I can’t remember. So I looked it up just now. One study suggests it can take from 18 to 254 days. Ha! That cracks me up. Doesn’t seem very scientific to me. But maybe this good habit to form, of going outside and lifting our eyes to the mountains, isn’t scientific at all, but food for the soul. And yet, there is a lot of science behind why nature is good for your soul. Hmmm…

And with that final contemplation, I shall take my leave and take my walk! 

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for being so patient with us stubborn, “reluctant creatures.” Thank You for reminders like yesterday that you call us to rest, to refresh our souls. Thank You that even if we can’t get outside for whatever reason, we have windows in our homes that we can look out and look up and see a piece of the sky You created. Thank You! Amen.

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By Candi Lopes, Children’s Ministry Coordinator

“Oh, the overwhelming never ending reckless love of God, Oh it chases me down fights till I’m found leaves the ninety-nine…” That’s a line from one of my favorite songs called Reckless Love (lyrics based on Luke 15:4).

As I was listening to the song and thinking about what to write for this devotional, my thoughts kept going back to the amazing ministry of a local nonprofit called Life 360. It’s a youth outreach program that strengthens community through positive relationships with at-risk youth and young adults, giving them purpose. Through things like tutoring, life groups, college and career planning, Life 360 gives at-risk youth and young adults alternatives to truancy, dropouts, alcohol abuse, gang, and drug activity, which tend to be common in that demographic. Life 360 truly demonstrates God’s love and how God will always seek the one that is lost. 

I recently had the honor to serve with Life 360, and I have been amazed at how they are building relationships. Many young adults coming together on a regular basis to be positive influences and mentors to at-risk youth is a very good example of what it means to be like Jesus to those around us. The mentors get to know the youth and their families, which has been very helpful in getting them through this pandemic. They deliver food to those in need, to their homes. They have built trust with the families to be able to go into their homes and help the students with connecting to the internet for their distance learning. To me, this sounds like the reckless love God has for us, in the way I believe the song artist was trying to explain it. 

“We're not saying that God Himself is reckless, He's not crazy... But what I mean is this: He's utterly unconcerned with the consequences of His own actions with regard to His own safety, comfort and well-being. ... He doesn't wonder what He'll gain or lose by putting Himself on the line, He simply puts Himself out there on the off-chance that you and I might look back at Him and give Him that love in return. His love leaves the ninety nine to find the one every time and to many practical adults that's a foolish concept. Well, what if He loses the ninety nine in finding the one, right? What if, finding that one lost sheep is and always will be supremely important?” (Cory Asbury, songwriter)

Just as we have so much to learn from how God loves, I think there is something here for us to learn too from how the Life 360 team and its leader Warren Lilo love at-risk youth. This also reminded me of how the young adult disciples of the Christian nonprofit Agape International Missions in Cambodia love those they serve. The young leaders from both of these organizations have this fire and excitement for God and bringing His kingdom here. Warren and his team’s leadership and mentoring trickles down to the young adults, and then to the youth. Each young adult is attached to a youth, who they mentor and do life with. 

Inspired by all this, our First Prez Ohana Ministry wants to start an initiative, where we help build “tribes” for the kids and youth, where each one has three adult believers from different generations (young adults, senior adults), who are committed to praying for them for at least one year. 

I am eager to see how God wants to work through our partnerships with other ministries and how we can demonstrate reckless love.

Prayer: Dear God, thank You for the relationships you bless us with. Help us to steward them and grow them for Your kingdom. Teach us how to love like you. Amen.

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By Patty Kamahele, Administrative Assistant

I would like to dedicate today’s devotion to my husband Francis, who passed into eternity to be with his Lord on Wednesday, October 14, 2020, following an illness. I pray it gives you a glimpse into the life of an amazing man who gave his all for the Lord. He was a loving husband, dad, Papa, and friend as well as a pastor, vocalist, and evangelist who loved bringing others to Jesus.

* * * * * * * * * *

In his passing our beloved Francis Keahola Kamahele leaves behind his wife, Patty; son Adam; son Matthew and wife Zellie; grandchildren Tahtiana, La’akea, and Kanile’a; brothers Kenneth and Solomon; cousins, nieces, nephews, sisters-in-law, and many dear friends.

Born and raised in Honolulu, Francis resided most of his years in Honolulu, on Maui, and in San Diego. He was a proud graduate of Saint Louis School, one of the men of Kalaepohaku, and was active as an alumnus from the class of ‘71. 

Blessed with an amazing voice, Francis was called “one of the finest singers ever to come out of Hawaii.” He was part of the cast of Hawaii Calls, had his own show in Waikiki, and then became the headliner and emcee of Tihati’s Drums of the Pacific on Maui. He also was an actor with several roles on the Hawaii Five-O television series with Jack Lord.

Francis’ life changed direction when he became a Christian and then was called into the ministry in 1987. He faithfully served as an intern pastor in San Diego with Mike MacIntosh and up until his passing, was the pastor of Horizon Christian Fellowship Honolulu. In those years, he also traveled the world preaching and singing from small venues to Promise Keepers events at stadiums with 80,000 in attendance. It didn’t matter the size of the crowd, he shared and sang with all of his heart and soul.

