december 2008

Christmas is my favor-

ite time of year, and

what better way to

start the season than

to unveil our new

monthly resource. It is our hope that

you find this magazine interesting, in-

formative and filled with inspirational

articles that will help you live differ-

ently, think differently and apply all

the He is showing you.

Each issue we will feature a “Big Idea” emphasizing one main theme. Because families are high on God’s priority list (and ours too!), this month we chose to high-light families as well as our Life Stages Ministries. Life At Its Best will replace the weekly bulletin distributed at our church services. You’ll receive the notes at ser-vice, but the magazine will be our main communication tool for ministry events and announcements. We would love it if you would share extra copies with your family and friends, or perhaps conve-niently ‘forget an issue’ on the coffee ta-ble at the doctor’s office or on The Bus.

Christmas is meant to be a time of joy and memories, a time of celebrating and shar-ing the love and hope that are the mes-sages of the birth of Jesus Christ. And yet there are many people in our circle of in-fluence that experience the blues or feel-ings of loneliness during this time. Please

join me in praying for those who have not yet received the most precious gift – a re-lationship with Jesus Christ. Give the gift of ‘invitation’ and wrap it in genuine love and let God do the rest. Here are a few places to invite people to this month:

One of New Hope’s weekend services.

The performances of our “Charlie Brown Christmas” sponsored by our Youth Choir.

Our special Christmas Eve services on December 23 and 24.

We will not be having a New Year’s Eve service, so enjoy your time with family and friends, and walk together into 2009 with the promises of new miracles and fruitfulness.

As we come to the end of another great year, Anna and I are looking forward to doing life with you and with our New Hope ‘ohana. On behalf of the staff at New Hope, and from my family to yours, everyone here wishes you a wonderful holiday season and a Happy New Year.

Mele Kalikimaka a Hauoli Makahiki Hou!

Welcome to our very first edition of LIFE At Its Best!

melekalikimaka!Children’s Ark, planting seeds of eternity in children from 3 months to 4th grade.(p8).

contents WINTER 2008_ISSUE 01

04 WHAT’S A FAMILY FOR God designed families to be a blessing. Pastor Wayne explains three ways.

08 CHILDREN’S ARK Our children are the future, learn more about what New Hope has to offer your family.

10 A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS This year’s Youth Musical is sure to delight the whole family.

12 MILITARY Meet a New Hope family learning to cope with life while thousands of miles apart.

featuresYOUR LIFE AT ITS BEST

what’s new30 ENCORE BOOK Catch a glimpse of Pastor Wayne’s latest book.

insightA CLOSER LOOK INTO LIVING LIFE AT ITS BEST

16 GOD MOMENT A young woman’s testimony of God’s faithfulness in her life.

22 GEMS ALONG THE WAY A father’s letter that expresses The Father’s heart.

december 084, 5, 7, 11, 14 A Charlie Brown Christmas

6 Women in the World Charity Concert

10 Gift of Hope Charity Concert

23-24 Christmas Services

Wahine Volleyball Player, Raeceen Woolford talks about her realtionship with the Lord and more ... (p18).

www.enewhope.org

Editor in Chief: Pastor Wayne CordeiroCreative Director: Clint TorresProject Photographer Laura Aguon Chad Brownstein Derrek Miyahara Contributions: Gale Siu Chad Brownstein Laine Hamamura Rauna May Myra Lodge Kaui onalani Mead Stephen Lodge Leon Chingcuango Ryan Tsuji

14 3 WAYS TO TAME KID’S CLUTTER Practical tips to help you and your children deal with clutter.

18 ANGEL TREE Want to touch a life this Christmas? Find out how you can share God’s love with some very special children.

04!! LIFE At Its Best | Dec 08What’s a Family For?

05! www.enewhope.orgFamily

2) THE HOME IS A SHELTER FROM STORMS.

Storms often blow into the serenity of our lives, capsizing our reality and threatening the livelihood of our families. God cre-ated the family to be a refuge when storms hit, and they will.

Men, it is your responsibility to establish your home as a shel-tering tree, where you, your wife, and your children can come home to a place of rest and peace. Your home should be led well, run well, and kept free from conflict so that it can be a ref-uge from storms. Home needs to be a healing haven where your family can recover from the cuts and scrapes of the world.

