So beautiful!
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Ka Huaka'i
I know this is long but please read the whole thing. Thanks.
It is late Sunday morning and I pull up to a small rundown building at a little park about 30 minutes from my house. There are about 30 people sitting around two long tables on folding chairs listening to a soft spoken but passionate man as we walk in. There are also two seperate tables with a total of 10 kids altogether doing the same thing that the adults were doing but on a different scale. An hour or so goes by and everybody gets up, moves the folding chairs and finds a seat. A small stage with a projector screen and a few decorations, 3 microphones, and a music stand are all that is in front of me. Three people go to the microphones and start praise and worship time. No organ, no quitar, no piano, no choir...just 3 microphones and 3 beautiful children of God singing to an instrumental version of the song we are singing. A few songs go by, a prayer, and up walks a man in khakis and a hawaiian shirt. No robes, no priest attire, just regular everyday hawaiian attire. With the sound of basketballs bouncing in the backround, a sermon about processes we go through from a man who God has called to become a pastor. With attentiveness that I have not seen in a very long time from children or adults we listen, for an hour, to one of the most meaningful sermons that I have heard in a long time. A prayer, another song or two, and we pick up the chairs, the tables, the audio video equipment, and then fellowship. Laughing and smiling everybody heads outside to go home. For the first time in a long time I look forward to next Sunday, where 40 of God's children, 50 or so folding chairs (a few extra for visitors), 3 microphones, a projector, and a music stand await me. Now that's what I call Church. Ka Huaka'i...The Journey.
I got invited to church last week by the lady that owns Pepper, the dog who Buddie has play dates with. She told me about the church and it sounded interesting to me so I decided to go. I was greeted last week by 39 of the most genuine people I have met in a long time. They weren't there out of an obligation to family, friends, or feelings of guilt. They were there out of a love for God that many people who go to church have forgotten over the years. I got introduced and was presented with a lei (only in Hawaii). I know people say that when you visit a church they are overly friendly because they want you to come back for their numbers or they want to convert you. I have been to churches where it definitely felt that I was only a number to them, this is definitely not one of those times. I was approached with genuine hearts and asked where I came from, what I did, what brought me to Hawaii, and so many other questions not about my religious backround but about me and my journey. Today before I left the pastor gave me a hug, which most of you know, hugs are very important in my life. If you have ever heard somebody say, they spoke to my heart, this is what pastor did. He spoke to my heart from his heart and with a look of pure joy told me that he was so happy that I had come back and that I had come to church today. I thank God that through Buddie I met Darcie and that she, in a world where talking about God is taboo, she invited me to church.
The church is a mission church that is sponsored by First Missionary Baptist Church in Fresno, CA. Ka Huaka'i, The Journey MBC is the name of the church that I am going to. I cannot think of a better name for a church than The Journey. All of us are on a journey and who better to be with us on that journey but God.
Click here to go to the church website
It is late Sunday morning and I pull up to a small rundown building at a little park about 30 minutes from my house. There are about 30 people sitting around two long tables on folding chairs listening to a soft spoken but passionate man as we walk in. There are also two seperate tables with a total of 10 kids altogether doing the same thing that the adults were doing but on a different scale. An hour or so goes by and everybody gets up, moves the folding chairs and finds a seat. A small stage with a projector screen and a few decorations, 3 microphones, and a music stand are all that is in front of me. Three people go to the microphones and start praise and worship time. No organ, no quitar, no piano, no choir...just 3 microphones and 3 beautiful children of God singing to an instrumental version of the song we are singing. A few songs go by, a prayer, and up walks a man in khakis and a hawaiian shirt. No robes, no priest attire, just regular everyday hawaiian attire. With the sound of basketballs bouncing in the backround, a sermon about processes we go through from a man who God has called to become a pastor. With attentiveness that I have not seen in a very long time from children or adults we listen, for an hour, to one of the most meaningful sermons that I have heard in a long time. A prayer, another song or two, and we pick up the chairs, the tables, the audio video equipment, and then fellowship. Laughing and smiling everybody heads outside to go home. For the first time in a long time I look forward to next Sunday, where 40 of God's children, 50 or so folding chairs (a few extra for visitors), 3 microphones, a projector, and a music stand await me. Now that's what I call Church. Ka Huaka'i...The Journey.
