“A well-known speaker started off his seminar by holding up a $20.00 bill. In the room of 200, he asked, “Who would like this $20 bill?” Hands started going up.

He said, “I am going to give this $20 to one of you, but first let me do this. He proceeded to crumple the $20 dollar bill up. He then asked, “Who still wants it?” Still the hands were up in the air.

Well, he replied, “What if I do this?” And he dropped it on the ground and started to grind it into the floor with his shoe. He picked it up, now crumpled and dirty. “Now, who still wants it?” Still the hands went into the air.

“My friends, we have all learned a very valuable lesson. No matter what was done to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value. It was still worth $20.

“Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled, and ground into the dirt by the decisions we make and the circumstances that come our way. We feel as though we are worthless.

“But no matter what has happened or what will happen, you will never lose your value. Dirty or clean, crumpled or finely creased, you are still priceless to those who DO love you. The worth of our lives comes not in what we do or who we know, but by WHO WE ARE. God’s love for you will not change, you are loved unconditional. You will always be valued and loved in the eyes of God.

Aloha in the Hawaiian language means affection, love, peace, compassion and mercy.  As Sharon and I arrived in Hawaii on Monday, we felt all of the above.  Everyone we meet were friendly and welcoming.  No one seemed bothered by our questions and ignorance, ha!  Why can’t all churches be like this!  God gives us an “Aloha” every morning when his mercies are new everyday.  His love and affection are unconditional and His compassion it fails not and of course He is the peace that transcends all understanding.  As I sit here on Waikiki Beach walk at 6:30 am on Tuesday, September 13 at Starbucks might I add, I can hear God saying ALOHA world.  ”I ALOHA you so much that I gave my only begotten SON that anybody and everybody who believes in Jesus will not perish but have everlasting LIFE!  We serve and ALOHA God so lets be ALOHA people. ALOHA everyone!