It seemed so….authentic, as we met for the first time with our new evangelist and the mission team.  We were at the home of Joe and Mary Santos, who had the courage to start their own house church 21 months ago, fed up with the doctrinal changes and the attitudes of their previous church.  My wife (Dr. Malia Emmerich) and I had watched from a distance as we were forced to endure some very ‘non-christian’ behavior from that very same church, that we still attended.  Not that this post is about me, but after a long period of thought, prayer and seeking of advice we were also ready to make the break later that winter. Last night, we were one with the new arrivals from the CAICC (City of Angels Intl. Christian Church)… CAICC.org and our new evangelist, Kyle Bartholomew.  Joe had fielded a recent call attempting to slander Kyle, but Kyle’s life and his passion to work for God are an open book.  And we expect the persecution.  When others see a sold-out committed movement that actively preaches the Word and expects others to live by the Bible, they feel threatened. Our World Missions leader, Kip McKean preached a fiery and fact-filled message that dipped into little known Old Testament (OT) details.  During his history of the movement, tears were shed, and many Amens were heard.  His wife Elena’s soft voice would frequently say "Preach it Babe." As Kip highlighted, they have been persecuted mightily, but continue to do God’s work, which has shown phenomenal growth in the last 3 years.  One year ago a similar but larger missions team went to LA, with 42 members.  Through much sacrifice and then, of course lots of hard work, 101 baptisms and many resorations and move-ins have taken place in the LA area.   Again, see CAICC.org. Sadly for many were the details of how the old ICOC churches changed doctrine when things got tough and controversial, and how much those chuches (no longer united) have fallen in conviction and membership.  Many of us had been a part of those fellowships and we love so many friends that have been left behind. I have documented some of these details almost ad nauseum in other forums, but may chose to get into the previous church changes at a later date, if it’s deemed relevent.  Also, please view "Hope For The Islands" on this same site. The kick-off of this new version of the Honolulu International Christian Church was a loud, boisterous affair, with great song-leading and sharing late into the night. For those that desire a strict and thorough adherence to Biblical teachings, with the zeal and desire to seek and save the lost, join us in Honolulu at the Mauna Kea Chapel at 1330 Mauna Kea across from Zippys.  That’s Mauna Kea and Vineyard, at 10AM on Sunday morning. Can’t make it to the island, then go to http://CAICC.org to find a congregation near you.  Also, http://honicc.org and http://honicc.com for those of you who want to follow our growing fellowship.    Rick Emmerich

Hope For The Islands!

Guest Editorial: Kyle Bartholomew

Kyle and Joan Bartholomew with their son Brett

(On Sunday June 1, 2008, the Honolulu Mission Team will be sent out! On that historic day, it will be my honor to appoint Kyle as an Evangelist in the Kingdom of God. Kyle was born in Hilo, Hawaii on October 2, 1981 to Jay and Cindy Bartholomew. He has an older sister Robin and two younger brothers. Throughout his life, Kyle’s passion has been basketball. Following in his father’s steps, Kyle played at the University of Hawaii – Hilo. He was a three year starter, two time All-Conference selection and captain of the team in both his junior and senior years! It was in college that Kyle was baptized by Chris Teves on July 29, 2001. Before he graduated in 2003, he baptized his brothers, Evan and Levi. On August 14, 2004, he marrried an awesome disciple, Joan Udtohan. God blessed them with Brett on March 15, 2006. Later that year, Kyle became the full-time minister for the Hilo International Church of Christ. When the Bartholomews left to train in Los Angeles in 2007, Evan and his wife Kelly began to lead the Hilo Church. This past year in Los Angeles, Kyle has been abundantly fruitful at Cal State Fullerton. With their “Hawaiian warmth” both Kyle and Joan have endeared themselves to the entire Orange County Region as their leaders. Though Kyle has remained a Cleveland Cavalier fan resisting the Lakers’ resurgence, he has become a very close friend and dear son in the faith! I am so looking forward to being “partners in the gospel” with Kyle in the Islands and throughout the Pacific Rim.) KM

“My righteousness draws near speedily, my salvation is on the way, and my arm will bring justice to the nations. The islands will look to me and wait in hope for my arm.” Isaiah 51:5

In this prophecy of Isaiah, we learn that it is and has always been God’s heart to bring His righteousness, hope and salvation to the nations! God’s heart for the nations is reflected in many other passages such as Acts 1:8 – the command to take the gospel to the “ends of the earth”; Acts 2:39 – the promise that the gospel message would reach “all who are far off” (Gentiles); and perhaps most familiar, Matthew 28:19 – God’s command “to baptize… the nations”! Since I was born and raised in Hawaii, the most exciting aspect of Isaiah’s prophecy is that God’s arm will extend out even to “the Islands”!

