Millionaire

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This morning Jana and I were getting the kids ready for school and fixing their lunches and I was giving them my usual “you can do and become anything” motivational speech. And Shaeylea said, “Can I become a millionaire?” I said, “Absolutely! If you’ll do what millionaires do.”

I then saw this look in her eye that said … “so Dad why aren’t you doing what millionaires do?” So I said before she coulds actually ask the question outloud, “Honey you don’t become a millionaire spending what you make, living right at your means …”. I must admit her look got me thinking; so, why don’t we do what millionaires do? Why don’t we live below our means, invest, invent something, write a New York Best Seller, start a computer software company called "Gibson-soft", or create a cool computer and call it "Orange" and the logo would just be an orange with a bite out of it, or something like that?

Then Jana blurted out, “at least we are thousandaires!” We all fell on the floor laughing! Yes, if we combined all our money together … we’d have a thousand dollars! We laughed so hard over that!

Moving on … I have no aspirations of being a millionaire so I can drive a new car, get a bigger house, or have expensive things (nothing wrong with those things) … I just want to be able to give more, help more, do more for others. Honestly, I want to be able to do more for others. The thought of living my life and sitting in the rocking chair at the end of my life and I only lived for me, and only provided for me, and didn't leave a real lasting mark on this earth ... that would be a very sad day for me!

I’ve said it before, but it bares repeating - if I personally was to win the lottery (which I don’t play) and get a million dollars right now, nothing would change for us, except the church would get at least $100,000 the next day and we’d have money in the bank for both the kid’s college, and both our cars would be paid off, etc. etc. Other than a few things like that nothing would change … I wouldn’t quit my job, we wouldn’t move, we wouldn’t buy new cars, we wouldn’t buy any jewelry, we wouldn’t buy fancy clothes … life would be pretty much the same.

So what am I trying to say here; whatever you desire in life you must make sure that your actions are taking you there. What do you desire?

“If you really want to get to Mount Olympus, just make sure that every step you take is in that direction” - Socrates

Sit down this week and evaluate your life … are your actions taking you where you want to go? In your marriage? In your finances? In your career? In your health?

Marijuana

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As most of you reading this know I will sometimes blog some very random things ... Let me confess that usually I will blog as a result of my random thoughts and other times I blog as a result of questions I have received from people who find out I am a pastor, then lastly I will blog what is on my heart (usually God inspired … I hope!).

Okay, so I had a dude approach me the other day and ask me, “dude, so you are a pastor … can you tell me if smoking marijuana is a sin?”

After I chuckled and realized he was serious I said, “The Bible says that we are to obey the laws of the land as long as they do not keep us from serving God. So, since Marijuana is illegal, then YES it is a sin to smoke and I recommend you quit smoking it”.

Then he said, “well … what if it was legal … could I smoke it then?” I said, “it’s not though … so that is just hypothetical … and I am not sure Willie Nelson will be able to get it legalized in his lifetime ... sorry bro”.

There you go, my spiritual insights on smoking pot.

Boob Implants & Tattoos

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I know this is a funny blog entry title; but I woke up this morning thinking of a story with a lesson that you will just enjoy hearing, I think… I hope.

First, those who know me know that though I have tattoos I have no boob implants and have no future plans to get any. LOL!

Here is my story: On vacation this past year Jana and I met a “Christian” girl who obviously had boob implants and she actually began to share with us how that tattoos (which I have, and with my shirt off on the beach are obvious ... my shirt was off at the time) were sinful and that to mark up God’s temple was a sin.

I stood there with my jaw on the sand in amazement at her stupid theology and at her hypocrisy as well. Of course the argumentative side of me wanted to engage in a theological debate with proper Hermeneutical tactics I learned in Bible College to help her see her hypocritical heresy. I refrained! I just stood there and smiled with the love of Jesus!

Isn’t this what we as Christians do to those in the world around us? Judging them wrongly, and not even aware of our own hypocrisy.

First, incase you are wondering; there is nothing wrong with tattoos! And there is nothing wrong with boob implants! Those are the simple answers to complicated questions really … of course WHY you are getting tattoos or boob implants is important to understand. Are you insecure? Are you trying to hide behind something? Are you trying to cover up something? Or, do you just want them?

I read a psychological report on “WHY people get tattoos” onetime and for some people all that the doctor said may be the case, but not everyone is the same. You can’t say because one person does it for "this reason" that everyone does it for "this reason". For me, I got tattoos because I like them. Period. Many girls Jana & I know who got boob implants because they wanted bigger boobs (or their husband did … lol!) or they wanted to correct an imperfection.

I think its human nature for us to “assume” or to view other people through our own filter; meaning, if I do something for a certain reason then anyone that does it does it for the same reason. This is just stupid … and we are ALL guilty of doing it.

I think we would do well to remember what Jesus said; Matt 7:2-5 "For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged [if we judge with an evil heart or dark intent, His judgment of us will reflect it; if we judge nobly and honestly, His judgment of us will reflect that, too], and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you [if we use extremes or exaggerations or other unfair means, our judgment will reflect it]. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye [point out his sins, "minor" in Jesus' example here] and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye [our own sins, even and especially those we will not admit, magnified by our selective blindness]? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' [tell him of his "minor" sins] when all the time there is a plank in your own eye [that there are greater or the same sins in our own lives which we do nothing about or think we are above]? You hypocrite* [pointing out the sins of others while by pretense we think of ourselves as above sin], first take the plank out of your own eye [sincerely ask the Lord for forgiveness and learn and live the Truth and Light by His Word], and then you will see clearly [be in a righteous position] to remove the speck from your brother's eye [to judge and to help him out of his bondage to sin]."

