Da Jesus Book

I picked up a copy of the New Testament translated into Pidgin English in Hawaii. This is a sort of Hawai'ian creole language that many people speak in the islands. I thought it was a joke, but this appears to be a real translation into an actual world language and is taken very seriously. It sounds funny to the ear especially if you are not familiar with this language, but they really put a lot of work into it.

They have a web site. And, it is apparantly certified by the Wycliffe Translators

From one of the articles first written about this translation:

What do they think they're doing, translating the New Testament into pidgin?

"They" — a group of Island translators — think they're making the Bible more understandable to people who feel less comfortable using standard English. They consider pidgin a real language, not a joke.

And they know the publication of "Da Jesus Book" is going to upset people all the same.

"I think that's an unavoidable problem and typical whenever you're translating a low-prestige language," said Ryo Stanwood of Wailua Homesteads on Kaua'i, a member of a statewide team of 26 translators who converted text from English to pidgin.

He recalled that previous translators had their problems: Jerome was criticized for converting the Bible to Latin, then considered a vulgar language, and John Wycliffe for translating scripture into English.

The Lord's Prayer

Jesus wen teach lidis: "So, pray lidis:
God, you our Fadda.
You stay inside da sky.
We like all da peopo know fo shua how you stay,
An dat you good an spesho inside,
An we like dem give you plenny respeck.
We like you come king ova hea now.
We like everybody make jalike you like,
Ova hea inside da world,
Jalike da angel guys up inside da sky make jalike you like.
Give us da food we need fo every day.
Let us go, an hemo our shame
Fo all da kine bad stuff we do to you,
Jalike us guys let da odda guys go awready,
An we no stay huhu wit dem
Fo all da kine bad stuff dey do to us.
No let us get chance fo do bad kine stuff,
But take us outa dea, so da Bad Guy no can hurt us.
Cuz you our king,
You get da real power,
An you stay awesome foeva.
Dass it!" (Matthew 6:9-13)

Da Pidgin Ten Commandments Hawai'ian Style

I just made it back safely from Hawaii and found this great tidbit.

1. God is numbah one.
2. No make da kine statues.
3. Watch yo’ mout. No swea with God’s name.
4. On Sunday, no can do notting.
5. Leesen to yo’ muddah and yo’ fuddah.
6. No murder nobody.
7. No go moemoe with yo’ bradah’s wahine.
8. No cockaroach notting.
9. No lie, brah!
10. No be jealous one noddah person’s stuffs.

Oh, an one noddah ting… no talk stink about nobody.

Ten Things

I got an email just now from a friend that I know is not a Christian.

Ten Things God Won’t Ask on That Day…

1... God won't ask what kind of car you drove. He'll ask how many people you drove who didn’t have transportation.

2... God won't ask the square footage of your house, He'll ask how many people you welcomed into your home.

3... God won't ask about the clothes you had in your closet, He'll ask how many you helped to clothe.

4... God won't ask what your highest salary was. He'll ask if you compromised your character to obtain it.

5.... God won't ask what your job title was. He'll ask if you performed your job to the best of your ability.

6... God won't ask how many friends you had. He'll ask how many people to whom you were a friend.

7.... God won't ask in what neighborhood you lived, He'll ask how you treated your neighbors.

8... God won't ask about the color of your skin, He'll ask about the content of your character.

9... God won't ask why it took you so long to seek Salvation. He'll lovingly take you to your mansion in heaven, and not to the gates of Hell.

10... God won't have to ask how many people you forwarded this to; He already knows your decision.

My rebuttal…
Ten Things God WILL ask on that day…

1. Have you ever loved anything better than God? Have you made a god of your belly, your business, your family or of yourself?
2. Have you put anything in the place of God? Have you made a God of “Love” that is in your own image and creation that would never send anyone to Hell?
3. Have you taken God’s name in vain? Have you used His holy name as a substitution for a four letter filth word?
4. Have you not always set aside a day for God? Have you rested in Him or in your works?
5. Have you ever been disobedient to your parents? Have you always given them the honor that they are due?
6. Have you ever been angry with your brother? Jesus calls this murder in the heart.
7. Even if you haven’t committed outright adultery, have you ever looked at another person you aren’t married to and had lustful thoughts? Jesus says you have already committed adultery with that person in your heart.
8. Have you ever taken something that was not yours? It doesn’t matter the value of the object.
9. Have you always been honest in everything that you have said? Have you ever lied, even once?
10. Have you ever desired more than God has given you?

