Great to Be Home!

I just returned from a wonderful week in Nashville. It was an incredible time of seeing old friends and making many new ones. The retreat of which I was a part inspired and encouraged me to continue to press on in my role as a pastor’s wife and church planter.

I don’t leave town often…rarely alone. The last time I did was over three years ago. While I was away, Gregg conveniently lost two of our children at a water park. (In his defense, the boys were standing in a long line and Gregg ran to the car to get something. While he was gone, lightning struck and they closed the park and evacuated everyone.)

Upon handing Gregg the children’s sports and school schedule before leaving he commented, “It will be a miracle if I don’t lose someone, somewhere.” Comforting.

Thankfully after this trip, all of our children are accounted for. The only casualty seems to be a bird that Jessie found and hoped to nurse back to health. The dog discovered it this morning in the backyard. 


I just found out why all of my children smell. Jessie says they didn't take baths all week. Great to be home. 


Editor's comment: Gregg adamantly just assured me that all of the children were thoroughly bathed while I was away. 

Finding the Two

Yesterday, Gregg asked me to speak with him for the second part of our relationship series: Goin’ All the Way: Relationships that Go the Distance.

In the first part of our series, Finding the One, Gregg talked about how God created us for relationship. He said that to be truly fulfilled in life, we have to find the One. Jesus is the One—our most important relationship; and our spouse is the two. Yesterday, we talked about Finding the Two.

Sadly, many relationships fall short of the fulfillment that God created them to enjoy. The new normal in our culture has become higher divorce rates and lower moral standards.

We encouraged everyone yesterday that, “If you want something you’ve never had, you must do something you’ve never done.” If you want a relationship that looks like the broken, hurt-filled ones that many people have in this world, then travel the road that everyone else travels. But, if you want something different—something far better and more fulfilling—you’re going to have to take a different route.

If you’re single, I encourage you to have a higher standard on whom you will see, what you will do, and what you will expect in a relationship. Asking a simple question like, “Will this relationship lead me toward greater devotion to God?” can help you decide whether the relationship is a healthy one to pursue. 

To hear the entire series, our audio messages are up and running on our webstite: http://gracehonolulu.org/

Finding the One

Last Sunday, we kicked off our new series: Goin’ All the Way, Relationships that Go the Distance, with part one, Finding the One.

Many people are searching for the one. God created us for relationship—to experience friendship, intimacy and community. He even said in Genesis, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” (Genesis 2:18)

To really be fulfilled in life, you have to find the one. Unfortunately, many people nowadays are getting married later in life, with more reservations and less success. 

Gregg encouraged us last week that if you want something different, you have to take a different road. Could it be that most people are looking to the wrong One? I believe that God has something better for his children. 

Could it possibly be that many of us are looking to their spouse to fulfill a need that only God can fulfill? 

Jesus taught that God should be our most important relationship. Jesus should be The One, and your spouse should be The Two. He desires to be The One, and until He is, The Two won’t work out the way God created it to work.

This Sunday, we’ll look at Finding the Two. Gregg has asked me to speak along with him so I’d better hele on and get my stuff together. 

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and then everything else will be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:33)

In the Real World, the Church Really Matters

Yesterday began a new chapter at Grace Bible Church Honolulu with our grand opening services. Thankfully, the rain stopped and the weather was beautiful!

Our amazing team of volunteers helped to make everything possible. We had a team in the parking lot, a bouncer and shave ice machine for the children, tents and tables set up outside for food and fellowship, and the cafetorium was nicely decorated. It was exciting to see a great turnout for the next step in our journey as a church—we even ran out of bulletins!

Gregg spoke briefly about the value of church in culture. He taught about the church being, not a building, but a people working together, not individuals doing their own thing.

When we lived in Tennessee, people would say y’all a lot. Even if they were only referring to one person! When referring to a group of people, they would say “all y’all”. God designed the church to be “all y’all” working together to be salt and light in our community. 

Here’s the link to some pictures from yesterday’s services.

Here’s the link to our new website.

Our Grand Opening!

Tomorrow is the official Grand Opening of Grace Bible Church Honolulu! After months of planning and preparation, the “eve” of the “big day” is finally here!