I got invited to church last week by the lady that owns Pepper, the dog who Buddie has play dates with. She told me about the church and it sounded interesting to me so I decided to go. I was greeted last week by 39 of the most genuine people I have met in a long time. They weren't there out of an obligation to family, friends, or feelings of guilt. They were there out of a love for God that many people who go to church have forgotten over the years. I got introduced and was presented with a lei (only in Hawaii). I know people say that when you visit a church they are overly friendly because they want you to come back for their numbers or they want to convert you. I have been to churches where it definitely felt that I was only a number to them, this is definitely not one of those times. I was approached with genuine hearts and asked where I came from, what I did, what brought me to Hawaii, and so many other questions not about my religious backround but about me and my journey. Today before I left the pastor gave me a hug, which most of you know, hugs are very important in my life. If you have ever heard somebody say, they spoke to my heart, this is what pastor did. He spoke to my heart from his heart and with a look of pure joy told me that he was so happy that I had come back and that I had come to church today. I thank God that through Buddie I met Darcie and that she, in a world where talking about God is taboo, she invited me to church.
The church is a mission church that is sponsored by First Missionary Baptist Church in Fresno, CA. Ka Huaka'i, The Journey MBC is the name of the church that I am going to. I cannot think of a better name for a church than The Journey. All of us are on a journey and who better to be with us on that journey but God.
Click here to go to the church website
Internationally Known at Sunset Beach
"We are from Australia and we do strange things," said that Australian tourist.
With a puzzled but very interested look I say, "Okay, what do you need?"
"We are on an amazing race/scavenger hunt and we were wondering if we could take a picture of your dog in the back of your truck," says the funny australian man.
"No problem," I said as I put Buddie in the back of the truck.
Buddie perched his front feet on the tailgate of the truck and with his most charming smile he waited for his picture to be taken. So, my puppy is now internationally known but he is not letting his fame get to his head...to much.
We took Buddie to Sunset Beach yesterday and he had so much fun. He didn't really like the ocean very much (see video). He didn't dig very much but he had fun and was very good on the car ride. We drove around the whole Island yesterday also which was beautiful and took about an hour if we wouldn't have stopped anywhere. Buddie even found his very own place to sleep in the truck.
With a puzzled but very interested look I say, "Okay, what do you need?"
"We are on an amazing race/scavenger hunt and we were wondering if we could take a picture of your dog in the back of your truck," says the funny australian man.
"No problem," I said as I put Buddie in the back of the truck.
Buddie perched his front feet on the tailgate of the truck and with his most charming smile he waited for his picture to be taken. So, my puppy is now internationally known but he is not letting his fame get to his head...to much.
We took Buddie to Sunset Beach yesterday and he had so much fun. He didn't really like the ocean very much (see video). He didn't dig very much but he had fun and was very good on the car ride. We drove around the whole Island yesterday also which was beautiful and took about an hour if we wouldn't have stopped anywhere. Buddie even found his very own place to sleep in the truck.
Friday, February 8, 2008
Crazy Eye
Buddie had his first play date today with his friend Pepper. Buddie was definitely giving him the 'eye' to let him know who is in charge. Make sure you click on the picture to the get the full effect.
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Digging to China
Buddie and I go check the mail together every day, except Sundays of course. Today when we went to go check the mail Buddies friend Menami was playing at the playground. She is an 8 year old girl who absolutely adores Buddie and will play with him for hours if she could. So today, she took him and ran around with him and took him in the playground sand. Needless to say, he realized that he can dig. He had a blast as you can tell by the pictures and the video.
He has a very dark red beard...
He has a very dark red beard...
Monday, February 4, 2008
Super Bowl Prep for our Giants fan
Well, let me see. I have figured out how to get Buddie to calm down for about 2 hours. After his bath he gets wrapped in a towel to dry off and he just falls asleep. Now before you say, 'that is mean to just give him a bath to make him go to sleep', I only bathe him once a week. He is oh so cute wrapped in his little towel though.
GIANTS FAN
Buddie went to his first Super Bowl party yesterday and just like every other outing that we go to he had a great time. He loves everybody and thinks that the reason that we all get together is for him. He is not shy at all! So on to why I know he is a Giants fan. We were all sitting there watching the game and the Patriots made a nice play and he started barking and getting very uhappy about what had just happened. Now in the last few minutes when the Giants were about to score he got very excited and when they scored he started jumping and giving me kisses. The patriots fan whose house we were at told him he could not come over again. (He was joking though) He also played with his little football for most of the game. Somebody please send me a soccer ball...my dog is straying from the real sport of futbol!
GIANTS FAN
Buddie went to his first Super Bowl party yesterday and just like every other outing that we go to he had a great time. He loves everybody and thinks that the reason that we all get together is for him. He is not shy at all! So on to why I know he is a Giants fan. We were all sitting there watching the game and the Patriots made a nice play and he started barking and getting very uhappy about what had just happened. Now in the last few minutes when the Giants were about to score he got very excited and when they scored he started jumping and giving me kisses. The patriots fan whose house we were at told him he could not come over again. (He was joking though) He also played with his little football for most of the game. Somebody please send me a soccer ball...my dog is straying from the real sport of futbol!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)