Kyle and Joan on their wedding day!

When I was baptized as a disciple on July 29, 2001 through the efforts of the Hilo International Church of Christ (ICOC), I was blown away by the commitment, passion and love that I saw in each and every disciple. What inspired me most was the dream that each disciple shared to evangelize the Islands, the Pacific Rim and ultimately the world in their generation. In 2001, there were about 60 disciples in Hilo, 75 in Maui and around 1,000 in Oahu – every disciple believed this dream was possible, and so did I. 

Sadly, in November 2002 after the ICOC leadership’s decision to return to a more mainline Church of Christ theology, as well as the advent of the “Kriete letter” in early 2003, so many beloved aspects of “my church” began to change. Gone was a fellowship where every member was a practicing disciple of Jesus. Gone was the deep love for one another through discipling relationships. And gone was the dream to evangelize the Islands and the world.

By 2006, membership was declining at an alarming rate! Oahu dropped from 1,000 disciples to 200; Hilo went from almost 60 disciples to 38; and Maui was reduced from 75 disciples to 25. Oahu went from six full-time couples to two, and both Hilo and Maui went from a full-time couple leading each congregation to untrained volunteers, as vision and then contribution plummeted. Baptisms became extremely rare, restorations were almost non-existent and there had not been a single church planted from the Islands for over six long years. It was obvious to me that something needed to change!

Kyle and his brothers Levi and Evan!

In late 2006, I was asked by the “leadership group” of the Hilo ICOC to be the minister. They were indeed desperate as the Hilo Church had not had a baptism for over a year! Since I was untrained, I was convinced we needed additional help. Therefore, in considering which church to ask for help, I decided to attend the Portland World Missions Jubilee. I was so in awe of God so obviously working through the Portland Church, as the fastest growing church in the ICOC at that time, that I asked Kip and Elena to disciple Joan and me. Thankfully, they agreed.

One month later, the McKeans came to help us rebuild the Hilo Church’s foundation to be composed of only disciples (1 Corinthians 3:10-11). After an eventful weekend of Kip and Elena’s preaching, God left us with a “Gideon-like” twelve disciples, whose dream was to once again evangelize the world in our generation! The other 26 members, many of whom were lukewarm, started a new congregation with the help of evangelists from both the LA ICOC and the Oahu Church of Christ. Not having a baptism for over a year in Hilo, yet starting with twelve sold-out disciples, God blessed us with 20 baptisms that next year! Sadly, yet to the point, the congregation that was started in opposition to Kip’s and my vision of world evangelism through God’s plan of discipling, still has not seen a baptism to this day.

Kyle making two points for UH-Hilo!

Visiting that fateful weekend, during the calling out of the remnant, were Chris Teves and Joe and Mary Santos from Honolulu. Likewise, discouraged by witnessing only five baptisms a year on Oahu, they made the decision that weekend to start a new congregation of only sold-out disciples in Honolulu. Heart-breaking for me, after just one week, Chris Teves under overwhelming pressure from close relationships, decided to give the Oahu Church of Christ another try. Therefore, starting with only Joe and Mary, God has grown the group in Honolulu to 16 disciples!

