I hope your month of May is off to a great start! I'm encouraged to keep hearing about all of the ways that God is working Upcountry. There's a cool unity w/some of the leaders in the different parts of God's church here in Upcountry Maui. I'm excited to post testimonies and Gospel presentations from some of the different church leaders in the near future. There's a "Gospel Presentations" section of our main website now that I hope to fill up with presentations from leaders all around Maui. Right now it's just Trevor Komatsu standin' firm in the faith. =) I really appreciate all of the prayers and feedback I've been getting from you guys through e-mail and face to face. One Love Skate Outreach is a movement--it's way more than just taking Jesus to skateboarders. It's encouraging Christians to live unashamed as living sacrifices (Rom 12:1-2) as Christ's ambassadors on this earth (2 Cor 5:20) living in the world but not of it (John 17:15-17) and sharing Jesus (2 Timothy 4:2) every chance they get!!! I want to update you in this blog by sharing what's been going on with One Love Skate Outreach. When you're finished reading this blog, I hope you have the opportunity to surf around on www.oneloveskateoutreach.com and see some of the new sections of the site. Primarily the "resources" section has been updated to include EWG info, gospel presentations, my sermons from the 1 Peter series I'm currently teaching, and a tract. This blog post will include an interview, news about t-shirts, an announcement about an upcoming summer event, and a story about skateboarding with a high school student last Sunday.
Interview
I try to take Monday mornings off and surf when when I can. About a week ago, as I was on my way to Ho'okipa to surf after preaching the day before, I was burdened for the guy hitchhiking just before Haleakala Highway. So, I picked him up and started talking story with him about his life. He only asked me to take him down the mountain, and then he was going to get another ride once he got down there. However, from the time he got in the car, I wanted to interview him with the OLSO questions, and I had heard there might be some waves on the south side, so I offered him a ride to Lahaina. As we made the drive to Lahaina I got to interview him with the One Love Skate Outreach questions, and here's what he said (Those of you on facebook need to look at the blog on the OLSO site to see the youtube video:
After taking him to McDonald's, I presented the Gospel to him very clearly. He had some questions, and we got to dialogue a little bit. I explained that the Bible is my absolute authority and that I believe it's absolutely true. I explained that the Bible teaches that God is Totally Perfect and Holy, and He created this world. God created man with a freewill, and man chose to break God's perfect law. Sin separates us from God because God is totally perfect. Totally perfect--meaning that He is also a perfect judge who has to punish sin.
- I mentioned that God gave us the law because he loves us (No one likes to be lied to, cheated on, stolen from...etc.), BUT all men and women repeatedly break God's perfect law.
So we're totally separated from God because of our sin. and den....
Romans 5:8-"But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
God sent Jesus to be the perfect (AND THE ONLY) sacrifice for our sin that appeases the wrath of God for those that believe in Jesus as LORD and Savior (John 1:12, 3:16; Rom 10:9; 1 Pet 2:24).
For Jesus to be Lord means we totally repent of our sin-we turn from our sin and turn to Jesus, and He becomes our Savior.
Apart from Jesus Christ we're separated from God and have no hope of purpose, satisfaction, or joy. Without Jesus life is simply a meaningless cycle. For real whether you feel happy or sad, whether you're rich or poor, beautiful or ugly, life is meaningless without Jesus (Ecclesiastes).
That's the message I explained to Anthony. If you, the reader, are hearing this for the first time, God's offer is open to you right now too. Repent of your sins, and receive Jesus as your Savior. This is the Gospel. The Gospel is the A-Z of Christianity and the Gospel is why we do everything we do as Christians! Please let us know at One Love Skate Outreach if God's worked in your heart because of this blog. Alright, no more A.D.D.-That's the message I shared with Anthony, and that's the message that should drive everything we do!
When I dropped Anthony off by Lahaina Harbor, he didn't want to take one of my Bible's with him, but he said he really appreciated the ride and the meal. He told me it was cool to post this interview on our website. There were good vibes=) I'm praying that God will work in his heart now that the seed has been sown. Like I've said before, I'm encouraged that Christians are simply called to "sow the seed" of the Gospel and we're not responsible for results (Mark 4:26-29); yet we're called to passionately labor (Heb 12:1-2).
T-Shirts
Yesterday, I skated with Jesse. Jesse is the t-shirt printer for Maui Built, and he's the guy who is printing our new OLSO t-shirts. We should have more shirts printed in the very near future. I'll keep you guys updated. Shirts are going to sell for $10 donations to One Love Skate Outreach, but we'll also be giving them away at events and to leaders in the ministry. All the proceeds from the t-shirts will be used for ministry to homeless and poor people on Maui. We'll be buying homeless people meals and sharing the Gospel with them. Lately, God has increased my passion for ministry to the poor. Knowing Jesus loved and cared for the poor (Luke 4:18), and seeing the structure of the Old Testament law through my seminary classes has shown me that God's people always have been and always will be required to make provisions for the poor. As I studied a chapter in Crazy Love last night, by Francis Chan, I was challenged to use all of the money we make from the t-shirt sales to provide for the poor. As we have faith and as God moves through One Love Skate Outreach, we're going to live James 2 knowing: "Faith without works is dead." Pray that God would bring revival on Maui as homeless and poor people come to Christ and proclaim the truth of Jesus Christ. PLEASE BE PRAYING THIS! Also, you can buy some t-shirts to support what God is doing! Hopefully, we'll have to order more soon.
Entrusted With the Gospel
Coming to MAUI and Oahu this summer
Coming to MAUI and Oahu this summer
Entrusted with the Gospel is going to be an incredible time of worship this summer for God's Church here on Maui and Oahu. Upcountry churches: You guys can register, after filling out this form, through Pukalani Baptist Church; everyone else can go to Kahului Baptist Church. You can download the form at http://www.oneloveskateoutreach.com/page10.html. EWG is included on the events section of oneloveskateoutreach.com because we plan to set up a booth at the event. I'll be in North Carolina, but I plan to have some guys doing interviews as well as selling some merch at this event. I'm bummed that I'll miss this event because I love the guys putting it on, but it'll be great to be with my family this summer. If you're on Maui, GO TO EWG. Please pray that God uses EWG to unite His people on the islands and encourages everyone to live for the Gospel (Romans 1:16-17).
Encouraging Skateboarding Opportunity
Last Sunday afternoon, I received a phone call from a student at King Kekaulike High. He wanted to skateboard. We went to a super nice ramp in Haiku that his dad had built a long time ago, and we got to pray together and talk story while we skated. I was stoked to skate such a nice ramp w/a Christians brother, and he was encouraged as we talked about how God is working in his school and through the skate ministry. I interviewed him w/the 5 OLSO questions, and his answers were right on with Scripture. He shared insight about how he uses skateboarding as a great conversation starter that lets him talk to anyone who has a skateboard. SWEET! It encouraged me because these are the kinds of students that I want to motivate to be ambassadors for Christ using skateboarding or anything else God allows them to use to connect with people and share the Gospel (1 Cor 9:19-23; 2 Cor 5:20). So pray that Shawn represents Jesus in his school and that he's a light for Jesus everywhere he goes. Pray that God continues to bring opportunities to encourage Christians and reach the lost through One Love Skate Outreach.
Thanks for taking the time to read this blog! Pray for us! May God bless you as you continue to serve Him. Check out some of the resources on www.oneloveskateoutreach.com and please continue to keep this ministry in your prayers!
Grace and Peace to the 1-1 SIX!
-Josh
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