First Press July 2014

First Press First Press is the monthly newsletter of First Presbyterian Church of Honolulu 45-550 Kionaole Road, Kane‘ohe, HI 96744

BIG Picture

JULY 2014 | Volume 19 | Issue 6

The

SUMMER 2014 WAKO • WEDNESDAYS AT KO‘OLAU • AUGUST 6, 13, 20, 27 • 5:30–8:30 PM

IN THIS ISSUE

Have you met Adj yet?

If not, turn to page 4!

ON THE COVER

“The Big Picture" Summer 2014 WAKO 4 Wednesdays at Ko‘olau, August 6, 13, 20, and 27, 2014 If you put your thumb over the image of our church in the beautiful photo by Jim White on the cover (and also below), you will have covered close to a thousand people—that is, if the photo was taken at 9:30 on a Sunday morning when close to a thousand people are under our roof at one time. Likewise on a clear full-moon night, you can hide the whole lunar surface the same way—behind your thumb.

Perspective is important—not very important if you're talking about your relationship to a photo or the moon, but terribly important if you're trying to get a grasp of God's Word or understand His will for you.

Perspective is a topic we're emphasizing in Summer WAKO 2014—getting God's big picture concerning his work in the world, and getting the big picture of what He's doing in your life.

Get ready for WAKO on all Wednesday nights in August. Go WAKO!

OP ED PIECE

Left: USA 2014 World Cup Team. Right: USA's Clint Dempsey (in white) being challenged by players from Portugal. Photo by Paulo Duarte, Associated Press. Originally posted on time.com

5 Bible Lessons from the World Cup

by Rosella Shishido

Is it soccer or is it football? To Americans, the World Cup is a competition of the best of the best in the sport of soccer. But to most of the world, soccer as we know it, is football. But whether it’s soccer or football, many of us will still be keeping track of the World Cup in Brazil till it wraps up on July 13th.

Before you start feeling guilty over watching too many games, sports can actually have a deeper value. The World Cup (and sports in general) can be a great metaphor for life. We can derive life lessons from the games that support what the Bible teaches. Here are five of them: 1) TRUST YOUR COACH. Just as soccer players need to trust their coaches, the Bible tells us to trust in our all-knowing and all-powerful God (our Coach), who knows all things and can see way beyond what we can see and comprehend. He only wants what's best for us.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

2) SHOW RESPECT. Everyone on the team is important for the team’s success. No one’s too good for the team. Athletes need to respect their coaches and teammates, and follow team rules. Likewise, the Bible teaches us to respect the Lord, other people, and those in authority over us.

“Respect everyone, and love your Christian brothers and sisters. Fear God, and respect the king.” (1 Peter 2:17)

3) BE PATIENT. Just like life in general, not everything

2

JULY 2014

| FIRST PRESS

will go as planned in soccer. There will be frustrating days because of the weather, travel, health, or the shortcomings of other people. The Bible teaches us to be patient with each other. Be willing to forgive because not everyone will live up to our expectations.

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”

(Col 3:12-13)

4) BE DISCIPLINED. Talent can only take athletes so far.

They need to also work hard in staying fit, improving their skills, and communicating better with each other. Similarly, the Bible teaches us to to discipline ourselves while on earth. Pray, read Scripture, live out what it teaches, and focus on Jesus as we look forward to our eternal home in heaven.

“Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.” (1 Cor 9:25)

5) PLAY AS A TEAM. No matter how skilled American forward and midfielder Clint Dempsey is, he won’t be as successful if he didn’t listen to his coaches or care about the others on the US National Team. Similarly, the Bible teaches us the importance of unity in the church in spite of our differences.

The Lord has made us to be unique individuals with different gifts and skills.

Let’s use them together for His glory and for the benefit of the whole church.

“Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ…..

Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.” (1 Cor 12:12 and 14)

NEW SERMON SERIES

Facing the Giants

WOMEN'S MINISTRY

Women praying for each other at the Women's Retreat (right).

What’s the giant in your life?

Leading Like Jesus Women's Retreat Recap

“That was the best retreat ever” is often the most repeated comment after our annual women’s retreat. This year was no different. First Prez was honored to have Phyllis Hendry as guest speaker for the weekend retreat held on campus last month. Phyllis is the CEO of Lead Like Jesus, a non-profit group based in Augusta, Georgia that aims to inspire and equip people to accept Jesus as their leadership role model.

