Kahu Gary's Pulpit

11.01.2011

Daniel Fast encouragement

I hope you'll join REUNION HAWAII as we begin a 21 day Daniel Fast. If you're not sure what that is, listen to this:

Danielfastday1.m4a Listen on Posterous

10.20.2011

Tired of Whac-a-Mole with the devil?

Are you as fed up as I am of playing Whac-a-Mole with the devil? (There's no "k" in whac -- I checked)

It seems that we end up playing a perpetual game of Whac-a-Mole with our enemy as he pops up in this place, draws our fire, and then pops up elsewhere creating a constant series of distractions to the mission. In the case of church leaders and pastors, it is an endless series of attacks on ministries, on the families of ministers, on finances, on relationships… hit him square in the head over here and he pops up over there… and on it goes.

I spend a lot of my time dealing with his endless attempts to harm my staff, and I have to tell you i am fed up. Fed. Up. It seems that we have one leader or family facing a crisis, so we circle around them offering prayer, encouragement, support and practical assistance, and hjust when things level out for them, another family gets hit. Did I mention I am fed up?

I am tired of playing Whac-a-Mole with a defeated foe when I know that the one that is in me is greater than the one that is in the world. I'm declaring war on the liar who just seeks to kill, steal and destroy, and I am enlisting anyone and everyone who follows Jesus to join me in making war on him. I declare that the plots and schemes of the enemy will be of no effect, because the battle belongs to the Lord! I declare that our God is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us. I declare that Satan has been told, "Do not touch my anointed ones; do my prophets no harm." I speak in the authority of Jesus that the devil is being issued a Cease and Desist demand tonight! In every area in which he has tried to move in, we issue an Eviction Notice tonight. We draw a line and command him to stay on the other side of it, and it is a line drawn in the Blood of Jesus.

Fed. Up.

10.07.2011

Selective marketing or political activism?

Today in America, about 75% of adults identify themselves as Christians.(religioustolerance.org) About 3.8% of Americans identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender. (Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law) — three point eight percent… less than 4 out of 100. So if we can accept these statistics as roughly correct within a margin of error, there are almost 20 times more Christians in the United States than homosexuals.

It strikes me as odd, then, that my airline of choice, Delta, has an entire section of their website set aside to market to the 9 million American gays (www.delta.com/gaytravel) but NO section of their website targets the 230 million Americans who self-identify as Christians. Is it selective marketing? If so, it is industrial strength stupid, and Jackie Yeaney, Managing Director, Consumer Marketing, Delta Airlines should seriously reconsider those priorities.

I love your airline, Jackie, and fly Delta whenever possible, but it does bother me a bit that you engage in activist economics and use my loyalty to support causes I don't espouse, while ignoring an exponentially larger segment of your potential market.

I went to www.delta.com/christiantravel but “The requested page could not be found on delta.com” — yeah… I didn't think so.

9.22.2011

The downside of Hawaii life?

When people learn that I live in Hawaii they have fantasies of lazy days spent lounging beneath a palm tree on a beautiful beach. Right. Those people have no idea about the cost of living here, that requires most people to work long hours, multiple jobs and barely get by. But I digress…

I am hoping to make a trip to Israel in January, one of those study/tours that pastors take to experience the Holy Land first hand. It is a great opportunity, and is even being provided as a scholarship, for which I am grateful. For most people on this trip it will cost them only a few hundred dollars: an inexpensive flight to the point of departure in New Jersey and some lunch and spending money. Being in Hawaii is a disadvantage on this one, as I have to obtain round-trip flights from HNL to EWR at a cost of over $1,000. One thousand-I-don't-have-dollars.

Add the awkward timing of those flights and availble connections, and it is possible that I may have to add one night in a hotel either before or after the Israel trip, which adds another couple of hundred dollars to the "free" trip.

This is one of those times I wish that Star Trek Transporter device was a reality. Beam me to New Jersey, Scotty?

9.21.2011

Mentoring Class

The Hawaii Ministry Development Center presents a six week course Introduction to Mentoring. This 6-week course will help you recognize the contribution of those who have helped shape you into who you are, and the importance of mentoring others. Every leader and everyone who aspires to become a leader should learn the fundamentals of mentoring.

Instructor: Gary Langley

mentoring class.pdf Download this file

The Hawai‘i Ministry Development Center is dedicated to providing inspiration, information, support and encouragement to those in active Christian ministry and those seeking to be.

Through edification and education leaders and emerging leaders will become better able “to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:12-13)

Operated under the auspices of the Hawai‘i Church of God of Prophecy (COGOP), the Hawai‘i Ministry Development Center is a transdenominational institution.

http://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/04/where-children-sleep/

9.01.2011

Show this to your whiney, spoiled kid

I came across this series of photos of children around the world and the places they sleep:

What an excellent reminder that this is not one world. If your kids start whining that their bedroom flatscreen TV is too small, or their wardrobe is six months old, take them through these photos and show them how some other kids in the world live. (And — while you're at it — why not try to make a difference in the life of some kid living in poverty by going to http://www.compassion.com/ and picking out a child who needs a monthly sponsor?)

