By Carolyn Grossnickle, Deacon

One of my favorite places in the world is Muir Woods National Monument, home to the breathtaking coastal redwoods that grow to immense heights. The largest tree in Muir Woods is around 258 feet tall, which is about 45 times as tall as a 6-foot person! Each time I visit the Bay Area in Northern California, I make time to walk through these majestic redwoods---truly a place of peace and wonder. 

At first glance these trees seem unshakable, so I was astounded to learn that a single coastal redwood is incredibly vulnerable—since the roots supporting these gigantic trees grow to a depth of only 10-13 feet. But the redwoods manage this vulnerability by sending their roots out 60-80 feet to intertwine with the roots of surrounding trees. Some even grow up together, in a ring, a sort of family or community circle. Standing, rooted together, supporting each other, the trees grow to their fullest potential—and can flourish in this way for 600-800 years! They are certainly awe-inspiring, reminding us to recall the goodness and creativity of God.

As Jesus followers, we are also meant to grow and live with others in order to receive full healing and live into the lives of purpose, beauty, and adventure to which Christ has called us.

In Ephesians 3:15-19 Paul prays for the believers in Ephesus: 

For this reason, I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name. I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Interestingly, the Greek words translated ‘you’ in Paul’s prayer are actually plural. He prays that ‘you all’ be strengthened by the Holy Spirit, rooted and stabilized in Christ’s love, and filled with God’s goodness and hope. Alone, I often feel vulnerable to wind or storms, but when I am connected, with my roots intertwined with those of others, I am reminded of God’s goodness and faithfulness. When we are rooted in Christ and standing with each other, we encourage each other to trust God and, like the coastal redwoods of Muir Woods, reflect God’s goodness, love, and hope to those around us.

Are you connected to believers who will stand with you in the good and trying times, and point you toward Christ? Do you have opportunities to support and encourage others? 

What is one step you might take this week to connect with others? Perhaps reaching out to a trusted friend? Or maybe trying out a small group (like Rooted), or an online connect group?

Prayer: Jesus, we thank You for inviting us to know Your love, Your forgiveness, and Your freedom. Thank You for inviting us to live out our faith connected to and rooted with each other. We ask, through the Holy Spirit, that You would give us wisdom and courage. Please help us take steps to connect with one another in new ways. In Jesus’ Name we pray, Amen.

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By Deanna Sivik, Session Elder

Right here, right now, is where I need to be.
Right here, right now, God is molding me.
The future it is not – but the present is today,
To live in the future – may not turn out that way.
I am uncertain what lies beyond the curtain,
But, living as if it were tomorrow would only be a burden.
The direction to go my heart will discern,
There will be many lessons I’ll have to learn.
I am impatient and anxious, wondering what I need to do,
At some point I’ll figure out what I am to pursue.
What matters most is that I take time to pray,
Then listen to the Lord and hear what He has to say.
God’s plan will turn out much better than mine,
Maybe I’ll just sit back and enjoy a glass of wine.
Right here, right now, is where I need to be.
Right here, right now, God is molding me.

I wrote that poem when I was 28 years old. And now 24 years later, it still has a lot of meaning in my life. While uncertainty and impatience have ebbed and flowed in my life, I have grown consistently in my relationship with God to be able to lay down my anxieties and burdens to allow Him to take charge. 

When I was asked to become a Stephen Minister for First Prez and went through the training, I thought to myself, “I was born to do this.” While I’ve only been doing this for two years, it’s amazing how much I have learned as a human being that this training can be used in everyday life with family, friends, and even strangers. 

I had the opportunity to take part in a Stephen Ministry “on-the-fly” situation the other day. Our door is always open at my office, and a lady came by who was lost. She had been given the wrong address to a psychologist with whom she had an appointment. She was so flustered and upset that we immediately took her in. We looked at her paperwork to see where she really needed to be, and called that office right away. 

While my co-worker was calling the number, my other office mate and I sat with her as she talked about needing and waiting on this appointment for so long that she could not miss it. Her husband was dying of cancer and she really needed professional help. We had about five minutes of her time, but she spilled her guts to us. When we sent her off in the right direction, she was in a much better headspace. 

You know what’s interesting? When I stepped out of my car that morning, I asked God, “What is my mission for the day?” He certainly answered that question within the hour I was at work! Praise Jesus! I’m glad we were able to serve this nice woman with love in our hearts and a smile on our faces. 

Do you ever wonder, “What’s next for me, Lord?” When you give the situation over to Him, the results will turn out so much better than you can possibly imagine.

“Do not worry or be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” (Philippians 4:6)

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for opportunities to be Your light unto others. May we not be anxious or impatient, but wait for Your timing in our lives, holding tight to Your right hand to be a blessing to those around us. Amen.

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By Susan Murray, Session Elder

“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.” (2 Corinthians 1:4)

I start each day with a prayer asking to follow Jesus wherever He leads me; to have the wisdom to trust Him with major life events, as well as the small, everyday things.

But something as simple as reaching out and letting people know I am thinking about them and would like to pray for them makes me feel anxious and worried that the communication might not be welcomed. My brain will come up with excuses: They are busy. I am interrupting. They won’t remember me. I am intruding. 

Several weeks ago a former colleague came to mind, without a specific trigger. It was a strong thought of wondering how she was doing. I called a mutual friend and asked for her contact information. He said, “I guess you heard that Michele has cancer in the lining of her brain, and she is about to have surgery.” 

Oh my. I got her contact information and still went through my usual excuses in my head. Then I realized that God had whispered her name to me. So I reached out to Michele and heard back almost immediately. We texted before and after her surgery and at intervals since then. It was an automatic reconnection after 12 years. I gained as much, if not more, feelings of grace from our conversations. I was able to catch up and let her know that I cared.

