That’s about it.  When my wife, Dr. Malia and I talk to people about their lives, two things keep popping up.  Now, she’s the Dr. and obviously her focus is usually nutrition, body structure, injury issues, weight and emotional concerns.  As Health & Wellness coaches, we both are interested in others’ issues.

You know how many if not most people are concerned about their health?  It’s true.  Whether they realize their diet is junk, or junk food.  Or they absolutely see that their weight has to change.  (Usually downward.)  Maybe it’s Diabetes, or the need to be more regular, or needing more energy, or wanting better moods and relief from depression.  Maybe they work out and want to recover quicker.

We can help.

A lot of people are truly behind the 8 Ball financially.  Backed into a corner, struggling.  They fall into two categories and often want to find another job.  OR, they have heard about, or experienced others that have their own businesses and want to do that.  It has been said that an extra 400 a month would help avoid most bankruptcies, car-repos and even some divorces.  OK, I added the last one, but it makes sense, doesn’t it?

We can help.

Today’s Honolulu Star-Advertiser: ‘Bankruptcies fall, but businesses, individuals still struggle’  I can relate, and that is exactly what Malia and I hear.  WE want to hear from you.  Not just listen for  a minute and then try to fix.  Perhaps it would not be a good fit anyway.  But, as connectors/networkers/coaches/listeners/Christians/friends/fun people we would actually pay attention.

We are going on a fantastic inspired journey.  Perhaps you or someone you know wants to go too.

Rick Emmerich     rickemmerich@gmail.com

(Now, I wish this would go without saying, but I am not recruitable for your deal.  I do NOT need SEO, I am quite well off in that dept.  I am not a good candidate for your juice, or gadget, or get rich quick scheme, I DON’T BELIEVE IN ANY OF THOSE.  I welcome correspondence, but hate spam and those that want to pitch me on some deal without knowing who I am.  I’d rather you did not send me a broadcast call, because I am tired of playing that game where I set my phone down and you are billed for the time that I allow it to play.  You then may even waste your time calling me back several times.  That game has lost its thrill.)

After all that, I guarantee some will do those things, but it is well worth it, if someone else that wants to share and have a listener, actually gets through this disclaimer and is not afraid to respond.  And yes, even ONE person makes it all worth it.

Aloha, all the best to you.

Thank God I had a Heart Attack.

I really wasn’t ready for the incident, but I was moving my body towards that day bite by bite of terrible food.  I loved food and ate as much of the bad stuff as I could.  I just wasn’t aware of the impact.  Brats, (that says Wisconsin, right?) beef, cheese, milk, white bread, and sprinkle in the fast food, which was more of the same, except worse. 

I also drank soda, being quite brand loyal to one, the one that starts with P.  Who knows how acidic and let’s just say sludge-like my blood was,  Other than the hero of the day, coming to a gurney near you.

Thank God for my cardiologist.

That was, of course, Dr. Frank Cummins, who just HAPPENED to be there that day.  He took care of me quicker that you can say Cardio-Catherization.

When I woke up in my room, I was instantly grateful that God had spared me.  For one second I had thought “this could be it” as I was moved into the elevator at my job where this all happened.  As quickly as that came up, I thought “No, not now, not yet.”

As I made progress and went from a grayish color to pale and then more like my original self, I really thanked God in prayer.

My book is released.  I am a published author! Thank God I….. I know that I am truly blessed.  It’s a gift to be able to actually say the words.  I know that my experince is not as tough as some, and I can’t wait to read the other writers’ stories. 

Stay tuned here to read more and to get the link to get your book.

Aloha, Rick Emmerich

PS  If you just happen to want to know how to lower cholesterol without pharmaceutical meds, go to http://lifemax.net/drmalia  It worked for me and that story is in an earlier blog here.

Also, if you would like to obtain my book, with the chapter in it, go to

http://www.thankgodi.com/cmd.php?Clk=4313438  The book is called “thankGodi…Triumph through Tragedy”

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.

Thank God I had a heart attack

I am a heart attack survivor. There are no letters after my name, but I WAS smart enough to marry a Dr. I want to highlight life changes that came about as a result of my heart attack. I hope to help others by letting them tell their story, which should enrich all of our lives.

We are all survivors of something and it is NOT what happens to us that is important but how we respond, rebound, regroup, revive, flourish and become remarkable, following our heart incident.

