My Haleakala Moment

For Spring Break this year, I took 10 College students To Maui, Hawaii for a mission trip. We partnered with the University of Hawaii (Maui) BCM and Valley Isle Fellowship Church. We painted, landscaped, cleaned mattresses, proclaimed the gospel through Drama, message, and song to over 90 local Hawaiian teenagers in Wailuku, and helped the Pacific Whale Foundation remove invasive species on a volcano known as Haleakala.

I have been asked time and time again what my favorite moment was from the trip. I really enjoyed preaching to over 100 locals and serving the YMCA and the Pacific Whale Foundation. There were many defining moments on the trip for me, but one stands out more than any. For those of you who know me, I am not an emotional person at all. In fact, I wish I were more emotional. Last thursday, our students had the bright idea of waking up to watch the sunrise 10,000 feet above sea level on the tip of Haleakala; I was indifferent about the decision, but what the heck, we were in Maui. As a “Mission Trip” leader, I tried to be intentional about looking for opportunities to have “group times with God” so I remembered a quote from Andrew Murray’s "The Deeper Christian Life" “An Aid To Its Attainment”

So at 5:00 am on top of Haleakala I read this insert from this remarkable book:

“Dear reader, we have such wrong thoughts of God. What is God Like? I know no image more beautiful and instructive than that of the sun. the sun is never weary of shining; of pouring out his beneficent rays on the good and the evil. you might close up the windows with blinds or bricks, the sun would shine upon them all the same; though we might sit in darkness, in utter darkness, the shining would still be the same. God’s sun shines on every blade of grass, on everything that springs out of the ground. All recieve this wealth of sunshine until they bear fruit. Would he who made the sun be less willing to pour out His love and life into me?”

The sun, what beauty it creates! Would God not delight more in creating beauty and fruitfulness in me?

As I am reading this insert from my i-phone and watching sunrise on top of Haleakala, I am literally weeping in front of 10 ASU college students, 4 HU students, and over 30 random strangers hearing me read this quote. As prideful and self conscious as I often am; in that single glorious moment, I had no regard to anyone's perception of me because I was completely Awestruck at the Majesty and Glory of God’s creation...The Sun! What an Illustration of God's Faithfulness!!!

Q/A Guide to Christianity For International Students

I am I the process of creating a brochure to answer any questions international students may have about Christianity. After long discussions with many students, i have concluded 6 questions that encompass 100's of questions they have mentioned to me. My goal is to be practical, theological, concise, articulate, and redemptive. Please include any suggestions you may have in order to make this brochure better!


1. If no one in my family believes in God, why should I believe in God?

Every person should ask: “Does God exist?” whether your family believes He does or not. An atheist must believe that matter came from nothing which breaks down logically. The Bible declares that God created the heavens and the Earth. (Genesis 1:1)

2. Why do Christians believe that Christianity is the one true religion?

Evaluating the historical evidence of religions is fundamental in order to find out which religion is the most reliable and true. Christianity declares that Jesus is the Son of God who died and was resurrected. We know the reliability of these facts from historical tradition and the Holy Bible. There were over 500 eye witnesses to the resurrected Jesus; many were still alive when many of the books of the Bible were written! This proves the Bible was not fabricated by the early church like many skeptics believe. Therefore, Christianity is the most reliable, historical, and believable religion.

3. Isn’t becoming Christian merely embracing western culture and denying the cultures of my home country?

No. Christianity should never be equated with western culture. In fact, Christianity actually started in Palestine; however, it transcends all cultural and societal influences. The Bible says, in Galatians 3:28, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus”.

4. Why would I become Christian if it will cause family tensions, embarrassment in my home country, and rejection from my friends?

Jesus says in the Bible, John 14:6 :“I am the way the truth and the life, No one comes to the Father except through me.” Trusting Christ as Savior is the most important decision you will ever make for yourself. Knowing that Jesus is the only way we can spend eternity with God, you can extend to your family and friends the same love that Christ has shown you! Put Differently, God has entrusted you to tell others about who Jesus is and what He has done. Extending God’s love is more important than any popularity you may have with your family and friends,

5. If I don’t feel like I need Jesus, then why do Christians believe I need Jesus?

You may not feel like you need Jesus, but the Bible explains that everyone has a spiritual need for Jesus. Christians believe that everyone was born with an evil heart. Romans 3:23 says “for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God”. Have you every told a lie, lusted, or became prideful and felt shameful? We all have have done something wrong in some form. Consequently, our sin has eternally separated us from a Holy God. However, the Good News is that God provided a way through which we can live with Him eternally! We must turn from our sin and accept that Jesus Christ died for the penalty of our sins on our behalf. Our faith in Christ is the only condition for making our relationship right with God.


If I accept Jesus as my Savior and Lord, what’s next for me?

As A Christ-Follower, There are 4 important things we are commanded to do:

A. We can listen to God, through reading the Bible, which is the very word and will of God. 2 Timothy 3:16 says, “all Scripture is God-breathed and useful for teaching, rebuking, and training in righteousness”.

B. Christians can also talk to God anytime, anywhere, and in any season of temptation and joy through prayer.

C. We are commanded to talk with others who know Christ through joining a local church and being baptized as a symbolic act of following Christ.

D. We are also called by Jesus himself to make other disciples of Jesus Christ. Matthew 28:19-20 says “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age".

College Students' Thoughts on Faith and Politics

Last night in our Apologetics class, we talked about whether Jesus rode a donkey or an elephant. Put differently, we discussed the compatibility and incompatibility of faith and politics. For instance, political involvement can often polarize congregations and damage our individual leverage to witness; however, topics were discussed such as giving to the poor, pacifism, war, peace, homosexuality, abortion, marriage, and other polarizing topics in a non-polarizing and biblically sound atmosphere. Political structures such as Jeffersonian Democracy, Theocracy, Socialism etc. were also discussed in order to see which most aligns with scripture. After looking at the preponderance of scripture for each topic and structure, our conclusions were interestingly subjective.

We concluded the take away was VERY simple. Our paradigm for political involvement should be to “Love God and Neighbor”. If we are serious about loving God and our neighbor, then it makes sense to get involved in the institutions that have great impact in the lives of people, especially those who are disadvantaged and vulnerable. In today’s world there are numerous opportunities to make a difference and we, as Christians, are to take ownership of responsibilities to make that difference. Democracy confers responsibility, and responsibility obligation; These responsibilities are bi-partisan and include working hard, paying taxes, and supporting a Biblical worldview.

Our students concluded that it is important to resist the temptation to co-op God into a particular political agenda because God transcends time and space and connot be limited to a political ideology. I commend such wisdom and discernment by our college students. Such a statement tells me they have a biblical ideology before a political ideology. Oftentimes, despite such caution, it is important to avoid the enlightenment trap of COMPLETE separation of God and the world.

We concluded 4 ways to make a difference in Politics

1. Pray, Pray, Pray just as William Wilberforce was committed to pray for social change.
2. Get informed because knowledge is power which helps you know how to pray.
3. Vote because decisions are made by those who show up.
4. Discuss political ideologies from a Biblical worldview.