We all have giants in our lives. Giants are real-life problems that look so big they make us want to run away from them and hide in fear. Sometimes we choose to simply ignore them and pretend they don’t exist.

importantly, this is NOT an identity to live up to; this is our identity to receive.

Everything God wants from us, He has already given us!” (DONNA MATICHUK)

“I learned that I need to guard my heart above all else. God is the One we worship, and He is our source of security, authority, and self-worth. Beware of pride and fear because it would make it all about me instead of God. This is food for thought and prayer for the rest of my life.” (MARTHA LEE We asked some attendees to share key MULLEN) points they gleaned from the retreat: “Being asked to be a breakout “Phyllis taught us words that should speaker on a panel with Kanani Harris describe our identity as leaders—righteous, and Tracie Ann Tjapkes on the topic of qualified, competent, forgiven, confident, Jesus in the Marketplace was such an holy, accepted, free from accusation. More honor. Sharing how Jesus led me through my unemployment by faith, prayer, living pono, learning the Word, and, above all, loving one another and keeping Jesus first in our lives was more than special. It was all Jesus!” (STACIA PELEHOLANI)

For the months of July through October, our Sunday morning sermons will focus on how to face these fearful giants with the help of the Almighty who runs the universe. We’ll go through the books of 1st Samuel and 2nd Samuel in the Bible, and study the life of King David, who we know literally faced a giant.

We don’t promise immediate victory over your struggles and overwhelming problems, but we do promise that God is bigger than all of them combined.

Join us on Sundays.

“Pride and fear show up when we focus on ourselves (Edging God Out = EGO).

Pride and fear are symptoms of an unclean spiritual heart. A clean heart comes through Christ as we return to the core beliefs that God is the One we worship, our source of security, wisdom, and our primary audience.” (MAILE SINGSON) “I really appreciated one particular quote that Phyllis shared with us as we learned to lead like Jesus. She said, ‘What you believe about God is the most important thing about you.’” (ANN WALKINSHAW)

FIRST PRESS

|

JULY 2014

3

WORSHIP MINISTRY

,

Meet Adj

Adj Larioza, our new Associate Director of Worship Hi Adj! Describe what you do at First Prez.

I have the privilege and honor of ushering in God’s presence into the Sanctuary for the 11:11 service with a team of singers, musicians, and technicians every Sunday.

I help design what the worship service will be like. I also play the percussion on the worship band.

How long have you been attending First Prez?

I started attending about four years ago and became a member in 2011.

What brought you here?

A good friend, Cory Oliveros, invited me to minister one Sunday morning.

What do you like to do outside of church?

Experience “firsts”—food, performing arts, culture, and gadgets. I enjoy exercising, riding motorcycles, and helping people look for solutions.

Your favorite movie?

Any documentary that has passion, purpose, and vision for people.

Tell us about your family.

I have four siblings, two here and two in California. My mom Estrella is also involved in ministry like me, but she serves at Pearl City Community Church.

I also have three beautiful nieces and a two-year-old Bichon named Betty White.

OUT & ABOUT (FORMERLY RAA!)

Bowling with Out & About Aug. 27, Wed, 9 am, Ft. Shafter Bowling Alley SPARE! STRIKE! HAMBONE! TURKEY! What do these words have in common?

They all have to do with what OUT & ABOUT will be doing next. SPARE: Knocking ALL ten pins down in two consecutive turns (one frame). STRIKE: Knocking ALL ten pins down with one roll. HAMBONE: Two consecutive STRIKES (two frames). TURKEY: THREE consecutive strikes (three frames). So get ready to knock some pins down at the Fort Shafter Bowling Center!

Here’s a little history. The earliest forms of bowling can be dated back to Ancient Egypt and the Roman Empire, going back 3,000 to 5,000 years ago. Balls were made of husks of corn, covered in material such as leather, and bound with string. Other balls were made of porcelain, indicating that these were rolled along the ground, rather than thrown, due to their size and weight. The first standardized rules for pin bowling were established in New York City on September 9, 1895.