He also started a ministry called “Jesus Loves You”* by complete faith (as we didn’t have anything when we started) where literally thousands of people across our island were touched with the Lord’s love through the distribution of clothing, food boxes, school supplies, hygiene kits, and supplies along with a special Keiki carnival for the little ones and a dinner concert ... all free of charge. Jesus said, “Freely you have received, freely give.” (Matthew 10:8b) And many, many people came to know the Lord through this special ministry. Francis has had an impact on so many people as he loved and cared for the physical and spiritual needs of others. 

Francis’ greatest loves in life were his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, his wife, his grandchildren, and his entire family. He enjoyed his time as a paddler for Napili Canoe Club (having paddled the Molokai Hoe three times) and was an avid golfer. One of his favorite sayings was, “Hey, I’ve got a new swing!” We greatly enjoyed golfing together weekly as it was a time when we could appreciate one another’s company, as well as the beauty of God’s creation. Our bucket list was fulfilled when we golfed at Pebble Beach a few years ago with friends.

Francis was greatly loved and will be greatly missed. But I am confident he heard these words as he took his last breath on earth...and his first breath in heaven: “Well done good and faithful servant...enter into the joy of the Lord.” (Matthew 25:23)

A hui hou, my sweet love ... until we meet again.

Prayer: Lord, I have no words to express how grateful I am for my husband. His passing has left a huge void in my life, but I know You are here to fill it. May we take the time to appreciate those we love and to be thankful to You for them. I am heartbroken but I know I will enjoy his presence again one day, as we stand in Your presence together. In the comforting Name of Jesus, the One we serve. Amen.

Please take a few moments to view this video of a glimpse into the ministry of Jesus Loves You.

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By David Chang, Director of Ministry Support

There’s a wonderful story by Leo Tolstoy called The Three Questions. Here’s the summary. 

There was a king who was trying to find the answers to three questions to which he got all kinds of answers:

1. When is the best time to begin?

    - Right now

    - Wait till later

    - Plan first

2. Who are the important people?

    - The councilors

    - The warriors

    - The priest

3. What is the most critical thing to do?

    - Plan for the future

    - Defend the kingdom

    - Religious worship

Frustrated by the differing answers, the king disguised himself as a commoner and sought out a hermit known for wisdom. The king found the hermit in the forest cultivating his garden and asked him the three questions. The hermit listened but only kept digging. The king, seeing the hermit was getting tired, offered to take over the tilling. Throughout the day, the king kept asking the questions, but the hermit only listened. 

At the end of the day, as the king was getting ready to leave, a severely injured man stumbled out of the woods. The king took him into the hermit’s house, bandaged his wounds and cared for the man all night. In the morning, the injured man, told the king a startling story. The man had followed the king into the forest, planning to kill him in revenge. But now, because the king had saved him, that man begged for the king’s forgiveness and pledged his loyalty to him. The king was glad to have made peace with his enemy and to have gained him as a friend.

As the king prepared to leave, he again asked the hermit his three questions. The hermit smiled and told the king that he had been answered.

1. The most important time is now. If you didn’t stop and help me with my garden, the man would not have found you. If you didn’t stop and care for that man, he would have died. 

2. The most important people are right in front of you. If I was not important to you, you would not have helped me garden. If that injured man was not important, you would not have saved him. 

3. The most critical thing is to do good for those in front of you. If you didn’t till my garden, the injured man would not have found us. If you didn’t bandage the wounds of the man, he would have died. He would not have been forgiven. You would have not have made a friend. 

I think I liked this story because it convicted me.

• I worry about the future and wallow in the past. I need to release this to the Lord, and focus on the important “now.”

• I need to focus on the people that are in front of me right now, knowing that God intentionally gathered us together in this moment. The rest can wait.

• I need to do good for those that are around me right now. The rest can wait.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me to be like the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37). Open my eyes to see those who You put in front of me. Open my heart to love them as You do. Open my spirit to care for them as You do. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

P.S. In case you want to read The Three Questions in its entirety, you can read it here. 

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By Leslie Paez, Office Manager

1 Thessalonians 5:18

"Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

It's been a few months (seven to be exact) since COVID-19 occurred and caused our church's first shutdown. It was supposed to last six weeks, but yet, here we are, seven months later. Yes, I am stating the obvious.

We continuously hear about how "we are living the new normal" or "how we cannot wait to go back to how things were." I would catch myself many times pondering how life was before, how I miss the way things used to be, or how I took so much for granted. I felt depressed about everything going on in the world and my life—our new normal.

Until one day, I realized all the beautiful blessings this current pandemic has brought me that I probably would've ever experienced if it never had happened. For example, I'm now able to spend much more time with my son. As a single parent, I didn't get to do that before. I love every moment I get to be with him during this time.

My son and I have grown a decent sized garden together, and he has taught me how to play Super Mario Brothers on the Nintendo Switch. Now, we get to play the game together. I also found the time to clear out the closet full of clothes that I'll "eventually wear again." 

However, this devotional is not about the life changes I have made. I want to know about the changes that occurred in your life. What has been the biggest blessing you've received during this new "season"? Is there something in your life that you would have never experienced had this "new norm" not happened? Have you been giving thanks to God in all circumstances, whether good or bad?.