 I am so grateful for the “God-whisper”! What if I had let my feelings of being anxious stop my reaching out to my friend and letting her know I am thinking of her? 

These days I find myself asking for more God-whispers. I wonder what the Lord will say next.

Prayer: Dear Father, I have experienced the joy of receiving comfort, understanding, and a listening presence from You when I needed it. Thank You, Lord. May each of us experience comfort and step out in faith to give comfort to others. I ask this in Jesus name, Amen.

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By Jeremy Lim, Session Elder

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1-2 NIV)

I never enjoyed running track. I wasn’t very fast, and I hated losing (two things that don’t go well together in a sport like track). Thankfully, the other three guys on my high school freshman 4x100m relay team were really fast. And by the championship meet at the end of the season, we knew that if we ran well we would win the race. As much as I didn’t enjoy track, this race was fun! We knew we could win, so the goal wasn’t to win as much as it was to run the race well. 

I’ve always been a team sports kind of guy. I love how the author of Hebrews reminds us that we are “surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses” before talking about the race in front of us. We are not in this alone. We are on a stacked team for whom winning is a forgone conclusion. In fact, the race has already been won (John 16:33)! But the race still needs to be run.

Jesus invites us to join His winning team, and He wants us to live with the confidence this provides.

But I’m not very fast; I don’t have much to offer; I’m carrying too much baggage; I can’t overcome these other challenges or addictions in my life; I’m too busy; I’ll join later... 

He knows the race will not always be easy. He knows that throwing off the hindrances and sin in our life can be incredibly difficult. And so He gives us the only solution to these challenges: fix our eyes on Him. The Message version of this verse says: Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how He did it.

Study how Jesus ran the race well. Don’t forget those who came before you and those who are running alongside you right now. If you feel like you’re watching from the sideline, jump into the race. If you’re running but aren’t running well, get rid of the things that are slowing you down. If you’re running well, look for others who you can support and encourage along the way. 

Prayer: Jesus, thank You for wanting me to be on Your team. Thank You for showing me, through the life You lived, how to run with perseverance and joy. Help me to get out there and do it! For Your Name, Amen.

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By David Free, Deacon

Our church recently concluded a four-week series on creation care called “A Story of More,” referencing the caring for the earth God has entrusted us to us.

In the conclusion of the series, Pastor Dan introduced to us a new ministry devoted to the care of the 243 acres of land the church now has access to as a result of the  closure of the Ko’olau golf course. This ministry, which has been named Hakuhia, will oversee the stewardship of the land. Hakuhia means “God’s delight.” 

When you think of it, it’s really an honor for us to be responsible for this huge plot of Hawaiian earth. For one, it reflects the state’s motto: Ua Mau ke Ea o ka ʻĀina i ka Pono, which translates to “The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness.”

If we take care of our land, our land will take care of us.

In the early days the Hawaiians developed a subsistence culture. They lived close to the land, developing systems and ways to protect, preserve, and restore the land resources.

In addition to the Hawaiian connection, it is biblical:

“The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it” (Genesis 2:15)

God gave humankind, through Adam, the first man He created, the task of tending or keeping the garden. That means we are stewards of this earth, and the Master will require of us an account on how we’ve been stewards of what He has given us.

“The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.”(Psalm 24:1)

May we, as a church ‘ohana, see that His land is well cared for.

Prayer: Thank You, Father, for all of creation. Please help us to do our part in caring for it. Amen.

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By Paul Zukunft, Session Elder

Happy Saint Patrick’s Day! As a child growing up in Connecticut, I never fully understood the meaning behind the greenery, shamrocks and leprechauns, and for that matter, the significance of St. Patrick. Did he really drive the snakes out of Ireland?

In my mid-20’s I was stationed in Savannah, Georgia that hosted one of the largest St. Patrick’s Day parades in the nation. My patrol boat carrying the City Mayor and a host of VIPs plied the Savannah River that had been dyed green. Revelers and restaurants alike were festooned with banners that read, Erin Go Bragh. What was that all about?

Thanks to today’s technology and search engines (and as Paul Harvey would say, “Page 2”), we can shed a more realistic and less mythological light upon St. Patrick.

First, he was not Irish. He was born in Great Britain but taken captive by Irish raiders at the age of 16. He was enslaved as a shepherd in Ireland for the next six years until he escaped to his native Great Britain in the 5th century.

While in captivity, he learned the native Irish language and witnessed the proliferation of pagan worship. Upon his escape to Great Britain, St. Patrick heard the voice of God reach out to him and say, “Come and walk among us.” And so he returned to the isle of his captivity as a missionary and baptized over 100,000 souls and ordained many a priest. He portrayed the three-leafed shamrock as The Trinity, and that legacy of green and flora persists to this day.

Even back then, the climate of Ireland has never been hospitable to reptiles and namely, snakes. So while folklore credits St. Patrick with driving the snakes out of Ireland, those were metaphoric snakes straight from the Book of Genesis. The pagans were the ones this patron saint ultimately drove out of Ireland.

March 17 marks the day of St. Patrick’s entering the Kingdom of God, and starting in the 17th century, that day has been observed as the lifting of Lenten restrictions. Hence, the drunken revelry.

As for the leprechaun, this caricature has been a derogatory depiction of people with Irish ancestry, yet it is so ubiquitous––from cereal brands, rainbows and pots of gold, to the Boston Celtics––that our sensitivities have become jaded.

As for Erin Go Bragh, what does it mean? It’s Irish for “Ireland forever!”