Poverty is not just a lack of money; it is a lack of options… a lack of opportunity.

8.26.2011

Don't you EVER sleep?

I get asked that a lot… "Don't you EVER sleep?" I live in Hawaii, several time zones west of many of my friends, yet I seem to be online at all hours of the day and night posting on Twitter and Facebook.

I'll let you in on a little secret.

Almost every day I spend a block of time reading a few websites that keep me abreast of the latest developments in technology, the world of digital gadgets, Christian leadership and other topics of personal interest. As I scan those sites I often see things I believe would be of interest to my friends. When I do, I write a very brief sentence or phrase — sort of a tease about the subject — and paste in the URL of the article… the kind of thing most people who use Twitter do when they want to share an article or an idea.

The difference is, I don't Tweet immediately, but, instead, I add that post to a queue at bufferapp.com where my FREE account allows me to pre-stack Tweets to be posted on a schedule I determine. The result is that while I am asleep in Hawaii BUFFER releases those Tweets on Twitter on my schedule, and the Twitter automatically updates my Facebook status. Seven or eight times each day my Twitter and Facebook status each get filled with tasty nuggets that were actually loaded in hours (or a day) before in just a few minutes.

Round-the-clock web presence achieved without losing any sleep!

8.22.2011

Three weeks at Highlands

(What I took away from three consecutive Sundays at Church of the Highlands)

Highlands is a good church. It’s probably a great church, in many ways. My son, daughter-in-law and now baby granddaughter attend there, and my son plays bass as part of the worship band rotation. I wanted to preface my observations with those statements because I do not want my random thoughts to be misconstrued as criticism, other than as constructive critique.

My thoughts, in no particular order:

• Highlands has grown rapidly and attracted so many people because of a lot of things, including an attitude of excellence, but I attribute it to (a) the worship music — Justin Bradshaw, John Larson, John Mark Dorough and the rest — is great, and (b) the church is committed to prayer. The twice-a-year 21 days of prayer is impressive.

• Chris Hodges is personable, self-effacing and genuine. He comes across as a guy I would enjoy hanging out with, without all the rock-star trappings of some mega-church pastors. I like him.

• At every service I have attended there I seem to recall some statements made to newcomers unaccustomed to expressive worship and contemporary music. While I understand, perhaps, the rationale, I think COTH is past the point where they need to explain, and it almost comes across as an apology sometimes. COTH has nothing to explain, and certainly nothing for which they must apologize.

• The coffee stations are wonderful. As the pastor of a casual church, I appreciate the welcoming nature of that gesture.

• I learned on a previous visit to Highlands the impression made by having well-stocked, clean restrooms with quality products used. It inspired me to recruit a wonderful volunteer who makes our own public school restrooms a hospitality plus, even adding seasonal decorative touches!

• A negative: perhaps it is just a characteristic of rapidly growing mega-churches, but during these three services I recently attended, and the total of maybe ten visits to COTH, not one single person other than the door greeters has ever spoken to me… nobody has approached me in the lobby to introduce themselves, nobody before or after church has walked over and said, “Hi… I’m ____ . Don’t think I’ve seen you here before. Glad you’re here!” (Just sayin’…)

• I had a surprise on a previous trip; I attended a summer evening baptism (wonderful) on the Grant’s Mill campus, at which ice cream treats and soft drinks were served free to the large crowd. When I asked where I could find the recycle bin for my empty can I was greeted by a blank stare, as if that was a question that had never been asked. I would expect Highlands, with a largely upper-middle-class and professional constituency to be setting the example in stewardship of the earth, or — at the very least — selling the aluminum and using the funds for a good cause.

• I wish I could connect COTH with Compassion International. The number of children who could be sponsored out of that church would be incredible.

• The back row bleacher seats? Spectator area. The people we usually go with on our visits like to sit on the back row, but I was itching to sit in the front section on the floor where the sound mix is a little better, and the active worshippers are engaged. That’s not Highlands’ problem, just an observation.

• I greatly appreciate the absence of lasers and hazers and rock concert pyrotechnics at COTH. The use of staging and lighting is subtle and does not distract from worship. My experience with some other mega-churches has been that they are overly produced and there is way too much show biz. Highlands does a great job of keeping the main thing the main thing.

• This is a large church with a small church heart. On a previous visit I observed a promo video I wanted to show to my tech team. I called the church, asked for the creative team, spoke to a wonderful woman who sent me a link to obtain the video and made it clear that Highlands has no circle-the-wagons and protect our turf attitude.

• I am aware of the complex issues of copyright laws and broadcast restrictions… and I hate them. The worship music at Highlands is excellent, including the original songs, and should be shared far and wide as a gift to the Body of Christ. There should be exceptions and exemptions for the broadcast/webcast of worship services so the musical portion could be included.

• If I lived in the area immediately surrounding the church I’d probably not like them very much. The traffic is overwhelming and the access roads are totally inadequate for the flow of vehicles.