Prayer: Dear God, I want to thank You for every blessing You have given us. Amid all the changes and uncertainty, You still have a plan for each of our lives. May we be able to see the blessings You have given us, and may we be able to enjoy each of them with grateful, humble hearts. Amen. 

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OCTOBER 16, 2020

Matt Yamamoto, Director of High School Ministry

“Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. “ 1 Peter 3:9 

It is unbelievable. The presidential election is only two and a half weeks away. At the beginning of the year, I found solace in the fact that the elections felt so far away. I can’t remember a presidential race being so emotionally charged. There have been moments when both candidates have done or said things that has caused me to cringe. Our nation feels like it is sitting on top of an emotional powder keg, and it doesn’t matter who you are supporting, the prevailing attitude is that the world is going to end if the other candidate wins. 

Next week’s second presidential debate has been canceled. Having watched the first one, a part of me is glad that it is. The bickering and bantering between the candidates made the first one unwatchable, and it became apparent to me that this is the now the way of the world. 

It became evident that our society tells us to repay insult for insult, and when someone is yelling an insult at you, the appropriate response is to yell an insult back even louder.  

This is not the way of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We find the perfect example of such in Jesus being beaten and on the cross. The Roman soldiers and one of the criminals who was hung next to Him all took shots at Him, insulting Him and His kingship, and Jesus’s appropriate response was to bless them with the gift of forgiveness.  

 As astonishing as this might be, God commands us to do the same. Peter relays to us God’s direction and hope that we would repay evil with blessings. A well-timed, sincere, un-sarcastic compliment or kind act is what would honor Jesus and His love for even the one who is insulting us in the moment. It might be hard to swallow, but even that person is a cherished child of God who deserves His love and forgiveness. The hard part is that they will never understand that without our involvement. 

 I look forward to a world where evil and insults are but a fleeting memory, but until then, we, as Christ-followers, get to shine and stand out when we choose not to follow the way of the world but instead follow the way of the Lord, blessing those who would do evil and insult us. 

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OCTOBER 15, 2020

By Pastor Steve Peich

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us work for the good of all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” Galatians 6:9-10

The other day I gave a sermon at our church that tried to make the case that God has called each one of us to be Shalom Makers in our world (which I see as a big part of the ‘good’ that Paul encourages us to do in verses today). As some of you might recall from the sermon, I mentioned that the most basic meaning of shalom is “complete” or “whole.” Moreover, it also refers to something that’s complex, with lots of pieces, but which exists in a state of connectedness, wholeness, and well-being as God intended. So, in this regard shalom is about the integration and the re-uniting of all of life into a peace filled wholeness: God and Humanity, me and you, us and “them," minorities and majorities, the powerful and the powerless, the well-off and the needy.

One of the things I didn’t have a chance to bring up was that Shalom Making can be quite taxing on our lives. It is not always something that is easy or joy-filled as we carry it out. Sometimes, at least for my journey in being a Shalom Maker, it has come down to confronting mentally unstable and drug addicted people who were acting like bullies or enraged people screaming expletives to my face. 

Sometimes it meant me jumping between two people who were fighting and then being threatened by those who were gleefully watching the fight. Sometimes it left me being ripped off and feeling foolish as someone, for whom I bought a meal, returned the meal to the cashier at the restaurant and asked for “their money back,” which the cashier promptly did. My money instantly went from Shalom Making to probably providing funds for more drugs or alcohol.

Why do I bring up such realities? For a couple of reasons. One, so that we take time to think through and be wise about how we will do such important work. Feeling threatened or foolish can really suck the air out of our drive to bring wholeness to our world.

Another reason is so that we don’t give up in sticking with the mission of shalom when it becomes tiresome to do so.

Let me be honest and say that Shalom Making can be tiresome at times. It can be tiresome to go from helping another person to being harassed or ripped off by that very individual. It can be tiresome to love your enemies and bless those who hate you. It can be tiresome to make peace when people want to sow division. You get the idea.

We need to know clearly that if we are going to serve people, we are going to eventually serve someone who has brokenness and sin sown through their souls. And when we run into such things it will be an easy step to become cynical about the mission, or just plain run the other way.

So, as we “work for the good of all people” know that there will be difficulties and challenges, to say the least. But “let us not become weary” because we were not wise or surprised about the challenges. They will be there, without question, but how will you respond? With whom can you walk to find the support and encouragement you need to persevere in bringing God’s wholeness into such a fragmented, broken, and sinful world?

Prayer: Lord, I want to be Your instrument of Peace in our world, but I also know the way forward will be difficult. Pour out Your Spirit upon me so that I may have the wisdom to know how to best serve others and the strength to persevere amid the challenges that will come. Show me whom I can serve today. In Your name I pray, Amen.

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OCTOBER 14, 2020

By Pastor Dan Chun

I think most Christians know of the famous verse of John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.”

But not many people know of FIRST John 3:16: “We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us—and we ought to lay down our lives for one another.”

There are two parts of this verse—what we receive from Jesus and then what we do with the love He has poured out on us.

The first half is that Jesus laid down His life for us. The verse John 10:11 gives context for this: “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.”