So let me connect these dots to this theme. The similarities between Jesus’ mission on Earth and that of St. Patrick in Ireland are strikingly familiar. Both humble servants preached The Trinity and ordained disciples to drive out idol worship. Ironically, celebrations of the huge sacrifices they made for the sake of others have been secularized, not only by St. Patrick’s Day on the one hand, but Fat Tuesday on the eve of Lenten season on the other.

Erin Go Bragh, “Ireland Forever,” stirs nationalistic pride, and God knows that we can certainly be more demonstrative in our walk with Jesus Christ, the Son of God and the Savior of the World, who came to walk among us. So on this St. Patrick’s Day, let’s take a moment to reflect upon Jesus Go Bragh, Jesus Forever, who lives and reigns forever and ever. He is with us 365 x 24.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, on this day of secularized celebration, know that You will not be forsaken, and as Your disciples, our walk with You will not break stride. Just like St. Patrick, we strive to drive out the evil in this world and uphold Your grace in all that we do. “Jesus Go Bragh!” Amen.

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By Gary Toh, Director of Prayer Ministry

There is something I need to confess––I am a foodie. I grew up in Singapore, which is a food paradise with many local and international cuisine. Singapore is a cosmopolitan island where it has attracted food lovers from all over the world.

I am really passionate about food. I love to eat good food. One of my greatest fears in life is not being able to enjoy good food. There is a saying that there are people who eat to live and there are those who live to eat. I am unashamedly the latter.

When I became a Christian, one of the questions I asked myself was: “What is heaven like?” For me, it will be an endless buffet line of food, cuisine throughout the ages from all over the world. I was pleasantly surprised when I read this verse in the Bible: 

“On this mountain the Lord Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine—the best of meats and the finest of wines. On this mountain He will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations; He will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces; He will remove his people’s disgrace from all the earth. The Lord has spoken.” (Isaiah 25:6-9)

I am just amazed at how God can be so generous to provide for His people. He will throw a party that will last forever. It is the feast where we will celebrate and worship Him. It will be a place where there is no more death and no more tears. It will be an amazing place to be.

The Bible says that while still on earth, Jesus spent quite a bit of time eating and drinking with people so much so that His detractors called Him a “glutton and drunkard,” even though it wasn’t true. Eating was a way for Jesus to connect with people.

In the Bible, it also says: “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God ...” (1 Corinthians 10:31)

I have always felt guilty about enjoying food.. But I have come to realize that God also takes pleasure in the things we enjoy doing, like hobbies and sports, among others. At the end of the day, do our hobbies and other things we enjoy give glory to God? Can we give glory to God even in the little things that we do?

With every step that we make in life, we are making decisions on a daily basis. What decisions will bring glory to God in how we live our lives? The choices we make, how we choose to relate to others, and respond to situations can reveal what it is or who it is we are living for. How we live our life every day can highlight our fears, insecurities, anxieties, hopes, plans, and desires. Glorifying God is a way of life, and not just turning up for church on Sunday. It should affect our Monday-to-Saturday interactions and decisions. 

Prayer: Lord, I dedicate my whole life to You. May every aspect of my life give You glory … from the food I eat, to the hobbies I enjoy, to how I live my life as a whole. Amen.

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By Julie Lockyer, Scheduler and Receptionist

My house is located on the back of a golf course parking lot. There has always been a big Bougainvillea bush that gives us privacy. The golf course trims it back every few months but it still blocks the views of the cars and prevents people from looking into our yard.

Recently the workers trimmed the bush all the way down to the bottom branches. There were no vines, leaves, or flowers left. I was so afraid they were going to cut the whole thing down. We now see everything!

At first, I thought this was a bad thing. But then God starting speaking to me and showing me things I hadn’t noticed before. Yes, we see the cars but we have a much better view of the golf course and the beautiful sunsets on the westside. 

Recently I was holding my granddaughter Harley Rose on our cement wall when a couple of ducks came waddling our way from the parking lot. We ran and got some bread to feed them. It was so much fun as we were able to show Harley the ducks, let her feed them, and reinforce that ducks say “quack, quack, quack,” which they did as they flew away. It was so exciting to watch! 

What a time of teaching it was in more ways than one. We would not have seen the ducks had the bush been there. I had never sat Harley on the wall before because there was nothing she would have seen except the hedge. 

God showed me that sometimes we build hedges around us that make us feel safe. We get comfortable and stuck in our ways. We let them grow to a point where God needs to take over and trim them all the way down to open up our views. He does this so we can open our eyes and see the blessings that we have been missing. Sometimes the trimming is painful, and we may see some of the junk that has been hiding. He does this because He loves us and wants more for us! It becomes a time of healing and growth in new ways.

Do you ever feel like life is getting out of control? That there are too many branches getting entangled and blocking your view? Let God take over and trim some of those things that don’t belong. 

Today the Bougainvillea bush has new healthy shoots. It’ll start growing big again and will need to be trimmed again eventually. Same for us. The eventual trimming is part of the Lord’s love and care for His people. He wants us to be able to see His blessings and how He’s working around us. I’m excited to see what God has in store!

Prayer: Lord, thank You for using a bush to show me how sometimes you need to trim things in my life to help me see the blessings around me. Help me to not let things get in the way of the beauty You have created. Help me to trust You when you start trimming the hedges in my life. I know You love me and want the best for me even when I don’t always see it. Help me to keep my eyes on you. In Jesus Name I Pray, Amen!

