Every now and then when I'm driving a song comes on the radio that reminds me of certain things, places and people. "I believe i can fly" came on and i was reminded of all of my friends who helped shaped me into who i am today. So if you were to ask me who my top ten influences would be, they would look like this.
10. Rob Beatty - We have been friends for almost 13 years now and he has never failed to show me what a humble heart looks like.
9. Russ Kusumoto - If i could mirror the way he cares about others, i would be a better person.
8. Mike Burns - Talk about someone who has his ducks in a row, he is an amazing man of God and believes the best of everyone.
7. Daryl Holmes - Probably the hardest working man i know, his work ethic is crazy and yet he still makes time to be Husband, Dad, Grandpa and my father in law.
6. Nanette Ayers - She is deeply gifted and what i take away from her is her servanthood and willing to stay behind the curtain while doing it. Simply Amazing.
5. Junior Faiai - A great and example of perseverance.
4. Lauren Faiai - I'm learning everyday that my life without her would be tragic.
3. Jason Denison - He's a blonde haired, blue eyed Ghandi. The way he cares for the world is truly inspiring and something that i'm working on being a regular part of the way i live my life.
2. Rod Kaya - An AMAZING leader. One of my best friends. An inspiration of what it means to be a learner and stay a learner.
1. Suitulaga Faiai - All of the above in one person, i'm a little biased because he's my dad, but if there is anyone that i would want my life to mirror it would be his.
There are so many others and my list can go on and on. All that to say if you're reading this, you've made an impact in my life too! Thanks! We all have lists of people who have shaped us to be who we are today, take some time to honor them and pray for them.
Blessings,
Steve
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Happy Birthday....
Well it's not until tomorrow, however I wanted to be the first to wish my mother in law a happy birthday. It's hard for us to celebrate with her because were in Raleigh so I thought that I would list my five things that I love most about her.
1. She loves Cameron and Riley soo super much.
2. She is very thoughtful and is always thinking of ways to bless others.
3. She works super hard (sometimes too hard) I think.
4. She is an awesome scrabble player.
5. Last but not least, she loves me and Lauren.
Charlene Renee Holmes, may God richly bless you this year. May he shine down on you and show you his love more than ever before. Thanks for being who you are to us. Thanks for making the best Mandarin Orange cake in the world or like my peeps would say in Raleigh (Pig Pickin) cake. You are awesome and amazing and we who know you are blessed to know you!
Love,
Your favorite son in law!
1. She loves Cameron and Riley soo super much.
2. She is very thoughtful and is always thinking of ways to bless others.
3. She works super hard (sometimes too hard) I think.
4. She is an awesome scrabble player.
5. Last but not least, she loves me and Lauren.
Charlene Renee Holmes, may God richly bless you this year. May he shine down on you and show you his love more than ever before. Thanks for being who you are to us. Thanks for making the best Mandarin Orange cake in the world or like my peeps would say in Raleigh (Pig Pickin) cake. You are awesome and amazing and we who know you are blessed to know you!
Love,
Your favorite son in law!
Monday, February 18, 2008
For I Am Convinced
It's Monday afternoon and I'm sitting here on our big comfy couch staring outside my window taking in the beauty of a clear blue sky. I'm reflecting on the service we had at Church At The Triangle last night. Last night was one of those huge ONLY GOD moments for us as a church. Many times in the service last night I found myself teary eyed and unworthy to be serving such an awesome GOD. Lee shared some vision stuff with us that really fired me up and as i looked around the room i saw heads nodding with agreement.
Last night was one of those nights that reminded me of GODS passion for us. It reminded of the responsibility that I have to take my calling seriously. I walked away thinking of a new song on the Passion album called "God of the city" by sung by Chris Tomlin and when I got home I journaled this prayer:
"God would you use me to do great things. Help me God, in ALL that I say and do to point people towards you. God, I am convinced now more than ever that greater things have yet to come in this city, in our nation, on this earth. I am convinced now more than ever that people that are broken need healing. I am convinced now more than ever that people that are hurting need hope, that people who are lost without purpose need to know that there is a God who loves them and wants whats best for them. I am convinced now more than ever that "Unity" happens when one experiences true "Community". God I no longer want to see this world deny that everything living and breathing is a gift from you. So GOD please use me in spite of my iniquities to further Your Kingdom"
Have you ever wondered in this next chapter of church, what will we write?, how will we be remembered? What will our children say about our church history? I don't know, just some things to ponder....
