Giving to God
/
- 2 Corinthians 8 & 9
- Luke 16
- Malachi 3
Q: Is Myspace sinful?
/
A: No!
Mark 7:14-16 "Then Jesus called to the crowd to come and hear. “All of you listen,” he said, “and try to understand. It’s not what goes into your body that defiles you; you are defiled by what comes from your heart."
I am amazed at what some Christians get up in arms about; Harry Potter, Drinking, The DaVinci Code, Myspace, Gays, great music by great artists who aren't professing Christianity in each song they sing...
Myspace is what it is... a place to connect, engage in converstations, find friends, sell, promote, create community, reach people, meet people, etc. Yes you can see bad stuff on Myspace, hello, it's the internet! There are many places on the internet 50,000 times worse then Myspace! And to that I say... don't go there! Yes, Myspace has some stuff you have to be smart about... to that I say... BE SMART!
I personally have a software protection program that notifies 3 accountability partners what I have looked at on the internet and that includes Myspace profiles.
We (our church) have actually reached people through our Myspace page. This was the whole reason we even created a Myspace page. This is because we believe you CAN NOT reach the world by hiding in your little Christian Cacoon with other Christians.
There are many sites a lot like Myspace; i.e. Facebook, Bebobebo, hi5, flixter, friendster, yuwie, xanga and I am sure there are 100 others. I have heard Facebook is much cleaner (Rated PG) which would be a better choice for a teenager I would think.
Peace!
Beyond the "Box"
/
Thomas Edward Lawrence wrote, "All men dream, but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds, wake in the day [believing] that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act on their dreams with open eyes, to make them possible."
We've all heard people talk about "thinking outside the box", but the box is still the reference point. I am not sure that is a good thing? Not saying that it isn't, I just wonder if it is a hindrance to all GOd wants to do IN us and THROUGH us?
I believe that the church, me included, needs to be deprogrammed to this kind of limiting thinking. I really think that the Wright Brothers were not just thinking “outside the box”, but BEYOND the box when they took their first flight. I beleive they were thinking way beyond the box!
Our culture, parents, school, friends teach us to live realistic, live on earth. Constantly telling us “we can’t…” not that living realistically is bad, we must “live in the now” as Garth told Wayne in the 1992 film Wayne’s World when he wanted a guitar he couldn't afford. But I think we should allow for the “beyond the box times” as well.
I feel this is extremely necessary for those who serve in the local church. We must think beyond the normal church “ways” of doing things, beyond what has been classified as “safe”, and let’s not use the “box” as a reference point. And just in case you are concerned about me, I DO NOT think the Bible is the BOX! The Bible should be our reference point not some “box” that has been passed down through the ages.
The “box” in my opinion is empty, and God is not in it, and most likely not even around it, He is beyond it!
I believe that the church, me included, needs to be deprogrammed to this kind of limiting thinking. I really think that the Wright Brothers were not just thinking “outside the box”, but BEYOND the box when they took their first flight. I beleive they were thinking way beyond the box!
Our culture, parents, school, friends teach us to live realistic, live on earth. Constantly telling us “we can’t…” not that living realistically is bad, we must “live in the now” as Garth told Wayne in the 1992 film Wayne’s World when he wanted a guitar he couldn't afford. But I think we should allow for the “beyond the box times” as well.
I feel this is extremely necessary for those who serve in the local church. We must think beyond the normal church “ways” of doing things, beyond what has been classified as “safe”, and let’s not use the “box” as a reference point. And just in case you are concerned about me, I DO NOT think the Bible is the BOX! The Bible should be our reference point not some “box” that has been passed down through the ages.
The “box” in my opinion is empty, and God is not in it, and most likely not even around it, He is beyond it!
Reconciliation
/
1 Corinthians 13:5 “Love does not demand its own way. Love is not irritable,
and it keeps no record of when it has been wronged.”
TEXT: Luke 19
BIBLE CHARACTER: Zacchaeus
BIBLE CHARACTER: Zacchaeus
STEPS to RECONCILIATION
1) REPENTANCE.
2) RESTITUTION.
3) REHABILITATION.
CHALLENGE: Take the first step in reconciling a broken relationship.
DIG DEEPER
Monday
[Luke 19]
Do you need to reconcile any relationship?
Tuesday
Do you need to reconcile any relationship?
Tuesday
[Pray]
Pray for the person you need to reconcile with.
Wednesday
[Reflect]
How do you feel about this person?
Thursday
Pray for the person you need to reconcile with.
Wednesday
[Reflect]
How do you feel about this person?
Thursday
[Think]
What would life be like to be reconciled?
Friday
What would life be like to be reconciled?