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By Chris Pan, Executive Director

As we continue on during this season of Lent, a season of reflection and preparation for Easter, here’s a quote I recently came across from author and spiritual director Ruth Haley Barton:

“There comes a time in the spiritual life when one of the major things God is up to is to lovingly help us see ourselves more clearly. This is a time when we are called to wake up to the darkness within and invite the light of God’s presence to shine there. Just as winter and spring—light and darkness—seem to be fighting for dominance during this season of the earth, Lent is a spiritual season for seeing, naming and confessing our own darkness until eventually it gives way to God’s marvelous light.”

When I preached on February 28, 2021, I briefly mentioned three apps that I have found helpful as I continue to grow in my spiritual life. I find these apps helpful because they create space for me and provide some guidance and structure to my times of prayer and reflection. I tend to have a mind that races (and a mouth that races too!), so being able to sit quietly and be guided in prayer and reflection is helpful for me. During the formless days of the pandemic, I’ve been trying to pause three times a day to pray to lend some more structure and peace to my days. The apps below help me with this baby monastic schedule: morning, mid-day, and night, just for anywhere between 1 to 10 minutes. The apps are on my phone, which makes it easy to pause, since my phone is usually always on me. 

1) PRAY AS YOU GO

I’ve always really enjoyed Pray As You Go and have mentioned it previously. Pray As You Go is 10-minute or so time of music, Scripture reading, and questions for reflection. I’ve used it for a few years now. (For Apple devices, download Pray As You Go here. For Android, download it here.)

2) LECTIO 365

More recently, I’ve also been using Lectio 365. It’s a project that Pete Grieg is involved with. Pete is a friend of our church and the author of a number of books on prayer. Lectio 365 has a daily 10-minute guided time to P.R.A.Y. –– Pause to be still. Rejoice with a Psalm and Reflect on Scripture. Ask for God’s help. Yield to God’s will in your life. (For Apple devices, download Lectio 365 here. For Android, download it here.)

3) ONE MINUTE PAUSE

The final app I’ve been using is One Minute Pause. This is the simplest and quickest app. It’s does exactly what it says – a one-minute pause in your day to refocus in prayer and in the presence of God. There are options for a one-minute, three-minute, five-minute, or ten-minute pause. Pausing for just a few minutes is so simple, but sometimes it’s the most helpful to refocus during my day. (For Apple devices, download One Minute Pause here. For Android, download it here.)

I hope some of these resources help you like they have helped me. Here are final verses to meditate on today: 

Psalm 139: 1-3 You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; You perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; You are familiar with all my ways. I count them my enemies.

Psalm 139:23-24 Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Prayer: Search me, Lord. You know me. Help me to see myself more clearly. I invite the light of Your presence to shine in me. I yield to you. In Jesus name, Amen. here

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By Lauren Stein, Session Elder

Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand. (Isaiah 41:10)

First of all, I love teaching. I love teaching tiny humans how to read, write, and do math. I love listening to them discuss and develop a deeper understanding of the world around them. I love seeing the lightbulb go off in their head as they sound out a word or solve a two-digit subtraction problem with regrouping on their own. With a smile behind my mask and a light in my eyes, I tell them to kiss their big, beautiful brain. And yes, that’s right, these moments have happened even through a computer screen. 

And while I can only speak to my own experiences as a classroom teacher, I think it’s fair to say that this school year has been hard. The distance and constant change have made this year like no other. My heart aches for the day when it’ll be safe once again to high-five, knuckle-bump, or hug my students as they leave my classroom each day. It’s been almost a year since I last did that. I miss those moments so much. 

Additionally, daily challenges demand our attention and drain our emotional capacity. When my computer audio cuts out, it is easy to feel frustrated. When a face-to-face student is absent again because there’s no adult available to bring him to school, it is easy to get discouraged. When I am up until midnight trying to figure out how to facilitate discussion and collaboration through a Google Meet, it is easy to feel like all hope is lost. 

For the most part, I’ve maintained perspective and a positive attitude in the storm of opinions and fears. But I’ll be honest, these past few weeks, I have felt panicked at the idea of more change and depleted of all creativity and imagination. I wasn’t sure how much longer I could keep this up.  The words of a friend came to mind and reminded me that in those moments, Jesus is gentle with me. He hears me and He gently whispers back His promise to be with me. 

Distance teaching is still hard, and I can’t wait for it to be done. But in the meantime, picturing Jesus by my side in the midst of the chaos and noise gives me a sense of peace that surpasses all understanding. 

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for your gentle whisper that gives us peace in the midst of chaos. You are always with me, and You will strengthen me and help me. Make me aware of where You are at work in the world and how I can join You in Your Kingdom work. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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By Adele Chong, Session Elder

Zeus, Athena, Hera, Poseidon, Apollo, Leto, Iris, Cronus, Hermes, Ares, Aphrodite, Artemis. These are the mythological Greek gods Iʻve read about so far in a class Iʻm taking about The Iliad––a classic, epic, and long poem (so long that it’s a book) by Homer about the Trojan War. (One of the joys of being retired is being able to take noncredit classes at Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UH.) 

As I write this devotional, Iʻm only one-third through the book, and I suppose more “gods” will be introduced in the last two-thirds of it. The behavior of these “deathless” and “immortal” characters is shocking to me. They plot to favor one human, then another; they scheme against each other; they resort to trickery, lying, bullying, manipulation of the humans, and even manipulation of each other. 

I wonʻt be surprised if some of the scriptwriters for daytime television dramas (aka soap operas) get ideas for their stories from reading about the relationships between Greek gods. The Introduction to my copy of The Iliad says, “The Olympian gods are a family like many a family on earth. It has an an all-powerful, philandering father, who cannot be defied but may be deceived, a watchful, jealous and intriguing wife, and sons and daughters who vie for their parentsʻ favor as they pursue their individual aims.”*

Reading about these mythological gods was shocking to me because Iʻve always known who God is, and He is nothing like those characters! My father was still a seminary student when I was born, and when I was about 5 (before I started first grade), he started teaching me:

• The first of the Ten Commandments: “Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.” (Exodus 20:3, King James Version) 

• The Catechism: 

  • Q1. What is the chief end of man? Answer: Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever. 

