My Prayer for You

Dear God,

I pray that we would be free from the things in this life that hinder us from becoming all that you want us to be. I ask that you would open the eyes of the blind so that they may see; I ask that you would open the ears of the deaf so they may hear your voice and that their hearts might find you.

God help OLF to be a place of healing for people, a place of hope, acceptance and unconditional love; a place that people are free to be what and who you made them to be.

God I ask that the chains that bind people be loosed. I ask that the fears that paralyze people be removed. I ask that your perfect love God would flood their heart and soul at the deepest level.

God I ask that there be a spiritual awakening here in our city. That people would hunger and thirst for the things of you God; that they would want to know more, and seek to understand and seek to fulfill your plan and purpose for their lives.

God I ask that you would comfort the hurting, befriend the lonely and find the lost. And help us all to comfort the hurting, befriend the lonely and find the lost too.

God, one last thing, today may we see people around us with your eyes of love and compassion, may our hearts feel what you feel and may we act as you would act today.

In Jesus name, Amen!

Luke 11:9 Jesus said, "ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you."

Hannah Montana

Up until Monday, December 3rd (the night of the Hannah Montana concert) we were not going to be able to make my 9 year olds dream come true. Tickets to the show had sold out in the first 11 minutes of being made available on Ticketmaster a little over a month ago. And not to mention the scalpers (“ticket brokers” sounds to legit) were selling the tickets for 10 times the ticket price in some cases, so needless to say, we were out!

Stick with me here; there is a life lesson to be learned! I promise! And here it comes!

…Then enters my persistent wife, who never gives up on something, if she believes it is worth acquiring. She had been periodically checking online to see if any tickets would go on sale at an affordable rate that we could snag up. No such luck, until 3:00pm the day of the concert… Ticketmaster listed some tickets at normal price. And that’s not all; the tickets were on the floor, just 50ft from the stage! 25th row! My ears are still ringing from the high pitched screams that can only come from the mouth of a pre-teen excited about Hannah Montana! I was one of the few Fathers there with their daughter… there was lots of estrogen in the Sprint Center that night!

Oh and it gets better yet, Shaeylea got to meet Jonas Brothers. I took her picture with them and she got their autographs. I can’t remember seeing her so excited. She even said she wasn’t going to wash her jacket since they touched it! Shaeylea getting their autographs was a cool deal too; she saw the tour bus pull into the Westin Crown Center, we ran to meet them in the foyer of hotel.


Life Lesson Learned: Never ever give up! Always hope! And if you want certain things in your life, i.e. a great marriage, a better job, etc., make it happen! Be looking for opportunities! Do what it takes to achieve those things! And even if they don’t happen like you want you can rest knowing it wasn’t from a lack of effort!

Stumbling Block

I admit this is a long blog, but trust me, (even if I say so myself) it’s a worthy read!

I recently had an interesting discussion (maybe even a debate) with a former instructor whom I will call Richard (not his real name) from the bible school I attended about the issue of “causing others to stumble”, “giving people license to do something” “avoiding the very appearance of evil”. It’s the whole philosophy of “people will do in excess what I do in moderation”, which frankly is a gross error in thinking.

Richard used this scripture to try and support his argument:

1 Corinthians 8:9 “Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak.”

Then went on to explain that to mean that, “if a leader (Christian) is to have a tattoo for example that gives freedom, or license to others to get tattoos” or “if a leader drinks alcohol that gives people (youth is what he said specifically) license to drink and get drunk…” His conclusion was that as a leader (Christian) we should not do anything that would cause the “weak” to stumble.

I understand his “interpretation”, but his “application” is completely off-base! Here is why; if you use his argument (or application) with other things it falls apart. For example; I engage in regular sexual intimacy with my wife… so should I stop that so that I do not cause “weak” youth to stumble by following my example? NO! Because I am “having sexual relations” within God’s set boundaries – marriage! Should I stop eating food because it may cause others to “stumble” and become a glutton? NO! So, should I stop working so that I do not cause someone to become a “workaholic”? NO! Do you see how ridiculous that is? Let me give one more; the Bible says:

1 Timothy 6:10 “For the love of money is the root of all evil.”

So, I guess this means that we should stay away from money, and not have anything to do with it! We especially shouldn’t pocess any of it! We should “avoid the very appearance of evil”, right?

1 Thessalonians 5:22b “Throw out anything tainted with evil.” – MSG

I would like to go on TV and encourage all who want to rid themselves of evil to send their money to Olathe Life Fellowship! We’ll use it for good! And we will not buy $20,000 toilet seats with it, or private jets for our kids to fly to the Bahamas!

Again, this is such a mis-used philosophy of many legalistic hypocritical Christians that drives people away from the things of God.

