Tithes

1.       Chores

Upon the Pacific Ocean there is a rare sea bean. It’s a seed that grows into a beautiful tropical tree when planted. This seed simply floats with the raging seas, swims in rip tide currents, and at other times in calm, rolling seas, so that it can one day grow upon the shores of its intended destination; a place that God only knows. The Pacific Ocean is divided between the southern and Northern hemisphere. The Northern portion of the great sea has a great current that is primarily triggered by the wind and the sun; the mega current circulates clockwise in a boundless circular direction. Any piece of flotsam or in this case, a sea bean seed, can be sure to eventually find land fall, even if it takes years to get there.

David, son of Jesse, was just a boy when he was anointed to be the next king of all Israel and Judah. He was working tirelessly in the fields, encountering immense heat, enduring harsh landscapes, and battling beasts of the field to protect his sheep. David was a righteous lad obeying the commands of this father and likely, followed the lead of his older brothers. He was simply just doing the j that was naturally his to do. There was no fusing and fighting, he was the youngest brother, and he just did his work as it was entrusted to him to do. He had no clue what life had in store for him; little did he know that by the coming of the prophet Samson, he would end’ up becoming the greatest King Israel ever had.

Jesus, the son of God, before the start of his ministry by which he would preach at the sermon on the mount, he intentionally went into the wilderness to fast and to pray. While there he had to resist the wiles of the anti-God. He was tempted in several ways, but like the sea bean seed amid great powerful sea, there is always calm before and after the storm. Do you think you can test yourself for 40 days like how Jesus’ did. Also, what do you think Jesus’ chores were once those 40 days were up and when he began his mission?

Mission: Responsibility, bearing your call to duty, bearing your call for the unexpected change, growing pains

One, two, tie my shoe, three, four, open the door, five six, pick up sticks, seven, eight, God is my favorite mate, nine, ten, I got my writhing pen.

2.       Believe

There is a big book, this book is nicknamed big because it does a lot of big work in people’s lives. It’s a alcoholics anonymous book that helps individuals overcome the addictions of drugs and alcohol.  There are twelve steps to recovery for an individual with an addiction. The second step is critical because in that step it says that you must believe in God as an attempt to restore your life to sanity. In today’s world, the thing is that when it comes to our spiritual lives, it’s usually behind the scenes, behind the scenes or on the side of the daily hustle and bustle of life. If you are a believer in having faith in God, we must strive to make our spiritual lives a part of our everyday, 24 hours a day. This is just a precursor, a warning, and an insight for all youth who read this book. If you have an addictive personality, I believe this book will help you to refrain from being pulled into that addiction.

Now, you, Jesus, and all twelve disciples are most likely to be or to have been non-addicts, which brings me to the point, alcoholics and drug addicts can become so far gone in their addiction that their livelihood can be viewed as insane behavior; In most cases, these people must resort to God; they must believe that the creator can help restore them to sanity. Sometimes I think that the twelve disciples had positive addictions like being obsessed with wanting to see more miracles that are caused through their lord, Jesus. Signs and miracles can act as powerful spirit lifters because they place more and more faith in our daily lives; it can keep us spiritually fit even in the most despairing situations.

Let us just say that our sea bean seed’s name is Keone. We would be using personification or the act of giving human traits to our sea bean. When I was on Kure atoll back in 2012, I remember combing the beaches looking at all the interesting flotsam that washes up on shore. I found Keone just waiting for me to pick him up, to admire him, and when the time came, plant him so that he can grow and complete his life cycle.

I like to think that like God and his son, the seed and seed carrier, would both fit in well in learning the step two of alcoholics anonymous because they are drunk for each other. Love drunk that is. The positive addiction.

Need to believe that you will make it, no matter where you are at in the ocean currents or no matter what age you are. Believe that you will get there. You will finish the race.

The sun will come out tomorrow. Tomorrow there will be no more sorrow. Tomorrow, I will rise with the sun. The son of God will keep me.

Mission: Getting drunk for the love of existence, rather than getting drunk from alcohol. Believe you are here for a reason.

3.       Chosen

King David took on insurmountable odds before becoming the chosen one and before becoming who he was meant to be. He is the original stone that the builder’s rejected but then became the head cornerstone. Jesus on the other hand, not the original rejected stone, but the eternal one. He was rejected and at the same time living the head because religious leaders and the roman empire did not recognize him as “the son”, so in that sense, he was rejected. But he was the head because he was a priest in the order of Melchizedek; he preached and preached, and many witnessed the awe-inspiring miracles that God produced through him. He was living in the glory of God. So, to was David, slowly inching his way to be king, by living in the glory of God. Glory keeps us going, keeps us inspired, keeps us in the game, and most importantly, keeps us afloat and alive.

