Hawaii Update: God's Calling

God has called me to pastor His church and I have been so blessed to lead a youth group here at Kauai Calvary Chapel. A timely quote from Pastor Chuck Smith crossed my path one day as I was praying where he said, "just get in and go do what God has called you to do." It was almost too simple, but refreshing to hear God speak to me and give me permission to do what was right. As a pastor, I give you permission today to go do what is right and to go do what God has called you to do.

God has been challenging me with learning to have a healthy and balanced life. I have juggled lots of responsibilities in the past and so this is nothing new to me, but it is all very new at the same time. With ministry, a girlfriend, full-time Bible college, and a part-time job I am learning to establish priorities and be faithful to the little that God has called me to do here. God says that to those who are faithful in the little things, He will make them faithful in much. I urge you to be completely faithful in everything God has put in your path this day. Nothing is little in God's eyes and He is pleased with faithfulness. God is so faithful to us and we get to emulate Him in showing similar faithfulness to the little He has called us to do.

Studying God's word has been amazing as well. God has been revealing so much of His love and character to me that it has driven me to a more meaningful and vibrant relationship with Him. I encourage any person reading this to pursue God through the reading of the scripture and through prayer. God desires a connection with His children more than His children will ever desire that connection. I also encourage you to confess your sins to God daily, remembering the cross and blood of Jesus which cleanses us from all sin. Lastly, I encourage you to offer to God the sacrifice of thanksgiving and practice telling God all that you have to be thankful for. This will lift up your soul and produce great joy to practice thanking God.

If you are reading this and you have NO IDEA what I am talking about and have NO EXPERIENCE with knowing God like I described, then please be reconciled to God through receiving Jesus Christ and the gift of eternal life made possible through His substitutionary death and resurrection. Enter into a relationship with God the Father through Jesus Christ, God's only mediator between God and man.

Morning Devotional- 9-22-09

Luke 18:15-17

"Then they also brought infants to Him that He might touch them; but when they saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them to Him and said, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the dingdom of God. Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it."

Jesus says we all must come as a little child. What character traits does an infant possess that is necessary for the Christian to rightly approach Almighty God. The infant expresses utter dependence for his or her every need. We are to cloth our every need in prayer recognizing that everything we have including our next breath is given by God. The attitude of self-sufficiency denies that God knows our needs and denies that God supplies us with our needs in His own timing. Unless one always brings their needs before the Father they cannot enter the Kingdom of God. Another aspect of the infant related to the first is humility of position. The first may be called humility in provision. Humility of position, however, is where the young child clearly reognizes their weakness, smallness, and frailty when compared to the parent. We must see ourselves as we truly are if we are to rightly approach God. We are weak- God supplies us with power and strength via His Holy Spirit and apart from Him we can do nothing good in the Kingdom of God. Coming to God as an infant includes humility of one's position in recognizing we are weak on our own to do God's will. Our smallness also needs to be recognized. When compared to God we are the tiniest of creatures. Our pride would tell us that we are large and in charge of our lives, but Jesus says we must come as an infant- knowing our small stature and weak nature before an all powerful God. We must also, if we are to come to the kingdom of God, recognize like an infant does is our frailty. Even if we are capable of roundhouse-kicks to the face when facing other men; before Almighty God we could be crushed under the weight of His nose hair. God is big and you are not. Last but not least is the infant trusts and can do nothing but trust their lives into their Father's care. Self-willed individuals reject God by making their own plans and refusing to bring them to God in humble prayer. This individual also refuses to line up their plans with God's written revelation found in the Word of God. To recap:

Let God supply our needs

Recognize apart from God you can do nothing

Know that God is big and you are not.

Know that God is strong and you are not

Trust your life into the care of God. He knows better than you do.

Rather than growing up in your own pride, grow down and approach God as a little child. You will by no means enter the kingdom of God unless you do so.