Even if you do not have children at home, the same principle still stands. Is your house a sheltering tree? Can people feel safe around you? Can others let down their guard and share their heart so that healing and ministry can take place? There is one last blessing that God has tucked away for your family:

3) THE HOME IS A LEARNING CENTER FOR LIFE.

All of life’s basic skills are learned at home including walking, talking, eating, and using a remote control. We also learn vital life skills like how to treat one another in relationships, getting along with others and respecting authority. God’s design was wisely foreseen, because if you successfully live and negotiate relationships in the home, you will be fine outside the home as well.

Your family is like a team in a relay race that passes the baton of values to the next generation. What are you putting into the hands of your children?

Let us build our homes to be the learning centers of life. Don’t leave it up to the world or the media. Our homes need not be perfect, but gracious, and full of love that will cover a multitude of errors. With strong homes, we will have strong churches and we will see the healing of a nation.

hristmas is one of my favorite times of the year

because we have a lot of family get togethers.

God says it is not good for anyone to be alone,

so He gave you and me a family, to bless us. Let

us look at three blessings that God designed for

families:

1) WHO YOU ARE AT HOME IS REALLY WHO YOU ARE.

Credibility has to do with how believable, trustworthy and ef-fective you are at work, at school, in sports and in relationships. Your credibility is always homegrown.

The Apostle Paul wrote about pastors and leaders of the Church and what makes them credible. He says:

If any man aspires to the office of an overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do… He must be one who manages his household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?1 T I M O T H Y 3 : 1, 4-5

Paul said that family is the first ministry. Family is so important to God. The only reason I can preach in the pulpit is because my family is in order. If it is out of order, I lose credibility.

The inverse is also sadly true. If there is acidic anger in your home, your co-workers, clients, boss, and friends will feel it too. Who you are at home, is who you will be to the rest of the world.

That is why change must start at home. It is God’s discipleship center, a place where you are able to practice obedience to His ways. Every Bible should be printed with the disclaimer, “Please, do try this at home.”

God has another blessing in store for you through your family:

06 Life At Its Best | Dec 08

Recipes PUMPKIN CRUNCH

One 12 oz. can evaporated milk1 cup sugar3 eggs1 teaspoon cinnamon1 box yellow cake mix1 cup nuts, chopped1 cup melted butter

Mix first five ingredients and pour into greased, parchment lined 9x13 cake pan. Spread half of cake mix (dry) over batter, sprinkle with nuts and remaining cake mix. Pour melted butter over top. Bake in 350 degree oven for 50 mins. When cool, loosen pumpkin crunch from side of pan with a knife. Invert pan onto platter (the top becomes the crust) Top with sweetened cream cheese or whipped cream.

SWEET PARTY MIX

1 pkg. (10 oz) corn chips1 pkg. (6 oz) cone-shaped corn cereal1 box (12 oz) corn and rice cereal squares1/2 pkg. (10 oz) butter-flavored pretzel sticks1/2 pkg (11 oz) cheese-flavored puffs1 1/2 cups butter1 cup sugar2 t garlic powder4 t Worcestershire sauce

Preheat over to 250 degrees. Spray a large deep baking pan with non-stick spray. Combine chips, cereals, pretzels, cheese puffs in prepared pan.

In a sauce pan, heat butter with sugar, garlic powder and worcestershire sauce; stir until sug-ar dissolves.

Pour over cereal, mix lightly. Bake uncovered 1 hour, stir every 15 minutes. Makes 7 quarts

Available online at www.lifejournal.cc and at

New Hope Christian Fellowship, 290 Sand Island

Access Road.

The Life Planner is designed to prompt you to obedience in the

area of prayer, relationships and life essentials. This tool will help you become all you

were meant to be!

Pick up your copy of the Christmas album BELIEVE, recorded by Natalie Grant, one of gospel music’s finest female artists. This amazing CD will bring warmth to the hearts of all those who hear it. Why not get a few copies to give as gifts for some of those on your Christmas list this holiday season!

Make this year count by knowing what’s most important everyday!

Get your

for 2009 today!

Was da night be fo‘ Christmas,and all ova’ da place,

Not even da geckos was showin’ their face.Da stockings was hangin’ on top da TV

(‘Cause no mo’ fireplace in Hawai’i)Da kids stay all crashed, my old man too.