Guess what. I can answer yes to all these questions. They show me what I look like in God’s eyes – the only eyes that matter. I can compare myself to others and fool myself into thinking I am a good person, but God clearly sees the inner workings of my heart. Imagine a computer chip implanted behind the ear that would record every thought I have throughout the day, and at the end of a month, it was all shown up on a movie screen for my friends and family to see. I would be horrified.

There is one more question that God does ask us “on that day”.

Who will pay your fine? You are guilty of breaking the Law, and justice must be served. God is a GOOD God that must punish evil. I will answer that eleventh question, “Jesus Christ”. God’s own son came down as a man born of a virgin, committed no sin and suffered and died to pay the fine for MY transgressions. For every time I broke the Law, he paid the price.

Today, I repent (turn from my sin), and put my trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, the way that a jumper puts his trust in a parachute when he knows he has to jump from the plane. I hold onto Him tightly as though my very life depends on Him.

How about you?

Rubber Band Wars

I stopped by Living Waters today in Bellflower in between work appointments. I caught Ray and Scotty "working" hard at perfecting their aim with some two foot rubber bands. I guess a guy that creative has to stretch his mind a little bit.

He was kind enough to greet me and sign a copy of Spurgeon Gold for me. Every time I stop in there to pick up some tracts, Ray is so generous. He won't let me leave without handing me something extra. I thank God for his heart.

I grabbed a bunch of million dollar bills and some more wallets. I am sensing a theme in my tracts. I also like doing a little illusion where I turn two singles into a five dollar bill. Then give people the million dollars. I also got some more pink and blue illusions. I figure those would be the best for people to start out with, and as they get more experience they can order what they want for themselves.

Steppin' Out in Faith

I ran the Way of the Master materials by the pastoral staff at our church today. Rather than coming to them with "suggestions" as to how they need to do something, I came with a plan, and a curriculum for teaching an evangelism course. They offered me a room and a DVD player on Saturday Mornings. Looks like it's a go!!!

We are going to wait till after the Passion Play and Easter tent services and start on the 22nd of April for 8 weeks. We have the bulletin inserts all ready to go. The Lord is really showing His favor on this endeavor. I couldn't have expected this on my own. Please pray as we lay the foundation for this course to be taught.

As we teach/learn in the mornings, we'll have some lunch and then head out on Saturdays to witness to people. I'll post here with success stories as we go along.

be thou an example

1Ti 4:13

Until I come, give attention to the {public} reading {of Scripture,} to exhortation and teaching.

My first comment

I guess Santa Claus thinks that Jesus is a myth. I thought the pilot episode to Southpark settled that feud once for all. Oh well.

This brings me to a fork where I have to make a decision. I originally clicked on the settings to let anyone, even anonymous posters, leave a comment. I suppose, as long as people don't get vulgar, we can actually benefit from dissenting opinions. So, for now, I'll not disable that feature.

And, hey, when you start spouting such things as Jesus is the only way to God, and you better repent of your sins, and trust in Jesus as having provided propitiation for you, or God will have no choice but to unleash his righteous justice and send you to a lake of fire for all eternity, I guess you invite people to speak out in opposition.

Remember, it is written, "This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed." John 3: 19-20

Three minutes to live...

This is the crux of this blog. Especially if you are a Christian. What would you tell somone as to how or why to get saved? Let's say that you have lived out the example of Christ and for years now, I have watched you, and I see that light shining. I am so in awe of the peace you have about you, and you have never pushed any of that religion on me. I trust you. You are my friend. I just found out I am dying. I am scared as to what will happen to me in the next life. What do I do? Please tell me.


What if you only had three minutes to share the Gospel with a dying man? Would you be ready? Do you feel like you can't speak? Do you feel that you don't know what to say? How can you convince him of the truth? Listen and find out!

Basic Training

The Basic Training Course is coming up. After we get back from Hawaii, we will start this eight week lesson designed to get you equipped to get out there and share the Gospel ... The way Jesus did. Be sure to plan on coming for this one, starting in April.