The Island and God's Call

You wouldn't believe it if I told you... I am writing this from the local Starbucks in Kapaa, HI on Kauai. I am back studying the Holy Word of God on one of God's masterpieces of creation. I am both excited and frightened of the new horizons that have quickly developed.

For a little background: God called me to be a pastor in the fall of 2006 one Saturday night as I sat alone in a pew. I have been taking Bible College classes since as I have been growing in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ. Today, almost three years later, it looks as if God's call will become reality. Kauai Calvary Chapel has presented an open door to which God is calling me to walk through. Their youth leader had to leave the island and it looks as if I will be the pastor to fill his shoes. I will be the High School pastor here at Kauai Calvary Chapel and I will be officially, for the first time, stepping into what God has created me to do.

I feel a little apprehensive about such a responsibility, but I am confident in my God - knowing that He provides everything necessary to fulfill the callings He places upon His children. God will grant the wisdom, strength, knowledge, and grace for me to shepherd His kids. I take this responsibility with great reverence and fear. I know that I will be held to a stricter judgment, yet I pray that in humility I can allow God to powerfully work through me as His tool.

I love you all and please pray for me in this new season.

Kauai: Get Ready!!!

I am closing in on two weeks till I return to the lush isle of Kauai to suffer for Jesus Christ. I say that partly as a joke, but in all reality my quality of life does jump down a bit from life here in San Luis Obispo. Cold showers, no electricity, and camping in a goat field don't make for that luxurious of a lifestyle. Those things aside- it is a beautiful place with an amazing climate and I cannot wait to be there.

I can't wait to spend hours and hours studying the word of God again and putting all this work aside for a time. I can't wait to see all my friends again and to see Marilyn (g/f). I cannot wait for what the Lord may do in this season to come.

I was able a few weeks ago to visit Missouri and see Marilyn and her family. It was an extremely blessed time where I got to meet a lot of her family. We went to the lake of the Ozarks, spent time at the zoo, and had a sweet picnic. I really loved time with her and getting to meet everybody.

Also...this last week Daniel Hemenway and I went to the Mid-state fair and had a gloriously mediocre time with the carnies and farm animals. I fondled a few pig snouts, which was cool, but gross. I learned how to judge heifers (female cows). I sat next to a congressman and saw his expensive smile up close. I got to pet some weird animals: an endagered Lemur, a porcupine, and a big fat frog. We ended the day with the worst carnival ride ever. This twirling, ferris-wheel of death left us in pain and very nauseous. I was laughing uncontrollably at how dramatic my roommate was during the whole ride- loud exclamations berating the ride in all its awfulness. That aside we had an okay time.

San Luis Obispo Summer Time

The Slo life is not so slow. I have juxtaposed in my mind the serenity of the garden isle (Kauai) with the "SLO" life and am realizing how environments cater to one's desired lifestyle. I thank God that today I was able to slow down and paint this picture of a San Luis Obispoesque landscape. The fog that frequently sits upon the base of our green, rocky peaks are one of the things that give San Luis its special character.

I am having a good time delivering pizzas as a part-time job and the internship through Shoreline Calvary Chapel has been delightful thus far. I spent some time this morning taking care of an older man from my church named Doug. He and I have a lot in common. I love reading, praying, and chatting with him. I taught him some watercolor techniques today. He loves to paint with acrylic and oils. I hope to save enough money to go back to Kauai in late August. In the meantime I will have to remember to SLO things down.

Final Two Weeks in Kauai

I am getting to the end of this Hawaiin journey. My heart is full and my spirit had been ministered to thoroughly. I have made incredible friends and I have established some wonderful contacts. I hope to work hard and finish finals week as strong as I can. I have not kept up with this blog only because too many good things have clouded out its importance. Some highlights from the past few months have been a teaching at a college retreat, family camp, beaches, soccer nights, studying, fishing, and sleeping on the beach. I am so excited to go back to SLO (san luis obispo) for the summer.

I plan on interning at shoreline Calvary Chapel, working to save money, and hopefully returning to Kauai for a final semester of Bible College. After that.... only God knows.