Most impressive is that four former full-time ministers are now solid members of the remnant group: Joe and Mary Santos, Jody Tyrell (restored in January) and Chris Teves (who recently decided to rejoin us after a failed attempt to reform the existing Oahu Church of Christ).  Dr. Malia (Millard) Emmerich, who was on the original Oahu COC planting back in 1989 is a part of the Honolulu Intl. Christian Church as well.  Truly God is faithful to His promise to gather His remnant, when we repent and begin to seek Him with all our heart (Nehemiah 1:8-9).
After a long talk with Joe and Kip in the summer of 2007, Joan and I decided to move to Los Angeles to receive the training needed to lead the Honolulu Church, which will become the pillar church for the evangelization of the Islands and the Pacific Rim. We borrowed $20,000 from a home equity loan to train full-time. We have been fortunate over the last several months to lead both the Cal State Fullerton Campus Ministry and then recently, the Orange County Region. We will be forever grateful for Kip and Elena, the Comisfords, the Hardings, the Kirchners, the Underhills, the Hernandezs, Vic and Aurora Gonzalez, and many other brothers and sisters who have helped us learn how to be more effective disciples and church builders.

Jody and U’i Tyrell with their three daughters,
Makana, Sera and Gabby!

On Sunday June 1, the Honolulu Mission Team will be sent off by the Holy Spirit from the City of Angels Church to join the remnant group in Honolulu! The Honolulu Mission Team includes four incredible young men in Albert Wagers, Lorenzo Prueitt, Josh Aguirre, David Rysdet and three awesome young women in Joy Axelson of Maui, Naveh Pilate of Honolulu, and “CL” Salamanca, and of course, Joan and me. The Inaugural Service of the Honolulu International Christian Church will be held the following Sunday June 8, 2008 at 10 am at Maunakea Chapel, 1330 Maunakea Street! It is at the corner of Maunakea and Vineyard across from Zippy’s.  We would like to invite all of you who still believe in the dream to evangelize the Islands of Hawaii to join us!

This is not a matter of salvation if you are a faithful disciple, but joining us will allow us all “to win as many as possible” (1 Corinthians 9:19) through multiplying disciples as a movement of God. Our prayer is that through our efforts God will be glorified by His righteousness, hope and salvation returning to the lost Islands of Hawaii! If you are interested in joining in our efforts please give me a call @ 808-217-3904 or Joan @ 808-271-5577. Aloha!

Kyle Bartholomew
www.honoluluicc.org
kyle@honoluluicc.org

Rick Emmerich’s note.  One can certainly contact me as well for info, and questions about the church.  808 371-6501.  Obviously we’d like to invite you to the service this Sunday the 1st too.

Here is a fantastic post that appeared today in the Aloha Parent.Com newsletter.  Dr. Cynthia is a friend and associate.  Enjoy, parents…

Baby Walkers Delay Infants’ Motor Development

by Dr. Cynthia Chareunsouk - Chiropratic Kinesiologist 

Many parents believe that baby walkers are a convenient form of baby “exercise” and entertainment.  However, statistics show that they actually cause heartache and grief each year; along with impairment of natural childhood development.

The American Academy of Pediatrics has recommended a ban on the manufacturing and distributing of baby walkers as they have deemed it unsafe for babies.  In 1997, manufacturers created a new generation of baby walkers which were designed to be “safer” and more effective, but over 14,000 babies each year are still sent to the hospital due to baby walker accidents and injuries. Over 34 babies have passed away from 1973-1998 due to baby walker related accidents and injuries.

Each year, the statistics for baby walkers increase. Approximately 40% of infants in walkers suffer from skull fractures, neck injuries, lacerations, knocked out teeth, and/or burns. These injuries usually occur from the walkers tumbling down stairs or from tipping over with adult supervision. The walkers can move up to three feet in one second, disabling parents to react in time to prevent injury or death. Infants in baby walkers can tip over while rolling over rugs or even while attempting to pick up toys on the ground. Often times, a baby’s finger can get stuck between a walker and piece of furniture; or worse yet – stuck in a collapsible walker.

Baby walkers also interfere with postural, biomechanical, and neurological development of babies. Research has shown that babies who utilize walkers establish faulty walking patterns due to neurological development deficiencies. With overuse of walkers, babies sometimes also experience sore leg muscles. A study in 1991 correlated early walkers to have lower grades in school – due to a lack of crawling in their developmental stages.

Crawling is a natural instinctive reflex provided to babies to prevent suffocation when lying on their stomach. Once their bones, joints, and ligaments are properly developed; infants immediately begin to crawl instinctively by 5-14 months of age.

