Why Olathe Life Fellowship

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Here is one of many stories I hear almost daily from people who attend Olathe Life Fellowship:

I met Sue (not real name) this past Sunday. She expressed her love and appreciation for OLF. She and her husband were actually separated when they came to OLF 6 months ago. She was raised Lutheran, her husband was raised Heathen or Pagan (no church background) – Ha!

Anyway, she begged him to attend OLF to just see if he would like it (she had heard from some not-so-churchy-friends that OLF was a great church). So they came! He liked it! (This is very common in our church... un-churched people LOVE our church) Though her first thought was, “where are the hymnals and stuff…” but she enjoyed the life applicable messages and the authenticity of it all. They have also dedicated their lives to Christ within in the last couple of months! She told me that they have sense moved back in together and are doing better than ever! OLF saved their marriage and family. They love it and have even signed up to serve in various areas! Much of this was shared with a sparkle in her eye from tears!

God is good. Not everyone gets or understands OLF and its commitment, passion and vision to reach people for Christ, but you and I GET IT! We just don’t “talk” about being a church that is committed to reaching the lost… we ARE doing it! AND there is FRUIT to our labor!

Keep up the good work! You are changing lives!

- Timmy

Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not unto thine own understanding but in all thy ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path"

Volunteer Leadership

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For many years there has been this false belief that important church work is done only by the “professionals” and the simple stuff like picking up trash in the parking lot is for “volunteers.”

Well I am hear to tell you that is not even biblically correct! For one, I spent an hour just the other Sunday in the parking lot before service picking up trash (and I did it with a song in my heart and a smile on my face). “No way, but you are the pastor, you shouldn't have to do that?” some would say. But I come from a different mindset I suppose. We are all here to serve God in whatever capacity we can. Whether that is picking up trash in the parking lot to give first time guests a positive CLEAN experience when coming into Olathe Life Fellowship or using my gift of playing guitar, singing, my happy face to greet, or my muscles being used to unload the trailer at 7:00am, or my love and heart for children by serving in Kid’s Life.

I have met, even recently, people who feel some jobs are below them. Sorry, but Jesus said that HE himself came to earth to SERVE not BE served! Though, I think that thought is probably rare and only held by pride-filled people. The more common thought is the one that says, “I don’t have anything to offer, or I haven’t been to Bible School… what can I do?” And to you I say - Anything and everything! So jump in, be a player, impact lives with the gift God has given you!

For those who are know the Bible are familiar with 1 Peter 2:9 "you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light."

There you go! Each of us can SHOW OTHERS THE GOODNESS OF GOD by serving somewhere sometime!

Have a great week!

- Timmy

Be a player

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I just returned home from a Cardinals vs Reds game at the new, way cool, Busch stadium in St. Louis, Missouri with my family and new found pastor friend, Matt Keller from Ft. Myers, Florida - Next Level Church. By the way, the Cardinals WON 4 to 3 (I think). Something cool; my former neighbor here in Olathe just moved to St. Louis and works the grass there at the stadium! So, we got to go down and get a fly ball he set aside for us - pretty cool! I am such a nice guy I gave the ball to Matt... he is a major Baseball fan. I am more a Football guy.

I did eat food I would never admit too... all part of the experience!

But keeping with the whole Baseball theme - I want to talk about the whole WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF CHURCH thing. There are a lot of thoughts out there... and I do believe that the model we here at OLF hold to is the BIBLICAL model, and that is this:

PURPOSE OF CHURCH




  • For the Christian - The church should be a place we can come and use our God given talent and gifts to to further perpetuate the mission and vision of Jesus which is to, "seek and save the lost". As a Christian, we should NOT be coming to church just to sit on our little cushy tushy and WATCH. We should be PLAYERS! And I consider those who work the grass as PLAYERS, the ball boy is a PLAYER, the security guards are PLAYERS and for sure those who yell, "BEER HERE... BEER HERE..." are PLAYERS! All working together to make for a wonderful experience for those who come - the CROWD. Who I consider to be the UN-CHURCHED. As a player (Christian) we come to GIVE! As Christians we get our MEANING and SIGNIFICANCE from being a part of fulfilling God's purpose here on earth through the local church.