In ancient Israel if you raised sheep in a fenced off pen, a good shepherd would lie down at the entrance to protect the sheep from any intruder whether human or animal. He would give his life for his sheep. 

This is the kind of love Jesus has for us. He laid down His life for us. He laid down on a cross and was nailed and crucified for us. He suffered for us. When there is personal pain due to illness, death, finances, relationship strife, know that Jesus understands and that He laid down His life for us. 

The other day I just happened to fall upon a video on how the famous song “Bridge Over Troubled Waters” was created in 1969. Written by Paul Simon and performed by Simon and Art Garfunkel, it was composed as a gospel hymn. When you read some of the lyrics below, you can see how one can easily interpret it as Jesus Christ Himself as THE Bridge Over Troubled Waters. He is the One who can help us get over or through the troubled waters of life. Remember this when the white water rapids of coronavirus descend upon us with all of its containment at home, loss of income, or illness. 

I know this is a hard time. But this time of covid should hopefully remind us to run to God for He is the One who lays down His life for us. May we run to faith and not away from it. But then what do we do with this knowledge?

The second  part of the 1 John 3:16 says, “He laid down His life for us and we ought to lay down our lives for others.” There it is. We get love from God, we give love in His name. 

Thank you for doing that as you pour your love into your friends, your family and your volunteering to help those in need. Thank you for those of you in the medical/emergency response professions who are on the front lines.

And now, here are some of the lyrics of one of the great classic songs of all time (check it out millennials and read it as Jesus Himself singing to you:

When you're weary, feeling small
When tears are in your eyes, I will dry them all, all
I'm on your side, oh, when times get rough
And friends just can't be found
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down

When you're down and out
When you're on the street
When evening falls so hard
I will comfort you
I'll take your part, oh, when darkness comes
And pain is all around
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down

© 1969 Words and Music by Paul Simon

Video available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WrcwRt6J32o

Prayer: Lord, thank You so much for being our bridge over troubled waters. When life is turbulent, and we can feel like we are drowning, thank You for reaching out Your hand to us and pulling us up. This coronavirus has gone on for so long. Sometimes we feel like we are drowning. But like we are drifting under a bridge, You reach down and pull us up and allow us to walk once again. We praise You and thank You for laying down Your life for us. In Christʻs name, Amen. 

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OCTOBER 13, 2020

By David Chang, Director of Ministry Support

How many pieces are in a roll of Life Savers? Well, the next time you pick up a roll, check out how many candies there are in a full-size roll. Hold that thought.

For those of you who have attended an in-person service at First Prez or a function at Ko’olau Ballrooms (I know it seems like so long ago), you may remember that in our display case is a picture related to the sinking of the Titanic.

The sinking of the Titanic resulted in the loss of over 1,500 lives. However, 700 people survived.   Some of these fortunate ones were saved because of those in Lifeboat #14. The Titanic carried 20 lifeboats, which were quickly filled and lowered. All 20 boats furiously paddled away, fearing that they would be sucked down with the sinking ship. The sad fact was that most of these lifeboats were only partially filled due to the rush to flee, leaving many people behind screaming for help.

Nineteen boats ignored the screams and cries for help. But Lifeboat #14 did something different. Lifeboat #14 turned around and paddled back toward the screams and cries. Lifeboat #14 put down their fears and paddled back to the Titanic. They pulled people who otherwise would have drowned. Only Lifeboat #14 risked their own lives to go back and save others.

Today in the storm of the Covid-19 Pandemic and in the sinking of our economy, many of us reading this devotion are in a lifeboat. God has protected us from infection and has provided for our needs. But I am sure that by now, like me, you know of someone who has been infected, someone who has been out of work. And some of these others are in our church ohana.

I have also heard of others, some even in our church ohana, that are like those in Lifeboat #14.  They have sacrificed of their treasure to provide for others.  There are some who have sacrificed of their talents and time to volunteer at places like the Food Bank and the Food Pantry. God has put us in a lifeboat not just to save us, but for us to help save those around us.

So, here’s a challenge. Buy a roll of “Life Savers” and have it with you this week. Use it as a reminder that you have been saved to save others. Let it remind of those suffering around you.  

Remember the opening question? How many candies are in a roll of Life Savers?

Ready?

There are 14!

And there is one more “14.” It is found in the second chapter of James, starting in verse 14:

What use is it, my dear family, if someone says they have faith when they don’t have works? Can faith save such a person? Supposing a brother or sister is without clothing, and is short even of daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace; be warm, be full!’ – but doesn’t give them what their bodies need – what use is that? In the same way, faith, all by itself and without works, is dead. (James 2:14-17, The Message Version).

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for putting me in a lifeboat. Send me Your Holy Spirit to open my ears to the cries of those around me. Give me the courage to step toward them. Grant me a generous heart to share with them what You have blessed me with. In the Name of the One who has blessed me to be a blessing, Jesus!

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October 12, 2020

By Pastor Tim Shaw

Most of us have been in a commercial aircraft on final approach to an airport when all we can see out the window are clouds and rain. I don’t know whether you’ve ever wondered about this, or if you like to think about stuff like this, but have you ever had this thought? If the view out the window of the cockpit is anything like the view out the window at my seat, how is the pilot going to find the runway? Ever thought about that? 

