It's All About God! (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)

I recently had lunch with a dear Christian brother in the Lord who was recounting how God had brought him through these last 20 years of his career. This brother is a physician who has discovered the first safe and effective treatment for a rare blood disorder. Now with the completion of FDA Phase III trials, he and his company are on the verge of bringing this discovery to the entire world. It is a noble effort but one that has been beset by numerous setbacks. Through it all, my friend confided in me that he often asked God to bless his work so that he may be able to help these millions of people who are suffering from this disease. But recently, he has realized that while this discovery will help patients, the entire process was to help him become closer to God. God used all of the trials and tribulations to show my friend just how desperately he needed to cling to God. “It’s all about God!” he exclaimed.

And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Are you going through trials? Are you suffering for what you believe is a just cause? God can see you through this difficult period. The trials, the setbacks…all of these are allowed by God for one purpose, to draw you closer to Him. We may not understand why events happen the way they do, but we can be sure of the outcome when God is in control.

Trust in God and allow Him to take care of your life. He always does everything for your best interests.

Blessings with Aloha.

Love and respect the Lord; seek His will in your life.

The Road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-16)

Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem. And they talked together of all these things which had happened. So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him.
Luke 24:13-16 (NKJV)

I love this passage, recorded by Luke, of Jesus appearing to two of His disciples on a road just outside Jerusalem. Despondent over the Crucifixion and devoid of hope, Jesus appears and walks with them and opens their hearts to understand who He truly is. When the disciples realize to whom they were speaking, the truth caused them to proclaim, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?”

The road to Emmaus is a road with many different stages. There is despair, frustration, fear, and sadness. And as all of us tread this path, there is no hope unless we realize that Jesus walks alongside, comforting, explaining, and reassuring. And each time we walk the road, it will lead to a rediscovery of who Jesus is. At the end of this road is always hope and joy.

I thank my Lord and my God, Jesus Christ, for saving me. His infinite grace and mercy is available to all who believe in Him and call upon His name. We all walk the road to Emmaus, but only by accepting Jesus as your Lord and Savior, will the road lead to salvation. Jesus understands this road and strengthens us with His Word.

In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.
John 16:33 (NKJV)

Love and trust the Lord!

Blessings with Aloha!

Too Old to Change? (Acts 9:3-6)

“We all tend to stick with the basic beliefs we grew up with.  At my age it is unlikely that mine will change.”

Are we ever too old to accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior?

The above quotation was sent to me by a friend in an email, after I invited him to come and visit our church. He is familiar with the Bible and even was exposed to it in his childhood schooling. But now, nearing 90 years, he feels he is set in his ways and is either unwilling or unable to look at another viewpoint, particularly when it comes to God and religion.

It is difficult to change course once our ways are set.  And if one has achieved worldly success with the way we have led our lives, why change in the autumn of one’s life?

As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “ Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”
And he said, “Who are You, Lord?”
Then the Lord said, “ I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.”
So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?”
Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.
Acts 9:3-6

The Apostle Paul was a highly respected Pharisee, a leader of the Jews. He had trained with the top rabbis of the day and he was renown for his knowledge of the Scripture. When Christians appeared, he was absolutely convinced that he was right to persecute them as blasphemers and rebels. Everything he had ever trained for and done in his life was in complete agreement with his actions. But God had other plans for him! The Apostle Paul needed an experience of epic proportions to bring him to acknowledge Jesus as His Lord and Savior. God will sometimes directly intervene in our lives and make us an offer we can’t refuse!

Are we ever too old to accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior? Our sensibilities may convince us that we are but God’s timeline is not ours. He is always keeping the door open for us to accept His Son, Jesus Christ, as your Lord and Savior.  

Amen!

Love and respect the Lord; seek His will in your life.

How Long Have You Been Married? (Joshua 24:15)

A good friend of mine remarked to me the other day, “I have been married as long without kids as long as I have been married with kids.”

The statement gave me pause and caused me to reflect upon my life and marriage. We do date our lives and the passing of time by major milestones-how long have we been married, how long have been married with kids, how many years have passed since we graduated from high school or college?  After a certain age, I think most of us would rather not remember how many years it has been, since it is yet another reminder of how old we are and our own creakiness!