Our sea bean Keone, kept afloat through the glory of God. No matter what kind of sea’s that he had to weather, he stayed afloat, he did not skuttle or die; the most important thing I want you to take home here is this: Keone the sea bean was all alone; with no other sea bean, no other flotsam at sea to encourage him in his plight. But still, through the glory of God and through the chapters that follow, we still need to see if the bean makes it to shore.

Are you one of god’s chosen? The bible teaches us that “many are called, but only few are chosen.” Why would God only choose a few? Why leave out many countless others? It is my belief that we are all god’s chosen. I believe that all those who are convicted and convinced that God exists and that he does have sons and daughters, you are then considered chosen. The question now is, what are you going to do with that bit of information? Will you follow the will of God to the best of your ability? Or will you cower and hide behind the fact that you cannot prove that God exists and so you sin and sometimes do as you please?

Ready, set, go. Lights, camera, action. Mic check, mic check, one two one two. You were chosen to follow the surf of God.

On a sad and lonely note, Jeffrey is in pain, he is not only by himself at sea, but he does also, not spot land. Why am I using personification by applying human traits to a seed at sea? Its to prove to you that God does exist and that hardships come and go. God exists because, he controls the sun, the wind, and the seas; he would never let the lonely seed of God to live by himself at sea with no hope, no faith, and no purpose. The point is this, if you are a lone ranger as our Jeffrey is, you simply must believe that God is real and that he will deliver you out of any negative situation that you find yourself in, in life.

I know and believe I am God’s chosen; I believe it with all 4 chambers of my beating heart. To know that you are chosen, to believe it without any doubt, that is the question I will leave you with today.

Speaking of “chosen”, the parallel truth between the sea bean, Jeffrey, and the fact that Hawaii is its original home, they are both alike because they are both alone in a great and vast sea. Captain Cook must have come across the Hawaiian Islands by accident. And so to, the Polynesians, they must have come across Hawaii by accident. Or maybe there are certain currents and winds that lead you to the exact place of discovery. God must have put in place the natural elements of nature that brings you and all the world into contact with paradise.

When David had to flee for his life before becoming king, most of the time he had support of many in the people of Israel and Judah. Let’s say half and half; half backed King Saul and the other half backed David. I want to address two kinds of people here. The first are those who are sitting comfortably in their lives; sure, there are ups and downs in life, but majority of the time, you consider yourselves living safe and sound. Your parents, your family, and your friends, make you equal with the fact that you are just fine, and you are happy. The second type of people I want to address are those who feel as if every day seems as if you just need to get through the day to survive and to feel safe and sound. These people are under a daily test of oppression, challenges, and the fear of failure.

               Who are you of the type of people I outlined? Will you be a privileged few who have no real challenge and problems in life? Of the privileged, will you challenge yourself to become one of the challenged and uncomfortable? Then, you who feel oppressed in life, will you rise as God has intended for you to do?

               Only time will tell. God will not test you beyond what you can handle. Jeffrey, the sea bean, in stormy waters, in great big surf, in lonely calm seas, sure, will the bean make it to shore? Will God churn the waters, quail the seas, purpose the winds, just so that a single, simple, and outrageously lonely sea bean seed make it to home and to shore.

               Are you chosen? I’m going to tell you this just once, “your heart is what convicts you of the truth.” If you feel like you are the humbled and oppressed people, or if you feel as if you are the privileged and want to challenge yourself, either way, I challenge you to listen to you heart, feel your heartbeat, and then, just have faith in God, l that you are here for a reason.

4.       Faith Works

When I was in my teenage years, I always remembered my father telling me, “You should just make friends with girls”. Every single time I went to talk to my dad about women, he would always just resort to telling me to primarily keep women as friends. Looking back, I think that’s the most valuable piece of wisdom I got from my dad while growing up. “I can’t help it”, I would tell my father. It’s just in my spirit, it’s in my mind, and it’s a physical calling to seek a girlfriend, to seek an intimate female companion, and to ultimately seek a wife so that I could have my own family someday.

In my experience, when love sparks between man and woman, there is a silent “faith” that is built up between them. It is “faith” that they will remain faithful to one another, and it is “faith” that they will always be there for one another no matter what good or bad happens in their lives. This is the power of the two. Husband and wife equals two.

 It just so happened that I had a dream; the dream was that Jesus had a wife named Vanessa. If Jesus did have a wife, do you think he had to leave her, as a young man, so that he could pursue his life and mission for God’s will and purposes? Or, did Vanessa accompany him on his mission and was she always there for him while Jesus performed his duties for the will of God? Man, “one,” and woman, “two.” This is the power, unity, and completeness of the “two”. I like to believe that, Jesus’s wife was always there for him; to help him to prepare for the fact that he had to die. And he had to die at such a young life.