Bible Reading Plan - Week 7 & 8

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February 12
Exodus 39-40

February 13
Leviticus 1-4

February 14
Leviticus 5-7

February 15
Leviticus 8-10

February 16
Leviticus 11-13

February 17
Leviticus 14-15

February 18
Leviticus 16-18


Week 8

February 19
Leviticus 19-21

February 20
Leviticus 22-23

February 21
Leviticus 24-25

February 22
Leviticus 26-27

February 23
Numbers 1-2

February 24
Numbers 3-4

February 25
Numbers 5-6

Church in a School

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We’ve been doing church in a school for 6 years now and though there are obvious challenges to not having our own place to worship there are many positives as well.

1) Low Financial Strain - We have no large “facility mortgage payment”, that can strain a young congregation (not just young in age of the people attending, but young in years the church has been around).

2) There is a clear message communicated that “the church” isn’t a “*building”, it’s the people.
(*If you have a building with a steeple but have no people, what do you have? A building with a spear looking thingy sticking out of it … but it’s not a church … it’s a building. If you are reading this and your church has a building, please take no offense ... that is awesome and I am jealous, and some day we'll have one too.)

Mathew 16:18b Jesus said, “…I will build my church…”

Jesus wasn’t referring to piling bricks on top of each other; He was referring to building people!

3) People who are coming to Mercy Church (or any other church in America or around the world who doesn’t have their own place) are not coming because of a cool building (obviously), which would be a shallow reason to attend church if you ask me. (Now someday, God willing we will have a permanent place to meet “a building” we can call home and I am sure it will attract new people and that is okay. But until then we are mobile.)

This blog is for all the people who attend “church in a school” … don’t get hung up on “a building”, Jesus didn’t, the disciples didn’t, the early church didn’t … focus on the church … which is the people who gather together to worship and grow in their faith!
And if you are looking for a church ... don't disregard a church because it meets in a school! You might just find the most wonderful church (people) there!

Shalom! Mobile Church, Church Planting, Trailer Church, Pioneering

Spiritual Stimulus Package

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What would stimulate our nation? Hungering and thirsting after God! Godly living!

I really am convinced that what our nation needs, and when I say nation I am referring to each and every person here in the USA, is to turn our hearts toward God; getting our lives back in order.

This is why our nation is in the shape it is in; our lives (priorities) are out of order, everything and anything is more important than GOD, then FAITH, then our SPOUSE, then our CHILDREN … and look where it has got us.

2 Chronicles 7:14 “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

Will you do it?

The News Sensationalizes Marriage Series

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I laughed when I saw the various news agencies reporting on our “It’s a Wonderful Marriage” series here at Mercy Church. I guess a marriage series isn’t news worthy, but you mention the word “sex” and all of a sudden it gets attention. “Woman in the City” just doesn’t turn your head, but call it “Sex in the City” and wham; you’ve got a hit series!

That’s okay honestly, because most people are pretty smart and realize that the news is only giving you PART of the story … they don’t have time to give you the whole picture, just the picture that makes for interesting news.

What makes me laugh even harder is the rumors … like we have been deemed the “sex church”, the “Hanky Panky Church”, the “Sex Toy church” and my personal favorite, the “Masturbation Church”.

The series is 99% about building a lasting, meaningful and fulfilling marriage, and 1% of that is “sex talk”, and that is what gets reported! Lol! Oh well!

If you are reading this PLEASE refer people to listen to the Marriage Series on our web site or on iTunes, just search “Mercy Church KC”.

The “Hanky Panky Church” … now that would be an interesting name for a church … I guess the logo would be what? Use your imagination! Now that is funny!

Fox 4 News, CNN, MSNBC, Sex Challenge, NBC, CBS,

Marriage Books

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1. Hold Me Tight by Dr. Sue Johnson
2. His Needs, Her Needs by Willard Harley, Jr.
3. The Art of Understanding Your Mate by Cecil Osborne
4. Men and Marriage by George Gilder
5. What Wives Wish Their Husbands Knew About Women by Dobson
6. If Only He Knew by Gary Smalley
7. For Better or For Best by Gary Smalley
8. Making Love Last Forever by Gary Smalley
9. Boundaries in Marriage by John Townsend
10. Season's of a Man's Life by Daniel Levinson
11. Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas
12. Sacred Sex by Tim Alan Gardner
13. The Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands by Dr. Laura
14. Rekindling the Romance by Dennis and Barbara Rainey
15. Simply Romantic Nights by Dennis and Barbara Rainey
16. Becoming a Woman Who Pleases God by Pat Ennis & Lisa Tatlock
17. Building Your Mate's Self-esteem by Dennis Rainey
18. Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work by Dr. John Gottman
19. 10 Lesson to Transform Your Marriage by Dr. John Gottman

KC Radio

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Jana and I have been invited to join Kelly Urich on http://www.kcradio.com/ on Friday, February 6th - from 10AM - 11AM (Central Standard Time) for Marriage Talk. It's internet radio so no matter where you are you can log on and listen from your computer or phone. Please call in with your questions and comments ... and to just say "hi".


Toll-free: 866 975-2872
Hope we hear from you!