Of all of life’s milestones, the most important date for any living person should be the day they accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. It is clear demarcation. It is a drawing a line in the sand, the same way Joshua challenged the Israelites to decide whom they would follow, God or their own desires. This should be the measure of anyone’s life, the day we chose God over all others.

...choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
Joshua 24:15

Our perspective of life cannot only be limited to our existence on earth. Eternity awaits and God is eager to have you share in the full richness and blessings of His Creation. But this can only begin if you accept the truth of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. He died for our sins so that we would no longer be separated from God. 

We may measure the passing of time by many wonderful and joyous events. But from God’s perspective, the passage of time should be measured from the day we entered into an eternal relationship with God.

Won’t you take the opportunity to do this?

Aloha blessings!

Don't Just Stand There, Do Nothing! (Matthew 17:1-5)

There is an aphorism in medicine, “Don’t just stand there, do nothing!”

There are a variety of stories about the origin of this phase but the popular explanation has been as advice to other health care providers when someone is having a seizure. A seizure can be a frightening event to witness but sometimes the wisest thing to do is to simply clear the area and ensure the seizure victim does not hurt himself. Once the seizure subsides, appropriate medical support can then be rendered. It may be frustrating to stand there and do nothing but it is far better for all involved to ride out the episode than attempting to intervene.

Sometimes when we are confronted with a problem, we feel compelled that we must act. Something must done and done right now! I know I often fall into this mindset. Somehow, even if my actions are not the best solution, by doing something I feel that at least I tried, and isn’t that better than just doing nothing?

Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, “ Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles:one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!”
Matthew 17:1-5

I wonder if this is how Peter felt when he was confronted with the magnificent appearance of a transfigured Jesus Christ, in the presence of Moses and Elijah? Can you imagine how awestruck Peter must have been to witness such a sight? Fumbling for the right words to say in a moment like this is hardly surprising. Frankly, I am surprised Peter was even able to say something! But speak he did and he felt compelled to do something, something really useful, like build a tent for all of them! In that moment, it was almost as if God, the Father, was instructing Peter to don’t just stand there, do nothing, and listen to Jesus.

When life confronts us with the unexpected, sometimes, we do need to act immediately. But many times, it may be wiser to take a step back from the situation and do nothing, except to give the entire situation over to God and listen to Him and accept His guidance.

There is nowhere you can go where God cannot find you. And there is no action or work that you can do that will make Him love you any more or less. He loves you with the most perfect and consuming love the universe will ever know. Don’t just stand there, do nothing...but trust Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.

Blessings with Aloha!

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.

A Very Strong Christian (Acts 7:60)

A few weeks after I became a Christian, I attended a secular human rights conference on my college campus.  I was introduced to a woman who was quite animated about the social causes with which she was involved. Peppered throughout her speech were references to Jesus and her faith. I was intrigued as I listened to this woman. She so comfortably and seamlessly melded her faith and life so that the two were indistinguishable. At the end of the conversation, I naively asked her, “Are you a Christian?”

She exclaimed with an enthusiastic, “Very strongly so!”

I appreciated and admired this woman’s honesty and forthrightness about her faith. As a nascent Christian, I wondered if someday I, too, would be so unabashedly in love with my savior, Jesus Christ? Would I live a life where I would be completely transparent to others, a life where there was no distinction between my faith and my actions?

Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
Acts 7:60

I am reminded of the great faith of Stephen, the first martyr of the Christian church. Seconds from death as he was being stoned, he prayed to Jesus Christ on behalf of his accusers.

And I am always humbled by the example of our Lord Jesus Christ, who in the final moments of His life on this earth, in the midst of His awful pain and suffering, looked down from the cross at his mother, Mary, and made sure that her needs were taken care of by His beloved disciple, John.

I recall, with great fondness, this woman’s reply to me, so many years ago.  I pray that my life will be a reflection and imitation of a strong life of faith, rooted in my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

A very strong Christian; living a life with no distinction between faith and actions. That’s what I want to be.

Aloha blessings!