Thank God I had a heart attack!  We will release a book of the same name later on this year…..

My life before.

I am truly grateful that I had a heart attack. I did it to myself without a doubt. See How to Have a Heart Attack in 9 Easy Steps   at  http://rickemmerich.com    I did everything wrong, and did it over and over again.

Some of you may relate. We thought we were in good shape. We USED to be in good shape. Back in the day I bounced at the hot night club, did aerobics, free weights, golfed, played other sports and took saunas, even rode 26 miles round-trip on my 12 speed to and from the factory job I had.   And it was 12 hours each shift.

But that was then.  (20 years ago.)  4 years ago, I had BIG issues.
1. A painful, rather sudden divorce, out of left field.
2. 2 Room mates that were crazy-yes really crazy you’ll see.
3. Bad financial dealings: bad decisions, and over-spending my earnings.
4. A condo in a state of disrepair, sliding its worth downward from the level I refied at. (Upside Down)
5. A stressful job that I did not handle well in my stressed lifestyle.
6. Lack of sleep and no quality sleep even when I did rest.
7. Terrible diet, enough said.

OK, stop, breathe, don’t focus on the negative I just threw at you. Unless you see your present life in the descriptions.

This is the first of 3 in THIS series and can also be viewed at http://www.squidoo.com/ThankGodIhadaheartattack  check it out, rate it, share it.  To order the first book in the series, Thank God I….called surprisingly enough,   Thank God I……  go to http://thankgodi.com/?idAff=4 

My Book:  Thank God I…Triumph Through Tragedy      http://www.thankgodi.com/cmd.php?Clk=4313438   

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No we weren’t hypnotized, no Dragonfly Ranch, and we didn’t fly over the stinking volcano either….

We just got back from our visit to the Big Island, and we DID get some things done. It was a kind of a second honeymoon, and we did the things that honeymooners do.  We also stayed in a villa in the Hilton Waikoloa area, and we liked the place so much we bought it!  Fractionally, of course.

For those that don’t care about that part here are some of the more interesting parts.

The vog (volcanic fog) was out and for that reason and just the time factor, we did not venture over to the places we wanted to see near the volcano.  It obscured the views we would normally have.

We strolled around the Hilton Waikoloa grounds and talked to the dolphin trainer on duty.  They just had a calf (the dolphins did) and the trainers were taking turns pulling the night-watch shift.  Of course on the grounds you will see a rhinocerous and horses and a Buddha-all statues.  In the parking lots there are a lot of cats, presumably waiting for handouts.

As is common in Hawaii we saw a mongoose, and then, up north we saw, and interacted with, some horses, the real live kind.  Then, down south we saw a zebra, yeah really brah, and two longhorn steer.  They looked contented, obviously all out of their ‘normal’ territories.  It was so unusual for me, that I was walking around trying to get better camera angles, and even somehow thinking they could have been fakes.  I mean some old hippie artist could have had a field day painting the stripes on that horse to make him a zebra.  I’m pretty sure that it WAS real, (he had zebra ears) and I will have the picture to show it-soon.

Also, as we ventured down a steep incline toward a marina, and then  headed back, we ran into a family of turkeys that really had no intention of sharing their road with our rental car.  I did NOT actually ‘run into them.’

The real excitement was, as we crammed too many activities into the last day was that we almost ran out of gas.  Some places had gas pumps as we headed south out of Kona, and after a while, I realized that the gas pumps were no more.  In fact houses for the most part, were no more.  Off to the left was lava, and off to the right was a sometimes very steep decline to the Pacific Ocean.

Well we slowed a little, coasted some down hills, turned of the air conditioner and prayed.  My wife was a little stressed, and I went through all the possibilities in my head should we have to coast to a stop amidst the moon-like terrain.  They all involved hitch-hiking and missing our flight home.

Then we saw it!  The last gas station for another 8 miles, at least.  We refuled, bought some Pringles, and turned around, admitting defeat to our plan to make it to South Point, the apropriately named southern most point in the US.  For those of you who are thinking Key West, that’s the continental US.

We headed back and stopped briefly for some Kona coffee, and some Key Lime pie.  How could you not?  The bonus there was the beautiful view (even with the vog) of Kealakekua Bay.  We were in a wooden structure teetering over the cliff.  Please remind me not to be THERE when the next earthquake hits.