Most of us have experienced a turbulent descent to the airport on a stormy day. Let’s be honest, it can be a little unnerving. I'll admit it, I always say my prayers before every take-off. And when we’re descending through the clouds in a storm I do pray, sometimes, for the pilots. I’m hoping that the captain has brought her A-game to work and that she knows how to find the airport when the view out of the cockpit is completely obscured.

This approach plate is for the VOR Runway 10 Right approach (Click HERE to view). A chart like this graphically depicts the specific procedure a pilot needs to follow to land on runway 10 Right when they can’t actually see the runway. I’m an instrument-rated private pilot and I have flown this instrument approach to Oakland. And I’ve flown it in a storm. 

The last time I flew that approach I had about 700 hours as pilot in command. I accumulated a lot of those hours by practicing instrument approaches on clear and calm days with a safety pilot on board. When you’re practicing instrument approaches you need another pilot with you. You need an experienced pilot who is keeping an eye on what you’re doing AND an eye on what’s going on outside the aircraft. When pilots practice instrument approaches the pilot flying the airplane often wears a hood on their head until they get to the decision height (sometimes as low as 250 feet above the ground). With a hood on your head you can’t see out the window. All you can see is the instrument panel. 

The goal is to fly the approach, using only the instruments, and fly it all the way down to the decision height, pull off the hood and look up and hopefully see the runway. That’s the goal. And let me tell you, it is an awesome feeling to look up when you’re just 250 feet off the ground and see a big long runway right in front of you (or maybe just off to the right or left a little if you didn’t do it perfectly).

It’s one thing to fly a practice an approach on a clear day when at any minute you can say, "That's it. I’ve had enough," and pull off the hood and simply look out the window. It’s a completely different experience when you actually have to fly an instrument approach in a real storm.

A good friend of mine, who is a Navy pilot, was on board with me the day I flew this approach to Oakland, California in a storm. It was not a practice run. The air traffic controllers cleared me to fly towards the Sausalito VOR, which is a navigation beacon on the ground used by pilots to find their way. The Sausalito VOR has distance-measuring equipment on it. As we approached the VOR from the east, bouncing our way through the clouds and rain (did I tell you it was also at night? It wasn’t just cloudy and rainy – it was dark) - as our little single-engine airplane bounced through the storm, I watched the distance to the VOR decrease. 15 miles. More turbulence. 10 miles. Rain on the windscreen. 5 miles to the VOR. Nothing but clouds out the window.

We were in contact with the air traffic controllers on the ground. I was working hard to stay focused and calm as I waited for it to be my turn to be cleared for the approach. I could feel my shirt gradually getting wet from sweat.

First, United Airlines was cleared for the approach on a nearby runway. "Hey what about me?" Then Southwest Airlines, then another United flight, then American. I checked the distance to the Sausalito VOR, 3 miles, 1 mile and then we were on top of the VOR. The VOR was directly below us. We were now flying away from the Sausalito VOR. Another Southwest flight was cleared for the approach. I thought to myself, "Do I need to remind them that I'm still here? I know I’m just this little guy cruising along at 100 knots, but what about me? Don’t I matter? I checked our distance from Sausalito and the numbers started getting larger. 2 miles. 3 miles. I turned to my friend and said, “I guess we’re on our way to Honolulu.” In a matter of minutes we'd be over the Pacific Ocean. 

Finally, it was my turn and the air traffic controller cleared me for the approach. I was super happy when we popped out the bottom of the cloud deck and there in front of us was this big, long, beautiful runway all lit up in lights. That whole experience was a clinic for me as a pilot. It also reminded me of some of the things I need to remember as a follower of Christ.

I’ve learned a lot of big life lessons from instrument flying. Here's the biggest one: Am I going to trust what the instruments are telling me when I can’t see anything out the window except clouds and rain? Will I let the instruments guide me? On a stormy night, will I trust what the air traffic controllers are telling me to do? Would I trust them even when they’re not talking to me? Would I trust that they have my best interests at heart? Would I trust that they had not forgotten about me? Would I be able to keep my anxious feelings in check as I bounce my way through the darkness? 

You don’t have to be piloting your own aircraft in the middle of a storm to know exactly what this might feel like. All you need to do is to hit a difficult place in your marriage and wonder whether your relationship is going to survive. All you need to do is lose your job in the middle of a worldwide pandemic and you’ll have a pretty good idea what that experience feels like. All you need to do is hit what feels like an impossible challenge with your boss and wonder how you’re going to survive working for your employer. All you need to do is come back from a routine doctors appointment with an unexpected diagnosis. All you need to do is experience the death of someone you love to wonder whether you’re going to make it through this experience in one piece.

When I’m faced with real life challenges like these, I try to remember what I learned as a pilot flying through that storm. I have a highly experienced and capable pilot sitting next to me. Jesus Christ is right there with me, sharing the challenges of this experience and encouraging me on. I can trust that others are there to encourage me and offer me reliable guidance. They, too, are pulling for me. 