An ABC Store on Every Corner (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)

Anyone who has ever been to Waikiki on the island of Oahu, Hawaii is familiar with ABC Stores. It is a convenience store, snack bar, and tourist kiosk all rolled into one. There are 35 ABC stores in Waikiki, an area of 3.4 square miles. To the casual observer, it seems as though there is a store on every major street corner. What makes the store a compelling stop for tourist and local alike is they keep the air conditioner in the low 60’s and always have a big bin of ice stuffed with cold drinks in the front of each store. On a hot, humid day in Oahu, this is a welcome treat! Whether one thinks they need to stop in to an ABC store or not, it beckons to you to stop.

This is not an ad for the store, nor is it an endorsement. But clearly ABC stores have hit upon the right formula for success. Be available, affordable, and amiable….hey! They should use this as their pitch line! Can I take a page from the business plan of ABC stores? Will I let the Holy Spirit guide me to be a refreshing witness to whomever I meet?

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4

God blesses with me with His abundant mercy and goodness so that I may share it with others. Can I be as refreshing as a drink of cool water, a breeze of soothing air, and a rest from life’s anxieties to others around me? I may not be on every street corner but I should try to make myself available to everyone, whether they express their need or not.

Love and trust in the Lord; seek His will in your life.

Persistence, Persistence, Persistence (Luke 2:36-38)

The headline on the article blared, “At the Bar; A Man's Pride and Persistence Conquer the
California Bar Exam's Most Famous Losing Streak.”

In September 1991, Maxcy Filer passed the California bar exam….after 48 tries. From 1966-1991, Mr. Filer traveled across California to take the bar exam. His family always supported him. Ironically, his sons Kelvin and Anthony, were practicing lawyers who had earlier passed the California bar.

At the age of 61 years, Mr. Filer now could officially practice law and has joined one of his sons in a law firm practicing criminal and personal injury law. But what was the stumbling block?  "I knew the law but it didn't flow," he said. Some observers speculated that he “turned his exam essays into soapboxes, expostulating on law not as it was but as he wanted it to be.” Others stated he was “spread too thin doing good deeds.” At the oath ceremony, a bar official explained it best by saying that Mr. Filer personified three keys to success: "persistence, persistence, persistence."

Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity; and this woman was a widow of about eighty- four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.
Luke 2:36-38

The Bible records a beautiful example of persistence and faithfulness. Anna was an aged prophetess who devoted 84 years of her life serving God in His temple. God rewarded her faithfulness by revealing to her the Messiah, the infant Jesus Christ! Can you imagine the excitement she had as she shared the good news with everyone around her? Think of all the people who had met her over the previous decades! They knew of her persistence; they knew her dedication; they knew her sincerity! And now they witnessed God rewarding her!

Like Mr. Filer, persistence in life may lead to eventual success. But persistence in faithfulness to God will always lead to unlimited blessings!  If you feel burdened by doing God’s work, be encouraged to know that God sees and knows what you are doing. And He will reward and honor your persistence in faithfulness!

Blessings with Aloha!

A Delay Button for Our Tongue (Ephesians 4:29)

Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.
Ephesians 4:29

There is something about laughter that allows us to let our guard down. When we are truly enjoying the company of others, laughter and joy can freely flow and our conversations are more natural. We let our guard down because we are comfortable. But when we let our guard down, occasionally we may also let down our common sense and allow loose talk to emerge from our lips. Although things made be said in jest, what we say may inadvertently cause pain to the hearer. The Holy Spirit reminds us that:

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.
Proverbs 18:21

During live television or radio talk shows, there is often a few second delay. This allows the director or the talk show host to delete a wayward comment or even profanity from making its way on to the airwaves. Sometimes I wish I could have a delay button on my mouth. There have been many times when if I had just paused for a few seconds and thought about what I was about to say, I could have avoided tremendous hurt and emotional grief on the part of the listener. But since no such delay button exists, I need to rely upon the Holy Spirit to instruct me and train me to place a leash on my tongue. My prayer is that my speech will be a reflection of Jesus Christ within me and that my speech will lift others up rather than tear them down.

Allow the Holy Spirit to transform and renew your mind so that every word that proceeds out of your mouth is a reflection of God’s grace in your life.

Love and respect the Lord; seek His will in your life.

I Didn't Know I Was Supposed to Hate You! (1 Corinthians 1:27-29)

My best friend in college was a Korean-American man named Sung. We met in my freshman year but did not begin to hang out together until my sophomore year. But we became fast friends and during that year, God used Sung to lead me to Jesus Christ. After that we were nearly inseparable.  We knew we shared a special relationship.