They leave all da work for you-know-who.So me, I stay pickin’ up alla their toys,

When-boom!-outside get only big noise!I run to da window, I open ‘em up,

I stick out my head and I yell, “Eh! Whassup?!”And then, I no can ba-lieve what I seen!Was so unreal, you know what I mean?

This fat haole guy get his reindeers in my yard!And reindeers not housebroken, you know, as’ why hard!

But nemmind, it’s Christmas, so I cut ‘em some slack.Plus, had buku pile presents pokin’ outta his sack!

So I wait ‘till he pau tie up his reindeer,Then I yell out da window, “Huui! Brah, ova hea!”

An’ I tell ‘em first ting, when I open da door,“Eh, Hemo your shoes! You going dirty my floor!”

He take off his boots, he tell, “You know who I am?”I go, “Ho! From the smell, must be Mr. Toe Jam!”He make mempachi eyes and he go, “Ho, ho, ho!”

By now, I stay thinking this guy kinda slow!He look like my Tutu, but little less weight,

And his beard stay so white, mo’ white than shark bait!He stay all in red, specially his nose,

And get reindeer spit on top his nice clothes!But him, he no care; he just smile at me,

And he start fo’ put presents unda-neath da tree.I tell ‘em, “Eh, brah, no need make li’dat,

And watch where you step! You going ma-ke da cat!”Then, out from his bag, he pull one brand new computah,

Choke video games, and one motorized scootah!He try fo fill up da Christmas socks too,

But had so much pukas, all da stuff wen fall troo.When he pau, I tell ‘em, “Eh Santa, try wait!

I get plenty leftovahs, I go make you one plate!”But he nevah like hang, he had so much fo’ do;

Gotta make all them small kids’ wishes come true.So I wave ‘em goodbye, and I flash ‘em da shaka,

And I tell ‘em, “Mele Kalikimaka!”When he hear that, he stop...and I telling you true,

He go, “Garans ball-barans! Merry Christmas to you!”

“ T h e G o o d F i g h t ”

“ D o w n s i z i n g G o d ”

“ N e w H o p eC h r i s t m a s S p e c i a l ”

“ C h r i s t m a s S e r v i c e s ”

08! Life At Its Best | Dec 08Children’s Ark

At New Hope Children’s Ark we are excited with the opportu-nity to plant seeds of eternity in children from 3 months to 4th grade. We are dedicated to partnering with parents as they raise their children up in the grace and knowledge of Jesus

Christ.

Knowing, Growing, Caring, SharingOur classes are designed to encourage the children into:

-

Extraordinary VolunteerB y G a l e S i u remember coming on board Children’s Ark at Mo-

analua High School and meeting a special, extraor-dinary, volunteer by the name of Kevin Juan. Kevin started serving in the parking ministry at New Hope but it wasn’t too long before he knew that his calling was in the children’s ministry. Kevin partnered with a handful of faithful leaders who are still serving with us in Children’s Ark today – they are: Phyllis Ahee and her daughters Shayna and Michelle Fujii, Becky Azama, Val and Kent Hironaka, Colin Kiyonaga, and Debbie Lukela.

After serving faithfully for 12 1/2 years in Children’s Ark, Kevin now leads the Ark’s ensuring that the classes are clean and safe for our children. He also serves during the 11 am service as a shift leader in our elementary department.

As an added blessing, because of Kevin’s faithfulness and commitment to serving the Lord, he met his wife Cheryl while serving in the Ark, they got married, and now have a beautiful daughter, Chelbi, 7 yrs.

09! www.enewhope.orgChildren’s Ark

Pier 45 —Family ServicesPier 45 is an exciting and unique thirty-five minute presentation designed for families. As a family, you will experience awesome praise and worship, creative messages that are fun and easy for your children to understand – with lots of “hands on” and audience participation, and a family prayer time. Your children will receive special treats, attendance punch cards, and will be able to choose gifts from the Pier Treasure Chest. The first Sunday of every month is “Double Punch Sunday!”