• In order to do back-to-back services and move large crowds in and out effectively, as well as live multi-cast to other campus remote locations it is necessary to at least somewhat run things by the clock, but COTH does a great job of concealing the stopwatch effect. The music is programmed and click-track precise, but it never feels that way. The teaching, likewise, never feels rushed or stretched to fit a time constraint. That is, I suspect, the result of experience and a lot of adjustment over the years. (I would love to have an in-ear and listen to the cues during a service.)

I am not a mega-church guy. I love the smaller church familial and relational closeness, but I applaud large churches like Highlands who have grown large without growing arrogant.

6.13.2011

Dear Delta

Well, Delta… I've stuck with you as long as I could, but, as the old country song goes, you've got to know when to hold 'em, and know when to fold 'em.

A few years ago I realized that my life would involve more air travel than it had in the past, so I picked one airline for my travels so I would maximize mileage points. I picked Delta. Today I have been questioning that choice.

I stuck with Delta when you absorbed Northwest airlines and started putting those horrible Boeing 757's on Hawaii routes. Talk about a misery maker! One skinny aisle with 3 cramped seats on either side with leg room only fit for tiny people. There are no flights from Hawaii shorter than about 5 hours, and 5 hours on a 757 is torture.

I stuck with you when you started charging baggage fees, and even got a Delta branded Amex card to help avoid those fees. I defended you when you took a bad P.R. hit for stupidly charging returning service people for their military gear bags. I have never been offered a courtesy upgrade, even on half-empty flights.

I opted for Delta SkyMiles on all my Korean Air flights because I hoped to accumulate more SkyMiles and use them when I needed them.
Well, now I need them, and I feel embarrassed by my naive loyalty. My son and his wife are expecting our first grandchild next month, and my wife and I really want to be in Alabama when the baby is born. It's the big deal for which we hoped to cash in miles for the flights. When we discovered they were expecting I checked the SkyMiles mileage requirements and read this:

I think pretty much everyone who sees that chart would understand it to say that an Economy Class flight from Hawaii to the Continental U.S. can be obtained for a range between 20,000 SkyMiles and 45,000 SkyMiles… after all, it does say "Low" and "High" above those numbers.

Imagine my dismay when I attempted to use my 82,000+ miles to book 2 tickets to Atlanta and discovered that ONE ticket would cost me 77,500 miles! So what happened to a range between a low of 20,000 SkyMiles and a high of 45,000 SkyMiles? I was referred to the fine print, written in obfuscatory lawyerly language apparently designed to conceal the reality. Read this and see if you see "don't count on that chart above, because it is totally meaningless, and you will have to cash in a LOT more miles than it says, but if we say that outright nobody will sign up."

My future flights — and they are becoming more frequent — will not be booked with a preference for Delta because there's no significant reason to be a loyal to an airline with unclear, evasive rules.

6.03.2011

Dear Apple - what this user would like

I am a Mac fan. Big time. I use a MacBook Pro, an iPad2 and an iPhone4 and I love them all. That doesn't mean I never see things that could be better. Here are a few things I would love to see:

The predictive text/auto-correct on the iPhone lacks one really simple, critical feature... the ability to learn or a user-definable dictionary. My last name is Langley. My iPhone wants to change that to LARGELY. Ever single time. I live in Hawaii, and can't begin to tell you how many Hawaiian words and place names the iPhone tried to "correct." It's a daily annoyance that seems easily fixable.
Apple is an international company, selling iPhones all around the world. Those of us who travel would love for Apple to redefine mobile phone service the way you have redefined so many other areas of digital life; we would love to be able to travel the world without bricking our phones out of fear of a bill the size of the national debt. Seriously -- it is 2011. We should be able to travel the world and use our phones, data plans, text messaging and other services seamlessly and without outrageous charges. I love being able to use FaceTime over WiFi internationally, but would love to have access to my normal phone services no matter where I am on the planet. If any company can redefine international telecom plans, it is Apple. Soon, please.
I am filled with doubts about the coming announcement of the iCloud services, partially because of the issue just mentioned -- how will I be able to access my music and media files when I am outside the U.S. when I can't even afford text messaging overseas? Besides, if iCloud is as clumsy as me.com, it is doomed. Just compare iDisk to Dropbox for an example.

5.02.2011

What are we to think of the death of the wicked?

Twitter and Facebook were flooded last night with Theological battles over the proper Christian Response to the violent death of Osama Bin Laden. Great arguments on both sides were being made by people I respect. Great, scriptural, passionate arguments.

Christianity Today even published a list of "The verses most quoted on Twitter and Facebook after the news of the death of Osama bin Laden" at http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2011/mayweb-only/osama-bible-twitter.html

Among the verses most often quoted:

Romans 13:4 "For the one in authority is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God's servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer." (Mark Driscoll accelerated this verse's popularity via his Facebook post.)
Proverbs 11:7 "When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish: and the hope of unjust men perisheth" (KJV)
Proverbs 24:17 "Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when they stumble, do not let your heart rejoice."
Proverbs 21:15 "When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers." (Rick Warren started this one)
Ezekiel 33:11 "Say to them, 'As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, people of Israel?"
Ezekiel 18:23 "Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign LORD. Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live?"
Proverbs 11:10 "When the righteous prosper, the city rejoices; when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy."
Proverbs 28:5 "Evildoers do not understand what is right, but those who seek the LORD understand it fully."
Ezekiel 18:32 "For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent and live!"
Romans 12:19 "Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: 'It is mine to avenge; I will repay,' says the Lord."
Psalm 27:14 "Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD."