Peace
Oh by the way check out the song, I promise it'll inspire you! I found a video on youtube with the song on it. Not sure who made the video, but I wanted to use it so you could hear the song.
Last night was one of those nights that reminded me of GODS passion for us. It reminded of the responsibility that I have to take my calling seriously. I walked away thinking of a new song on the Passion album called "God of the city" by sung by Chris Tomlin and when I got home I journaled this prayer:
"God would you use me to do great things. Help me God, in ALL that I say and do to point people towards you. God, I am convinced now more than ever that greater things have yet to come in this city, in our nation, on this earth. I am convinced now more than ever that people that are broken need healing. I am convinced now more than ever that people that are hurting need hope, that people who are lost without purpose need to know that there is a God who loves them and wants whats best for them. I am convinced now more than ever that "Unity" happens when one experiences true "Community". God I no longer want to see this world deny that everything living and breathing is a gift from you. So GOD please use me in spite of my iniquities to further Your Kingdom"
Have you ever wondered in this next chapter of church, what will we write?, how will we be remembered? What will our children say about our church history? I don't know, just some things to ponder....
Peace
Oh by the way check out the song, I promise it'll inspire you! I found a video on youtube with the song on it. Not sure who made the video, but I wanted to use it so you could hear the song.
Monday, February 11, 2008
BBQ soo good... it make you want to slap yo' momma
Really it's that good. Of course, I wouldn't dare slap my momma because she'd slap me right back and her hands are a bit heavier than mine so hers would hurt more. Anyhow like in the previous post, I mentioned my nieces were here for a month. This past Saturday we went on a date night and took advantage of our free babysitting. (Thank God for Karla and Malae!) Because we don't know Raleigh very well, we invited our friends Craig and Kara to come along with us on a double date night.
Earlier that day Lauren, Kara, and Diane (Kara's mother in law who I'm praying about asking to adopt me and have her become my East Coast mom) went on a short road trip. They scoped out yard sales, cool shops, and gave Lauren their own tour of Raleigh. While they were in downtown Raleigh, they decided to check out a restaurant called "The Pit". When they got there they realized that it was closed for lunch on the weekends and was only open for dinner. So that evening we called the Craig and Kara and went to "The Pit" for dinner. IT WAS FREAKIN' AMAZING!!! It was the best BBQ I've ever had in my life. The atmosphere was hip and cutting edge. The service was o.k. But the best part of the evening wasn't the food, It was meeting The famous Ed Mitchell. Ed is the Pitmaster and the owner of the restaurant. He came to our table to meet us and talk with us for a few minutes, it was like I was meeting a celebrity! As we were waiting for dessert, Lauren and I decided that we would go and hunt Ed down for a picture and he obliged us with our request.
Lauren had gone back to the table while Ed and I talked a little bit, I told him that I was from Samoa and he said "Our hogs ain't got nothing on yours". I took that as a compliment and felt a little pride because if there is one thing that my people can do.. It's cook! So we got to talking about why I was here and I told him that I was here planting a church in the triangle area with some friends. He handed me his card and cell phone number, and told me to call him because he wants to come check it out!
Before we left the pit we made reservations to go back for Valentine's Day. Except we've got special seating arrangements this time, Ed Mitchell invited us to sit with him at the counter where we'll have front row seats to watch the Legendary Pitmaster do what he does best... Make you want to slap yo momma!
Peace!