The ultimate “faith”. What is the ultimate “faith”? You have faith that you will get your next meal, you have faith that you will get to sleep at night, you have faith that you will go to college and get a good job someday, you have faith that you will live a fulfilling and meaningful life. But what is the ultimate “faith”? The answer is, will God grant to you that you are welcomed into Valhalla? Will God grant you the passage into heaven? Valhalla is a Viking term. I’m using Valhalla because Vikings do not believe in Christ, but they do outline and enthusiastically detail what the afterlife is like. You simply need to have faith that a detailed, outlined, and exhibited afterlife is real, is possible, and is within your grasp.

More on faith, let’s say that you are separated from the love of your life. Who is the love of your life? Is it God, is it your father, your mother, your sister or brother? Or is it your girlfriend and ultimately, your wife? “Faith works”. Will you work for your love? And will you do the will of God to get to your love? If Jesus did truly have a wife, as my dream suggested, how much suffering, how much pain, and how much work must he have to endure, just to be with his loving wife in Valhalla one day? Separation from that which you love and cling to; is God seriously testing you, which is a viable question, or is God granting you the ultimate possibility that all you dream of and want, will be there when the time comes.

I will be happy that it happened then, but not sad at all that it’s over for now. Our friends that we make

Women, what about women? much like the sports media in America, women are greatly, I mean greatly outnumbered by men when it comes to God and the bible. When you watch the sports channel, how often do they highlight women’s athletics? Some noteworthy women who we should all know from the bible are women like, Ruth, Abigail, Ester, Mary the mother of Jesus, and Mary Magdalene. Each of these women carry a specific story and are supporting figures in the lives of the “hero” man or the “hero” male protagonist. All I have to say about women’s equality to males is this, it is the power of two that makes the world go round. Husband and wife, and wife and husband. Women must believe that they are just as important to the overall picture, and men must believe that woman are the single most unifying figure that brings life into a full circle of fulfillment. We must move past the fact that the bible only outlines “males” as important figures, as influential people, and as “sons”. We are now living in a new hour, a new day, a new year, and a new age.

What about the dying seas?

5.       Sorrow and Grief

Treat others the way you want to be treated. That is living the golden rule. This rule may seem prudent and somewhat obvious to the normal man or woman, but for one reason or another, there is a lot of bullying and teasing that happens in life, especially if you are a growing adolescent. It is an unfortunate fact that kids are bullied and teased as they go to the only place that is afforded for them, school. Joking and playing around with people emotionally is one thing, but to do that to a growing human being in the delicate young timeline of their lives is another thing. What will it take for the bullies of this world to learn to have a sense of compassion, to have a sense of concern, and to have a sense of love?

Jack be nimble, Jack be quick. Jack jumped over the candle stick. God will protect you against sharks, The bullies of the sea can’t catch me.

In the defense of the bullied, teased, and oppressed, just think of Jeffrey, our sea bean seed. What is a giant swell and what is high winds? It’s nothing! Our bean is solid and secure no matter what life throws at him. Raging high seas or cold dark great winds, no matter what materializes against him, it is simply no problem. You can get through the bullying and teasing, its simply not a problem because God has got your back, all the time.

When the Kingdom of Hawaii was overthrown in 1893, the queen was simply disrespected and demoralized because “she” and “they” were intellectually inferior. Out maneuvered and outsmarted by a group of men whose aim was to make Hawaii a nearby state and vassal of the United States of America. For all of the down pressed and the bullied, “just make connections to instances that are and can be worst off then your present situation.” I have been on both sides of the stick when it comes to bullying and teasing; I made fun of individuals in good fun, and I have been bullied because I am a shy and quite guy. I have even been on the side of the persecuted and oppressed. I know how it feels. Trust me when I say, I have seen 20 foot swells, the most unbelievable sun heat, and the coldest high sea winds, and I just say “Rejoice, God will deliver me.”

               Did you know that the great barrier reef

6.       Loyalty

Jeffrey, the sea bean seed, is loyal to the sea. Intense sun heat, strong currents, big swells, and winds, all have become a sort of friend to Jeffrey. What would you do if you were stuck in a certain current that kept you tied to the same movements for days and days without end? If there is anyone or anything that you should be loyal to, it should be the most high God. Why would I make, “loyalty”, a special part of this story? If all else fails, If you are destitute, having only your mom and your dad to keep you solace, you need to hold strong to God.