  • Q4. What is God? Answer: God is a Spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable, in his being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth.

  • Q5. Are there more Gods than one? Answer: There is but one only, the living and true God.

After tucking me in, I remember my father standing in the doorway to my bedroom and asking, “What is the chief end of man?” 

As I grew up and could read, I learned about the character of God. Here are just a few samples:

• Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. (1 John 4:8)

• He is my loving God and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield, in whom I take refuge, who subdues peoples under me. (Psalm 144:2) 

• Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8)

• God..is rich in mercy... (Ephesians 2:4)

• He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young. (Isaiah 40:11)

• And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin.” (Exodus 34:6-7)

What a contrast our God is to those mythological Greek gods! How chaotic life must be for someone who thinks their life is ruled by those gods. I am grateful that our One and Only True God is loving, merciful, compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, and rich in love and faithfulness.

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for being our compassionate Friend, our gentle Supporter, our Healer, our trustworthy Redeemer. Thank You for showing us who You are in your Word, and in our lives. Help us to rely on Your love for us, especially when our lives are not unfolding as we had hoped. Amen.

*Note: p 41, Homer, The Iliad, Translated by Robert Fagle, Introduction and Notes by Bernard Knox, copyright 1990

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By Jeff Page, Director of Young Adults Ministry

“As you are going, make apprentices (of Jesus) of people from everywhere and every ethnicity, surrounding them in the Reality and Presence of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and instructing them how to do everything I have told you. Get this: I will be with you until the work is finished.”

This is a paraphrase of the last words Jesus spoke to His disciples before He took His throne in heaven. It is referred to as the Great Commission. These sentences succinctly describe what Jesus and His people are doing together to solve every global problem, defeat evil, and put an end to suffering and death. The great command in the Great Commission is to “make apprentices of Jesus.” 

A disciple, or apprentice, is someone who is learning to become a master. This is accomplished by not just learning facts from a master, but also spending time with them and allowing the master to speak into their life. If a person is enrolled in medical school, are they learning to be a med student? No, they are learning to master the realities of the human body and medicine. They are learning to restore and deepen flourishing in people’s health. In the same way, a disciple, or apprentice, of Jesus is someone who is with Jesus, learning to be like Him, so they can master the things that Jesus is master of here and now. 

Jesus is the Master of everything, especially living in God’s Kingdom. As His disciple, you can enroll in Jesus’ masterclass on your life.  But you are not learning to repeat the life Jesus lived 2,000 years ago. You are learning to lead your life as He would lead it today. Among other things, Jesus is teaching you to do your job, honor your boss, love your spouse, care for your kids, cultivate your friendships, care for your home, and steward your resources. Jesus is the most intelligent and capable person to ever live and His masterclass on our lives is now in session. 

What comes to mind when you think of the word disciple? Contrary to the mental images of robed monks or elderly pastors, a disciple is not an advanced Christian. A disciple is someone who fully intends to learn from Jesus and become more like Him. 

And Jesus is more like Mr. Miyagi than Indiana Jones, more like Sensei than Professor. How? Professor Indiana Jones taught his students interesting facts and archaeological theories. He taught his students about the heroes of history, but taught them none of the skills, courage, or competence they would need to become heroes. In contrast, Sensei Miyagi taught Daniel Larusso competence in karate, and the courage and character he would need to extend that mastery to the rest of his life. Jesus does the same, on an infinitely greater level. Jesus invites you to become a student in His dojo, to learn His mastery and live it out. 

Like a student learning from a sensei, a disciple is marked by a deep commitment to being with Jesus and learning to be like Him. A disciple is a committed apprentice, wanting to emulate the Teacher in all the ways that matter.  

So how do you become an apprentice of Jesus? By enrolling His masterclass on your life. As you learn from Jesus, others won’t be able to help but see the change in you and would want to enroll too. As you grow, you will naturally become Jesus’ co-teacher, supporting fellow apprentices who are enrolled in Jesus’ masterclass for their own lives. 

Prayer: Jesus, through Your instruction, You have crafted the greatest lives our world has ever seen. Jesus, please be my Sensei. I devote my focus, time, energy, and resources to mastering what You will teach me and what will glorify You. In Your Name I pray, Amen. 

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by Karen Makishima, Director of Children and Family Life Ministry

Karens are getting such a bad rap nowadays. Just google “Karens being Karens” and you will get a picture of a middle-aged women named Karen who is rude and acts entitled. I bet no parent is ever again going to name their baby Karen. Before you know it, the name Karen will be extinct! I am so glad that my oldest granddaughter has Karen in Hawaiian, Kalena, as her middle name. Otherwise, she would be hit with the stigma of having Karen as her name too.

I am on a mission to change the stigma. I am calling all women named Karen to join me. Instead of being known as the one of privilege and the one with a critical spirit, I want to be known as Karen with the superpower of kindness. Kindness seems like such a simple thing, but it’s a virtue that can make a huge difference. Kindness can ultimately change a culture. 

God’s chosen people throughout the Bible have shown kindness to others. As one of His chosen, we too are called to show kindness. 

Colossians 3:12 “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”

Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control.”

Here is the kindness plan I’m hoping to implement: 

• First, start with being kind to yourself, as Chris Pan encouraged us to do in his Feb 28th sermon. When we are kind to ourselves, we can be kind toward others.