What was interesting to me is that really Richard’s argument was over alcohol. So I asked him, “Do you feel that drinking alcohol is a sin? He said, “No.” I feel that is interesting because to me that is the real issue at hand; sin. If it is not sin, then help me understand the problem? So then I went on to explain that I feel for Christians the best thing we can do for the world around us (including our children) is to be an example of moderation, how to do things responsibly, how to do things RIGHT (if we choose to do them)… ultimately teaching our children to avoid SIN… and even more importantly teach our children to Love God, and Love their neighbor!

The best thing we can do for our youth is show them, sex is right and most fulfilling within a committed married relationship! Drinking alcohol (if you choose to drink it) is best (or only okay) when you are of legal age (21) and when it’s done in moderation (no drunkenness or driving!) Jesus drank wine, but He didn’t get drunk!

Side note: I am not encouraging anyone to do anything that they feel is wrong, or sinful. If you feel something is wrong or sinful, please do not do it! And it’s wonderful to abstain if you feel that is what is right for you to do! There are things I do not do (like eat junk food), not because it is a sin to eat it, but because I personally feel it’s harmful to my body (the temple). We all need to do what this scripture says:

Philippians 2:12 “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.”

Another problem with Richard’s argument is that the scripture he used to try and support his “no drinking” position is talking about food offered to idols, not alcohol or tattoos… it’s talking about meat offered in idol sacrifices! If we are going to use a scripture then let’s use it in context! This is the first and most important rule in Biblical Interpretation.

1 Corinthians 8: 10-13 “For if anyone with a weak conscience sees you who have this knowledge eating in an idol's temple, won't he be emboldened to eat what has been sacrificed to idols? So this weak brother, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge. When you sin against your brothers in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause him to fall.”

This is part of the problem with Christianity, when you have religious views that are taught as “biblical” and they are not! Legalism at its worst!

1 Timothy 4:1-5 “The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth. For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.”

1 Corinthians 10:31 “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”

Colossians 2:16 “Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days.”

1 Timothy 4:12 “Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.”

The bottom line is that each of us needs to follow our own hearts or consciences towards God. What is HE leading me to do! Not religious rules and regulations, or mans legalistic ideas. The bible clearly states that the LAW KILLS! It’s Christ’s sacrificial death that freed us from the LAW and made us free from sin and death.

We should all want to live lives that are glorifying to God and His work here on earth!

Read Romans 8

It Pays to be in Church

(Symbol for Longevity)

Dr. Harold G. Koenig, a psychiatrist who directs Duke University's Center of the study of Religion, reports that people who attend church regularly...

• Have stronger marriages
• Are healthier
• Have less depression
• Live longer
• Have stronger immune systems

So, there it is... proof that by attending Olathe Life Fellowship (or any church for that matter) regularly you will LIVE LONGER LIVES!

It pays to be in church! See you Sunday!

The Best Thing We can Do for the Chiefs

After watching the game on Sunday, it's amazing to see how many people attend the games at Arrowhead... 40,000 plus I guess? I mean there were 80,000 people there (at Arrowhead) for the KU (Jayhawks) vs. MU (Tigers) game on Saturday!

But I have figured out what the best thing we can do for the Chiefs on a Sunday is to be in Church before the game to PRAY! Seriously, pass this thought on to all the Chiefs Fans you know... tell them to get themselves in church to support the Chiefs - they need help. (ha!)

Have a great day!

Thanksgiving

"May we... give humble thanks for the blessings bestowed upon us... by Almighty God. May we recall the courage of those who settled a wilderness, the vision of those who founded the Nation, teh stedfastness of those who in every succeeding generation have fought to keep pure the ideal of equality of opportunity..." - Franklin D. Roosevelt, November 21, 1933

"I praise ye the Lord. O give thanks unto the Lord; for He is good: for His mercy endureth for ever." - Psalms 106:1

Come on, let's be honest - Thank God you don't look like the Caveman! There is always something to be thankful for!

Have a wondeful Thanksgiving!

Our Compass

We as Christians ought to be all about Loving God, Loving Others, and Loving Ourselves!

And with that, our driving goal ought to be to lead people to a healthy relationship with God. And how we do that is by loving people right where they are. Not where we THINK they should be, but RIGHT where they are! This is what I so love about Jesus' time here on earth... it's what He did. He loved people in all their imperfections. He even loved Judas (shared a meal with him, Jesus even washed his feet knowing that he was the one to betray Him).

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

Jesus said in…

Mark 12:30-31 “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.”

Let the Love of God GUIDE you through life just as a Compass Guides!