Monkey see, monkey do. These are my roots and my culture.

Following love and following the love of commandments should be your only concern. Try not to sin, try to believe in the fact that God’s kingdom is coming. Try to believe that God has sons who builds you up to be your best. Try to believe that God is giving you the wisdom so that you can know God himself and know how you can overcome any obstacle that comes your way. “Loyalty”, it is your only way forward if you find yourself in the lonely and the destitute regions of this world. Let’s say you are locked up in prison or jail. How can your life lead you to be so? What have you done that life led you to where you are? There is sport to read, there is sport and spirit to learn, there is sport to socialize, there is sport to laugh, there is sport to work out, and most importantly, there is sport to “loyalty” to God. Invision King Solomon. He was said to be the wisest of all. I commonly read in his book in Ecclesiastes, I can’t help but to keep reading his dialogue as if life is just “Vanity.” How can everything you can do under the sun, be just “vanity?” Solomon ultimately concludes his book of wisdom with the ultimatum that you should fear God and follow his commandments. You must remember that you were created by a creator. You must remember that you are here for a reason. I promise you this, when you do find yourself to be all wise, you will seriously find yourself to believe that everything is “vanity” in the fact that you will overthink, undermined, and understand any philosophical inquiry that comes your way. You must remember that you need to fear God, follow his commandments, and keep to the fact that you are here for a reason. You can always teach, socialize, learn knowledge, and have fun.

7.        Son Like Father, Daughter like Mother

Twinkle, twinkle, little start, how I wonder what you are. We can get lost by looking to the stars for direction, when we can just look to the ground beneath us, to direct our paths.

How many of you “sons” want to be like your father or mother? And how many of you “daughters” want to be like your father or mother? Do you want to have the demeanor of your father or mother? Or do you want to have the willpower of your father or mother? How much alike do you think Jesus was like God, the father of us all? What about me, the one who is writing this book, and trying to impart to you as much wisdom as I can? How much do you want to know the mind of myself? I think it’s time for me to reveal to you that I am Jeffrey, our great sea bean seed. The only father and mother I have really had is the ocean, is the wind, and ultimately is the sun. I’ve been floating at sea for so long that all I have had time to do is build up my knowledge of life and do my best to accrue wisdom. The revelation is this, my mother and father are the sun, the wind, and is the ocean. Our surroundings are the very best teachers.

Why is it that almost all women that I have encountered in my life, they seem to be the wisest?  This fact leaves me with the conclusion that, are women the leaders of tomorrow? Why are men always the leaders in our biggest companies, our greatest nation, and in our greatest sports teams? In contrast, why are women the primary nurturing factor in the upbringing of our youth? Why do mature elderly women the stabilizing factor for those who are going through life crises?

This brings me to the “nature versus nurture” debate. This debate signals the fundamental question that, nature, are we born with the ability to know what to do, or, nurture, are we learning as we grow, so that we know what to do? Would God make the human being couplable to know that they ultimately love? Or would God make the human being couplable to learn how to ultimately love? I know the answer, but I will leave it up to you to figure it out for yourself. I will say just this, history tells the story of mankind and our ability to love.

I believe that Jesus had a super awesome and happy life before finally surrendering to the fact that he must die a physical death. Love. How much love do you think you have within you, that would tackle any obstacle, strive for any ambition, and give up your life for any, one will?

8.       Inspiration, Creativity, and Innovation

To and fro. Stop and go. That's what makes the world go round. Thick and Thin. Lose or win. That's what makes the world go round. Between it all, there is a focus point that allows you to be inspired to love, to find peace, and to use your creativity for good.

How often do you think that you need to find a way to acquire true Godly wisdom? Too me, I cherish all the mighty, mighty wisdom that God has granted to me, so that I can write this book for you, so that you mighty might learn to gain insight, inspiration, and innovation as if it became the most undeniable and valuable thing in the world to you. When it comes to acquiring wisdom, I can’t help but picture Solomon. Here is a man who is sitting high and mighty, comfortable and sound, and safe and secure while on his thrown of Israel. His main ambition and battle in life is the struggle of the mind. What can you do for your children? What can you do for your kingdom? And what can you do for humanity? The answer is, you can inspire, you can create, and you and innovate. You can set an example for those less knowledgeable. You can set a standard for those who are younger. And you can learn to create new ideas, new understandings, and new spiritual concepts.

The “aloha” state. Hawaii is and has become known for its paradise. And for two, its “aloha.” Hawaii is my home and if there is one thing that I can say about its core foundations is this, this state is “Just.” Just being in the “state” of Hawaii brings forth change, brings forth wisdom, brings forth good will, and brings forth happiness. No matter where you are in the world and no matter what “state” you think you are in, just think of being in the “state” of Hawaii. And, “just” think of being Jesus, a man who can play any position, play any part, and live in any man or woman’s life. He can weather any hurricane. He can strive through any surf. And he can handle any tropical sun and breeze.