I was asked by some in my congregation to clarify what should be our response as Christians in an American context, seeing an enemy of our nation fall. This is one of those areas where we really desire a binary answer: yes/no — black/white — on/off. I am not certain it is that easy.

My own, personal, reaction? I take no delight in the death of Osama Bin Laden as an individual. I am sad that anyone ever has to die, but that is the consequence of fallen man on a planet. My heart as a pastor is always toward salvation and reconciliation. The ideal outcome from my perspective would have been for Osama to reject Islam, turn his heart to Christ, and work for peace. That, of course, was unlikely.

The second best outcome would have been his capture and imprisonment, but that would have been complicated by the ACLU, political posturing, international press reactions and could have resulted in a long, publicized legal battle.

Osama was trapped, apparently given an opportunity to surrender, but opted to fight to the death. When you choose the "fight to the death" alternative, it seldom results in anything other than death. He wanted to go out perceived as a martyr, and Seal Team 6 gave him his wish… HIS wish being the operative term. They didn't go in to kill him, they went in prepared to kill him if given no other choice.

The controversy doesn't really center on his death, which I think most understand was of his own ultimate choosing, but upon the reaction of American Christians to his death. Some are aghast that people are rejoicing and dancing in the streets, while others defend it as downright Biblical, recalling the celebration following David's slaying of Goliath — “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.” This is one of those moments when our human nature and our Christian ideals clash.

I am not able to muster any sense of mourning for Osama Bin Laden's death, because he was in my mind an embodiment of evil, intent upon my destruction. There is a sense of relief and satisfaction in knowing that the chief architect and financier of radicalized Islam has come to an ignoble end, even while recognizing that his death will have little or no impact upon the conflict we face. Al Qaeda is a starfish organization, so killing one leader or one thousand leaders has little effect. (See: The Starfish and the Spider: The Unstoppable Power of Leaderless Organizations) From a military/political perspective, however, it sends the clear message that America will not cease to pursue and punish those who seek our destruction, and that message will be heard by a culture in which strength is respected and weakness is ridiculed.

Many have expressed fear that Osama Bin Laden's death will provoke violent response from Islamic radicals. That should surprise no one, but the reality is that nothing America does, or fails to do, actually provokes such a response. The whole issue of radical Islamists distorting a belief system to justify hatred and violence is not new, predates the very existence of the United States and is in no way tied to any U.S. action or inaction. The Barbary Pirates in the 16th century were raiding, killing and stealing before there was an America, and they were capturing Christians to sell into slavery in Muslim nations. This is not a conflict between the U.S. and Islam, but a conflict between radical Islam and everyone in the world who rejects Islam.

So, back to the original question: what should our response be?

Rather than rely upon Old Testament examples of God sending armies to vanquish enemies, I keep coming back to a New Testament passage:

"...rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer." Romans 13:3-4 (NIV)

I can't see a substantive difference between Osama's death and the deaths of criminals who opt for "suicide by cop" — drawing police officers (God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer) into direct conflict, drawing weapons on them, and forcing the police to shoot them or be shot.

4.27.2011

A reminder of why we do what we do

I was in ROSS tonight picking up a belt. (I love it; I got it at ROSS — the commercial describes a lot of my wardrobe) I was not paying much attention to anyone else around me because, being a guy I don't really shop, I go like a man on a mission straight to the item I seek, walk to the nearest cashier, and pride myself on how quickly the mission was accomplished. But, I digress…

A guy stopped me dead in my tracks in the aisle… "Gary Langley!" He looked surprised and really happy to see me. I recognized him immediately, though it has been years since I last saw him. I met him when I was teaching a class at the Waiawa Correctional Center, a minimum security prison for offenders on the end of their sentences. He was incarcerated and was in my class. After his release he briefly attended my church but violated his probation by using some recreational narcotics. I lost track of him until tonight in ROSS.

He told me that he was four years, 3 months, 2 weeks and 3 days clean and sober. He has also been employed for seven years at the same company, is now married with kids and owns a condo. It made my night. Okay, it made my week.

He expressed thanks for the small part I paid in helping him turn his life around. It reminded me, once again, of the power of Christ to transform a life filled with bad decisions, deliver people from addictions and redeem those we sometimes discard as lost causes. It also reminded me why we do what we do.

