By David J. Stewart | September 2013
Hebrews 11:27, “By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.”
Hello everyone. Well, I'm now on the Big Island and working from my laptop computer. This is now my home for the foreseeable future. I ordered my P.O. Box in advance and picked up the keys today when I arrived.
Photo to right: Yes, those are real live exotic birds. The friendly blue parrot laying on his back relaxed in my hands is from Brazil. The two birds on my shoulders are each 8-years-old and are from the Solomon Islands and Australia. God is amazing!!!
I had a very interesting, busy and emotional weekend. The beauty of Hawaii and the beautiful music always move my heart. I was walking down Kalakaua Street at Waikiki Beach and saw so many interesting things over the 3 days I spent in Honolulu. I saw a homeless man with feet, but no legs; hands, but no arms. I gave him $20 but he couldn't reach out to grab it, so I gently set the money at his feet. He gave me a great big smile. That was humbling and I told the Lord that I won't dare complain about anything.
They closed down the street Saturday night and had several local groups playing a free live concert. I heard the most beautiful Hawaiian song being sang by three Christian men and broke down in tears. I thought about many preachers who are suffering, and my web visitors, and I thought of the burdens of many of my web visitors who are hurting, and my two hearing impaired (one deaf) web visitors, wishing you could all be there and hear what I heard. My heart was moved. I was using my shirt sleeves to wipe away the many tears. There are so many people hurting very much right now and my prayers are with them (you).
I've never seen so many homeless people in one spot in my entire life as along the Waikiki Beach area. I saw two men with inflatable mattresses and pillows, sleeping right on the sidewalk next to the busy street. This is right in front of the businesses at Waikiki. Yes, the homeless condition is that bad. Others had beach chairs, but most were either sitting or laying on the hard concrete, many intoxicated with alcohol. The stench of urine is horrible in many places along Waikiki. The local residents in Oahu don't want the poor and homeless in their residential areas, so they let the tourists deal with them, who come and go daily.
I surprised a local man when I moved, by giving him my old car. He said he had just lost his job. I had never seen him before, but was glad to give it to him. Last year I had several hundred dollars of repairs done, so it was good to go. I always use super grade fuel, because it runs cleaner and doesn't carbon (dirty) up the oil, helping preserve the engine. Plus I'm not a lead foot, which is hard on a car, especially an older one. I had that car for nearly a decade. I had never met the gentleman before, but he had discreetly placed a note under my windshield a few months ago, asking if I was interested in selling my car. I called him from the hotel and said, it's yours, come and get it. There was a big pile of loose change in the car that I also gave him. A big, humble, 250 lb island man showed up and was so happy. In fact, he was so happy that he gave me three big bear hugs. I'll tell you, there's not a gay bone in my body, but there's nothing more joyful to me than to be hugged by another man. That's a man for whom Christ died. I gave him a Gospel of John. I'm not boasting and God knows, but I just had to share the part about the big bear hugs, because it really made me happy! The more that I give away of everything that God has given to me, the happier I am. Jesus is precious!
Now there's not a Charismatic bone in my body, but I have to share with you what God does for me, and it's humbling. When I arrived at the Honolulu airport, I walked outside and ordered a regular priced taxi. A shiny, white, 40 foot stretched limousine (it seemed like 100 feet to me) pulled up. I had to ask twice if this was going to cost me more than a regular taxi, because quite frankly, it was intimidating. They said no. I had never rode in a limousine before. I got inside and sat in the back seat. In front of me was a long L-shaped seat that 7 or 8 passengers could have fit in. It was just little ole me. The driver was so far away that I would have had to yell to say something to him. There were fancy glasses in the doors and a built in ice chest. There was a TV, stereo and a bunch of other gadgets. I didn't dare touch anything! I believe everything happens for a reason. I believe God was welcoming me to my new temporal home in Hawaii. Heaven is my permanent home and I long to be there with my precious Savior!
