Live Brave

9/12

9/12. Nobody talks much about this day. For me, it was probably just as hard a day 10 years ago as 9/11 was emotionally. But in America, 9/12 will not be remembered much.

What was 9/12 known for 10 years ago? Well it was a Wednesday that saw many flags being bought and many churches being called for service times. It was a day of preparation to have a vigil, pray for the families directly affected, but most importantly, continue to help the people in pain and to find out who did it.

What was 9/12 known for this year in 2011? People moving on. People taking down their flags and replacing them with whatever decor they originally had. People trying to figure out where their next dollar is coming from.

9/12 is also a day I will always remember though. I will remember this day because it is a day just like any other day. It is a day that we don't have marked on our calendar. It is a day when we did not get attacked. It is a day when we looked around and saw the smoke clear.

The most powerful prayer I prayed in a long time came last year on 9/12/2010. I was praying for the families of the victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks and God spoke to me. He told me to pray for the families of the terrorists of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. I did.

Before that day I saw those people as something less than human. I wanted them to perish - to get "what they deserve". But right in God's Word it tells us the contrary: “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matthew 5:43-45).

The people in the countries we occupy don't have a 9/11. They don't have a 9/11 because their 9/11 is a lot like their 9/12 and their 9/13 and 9/14 and 9/15 and... etc. We live in a country where we are absolutely astonished when we are attacked. Some countries have people who live in them that are utterly amazed when there is a small sense of peace. Any day can be their 9/11.

So think about this: when we want to blame the terrorists or the Jihadists or the Al Qaeda or any other group for making our country less safe, we need to really look around and be proud that we live in a free country with so many brave men and women.

The people all over the world need our love. They need an America (and a church) that sets a good example instead of trying to force liberty on them with war. 

And we need an America where the people speak up and tell their government that nobody hates us because we are free and prosperous... they hate us because we are in their land telling them what to do (something we were not so fond of in 1776).

Can you imagine if the government came into our churches and told us we needed to worship a certain way? 

Can you imagine if the government came shopping with us and told us what to buy?

Can you imagine if the British were still coming into our homes, expecting us to not only feed them, but to be happy about it?

If you call yourself pro-life (somebody who wants to see abortion illegalized because it is considered immoral or even murder - which by the way, I do), then you really need to support all life. This includes our troops in undeclared, unconstitutional wars, and the people our troops are killing for the sake of other countries' “freedom”.

Almost 6,000 of our military have been killed in the supposed war on terror. That is nearly double the lives the attacks took on 9/11. Not to mention the trillions of dollar being spent on wars. Think about that. 6,000 American soldiers. Dead. Some argue it would have been more had we not gone over there. I personally think they wanted us over there. Now they have a target.

Have we done good things over there? Sure. But far more harm than good. I have history and our own government reports to back that up. But why do we stay? We claim it is because they are defenseless and helpless without us. It probably has to do more with our government’s special interests.

But however you look at it, if we are really a free nation, we need to speak up and bring our troops home. Occupying countries just makes more terrorists. And if you really want to hear something radical, I am sure the people of the Boston Tea Party and the colonial militia that helped fight the Revolutionary War were considered terrorists to the British crown.

And I am not saying that we should not defend ourselves. I am saying though that what we are doing cannot be defined as such.

In all honesty, we don’t need people afraid of and reliant on the government. We need a government afraid of and reliant on the people.

Now these are just my thoughts on the matter, but I’ve done a lot of thinking about it in the past 10 years. Some Christians say we need the church to get more involved in politics. I could not disagree more. Others say that Christians should stay out of politics. I could not disagree more with that either.

The church needs to stay out of politics and preach the Good News of Jesus Christ. But the people in the church (as Americans) have a constitutional right, privilege, honor, (and I would add) duty to make sure we are being represented correctly and set a good example for the world. If we bear the name of Christ, we should see to it that all we do for our families, jobs, and country reflect His name.