• Next, choose to be others-focused by taking time to listen; pivot by turning your eyes from your phone, iPad or computer when someone interrupts you and be genuinely interested by looking at them. Know that kindness can change any relationship. Try the pivot challenge!

• Be intentional by choosing three people each day to either write a note, send a text or email to share kind, encouraging words.

Do you want to change the world? If so, show kindness to yourself and others.

Come on, Karens of the world. Let’s change the stigma. I want one of my grandchildren someday to name one of their kids Karen, a name that actually means “pure.” 

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help us to show Your love by being kind to ourselves and to others. Amen

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By Pastor Dan Chun

“He has shown all you people 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)

On Friday, March 19, during the HIM2021 conference, I will be interviewing Bryan Stevenson, the founder and Executive Director of the Equal Justice Initiative. It’s a human rights organization in Montgomery, Alabama. He wrote one of my favorite books, Just Mercy. It was made into a movie also called Just Mercy starring Michael B. Jordan. You may have seen Stevenson’s incredibly popular TED Talk (more than 7.4 million views), his documentary on HBO, or his interviews on 60 Minutes. 

He’s big stuff! He has argued and won multiple cases at the US Supreme Court. He has won reversals, relief or release from prison for more than 140 wrongly condemned prisoners on death row, and won relief for hundreds of others wrongly convicted or sentenced. 

The world has seen him as a man of mercy. Stevenson has won more than 40 honorary doctoral degrees, including Ivy League universities and Oxford. 

A graduate of Eastern University where Tony Campolo was on the faculty, Stevenson is a committed Christian. He sees a world having an absence of hope, and he wants to give people hope. He says we are called to build the Kingdom of God. He says, “We can’t celebrate it and talk about it and then protect our own comfort environment. I definitely wanted to be engaged in something that felt redemptive.” 

I believe Bryan Stevenson embodies a life that acts justly and to love mercy and walks humbly with God.

What would it take for us to deeply live a life of mercy when we meet people who we feel should not be given any grace or second chance? Stevenson once said, “I’ve never met anybody about whom I could say, ‘This person is beyond redemption—his life has no value, no meaning, no purpose—and it is morally justifiable to kill him.’”

What about you? How are you on the mercy spectrum? In a scale of 1 to 10, and 10 being the highest, where do you think you are, and where do you want to be? What’s holding you back? 

One thing that might help is if we really come to grips with the story of Jesus who died for the forgiveness of our sins, and then rose again from the dead on Easter. Could we not learn to be merciful to others as we have been saved and given a second chance?

Prayer: Come Holy Spirit, come. Help me live a life where I LOVE mercy. In Christ’s name, Amen. 

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By David Chang, Director of Ministry Support

I condemn myself. I do realize that it is at least partly due to our biology. As Pastor Steve preached during the Ash Wednesday Service, we are all built to notice things that may cause harm to us. Normally, this process serves me well. In my work, it helps me to identify little things that may cause future problems and then come up with prevention and mitigation.

But I think the Lord is showing me that sometimes when I apply this process to myself, I wind up going beyond coming up with prevention and mitigation and go all the way to condemnation. I compare myself to others, judge myself as NOT as good as them, and tell myself I shouldn’t even try. I convince myself, someone else can do a better job, they don’t need me.

Then I read something about Fred Rogers. Yes, Mr. Rogers from the Public Broadcasting Series Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood. When he was attending seminary, Mr. Rogers and his friend would visit different churches on Sundays so they could study different preachers. One week, he experienced “the most poorly crafted sermon [he] ever heard.” When Mr. Rogers turned to his friend, she was in tears, saying, “It was exactly what I needed to hear.”

Later, as Mr. Rogers recalled this story, he said, “That’s when I realized that the space between someone doing the best he or she can and someone in need is holy ground. The Holy Spirit transformed that feeble sermon for her and, as it turned out, for me too.”

Woah! I needed to hear this. I need to do my best and trust the Holy Spirit to transform it into a blessing for someone. It’s kind of like when Jesus fed the multitude with what a little boy had to offer. Jesus took those two fish and five loaves and transformed them into a feast for over 5,000 people.

I realize that God just wants my best, nothing more. I need to trust that if He’s asking for it, He’s going to transform it into a blessing. My job is to offer it. God’s job is to transform it into a blessing. After all, God knows where the needs are and the best way to fill them, not me.

“My dear children, let’s not just talk about love; let’s practice real love. This is the only way we’ll know we’re living truly, living in God’s reality. It’s also the way to shut down debilitating self-criticism, even when there is something to it. For God is greater than our worried hearts and knows more about us than we do ourselves. And friends, once that’s taken care of and we’re no longer accusing or condemning ourselves, we’re bold and free before God!” (1 John 3:18-21, The Message)

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me to live in Your reality, not mine. Help me to know that my best is acceptable and welcomed by You. Help me to trust that You will transform it into a blessing. In Jesus name, Amen.

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By David Chang, Director of Ministry Support

I condemn myself. I do realize that it is at least partly due to our biology. As Pastor Steve preached during the Ash Wednesday Service, we are all built to notice things that may cause harm to us. Normally, this process serves me well. In my work, it helps me to identify little things that may cause future problems and then come up with prevention and mitigation.

But I think the Lord is showing me that sometimes when I apply this process to myself, I wind up going beyond coming up with prevention and mitigation and go all the way to condemnation. I compare myself to others, judge myself as NOT as good as them, and tell myself I shouldn’t even try. I convince myself, someone else can do a better job, they don’t need me.