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." – Galatians 6:9 NIV

More info?
http://ifphc.wordpress.com/2010/04/22/pentecostal-origins-of-earth-day/
http://www.halfwaytoconcord.com/earth-days-pentecostal-origins/

4.19.2011

Hey Christians; it's almost EARTH DAY

I visited a really great mega-church in a major city. I enjoyed it a lot, actually, despite some of my personal reservations about mega-churches in general. It was a warm summer night, a mid-week service packed with more than 2,000 people and afterward they announced water baptism in a cluster of large above ground pools outside on the expansive grounds. It was appropriately celebratory and exciting to see almost 100 people baptized. They served ice cream treats and canned soft drinks to all in attendance — impressive!

When I emptied my can of soda I looked around for recycle bins and was surprised to find none. Thousands of recyclable aluminum cans were simply being tossed into garbage bags, bound for the dumpsters. The church demographic is diverse, but heavily weighted toward white, upper-middle-class professionals… people from whom I expected more environmental awareness and social conscience, but when I asked about recycle bins I got looks that made me feel as if I had asked a really stupid question.

In Hawaii, where I live, each of those estimated 3,000± aluminum cans would have been worth 5¢ at a recycling center, for a total of $150. Perhaps the church was just too upscale for $150 to be a sum worth the trouble, but — more than that — there just seemed to be a total indifference to the unspoken message sent by trashing recyclable cans.

How did this happen? How did the church, the embodiment of Christ on earth, become indifferent to and even hostile to environmentalism? You might be surprised to learn that the whole idea of celebrating an Earth Day was not born in a marijuana-fueled, Gaia-worshipping commune, but was initiated by a pentecostal minister, a descendent of one of the founders of the Assembly of God.

John McConnell, Jr., the Pentecostal founder of Earth Day, says, “If there had been no Christian experience in my life there would be no Earth Day – or at least I would not have initiated it. We love God… [and therefore should] have an appreciation for His creation.” In McConnell’s view, such an annual day of awareness provides an opportunity for Christians “to show the power of prayer, the validity of their charity and their practical concern for Earth’s life and people.”

Rather than dismissing Earth Day because some have co-opted it to advance a political agenda, we (the church) should be at the forefront redeeming the day for the glory of the creator! In practical terms, our churches should be leaders in reducing waste, reusing and recycling as part of our dominion over the earth. Dominion is not only control, but also protection and responsible governance. We are reaching out toward an environmentally conscious generation, and they are looking for leadership and example from us in the area of being good stewards of the earth.

4.11.2011

A tech work-around just in time

I solved a tech dilemma tonight that has bugged me since Christmas. It was one of those things that seemed that it should be easy, but everyone told me, "I don't think that can be done." It can be done. I just did it.

I have used my MacBook Pro to make videos for a while, but the camera in my aging laptop is not very high resolution. My iPhone 4 shoots far better HD video. My wife got me a great Christmas gift: a Blue Yeti Professional USB microphone… simply excellent audio input to my MacBook.

Blue Yeti Professional USB Microphone with 4 Polar Patterns and 3 Caps

The problem I faced was that I was now left me with a tough choice — less-than-excellent video with outstanding Yeti audio from the MacBook, or really crisp HD video shot on the iPhone, but very average audio from the iPhone's tiny built in mic. I don't like those kinds of production compromises when it would seem logical that there must be a way to use the better mic with the better video device. (The iPhone, of course, has no USB input capability.)

Tonight I found a FREE Mac application called LineIn that solves the problem. (Did I mention that it is FREE?) The site from which downloaded it — http://www.rogueamoeba.com/freebies/ — describes it this way:

"LineIn is a simple application for OS X to enable the soft playthru of audio from input devices. In simpler terms, you can use LineIn to play sound coming in through a microphone or any other device plugged in to your Sound In port, just as was once available with OS 9's "Play input through output device" option."

Now I can connect the Blue Yeti mic via USB to the MacBook Pro, cable connect the earphone jack of the MacBook to the earphone jack of the iPhone, and run LineIn. When ready to shoot video with the iPhone, I click the "Pass Thru" button and — PROBLEM SOLVED! The iPhone HD video records the audio from the Yeti mic, passed through the MacBook as if it served simply as a hub.

I'm shooting something this week that I will post later as an example.

4.07.2011

Spoilers

I'm going to let you in on an amazing, and apparently well-kept, secret: America is not all one time zone. I know, that sounds crazy, right?
It must not be common knowledge, because people who live in the Eastern and Central time zones are notorious for posting television spoilers. As soon as someone is voted off the island, off of idol, or the final play of the big game is made, there's always some eager beaver who can't wait to jump on Facebook and ruin the experience for people who will not see the results for as much as 6 or 7 hours later.

The response, when called on it, is usually something to the effect of, "well, you should just stay off Facebook if you don't want to know!" Why? Why should we have to cut ourselves off from our primary source of relational networking because you can't just understand that the world is bigger than your time zone?

In the big picture of life, it doesn't amount to a hill of beans, of course, but if you were a reader of novels and every single time you encountered someone they told you the ending, it would start to get to you after a while.