Why is crawling so important?

Crawling enables infants to develop a cross-crawl pattern, which is simultaneous use of opposite extremities. For example, when the baby moves his/her right arm with his/her left leg, the following occurs on the opposite side. Motor nerve impulses to the extremities originate in each side of the brain cortex and cross in the brainstem to supply required motor activity to the opposite extremity; which basically means that the right brain controls the left arm and left leg, and vice versa. With crawling, the cross-crawl pattern repeats itself, and therefore uses both right and left brain for neurological coordination.

Crawling will enable an infant to learn about proper balance and coordination – such as how to use one side of their body to balance the other; which becomes very useful when learning to sit and stand.

In addition, crawling builds mental strength, where a child begins to learn problem solving skills and starts understanding the cause/effect relationship. You can also help your child build mental strength by positively reinforcing them with toys. Try placing a toy within eyesight, to help the infant develop motivation as they are rewarded with their toy when they crawl toward it.

Please don’t rush your child’s development. Each child reaches their own milestones at their own pace. If your child does not begin walking when the other children their age do, don’t panic. A study conducted in 1991 by McEwan correlated that children who began walking earlier, showed lower performance scores on pre-school assessment tests - due to the lack or motor skill development.¹

If your child has been using a baby walker, this article is not meant to alarm you. There are many studies that have been performed, but we could always use more research with larger amounts of subjects. This article is merely meant to educate and bring about awareness regarding baby walkers to help you make a more informed and educated decision regarding the use of them. Below, I will include some of my references and reading recommendations of which you may want to utilize to keep your child happy and safe.

1. McEwan MH, Dihoff RE, Brosvic GM: Early infant crawling experience is reflected in later motor skill development. Percept Motor Skills, 72(1):75-9, 1991.
2. Garrett M, et al. Locomotor milestones and babywalkers: cross sectional study. BMJ 2002;324:1494 (22 June).
3. Sears, Martha and William. The Baby Book: Everything You Need to Know About Your Baby from Birth to Age Two.
4. www.aap.org
5. www.alohaparent.com
6. http://www.cpsc.gov (Great resources for checking out recalled toys!)

For More Information, or questions regarding this article, please contact:  

Dr. Cynthia Chareunsouk - Chiropractic Kinesiologist

438 Hobron Lane Suite 315   Honolulu, HI 96815

(808) 692-2470

It’s always the prettiest, most smiling young lady in the Pharmacy.  She cranks up the friendly smile to an 11 and asks THE question:  “Would you like your flu shot today?”  She maintains the level 11 even as I say no with a look of horror on my face.  It moves to a level 10 as I comment  “Please don’t poison me.”  She keeps smilin’ and simply looks for her next victim.

It’s really hard to find fault with the new Safeway.  They have raised the bar for groceries in Honolulu.  Heck, this would raise the bar in Laguna Beach.  It’s full of class, and cool departments….probably 200 kinds of cheese.  But then there’s the flu-shot lady.

See, we were brought up to TRUST the MD, the Family Doc.  We did what we were told.  Now many of us in the baby boomer department are finding that our parents are in nursing homes totally dependent on multiple prescriptions.  Some of those pills are there simply to ward off the bad effects of the other pills.  I mean the big Pharmaceutical Companies have larger budgets than some European Countries.

People that push these pills to the Drs get paid an awful lot.  I know a lady that got fed up and walked away from her (high) salary with a Pharmaceutical giant cuz they insisted she ‘push’ one day ritalin pills for kids. 

Anyway, where was I.  Yeah, when the ‘experts’ tell us that we shold have a flu shot, some of us say “OK, which arm” or is it the shoulder?

Blindly we allow them to put Thimerosal carrying along with it a host of heavy metals into our system.  And btw, the flu virus itself.

My 85 year old friend.  Stop right there.  Anyone that has made it to 85, living healthy, with genes of the men that hit a hundred before him.  Who still drives, works, manages people and makes a lot of money.  I’m gonna pull up a chair and listen to what THAT guy has to say about health.