Earlier that day Lauren, Kara, and Diane (Kara's mother in law who I'm praying about asking to adopt me and have her become my East Coast mom) went on a short road trip. They scoped out yard sales, cool shops, and gave Lauren their own tour of Raleigh. While they were in downtown Raleigh, they decided to check out a restaurant called "The Pit". When they got there they realized that it was closed for lunch on the weekends and was only open for dinner. So that evening we called the Craig and Kara and went to "The Pit" for dinner. IT WAS FREAKIN' AMAZING!!! It was the best BBQ I've ever had in my life. The atmosphere was hip and cutting edge. The service was o.k. But the best part of the evening wasn't the food, It was meeting The famous Ed Mitchell. Ed is the Pitmaster and the owner of the restaurant. He came to our table to meet us and talk with us for a few minutes, it was like I was meeting a celebrity! As we were waiting for dessert, Lauren and I decided that we would go and hunt Ed down for a picture and he obliged us with our request.
Lauren had gone back to the table while Ed and I talked a little bit, I told him that I was from Samoa and he said "Our hogs ain't got nothing on yours". I took that as a compliment and felt a little pride because if there is one thing that my people can do.. It's cook! So we got to talking about why I was here and I told him that I was here planting a church in the triangle area with some friends. He handed me his card and cell phone number, and told me to call him because he wants to come check it out!
Before we left the pit we made reservations to go back for Valentine's Day. Except we've got special seating arrangements this time, Ed Mitchell invited us to sit with him at the counter where we'll have front row seats to watch the Legendary Pitmaster do what he does best... Make you want to slap yo momma!
Peace!
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
Family and Friends
Today my nieces arrive to stay with us for about a month. I can't explain to you how refreshing this is going to be for our family. The boys absolutely LOVE them. So this is going to be extra special for them to see familiar faces. Lauren and i haven't been on a date night in a while and we're looking forward to breaking away a few times to just BE with each other.
We've got a lot planned for the girls, we're probably going to drive out to Washington D.C. and New York city to take them site seeing. I really want them to see our new life here and how close we are to some of the coolest places in the United States. But most of all I want them to see God's blessing on our lives here in Raleigh.
Anyhow they arrive today, but a couple of days ago our REALLY good friend Becky from San Diego left to go back home after being with us for about 4 days. We had a blast with her here. We showed her a little bit of lifestyle here in Raleigh. We fed her some of our infamous southern cooking, took her to the farmer's market. We took her to see 2 of the 3 big universities here in Raleigh, and on Sunday attended church at The Summit in Durham and a Super bowl party at Lee and Carla's house with some of our church folk.
Out of all of the things that we got to do, my favorite part was just having a familiar face that we did life with in San Diego in our home. I also loved the fact she values our friendships so much that she would come out to visit us. Yesterday I was looking through some boxes and i found a Christmas card that she wrote to our family. It was one that we received the Christmas before Riley's surgery, and as I read it I was reminded of the power of "community" and why the Philippson's have a special place in my heart.
Gregg, Becky thanks for being such great friends, may God richly bless you guys for blessing others. We love you!
Peace.
We've got a lot planned for the girls, we're probably going to drive out to Washington D.C. and New York city to take them site seeing. I really want them to see our new life here and how close we are to some of the coolest places in the United States. But most of all I want them to see God's blessing on our lives here in Raleigh.
Anyhow they arrive today, but a couple of days ago our REALLY good friend Becky from San Diego left to go back home after being with us for about 4 days. We had a blast with her here. We showed her a little bit of lifestyle here in Raleigh. We fed her some of our infamous southern cooking, took her to the farmer's market. We took her to see 2 of the 3 big universities here in Raleigh, and on Sunday attended church at The Summit in Durham and a Super bowl party at Lee and Carla's house with some of our church folk.
Out of all of the things that we got to do, my favorite part was just having a familiar face that we did life with in San Diego in our home. I also loved the fact she values our friendships so much that she would come out to visit us. Yesterday I was looking through some boxes and i found a Christmas card that she wrote to our family. It was one that we received the Christmas before Riley's surgery, and as I read it I was reminded of the power of "community" and why the Philippson's have a special place in my heart.
Gregg, Becky thanks for being such great friends, may God richly bless you guys for blessing others. We love you!
Peace.
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