End of 2011, start of 2012

James 1:2-4
2Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

This will be foundation scripture for 2012. So with that said, I will continue to blog, whether read or not, so that I can look back and see what God continues to do in my life...so lets start here...took some time to write this up on the last day of 2011, while in Kauai:

Top 11 things in 2011 (in no particular order)

1) Lori and I celebrated 21 years of marriage
2) Family trip to Vegas with Brandi, Lori and me prior to Brandi heading back to school
3) Crazy love and Francis Chan at DCAT in February
4) Brandi getting baptized in July
5) HIM Conference in April
6) Impact Mens’ ministry, all the growth God is allowing, the 4 quarterly rallies – Pastor Dom Kaaihue, Pastor Elwin, Pastor Max Wilkins (from Florida), Pastor Guy Kapelila form Hope Chapel with worship by the Katina’s
7) Japan Impact mens trip in December
8) Westmont visits for Spring Sing in April 2011 and Parent orientation in August
9) Thanksgiving and Christmas at the Takahashi’s, felt like the good old days with mom and family
10) New Hope Sand Island – our leaders trip during the summer, the growth of the leadership team, the community God has asked us to disciple and invest in and time with Bethy and Pure love.
11) Working out with Ellie Kapihe and Danny Katoa and surviving P90x and Insantity…realizing that when committed, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Top learning experiences in 2011
1) Placing our Laniakea Plaza Shopping center into Chapter 11 bankruptcy
2) The continued pruning and detangling of Pi’ilani Group and its assets
3) Unequal yoke of being in business partnerships
4) IRS audit of Pi’ilani Group and how one huge event can open up a can of worms
5) Trusting God to provide for finances and venues of resolution
6) Health – no matter how much I workout and I did a lot and I did stuff I did not think I could do (Insanity), but if I do not eat healthy, then the workout is for naught…at the end of the year, I ended up weighing 1 pound less than the start. Need to improve on that in 2012
7) Restoring relationships is a joy, but it takes a lot of work and grace to do so
8) Ministry is not about doing the work of God, ministry is about living out the will of God in my life first and then with those around me.


Goals for 2012
1) Grow and invest more time in my relationship with Lori and enjoy her more as she has been a blessing from God.
2) Living and eating a better lifestyle. It is my diet that dictates my health, not my workouts. So being more disciplined in what I eat will do more for my health than anything else.
3) Pi’ilani Group – continue to allow God to do His pruning and cleaning up of the mess of the businesses we are in. Trusting Him and obeying His will in all that I am doing.
4) Impact Men’s – continue to invest, grow and delegate God’s will for the men of New Hope Sand Island and Impact Saturday
5) New Hope Sand Island – invest and grow the edification team in support of what Pastor Dom and the team has been called to do at New Hope Sand Island – creating a community of disciples for Christ. Edify people, build teams, send them out.
6) Pray intently for family members and close associates to 1) come to know the Lord if they have not accepted him yet and 2) for those that do know Him, help them to grow in their walk with Him

So, today we start...consider it all joy...pure joy, for God!!!

God bless us all and love you all.