God is so amazing and worth serving with my whole heart. I wish I could describe Him to you, but the God of the Bible can only be discovered through one's own personal quest. Through His son Jesus Christ one may be born anew and through the gift of the Holy Spirit one can come to grow- walking each day with the Heavenly Father. God is coming soon to judge all the works of men, whether good or evil- even the secret things of man. God commands all men everywhere to repent (change the course of their minds) and to trust fully in His son Jesus Christ.

I hope to have a little fun before I leave this place. I am excited, however, for the next season of life. I miss home: family, friends, and the SLO life.

Spring Break- came and went

I had a tremendous break from classes here in Kauai and I am so excited to get back into my studies. Some highlights from my break are:

• Swimming in the Blue Room- a cave swimming hole. This was so awesome. I loved this little swimming hole. The water goes down up to 300 feet and there is a blue glow to the water- hence the name blue room.


• Tunnels beach day- We had a fabulous day at the beach: Playing Vollyball, singing, swimming with a ginormous sea turtle, and of coarse catching rays.


• Kalalau Hike/ Day up North- We climbed on some rocks. We trudged through some thick jungle to saw down an out-of-reach guava branch. We swung on some vines like tarzan (I landed on my back once). Then we picked up some hitch-hikers, got broke down, God healed our car (miraculously), Saw some sights etc.


• Condo Break: Our buddy Paul let the whole Bible College come and take over the condo his mom rented for two days. We cooked homemade pizza, we went in the spa, and had a study party


• Kipu Falls- A sweet waterfall swimming hole. I had a blast climbing trees with my jungle loving friends. We also did some crazy jumps off ropes swings and branches that hung 50ft above the water. It was a crazy time of fun.

I had an absolute blast with friends and the whole break was awesome. I am almost caught up on sleep and I praise God for such a great break. I pray that you are all walking with God and loving Him with everything you have!!!! He alone is worthy of our all. He alone is worthy of everthing that we have. He waits open-armed to accept us in His Son Jesus Christ. Let us all turn our hearts to Him today.

Agape Love= True Christianity

I preached this morning for Kauai Calvary Chapel and the Lord's gifting and calling is confirmed. I am meant to teach the Bible and I am so so grateful for the work of God in my life. I want to summarize my sermon for you titled :

Agape Love= True Christianity.

The 1st epistle of John Chapter 2:3-2:8

The apostle John is writing to a church that is being infultrated by false teachers and people who claim to know God, but are in fact not born again. People were sitting comfortably within the church thinking they knew God, but in fact they did not. John is writing as a grandfather to his spiritual children within the church. John is writing to bring his brothers and sisters of the Church back to what they heard from the beginning by Jesus Himself. John seeks to establish what it means to be an authentic Christian or one who is indeed born again.

1 john 2:3-8

Verse 3: "Now by this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments."

To know Him means a personal knowledge as in a relationship. It does not mean to know about God or have our facts about God in order. Do you know God? Does God know you? Have you and do experience a relationship with God.

Keep means a careful observation. It is like keeping time- It matters to you to keep time and be on time. It doesn't mean you won't ever be late, but it is very important to you that you are on time. What commandments are we to carefully observe or to keep?

The greatest commandments are these: "To love God with all of your heart, with all of your mind, and with all of your strength, and the second is this: love your neighbor as yourself" -Jesus. Love God with everything that you have and love others with God's agape love, which is a divine love and a love that only God can give.

Do you care about loving God? Do you care about loving others with Agape love?

verse 4: "he who says that he knows Him, and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in Him."

to say that you know God and not care at all about loving God or loving God's people proves a person to be a liar and proves a person to not have the truth in him. John needed for his church to know this and it is important for us to know that. Do you carefully observe that your life is a life that exhibits love for God and love for people? Do you care?

verse 5: "Whoever keeps His word, the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him."

