A Wonderful New Year - 2013

Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.

 

As I write this I am praying that each of you have the best year ever! I know that life can sometimes really be a challenge in so many ways, especially in the current landscape of our country’s economy.

 

I truly believe there is one way to slam dunk guarantee a wonderful 2013, and that would be to really put the vertical relationship above all other relationships. Of course, leave it up to the “preacher guy” to say that, right! But I know it to be true! We allow so many other things in this life to crowd out the MOST IMPORTANT THING; our relationship with God. Commit not to do that this year, shall we!

 

Join me in putting God first in everything, and living a surrendered life in 2013!

 

Have a wonderful New Year!

Why Pastors Have Affairs (2 of 3)

1)      Stay Close to Jesus.

 

To me this is the biggest and most critical thing in keeping yourself from an affair. Live as close to the one who is Holy! And this seems strange that I’d say this writing about “Pastors” but even we pastors can stray away from Jesus. Weird I know, but we can get so busy doing the work of the Lord and forget the LORD of the work. Your relationship with Jesus is the #1 most important thing in living a holy life!

 

2)      Work On Your Marriage

 

I speak on this all the time … but a good marriage takes work, so work hard on it. It doesn’t happen just because you walked an isle and said some, “I dos and I wills and I promise” it takes so much more than that. Do it! I highly recommend couples read at least a book a year on marriage, attend a marriage series at church or seminar or do a marriage retreat once a year. Anything you can do for “continuing education” on the subject of marriage!

 

3)      Work On Yourself

 

Spirit, soul and body! Take time for yourself. Make sure you are not wearing yourself out! Make sure you are getting rest, exercising, reading, taking time off, journaling, etc. Not only that, but if you have issues, which you do, work through them with a counselor, or close wise friend.

 

4)      Protect Yourself

 

You know what your boundaries are, come on! If you find someone at your work attractive you can’t go to lunch with them every day! Come on, you are smarter than that! “Oh but we work together!” So, why don’t you go to lunch with the weird ugly person? Be smart. Don’t put yourself in situations that could compromise all that you believe! Know and understand that we are ALL susceptible to the lures of an affair, and people who feel they are not, are MOST vulnerable! The Bible says that “pride comes before a fall.” Be humble, smart and make wise decisions!

 

5)      Have Real Accountability Partners

 

Having REAL accountability partners! Not suedo-accountability partners! Have people of the same sex that you are completely honest and vulnerable with about your every struggle, temptation, fear, dream, passion, etc.

 

6)      Don’t Look at Porn

 

I realize this one falls under “protect yourself” and “live close to Jesus” but I felt it needed to be a stand-alone. I truly believe Porn is poison. It is addictive. It is something most men struggle with, and all men are tempted with on a regular basis. The bottom line is that men are visual, and they want to see women naked. Again, it’s important to “protect yourself” however you need to keep you from looking at Porn. I use X3watch.com, I am sure there are others out there.

To Be Continued ... It's About You

Top 10 Things To Completely Change Your life

Philippians 4:8 “And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” – NLT

1) THINK good things about yourself and others.

2) WRITE good things about yourself and others.

3) SAY good things about yourself and others.

4) BELIEVE good things about yourself and others.

5) WATCH things that are good, uplifting and encouraging.

6) LISTEN to things that are good, uplifting and encouraging.

7) READ things that are good.

8) DO things that are good.

9) PARTICIPATE in things that are good.

10) Be AROUND others who are engaged in GOOD THINGS.

*Excerpt from a message I preached on June 3, 2012 @ Mercy Church

Do I Need Church?

I have people ask me; "Do I need to attend church to be a Christian?" I always laugh because typically these are people not currently going to church, and the answer I always give is, "well no and yes, but let's talk about why and what to look for in a church." It's like my son asking me, "Daddy do I need to brush my teeth to live?" Ha ha! I mean how do you answer that? No you don't son, but then again, yes I wish you would so your breath won't melt my eyebrows! 