This week, Gregg was sharing with me his heart for tomorrow’s services.

Frequently, when our children have had a big birthday celebration, we’ve ended their “big day” a little unsettled. We invest so much time and energy to make the event fun and engaging that we neglect to pause, honor and enjoy the child for whom we’re giving the party.

Gregg’s hope and desire (and mine, too), is that in the midst of celebrating the opening of this church, amidst all of the fun, food and activity, that we wouldn’t fail to honor and enjoy the One for whom we’re doing this.

Tomorrow, and every Sunday for that matter, we’re really celebrating Jesus. He makes this possible. It is Jesus for whom and by whom the church exists.

You’re invited to join us tomorrow! We’re going to have a great time. Gregg will be sharing “In the Real World, the Church Really Matters”. There will be special guests sharing, lots of food, and even a bounce house and shave ice for the children. (Last time, we had the shave ice machine, my boys overdosed and ate at least three each and got sick).

To the next step in our journey . . . hope to see you there!

One Mission

We’re just one week away from officially planting Grace Bible Church Honolulu. It’s been an eventful few months and the excitement continues this weekend as we host Every Nation’s President, Steve Murrell.

Gregg and I are so thankful that he and his wife are here to stand with us as we begin this new adventure. Over the years, Pastor Steve has been a mentor, an inspiration and encouragement to us. We’re looking forward to hearing his wisdom for our and church this Sunday.

If you’re anywhere near Honolulu this weekend, come join us as Pastor Steve shares with us about having One Mission.

Our mission at Grace Bible Church Honolulu is to lead people to become fully devoted followers of Christ.

Sounds good. But how do we practically do it? We'll explore that tomorrow. Hope to see you at church!

Adventures in Church Planting: Lots to Do, So Little Time!

In just three weeks, we will officially launch Grace Bible Church Honolulu. We have been operating as an extension of our Pearlside church, but on January 31 we will officially become our own church!

It’s an exciting way to begin a new year. To help us in the final preparations and process, our friend and mentor, Kevin York, will be visiting us this weekend. Kevin is the Director for Every Nation churches and he’ll be helping our team plan, build and strategize for the coming year.  

Values, mission statement, web design, logo design, operations to get up and running, office space set up,. . .Lots to do with so little time! 

Adventures in Church Planting: An Unexpected Surprise

When Gregg and our team made the decision to move our Sunday services to Kahala Elementary, we were excited for the opportunity to be in a community and to reach our Honolulu community.

A couple of weeks ago, Kahala Elementary held their school beautification project on Sunday morning during our services. One of the fathers that had come to help paint decided to bring his family yesterday to check out the new church in his neighborhood.

When Gregg got up to speak, he immediately recognized him. Turns out, this was one of the college students Gregg introduced to Christ more than 17 years ago when we were campus ministers at the University of Hawaii!

Gregg spent hours with this young man. In fact, if you’ve listened to enough of Gregg’s messages, you’ve probably heard a story about him (for example, Gregg’s near death snorkeling experience). He didn’t know that we had returned to Hawaii; he definitely didn’t know that we were planting a church at his children’s school. 

Church planting can be challenging. But seeing someone, whom you helped introduce to Christ more than 17 years ago, still loving God, still following Christ, reminds me that I wouldn't want to do anything else. 

A Church Planting Essential

This January, we will officially plant Grace Bible Church Honolulu. Believe it or not, this is the fourth church plant of which Gregg and I have been a part. You may wonder, are we crazy? Possibly. Glutton for punishment? Most definitely. And we have the gray hair to prove it! We’ve learned a lot through our experiences and the growth it has brought forth in our lives is invaluable.

Yesterday, during my daily ramblings to Gregg about church thoughts, ideas, etc., Gregg stopped me and reminded me of this one church planting essential:

He said, “All that we need to do is to stay in love with Jesus, and help others to do the same.”

It sounds like a no-brainer, but in the midst of planning, meeting, scheduling, preparing, and the daily demands and routines of a family and ministry, it is so easy to . . . slowly . . . drift . . . away from God.

So, fellow church planter, fellow Christian, stay in love with Jesus and help others to do the same.