The love of God being perfected is best found in the fact that "God demonstrated His own love for us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8 Jesus died for us when we were in our most filthy, dispicable, and nasty state. When we were performing our most heinous sin God chose to die in our place on the cross. The perfect love of God is seen best when we are found loving those who are difficult to love and loving people who we would not ordinarily be able to love. It is easy to love those who love you back, but Jesus says to love your enemies, pray for those who spitefully use you and bless those who curse you. This is the perfect love of God. How is this possible?

By Keeping/ carefully observing God's word. The holy scripures train one to love like God loves. Bind the Bible on your wrist like a watch and always take inventory to keep what it says. You cannot keep what you do not know and ignorance is a great barrier to godliness. Evidence of this process is a sure sign that we are right with God.

verse 6: "He who says that he abides in Him ought to himself also walk just as He walked."

Abide means to be connected and remain connected. A branch of a tree is connected to the trunk. Jesus is the trunk. If we are connected to Jesus we will bear fruit. If we are not connected to the trunk we are good for nothing and just a branch on the ground. How did jesus walk? Jesus was always concerned about doing His Father's will. When we walk like Jesus walked we seek to do what God wants with our lives. Is your life typified by: What is my will for my life or do you ask, "God, what is your will?" My will be done or "God, your will be done." Jesus grew in wisdom and understanding from the time He was twelve. Are you growing in wisdom and understanding? Jesus devoted Himself to investing spiritually into the lives of others. Are you concerned with the spiritual condition of your loved ones and strangers? Jesus gave his very life for us. Do we sacrifice our lives for the brothers and sisters of the church? All of this is the fruit of abiding in Jesus. As we grow we should see the likeness of Jesus come out of our lives.

Verse 7 and 8: Basically, in my own words: these commandments are nothing new, but make sure that they become new in your life today. Don't get confused with other teachings and other philosophies. Love God with everything that you have and lay down your lives for others. Let this be what you live by and let these commandments be the most important thing in your life.

This is a very short version, but hopefully you got the jist. To my friends and family and other readers: I love you guys so much. I love to see my friends and family walking in the truth. Keep the faith and stay strong in Jesus!!!!!

Steve Jones

Life is Good!!

I get to preach in front of the whole church next weekend and I am so stoked. I will be sharing from 1 John and talking about what it means to be an authentic Christian. I preached the sermon a few weeks ago at a Wednesday night study and I get to share it again to the rest of the church. I am so stoked and humbled that God could take a messed-up, disfunctional kid and make him a leader of a church. I am on a continual adventure and loving life.

Hike of a Lifetime

This last weekend was a great adventure. Five other guys and myself hiked 11 miles (22 miles round trip) along the Napali Coast in search of the Kauai legend of the Kulalau valley. We hiked in constant anticipation to discover if the valley's rumors were true of finding- exotic fruit trees, caves, waterfalls, and especially the supposed vagabond clan of free-spirited, unclothed hippies.

The trail is known to be one of the best hikes in the world. After walking through four rivers and toeing miles along the edge of a cliff I would have to agree. The mountinous landforms at the end of the hike were as if sugar cones were stacked together and covered in moss. Add a waterfall and a secluded white-sandy beach and you have one of the most exquisite landscapes on the planet. The trail itself offers tropical foliage, fresh guavas, exotic flowers, mountain goats, and plenty of red mud. God was so gracious to us to not allow it to rain- especially considering we were hiking in one of the wettest places on earth. We were so tired and hurting by the end. Our bodies could barely handle the workout, but luckily the way back was a lot easier after eating most of our cans of chili and drinking most of our water. We went to celebrate George's up-and-coming marriage and we had great fun together. After the eleven miles back the next day we were so glad to have tackled this two-day challenge. I was very blessed.

I really wanted to hike this hike since coming to Hawaii and I was so fortunate to have a spot on the trip. I thank God for experiences like this that allow me to see God's wonderful creation and have an opportunity to grow closer to my brothers. It was truly a wonderful time. We only saw one naked hippie while we were there. We were too tired to search for many of fruit trees and the tides were a bit high to sleep in the caves. all in all...Good times.