Catholic Mass

The staff and I visited Redemptorist Parish of Our Lady of Perpetual Help down on 33rd and Broadway for our staff meeting this week. We spent 30 minutes there for a time of reflection and prayer! Very moving!

I must say it was awesome! Absolutely unbelievable interior! I can say that it was a wonderful experience to pray and see the stations of the cross, the holy water, all the stain-glass art, Jesus on the cross (almost life size), the candles... just awe-some!

We all felt a sense of reverence that is lost sometimes in church.

Hide No More

I along with many of you come from a legalistic church culture where it wasn’t so much about not doing “bad things”… it was about HIDING the fact you were doing “bad things”.

I say "bad things" loosely because that is subjective (subject to interpretation)… many things that were labeled “sinful” are not. Obviously I am not referring to real sins for which the Bible is clear on.

But the “list of bad things” that MAN came up with as a way to get God’s approval… making sacrifices to earn God’s love, what the Bible calls a “works” mentality… which says I can EARN God’s love, or "work" for it. For example, “drinking was a sin” (it isn’t, but that was on their “list” of bad things) so what do you do as someone who wants to appear holy (or like a good little Christian)? You HIDE the liquor and drink privately, and don't admit to doing it! I guess in their minds that was the same as NOT doing it.

I remember another example; going to movies (again, that was on the “list” of things to stay away from) so what do you do as a good little Christian who wants to appear holy? Only go to movies when you are out of town… that way no one will know! I guess its like – if no one sees me do it, I didn’t do it?

To me this is an ultimate integrity breach! I talk to so many people who stay far away from God and Church for that very reason! For God knows all and sees all, and we should live to please God.

Why not just be honest, real, authentic, open, truthful (now there’s a novel idea!); I love Jesus, and I like going to movies… and not only that, going to movies doesn’t make me any less of a Christian than those who only go to movies when out of town. It sounds so absolutely ridiculously absurd I know! But I am running into people (good-hearted-well-meaning people mind you) that still feel strongly about this HIDING thing.

When I was in Bible College an instructor actually said and I quote, “familiarity breeds contempt”. That is one of the stupidist thing I've ever heard! Jesus was familiar with his people! Here is a quote to hang your hat on, “Familiarity only breeds contempt when you are doing something contemptible”... and hiding is contemptable... not only that YOU HIDE because you are doing something contemptable! I believe if you are REAL, AUTHENTIC and HONEST with your life then the more people know about the real you the more they love and appreciate you and your life before God!

I personally know ministers of big ministries who claim a NO DRINKING policy, yet they drink privately. Hypocrisy at it's worst!

Challenge: Be naked and unashamed!

My Position on Alcohol

I've been asked this question enough to warrant a clear summary of my position on the matter of alcohol adapted from the book The Radical Reformission: Reaching Out Without Selling Out.

"Do you suppose that abuses are eliminated by destroying the object which is abused? Men can go wrong with wine and women. Shall we then prohibit and abolish women?" – Martin Luther

"Mmmm . . . beer." - Homer Simpson

Historically, God’s people have greatly enjoyed alcohol. In the European world one of the most popular drinks Christians drank was beer. Saint Gall was a missionary to the Celts and renowned brewer. After Charlemagne’s reign the church because Europe’s exclusive brewer. When a young woman was to marry her church made special bridal ale for her, from which we derive our word bridal. Pastor John Calvin’s annual salary package included upwards of 250 gallons of wine to be enjoyed by he and his guests. Martin Luther explained the entire reformation as “…while I sat still and drank beer with Philip and Amsdorf, God dealt the papacy a mighty blow.” Luther’s wife Catherine was a skilled brewer and his love letters to her when they were apart lamented his inability to drink her beer. When the Puritan’s landed on Plymouth Rock the first permanent building they erected was the brewery.

As feminism grew in America during the turn of the 20th century the women’s suffrage and prohibition movements were the practical results of a feminine piety that came to also dominate the church as more women became pastors and the church became more feminine. Some denominations began to condemn alcohol as sinful and the Methodist pastor Dr. Thomas Welch created the very “Christian” Welch’s grape juice to replace communion wine in 1869. The marriage of Christianity and feminism helped to create a dry nation that put out of business all but the largest brewers who were able to survive on near beer and root beer which explains why today American beer is largely mass produced, watered down, light on calories, and feminine in comparison to rich and dark European beers. The resurgence of micro-brews is helping to overcome the great loss and resurrect the art of brewing.