The times that I practiced an instrument approach on clear, blue-sky days, played an important role in my ability to face the challenges in the middle of the storm. So, let this be a friendly reminder to all of us. Now is the time to deepen our relationship with Jesus. Today is the day to grow our friendships. Now is the time to spend time reading and reflecting on God’s Word. Now is the time to open our lives up and be filled with the Holy Spirit. He wants to form us more completely into a reflection of Jesus. Don’t put any of this off one more day. Keep learning how to pray (attend HIM’s God on Mute conference on October 17). Get to know the Bible (join a class like Acts to Revelation or start reading through The Bible in One Year). Join a small group (contact Pastor Steve Peich or me to learn more). Because what you will gain when you take these steps will be absolutely essential the next time the storms hit.

Prayer: Dear Jesus, we are so grateful that You are onboard with us. We are not alone. Calm us in the midst of the storms of our lives. Help us to trust You, listen to Your guidance when we can’t see the way forward. Speak to us through Your Word and fill us afresh with the Holy Spirit. Thank You for the companions You have given us for this journey. May we be a source of encouragement to them as they are to us. Together with them, help us grow more and more into Your likeness as we spend time with You. In Your Name we pray, Amen.

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OCTOBER 9, 2020

By Christopher Pan, Executive Director

I just found out about a pizza place in Brooklyn, New York that recently added a new item to their delivery menu. In addition to pizzas, salads, and sandwiches, here’s the new addition to the menu: “For $1, our delivery driver will look you straight in the eyes and tell you: ‘EVERYTHING’S GONNA BE OK AND YOU’RE DOING THE BEST YOU CAN.’ ” Don’t believe me that this is a real thing? Here’s a screenshot of their menu: 

I love this so much. Man, do we all need just a little bit of comfort and encouragement right now. I sure know that I do. 2020 has been…well, you know…[gestures broadly at everything]. In the midst of all the difficulty, a little encouragement and kindness goes a long way. I think we can all be a little gentler to ourselves and to others. Just take a long, deep breath. Now take another.  

Feeling rundown? It’s alright, you’re doing the best you can. Gain some lockdown weight? It’s alright, you’re doing the best you can. Feeling discouraged, or anxious, or depressed? It’s alright, you’re doing the best you can. Struggling with a difficult situation? You’re doing the best you can. Spouse or roommate or kids driving you crazy? You’re doing the best you can.  

Can I look you in the eyes and say to you right now? “Everything’s going to be ok and you’re doing the best you can.” 

Deuteronomy 31:8 says, “The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”  

Our God is a God who is rooting for us. Our God is an encourager and a refuge. Thank You, Lord!

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OCTOBER 8, 2020

By Marianna Meachen, Director of Care Ministries

In October 2003, my late husband Rich fell 18 feet onto a concrete floor and broke his pelvis in three places. After the initial surgery to repair the pelvis and then three subsequent surgeries to "fix" things, Rich was sent to Los Angeles to have another surgery where they would re-break his pelvis, and operate to repair it.

I let my parents know about the planned surgery, and they insisted they come to California to be with us during this time. My youngest sister, Wendy, also came. Rich decided that since he would be non-weight bearing six to eight weeks after surgery, we would have a bit of vacation time beforehand. My parents had never been to California, so we decided we would all meet in San Francisco, spend about three or four days there and travel down the coast highway to Los Angeles, stopping for a night in Monterey.  

Rich and I flew into San Francisco. A day later, my parents and sister flew in from Indiana. We had rented a van to accommodate us all and a wheelchair that Rich would use after the surgery and would have for the trip home.  

We had a great time. As we checked out of the hotel, Rich asked if we could store our luggage for the day as we planned to leave San Francisco at around 3:00 p.m. The day manager told us we could keep our bags in the backroom and directed us there. When we returned to get our luggage, Rich, daddy, and Wendy retrieved our bags and loaded the van. Wow! The van was so full, we even had bags under our legs.  

When we arrived in Monterey, we checked into a hotel before going to dinner. We got our three requisite rooms and carried them in our luggage. Rich and I were settling in when my dad knocked at the door. He told Rich, "I think we got some of your luggage." Rich asked if any of the luggage belonged to us, and I said no. Daddy said it must belong to my sister Wendy so off he went to Wendy's room. A few minutes later, daddy knocked on our door again and told us the luggage did not belong to Wendy.  

We all gathered together and tried to figure out who owned each piece of luggage. Rich looked at the baggage tags and found we had luggage of another family. We even had a laptop computer! The hotel in San Francisco had not properly tagged our bags when we asked to leave it for the day. Another family had done the same and when we picked up our bags, we didn't realize not everything belonged to us!

Rich phoned the hotel in San Francisco and spoke to the night manager. He explained what had happened. The manager told Rich we had to take the luggage back.  Rich told him since it was the hotel's error, they had to come to Monterey to get it. The manager agreed and sent a courier to pick up the "extra" bags. When we left a day and a half later, we had undoubtedly lightened our load. We could all move again!

It is easy to become burdened by what life throws at us.  We often become so stressed amid our worries and frustrations, we can become overwhelmed. We sometimes keep our feelings bottled up for the sake of our family. Sometimes we are embarrassed or ashamed of our circumstances, and we find it difficult to lay our burdens down and ask for help from those around us. Pastor Steve often reminds us that "what stays hidden, stays hurting."  