Now that you’ve learned a little history, mark your calendars for Aug. 27th and round up the whole family for a morning of fun, exercise, and fellowship as we pick up a bowling ball and ROLL it down a narrow lane, hoping for a TURKEY. This should result in lots of laughs and cheers,

4

JULY 2014

| FIRST PRESS

as well as hungry tummies, so we will head over to the Strike Zone Snack Bar where daily lunch specials, hamburgers, sandwiches, pizzas and side dishes are available for lunch on your own. (No outside food permitted.)

To find this place, drive to Fort Shafter’s check-point booth and let the military officer know that you are going to the bowling alley. You will need to show your I.D. or current driver’s license, auto registration and insurance cards and Safety Check, and possibly having your car searched. If you do not have a military I.D., you will have to pull over and get a pass for the base, which could take anywhere from 2-15 minutes, depending on how many people are waiting ahead of you. So plan to get there EARLY and most of all, use the patience of Job, if you have to wait. We will have driving instructions and further details when you sign up.

We will be collecting $5 for the two games we will be playing and includes a bowling ball. Shoes are available for rent for $1.75 at the registration counter. We will meet inside the Bowling Alley in Bldg.

660 on Chamberlain Road. Sign up at the Out & About table on Sundays, Aug. 17 and 24.

CONGREGATIONAL VOTE

June 8 Recap

th

Results of the June 8 congregational meeting

IMPACT MINISTRY

Pastor Tim (4th from right, back row) and Kyle Watari (2nd from right, back row) with university student leaders in Beni, DR Congo.

Motion: “Shall the First Presbyterian Church of Honolulu request San Diego Presbytery to dismiss it to ECO (A Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians)?

Three Weeks in Africa by Pastor Tim Shaw What an amazing experience we had in Central and Southern Africa in June 2014.

As the Associate Pastor on staff overseeing international and local missions, it was a great privilege for me to go and experience • more of what God is doing in His world.

First Prez member Kyle Watari met me in New York City, and together we flew to Entebbe, Uganda, where we met four others from Christ Presbyterian Church in Edina, Minnesota. This was my sixth trip to Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, and my first trip to Swaziland.

communities. “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”

Received an update from the Congolese board of HEAL Africa, the indigenous Congolese hospital in Goma I have worked with for seven years.

They continue to provide medical, psychological and spiritual healing to sexual assault victims in Eastern Congo.

To quote a local leader, “No one is doing what HEAL Africa is doing in Goma.”

This August, I will lead a WAKO class • Met with the staff of Panzi Hospital on Wednesday nights where you can in Bukavu. This outstanding frontline learn more about the history, challenges, medical facility continues to bring achievements, and people of these three healing to sexually assaulted women countries. Once again, our sisters and and girls, caring for over 200 victims brothers in Christ in Africa have been last month alone, some as young as my teachers, and I am looking forward four years old. to sharing with you some of what I am RWANDA learning. Here are some highlights from • I spent a weekend with Laurent this investigative trip to Africa.

Mbanda, Bishop of the Shyira Diocese DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO of Rwanda, and his remarkable wife, • I interacted with some of the brightest Chantal. Bishop Mbanda serves on university students I have ever met the international boards of both at the Bilingual Christian University Compassion International and the of Congo in Beni. Their theme verse International Justice Mission (IJM). Their from Isaiah 43:19 describes what God leadership is having a significant impact is doing to transform young men on adults and children as churches and women so He might use them to in the diocese host Compassion sites bring transformation to their war-torn "Africa" continued on page 7

FIRST PRESS

661

VOTES

15

VOTES

First Prez’s request to be dismissed from PC(USA) has been sent to the San Diego Presbytery, which votes in September 2014 on whether to approve dismissal to ECO.

|

JULY 2014

5

FACEBOOK CAPTION CONTEST

Winning Caption The winner of last month's caption contest photo, based on the number of likes from Facebook users, is Ellery Lum! He wins a $10-gift certificate to Ko‘olau Kitchen! Congratulations!

Here's Ellery's winning caption: "I wished for 'an invitation to the White House!'"

