Attitude is Infectious

The tongue has the power of life and death,

and those who love it will eat its fruit. (Prov. 18:21)

We learn a powerful lesson from the military conquest of Israel in Deut. 20. As the nation was preparing to go to fight to claim the land God had given them the military leadership did something strange. It began to send some of it's own troops away. Those who just built a new house, those who were getting married, those who planted a new vineyard, and this group... Those who were afraid.
The Bible reads like this: Then the officers shall add, “Is any man afraid or fainthearted? Let him go home so that his brothers will not become disheartened too.” (v8)
This is an important lesson for each of us. Our attitude is contagious. How we speak and how we act really do affect those around us. If you're a student, what's your attitude like toward schoolwork or people at school? You'll influence more than you know. As parents, our words and actions speak volumes to our children and trust me, they are catching unspoken things from you all the time.
Will your attitude be like a cancer which spreads and kills life, or will it be like antibiotics that spread life?

In preparation for Easter

Hi gang, Here's a great verse that we can memorize and meditate on as we prepare our hearts for Easter!

1 Thess 3:12 May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. 13 May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.


We're going to have a blast this Easter at our first ever Sunrise Worship Service.
April 8th 6:18a.m.
At Kapolei Elementary School.
Potluck Breakfast & Easter Egg Hunt to follow.

Borrowing is Bondage

But Lending leads to blessing.

Debt seems to be everywhere and a topic that's on everyone's mind. You can hardly find a person who doesn't have some kind of debt whether it's credit cards, a car payment, college loans, etc.

Debt used to be rare and only for those in unusual circumstances. That's why the Lord was able to tell his people that every 7 years you should release your brothers & sisters in the faith from all their debt to you.

Today, we would shout "Hallelujah!" if our creditors would cancel all our debt every 7 years.

Debt is a serious spiritual issue. Deut. 15:6 says, "For the Lord your God will bless you just as He promised you; you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow; you shall reign over many nations, but they shall not reign over you." Debt puts you in a place of bondage and submission to someone in an unnatural way.

Our culture promotes debt by overspending to get the latest items or the best deals. Personally it's a struggle for me too because I'm a gadget guy. I like the latest cool gadgets. If you are in debt, seek godly counsel and begin a plan to set your financial life right.

Then you will be in a position to be a financial blessing to others. "You shall surely give to him, and your heart should not be grieved when you give to him, because for this thing (your generosity) the Lord you God will bless you in all your works and in all which you put your hand." (Deut. 15:10)

We are blessed to be a blessing. And the more we release to God, the more he can release to us and through us.

From Trash to Holiness

I heard that Singapore is an incredibly clean place to live because there are very strict laws against littering. You can't even chew gum in public!!! On one website, I found an article talking about the penalty for "Minor littering" like a cigarette butt, bus ticket, wrapper, etc. Can you believe that the penalty was about $545 US Dollars?!? They really take littering seriously in Singapore.
Then I thought, what if we really took God's laws seriously? What if we really stoned to death everyone who committed adultery? How many of us would be left? What if we extended that law as Jesus suggested so that everyone who looked upon another lustfully was also guilty! Who would be left then? What if we really killed everyone who said to us, "Let us go and serve other gods..." That's what Deuteronomy 13:6 says.
Actually, it almost sounds a bit like the devout Muslims. The difference is that it's in our Bibles!
Now, I'm not advocating mass murder or anything like that, but perhaps we have a lot too learn about holiness.
Praise God, one day, when Jesus comes again and restores his rule on the earth, holiness will also be restored. We are now a royal priesthood and a holy nation... but we will one day be perfected in that role and in holiness.

=)

Worship & Evangelism

Hi Gang, Today, I wanted to bring up an idea.
What is the relationship between worship and evangelism?
I believe “Worship is an opportunity for man to invite God’s power and presence to move among those worshipping Him.”
While I’m not sure I can find a biblical text to confirm this observation, it seems that within a worship service there’s a teamwork between worship and evangelism (or worship and ministry of God’s word for that matter). The Holy Spirit opens people’s hearts as we worship and God’s word opens our eyes and understanding.
A related question, do you believe people are convicted as they sense the Holy Spirit’s presence? Worship ushers in that presence. If this is true, worship has a crucial role to play in evangelism (during a church service) and an important role as God’s word is proclaimed.
What do you think?
Leave me a comment..
=)
Pastor arlen

Worshippers One And All

Man is a worshipper by nature. Let me explain, to worship something or someone means to give it value or worth. By our very nature we prioritize everything in our lives. The question is what will get our top priority, what will we worship? Will it be our family? Will it be our career? Will it be security? These things are all important and no one should neglect them. But are they the top priority and worthy of our worship?
Someone once said, "The most important thing is the keep the most important thing, the most important thing." In a similar way, Augustine said, "Lord, you've made us for Yourself, and our hearts find no rest till they find it in You."
So we are to "Worship the Lord Your God and serve Him only."

You are worshipping something today. Is it the Lord God?

Skype Me

Hi Gang, Most people think I'm really techy and a computer guy. But sometimes I just come late to the party. I finally got a skype account. If you want to keep in touch via skype (internet chat or free voice call) just skype me.

If you have no idea what I'm talking about, go to www.skype.com and browse around.

My skype login: arlen.nagata


=)
arlen

Beyond Yourself

2 Corinthians 3:5-6 NKJV
5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, 6 who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit;^[a] for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Cor%203:5-6&version=50

Being good enough. Having what it takes. Being sufficient. For many of us, especially us men, we have a deep need and desire to sufficient. Many times that means we want to be self-sefficient. We don't want to depend on or have to depend on anything beyond ourselves.

In many ways, that is a good thing. It's what drives a person (especially men) to succeed and provide for their families.

But when it comes to reaching out to people and sharing our faith... We never feel like we have what it takes. That's where faith and trust come in. The Holy Spirit has called every one of us to be his people who will take his love, hope, and peace with us wherever we go. And He gives us the courage to reach out. He gives us the words to say. He makes us sufficient.

Our challenge is mearly to look beyond ourselves and obey the Holy Spirit as He leads us to minister to people's needs.

Let's be that kind of people!

=)
pastor arlen