Please… PLEASE, people who live east of me: enjoy Survivor, American Idol, the Amazing Race and major sporting events, and have the courtesy to allow your west coast friends to enjoy them also.

http://www.churchleaders.com/pastors/pastor-articles/149253-the-dirty-truth-about-honoriara.html

4.04.2011

The Dirty Truth About Honoraria

"The way some Christian churches and other organizations pay their speakers, it makes me embarrassed to be a member of the same faith."

John Stackhouse said it so well (and it needed to be said) that I am posting this link for your consideration and discussion.

4.02.2011

The Ministry Development Process in Hawaii Church of God of Prophecy

Ministry Development Process.doc Download this file

The Ministry Development Process in Hawaii Church of God of Prophecy

The Ministry Development Process

in Hawaii Church of God of Prophecy

In addition to the formal written expectations of the denomination, I have my own personal, unofficial criteria for endorsing candidates for ministry ordination that I believe to be equally or more important. These are some of the important elements in the process of obtaining ministry credentials & Ordination in the Hawaii Church of God of Prophecy.

The Church of God of Prophecy Requires this sequence:

Affirmation: The local congregation recognizes the call of God upon the life of the candidate and formally sets him/her forth as an act of formal affirmation.

Mentoring by senior leaders of the church (pastors, deacons, elders) typically takes place for a year in order to model service and commitment, and to give the candidate real world ministry experience.

5 Book-based Foundations studies (with open-book exams) – Through the Center for Biblical Leadership the COGOP has developed a core curriculum intended to assure that ministry candidates have at least a basic understanding of scripture, the history of Christianity, and how the COGOP is contextualized within that history. The process of personal spiritual formation is introduced, as well as an understanding of the denomination’s doctrinal and operational values. The five books are:

1. Introduction to the Bible:

$9.99 • Available from http://www.whitewingbookstore.com/
Click “White Wing Books” link or order by phone 800-221-5027

2. Spiritual Formation

$9.99 • Available from http://www.whitewingbookstore.com/
Click “White Wing Books” link or order by phone 800-221-5027

3. History of Christianity

$17.99 • Available from http://www.whitewingbookstore.com/
Click “White Wing Books” link or order by phone 800-221-5027

4. COGOP History, Polity, Doctrine and Future

$13.99 • Available from http://www.whitewingbookstore.com/
Click “White Wing Books” link or order by phone 800-221-5027

5. Ministry Policy Manual
Available as FREE PDF download.

Ministry Review Board:

Upon successful completion of the five required books, the State/National Overseer will schedule a Ministry Review Board meeting. This board of seasoned elders will question the candidate to discern his/her level of readiness for credentialed ministry. The process is intended to be open-ended and individualized, and it is not an exam for which one can study or prepare. Candidates should be prepared to candidly answer personal questions about family, finances, and issues of personal integrity as well as theological and COGOP polity matters.

Written Application:

The Ministry Review Board will discuss the candidate’s interview and make a formal, written response. That response could be rejection for cause, a suggestion that the candidate needs additional mentoring or training before approval, or an immediate approval. Once the Ministry Review Board affirms the candidate, his/her Written Application is signed by the Board, the Overseer and sent to the office of the Area Presbyter. After the Presbyter’s signature is obtained the application is forwarded to the International Offices of the Church of God of Prophecy in Cleveland, Tennessee. A PDF is available for download: Application for the Ministerial License

Ordination & Credentials:

Formal Ordination & ministry credentials are the goal in this process. When the Overseer’s office receives the newly issued ministry credentials from the International Offices, a formal Ordination ceremony will be held at which the candidate will be Ordained by the laying on of hands and a Minister’s Certificate will be issued. From that point the candidate’s status changes to that of a fully Ordained Minister of the Gospel under the auspices of the Church of God of Prophecy.

Personal Spiritual Formation:

Although not a part of the stated official COGOP process, it is presumed that the ministry candidate will be actively engaged in a process of Personal Spiritual Formation. Such a spiritual formation process will be evident when demonstrated in a consistent prayer life, a regular practice of reading and studying the Bible, active engagement in a small group for mutual accountability, enthusiastic participation in the corporate worship gatherings of the church and deep reflection. It is recommended that candidates engage in some form of written reflective process such as journaling or blogging. One popular method of Bible Study connected with journaling is the S.O.A.P. method. (Scripture, Observation, Application & Prayer).

Selfless Service

A Life of Selfless Service should be the norm… should be a part of the candidates spiritual DNA. We have an informal saying: “BAM!” that means, “I will outserve you BY A MILE!” We do not see extraordinary service as extraordinary at all; it is the baseline level for everyone in leadership. We remember that Jesus taught that, “So you want first place? Then take the last place. Be the servant of all.” (Mark 9:35, The Message) Candidates are to be actively, consistently volunteering to do the unseen for the unthankful with no expectation of reward or recognition. Candidates should be the kind of servant-hearted leaders who do not wait to be asked, but rather seek opportunities to serve others within the church and the surrounding community.

