Friends,

Last Sunday was Women’s Day in our worship service.  For me, that meant sitting in the congregation until the end of the service for the invitation.  And best I could, I just sat there and didn’t worry about anything with the service, I just enjoyed it.  And for that I was extremely blessed.

One of the great things that the planners of the service did was to put some worship choruses into the service in between speakers.  We had 4 different speakers (Alice Nichols, Katie Wallace, Kaitlyn Plott, and Annie LePere) and instead of stacking them together or doing full hymns, we did these shorter songs.

Well, after Katie spoke, we sang “Alleluia”, a beautiful and simple little chorus.  The first verse is Alleluia repeated over and over, and then the second verse is “He is God’s Son” repeated several times.

Well, Mary was up in the choir with Annie, and Nathan had agreed to sit with dad during worship, so it was just me and him for this song.  The cool thing is – Nathan is starting to read and so he could actually read the all of the words to the second verse.  So there we were, me moving my finger along to track where we were, and Nathan and I singing together in worship.  I believe this was the first time we have ever been able to do that!

Now, let me tell you…we sounded terrible!  Neither of us has the best voice, and since Nathan was following me trying to follow the melody…well, it was sad.  But, hey, make a joyful noise, right?!  So there Nathan and I got to WORSHIP together, father and son.  What a tremendous blessing!

Many of you reading this may get to stand or sit next to your family in worship on a regular basis, but not me.  Sunday was truly awesome for me, and I am very thankful that we had the opportunity for this.  I am even more excited for the next chance to be next to Nathan and/or Mary when we can glorify God together.

This Sunday I’m beginning a sermon series based on Malachi.  The more I read this little book at the end of the Old Testament, the more amazed I am at how it speaks to our world today (and especially Big Island).  Hope to see you there!

Blessings,

Pastor Bryon

What a beautiful day to be in worship today!  This past week I saw several instances of people putting their hope and faith in places other than God.  Whether it was Obama, our Congress, sports stars, actors, pop stars…well the list goes on.  We have some real problems in this world…some of them may be solved and others may linger for a long time, but ultimately, both in the big and small issues of this world, our hope and trust should be in nothing else but God and His sovreignty.

I love the verse that says in God we will “lack no good thing.”  I was having a pity-party Friday afternoon and as I was carrying the groceries in the house, it hit me.  How many couldn’t afford their groceries?  How many people in our world are starving for food, for faith, for hope?  And I am blessed with each of these.  I don’t want to diminish your stresses and concerns, but I do want to ask…where are you looking for hope?  In what or whom have you put your trust?

You can listen to the sermon here: Ridiculous Faith – Psalm 34 (size= ~39mb)

Scriptures Referenced:

• Psalm 34
• 1 Samuel 21:10-15
• Psalm 111:5, Exodus 16, Matthew 6:25-33
• Isaiah 46:3-4
• Job 2:10
• Proverbs 3:5-6
• Isaiah 41:10
• Romans 8:28, 31-38
• John 16:33

Yesterday I looked at the text where Jesus calls His 12 disciples together and then sends them out in ministry.  We see a diverse group, called out (not asked), and empowered to go out and accomplish great things for the Kingdom of God.

In the same way, we as members of the body of Christ are a diverse group called out and empowered to go out and do great things for the Kingdom.  But also, we are at our best when we work together.

Do you know what’s inside a 9v battery?  As I researched this, I found out that it actually contains 6 individual AAAA batteries.  A 9v battery is a sum of its parts, and is at full power when each of these work together at full capacity.  In the same way, the church is not a just a group of individual units, but should be working as the sum of its parts.  Whether it is missions, prayer, fellowship, outreach, worship, etc., we are most powerful when we are working together, in step with and empowered by the Holy Spirit.

How about you?  Are you meeting your potential?  Are you giving that energy out as a part of the body of Christ, working together with your brothers and sisters in Christ?  Tell me your thoughts…

Scriptures referenced:

• Matthew 10.1-16
• Matthew 28.18-20
• Romans 12.4, 1 Corinthians 12.12
• 1 Corinthians 1.26-29
• 2 Timothy 3.17