Now you are thinking, "Timmy of course you think people need to attend church, you are a pastor!" Ha ha! I understand that, but it's just not true! I tell people the same thing whether I am looking to invite them to Mercy Church (church I pastor) or send them to whatever church is in their particular City and State. I feel strongly about this actually, and would attend church regularly even if I was not a pastor. And I can prove this because I have only been a minister for 20 years and previous to being a pastor I attended church and invited others to do so too.

Here is why I feel strongly about it; first church is NOT a building, church is people. So by asking "Do I Need Church?" is really asking, "Do I Need People?" And this is why I say a loud YES! Also church represents God, so Do You Need God? And again I say YES! Now I realize that not all Christians or Churches do a good job a representing God. Maybe they are more of a reflection ON Jesus then they are a reflection OF Jesus. I know, I have been there, I was raised in church, I have seen it all, and I do mean all!

I have had several bad experiences with Dentists, but guess what? I still go to the dentist for check ups, cleanings and fillings. I don't go the ones who drilled my tongue, or stabbed my cheek, or the dentist who had an office that resembled more of an auto repair shop then a clean sanitary dentist office.

Church is about, or should be about, growing in our relationships - with God and others. It's really that simple. I have to admit people who are anti-church and say things like, "I don't need to go to church to be a Christian!" They are in fact correct, but again it's like my son's question about brushing his teeth!

I have found that people who believe you don't need to go to church to be a Christian miss out on others helping to refine and challenge their thinking.  Sometimes when we are left to think alone and believe alone and have no one to say, "dude, that's a little weird bro!" we miss out. This has at least been my experience anyway.

Q: Where Should I Go To Church?

A: A place you like! I mean let's be honest, you're not going to like everything, or every decision the church makes, that's not possible! That's life! But if you feel like you fit, enjoy the people, the leadership, the style, the beliefs, etc. Then jump in with both feet and support the church fully! Now I will say I would highly recommend belonging to a church where you can be you, no hiding, lying and wearing a mask. Life is too short for that junk. 

Hebrews 10:25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

10 Leadership Secrets of Timmy Gibson

1) Be true to yourself only if you are aligned with who God made you to be.

2) Pick your friends very carefully because they play a huge role in your life.

3) Be concerned with how your decision will effect others.

4) Always get both sides of the story.

5) Talk after you think.

6) Doing the right thing is always right.

7) Doing the wrong thing is always wrong.

8) Always listen to those you lead.

9) A wife will make or break you.

10) You never lose putting God first.

Suspicious

sus·pi·cious   /səˈspɪʃəs/
1.tending to cause or excite suspicion.
2.inclined to suspect, esp. inclined to suspect evil; distrustful: a suspicious tyrant.
3.full of or feeling suspicion.
4.expressing or indicating suspicion: a suspicious glance.

Have you ever met people who were suspicious of everyone and everything, even when there wasn't anything for them to be suspicious about? I am sure you have, I have. So, what about you; are you a suspicious person?

Suspicion is really distrust, and it's not a good trait to have. I've always taught, because my Dad taught me, "trust people until they break that trust." We can't base our trust on our past experiences. For example, if you had a bad experience with a Doctor (or whatever) you shouldn't be suspicious of every Doctor now!

I remember the scandal that came on the Catholic church because of some priests who were bad ... most everyone became suspicious of all priests after that, and even of the Catholic church. That was so unfortunate for all the wonderful Priests who were serving in the Catholic church at the time.

I would challenge you to trust, unless there is good reason (not just something in your head)to be suspicious about. And if you have suspicions then you should address those in a healhty God-honoring manner to get clarifty so you can trust.

Self Leadership

I think too many times we are too dependent (lazy may be a better word, but I don't want to offend anyone) on others to "do it for us" (whatever it is) rather then doing it for ourselves.

Unfortunately this is also true in the local church; I am guilty of feeling this way as well. "I want my local church (that I only attend when I'm not too busy)to fix all my problems, teach me the whole Bible, teach my kids the whole Bible and make them behave (and if they aren't behaving it's the churches fault) give me a worship experience that brings a tear to my eye and gives me goose bumps, makes my spouse more loving, my job more enjoyable, and makes food taste better ... etc etc.