Other good ones: "What light?" - Laura Masuda "This little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine..." - Sammy Kawano " Doesn't everyone have a lighthouse in their office?" - Cindy Melton Nakamura "On behalf of the Lollipop Guild, we welcome you to Munchkin Land!" - Cathy Fukunaga "What??? Me worry??" - Sarah Lau " Wait, wait. I said solar panels would be a good idea." - Sue Laufer " Dan with another big idea!" - Jon Yoshinaga " Pastor Dan Chun shows off a 6-ft replica of Makapuu light built by the Middle High youth in his office." - Brian Fila "This is what we mean when we say, 'You are the light of the world.'" - Larry Whitson

6

JULY 2014

|

People All the Good Things

by Marcia Wright

What's the buzz with First Prez people GOD BLESS AMERICA! LAND THAT I LOVE! Remember to thank God and those with boots on the ground for our freedom.

In 1967 during the Vietnam War, Carole Hickerson’s then husband Major Stephan Hanson, a Marine aviator, went missing.

His remains finally came home in 2001.

This started a journey for Carole that has continued to the present day. Her husband was MIA, and she along with 3 other wives of servicemen wanted the country to keep praying and not forget the over 2000 MIA/ POW’s out there. They started a group in southern California on college campuses in 1970 called the National League of Families of American POW/MIAs to support services guys in Vietnam. One thousand bracelets were made and sold with the wearer promising to pray for the missing soldier named. Jim Hickerson at this time was also in Vietnam as a POW after his plane was shot down in ’67. At the same time a little 9-year-old girl in Scribner, Nebraska named Laurie Helgenberger got a bracelet with Jim Hickerson’s name on it. She wore it and prayed for him until he came home.

In 2001, with the help of the Internet, she was able to find Jim and Carole. They became friends over the years and it was only last week when she was able to come to Hawaii to deliver the bracelet to him in person. I was blessed to hear this wonderful story of perseverance to prayer and dedication of service to our country on Sunday when I met Laurie and got to hold the bracelet. To this day Carole continues to receive bracelets back for her first husband Stephan Hanson and Jim has received over 300 bracelets back. Carole told me that John Wayne, Johnny Cash, and Ronald Reagan all wore Stephan’s bracelets. Jerry Coffee and Jim Hickerson shared time in the same prison and we are blessed to have these men in our congregation.

Please continue to pray for all our military

FIRST PRESS

both home and abroad. And thank them for their service!

Here is a wonderful story of a word from God which when acted on brought about a miracle healing. Bonnie Heim was approached by a woman in the bathroom after service. She said the woman insisted that she have a spot on the back of her neck attended to even after Bonnie told her her doctor had dismissed it as “nothing”.

Bonnie kept remembering the urgency of the woman in the bathroom and when she went to get the now larger spot looked at it she was sent to have a biopsy and received the scary diagnosis of Malignant Melanoma. Bonnie says “it was a few scary days, but also another opportunity for God to remind me of His love, faithfulness to His word, kindness to watch over me, and His mighty healing power…. Chaplain Marianna Meachen prayed up a storm for me and assured me that others were also holding me in prayer during the surgery…

What a comfort to know that I was being prayed for by people in my church family.

All dread and fear vanished.” The cancer was removed and Bonnie is doing great now. She wishes she knew who that woman was who was so insistent in the bathroom so she could give her a big hug and a special Mahalo.

I hope you were able to catch the fun operetta “The Mikado” with Beebe Freitas, Mary Hicks, Megan Mount, Leon Williams, Marcia Wright, Nigel Gonzaga, Larry Whitson, and Doug Stiles. It was a blast!

Blessings on you all and remember to send me all your good things so others will see God is at work and be encouraged. manoaw@hawaiiantel.net

AFRICA CONT'D FROM P. 5 and provide training through a new vocational training school.

SWAZILAND

PRAYERLINES

Five Prayers for Your Daughter

by Patti Marshall

Moms, this article by Lysa TerKeurst Here are five powerful prayers to fight stepped on my heart and toes. Trust it for the heart of your daughter: ministers to your mother’s heart.

Let her learn early in life that to obey You, God, is the best way to the life her heart “So shall my word be that goes out from truly desires (1 Sam. 15:22).

My mouth; it shall not return empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and May she find comfort in Your ability, God, shall succeed in the thing for which I sent to reach her, hold her and rescue her (2 it." Is. 55:11 (ESV) Sam. 22:17-18).

