Hawaii became the fiftieth state of the United States of America on August 21, 1959. Made up entirely of islands, Hawaii is located in the Pacific Ocean, west and south of mainland North America.

I've never been there, but the shots of the scenery on television and in movies makes Hawaii look like a place you would never want to leave. The beaches are beautiful. The forests are awesome. The mountains are wonderful. It is a gorgeous place that shows off God's creative abilities.

Hawaii's nickname is the “Aloha State.” “Aloha” is a word best known for being used as an English salutation to say hello and/or goodbye. In Hawaiian, however, the word means affection, love, peace, compassion and mercy. These are words that point emphatically to the life and ministry of Jesus Christ.

Jesus felt and feels affection for people. Christ's love was, and is, manifested in several ways. He showed love by healing those who required healing. He showed love by serving. He showed love by his atoning work on the cross.

“Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).

Jesus has been referred to as the Prince of Peace. The prophet Isaiah, foretelling Christ's birth, wrote: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given … and he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).

In John, Jesus was speaking to his followers and said: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you” (John 15:27).

Compassion is sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings of others. Jesus Christ was sympathetic and very much concerned for the sufferings of others. Reading through the gospels we see passage after passage and encounter after encounter of Christ healing someone, feeding thousands, driving out demons and serving suffering humanity.

In Luke, he is in the synagogue on the Sabbath and stands to read from the Scriptures. The scroll of the prophet Isaiah is handed to him and he read a passage which states: “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favour” (Luke 4:18-19).

Christ showed mercy during his earthly ministry. Mercy is often defined as being spared something one actually deserves. Christ shows the same mercy to us today, in the year 2011.

Let these thoughts inspired by Jesus Christ and the Aloha State keep you warm during these remaining cold days of winter.

Aloha!

Captain Mark Braye and his wife, Nancy, are the officers/pastors of The Salvation Army Tri-Town Community Church in Temiskaming Shores, Ont. They have two children, Hannah and Micah. The four of them love to play and watch Sesame Street, Dora the Explorer, and The Wiggles.