You don't need to carry around that extra baggage.  Jesus said: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 NIV

When we’re overwhelmed by burdens, Jesus tells us to come to Him where we can find real rest. We can look at friends, but they alone can't help. They can help walk you to the foot of the cross and place your hand in the hand of Jesus. It's hard to carry your burdens alone. Let others be with you and help you.  

Jesus wants you to take on His yoke.  He wants to share in our burdens. The Lord of Lords and King of Kings wants to walk alongside you. As we lay down our burdens to Him, He offers us something sweeter in return…a lightening of our load, a sense of peace and tranquility. When we lean on Him, we allow Him to take the weight of our circumstances.  We can trust Him to be faithful to listen and answer when we call.

In our congregation, we are so blessed. We have a prayer team that is willing to pray with you and for you. All it takes is a call or e-mail to the church. We have Stephen Ministers who train to walk alongside you in a difficult time of your life. The meetings and their content are confidential. Men meet with men and women with women. We also have DivorceCare, GriefShare, and Facing Cancer with Hope to help you during hurtful and stressful times. We also maintain a roster of professional counselors who are Christians. You may contact me as our Pastoral Care Chaplain to learn more.

You are not alone. Won’t you lighten your load and lean into the love of our wonderful Savior Jesus and the amazing men and women who serve our church who will help you place His yoke upon you? God doesn't want us weighed down by life. He died so we would be set free. Our job at this moment is to lay those burdens down at His feet so that He can take care of the rest.

Prayer: Abba Father, we are so very grateful that we don't have to carry excess baggage in these difficult times of life. We can come to You and find the freedom we so crave. Thank You for Your love, Your mercy, Your grace, and thank You that You are with us. You have people who serve you who are willing to walk beside us, knowing that You are the cure-giver freeing us from those things that weigh us down. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen!

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OCTOBER 7, 2020

By Karen Makishima, Director of Ohana Ministries

Ever wish that you could see what God is up to? If so, then we would know where to spend our time, energy, and resources.

In the book, “Experiencing God”, author Henry Blackaby encourages us to look to see where God is at work and then join Him there.  But sometimes we can’t see where God is at work. Sometimes we have to make an investment not knowing the outcome but trusting that God is at work. This is faith.

In Ohana Ministry our small group leaders show up each week (now over Zoom for our 4th thru 12th graders) making small investments or deposits into kids’ lives. We continue showing up to love on kids by seeking to really see them for who their Creator designed them to be, and then point them back to their Maker. Truth be told most times we don’t see if the investment is even working. Typically, kids don’t say, “Thank you for teaching us that biblical truth in such a relevant experiential way. This lesson will truly transform my life.” Or, “Thank you for praying for me this week or listening to me or just hanging out with me over Zoom.” But our small group leaders continue to show up to invest in our students trusting that God is at work.

Here is another story of how one man showed up in the life of a young person not knowing what the outcome would be.

A few years ago, I went with a small team on a mission trip to Swaziland (now called eSwatini). The purpose of the trip was to visit and help support the initiatives that Advocates for Africa’s Children (AFAC) was doing. At the end of our trip we attended AFAC’s board meeting. Heidi Lum (AFAC’s Executive Director & Founder) introduced me to the board and said that I was from Hawaii. Afterwards, a young man, native to eSwatini came up to me and asked, “Do you know …. (he gave me a man’s name) …?”

When I replied, “Yes, I do. He goes to my church!” The man’s smile covered his face. He said, “Please wait. I have to show you something.” He fumbled through his black binder and pulled out a piece of paper. The paper was his diploma showing that he had completed a degree from a university. He was so proud. He shared with me that this man from our church had paid for him to get his degree—something he could never afford. And then the pleased man said, “I love him.”

Our First Prez hero had no idea that this man in eSwatini would receive his generous investment with so much gratitude. This investor took a chance that this man would finish his schooling and make a difference for his community. He saw leadership abilities in him but he had no idea if his investment would pay off. Now, this man serves as a pastor in eSwatini.

I am so grateful for all those who take a chance by investing in others without knowing the dividend of their investment.

Matthew 6:19-21 says, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

 What investments are you making in others?  Here are a few ideas:

• Sponsor a Compassion child or a young adult to go to college

• Serve in Ohana Ministry as a small group leader

• Serve at the Hawaii Foodbank or The Pantry

Prayer: Father, help us to be wise when sharing our resources even when we don’t see when You are at work. Increase our faith. All things belong to You. Amen.

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OCTOBER 6, 2020

By Jeff Page, Director of Young Adults

“Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28–30)

Are you tired, discouraged, depleted? Six months into Covid, our communities are divided, polarized, and floundering, and many of us are way out of our depth. Exhaustion, anxiety, and despair have become commonplace in the unending Groundhog Day of stay-at-home orders and severe social restrictions, not to mention the international health crisis and economic collapse. Where can anyone find rest and a light burden? Are these just pretty words or happy thoughts, or is Jesus offering meaningful help for our actual lives?

Jesus’ answer to our question is a question for each of us: “Is the yoke on you?”