There is something I’ve come to realize I need to guard against as a mom. I sometimes want to be God in my kids’ lives. I want to write their stories. I want to set the course for their futures. I want to determine what’s best for them. I want to prevent them from ever being hurt. I want to be their provider and protector. And I want to be the one to set anyone straight who messes with my kids!

We love these people God has entrusted to us. They are ours. To love. To lead. To launch.

Yet when things happened beyond our control we eventually have to face the reality that we aren’t God; and we can’t operate as if we are. So what do we do with that gap where mommy capabilities and trusting God begins? How do we make peace with the limits of what we can and cannot protect our children from? How do we deepen our trust in God for the safety and well-being of our kids?

The only thing that bridges the space between our limitations and our trust in God is prayer. It is the only possibility with possibility.

Let her find confidence in You, God, even when hard times come and she doesn’t know what to do. May she keep her eyes fixed on You (2 Chron. 20:12).

• I joined First Prez members Heidi and Ellery Lum, and their sons Matthew and Noah to learn more about the ministry of Advocates for Africa’s Children (AFAC) and its partnership with a local church in Mgambeni, Swaziland. What an incredible impact both groups are having on this poor rural area that’s struggling to gain access to clean water, sufficient food supplies, and opportunities for employment.

The gospel of Jesus Christ is bringing hope and change to all three nations as these organizations, and many more that we had the privilege of seeing, live out the challenge of Micah 6:8, “He has shown all you people what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

May she keep herself under control and not give full vent to people and situations that anger her (Prov. 29:11).

Let her walk in the security of Your assigned worth for her. Give her a strong work ethic and health to accomplish all her tasks. Give her a heart that desires to help those in need. Protect her for the right husband, a man of respect and godly honor. And let her be a woman of joy and laughter (Prov. 31).

I still fret and worry. My girls make mistakes. But where would I be if the power of the One who answers prayers wasn’t in the mix of my life? Yes, prayer is the only possibility with real possibility. And that brings me to place where I can finally say, “Hello, my name is mom. Not God.”

Pastor Tim (2nd from right) helping pour cement near Mgambeni, Swaziland.

Dear Lord, I know Your Word does not return void and I’m believing great things for my daughter today. May we both grow in our relationship with You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Adapted Lysa TerKeurst. Mar. 19, 2014. Proverbs 31 Ministries.

FIRST PRESS

|

JULY 2014

7

NONPROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID KANEOHE, HI PERMIT NO. 120

45-550 Kionaole Road Kane‘ohe, HI 96744 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

WORSHIP SERVICES

Sundays at 8 am, 9:30 am, 11:11 am Visit our website at www.fpchawaii.org

WRITE A CAPTION FOR THIS

JULY 2014 Upcoming Events July 3 July 4 July 12 July 13 July 25–Aug 1 July 26

Caregiver Support Group Independence Day High School Slip -n- Slide Healing Service High School Mexico Mission Trip Military Mom's Night Out

Recurring Events Sundays Mondays Tuesdays Wednesdays Thursdays Fridays Saturdays

Write a caption for this photo, and enter to win! Post your suggestion on our facebook page: www.facebook.com/firstprez or email it to shayna@fpchawaii.org and we'll post it for you.

Captions with the most "LIKES" will be published in next month's First Press. Winner will receive a $10 gift certificate to Ko‘olau Kitchen donated by Ko'olau Ballrooms. Go now to www.facebook. com/firstprez, and enter your caption as a comment on this photo!

Worship Services at 8, 9:30 and 11:11 MONDAYS: College-Age Bible Study and Fellowship Mighty Moms Gathering (High School), Old Town Men's SPARTAN Group First Prez Crafters Women's Ministry Summer Bible Study

First Press is also available online or can be sent to you via e-mail.

If you would like to opt out of receiving our newsletter by mail, please email pkamahele@fpchawaii.org or call 532-1111 First Press can be viewed online at www.fpchawaii.org/?page_id=19 Submit articles by July 15 for the August 2014 issue to: shayna@fpchawaii.org.

We reserve the right to edit articles submitted. Art director • Shayna Kusumoto; Copy editors • Patty Kamahele, Julie Lockyer, Rosella Shishido, Linda Verdugo, Sarah Williams