Friday
[Do something nice]
Take that first step to reconcile.
Take that first step to reconcile.
Reflections on Beer and the Bible
/
Our Next...BEER AND THE BIBLE
Tuesday, November 13 - 7:00pm @ FUEL
We had our first Beer and the Bible just a few days ago, and it went very well! We had 45 people there, and we had a wonderful discussion about John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son..."
Questions we discussed:
1) Who does God love?
2) What does His love mean to you? In you? Through you?
3) What should be our response to God's love?
4) How should God's love in us affect those around us?
5) How can we show God's love to others?
We had many great conversations... We hope you join us for the next one!
Help Those Who Can Not Help Themselves
/
CHILDREN’S CUP INTERNATIONAL RELIEFI must admit I am touched by the stories of hurting children and those who are oppressed around the world. And I would assume that every human on earth with a heart at all would be saddened by this as well.
Isaiah 1:17 Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.
The above ministry is just one of the 13 missions organizations we support each and every month to help hurting, lost children in VIETNAM, SWAZILAND, and ZIMBABWE by providing a permanent home for over 200 orphans and providing schooling for 500 at-risk young people.
When I see these children I am reminded of how much EXTRA we here in America have. I actually get sick to my stomach when I see all the excess that is here, when there are parents who are wondering if they will be able to feed their already hungry children. It breaks my heart! I hope it breaks your heart too, but in a good way!
Forgiveness
/
Ephesians 4:32“Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you.”
Old Testament Character: Joseph (Genesis 30-50)
WHAT FORGIVENESS IS NOT…IT’S NOT…
1) EXCUSING what they did.
2) RECONCILIATION.
3) DENYING what they did.
4) FORGETTING what they did.
5) PRETENDING we are not hurt.
DIG DEEPER
Monday
[Genesis 30-35]
Is there someone in your life you need to forgive?
Tuesday
Tuesday
[Genesis 36 - 39]
Are you having difficulty forgiving this person?
Wednesday
Are you having difficulty forgiving this person?
Wednesday
[Genesis 40 - 44]
What is preventing you from forgiving them?
Thursday
[Genesis 45 - 49]
Is this bitterness affecting other relationships?
Friday
[Genesis 50]
How would you benefit from forgiving?
What is preventing you from forgiving them?
Thursday
[Genesis 45 - 49]
Is this bitterness affecting other relationships?
Friday
[Genesis 50]
How would you benefit from forgiving?
I'm in October 22 issue of Newsweek
/
Lisa Miller from Newsweek called me last week for an article she was writing entitled, Love Thy (Gay) Neighbor... she mentioned me in her article."It is undoubtedly getting much easier to find evangelicals with authentic Bible-belt credentials expressing love and support for their gay friends and neighbors. Gabe Lyons, an author of the Barna study, says he has spoken privately with Daly about his dream of starting a meaningful conversation between the nation's gay and Christian leaders "and not just spout off our views." On Good Friday this year, a pastor named Timmy Gibson from Olathe, Kans., took 15 parishioners to a mall in downtown Kansas City, where all of them held huge pink signs that read GOD LOVES GAYS. Students on a handful of evangelical campuses—Samford University and Eastern University, for example—are starting gay student groups, some without their administrations' approval."
Read the rest of the article: http://www.newsweek.com/id/43417
Helping Children in Albania
/
The following is an email I received from an OLF church member who was deployed to Kosovo a few months back. We are jumping on board to help! More information will be given in Sunday's service. If you are not a part of our church please do what you can and directly to them, but mention OLF. Thanks!
Hi Timmy and Co,
Well, my friend, God works in mysterious ways: first I found out that Clint Barney (another OLF member) was part of the group deploying to Kosovo with us. Before I knew it, I was moved into his section and he is one of my staff now. We are just starting out mission, and things are pretty busy. I did want to raise one subject with you though – our section has inherited an adopted Albanian school. They were taken care of by the previous rotation, and now that we are here, we will be taking over their care.
Even though I grew up in Russia under the worst of circumstances, I never saw the kind of poverty I saw at that school. It is nothing more than a shell of a building with 3 classrooms inside. There are ancient desks and chairs in each classroom and a single blackboard. There is also a wood-burning heating stove in each classroom, but the school is too poor to buy the wood needed to warm the classrooms up. Even though they have electricity, they do not have the money to buy electric oil heaters or space heaters. The students study in shifts. They teach grades K-8 there if I am not mistaken.