One day, Sung candidly remarked to me that if someone told him ten years earlier that his best friend was going to be a Japanese-American, he would have told him he was crazy. I understood what he meant. Sadly, a long and bitter history of racism has distorted and damaged the relations between Koreans and Japanese. While much of the painful memories have dissipated with today’s generation, there are still pockets of lingering resentment, even hate, harbored by both sides.

Growing up in Hawaii, I was immersed in a racial melting pot. Sure there were racial tensions, but, in general, we learned to accept and embrace the racial diversity as a unique part of the Hawaiian culture. Thus, while I was aware of the historical animosity between Japan and Korea, I did not harbor personal anger or hate toward any other racial or cultural group. So when Sung made that comment about our friendship, I smiled and replied, “Well Sung. I guess that just proves how ridiculous racism is. I didn’t know that I was supposed to hate you!”

If all of our perceptions could be so easily demolished!

Perceptions…it colors everything we think, say, or do. No matter one’s background, perceptions may lead us to be judgmental or even prejudge others that, ultimately, is self-defeating. But thanks be to God who is in the business of turning our perceptions upside down.

But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence.
1 Corinthians 1:27-29

And why does God do this? The beautiful answer is found in the very next verse.

But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God — and righteousness and sanctification and redemption — that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.”
1 Corinthians 1:30-31

Our world view must be filtered through God’s view of the world. We are conditioned to look at diplomas, job titles, or awards on our walls or our desks. But God is commanding us to look to His Son, Jesus Christ, the author and finisher of our faith. Because it is only through trusting in Him and glorifying Him as our Lord and Savior are we able to see the world the way that God wants us to see it. If we are to boast in anything, it is to boast in His glory and mercy toward us.

What a glorious God we serve!

Blessings with Aloha!

Love and respect the Lord; seek His will in your life.

The Cape Water Buffalo (Numbers 16:31-33)

The Cape water buffalo resembles the domesticated water buffalo. However, this animal is anything but a domesticated beast. It is wild animal and extremely intelligent. Stories have been told and verified of the intense loyalty that this buffalo has for its brethren. More than one horrified hunter has witnessed or experienced the vengeance of the water buffalo as it selectively tracks the hunter or hunters that wounded or killed one of its own. One woman recounted a story of a group of hunters that killed one of the water buffalo. The hunters were camped next to their camp in the African safari. During the evening, a large thundering sound was heard. The water buffalo had tracked the hunters by their scent and trampled the men to death in their tents, sparing all of the others.

Now it came to pass, as he finished speaking all these words, that the ground split apart under them, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households and all the men with Korah, with all their goods. So they and all those with them went down alive into the pit; the earth closed over them, and they perished from among the assembly.
Numbers 16:31-33

God’s judgment and wrath can be fierce and quick. But God is not indiscriminate. In this passage from Numbers, the Holy Spirit records the swift punishment that God pronounced upon Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, who were leading a rebellion against Moses and Aaron. God commanded the earth to open and swallow only these men and their followers, sparing the rest of the Hebrews. Like the Cape water buffalo, God was selective, and only punished the sinners and rebellious, sparing the innocent.

God’s mercy and love for us has been revealed through the Bible which explains God’s plan of salvation. Through the Bible, we know that God has given us His Son, Jesus Christ, so that by believing and accepting Him as our Lord and Savior, we may be justified and sanctified before God. And when we accept Jesus Christ, God indwells within us through His Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit convicts us of our sins and enables us to trust and rely upon God to become more like His Son, Jesus Christ. God has given us all that we need to live the life He meant for us to live.

We live under the grace of Jesus Christ. For 2000 years, Jesus Christ has made this offer of salvation to all. It is up to you to accept His offer. But on the day that Jesus Christ returns, He will return as the King and Judge and will execute His judgment upon the entire world. And when He returns, if you have not made a decision to accept Him as your Lord and Savior, it will be too late to change your mind about Him. His judgment and wrath are not indiscriminate. He has been patient and merciful to all of us. But a Holy God cannot accept sin. And we are all sinners and will not be reconciled to God unless we accept the invitation of Jesus Christ.

