Have you ever experienced God’s unexpected and amazing grace? When I try to visualize and place myself at the scene where Jesus was being tortured towards His execution on the cross. He prayed: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34) Luke later writes of a surprising encounter. One...
Once, having been asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is within you.” Luke 17:20-21 NIV What does it mean that “the kingdom of...
You ever wondered what James meant when he wrote “he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does”? (James 1:8) Sometimes James sounds extreme because he’s trying to shake and wake us. I like that: “Lord, shake me to wake my heart up!” I don’t think James is not denying that we wrestle with...
It’s interesting to me that in the crucifixion scenes of all the Gospels, Gospel of Luke is the only one that includes these red-letter words of Jesus: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34) In my research, I discovered there has been scholarly debate about this passage and whether it...
This Sunday, I’ll be teaching the “red letter” words of Jesus found only in the Gospel of Luke. It’s about an unexpected neighbor! When an expert in the law asks Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?” Jesus responds with a story so radical and unexpected, it would have completely shocked His audience. The Good Samaritan reveals...
In Gospel of Mark 7:24–30, we meet a mother desperate for her daughter’s healing. Her daughter is suffering, so the mother seeks the help of Jesus. The deep love and care of the mother for her daughter compels her to cross huge cultural and spiritual barriers. The risk was far worth the healing of her...
Do you recall singing a song with these lyrics: This is the air I breatheThis is the air I breathe Your holy presenceLiving in me It’s a worship song written by Marie Barnett. It’s been a profound song, leading me to think deeply about the life I’ve been given by God physically — and spiritually...
You may have already heard the sad — but sacred — news that our awesome and amazing sister in Christ, TC, has passed from this life into eternal life, now in the presence of our Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. She believed for healing in this life. She fought the good fight of faith...
Pastor Rod has been in ministry for more than 38 years. He has shepherded and overseen a variety of ministries, including children’s, youth, college, community/missions, discipleships/small groups, worship and the arts, as well as assisting and consulting with several church planters. Since moving back to Honolulu from Kansas City in 2000, Rod has served on Pastor Wayne Cordeiro’s executive team at New Hope O‘ahu. He has pastored the New Hope Mānoa ‘ohana since January 2015.
