• Editor’s note: “Spiritual leaders answer” is a weekly column inviting Kaua‘i’s religious and spiritual leaders to share their doctrines’ perspectives on a suggested subject. Every Friday, a topic is printed, inviting a response. Submissions are edited for content and
• Editor’s note: “Spiritual leaders answer” is a weekly column inviting Kaua‘i’s religious and spiritual leaders to share their doctrines’ perspectives on a suggested subject. Every Friday, a topic is printed, inviting a response. Submissions are edited for content and length. Submitting a piece does not guarantee publication due to space limitations. Thoughts or suggestions for future topics are always welcome. Next week the suggested topic is leadership. The topic at the end of the column is for the following week.
Pastor Wayne
Patton
Anahola Baptist Church
Sharing is a vital part of the Christian religion. Even as a child I remember pastors often asking if anyone would like to share their testimony with the congregation.
Jesus Himself shared His testimony one day with a person known only as the “woman at the well.” We read in John’s gospel that Jesus deliberately traveled out of His way and out of the disciples’ comfort zone to return to Galilee from Jerusalem.
Resting at a well He encountered a woman in need of His testimony. Although tired, Jesus had a consciousness and sensitivity for this woman at the well. He was in the right place at the right time to share His truth with her. His conversation with the woman was not forced or awkward. He started with the known and went to the unknown. Jesus cut across all cultural, racial and gender barriers to share His good news with this woman at the well.
When it comes to sharing, Jesus is a great example to follow.
Kahu James Fung
Lihu‘e Christian Church
There’s a wonderful story that’s told in the Bible (Gospel of John, chapter six) that illustrates the power and impact of sharing. The story unfolds with Jesus instructing a large crowd of people (several thousand) sitting on the grass on a hillside enjoying Jesus’ entertaining and inspiring message not aware of how much time is going by until everyone realizes it’s lunchtime. People are hungry but no one wants to go home and miss what Jesus has to say.
And then a boy comes up to Jesus. He has with him his lunch that his mother packed for him. In his pouch are five flat barley cakes and two small pieces of dried fish. Even though it’s not much, he offers to share this with whoever is hungry. He is willing to give up his lunch for someone who really needs it.
Jesus accepts his generous gift and is so overwhelmed by the boy’s wonderful spirit that he talks about it with the crowd. As he is doing that, something happens. Some in the crowd begin to take out their lunch and start to share it with those around them. Pretty soon everybody who brought something is sharing what they have.
You see, they were polite enough not to eat in front of others who had nothing, but then the idea of sharing captivated their imagination and became contagious.
And wonders of wonders, there was more than enough for everybody.
That was one of the great miracles performed that day. And that miracle happens again and again when people who have been blessed by God freely share from their abundance. With a communal mindset like this, there is no reason why there should be hunger in the world today.
Topic for two
weeks from today
• Will you speak to us on regret?
• Spiritual leaders are invited to e-mail responses of three to five paragraphs to pwoolway@kauaipubco.com.
• Deadline each week is 5 p.m. Tuesday.