God is not indiscriminate and desires all to come to know Him and accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Let Him know that you accept His gift of salvation for you.

Amen!

Is it Better To Be Smart or Clever? (Proverbs 4:7)

My maternal grandfather came from Japan to Honolulu, Hawaii at the age of 17 years. He remained in Hawaii, marrying, and raising a family. Being a first generation Japanese, english was not his native language and he struggled to communicate with his grandchildren. Once I learned a little Japanese, I attempted to engage him in conversation, but he was a quiet man, and in any language, we probably would not have much dialogue.

Many years later, when he knew he was dying from stomach cancer, he broke his silence one day and asked his children, in english, “Is is better to be smart or clever?” The question caught everyone by surprise and, after a few moments of awkward silence, one of my uncles cautiously answered him, “Both are important, but I suppose it is better to be smart.” My grandfather thought about his answer, nodded affirmatively, and said nothing more. A few months later, he passed away.

I have often pondered about this interaction, not only what asking the question meant to my grandfather but why he asked it and what insight he gathered from the answer. What is my answer? When I was a young adult and I first heard this story, without hesitation, I thought I would want to be clever. After all, many people can be book smart but have no common sense. Life often throws us curve balls and it is the clever person that can navigate its slippery slopes. But as I grew older, I realized that being smart was not as limiting as it may seem. I was confusing being smart and being wise; the two were not synonymous.

Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom.
And in all your getting, get understanding.
Proverbs 4:7

The Bible is our manual for life. It clearly points us in the direction of wisdom. It is not enough to know something, we must truly know and integrate it within our very being. And Wisdom personified is Jesus Christ. When we accept Him as our Lord and Savior, we are welcoming wisdom into our life.

My grandfather exhibited wisdom by asking this question. Deep down, I suspect he knew that being smart or clever is not enough. We must learn to be wise.

Aloha blessings!
Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.

Mercy Is Not on Autopilot

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” – Lamentations 22:22-23

I have often thought of these verses as meaning, simply, “God won’t take away his mercy.  When you are saved, you will always experience his mercy.  It will not be removed because of your since-coming-to-Christ failings.”

And this is certainly true.  In fact, that’s almost exactly what the first two clauses say verbatim. God’s steadfast love (this calls to mind constancy) “never ceases” and his mercies “never come to an end.”

But we must go further.  It is easy to picture God as being in some sort of legal, contractual, agreement (which he actually is) to offer us mercy since we believed in his son, such that that mercy which was set in motion the day we believed is more or less on autopilot today.  Perhaps there are many times God would even wish to remove his mercy, but because of his grace and his commitment to keeping his oaths, he won’t come back and tamper with what he already set in motion.  Or perhaps he’s just too busy – too busy on the exciting “front lines”, fighting sin, plundering the strong man, and effectually drawing new souls into his kingdom.

However, tucked in these verses is this fact about his mercies: “they are new every morning.” This means that they are different than the ones yesterday in quality and quantity and are being creatively and actively crafted by God for you.  He gives you doses of “not-getting-what-you-deserve”, Christian, at 8:00 A.M. on Saturday morning, personally crafted and engineered, watches you sin at 3:00 P.M., then goes about purposefully and actively drawing up the blueprints on new, differently engineered manifestations of “not-getting-what-you-deserve”.

Truly, we can’t escape it.  “Surely, goodness and mercy shall follow us all the days of my life”, and there will be no autopilot.

If Costco Doesn't Have It, You Don't Need It! (Matthew 6:31-33)

“If Costco doesn’t have it, you don’t need it!”

A very good friend of mine loves to say this. Certainly for material goods, an excellent case can be made. I love shopping at Costco. There are great deals to be found and Costco always seems to be able to lure me into buying something that I may not necessarily need or want. Everyone needs to try focaccia pizzas or chocolate brownie crisps! And what about the blender/juicer than can meld several pounds of fruits and vegetables into a delicious smoothie? Well, I was wrong! I need it and Costco has it!

“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”
Matthew 6:31-33

God does take care of our material needs. But He wants to do so much more for us. He desires to make us right with Him and take care of our deeper spiritual needs. And He took the initiative by giving us His Son, Jesus Christ, as our Lord and Savior.