At Pier 45 you will have opportunities to develop friendships with other families. You’ll be able to visit the “Parent Con-nection Corner” filled with lots of tips on raising children and also the “YES” Table for children who are new believers. Af-ter attending the Pier, you’ll be able to check your children into their 11:00 am Children’s Ark classes while you attend the main service.

Because we value families, every de-tail of the program has been tailored with families in mind. We encourage families even with younger children to participate too! The aisles are spacious enough to accommodate for the move-ment of young children and for parking strollers.

CARING FOR OTHERS AND SHARING THE LOVE OF JESUS CHRIST

WITH OTHERS

Growing Up in th Ark-H o m e g r o w nBrad Price registered with Children’s Ark in

August, 1996, when he was nine years old. He attended Children’s Ark at a service held at the Pacific Beach Hotel. He was very

excited on his first day and enjoyed the volunteers.

Later after Brad completed the 5th Grade in the Ark, he became a junior helper assisting teachers in the class-rooms. He then joined the Superchurch team and found his calling. He loves music and working with children. He started out playing the ukulele and later taught himself how to play the guitar.

Today, Brad who is 21 years old, is leading Praise & Wor-ship in Superchurch as well as for the Pier 45 family ser-vice. On the weeks that Brad is not serving in Super-church and Pier 45, he teaches the Pre K 3 year old children. He’s great in story telling; especially with hand puppets. The children love him! We are so proud of Brad and are blessed to partner with him in ministry!

11 www.enewhope.orgEvents

10! Life At Its Best | Dec 08Events

n Sundays at 3 PM, over 100 youth between the ages of 13 and 20 gather on the Farrington Auditorium stage. With their music fold-ers in hand, they eagerly await the sound of the keyboard to begin their vocal warm–ups. Once Danice Smith, the rehearsal pianist, plays the first musical note, the youth rise to their feet, and the au-ditorium is suddenly filled with the sound of a beautiful, full-bodied, choir.

This Christmas, the musical is a fusion of the Broadway musical, “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown!” and the 1965 cartoon, “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” The musical brings to life those memo-rable, loveable, Peanuts characters from Charles M. Schulz’s classic cartoon strip.

Each rehearsal starts off with a Biblical teaching time by youth leader, Hanzo Hamamura. According to Hanzo, “The character of Charlie Brown embodies that which we all struggle with—accepting ourselves for who we really are, rather than comparing ourselves to others. Those in the youth choir are all at an age where learning this lesson is absolutely critical.”

This year we’ve added a new pilot program to train the youth to direct and choreograph select scenes. The idea behind this new program is to equip the leaders of tomorrow, giving them hands on experience in what they love to do!

Above being a musical, this is a ministry. Every year these young people not only grow closer to one another, but to God as well. The musical provides opportunities to develop discipline, respon-sibility, and self-confidence. Before every performance, Dane Ison, Choir Director, makes sure that they pray together as a family and reminds them to do the performance, “With energy, from the heart, for God!” Invite your family and friends to watch this fun and charming production! It’ll be sure to make this Christmas season unforgettable!

For information on tickets and performance dates, please call the church office at 842-4242.

This Christmas, the musical is a

fusion of the Broadway musical,

“You’re a Good Man, Charlie

Brown!” and the 1965 cartoon

“A Charlie Brown Christmas.”

The musical brings to life those

memorable, loveable Peanuts

characters from Charles M.

Schulz’s classic cartoon strip.

showtimesFriday, November 28 7:00 p.m.

Sunday, Novermber 30 4:30 p.m./7:30 p.m.

Thursday, December 4 7:00 p.m.

Friday, December 5 7:00 p.m.

Sunday, December 7 4:30 p.m./7:30 p.m.

Thursday, December 11 7:00 p.m.

Sunday, December 14 4:30 p.m./7:30 p.m.

Tickets will be available online at www.eNewhope.org or call the information hotline at 842-4242 ext. 411.

tickets on sale at:Tickets will be going on sale at Farrington NH services (Sat. after the 5pm & 7pm ser-vices and following the 7am, 9am & 11am services) starting November 1st. People can purchase tickets on the date of the show as well about an hour before we open the doors. Tickets cost $12 for Orchestra Seating and $10 for Balcony Seating.