To make a long story short, if Olathe Life Fellowship is interested in a humanitarian project, I can not think of a better one. These guys could use anything – from second hand clothes to ANY kind of school supplies to include simple chalk, pens, pencils and the like. The good news is: you can ship to us in Kosovo via USPS and pay the normal inside the United States rates – mail gets forwarded to us later on, and does not cost anything additional. Should you want to share this need with the congregation, here is our address in Kosovo:
CPT Gleb Gluhovsky or SPC Clint Barney
KFOR 9, MNTF(E)
HQ TF Falcon
Camp Bondsteel
APO AE 09340
These little guys are not spoiled – any warm clothes will do – it is below freezing here already, and many of them have no boots or shoes for the winter – they wear socks and flip flops! We in the U.S. throw stuff away if it is not in perfect condition. Well, these people here are not prideful and will gladly accept ANYTHING we can offer them.
I’m sorry that my first e-mail from Kosovo starts out with begging for stuff, but I just can’t not ask when I know the generosity of Americans and especially American Christians. This will be a great message and witness to these people – we are not restricted from telling them who sent the help and why.
I miss home something terrible and am looking forward to returning soon. God willing, this year will fly by fast. In the meantime, I will continue mentoring Clint and hopefully growing in the Lord myself as well. Blessings and please say hello to Jana and your lovely kids.
Later my friend,
Gleb
P.S. This is truly one of the few countries that love Americans – feels weird after being in Europe for a while.
Well, my friend, God works in mysterious ways: first I found out that Clint Barney (another OLF member) was part of the group deploying to Kosovo with us. Before I knew it, I was moved into his section and he is one of my staff now. We are just starting out mission, and things are pretty busy. I did want to raise one subject with you though – our section has inherited an adopted Albanian school. They were taken care of by the previous rotation, and now that we are here, we will be taking over their care.
Even though I grew up in Russia under the worst of circumstances, I never saw the kind of poverty I saw at that school. It is nothing more than a shell of a building with 3 classrooms inside. There are ancient desks and chairs in each classroom and a single blackboard. There is also a wood-burning heating stove in each classroom, but the school is too poor to buy the wood needed to warm the classrooms up. Even though they have electricity, they do not have the money to buy electric oil heaters or space heaters. The students study in shifts. They teach grades K-8 there if I am not mistaken.
To make a long story short, if Olathe Life Fellowship is interested in a humanitarian project, I can not think of a better one. These guys could use anything – from second hand clothes to ANY kind of school supplies to include simple chalk, pens, pencils and the like. The good news is: you can ship to us in Kosovo via USPS and pay the normal inside the United States rates – mail gets forwarded to us later on, and does not cost anything additional. Should you want to share this need with the congregation, here is our address in Kosovo:
CPT Gleb Gluhovsky or SPC Clint Barney
KFOR 9, MNTF(E)
HQ TF Falcon
Camp Bondsteel
APO AE 09340
These little guys are not spoiled – any warm clothes will do – it is below freezing here already, and many of them have no boots or shoes for the winter – they wear socks and flip flops! We in the U.S. throw stuff away if it is not in perfect condition. Well, these people here are not prideful and will gladly accept ANYTHING we can offer them.
I’m sorry that my first e-mail from Kosovo starts out with begging for stuff, but I just can’t not ask when I know the generosity of Americans and especially American Christians. This will be a great message and witness to these people – we are not restricted from telling them who sent the help and why.
I miss home something terrible and am looking forward to returning soon. God willing, this year will fly by fast. In the meantime, I will continue mentoring Clint and hopefully growing in the Lord myself as well. Blessings and please say hello to Jana and your lovely kids.
Later my friend,
Gleb
P.S. This is truly one of the few countries that love Americans – feels weird after being in Europe for a while.
Are You Happy...REALLY? pt2
/
Old Testament Character: Job
MEMORY VERSE: Romans 15:4 “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”
8 Things that CONTRIBUTE to an unhappy life
1) SELF-absorption.
2) No COMPASS.
3) Not being a part of something MEANINGFUL.
4) Keeping a RECORD of wrongs.
5) Wearing a MASK.
6) PHYSICAL challenges.
7) MIS-TREATMENT
8) No GOD stuff.
BOTTOM LINE: The most important ingredient in you being happy is YOU.
DIG DEEPER
MONDAY
[Matthew 10:42]
What is the benefit of giving to others?
TUESDAY
[Jeremiah 29:11]
Does God have a plan for you?
WEDNESDAY
[Psalm 71:5]
In who should our hope be?
THURSDAY
Does God have a plan for you?
WEDNESDAY
[Psalm 71:5]
In who should our hope be?
THURSDAY
[Mark 10:27]
Is there anything impossible with God?
FRIDAY
[Romans 15:4]
How would reading scripture help your life?
Is there anything impossible with God?
FRIDAY
[Romans 15:4]
How would reading scripture help your life?
