Elevate

Matthew Jones on Mar 8, 2007 3:00am

In his last days his life totally pointed to Christ, I can only hope I can follow his example.....Christian was a funny guy, I can still hear his deep kirmit the frog voice as we made fun of aaron's cheesy music choices on his ipod, or the times he and the rest of the group would come over and play ping pong till 2am. He always made me feel small even if I myself am kinda tall. He was a very layed back kind of guy who at times was kinda clumsy(in a good way :). There will definitely be a void in our group now. I really believe God is using this to show us how we need to wake up spiritually and follow Christians example in standing without apology and I know God will use this for His glory. Christian will definitely be missed but then again he is lucky to be in a better place! All to the glory of God!

Van Huynh on Mar 9, 2007 3:56am

It's about 4:42 in the morning, here I am still awake and just before my heart told me to check my email I blog about how I am just tired of living a life as a human on earth because it's not easy--all the pain,suffering,struggles,tempation of sins, and especially our walk with God. I said I just wanted to give up already...then I check my email and come to find out about what happen to Christian--I only met him once and talk to him a little bit during one thing, but it's not hard to figure out that he was an outgoing and nice guy. Nobody wanting to sit next to me and I said, I don't have cooties--he got up from the floor and sat next to me and we talk only for a couple of minutes...but now I am just sitting here wishing I could of just been more opened than just so closed hearted..I could of gotten to know him better. And I'm just sitting here crying because I'm taking life forgranted and God's grace forgranted--for I know Christian is with God--what better place to be than in heaven.He's now an angel that will always be remembered and imprinted on our hearts. For everyone out there read this:
Ecclesiastes 3
A Time for Everything
1 There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven:
2 a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,

3 a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,

4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,

5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,

6 a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,

7 a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,

8 a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.

9 What does the worker gain from his toil? 10 I have seen the burden God has laid on men. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. 12 I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. 13 That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil—this is the gift of God. 14 I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men will revere him.

Robinson Lee on Mar 8, 2007 8:49pm

Every single time I saw Christian, he would come up to me and say "wassup Robinson, how are thing going for you"...with a smile and handshake. He would not see me and just pass by. He was not a guy who looked down on people. As I got to know him, he shared his friendship and love as Jesus did when he walked this earth. He carried and walked the "Christian" name. At the internship gathering on 03/09/07, I saw that he was loved by many, and will be missed. Brother Chris was super nice.

To those who carry a heavy heart of his loss, know that Christian walked his last days with our Savior, Jesus. I know for sure, 100% guarantee, he is absent from the body and present with our Father in Heaven along with our Savior and the righteous. He left a great legacy, as a man who loved God. Let us share the grief and together pray for his journey to the Lord. This is a really tough time for his immediate family, and I ask we all keep them in prayer.

Christian my brother, where ever you are, let your body rest in peace and your spirit go with God. You will always be remembered, forever.

God is love, God is just. He is never the cause of bad things going on in our lives. He guides us when we are lost. He gives us hope and comfort when we need it. He will never grow weak. He will never abandon us. With all the grief we cause in His presence, He always look down on us with a smile. A smile that would change the world to His will in an instant. His glory and power is shown through His love, that's why He sent his Son to die for us. He gives and takes away, blessed be the name of our Heavenly Father. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

Psalms 23,

Robinson

Saul Mcgirr on Mar 9, 2007 9:10pm

Gerrit Takasaki on Mar 9, 2007 9:14pm

I first met Christian in January of 2006 as a group of us had lunch together after church at HMC. And as I got to know him better over ther course of the past year, three words best describe him as he has come into his own in Hilo, a "mature christian gentleman".

It is hard to believe he is only 20, so mature and focused for his age that I didn't look at him like a son but really as a brother and friend. He was so focused and he knew what he wanted to do in life.

As a gentleman, he was so courteous and well-mannered, a role model for the younger guys to look up to.

As a christian like his name, He was a man on a mission. Just as he served he country in the U.S, Coast Guard, he never sought to be in the spotlight. He was always serving behind the scenes. An example of Christian's wilingness to serve: One Friday night after having dinner with friends at a downtown restaurant, we bumped into a young man from Chicago carrying posters announcing the start-up of our new Church called Elevate. Without fanfare, he was going about the town and posting flyers on all the bulletin boards that he could find. He also brought some of crew from his ship as often as they would come. I just met one of them the other week.

I just could feel that Christian was also starting to finally put down roots in Hilo and build deep bonds with his Elevate family.

We miss you Christian, but I know that you are in good hands and are having an awesome time of worship at the feet of Jesus! Save us a place in line and fill us in when we get there so we don't look like "rookies" when we get to heaven too.
Aloha, Brother.

Kristal Larios on Mar 10, 2007 4:17am

Kristal Larios on Mar 10, 2007 4:19am

Saul Mcgirr on Mar 10, 2007 8:49pm

Kosh Wallis on Mar 11, 2007 1:54am

What can you say about Christian to describe him. He was such a unique and powerful man. Gentle giant is one way I’ve heard. And that makes me smile because that describes him well. The way he was with the kids and with the people he was ministering to at all times, were always met with a gentle love, compassion and genuine interest. But when it came to crucifying every part of his worldly self for the glory of God, “gentle giant” is not the right label. When he was struggling with the spiritual darkness that tried to hold him back there was nothing gentle about him. In 2 Timothy 2:4 it says “No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.” And that was Christian; he became a warrior, a soldier that only had eyes for his commanding officer Jesus Christ. Anything that got in his way was met with every ounce of his strength and resistance. One thing I appreciated about Christian was how every conversation I had with him had depth. He wasn’t a superficial guy; he shared from his heart what he was struggling with but also each time he shared how God had or was in the process of helping him through it. He inspired passion in the people who had the privilege of knowing him and humbled me with the way he surrendered every part of himself to Jesus. Let’s miss him and mourn him, but also honor him by laying down our lives and picking up our cross and following in a great man’s example.

Edward Richardson on Mar 18, 2007 6:47am

i just got back from ur funeral and i still dont believe ur gone...i saw u with my very own yes and still i felt i could call u and tell u how many ppl loved u and were at ur funeral...like some how u were still alive and this is all just a bad dream...and yet in my heart i know that ur gone and that has been the hardest thing to deal with...i love you my friend...you were my best friend...and a person only gets so many best friends in a lifetime...i am so honored that i got to be there to see you...and i know ur in heaven...u told me once in our bible study that u couldn't wait to hear the words "well done, mygood and faithful servant." it made me cry through joyfulness then...and it makes me cry now because i am positive that u got exactly what u couldn't wait for...and for that i am overjoyed for you...someone at ur funeral said it best...we want u here out of selfishness...but i just wanted to let u know that i will never meet anybody like u again...because u were one of a kind in everyway...my favorite memory of us is our trip around the island and exploring kaumana caves...u know the story :)...i love you bud...u will be in my heart forever...until i see u again...goodbye my friend...