1 What year did Peanuts debut as a daily strip? 2 What were the four main characters in the debut?3 What year was the first opening of “Charlie Brown’s Christmas 4 What Apollo spaceship nicknamed their command module “Charlie Brown” and lunar module Snoopy 5 What year did Charles Schultz announce his retirement 6 What type of dog is Snoopy 7 How old is Peppermint Patty and what is her last name 8 What is Lucy’s last name and who are her brothers

1. 1950 2. Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Shermy and Patty 3. 1965 4. Apollo 10 astronauts5. 1999 6. Beagle 7. (8) and Reichardt 8. van Pelt / Linus and Rerun

13www.lifeessentials.orgPortraits

12Life At Its Best | Dec 08Joined at the Heart

15!! www.lifeessentials.orgPortraits

14 Life At Its Best | Dec 083 Ways to Tame Your Child’s Clutter

Has your child’s mess taken over your home? Follow these steps to

tame the clutter.

3) Create Unique Storage Spots

A simple mug rack -- hung low in the child’s room -- can serve as a hitching post for miscellaneous possessions, such as belts, hats, necklaces, and gloves.

In the bathroom, a laundry lingerie bag or a corner organizer with holes, that al-low water to drain out, will keep those rubber ducks, sailboats, and Barbies from taking over the tub.

1) Set Some Ground Rules

Bring the kids together and let them know that new rules will be put into place to keep the house neater. Some rules to

consider implementing: Toys must not block doorways; clean clothes that are tried on and rejected must be put back in a drawer, not the dirty-clothes hamper; everything must be picked up and put away before bed every night.

2) Reuse Old Furniture

Look around your home for furnish-ings that can be recycled to the kids’ rooms. A trunk or a footlocker can be used as a storage compart-ment for athletic gear or toys. As a precaution, disengage the lock and add a safety latch or other device that keeps the lid securely open.

A small dresser can be moved into a child’s bedroom or family room and be used as a storage center for the kids artwork. Art supplies can be placed atop a dresser in a tin pail, and a basket can be added to hold fresh paper. Let the kids fill the draw-ers of the dresser with their daily cre-ations. You can’t save every crayon drawing or finger painting, so pick the best effort each week, or weed out the drawers when they are full and stash the treasures away in a special box with the child’s name on it. You can also use the dresser draw-ers to store school photos, notes from the teacher, and any other special papers.

17! www.enewhope.orgSOAP

16! Life At Its Best | Dec 08Gems Along the Way

16Life At Its Best | Dec 08God Moment

18 Life At Its Best | Dec 08Angel Tree

19www.enewhope.orgWhat’s On Your

20! Life At Its Best | Dec 08Media Schedule

21 www.enewhope.orgWhat’s On Your

22! LIFEessentials | Dec 08Table of Contents

23 www.enewhope.orgSOAP

22 Life At Its Best | Dec 08Gems Along the Way

30! Life At Its Best | Dec 08Spotlight

When was the last time you saw el-

ephant shapes in the clouds? We

hardly do that anymore, without guilt,

anyway. The day’s demands compel

us to the urgent. Surrender to those

demands, and you miss the eternal.

Life will not be rushed, and it is only

in pausing that we develop grateful-

ness.

An old rabbinic saying I heard years

ago still haunts me:

ver pull over and stop long

enough to breathe in a morn-

ing’s sunrise?

“One day, God will hold us account-

able for all the things he created for us

to enjoy, but we refused to do so.”

I am learning that a spirit of grateful-

ness is only developed when I pause to

notice a rainbow or refuse to rush past

a sunset. When I take the time to no-

tice, I feel arising in me a deep appre-

ciation that wasn’t there before. I am

again reminded hat I have breath in my

lungs, good friends, and forgiveness …

all things I’ve never deserved but have

been granted nonetheless.

I believe God is more concerned about

us being grateful than just about any-

thing else.

THE ENCORE CHURCHComing Soon – January 2009

Order your copy today! Available at New Hope Christian Fellowship bookstore; 290 Sand Island Access Rd; 808.842.4242 or online at www.lifejournal.cc.org

T H E E N C O R E C H U R C H

W A Y N E C O R D E I R O

1 0

1 1

december 2008

Documents

new hope family learning

new hope ohana

living life

featuresyour life

edition of life

happy new year

promises of new miracles

new monthly resource