Politics, Airplanes, and a Campground.

Adventure and spontaneity are two word not unfamiliar to my journey.  This past month or so I've found myself inside the Hawaii state capitol, on a plane to Kona, and standing in front of 80+ women at One Love Ministries Women's retreat at a campground on the North Shore of Oahu.  Locations and people vary but a theme flows; Worship and Intercession. 

Politics.
Combining the second thing that people often try to avoid in casual conversation, alongside religion, -politics.  As Christians we are called to stand for truth, in a manner of love.  Willing to be messengers of light, in obedience, boldness, and respect.  The church on Hawaii rallied together at the state capitol to support traditional marriage as the definition hung in the balance.  Hearing of this, one of our invested local YWAM staff members and myself felt compelled to join.  We loaded up a couple 15 passenger vans of YWAMers (students and staff) to join in intercessory prayer for an afternoon at the state capitol.  A significant experience for us all.  For many of our YWAM students it was an eye opening experience to be at the front lines where religion and politics meet and the sobering effect of the reality of spiritual battle over laws and morals.
 

Airplanes.
Something about being in a plane makes me alive, and dream in color.  Open door, confirmation, trip to the University of the Nations on the big island, a 30min plan ride from Oahu.  Connected with those running with a common vision for worship.  A 3 night getaway, refreshing, and stirring.  Seeking God's face, and seeing things set in motion.  Bonus  treasured time visiting a close friend.  Radical corporate worship times.  Fiery speakers, leaders, dreamers, and lovers of Jesus. Divine networking, and connecting dots to a bigger picture.  Waiting on the ripple effects of this visit.

(Kona prayer room)

 


Campground.
Through a couple divine sequence of events, I ended up with the opportunity to lead worship for One Love Ministries Women's retreat this past weekend at a camp on the beautiful North Shore of Oahu.  The retreat theme was "Faith like a Child".  I was blessed by a friend who came to joined last minute.  Between her; violin, guitar, and voice, and my; guitar, keyboard, and voice, we had a blast switching it up at every session.  Holy Spirit showed up, filled up, breakthroughs, revelations, tears, and laughter.  Familiarity, and many new faces.  One Love Ministries is my original foundation of church on island.  About a decade ago at my arrival I was adopted in, invested, seen through ~7 years of a lot of seasons of life.  For the past several years natural distance occurred due to full-time staffing with YWAM, involvement in other ministries on island, and travels that brought me in other directions.  This past weekend was a full-circle, refreshing reminder of the blessing, thank you One Love Ministries for all you've done, and do!  Highlights;  being in God's creation, early morning Bible readings on an empty beach, and worship around a campfire.  Overall refreshment.

(Camp Homelani)

(personal study of Acts)

 

     

(YWAM Honolulu living room prayer room)

We are rounding the corner to the holiday seasons.  This year I will be staying on the rock (Oahu).  Here at YWAM Honolulu, in 3 weeks, 2 out of our 3 schools, our current D.T.S. and S.O.M.E. students will be departing for their several month outreaches around Asia Pacific, it's possibly about to get much more quite around here.  All though students, school staff, and some homebound-for-the-holidays base staff will be going out, I have a full schedule of guest coming in, the YWAM Honolulu Hospitality guest house is booked through the end of this year.  Continuing current responsibilities; managing the YWAM Honolulu Guest House, leading worship, and involvement with island community outreaches such as with the homeless in Chinatown.
   




Transitional season.  Recently released communication, my current home church will be ending it's season of ministry.  Christ Fellowship, a plant from Christ Fellowship and Antioch church in Waco Texas, has been active on the island of Oahu for the past 7 years.  I have been involved for the past ~year, running the sound board, playing keys, and vocals. The last service will be December 8th, 2013.  Dispersion, where I go is an unknown.

My journey. Ever growing, pioneering ever stirring. To simplify, write music, and to be ready. Willing.