Theological Education

The days of the uneducated minister are in the past. With the ubiquitous access to information we enjoy today comes a responsibility to take advantage of that access. Some formal Theological education should be pursued to the extent possible, because we must be equipped before we can equip others. It is expected that all candidates for ministry will maintain a lifelong learning posture beginning with ongoing self-education… reading and reflecting. If you do not have access to a serious library of theological books, and cannot afford to purchase them, you might arrange to borrow books from the extensive library of the Overseer of Hawaii.

Candidates should avail themselves of courses offered through the Hawaii Ministry Development Center, make attendance at Hawaiian Islands Ministries’ Annual Honolulu Conference & Seminars a priority, and explore opportunities to attend Bible College or Seminary.

Stewardship & Accountability

Finally, candidates for ministry should set the example in faithful attendance, faithful participation, faithful stewardship (tithing & giving) and faithful reporting.

May God richly bless you for your obedience to his call.

Clarifying the ministry credential process

In addition to the written expectations of the denomination, I have my own personal, unofficial criteria for endorsing candidates for ministry ordination.

Important elements in the process of obtaining Ministry credentials & Ordination in the Hawaii Church of God of Prophecy

Personal Spiritual Formation should be demonstrated in

Prayer
Bible study
Small group participation
Worship
Reflection/Journaling/Blog

The COGOP Requires this sequence

Affirmation: set forth by local church
Mentoring by senior leaders
5 Book-based studies (with open-book exams)

The Bible
Spiritual Formation
History of Christianity
COGOP History, Polity, Doctrine and Future
Ministry Policy Manual

State/National Ministry Review Board Approval
Application, to be approved by Review Board, Overseer and Area Presbyter
Formal Ordination & credentials
A Life of Selfless Service should be the norm

Actively, consistently volunteering to do the unseen for the unthankful
Community involvement

Some formal Theological Education should be pursued to the extent possible

Lifelong learning posture
Self-education (Reading, reflecting)
Hawaii Ministry Development Center Courses
Hawaiian Islands Ministries Annual Conference/Seminars
Bible College, Seminary

Stewardship & Accountability: candidates should set the example in

Faithful attendance
Faithful participation
Faithful stewardship (Tithing & Giving)
Faithful reporting

4.01.2011

Furious!

No… I am not furious; that's the name of a really nice new worship song:

Artist: Bethel Live
Album: Be Lifted High
Review: http://bit.ly/ibR0QA
Purchase: http://bit.ly/hMJwNd

Led by Jeremy Riddle

Photos from: http://bit.ly/eCO6sz. Amazing shots!

Lyrics: (Jeremy Riddle, © BETHEL MUSIC)

Nothing can tear us from
The grip of His mighty love
We've only glimpsed, His vast affection
Heard whispers of, His heart and
passion

It's pouring down...
His love is deep, His love is wide
And it covers us

His love is fierce, His love is strong
It is furious
His love is sweet, His love is wild

And its waking hearts to life
The Father loves and sends His son
The Son lays down His life for all
He lavishes His love upon us
He calls us now, His sons and daughters
He's reaching out...

(Tag)
... and its waking hearts to life
He is waking hearts to life
He is waking hearts to life

(…and here is the story behind the song…)

My Dental recommendation

Few people enjoy going to the dentist, but having a good dentist reduces the anxiety. I have recommended Dr. Steve Kumasaka to dozens of people, and they have all told me "THANKS!"

The office is next door to the Kaneohe Hawaii Post Office... not fancy at all... just below 808 Tattoo. Great cosmetic and family dentistry, and a Mac user, too!

http://www.tuaw.com/2011/04/01/happy-35th-birthday-to-apple-inc/

Happy 35th birthday to Apple, Inc.

"It's no joke: Apple Inc. turns 35 today.

On April 1, 1976, Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne (who 12 days later sold his share of the startup for a meager US$2,300) founded Apple Computer. As a newborn, Apple intended to sell low-cost, hand-manufactured microcomputer components to fellow members of the localHomebrew Computer Club."

Is Twitter for Everybody? (businessesgrow.com)

Is Twitter for Everybody?
http://www.businessesgrow.com/2011/03/30/is-twitter-for-everybody/

3.31.2011

A strong word for young believers

http://www.shauninthecity.com/2011/03/midtown-atlanta-gay-men-the-closet-churches-jesus.html

A thoughtful post on reconciling truth and grace

"Midtown Atlanta, Gay Men, The Closet, Churches, Jesus and Me"

—40days.bloodwatermission.com

Still drink bottled water? REALLY?

"Compared ti a liter of tap water, producing a liter of bottled water requires as much as 2,000 times more energy."

http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2009/08/03/bokodes/

3.29.2011

Beyond QR Codes?

3.25.2011

Is Social Media just a fad?

3.23.2011

Receive donations on your ministry website

http://www.paypal.com

Receive donations on site

https://squareup.com/

Receive donation on site

https://squareup.com/

3.18.2011

Helping Japan (without money!)

Our hearts and prayers are with the people of Japan. Many of us in Hawaii have strong connections to that nation… family, friends, and business links. The economy in Hawaii is not very strong and many people have wanted to do something to help, but feel helpless because they just don't have much money themselves.

