Hilo Life Chain

"The Public Gospel"

"The Public Gospel"

     Sometimes I think it would be nice to be a quiet, dignified, minister here in our cozy Hilo community. I could say nice things to everyone and always make them feel good.

     Any hope of such a tranquil ministry was shattered this week. I became that "wild man" with the crosses in his yard. Now I am a controversialist, a political preacher. So some may say.

     The gospel is a public message. Jesus hung stark naked on a cross, in full view of the crowds, to redeem us with his blood. New Testament preaching was often in public centers like streets, marketplaces, even the synagogue. Jesus called disciples in their workplaces - Matthew from his tax office and Peter from his nets. Now, by His Spirit, Jesus sends us out to the public.

     So it is a small thing to for me to put up a "cemetery" outside my bedroom window for a week, even though I miss playing ball with my sons. One of our members wants us to boycott stores in Hilo which sell pornography; even though she may save money on some of their "sales." In these ways we affirm the public gospel.

     Are you a public disciple? The Christian faith is to be learned in the church then lived out in public. Our "salt" is for the earth, our "light" is for the world, and our "lamp" is to be placed high upon the stand. Haili Church, through the public discipleship of its members, is to be a city set on a hill that cannot be hidden.

     We need wisdom and prayer when and how to make our discipleship public. Some Christians are so much "in the world" they have drifted from Christ Himself. It must be with Jesus and for Jesus that we enter the world as his disciples. His word remains our standard, in public and private. Not every social issue warrants a public statement. The magnificence of the gospel can be trivialized. Yet our beloved nation has "legalized" the slaughter of the holy innocents - 4,000 children are killed daily by abortion. This is not the only public evil, yet surely one of the most wicked. Christ's gospel is public, He demands public discipleship.

Haili Church Hoku: "Freedom Lost and Found"

 "Freedom Lost and Found"

This month marks the sad anniversary of two tragic events. On January 17, 1893 Queen Lili'uokalani abdicated her rule of the Kingdom of Hawaii to a "Provisional Government" backed by a force of U.S. Marines. This act was clearly an unjust violation of the independence of a free nation. The lament of the deposed Queen, written to Christians in America in 1898, sounds hauntingly prophetic: "The people to whom your fathers told of the living God, and taught to call 'Father,' and whom the sons now seek to despoil and destroy, are crying aloud to Him in their time of trouble; and He will keep His promise, and will listen to the voices of His Hawaiian children lamenting for their homes."

On January 22, 1973 millions of American children lost their freedom. By decree of the Supreme Court in their "Roe v. Wade" decision, unborn children lost their personhood and are now legally torn from their mother's wombs as unwanted fetal tissue. On average, four babies lose their life in Hilo every week; more than four thousand every day across America; MORE THAN ONE BABY EVERY SECOND IS BEING KILLED AROUND THE WORLD BY ABORTION!

Is there a "Christian" response to injustice? The problem of the land-grabbing Marines, and their supporters, of one hundred years ago is the same as today's abortionist. A professor of mine used to say, "The heart of the problem, is the problem of the heart."

Jesus came to a Judea which was unjustly occupied by a hostile Roman government. Some Jewish "zealots" hailed his coming to lead their vindication. Indeed his mother, the Virgin Mary, sang of His mission: "He has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty" (Luke 1.51-53). Zechariah sang of "salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us" (Luke 1.71). Yet Jesus died a victim of Roman tyranny. As He hung in naked execution, all his followers ran in terror, thinking his mission a failure. God responds to injustice by the unjust execution of His Son, His blood fell like seeds of a just new order - the kingdom of God.

From the perspective of Christ's ascension, we see the impact of His revolution, His kingdom.  The Roman empire is now a subject for ancient historians. Today the Church of Jesus Christ grows around the world. While ministering on earth, Jesus called people to enter His kingdom, through repentance and faith. He did not ignore their physical, emotional, even political needs - nor should we - but his focus was on their relationship with God, their "heart." Avoiding a political debate over Pilate mixing the blood of some Galileans with their sacrifices, Jesus got to the ultimate issue, "Unless you repent, you too will all perish" (Luke 13.3). Our primary political task is the Gospel of His Kingdom. Only in Christ can anyone be truly free. In Him we labor in hope, "with justice he judges and makes war" (Revelation 19.11).                                 