I got to the hotel at Waikiki Beach. I am a returning guest from years past. I had just reserved a standard room, nothing fancy. For no apparent reason (and I didn't ask), the hotel said they upgraded my reservation and gave me the penthouse apartment on the top floor. Literally, I had to press the “PH” button the elevator for penthouse (which just means a fancy high rise apartment). The fancy apartment had two bathrooms, a kitchenette, a full living room, a big bedroom and the most incredible view. Outside I had about 50 feet of walkway with bamboo chairs. It was incredible. I'd never stayed in a place so lavish. I was humbled and still am. Again, I believe that God was welcoming me to my new home in Hawaii. Who knows where God may lead in the future, hopefully Heaven, but I am just traveling life's journey, claiming the promise of God to guide me in all that I do (Proverbs 3:5-6). Philippians 2:13, “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”
There's a lot going on right now. I have much to do this week, but it's manageable taking everything just one day at a time. I need to find a place to live. I'm in a hotel now with a rent car. Well, the rent car's not in the hotel, I am... lol. I haven't seen any 12 inch centipedes yet, thank God. Those things scare me! I met a young couple in Honolulu while I was playing my steel guitar at Waikiki Beach. They were coming from the Big Island to go to college in Honolulu. They were also Christians and I enjoyed talking with them, Brenard and Amber. Amber was born and raised on the Big Island and Brenard is originally from Houston, Texas.
I also met an interesting fellow, Robert, a street musician on Waikiki, who was playing a beautiful Flamenco style of classical guitar playing. He had a mop head, with long white hair and a long white beard. Somewhere buried under all that hair I found a really nice person to get to know. His guitar has nylon strings. He's originally from Tennessee, then became a musician in Miami, then moved to Honolulu in 1973, then moved back to Miami and then finally back to Honolulu in 1996. He shared with me how he makes his pretty music, which I was delighted to hear and learn. I tossed $20 in his guitar case on the ground and bought him a bottle of cold water, for which he was grateful. I give things away for fun in the Lord and it's a great way to live.
While I was listening to him play his guitar, a shirtless guy with bright flashing lights on his baseball cap ran by with a cinderblock on his shoulder. Yes, a full-sized concrete cinderblock! It was hilarious. He does it for attention and exercise. Waikiki is a very weird place to say the least! Everybody's out there doing their thing, whether singing, playing a cello, mime, street preaching, painting or standing on their head for donations. I ran out of gospel tracks and saw a guy holding a big “Ye Must Be Born Again” sign, so I asked him for a gospel tract, so I could give it to the next person I met (which I did). I gave away dozens of Gospel of John booklets and gospel tracks in Oahu. I always leave a $20 tip behind (and a small Bible or gospel tract) for the cleaning lady and all my spare change at any hotel I stay at. I love Dr. Curtis Hudson's track, “Salvation Plain And Simple,” available from the Sword Of The Lord, which I've been handing out to folks I meet.
I've never met so many diversified personalities in one place as Honolulu. Some people are really sweet and others are as cold as ice. I took a side street and got lost Friday night and couldn't find my way back to the hotel. My right arm and leg were hurting horribly with razorblade sharp pain and I couldn't barely walk anymore. So I asked a young Caucasian couple for help (the yuppie type), but they ignored me like I wasn't there. But then I asked a young Japanese couple and bless their heart, they were so sweet. They got out their GPS tracking on some electronic gizmos they were both carrying and showed me exactly where I was at. They even walked a couple blocks with me to help me find my way back to the main road. I offered to pay them, but they kindly refused and were happy to be able to help me. I've met so many sweet Japanese people over the years. But whether sweet or cold, we are commanded in the Bible to love everyone with God's unconditional love, just as He loves us because of Who He is and not for who we are. You are greatly loved my friend.
God is good to us all! I long for the return of Christ, and I rest assured in knowing that the Rapture is one day nearer than yesterday. One day at a time. Have faith in God! I love you all in the Lord.