Then all week we do absolutely nothing to continue to feed ourselves spiritually ... and then again we wonder why we aren't growing ... it's never our fault ... so we blame everyone and everything other then the person to blame - OURSELVES!

If I am not in shape physically, I don't blame the local YMCA that I attend, I blame myself for not doing what I need to do to grow (or get in shape) everything I need to get in shape is available to me, but I must pick up the weights myself and move.

As for those of us who are married ... I think it's the husbands responsibility to LEAD spirituality in the home ... if a home is not growing spiritually ... it's the husbands fault! (There can be exceptions ... but rarely). And for those of us who are parents, its our responsibility to TRAIN UP OUR CHILDREN in the LORD ... we parents should TEACH our children the things of God.

Parents we are with our kids 7 days a week, and the local church gets them for an hour once a week (maybe) ... it would only make sense that the primary teacher and spiritual discipleship of our children in coming from us ... let's step up to the plate parents! Don't slough that responsibility off on someone else ... jump in and play an active role in their spiritual growth!

Where do I start?

1) Buy a good book (study guide) on whatever you want to learn.
2) Buy a childrens bible devotional - turn the stupid TV off and read it to your child every night before bed.
3) Serve in the the local church you attend ... press in!

Leadership Lesson

I learned a valuable lesson in Leadership Sunday when about 20 guys, and one girl showed up for football practice for the Mercy Bowl VI game we play every year the Sunday before Thanksgiving.

Usually I run the game since I am the QB, well that hasn't always served us well because I never played organized football and really don't know the game all that well. I played Baseball, Tennis and Ping Pong growing up. My typical play call was - "just get open".

So this year I recognized that several guys and even the girl knew way more than me and I would be smart to have them run the show ... so that is what I did! I picked Amit Suri to run the Offense and Ely Parker to run the Defense ... and WOW, what a great practice we had!

I seriously think we are going to pound the church we are playing in the ground and make them cry like little sissy girls ... of course all in a Christian-nice-kind-of-way! Obviously!

Lesson I learned - as a leader, when you have a goal (to win the football game) and you have people who are way smarter and better then you willing to lead ... let them lead. Because then everyone is happier, including the "leader". Had I allowed my ego to stand in the way and not submitted to these guys knowledge and willingness to lead then we most likely we will lose the game this Sunday. So, now I am happy knowing that we are going to win (most likely), and if we don't ... I am not to blame! lol! Just kidding on that last part there... !

Thoughts Matter

What are you thinking about?

I’ve heard it said that if you dwell on your strengths, your blessings, your goals, and all the people who love you, then you will attract even more blessings, even more love, and even more accomplishments.

I believe this to be true.

I know for me personally when I focus on the bad, the unloving, the dirty, and the unhappy things in this world it makes my life a darker place. Don’t get me wrong, you always have those “bad” things, BUT what do you want to give your time and attention to?

For me I have decided I want to give my attention to the positive, the lovely, the good, the true, the happy… this makes the sun shine brighter in my life! (Philippians 4:8)

I believe:

1) You are what you eat!
2) You become what you think about!

No Lone Ranger

Life is a journey, and I really believe that it's important to journey with others by your side rather then being a "lone ranger".

Here at Olathe Life Fellowship I get to serve on a staff of several talented wonderful people; Brandon Hollis (most gifted musician in the world), Michele Huff (The happiest person in the world), Ralph Testerman (The kindest person in the world), Geoff Lundy (The only guy I know who can do the happy dance while playing guitar well), & Brad Hill (One of the few guys I know who is asking the right questions). I also get to work alongside many other talented volunteer leaders who serve so faithfully.

And on top of those individuals I get to be mentored by other great men who inspire me to fulfill God's purpose in my life! I just met with my mentor today and as always I was challenged, inspired, and encouraged to pursue my journey with passion!

Here is my challenge: Find someone who is ahead of you in ministry, or whatever field you are in, and meet with them several times a year to glean from their wisdom, insight and success. It's truly priceless!