Kahu Mark Blair

1992 Ministry Review

Hau'oli Makahiki Hou!

(Hawaiian for "Happy New Year")

Mark, Dayna, Nathan, Josiah, and Aaron Blair

211 Haili Street - Hilo, Hawaii  96720

January 1993

"What Christmas Means to Me" by Josiah Keola Blair

Jesus came to earth and was born in Bethlehem. The shepherds and the wisemen followed the star to see Him. The wisemen brought gifts. Jesus as a gift to me. He gave me a family. His greatest gift was salvation. He gave me life. I want to give my life to Jesus!

Aloha from Hawaii!

     "Emmanuel" - God with us! Isn't it great that Jesus did not just come to "visit" at Christmas. Instead He remains, that "one who is closer than a brother," all through the year, all through our lives, "unto the end of the age." We hope you experienced the joy of His presence in a special way this Christmas. And we pray that His gracious companionship will strengthen you through 1993. We look back with gratitude on 1992. The Lord blessed us with health and much happiness.

     Our sons have only stopped running, shouting, laughing, fighting, crying, playing, or eating long enough to sleep. Aaron, now 5 1/2 and midway through Kindergarten, is slowed very little

by a cast on his arm, a break sustained when he tripped while running over Mark's foot (surely a big enough target to avoid!). Then his first words when driving home from Hilo Hospital's emergency room were, "I can still run can't I?" A most exciting day in their lives, and ours, was December 1. Josiah, now 7 and in 2nd grade, prayed with his teacher to receive Christ as Savior

and Lord. We thank God that He used his teacher to be a part of doing what we've prayed for since before he was born. Josiah came home that day joyfully telling everyone he saw, "I asked Jesus into my heart." The same day Aaron's soccer coach had given him a trophy for his play that season. The two met eachother. Josiah told Aaron his news. Aaron responded, "So what, I got a trophy!" Nathan, now 8 1/2 is very tall (remember back in 1984 when we asked many of you to pray for our 3 lb. 12 oz. 16 inch son!?!). He loves playing soccer and singing in the choir (both at school and church). We are very grateful to God for each of them.

                          

     Dayna is the one who keeps all four of us together. She is busy caring for the boys; soccer and choir practices, school parties and outings, on and on. She does alot for the church too, especially in the areas of missions and Christian education. She really enjoys teaching the high school/college age Sunday school. She is involved in several island-wide ministries. She is directing T.E.A.C.H. '93, an inter-denominational training workshop for church workers and teachers. Also, she is Chairperson for the Committee on Lay-Training for the congregational churches on our island.

     Our pastoral ministry at the Haili Congregational Church continues to bring much fulfillment and joy. The privilege of preaching week by week is a great burden and blessing (preachers will know what I mean). Half of the year I preached through the Gospel of Luke, I also did a series on "The Family" and "The Christian Citizen" around the elections this Fall. I plan to begin the new year going through the book of 1 John. Our church is growing and there is a good spirit of love and support. One exciting development is a relationship between an extension of a Japanese College located just around the corner from our church. Students come from Japan to learn English and "culture." Young people from our church are making friendships with them and finding many opportunities to share Jesus. Also, Mark has been elected as President of the East Hawaii Ministerial Association. This inter-denominational group of pastors, representing about 30 churches, meets monthly for fellowship and learning. We're praying that we can work closer together to reach our area for Christ; less than 10% of our community attend any church! Another opportunity for ministry is being on a rotation of area pastors as a part-time Chaplain at our hospital.