  • For the UN-Churched - The church should be a safe place they come to find meaning, and purpose in life through the life changing Gospel of Jesus Christ - all in a non-weird, fun, simply, life-applicable, friendly way! An un-churched person should feel that like, "this experience was all for me."


I am conviced that the quote from Zig Ziglar, "If you help enough other people get what they want, you'll always get what you want" is TRUE!


I think we as Christians have been so selfish when it comes to church! We've (me included) have felt that church was FOR ME. And in a way it IS FOR YOU... it's for you to USE your gift and SERVE GOD to reach people for God!


So, if you are a Christian, like me, prayerfully consider altering your thoughts about church and begin to partner with God through the local church to help people.


Jesus said, "I've come to SERVE not BE SERVED". "Be ye therefor imitators of God".


- Timmy








We Love Jesus, How-bout You?

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I have people ask me so many times the famous question; "What is life all about?" And my answer is usually the same; "It's all about Jesus!"

Now that is easy to say, but much more difficult to actually realize in our lives. And when I say "realize" I mean to live as though that is true. Many people, even well-meaning Christians, say they love Jesus, and they DO... but when you really love someone it should show.

In other words, it doesn't take people long to figure out that I love Jana (my wife) big time when you are around us. We do things that reflect our love - and we aren't "trying"... it just flows naturally. It's the same when you hang around a couple that doesn't have the "love" going on... you can see it, and even feel it when around them, huh?

I believe it is the same thing with those of us who love Jesus... you shouldn't be able to be around us too long before you notice - He/She loves Jesus!

In my opinion if you have to ANNOUCE "I am a Christian", then you messed up! If you are REALLY a Christian people should be able to SEE it and FEEL it when they are around you!

Q: How?

John 13: 34-36 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." Simon Peter asked him, "Lord, where are you going?" Jesus replied, "Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later."

A: Love is it my friends!

Q: How Did Jesus Love us?

A: Jesus loved us UNCONDITIONALLY! And He loved us SELF-LESS-LY!

Jesus completely gave Himself to us and FOR US!

So my challenge to you today is TO LOVE God, and LOVE those around you!

In ACTION TOP 10:

1.) Send a note to a friend and tell them how much you appreciate them!

2.) Write a poem to your spouse!

3.) Do something special with adn for your kids.

4.) Send a note to your boss thanking her for giving you a great job! (Praise goes both ways... many times we the employee expect it from our boss... but we never give it!)

5.) Send a note to your employees, thanking them for a job well-done!

6.) Compliment a cashier, or waiter next time you get the chance.

7.) Send your pastor a note of thanks (I just had to throw that one in there! ha!)

8.) Send a note to your machanic and thank him for doing a great job on your car repair.

9.) Send a note to your kid's teacher - thanking them.

10.) Buy someone's latte next time you are at a coffee shop.

Obviously there are a million ways to show love... but do it, and mean it from the heart!

- Timmy

A Fabulous Family Picnic!

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It's Tuesday morning, about 8:30am and I am sitting at my desk behind the computer (not the most exciting place to be... normally I like to study outdoors, or down at Union Station... it's a much cooler look...)... I will make sure to do that later in this week!

I just had to reflect on our annual picnic and outdoor service this past Sunday, May 20th... it was unbelievable! It was our best to date! Not just because we had 500 plus people there, but much more than that... it was just so stinking fun! Brandon and the worship band did outstanding; they always do! The food was great, the games for the kids were just too cool, the petting zoo, the pony rides, the cotton candy, the sand volleyball alll just great, even though the staff team got beat by a team who called themselves "Cool Club" whatever. (ha!) Even down to the CD music that was playing during the picnic was perfect! Oh yea, and the weather couldn't have been better! Flawless!

I met so many new people, and saw even more new faces!

