Saturday, November 27, 2010

...in Weaknesses and all!


Plutarch said “Character is simply a long habit continued.”


Chuck Swindoll quotes Plutarch, the 1st century Greek biographer and historian in his book “The Quest for Character.“ When I was a youth pastor, I used Chuck’s book as a required text for all of our interns to study through. There are so many quests young people have. Relationships, career, fame, fortune, significance, etc. Actually, the list is no different from adults and people in general. At the top of our ”Quest List“ should be character.


I am challenged by Plutarch’s quote asking my heart and soul, ”What kind of character has developed into a long habit?“ There are some good character traits and some bad ones that I identify. I’m so grateful to Jesus for His ongoing grace and the Holy Spirit who intervenes and intercedes for me - in my weaknesses and all!


Romans 8 [NET] 26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness, for we do not know how we should pray,29 but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with inexpressible groanings. 27 And he30 who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit31 intercedes on behalf of the saints according to God’s will. 28 And we know that all things work together32 for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose, 29 because those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that his Son

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Love out loud

7. We believe that genuine love and caring relationships are key to the life of every endeavor.


Where have you read this before? What is it? Where is it found?

The more important question that I felt God prompting in my heart - “Are you exemplifying this value through your life, words, in your relationships? Are you living My love out loud through your life?"


When I create space to allow myself to evaluate and meditate on how I’m living this value out and how I can better live this value out - I can become a better man, husband, father, pastor.


What about you?


Philemon's Love and Faith in Philemon 1:4-7 ESV

[4] I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers, [5] because I hear of your love and of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints, [6] and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ. [7] For I have derived much joy and comfort from your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you.


Tuesday, November 9, 2010

The Grace of God's Son!

Romans 8

[31] ... If God is for us, who can be against us?


[33]Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? ...


[34] Who is to condemn? ...


[35] Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? ...


Paul’s teaching to the Christian’s in Rome and to us today, reveals the answer of God’s wealthy and immeasurable grace, through His Son’s obedient life and sacrifice on the cross. The Grace of God the Son has brought us into a life we can never earn or repay.


Our God is Greater!

Friday, November 5, 2010

The Standard of Biblical Leadership


1Tim. 3:1 Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. 2 Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self–controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect. 5 (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. 7 He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.


Leaders in the church,

Why not question our own hearts and lifestyle under the conviction and love of Jesus? Leading like Jesus will require of us character change. We will need to be learners being shaped by His Spirit, Word and Godly influence and counsel.


Let's severely question our character, lifestyle and qualities as a leader in God's church. It is possible to measure up to the Standard of Biblical Leadership - and of course, by the grace of His love and strength and obedience from our hearts.

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Let's visit Lincoln's Government


Government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the Earth. ~ Abraham Lincoln


Here’s the context from a portion of his address at Gettysburg:


But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow -- this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.


So people, church... let us live forward with the heart of Lincoln’s words in a message to congress:


And having thus chosen our course, without guile, and with pure purpose, let us renew our trust in God, and go forward without fear, and with manly hearts.

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Post election Victory


Yes - the Hawaii election results were discouraging to me personally. But nationally, conservative politics took liberals by surprise.

Aren't you soooooo Grateful as a child of God, that our security and future rests in God's hands and plans!

Colossians 1:15-20 [niv]

The Supremacy of the Son of God
15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.

17He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.

19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

Evangelism Calendar

Evangelism Calendar Communication – as of Nov. 2, 2010
  • Nov 4 fire by night in OR, John & Lanu, Fred & Jana, Tim, Gaston
  • Fri., Nov 5, Sun., Nov 7 – Farrington High T-Shirt Theatre – Let’s rally troops to Support them!
  • Fri., Nov 12 – Hoike at Ministry Center
  • Sat Nov 13 – Willow Creek Leadership Seminar for our Evangelism leaders/teams
  • Sun., Nov 14 – Hawaii Stars - Weinburg Concert of Extraordinary achievement– FHS, approx. 430 or 5pm, Rehearsals form about 3pm
  • Thur., Dec 9 – Gift if Hope Charity Concert, FHS
  • Dec. 17, Ala Moana Center stage, Point: Lanu Programming
  • Dec. 22-24 (W-F), Christmas Eve. Musical Services
  • Dec. 25-26, Sat/Sun. Weekend services
  • FYI – 5pm service only on Sat., Jan 1. Normal Sunday service schedule on Jan. 2

Cast my Vote

Today in Hawaii, we the people will decide who we want leading our government. No matter what the outcome, Jesus is King, thus my hearts vote is to love Him with all my heart, soul, mind and strength - then to love others as myself.

My prayers are with all those at New Hope who have taken the bold - faith leap running for office in their districts. That they will draw near to God no matter the outcome. Thanks for being a witness of Jesus through your lives!

Let's pray for our leaders, soon to be elected leaders of our state - for God to reach the lost through His church!

Monday, November 1, 2010

Malia's Devotion

I want to share my 14 year old daughters devotion. I hope you are drawn closer to Jesus through this word. I would also like to highlight her "observation." For those of you "diggin' deeper" in God's Word, correct observation can lead you to fruitful application while not taking Scripture out of context. As you read God's Word, remember to always consider the context of the Scripture you are journaling on. Context always leads us to proper observation and determines the meaning of Scripture.

Thanks for sharing your devotions Malia!

November 1, 2010

Malia Shimabukuro

Scripture

And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” And he said to them “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.” Mark 9:28&29

Observation

A father had a son that had an evil spirit in him. The father expecting to find Jesus, see His disciples and transfers his expectations on the disciples, who are learning to represent Jesus. But they could not do it, so when the father sees Jesus he says my son has an evil spirit in him from childhood. I asked your disciples, but they could not do it. And Jesus said to His disciples “O faithless generation…” A problem that people had even the disciples is that they are faithless. Jesus said to the father “All things are possible for the believers.” Immediately he repented and cried out I believe, help my unbelief. And Jesus healed the boy! Later when they went to the house the disciples asked Jesus privately, probably because they were ashamed or embarrassed that they could not cast out the spirit. Jesus said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but PRAYER.” Besides their lack of understanding, the disciples ability to fully carry out their commission from Jesus. This time that they failed is a place for encouragement for more prayer, and more time and effort into prayer. And therefore in closer fellowship with God leads to growth in their faith.

Application

I want to be a woman of God that is always praying. Because in this leads to growth in faith. I do not want to just pray for my food three times a day and that is it. But I want to be a woman of God that is devoted to praying to God about anything and everything. I do not want to be a generation that is of little faith or faithless, but to be courageous and pursuit after what God has called me to do. I do not want to lack understanding, but I want to represent Jesus.

Prayer

Jesus help me have a hear t that believes more firmly. Help me to pray to you daily. Meaning everything with all of my heart, help me to grow in faith. And but time and effort into my prayers. Help me be a part of a generation with so much faith. To do anything because I am a believer of You. I.J.N.A.