Some of you may know already, but Susanna and I are in Hawaii this week.  We are here meeting and planning a future partnership with Cornerstone Fellowship Church in Mililani Mauka.  The plan is for our student ministry (HAFBC Students) to begin a partnership that could include us coming over and putting on conferences, camps, d-nows, and you name it.  The other plan for all of this is to help train the adult leadership team here so they can continue the work while we are not here.  Also, there is a strong possibility of us sending semester missionaries to work with their students.  

We have had a great time getting to know the people here.  They are so diverse, yet so excepting of each other’s culture and background.  We love it.  We met with an adult small group last night, and we had a great time worshiping and hanging out just talking about life and Christ.  It was great to hang with people from all walks of life, but having a common unity in Christ.  Today we are meeting with the adult leaders of the student ministry and are going to discuss our future partnership with them.  Susanna and I will also be helping lead worship on Sunday morning.  We are having a great time working with the people of this church and in this community and will give you another update in a few days.

Now, on to something way less spiritual.  Yesterday while driving around we came across a film crew and thought to ourselves “could it be?”.  Yes it was.  The crew from “LOST” was filming a scene right off the beach.  It was awesome!  Here is a pic for you to enjoy:

Well it’s been a long time since I’ve posted anything, but don’t worry I’m still here.

Well, God has been teaching me to be satisfied with where He has me right now. I’m not sure why this is so hard for us sometimes. It’s like it’s ingrained in us to always look to where we are going, or to what is next (at least that’s how it is for me). When, all the while, God is calling us to be satisfied with where we are planted at this moment. Jesus speaks pretty clearly about being anxious or worrying about tomorrow in Matthew 6. He sums it all up in the last two verses when He says ,“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble”. I think it can be very freeing to only focus on the day at hand, or to just worry about where you’re at right now.

Does anybody have any creative ways that you stay focused on today and the here and now? Let me hear your thoughts.

Well today was a great fathers day.  Other than the fact that Jake was sick and Susanna had to stay home with him from church, it was great.  I got home from church, ate lunch, and took about a 2 hour nap while Susanna & Jake went to the store.  So this evening I decided to start my workout program once again.  This time its serious, no really it is.  So a started a program called “CrossFit”.  Its stinkin crazy.  Today with the advice of friend and CrossFit guru Marcus Gafford I attempted a routine called “Cindy”.  I know what your thinking, sounds kinda girly I know, BUT ITS NOT!  I feel like my chest is going to explode and I cant even hold my arms up to type.  This program is the real deal.  Thanks CrossFit.  And thanks Marcus.  And Happy Fathers Day do to all you fathers out there.

My wife called me today and said our son did the coolest thing. You see we have been praying as a family before every meal and at bedtime. So today my wife and 2 year old son sit down to eat lunch and before Susanna could say anything Jake says “pray?”. I know he’s only 2 and doesn’t understand but it brings great joy to my heart knowing my son is beginning to learn the discipline of prayer. I pray that he would be a passionate follower of Christ, someone who is dangerous for Jesus. I also pray God would help me be the father and leader he needs to get there.

So I started a new study/devotional today.  Its called “Deepening A Fathers Heart” its by Curtis Jones.  So far its pretty good.  My beautiful wife got it for me for fathers day (a little early I know). Today talked about “A Father Who Is Good”.  Our heavenly father is good and I think sometimes we forget how good He is.  Think of how God has been good to you today and thank Him for it, its good for the soul.

I had a cool father son moment yesterday with Jake.  Mom was away at the store around 6pm or so and me a Jake were just hanging out doing the usual playing with cars running around, you know 18 month old boy stuff.  As I turned the T.V. on I found a special on the sundance channel about Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers a great American band of our time.  Usually Jake doesn’t sit still at all but for some reason he was intrigued.  I sat him in my lap and we watch about 20min of the end of the show.  It was awesome to sit with my son and enjoy something like good music, something I think we will enjoy a lot of together in the future.

I have been studying the old testament book of Malachi and it is stinking awesome.  In the first chapter Malachi speaking for the Lord asks the Israelite priests “….where is my honor?” and “….where is my fear?”  You see the priest had been sacrificing blind, lame, or sick animals on the alter and God was not happy.  He even goes on to say “Oh that there were one among you who would shut the doors, that you might not kindle fire on my alter in vain!  I have no pleasure in you, says the Lord of hosts, and I will not accept an offering from your hand.”  This has got me thinking.  Is God pleased with what I am offering in my worship? Am I sacrificing my whole life for him or am I just doing my christian duty?  And what is the modern church offering in their worship? Is it pleasing to God?  I think His standards are pretty high and I’m not sure if we are meeting them.  I think God would rather see some doors closed than a congregation who offers up lame worship that has no sense of self sacrifice.  It also seems a lot of church leaders are more worried about whether or not the church members are pleased with how “church” is going and not so much worried if God is pleased.  So what does that kind of church look like?  What does that kind of worship look like?  What kind of leader does it take to say “we are going to close the doors to the church because God isn’t pleased with us.”?  I’m not sure but i don’t think I’ve seen any of those.  All I’ve seen is a bunch of churches who are worried about numbers, image, and keeping the members happy more so than if God is pleased with them (us).  I think the word of the Lord that was spoken through Malachi is true of our modern church today.  We neither fear nor honor the God in our congregations.  We come to hear what makes us feel good instead of coming to bring God honor.  Who will rise up as leaders and say “this isn’t right, this doesn’t honor God.”?  Oh that God would give me the strength and courage to be that kind of leader.  Lord help me to be that kind of leader.  I know all of this sound pretty harsh but I didn’t hear Malachi sugar coating anything.  Well those are just some thoughts feel free to discuss and maybe God will receive the honor and fear He is due. 

Well this is my first blog and I don’t have much to say. I spent all my time building my blog I’m to tired to blog. See ya tomorrow.