I’m trying to inspire you right now. I’m the alchemist. I’m the suffering striving servant.  I’m the son of the creator. How much so can you feel the same way about your life? In Hawaii, you can feel special by going to grade school. In Hawaii, you can feel special by stepping out your door in the morning. In Hawaii, you can feel special by just going on a simple hike through the mountains. In Hawaii, you can just be “happy” knowing that you are alive. Try to understand my wisdom that I am imparting to you today. No matter where and how you find yourself in the situation and place you are in, you can find solace and you can find the contentment in life that you are looking for.

Jesus spoke, concerning the kingdom of heaven, using metaphorical and symbolic language. Why not just speak plainly and simply concerning the kingdom of heaven? “ahah.” I found the way to get through to you. Does Jeffrey, the sea bean sight land, and find a way home? Does following the wind, going with the currents of the sea, and understanding how the sun affects your movements, get you to where you want to go? The kingdom of heaven cannot be defined in plain and earthly terms. You must obtain the wisdom to understand that the kingdom of heaven, whether it be on earth or in the spirit, must be defined when and if you get there psychologically.

9.       Spiritual Gift

In the hope that I am inspiring you, I am left with only one option. You must find your “chi”, you must find your “strength,” and you must find your “spiritual gift.” Some people are smarter, some people are funnier, some people are bigger, some people are faster, some people are stronger, but nobody is better than any one person. To interpret that means that we all have our special gift of the spirit, of the mind, and of the body. And, we are all equals in the sight of God. How did I find my spiritual gift? This is a big question. I found my gifts by simply following the will of God. I just lived my life to the best way that I knew how to live it. Then, and only then, was a led to the conclusion that I have many gifts that God granted to me because I believed that I could help and teach other people.                                                      

Listen to the rhythm of the drum line.

From the bible, we get a lot of “gift” understandings from Paul. He teaches us that when it comes to the spirit, there are those who can teach, there are those that can prophesy, there are those that can speak spiritually, there are those that can simply, work, there are those that can interpret language, and there are those that can speak many languages. We can find out a lot of spiritual understandings from the bible, but I’m outlining them to you here and now. The human species is so diverse that there are infinite number of abilities and gifts that come from our being. I encourage you all to find your passion, to find your ability, and to ultimately find out how you can use your gift to benefit humanity.

After obtaining security in his kingdom, what does King David do? He stores up, he prepares, and he gets ready for the hereafter. Aside from becoming an exemplary figure to his constituents, he saves and collects assets so that the building of God’s temple would come to fruition. I like to envision David, singing, playing music, training youngsters, and loving people to the best of his ability. That is how he used his spiritual gifts as he lived out his happy life. How will you live out your happiness?

10.  Prophesy: Transfiguration

To predict the immediate future for yourself should be quite easy. But after reading this short story, I’m hoping that I sparked a certain willpower in you so that you can think abstractly and unexpectedly. This is the tenth chapter of this story. The number ten can commonly be construed to mean perfection. Does our sea bean finally, ultimately, and perfectly, find its way to the hearts, minds, and bodies of humanity? Does he float in, does he catch the waves and follow the flow of the wind, so that Jeffrey can find his way into land. Does he get the chance to plant its seed, sprout its roots, and grow under the sunlight? In the finality of it all, does the seed transfigure and grow?

               Write your story here and draw your illustration of the life you are willed to live…

11.  Prophesy: Pitch Prayer Perfect Picture

Picture this pitch prayer perfect picture, it’s just you and God. Everything in your life has been taken away from you. Your family, your friends, your money, your clothes, your food, everything is gone. What are you going to do now? You must remember, you have just transfigured yourself, changed for the better. What does the middle distant future have in store for you?

Illustrate and write your future here…

12.  Prophesy: Happy Fulfilling Whole

Who could prophesy what the world will look like in the distant future? What will become of mankind? I would bet that so far as you have read this novel, you have been thinking about yourself and how you fit into this story. Perhaps, the greatest bit of wisdom that I have imparted to you today is, how will you find your gift so that you can contribute to the overall picture of mankind’s future?

 The number twelve equals completion and fulfillment. You have the flawless “dozen.” Whenever I think of a dozen, I think about eggs. Does the egg grow within itself to become a “chick”, or does the egg get cracked open to be eaten. Either way you look at, it’s a bonus for the chick or for the eater. 

Draw and write your way into the history books here…