He, who btw has raised at least 6 children that are Drs, was ‘tricked’ into taking a flu shot this fall.  The Dr was not honest with him, and before my friend knew it, the Dr was about to stick him.  He sighed and said, OK, but really did not like the whole scenario.

Well, guess what.  As he had the previous 2 times when he got a shot, HE GOT THE FLU.

Anyway, we need to be more healthy.  There are so many alternative health options today.  I went to my Acupuncturist today and left feeling great.  My Integrative Medicine Dr almost refuses to offer a prescription.  There are so many other ways.

My wife, (Dr. Malia) a Holisitic Chiropractor has opened my eyes to so much more where the body heals itself.  She has made it (Real) clear how my past diet had led to my past health issues.

I don’t use caffeine anymore, watch the sugar, salt, red meat and anything with preservatives.  (Want to know where THEY come from?)  For years I have used vitamins, now I use the BEST, along with other recommended supplements.  Each day I drink Zrii, a tonic based on 5000 years of Ayurvedic Medicine.  It is endorsed by the Chopra Center for Well-Being.

Dr. Deepak Chopra says in his new book  “The scientific community has shifted from outright rejection and ridicule of alternative healing approaches to serious investigation.  If you access the National Library of Medicine’s database, you will find over forty thousand articles on alternative and complementary medicine with over sixteen hundred on herbal medicines alone.  Meditation, yoga, massage, and nutritional approaches are increasingly embraced as maionstream tools for healing……Almost every pharmacy in America (is) carrying its own line of natural medicines.”  Read the book Perfect Health, now.  You will see why it is a best seller.

Anyway, I gotta go to the Safeway and get some natural apple juice for my wife.  Her gall bladder is acting up.  (No flu-shot lady at THIS time of night.)

she hasn’t, I know it….I think it’s cuz I didn’t read my neice’s story she wrote for HS Lit class.  I admit it, I did not read it.  It sat, neatly typed on my mom’s desk for me all 4 days that I was there back in Oct.  I guess the Bears game, and some late night Google searches on her lap top were all more important.  I just kept putting it off.

C’mon, it wasn’t flagrant.  I spaced it.  Honest uncle mistake.  Chelsea doesn’t know, (I don’t think.)  Heck, we’re both on Facebook, talk about uncle Rick being progressive, or is it regressing.  I don’t know. 

Since I enjoy writing.  So I know I gotta read others’ stuff.  I’ll just sweet talk her, and we’ll be cool again. 

Not sure, though, she HAS over 600 friends, I think.  What if she told them all how cruel her uncle is.  I am going back to thinking she doesn’t know I didn’t read it.

And how does uncle Rick act cool with the neices and nephew anyhoo?  I mean, Chelsea swore on her Facebook entry today, I guess she’s ‘in trouble’ Monday.  That’s the edited version.  I mean, should I say something?  HELLO, she’s got like 600 friends.

That’s crazy.  I haven’t met 600 people in my 51 years, and she’s got that many to say that she’s their friend.  WOW.  What if I said something to her about her swearing, she could tell 600 people how square her uncle is!  Heck they probably say that word too.  (I know, I know, I used to say that word, but I gave it up about 14 years ago, btw, I never typed it for 600+ people to see.)

I know, by the time I wake up tomorrow, she’ll have edited it, and moved on to another crisis.

Oh yeah, back to mom.  You know I married the coolest lady in the world and she gives great gifts.  Mom just got her Harry and David fruit basket from us, and I know we BOTH signed the card.  It’s time to get back on her good side.

BTW, I DID read one of my mom’s books, actually two.  She is a rather well-known children’s author, and her book, The Legend of Lady Ilena, by Patricia Malone is great.  Order it from your local book store, and give it to a girl from the age of 10 to 16.  I bet she’ll love it.  See mom, I got your back.

Note to any of mom’s writing buddies that may read this.  Come on, help me out here.  Tell her to back off.  I am good most of the time.  Heck, my dark years are all in the rear-view year.

And besides, I gotta be on all of your good sides, I am part of a book that will come out next year.  (Thank God I Have A Home Based Business)  I’ll get to THAT later, but suffice to say that I will preview my chapter in the book here, so stay tuned….and Chelsea, just email me that thing to read.       Uncle Rick