Letter from Kahu Alpha:
August 2010
Aloha Ka Kou! Members & friends of Wai`oli Hui`ia Church,
It could be weak caffeine, it could be sleep apnea, it could be Hanalei chickens, but I am not a “morning a person”. I was telling the keiki in the Sunday Worship: I only plan to get up early just once a year: for the Easter sunrise service. But just the day before, I got up while it was still dark, went down to Black Pot and walked out on to the end the pier to give the opening pule for the start of the 2nd Annual North Shore Fishing Tournament (benefiting our 175th Anniversary). Then I told them about the fish caught during the tournament: the 178 lb. ahi... the 29 lb. mahi mahi... the 240 lb. marlin that was so big it hung over both sides of the boat bringing it in to weigh...and the 2 oz. papio I caught was so small I threw it back.
But there was one thing all the fishermen who caught fish had in common. It is the secret to success. It is the thing that guarantees they would catch fish. The trick to catching fish, to winning fishing tournaments, to impressing your friends with the sashimi you caught that day- is this: “To catch fish, you have to go fishing.” You can’t do it in bed, watching a computer screen, pushing buttons on a cell phone or reading a page. To catch fish, you must take the time and effort to go fishing. (Snagging a tray of fish cake tossed to you at Big Save doesn’t count!)
My sermon later in the worship was about spiritual growth. At our Church Summit, “Spiritual Growth” was by far the #1 value that we said we wanted our church to exhibit. And I believe it would be true for almost every church that spiritual growth is essential and is a priority in our personal and collective lives.
But the question is: “How do I grow spiritually?” There is a whole informational industry addressing this question. There are over 8 million sites you can go to online that will help you answer this question. But I’ll tell you the answer for free right now. The secret to spiritual growth is... “you must go fishing”. In other words, spiritual growth, like fishing, requires you do something. Jesus hung out with fishermen and puts it this way: "Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you". (Matthew 7:7)
Spiritual growth is something you decide to do. If you don’t decide to do it, chances are it ain’t happening. It’s like watching a TV show on fishing and then wondering why there’s no fish in the poke. You can’t just hear about it, think about it, or even feel it warming your heart. Spiritual growth takes some energy, work. It takes a commitment that you chose to do.
Here are 5 commitments that I talked about to help you get started: "I commit to..."
1. connecting with others: who are also seeking to grow spiritually for mutual encouragement.
2. building spiritual habits: like prayer, Bible study, fellowship. They don’t just happen all by themselves.
3. using my talents: When you use them to help somebody, not only are they helped, but you grow.
4. sharing my faith: When you tell others what God has done for you, it is amplified in your life.
5. fulfilling my purpose: God put you on this earth to make a positive difference in the world.
I hope you will keep on with asking and seeking the spiritual growth God has for you. Unlike fishing, you can’t just always do it alone all by yourself. But like a fishing tournament, together the work is shared, the excitement is magnified and the joy is multiplied.
Let's go! A hui hou!
Kahu Alpha
Come join us for the “Treasures of the Kingdom” (a Sunday School & Adult summer reading program);
“Prayer Summits” (pray every 2nd Thursday of Month for our Sunday School, Hanalei School, Kaua`i etc.
supper; pray in Sanctuary); Monday Night Bible Study (Barbara Hollenbeck’s);
Yung Mangrupe (Mission Hall TBA) or start up a small group with your friends or neighbors (I’ll help you!)