Have a great week! And remember, "LIFE is WHAT you make of IT!"

-Timmy

"Mercy Church Sucks" by satan

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Question:
Why would Satan say, “Mercy Church Sucks”?

Answer:
Easy, because we are a church that is committed to taking risks to reach people who are far from God; even risks that often offend pious religious people!

There is no doubt that Satan (the evil one) would love for Mercy Church to be a super-safe, ultra-conservative, over-structured, committee-driven, self-serving church that gets side tracked by things that do not matter in the scope of God’s kingdom!

I have seen in my 20 years of church work more Satan-inspired, Satan-lead people sitting right in the church pews doing the “work of the devil” trying to cause divisions and strife in the church. That is the Devil’s work!

Romans 16:17 "I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them.” - NIV

1 Timothy 6:3 “If you have leaders there who teach otherwise, who refuse the solid words of our Master Jesus and this godly instruction, tag them for what they are: ignorant windbags who infect the air with germs of envy, controversy, bad-mouthing, suspicious rumors.” – The message

Satan thinks that Mercy Church sucks for the same reason he felt that Jesus sucked… He was doing something life altering for God! And when you read the Gospel accounts you clearly see who Jesus had the biggest problems with and who had the biggest problems with Him – the religious people! The very ones who should have locked arms with Jesus and helped Him accomplish His mission! But no, they stirred up crap, or at least tried too!

But the Jesus said, “I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” That is very comforting.

4 reasons Satan thinks Mercy Church Sucks


1.) We love everyone! You would think that all churches would adopt this message… but sadly it is only a part of their verbage not their culture or in action. They say, “everyone is welcome” but in small print it says, “must be a republican, gay-hater, non-smoker, non-drinker…” In one of the most famous verses in the bible we see who God loves, “For God so LOVED the WORLD…” The word world in Greek is kosmos, or all of humanity. So that means that God loves everyone, period! No matter who or what they are!

2.) We leave the judging to God! Jesus said to a bunch of religious haters one time when they brought a women to Him who had been caught in adultery… “You without sin go ahead and cast the first stone”. We don’t throw stones. Though I must admit we must be careful to not throw stones at the “religious” people either… I am guilty of that! I am working on being more loving toward the hateful religious types!

3.) We don’t know it all! Satan loves when religious people get prideful and think they know everything! The bible says that, “God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble”. I know I need lots of grace, so I try as much as possible to be gracious!

4.) We are authentic! Satan loves when “Christians” cover up their sin and act like they are perfect and stand above others. Or when they act like they exclusively have the TRUTH and everyone else is stupid and going to hell unless they believe just like them! Often referred to as being narrow-minded!

I was raised in church… I am 38 years old and don’t know much, but I do know that God wants us to love HIM with all our hearts, minds and with all our strength… AND love our neighbors as our selves! And Satan hates that! He would rather us HATE, GOSSIP, SLANDER and do whatever we can to drive people away from the church!

Mark 12:30-32 “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.”

But we here at Mercy Church are doing whatever we can to COMPEL people to come in – BECAUSE THERE IS ROOM! Jesus tells a story (parable) of a man having a great feast… and the time of the feast was nearing and the guests were making excuses why they couldn’t come… so the servant tells his master that and lets him know there is many open chairs at the table…

Luke 14:22-24 “And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. For I say unto you, that none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.” - KJV

I have heard religious people accuse us of “trying too hard to reach the lost”… we are only doing what God has asked us to do… Jesus said, “GO…” and so with that we’re GOING into the highways and hedges and compelling people to come in!

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog… may God continue to draw you closer to Him as you draw closer to Him!

James 4:8 “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.”

God Loves Gays

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"GOD LOVES GAYS"
By Timmy Gibson

I just did one of the most controversial sermons I've ever done here at Mercy Church, or anywhere for that matter - called "GOD LOVES GAYS" on Sunday, May 6th.