Lastly, some Christians foolishly argue that such terms as new wine and mixed wine in the Bible speak of non-alcoholic wine. But, new wine can still intoxicate according to Scripture (Isaiah 24:7; Hosea 4:11; Joel 1:5), and mixed wine refers to special wines where various wines are mixed together and/or mixed with spices and does not refer to wine cut with water (Psalm 75:8; Song of Songs 8:2). God refers to pouring out the wine of His mixed wine on His enemies which does not mean He will dilute justice (Psalm 75:8). The only time such a practice is mentioned in the Bible is in regards to merchants who cut wine with to rob customers (Isaiah 1:22). The Bible speaks of grape juice (Numbers 6:3) and if God meant to speak of non-alcoholic wine he would have used that word to avoid confusion.

1) All Bible believing Christians agree that drunkenness is a sin.

The Bible is abundantly clear that drunkenness is a sin (Deuteronomy 21:20; Ecclesiastes 10:17; Matthew 24:29; Luke 12:45; 21:34; Romans 13:13; 1 Corinthians 5:11; Ephesians 5:18; 1 Peter 4:3). The matter is so serious that no priest was to drink alcohol while performing their duties (Leviticus 10:9; Ezekiel 44:21) though they could consume while not working (Numbers 18:12, 27, 30), no king was to drink while judging law (Proverbs 31:4-5), an elder/pastor cannot be a drunkard (1 Timothy 3:3; Titus 1:7), and that no drunkard will inherit the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:10; Galatians 5:21). Sins associated with drunkenness include incest (Genesis 19:32-35), violence (Proverbs 4:17); adultery (Revelation 17:2); mockery and brawling (Proverbs 20:1); poverty (Proverbs 21:17); late night and early morning drinking (Isaiah 5:11-12); hallucinations (Isaiah 28:7); legendary antics (Isaiah 5:22); murder (2 Samuel 11:13), gluttony and poverty (Proverbs 23:20-21); vomiting (Jeremiah 25:27, 48:26; Isaiah 19:14); staggering (Jeremiah 25:27; Psalm 107:27; Job 12:25); madness (Jeremiah 51:7), loudness combined with laughter and then prolonged sleep (Jeremiah 51:39; nakedness (Habakkuk 2:15; Lamentations 4:21); sloth (Joel 1:5); escapism (Hosea 4:11); depression (Luke 21:34); and staying up all night (1 Thessalonians 5:7).

2) Prohibitionists teach that all drinking is a sin and that alcohol itself is an evil.

Psalm 104:14-15 "He God makes grass grow for the cattle, and plants for man to cultivate-bringing forth food from the earth: wine that gladdens the heart of man . . ."John 2:1-11 is clear that Jesus first miracle was performing over 100 gallons of wine at a wedding party. Matthew 11:19 "The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and "sinners." ' But wisdom is proved right by her actions."

3) Abstentionists teach that drinking is not sinful but that all Christians should avoid drinking out of love for others and a desire to not cause anyone to stumble.

Hosea 2:8 "She has not acknowledged that I was the one who gave her the grain, the new wine and oil, who lavished on her the silver and gold-which they used for Baal."1 Timothy 4:1-5 "The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth. For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.1 Corinthians 10:31 "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."

4) Moderationists teach that drinking is not a sin and that Christian conscience must guide each person.

Wine is spoken of as both good and bad in the same verses (1 Samuel 1:14, 24; 25:18, 37; Joel 1:5, 10).Apart from good feasting alcohol in Scripture is rightly used for communion (Matthew 26:29; Mark 14:25; Luke 22:18), medicinal purposes (Proverbs 31:6; 1 Timothy 5:23), and Old Testament worship (Numbers 28:14).Proverbs 3:9-10 "Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine."Ecclesiastes 9:7 "Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine with a joyful heart."Psalm 104:14-15 "He makes grass grow for the cattle, and plants for man to cultivate-bringing forth food from the earth: wine that gladdens the heart of man, oil to make his face shine, and bread that sustains his heart."Deuteronomy 14:26 "Use the silver to buy whatever you like: cattle, sheep, wine or other fermented drink, or anything you wish. Then you and your household shall eat there in the presence of the Lord your God and rejoice."

Here at Olathe Life Fellowship we would align ourselves with #4.

We just ask that everyone act according to their conscience when it comes to alcohol consumption. Because of past sin, some who have had problems with alcohol may need to abstain for fear of stumbling into old sinful habits. For those who enjoy alcohol with biblical moderation, we recommend using discernment when providing hospitality for others who may have conscience or addiction issues. Best of all, we look forward to the day when our Lord and Savior will prepare for us a redeemed feast with wine:

"On this mountain the LORD of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine, of rich food full of marrow, of aged wine well refined. And he will swallow up on this mountain the covering that is cast over all peoples, the veil that is spread over all nations. He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the LORD has spoken. It will be said on that day, "Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us. This is the LORD; we have waited for him; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation." - Isaiah 25:6-9