Our material needs will always be there, but God has promised us that He will take care of this. But we first need to seek God in our life, through His Son, Jesus Christ.

Let’s rethink our priorities and seek God’s Kingdom first.

If God isn’t in it, you don’t need it!

Love and trust in the Lord; seek His will in your life.

The Spanish Good Samaritan (1 John 3:17-18)

Most of us are familiar with the Good Samaritan law. Based upon the story in the Bible of a Samaritan (Luke 10:30-37) who unselfishly helps an injured traveler, the laws differ in various countries but all have the premise to protect the person, who renders aid to an injured person, from legal prosecution for unintentional injury or wrongful death.

During my recent visit to Spain, I learned that their Good Samaritan law has a slightly different interpretation. While the law does protect the person who attempts to help a victim, it goes one step further. If you have medical training and/or fail to render assistance, you can be held liable for NOT rendering aid. In other words, the law looks beyond mere actions and holds one’s intentions accountable.

Isn’t that what Jesus was attempting to illustrate in the story of the Samaritan? What does it mean to love someone as your neighbor? Isn’t it mere lip service to state that you care for the needy and hungry and then turn away to the opposite direction when confronted with such suffering?

But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.
1 John 3:17-18

God is asking us to examine the motives in our heart whenever we are confronted with the world’s needs. Our words must be backed up with our actions. An error of omission is the same as an error of commission. Allow God to transform your life and open your eyes to see the world the way that He sees us.

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.

What Are You Really Seeing? (2 Kings 6:16-17)

Optical illusions are cool. This one caught my attention, not only because of the coolness factor, but also because of the mathematical elegance.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNe6fsaCVtI

We perceive things the way our mind is accustomed. The overall pattern appeared to be rotating circles but when elegantly broken down in the video, we can clearly see a linear pattern of multiple circles interacting to form the illusion of a circular path. What are you really seeing? It depends upon your perspective.

So he answered, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” And Elisha prayed, and said, “ Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
2 Kings 6:16-17

What a glorious revelation that God allowed Elisha and the servant to see! Seemingly surrounded and outnumbered by the enemy, Elisha’s faithful prayer to God was answered and the true spiritual setting was unveiled.

This revelation should be a reminder that the life we live is one that is both an earthly and spiritual existence. We are conditioned to think that our circumstances are only what we can visually see or experience. But God reminds us through this passage that an infinitely more complex and beautiful spiritual realm awaits all of us who put their trust in Him.

Won’t you place your trust in Him today?

Blessings with Aloha!

It's a Fault Issue! (John 9:2-3)

“Who’s fault is it?”
“It’s nobody’s fault!”
“It’s always somebody’s fault!”
“Dad! It’s not a fault issue!”

I have a bad habit of asking my family, “Who’s fault is it?” whenever something goes awry. This irritates the rest of my family, so much so, that we have forbidden the word “fault” in our house. No problem! My daughter had just completed a study of earthquakes in her science class. So taking a cue from the geologic causes, when I want to use the word, I turn to everyone and say, “It’s an earthquake issue!”

Sometimes it is no one’s fault, much to my chagrin. Our Lord, Jesus Christ, beautifully illustrated this as He healed the blind man and demonstrated the grace and mercy of God.

And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him.”
John 9:2-3

Instead of looking for someone to attach blame, I should be looking for ways to make things right. And with Jesus, I should be looking to Him to make things right with God. It is a beautiful reminder from an all-loving God who daily blesses us, whether we realize it or not.

Aloha blessings!

How Long Does It Take To Eat An Elephant? (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

On the first day of my second year in medical school, I was introduced to pathology. This course is the basis for all medicine, teaching medical students about the intricacies of all disease, understanding why disease occurs, how it presents in the patient, and what it looks like under the microscope. During the first year of medical school, we heard from upperclassmen how brutal and demanding the class would be. In fact one attending physician even told me to read the first five chapters of the textbook, during the summer break,  just to get a headstart on the new year!

The first day of pathology did little to allay my fears. The professor looked at us and solemnly declared, “Pathology is a marathon. You will never have encounter a class that requires you to learn so much information in such a short period of time.  How long does it take to eat an elephant? You cannot do it in one day, or even a week or a month. But if you eat a little each day, eventually you will consume the entire animal. It is the same with pathology. Take a little each day, digest it, and when you are finished, go on to the next bite. By the end of the year, you will have completed the entire book.”