Classes about Jesus

I really like school right now. My only responsibility is school and so my life is very focused at the moment, which I really like. I love the way this campus is established. They allow the students to practice what they preach by serving and doing a lot of practical ministry. I really like my classes and the effect that the Bible is having on my heart. I am recognizing that my need for God is constant and daily. I absolutely cannot live godly without the grace of God each day (a humbling point to admit). I am learning to spend time with God each morning and I am growing to love God even that much more.

God is so amazing in how He reveals Himself in His inspired Word. The Word of God really is "powerful and effective". It challenges, corrects, reveals, and trains every man or woman how to live in this life and God's true character is revealed all the while. There is no God like the God of the Holy Scriptures. There is only one God and He has given us written revelation of Himself. I encourage anybody reading this to learn or continue to learn of this incredible God that loves us and offers salvation through Jesus Christ. I will never get tired of reinforcing my mind and heart the truth of God revealed through His written word.

Other then this, I threw a spear three times at some wild boars last night and sadly misses three times. I was about fifteen feet away and unfortunately I cannot throw a spear that well. I set up a trap today that will hopefully catch one for a killing. They have been a huge nuisance to the church and the camp. I am praying for pork chops.

Week One is Paradise

I was greeted on the plane by a sweet stewardess named Shannon and I think I made her blush when she saw my painting of her. She really was a great stewardess and I was glad to leave her with my painting. Keep up the great work Shannon!!! As you could tell I had a lot of time on the plane, but it was so great to have time to prepare my mind and heart for Kauai.

The first week in Kauai::: I LOVE KAUAI!!! The lush green pasture outside my safari tent is filled with goats and a few renegade boars that I intend to knife one of these nights. The sporadic, five-minute downpours with constant tropical warmth is a pleasant change. The camp-life-- no electricity, no Internet, and cold showers make life a bit rustic. I love how the other students are so fun and energetic and full of life. I love eating communal meals. I love the sweet times with God at night as I look up at the stars or in the morning as the sun rises over the ocean. All these little details make for a great time so far.

Classes started today and I am so excited to study the Word of God. I am taking Discipleship 101, Genesis, Romans, Luke, Acts, Homeletics (I get to preach), and Church History. I hope to keep up with the work load, but it should be ok. I am also on the construction crew on the property and today I had the glorious duty of troubleshooting/ cleaning the composting toilet. Let me just say that there was no composting going on in there, but I loved getting a little dirty for the sake of Jesus. Thats what its all about, right?

I fly tomorrow

I am excited to fly to Hawaii tomorrow and I had a great week full of working, packing, saying goodbyes, and running. My last day in SLO, I attempted a sub-5 minute mile after only three weeks of training, but I hit an invisible wall after lap three and felt like dying after crossing the finish line. If it wasn't for Shane yelling in my face to not give up, I would have quit the last hundred meters. I was proud to run 5:30 and maybe I can knock 30 off my time with some more training. I am currently in Santa Cruz visiting my buddy Josh and his wife Stephanie. I fly at nine tomorrow morning and I am pretty sure my suitcase is thirty pounds over the limit.

The Purpose of this thing

I want to record thoughts and meditations that will both encourage readers and inform friends of what is new in my life. I ask for your prayers continually for myself and that you would all pray like David prayed: "Search my heart Lord and see if there be any wicked way in me." Let us always come to God in honesty and sincerity asking him to set our hearts right before Him. The purpose of this blog will be at the very least a memory-bank for myself in the years to come. God has called me to pastor His people and I may have some interesting journeys and reflections ahead of me. My first destination will be Bible College on the lush garden-isle of Kauai. I will be entrenched in the scriptures for four months; A deep study of some of the most challenging books of the whole Bible will lead me to a closer walk with my God. God will hopefully bring me to the mat as I wrestle with His powerful revelation. I am full of anticipation for this time because I know that the Word of God will not return void and this will be a great investment into what God has called me to do. I leave next week.