Here is a way you can do something that will make a big difference and cost ZERO.

Hawaii Air Cargo is collected needed items for Japan and has made arrangements with Japan Airlines to ship all collected items at no charge! If you have NEW or GENTLY USED blankets, coats, sweaters, warm socks, gloves or mittens in good condition we will receive them at REUNION CHURCH this Sunday morning at 10:00 A.M. Brenda Carinio will coordinate this effort and take the donated items to Hawaii Air Cargo for shipment.

Open your closets and your hearts, friends, and clear out those barely-used cold weather items to assist those in need in Japan! A poet named Mary Oliver wrote, "Let everyone in the world who suffers take a day off."

3.03.2011

FRANCIS CHAN's latest message to the Cornerstone church

2.26.2011

Guaranteed to cost me some friends

I know — I should keep my mouth shut sometimes, because holding strong opinions about controversial issues has caused me more problems, and lost me more friends, than I can list here. Having said that, here I go…

I love the social conscience and social consciousness of my younger friends in ministry. They promote the purchase of fair-trade products, decrying the exploitation of workers in producing countries, and they call for willingness of consumers to pay higher prices for goods to enable higher social and environmental standards. (Wonderful!)

They fight for an end to sex trafficking and the enslavement of young girls (and boys) who are used and discarded, and well they should.

They rail against the injustices and inequities of society — poverty, AIDS, racism… but seem blind to the societal evils that result from alcohol. There, I said it. Let the rationalizations begin. Tell me all the reasons why "drinking won't send you to hell." I agree. The old joke is, "Jesus turned the water into wine and conservative evangelicals have been trying to turn it into grape juice ever since." I know Christians — real, born-again, blood-bought followers of Jesus — who drink, and I am not judging their salvation or walk with the Lord. I do, however, wish they would take the blinders off and at least honestly speak out about the total devastation, the havoc that results from societies' love affair with alcohol.

It seems that in a pendulum-swing reaction against the often legalistic total-abstinence conservative evangelical stance, many young leaders consider it both a badge of honor and a test of relevance to hang out in bars discussing theology over a micro-brew. It's part of the new ministry checklist:

[✔] Spiky haircut

[✔] Scruffy five-o'clock shadow

[✔] Printed T-Shirt

[✔] Tom's shoes

[✔] Cryptic tattoo(s)

[✔] Starbucks spot as office

[✔] Beer with the boys, so they won't think you are religious.

Integrity and intellectual honesty demands, however, that we speak out against the root causes of the evils that destroy lives, even if those root causes are our pet vices.

I got a letter from my Compassion Sponsored Child, Felma, today. We exchange letters often. Every letter Felma sends me from Davao, in the southern Philippines, contains the same prayer request: "Please pray for my father, that he will stop drinking liquor." I love that child. I have been in her simple home, and met her family. The $38 I send to Felma through Compassion each month is a gift of love, and I don't begrudge it at all. One must wonder, however, what role her father's alcoholism plays in the poverty that grips that family. One must also wonder why we prefer to pretend not to see the effects of alcohol in our own middle-class, American world.

I won't weary you with the stats: you have access to GOOGLE. Suffice it to say the cost in healthcare resources, destroyed families, traffic-related deaths, violence and ruined lives demands that we admit that our social consciousness doesn't extend to the things we don't want to justify. So we text one another about the latest cause on our iPhones made by Foxconn and hoist a pint or two to show how free we are, blind to the inconsistency of it all.

2.21.2011

The glamour of Delta travel?

When I was much younger I thought that the idea of traveling the world seemed really glamorous. Now that I travel a lot those illusions have been shattered.

I fly Delta when possible in order to accumulate frequent-flyer miles faster. I use a Delta American Express Card to buy tickets in order to gain 1 free checked bag per person in my party. I am a loyal customer, but I am starting to think there's no advantage to doing things that way. On the recent trip from HNL to LAX we were crammed into a Boeing 757-300, one of my least favorite commercial planes. In case you don't fly much, it is a long, narrow-bodied plane with 3 crammed seats on each side of a ridiculously narrow aisle. There are 200 passenger seats in coach, and two available restrooms. I'm not a math genius, but that looks like 100/1 ratio. On a 5 hour plus flight, assuming each person has to use the restroom at least once… some more than once, that tiny aisle is often jammed with people clustered near the restrooms waiting their turn. If you are one of the unfortunate people seated in rows 39 or 40, you spend the majority of your flight with the rear-ends of your fellow passengers near your face, since there is no other place for them to stand.

Delta has joined the ranks of other struggling air carriers, and no longer provides hot meals on those flights. They will sell you a high-calorie snack pack for $5 if you are desperate for food… and I use that term in its loosest connotation.

I am making at least two more trips this year, and the accumulation of loyalty miles looks less and less like an incentive; I will be carefully checking the airline schedules for carriers flying Airbus or other planes with more leg room, wider aisles, power-ports at coach seats, and modern entertainment options. As always, I will use seatguru.com to try to find the least objectionable seats possible.

I will kind of miss Delta… but not much.