All in all a great trip.  I will talk about some of the natural wonders next blog…..rick    

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There’s a lady that says that many of our problems are due to the past issues with our ancestors….Now usually I would then put up my right hand and say whatever, but I could see that she was sincere, believing what she was saying.  Many problems, she thought involved our dead grandparents, for example and they continured to desire to connect with us from the grave.  Of course too, she could facilitate that.

That’s where I jumped off the bus.

But knowing all that, and wondering how much of me, and my life would my dead grandma approve of, I started thinking.  I mean we have approval or lack of, from our peers, our co-workers, our loved ones.  Do we seek approval from our spouses and main influencers?  God approves or disapproves of our lives, and his word (Bible)certainly spells out judgment on behaviors and our hearts.

We can pick up the Bible and read how great men in history; David, Solomon, Paul,   and yep, Jesus were in real life.  We choose, whether consciously or not, to emulate them (hopefully not all their actions) or not.  I know we have heard WWJD. What would Jesus do.  Sometimes think that, but that’s not easy to apply in EVERY situation.

What if, in situations where we are pondering which move to make, we could get an immediate reaction from Jesus, or a text message, maybe.  Or, just a stinkeye from Grandma, or even that angelic smile which I guess would be an indication of approval.  That would be cool.

Some of you may not understand stinkeye.  It seems to be ingrained in Hawaiian culture and lingo.  Famous stinkeyes;  John Belushi in Animal House.  (Although his was that mischevious varietey that told us that some really good parts of the movie were upcoming.)  The Rock does a mean stinkeye.  Once that stinkeye comes out, you’d better drop that folding chair and move away quickly.  Or you’re going to get it.

My dad did a few stinkeyes in my past.  I knew I was in trouble when the stinkeye came out.

My wife informs me that I roll out a stinkeye every one in a while.

There’s a wonderful short film “Fishbowl” done by a Hawaiian lady who died before it was even released.  It uses stinkeye in the context of kids at school and in their social development.  It’s cute, and funny as the characters deal with acceptance and lack of acceptance in their grade school experience.  It lets you peek into the world of ‘country’ Hawaiians and the language too.  I highly recommend it if you can find it.

But stinkeye as a sort of guide for life?  I don’t know.  I mean, I can’t even picture either of my dead grandmas giving me stinkeye.   

My wife and I were planning our trip to the Big Island and we went over the options.  We could just be lazy, and really enjoy the many pools, and places to discover on the grounds of our resort.

We could go over and take a look at an active volcano,    ah  no thanks, I’ll pass.

We could go on a snorkel cruise and even maybe see some whales at the very tail end of the season.

I could take enough work to keep me busy the whole time and just ‘put in my time with my wife.’

How about a flight in a little airplane over the active volcano……I don’t really think so.

I heard about a place called Dragonfly Ranch.  Now that’s a name.  The head dragonfly lady is not going be there, but her assistant will be.  His name is Phoenix.  Of course it is!  I wonder if he is the dragongfly herder,   or trainer.

What about the lesbians?  (I am NOT a really big fan of lesbians, but then again, I don’t give them much thought.)  I guess they own a little place that makes some pretty awesome natural smoothies.  I hear that they tag-team hypnotize you, and convince you that their awesome drink can actually cure everything from migraines to male-pattern baldness.  I don’t have either, but they don’t really scare me, now that I think about the whole idea.

I want to see my buddy, but it’s a long way from our resort…..Really I intend  to relax and unwind, and study my Bible with my wife, a little spiritual retreat.  And I am going to do exactly that,        after that smoothie.

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When I was a kid we played with rocks and sticks.  Now they have laptops, atvs and cell phones with web access.    Rick

Live every day as though it will be shown on YouTube.    Kevin O’Neill

When you develop yourself to the point where your belief in yourself is so strong that you know you can accomplish anything you put your mind to, your future will be unlimited.  Brian Tracy

The secret of life is …..be a team player  Tony Robbins

I’m giving you all a car!  Oprah

Network Marketing is the real estate for the 21st Century.      someone

We bring value into others’ lives.  We see their needs and meet them.  unknown

Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes.  That way, when you criticize them, you’re a mile away and you have their shoes.   somebody cool

When I was a kid EZ Bake ovens had a light bulb inside and couldn’t heat water.  Today they are convection ovens, for real.   Rick

should have, could have, would have, the three amigos of mediocrity    Raj Chandra