I recently have been studying both sides of this issue of Homosexuality. I am interviewing homosexuals... Christian God-loving Homosexuals. Now I realize there may be some of you reading this (like the weirdos in Topeka, Kansas) who are hateful, hypocritical Christians who think all homosexuals are going to burn in hell. I am sad for your ignorance and lack of biblical knowledge! Because you of all people should realize that all of us are sinners – even you!

I am a Heterosexual male and have been all my life, so I can not relate to the "struggle" (if you will) of being a Homosexual, or having Homosexual desires. I've just never had them. But I have had several friends who have had these struggles, feelings, adn desires. And my first experience was with a good friend of mine in Bible College back in 1992.

My friend and I were in an evangelical denominational bible college at the time. And it was at that time my friend started coming to grips with his sexuality. He sang in a Gospel quartet as well during this time. At one of the meetings this Gospel Quartet had there was a prayer time where you can mention areas you need prayer, or support or whatever... so my friend mentioned struggling with feelings of homosexuality and wanted prayer, love and support. He got the exact opposite! I am totally embarrassed, frustrated, and saddened at the response he received... are you ready to hear it (it should hack you off)? They kicked him out! The sad thing is I could've guessed that is what would’ve happened by those judgemental un-loving so called "Christians".

Here is what just chaps my hide... why is it that people can mention any struggle they might have... lying, gluttony, lust for heterosexual sex outside the bounds of marriage, gossip; (normally people do not admit this one... because they justify it away like it's nothing but "sharing") gossip is a sin that is so poisonous it can break life long relationships with just a few mere words. The list goes on and on of things EVERY HUMAN on planet EARTH struggles with... why would we "especially those who call themselves Christians" who struggle with something, condemn homosexuals? I think there are several reasons and Jesus talks about it in the gospel account of Matthew.

Matthew 7:3-5 “And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.

I think Jesus nails it here; they are hypocrites! We judge others because we are hypocrites! If I can point out something in someone else that makes me feel better about myself, my own struggle (at least in the eyes of others) then I feel better about ME. I know it’s sick really!
I had someone mention to me to rent the movie SAVED with Mandi Moore thought not my movie of choice I rented it and watched it. Wow, it wasn’t an academy winner BUT it had a powerful message I thought.

Basically the movie was all about these really weird “Christians” at a Christian school all “acting” like perfect little Jesus-loving-people. You then see them judge a homosexual, judge a girl who gets pregnant out of wedlock, and judges a Jewish girl who doesn’t fit into the “Christian Club”. Then the movie actually gets interesting; you later find out that each of those who were judging and pointing their little condemning “Christian” fingers at everyone were having affairs, lying, and hating… so it ended with WE ARE ALL SINNERS and can not JUDGE anyone else! We should LOVE! I am not much of a writer, but that gives enough to get the point.

Q: Aren't we ALL God's creation? YES
Q: Aren’t we all created in God’s image? YES
Q: Does God love EVERYONE? YES, He loves everyone! Period!
Q: What did Jesus say about homosexuality? Nothing! I wish He would have said something, but He didn't. Jesus was silent on this issue. I often wonder why? I have a small suspicion.
Q: Did Jesus die on the cross for only Heterosexual Republicans? NO! Jesus died for EVERYONE!

John 3:16 "for God so loved the WORLD that HE GAVE..."

World - kosmos - in the Greek means "all humanity, or all mankind"

Back to my friend who was kicked out because of his struggle with Homosexuality... He of course was completely rejected, hurt, offended, confused and more by this very un-Christian response to his struggle with homosexuality.

We as Christians SHOULD LOVE EVERYONE regardless of what their sexual orientation may be... whether we understand it or not, whether we struggle with it or not, whether we were raised to believe it's a sin or not, or even whether we believe it is a sin or not. In my opinion none of that matters... what matters is WE SHOULD LOVE and ACCEPT ALL PEOPLE, no matter what!

1 John 4:7-9 “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.”

The entire law has been summed up with the law of LOVE!

Timmy Gibson
www.mercychurchKC.com