Like generations of medical students before and since, I made it through pathology. It was a daunting task, learning new words, reading other textbooks just to understand basic concepts in some chapters, and attempting to find a unifying concept that tied all the information together. It was a marathon. And it took a year to eat that elephant! Since that year, I have realized that you never truly finish any class in medical school. It is a lifelong education, continually learning, and revisiting the meal of the elephant.

When I first became a Christian, I felt a similar sense of foreboding. How will I ever be able to read the entire Bible, much less understand it? It was hundreds of pages in length. It contained allusions to historical and cultural events that were completely foreign to me. It even used words that were from other languages. Why didn’t God write the Bible in english? Funny how the same concerns I had about pathology were replicated with the Bible.

There are many Bible reading plans. I have seen plans that take one through the entire Bible in a year, three years, and five years. Some plans take a chronological approach, placing the order of the books in the approximate time frame when it was written. Still other plans are topical or biographical studies, showing how prominent themes are woven throughout the pages. Whichever plan you choose, it is important to chose one and just begin.

But when you read the Bible, you have an advantage that I never had when I tackled that pathology textbook. You are reading the Word of God. And through His Holy Spirit, God will illuminate the meaning of the passages you read.

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16-17

The Bible is God’s promise to us. We are to eat it, digest it, and meditate upon it. We are to be nourished by it and sustained by it. It may take longer than you think to read the entire Bible but it will never happen unless you begin.

How long does it take to eat an elephant? I don't know...but today is a good day to begin.

Blessings with Aloha!
Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.

The Best of LA! (1 Timothy 1:17)

Every year, the Los Angeles Magazine puts out a splashy issue trumpeting, “The Best of the LA!” The entire issue is devoted to the “best of” whatever category the editors and writers deem worthy of mentioning and visiting in the greater Los Angeles area.

After reading this issue for many years, I decided that I had to see for myself how good the magazine's suggestions were. So about 10 years ago, I planned an entire day around some of these suggestions for my wife and I to enjoy. One such day started with the best croissants, followed by the best botanical garden, best tea house, best Korean wedding cake bakery, best foot massage, best french fries, best cappuccino, and best restaurant for a first date. Certainly a fun-filled day and worth repeating the next year! Subsequent outings have included best cajun food, best horseback riding, best spa, and best cheese store. Whether this was the best that LA has to offer was difficult to verify, but the choices were imaginative and eclectic.

When we read that something is the “Best of…”, we have to immediately question the source and its credibility. How many times do we pass a storefront with a sign blaring, “Voted Best Whatever”? Then when we visit the store, we are sorely disappointed.

Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
1 Timothy 1:17

The Bible reminds us that the best life has to offer is found in Jesus Christ. We can trust the authenticity and credibility of the source. It is the testimony of the supreme and eternal God!

The best of L.A. It is a beautiful way to spend a day with one whom you love. But the best of life? It is the only way to spend with Jesus Christ.

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.

Hu's On First? (John 7:40-43)

Even if you were not born in the greatest generation, many have heard this famous comic routine by Abbott and Costello. But for those who would like a refresher, here it is again!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTcRRaXV-fg

I love this updated take with this baseball photo. Hu really is on first base!

Mistaken identity. Happens all the time. Even our Lord Jesus Christ experienced this.

Therefore many from the crowd, when they heard this saying, said, “ Truly this is the Prophet.” Others said, “This is the Christ.” But some said, “Will the Christ come out of Galilee? Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the seed of David and from the town of Bethlehem, where David was?” So there was a division among the people because of Him.
John 7:40-43

Isn’t it ironic that the crowd correctly identified the criteria by which Christ would appear, but they still did not realize that Jesus was the Christ. Just like the skit by Abbott and Costello! Who really was on first. Jesus really was the Christ!

Do we really know who Jesus Christ is? We call Him Lord and Savior but do we truly acknowledge Him in this manner? He is God Incarnate! And when we identify Him as Lord and Savior, there is no mistaking His identity for anyone else.

Who is on first? Jesus comes first!

Aloha blessings!

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.