            

     Hilo is a small town of about 35,000.  Our life is very centralized, we live right across the street from the church and the boy's school. In 1992 we put less than 4,000 miles on our van. Yet we are very busy, though it is a good kind of busy. The world searches in vain for "happiness," "fulfillment," or "meaning." Jesus says give your life to me, and through our "loss" gives more happiness, fulfillment, and meaning than the world could ever obtain! But life is not all work and no play. This letter is being written on a poolside table, overlooking the Pacific Ocean, as I sit in swimsuit and tank top. We are having a four-day get-away at the year's end as the boys are out of school, recouping from Christmas!

     We have a guest room available. (If you can stand sharing one toilet with three boys who don't always lift the seat.) This year we were honored that 5 Korean missionary women came to see us, 3 all the way from Uganda. We also had a great visit with Mark's mom and sister Judy and her husband Larry. Let us know if you plan to come! We do hope to come to California in June and hope to see some of you.

                        

     This letter is sent with prayers for God's blessings upon you, and your family, throughout this new year. In my sermon last week I said that Jesus may return in 1993. (I haven't heard directly!) Whenever He comes may He find us faithful and fruitful in His service!

East Hawaii Ministerial Association Leadership

5 January 1993

Dear Colleague in Christ,

     Happy New Year! I am Mark Blair, pastor of the Haili Church and the new President of the East Hawaii Ministerial Association. I warmly invite you to our January meeting:

this Tuesday, January 12, 10 a.m. at the Haili Church       

Our speaker will be Chaplain (Major) Greg Hill,

from the Command Chaplain's office, U.S. Army, Pacific

I am thankful for this opportunity to serve in this way. I commend Elden Buck, Pastor of the First United Protestant Church, for the fine job he did leading our group the last two years.

     My prayer is that God would bring us even closer together in fellowship and ministry for Him in our community. If you have not been able to attend our monthly meetings, please make a special effort to come. It is more than just "another meeting." We need to gather as the Lord's servants, co-laborers not competitors, to "spur one another on to love and good deeds." As Paul said, "neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow."

     Recently a pastor said to me, "I have been a pastor in this area for 33 years and I do not have one pastor I can share my struggles with." Have you felt like that? I confess that I have sometimes. Yet there are some signs of God bringing us closer together. I received a card from a Hilo pastor who wrote, "we prayed for you in our staff prayer meeting today." At our last meeting Harry Kim honestly confessed that he had not considered the spiritual and emotional needs of "disaster" victims and workers in the past. He asked us to be available to be of help to
people when needs arise. I sensed a responsiveness among our group to want to work together to help.

     As a means of promoting our fellowship together, I am asking different pastors to share at the beginning of each meeting, (dare I ask you preachers to keep it to about 10 minutes!), anything that God puts on their heart about life and ministry. As a new pastor I am eager to learn from you all. Another change will be an optional meeting for prayer and sharing, after the
regular meeting, for those who wish to remain. Henry Ayabe, who has served the Lord for over 30 years in Japan, much of that time working with different pastors, will lead our prayer time.

     I am not suggesting that we have no differences.  Do we all agree about everything? will we? Not yet, not until we sit together at the Master's feet and learn from Him. Until that day,
we are told to, "Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves." In his new book "The Contemporary Christian" John Stott writes of how important it is for Christians to talk together:

"When we stay apart, and our only contact is to lob hand grenades at one another across a demilitarized zone, a caricature of one's 'opponent' develops in one's mind, complete with horns, hooves, and tail! But when we meet, and sit together, and begin to listen, not only does it become evident that our opponents are not after all demons, but actually normal human beings, and even sisters and brothers in Christ, the possibility of mutual understanding and respect grows. More than this: when we listen not only to what others are saying, but to what lies behind what they are saying, and in particular to what it is they are so anxious to safeguard, we often find that we want to safeguard the same thing ourselves."

The EHMA is one, but surely not the only, means of our listening to one another. I pray that as a new leader God will make me good listener to each of you. Your involvement will make our
fellowship more complete.

     I look forward to being with you this Tuesday, and throughout this new year.

Yours in His gospel, Mark Blair