Then I read something about Fred Rogers. Yes, Mr. Rogers from the Public Broadcasting Series Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood. When he was attending seminary, Mr. Rogers and his friend would visit different churches on Sundays so they could study different preachers. One week, he experienced “the most poorly crafted sermon [he] ever heard.” When Mr. Rogers turned to his friend, she was in tears, saying, “It was exactly what I needed to hear.”

Later, as Mr. Rogers recalled this story, he said, “That’s when I realized that the space between someone doing the best he or she can and someone in need is holy ground. The Holy Spirit transformed that feeble sermon for her and, as it turned out, for me too.”

Woah! I needed to hear this. I need to do my best and trust the Holy Spirit to transform it into a blessing for someone. It’s kind of like when Jesus fed the multitude with what a little boy had to offer. Jesus took those two fish and five loaves and transformed them into a feast for over 5,000 people.

I realize that God just wants my best, nothing more. I need to trust that if He’s asking for it, He’s going to transform it into a blessing. My job is to offer it. God’s job is to transform it into a blessing. After all, God knows where the needs are and the best way to fill them, not me.

“My dear children, let’s not just talk about love; let’s practice real love. This is the only way we’ll know we’re living truly, living in God’s reality. It’s also the way to shut down debilitating self-criticism, even when there is something to it. For God is greater than our worried hearts and knows more about us than we do ourselves. And friends, once that’s taken care of and we’re no longer accusing or condemning ourselves, we’re bold and free before God!” (1 John 3:18-21, The Message)

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me to live in Your reality, not mine. Help me to know that my best is acceptable and welcomed by You. Help me to trust that You will transform it into a blessing. In Jesus name, Amen.

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By Candi Lopes, Children’s Ministry Coordinator

Growing up in Hawai’i, we get to learn about and experience numerous cultures and traditions. I have always appreciated this and how we are able to embrace the different ways people celebrate their heritage and practice their customs. Today, March 3rd, is Girl’s Day, which is known in Japan as Hinamatsuri, or Doll’s Day. I remember in elementary school, this was the day the girls always got to be excused first to recess or lunch. The boys were also encouraged to help put the girls’ chairs on their desks at the end of the day. (This was reversed when we would recognize Boy’s Day on May 5th.) 

When I was a preschool teacher, it was very important to recognize different cultures of the students in my classes. I always enjoyed learning about the different cultural celebrations as I taught the kids and celebrated diversity with them. Families would bring in special items, like costumes or foods from their cultures, to share with the class and to enhance the learning experience. Learning developmentally appropriate ways to teach young children about diversity in the classroom was a huge growing and learning process for me as well. I believe that accepting differences and cultures around the world is pleasing to God as we navigate how to love others the way Jesus would.

Last week the Ko’olau Kids lesson was about the Good Samaritan, where the bottom line was “Be kind to people who are different from you.” The kids learned about how the Samaritan, who was different and disliked by the Jews, was the least likely person to help the Jewish man who was beaten on the road, but he helped him anyway.

The God Time lesson for the kids included a hint: It’s not just about being polite. Sometimes it means sacrificing your comfort, your resources, or your time to show others how valuable they are. The kids learned about kindness all month, which is showing others how valuable they are by how we treat them. God calls us to show kindness to everyone because everyone is valuable to Him.

Acts 11:2-18 is an account in the Bible where God taught Peter about not showing partiality in how he treated others. God gave him a vision to show him to accept non-Jews as followers of Jesus in spite of their being of different ethnicities. “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears Him and does what is right. You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.” (Acts 10:34-36)

As Girl’s Day was traditionally a festival to wish for the health and the prosperous maturation of young girls, God continues to grow us and mature us as He walks alongside us. May He show us where we can get better in showing kindness to others who may be different from us. We are all His creation after all. 

“I pray with great faith for you, because I’m fully convinced that the One who began this gracious work in you will faithfully continue the process of maturing you until the unveiling of our Lord Jesus Christ!” (Philippians 1:6, The passion Translation)

I would like to end with the prayer on the God Time lesson for the kids:

“Dear God, thank You for making me, me. But thank You for making other people different! Those differences are beautiful. Help me not to be afraid to see the differences in other people, but instead to appreciate the beauty that comes from the unique ways you’ve made each of us. Please help me to be kind to people that don’t act like me, don’t look like me, don’t talk like me, and don’t believe like me. Help me to show people who are different from me just how valuable they are. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.”

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By Marianna Meachen, Director of Care Ministries

In 2018 a group of us from First Prez went to Israel. One of my favorite stops was at Shiloh. The site where the tabernacle stood for 369 years. A place where Hannah prayed for a child and given Samuel. A place where Joshua and Eli were and where the seven tribes were assigned their land. It was a Godly place, and there was an intimacy felt there, a place where I felt the power of the Holy Spirit. 

To get to the site where the tabernacle had been, we had to walk up a gravel incline. Our footing was unstable, and as I was walking, one of the people walking alongside me reached down and took my hand to steady me. A jolt went through me as I realized what an intimate act holding a hand was, even when only done to steady someone.

Aristotle called the hand the "tool of tools." It is the most frequently symbolized part of the human body. We use it for strength, power, and protection.

Have you ever looked at or thought about hands? I remember as a child when daddy would hold my hand and sometimes pick me up and swing me around. It was so much fun! I trusted his strong hands not to drop me. I remember my grandmother's hands––strong, sturdy, capable hands. Those hands worked alongside my grandfather’s on the farm, and yet they were also gentle hands that wiped tears from her children's eyes. We think of the steadiness of a surgeon's hands. We see the tiny hand of a newborn so perfectly formed, and we feel the touch of a loved one's hand as they caress us. Our hands are useful objects to be used in work and play. Hands create, and hands soothe. What marvelous instruments God has given us.