Wait. What? Let’s unpack Jesus’ words. A yoke is not the yellow on top of your loco moco (that’s “yolk”). A yoke is a device that harnesses one animal to another to combine their strength for a specific task. This could be carrying a heavy load or plowing a field. Often you would yoke a young, new ox to an experienced one. At first the young inexperienced ox will pull the whole load alone because it is eager to move forward at an unsustainable pace, and the experienced ox lets him. The wiser ox will walk alongside its new companion until it has learned to share the load and walk together.

This is Jesus’ illustration of His Good News for you. He offers you a dynamic life lived walking and working together with Him. This “with-God life” is not primarily God doing things for you, nor you doing things for God but a life of collaboration between you and Immanuel (a name for Jesus—“God with us”). 

Jeff Lorg, president of my seminary (Gateway Seminary) and the best preacher I ever met, taught me the shortest and most powerful prayer I know: “Here we go, Lord.” Not “here I go,” nor “here You go,” but yoked together––“Here WE go, Lord.” I pray this before I preach, before a difficult conversation, or during a difficult task. I cannot recommend it highly enough. This prayer is a reminder to both me and God that I will do my best but not depend on my best. I will step up, but rely on God for the outcome. 

If you face your day-to-day challenges on your own, as most of us do without thinking, you will find very little rest and a crushing burden. But if you are yoked to Jesus, and learn to work with Him rather than run ahead, you will find Christ joining His strength to yours for each meaningful thing in front of you. This is not primarily church stuff, this is your entire life. This is your work task-list, your family responsibilities, paying your bills or cleaning your home. These are all arenas for a collaboration with Jesus.

The key to Christ’s easy yoke and the rest He offers is a commitment to working with Christ for His purposes in all of these areas and following His lead. This takes intention and practice. It does not happen automatically. You must invite Christ into each and every area and moment of your life, and then follow His lead, at His pace, for His purposes. The easy yoke also requires stopping when Christ stops.

Is the yoke on you?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, forgive me for rushing ahead in my own strength alone, or for expecting You to do it all for me. Thank You for making Yourself and Your activity available in my life. Show me the meaningful things You are doing right in front of me and how I can join You. Teach me to follow Your lead. Here we go, Lord. Amen.

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OCTOBER 5, 2020

Kathy Makuakane, Executive Assistant to the Senior Pastor

When you read this, you may decide that maybe I have cracked under the pressure of life in a pandemic. But stick with me. I hope to persuade you that what at first may seem weird is really an exploration of what it means to worship.

A week or so ago, I woke up a couple of times in the night with the sense that I have been neglecting worship. Each time I went right back to sleep, but when I awoke in the morning the thought clearly persisted. I was surprised. How have I been neglecting worship? Most of my waking hours involve work for the church and interaction with Christians. I have regular times of reading and listening to the Word and devotionals. I pray a lot. I participate in Sunday services and Life Group meetings. I am immersed in the things of God. But I recognized that it wasn’t my thought. God was clearly speaking to me. And it didn’t sound like a scolding. It sounded like an invitation. So I prayed for clarity.

What came into focus is that even though I watch and listen to worship since we transitioned everything online, I haven’t been practicing that fully surrendered, physical, vocal, heart-abandoned worship that we are so familiar with when we meet in person. I also used to sing to Jesus when I drove my car, but I don’t drive much anymore. And praising God at the top of my lungs in my apartment might irritate my neighbors and embarrass my 19-year-old son. It dawned on me that I had been quieted without realizing it.

So, I started to look for new ways to engage my body and my voice in worship. The first place of breakthrough came in, of all places, a racquetball court. Following COVID-19 guidelines in my building, I was playing all by myself in an enclosed room where no one could see or hear me. So, here comes the weird part. I started praising Him every time I hit the ball!

[Whack!] “God, You are so amazing!”

[Whack!] “There is no one like You!”

I became aware of God’s presence and pleasure.

[Whack!] “Thank You for giving me this time with You!”

[Miss the ball...fits of laughter.] “Thank You for Your grace when I mess up.” 

[Whack!] “Thank you that You help me get back on my feet when I fall.” 

[Whack!] “I love You, Lord!”

Suddenly, I was overwhelmed with the realization that this was what He was inviting me to. It was just my Father and me enjoying an activity and expressing love to each other. I stopped playing and completely lost it. I shed tears of joy that the King of the whole universe would ask me...me!...to join Him in this weird, intimate, powerful time of worship. I spent the rest of that time with Him, hitting the ball, praising, laughing and crying. It was so weird and it was so wonderful. And just like that, my understanding of worship was expanded.

My son has moved back to college now, so I am alone. But not really. I have discovered a deeper intimacy with God who accepts and even enjoys my weird efforts to worship Him. Since the racquetball game, I’ve danced for Him...and I’m not a dancer. Come to think of it, I’m not a racquetball player either. I will keep looking for opportunities to praise Him in ways I have never before considered. I highly recommend it.

Lord, thank You that You created us for intimacy with You. Thank You for Your patience when we don’t get it and thank You for pursuing us. Our hearts are full when we understand Your love for us and we express ours for You. You are such a good Father! We worship You! Amen.

“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that you should shew forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” 1 Peter 2:9

Please forgive the pun.

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