Introduction

Aloha from Honolulu Hawaii;

My name is Rick Kirkham. I’m very new to my relationship with God. Only three weeks ago as of writing this did I attend a business-fellowship meeting.

I’ve seen patterns for years of “non-coincidence” which could only have been caused by a higher intelligence than man, but I wasn’t ready to admit God was involved in my life at that time. I always think of the scene in an old sci fi movie called Blade Runner “I’ve seen things you people would not believe….”

I knew somehow July of 2010 was going to be a strange month for me. I’d been struggling in my business of an in home computer tutor specializing in senior citizens and other confused end users and in office computer consultant for small business.

I met and became business partners with a man named Stanford Young. He said he had my card for months before contacting me. I’d been looking for a business group with which to network and a church or something where I could discuss these patterns of non-coincidences I was seeing more and more. Three weeks as of writing this Standford was kind enough to tell me about a meeting. He was going to to a business-fellowship group who discussed God and talked business as well. It met that night at 6 PM. Asking his permission to join him and granted by him, I went to my first meeting.

Nice group of  business people who instantly made me feel welcome. I felt comfortable enough to voice a concern I had as to one reason I hadn’t attended church or a group such as this. You watch some father of a family sing and pray in church, then go home and beat the snot out of kids. My reaction of course would be to beat the snot of out him to show him what it feels like, which I would unfortunately stop myself from doing so, but I digress. Richard, the man who started the business-fellowship explained to me that our relationship with God is in all things we do, not just when we go to church. This both assured me and made sense to me. I had just written an article entitled “I am Martial Arts” which explained that very thing in respect to martial arts. When I explained it to Richard he said in relating to a previous conversation, “… and I’ll bet you use martial arts when you’re hitting a nail with a hammer.” I’m glad he understood my analogy.  Richard told me he even starts his business meetings with clients with a prayer.

Then, after the main discussion, came the prayer requests. Being completely new to this I asked if I was allowed to ask for one for myself. They said yes. So I asked for help with my business so I could provide for my family better. They prayed for me and asked God to help me with my business. Then Richard (the person who started the group) told me I didn’t have to pray if I wasn’t comfortable doing so.

So now the martial artist in me kicked in. These men stood up for me, now it was my turn to stand up for them. So I prayed, for the very first time in public and aloud, for the person who requested a prayer.

That night my wife asked me if I wanted to to go to church Sunday. I was still in shock over all that had transpired that night, though I was a little hesitant, having not been to church for around 41 years, I said yes. We went to the New Hope Church in Manoa Valley. It is a small church for which I’m grateful. I didn’t want to feel overwhelmed. The congregation made me feel welcome and they seemed honored that we chose their church after not being in church for over 41 years (the honor turned out to be ours for being accepted immediately by such a wonderful group of people). My wife was a regular church goer until meeting me, for which I admit to feeling some guilt about especially now. She knew of this church though it was her first time attending that particular church. I believe she chose it due to it’s size.

Something strange happened during m my second meeting of the business-fellowship group. We were split into groups and one group was praying. I began to feel a pressure in my chest, then a feeling of happiness enveloped me. I kept feeling my chest trying to analyze this feeling. I asked the other members if they’d ever experienced anything like that and they said once in a while. I drove home thinking about what happened and was still kind of in wonderment of this event when I arrived home. My wife and son were home so I asked my wife if that was the spirit of the Lord entering me. She said it was. Then my son, almost 11, suggested a reason for that happening that made my jaw drop, “Maybe it was God welcoming you dad.” I decided my almost 11 year old son was right. A weird but good night.

I returned to the business-fellowship the next Thurs after attending church that Sunday. During the pray request, when the other group was praying at the same table where I was sitting, it happened again! This time it was more intense and actually made me a bit nervous yet still elated. I actually chuckled aloud. The intensity was so great I grabbed the arms of the two guys other guys praying. I told them what happened and they understood. Richard said some people just feel these kinds of things more than other people do.

Later they were talking business and plans for the future, when an idea or thought which was not necessarily my own filled my head. I actually looked up and said, “You think that’s available?” to God. Yes I know He knows all but I’m new to my relationship. The other two members at the table just looked at me and I replied, “sorry, private conversation.” I told a couple members of the business-fellowship I have an idea for a new website, but that was not entirely true, I don’t think it was my idea.

Another “coincidence” I got an email after attending a big New Hope event at UH in which the church got my email, then attending a baptism at Magic Island. The email was from Pastor Wayne Cordeiro. Nothing personal just saying thanks to volunteers etc., but I used the opportunity God gave me to email him and tell him what happened to me seeking his advice. He forwarded my email to Sam Kapu the pastor for the Monoa New Hope Church as I had mentioned in my email that was where I attended service.

By now I had an idea what to do with the website, but I had to make sure it was Gods plan and not just old habits from my own internet marketing. I don’t think anyone ever knows that for sure, all any of can do is the best we can and ask for guidance. I am discovering it seems to come when we ask and believe.

We went to a picnic/church sermon at Magic Island. My wife asked me to get the chairs from the car, on the way back to the picnic site. On the way back from getting the chairs I run into my pastor Sam Kapu! I began telling him my concern and he said he knew all about it! Pastor Wayne had forwarded my email to him!

Sam told me he’d be happy to get together with me later, but his sermon answered all my questions. You see, I’d been thinking God wants me to make this a Christian business networking site. Where my fellow Christians can post their products, services and business and find fellow Christians who have the product or service for which they are looking. Sam’s sermon was on the concept of not looking at our relationships with God, family and friends as a pyramid, but as a circle with God in the middle! This was exactly what I needed to know and I thank God, Pastor Wayne, Pastor Sam and indeed all my new brothers and sisters who helped guide me.

So please my Christian brothers and sisters, sign up for free, log in and list your church events, businesses, products and services. Add your public profile to gain even more exposure for your business or event. I’ll be your host and do the best I can to supply your needs on this site, while God supplies all of our needs in all things.