In the Bible, in the book of Isaiah, we are told: 

“Yet you, LORD, are our Father. We are the clay, You are the potter; we are all the work of Your hand.” (Isaiah 64:8 NIV)

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10 NIV)

What comfort it gives us to know that God has us in the palm of His hand. We need not fear or be anxious. He gives us His strength. Despite a pandemic, a tragedy, a difficult time, or a bad day, God is with us. When there are disruptions in our lives, God is there, even when we do not feel His presence. 

God is there in the well of our emotions, good or bad. He is there when we are in prayer. He is there in our worship, right beside us, holding us, speaking to our hearts gently, and ministering to us in the deepest parts of our soul.

He tells us not to hold everything up by our strength. He tells us it is okay to feel our sadness, hurt, anger, and helplessness because He is there. We are small, but God's hands are large. Let Him hold you and give you His peace.

Prayer: Precious Father, we thank You for Your loving hands, that hold us; for Your caring heart that calls to us and heals us in Your love; for Your grace; and for Your mercy. May we always know, understand, and praise You for all the many ways You hold us. We give You glory forever. In Jesus' mighty Name, we pray. Amen

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By Deanna Sivik, Session Elder

“But ask the beasts, and they will teach you; the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you; or the bushes of the earth, and they will teach you; and the fish of the sea will declare to you. Who among all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this?” (Job 12: 7-9)

I remember the first time I visited Hawaii in November 1999. My husband, Scott, and I were on the Big Island for a work conference. The conference was for him, and I was there to play. One afternoon, as I was swinging in a hammock between two palm trees, I told God, “I think Hawaii is a little closer to heaven.” On a tour bus, I learned that the Big Island has eight climate zones. What? On one island? Yes, there is tropical, tundra, desert, and variations of those climate zones. My eyes were opened, and I began to start paying closer attention to the world around me. 

As it turned out, six months later Scott was asked if he would be willing to relocate to Hawaii from Nashville to begin a project that the company wanted him to start. Without hesitation, we both said, “Yes!” We packed up our kids, ages 6 and 1 at the time, flew to Honolulu, and settled in Kapolei. 

We thought we would be here for only three years. We made sure to visit the Big Island again, along with Maui, Kauai, Molokai, and Lanai. We saw God’s beautiful creation up close and personal visiting all the different islands. Our Molokai visit, back when the Molokai Ranch was open, allowed us to explore nature as well as stay in a tentalo (basically a tent on a deck). Then there was the Waimea Canyon and the Na Pali Coastline on Kauai. There was something very emotional for me to see that coastline from the water as spinner dolphins swam alongside the boat. I was taken aback by God’s exquisite beauty. As for God’s timing, we were here for thirteen years, moved to St. Louis for a few, and then returned to Hawaii in 2018.

Now that we’re back and empty-nester’s this time, we have had more opportunities to be more helpful to our environment. Scott and I got involved with the North Shore Community Land Trust, and started helping remove the invasive plants to allow growth of the native species. It’s a great feeling to get a big pair of clippers and have at it! Another opportunity we participated in was clearing out a big section of the land for the albatross birds to come back to the North Shore to start new families. 

My point to all this is that while God gave us this planet to enjoy and wander about, we can also do our part to maintain its vitality and resourcefulness. It’s wise stewardship that honors our Creator. Responsibility to our earth, grants it the power for rebirth. 

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for this world and everything that are within it. May we obey Your will by taking care of this beautiful planet and tend to it with a loving and generous heart. In Your gracious Name we pray, Amen.

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By Scott Schultz, Session Elder

Ecclesiastes 3:6 (NIV) “A time to search and a time to give up, time to keep and a time to throw away.”

A month ago, I wrote about my first month of retirement and asked this question: Must I find a (new) why before determining the whats? One challenging aspect is realizing that during my 34.5-year career, I developed many “niche” skills that are not directly or obviously transferrable to the outside (non-City and County) world.

Part of “Post-retirement - Phase 2” has included getting rid of junk. One day I opened a drawer in our kitchen and realized that it contained much miscellany, including a whole lotta pens. I didn’t count the pens, but it was probably over 100.

Naturally, I removed everything from the drawer and threw away non-functional and unidentifiable items. We had over 40 Halekulani and Ritz-Carlton pens (freebies!), most of which we will give away. When the dust settled, I was left with 39 working pens in the drawer, which is a different kind of “Why?”

So how does this relate to the aforementioned whats? Taking care of little things is a part of decluttering, which will hopefully help me to see and hear God more clearly. (Could my Story of Less lead to a Story of More?) One what is that I can live with less than 39 pens:

• Perhaps 9: Love, joy, peace, kindness, goodness, patience, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

• How about 2: Love God and love thy neighbor.

This led me to recall a message by Admiral William McCraven from his University of Texas commencement speech “Make Your Bed” (May 17, 2014): “… little things in life matter. If you can’t do the little things right, you will never be able to do the big things right.”

What’s in your junk drawer (physical, mental, or virtual)? To change the world, start by clearing up your junk drawer or making your bed. This might help you find what God wants you to do in the place where He put you. This can be as simple as getting to know a neighbor or serving your church & community (I recently started volunteering at The Pantry. ) Always point others to Jesus (The One) and remember to show gratitude for His great gifts of grace, forgiveness, and eternal life! 

Hebrews 10:35-36 (NLT) “So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will.”

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for helping me to remember to get rid of the junk, as You separate the wheat from the chaff. Thank You for bringing us light and love to overcome darkness and hate. Thank You for Jesus, in whose precious name I pray, Amen.

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