All empires fall. If we continue to nation-build and police the world, we will do what all empires do: fall. We need to restore America back to a free nation, a United States created for freedom.

Why do I care so much about this? Because as a pastor, I would never want the people in my church to have to answer to the government as to what they believe about God. And as a father I want my children to grow up in a free America, with liberty and justice for all. Something they can be proud of.

If we really cared about all people in the world, we would stop the wars, strengthen our nation, and set an example for the people that would make them want to be more like us - not because we want them to, but because we would truly be free. And they would want to be like us. Because freedom is very popular.

(I intended on writing this the day after 9/11, but got sidetracked with a ton of work - but I wanted the title to remain)

 

9/11

(The following is a speech planned for this morning at the memorial for 9/11 in Port Jefferson, NY)

Never has a date meant so much to me in all my life. They don't even sound like numbers. When 9 and 11 are said together the meaning is drastically changed. 

This morning we need to give thanks to the people who responded, gave their time, efforts, emotional and mental health, and, for some fallen heroes, their lives.

There are 2 acts of the American people I miss about the days after 9/11. The first is how the churches were packed out in search of God and in serach of community. I miss the times when people woke up and longed for more than just the normal parts of their day because it was no longer normal to remain at home. 

The second act of the American people I miss is the American flags that were hung at seemingly every household at every street after that terrible event 10 years ago. Americans got together and shouted loud that they believed that with God and with each other, we would never be shaken to the point that we would lose our liberty and constitution. We will always remain free.

A moment of silence does the people who gave their lives no justice. As a matter of fact, the only response is a lifetime of action. 

For the brave people who stood up to their captures; for the brave men and women who instead of running from the flames, ran into them; and for the brave Americans who even now give their lives for the freedom of the American people, Jesus' words ring true: "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13).

We can honor the brave men and women of 9/11 with our lips all we want, but if we do not honor them with our lives, living just as bravely as they did, we will do an eternal injustice.

Remember today to pray for the families of the victims and heroes of the 9/11 attacks.

I want to close with Psalm 121:

"I lift up my eyes to the hills.
   From where does my help come?
²My help comes from the LORD,
   who made heaven and earth.

 ³He will not let your foot be moved;
   he who keeps you will not slumber.
⁴Behold, he who keeps Israel
   will neither slumber nor sleep.

 ⁵The LORD is your keeper;
   the LORD is your shade on your right hand.
⁶The sun shall not strike you by day,
   nor the moon by night.

 ⁷The LORD will keep you from all evil;
   he will keep your life.
⁸The LORD will keep
   your going out and your coming in
   from this time forth and forevermore."

In response to the brave Americans, honor the USA with your words and with your deeds. In response to the many courageous lives lived before us, remember it is our duty and privilege to live brave.

Pick up the Phone!

I cannot begin to explain what these 4 words have done to my life. I am one of those guys who cannot stand the phone. I hate having a leash. Even texting bothers me... most of the time while I'm not even doing anything!

I'm kinda old school that way I guess. I love face-to-face convos, not Facebook-to-Facebook chats... but I am seeing and hearing God change my mind.

On more than one occasion in the past few months I have simply picked up the phone and said, "hello" - and boom! Life change. God does something crazy.

A few months ago I led somebody to Christ within 5 minutes of picking up the phone (and you KNOW that wasn't me at work)!

Just last week our children's ministry director picked up the phone and saved somebody's life.

I know we are all getting more and more anti-social in person just as much as we get more and more social through the Internet and texting, but I really feel like listening to somebody is one of the greatest gifts you can give somebody.

(To the Christians reading now): As the church, we really need to step in and soak in our culture. Listen to what people are saying, not create a bubble. And when the time comes when that phone call is nervously made by the person who needs you to listen: PICK UP THE PHONE!

My professor in college Ron Walborn said on many occasions, "90% of ministry is showing up."

Show up.

Diploma

This has been a tough week for the O'Leary household.

As many of you know, it is near impossible to find a job. I have been looking for work for a long time and applied to pretty much every job on Long Island - including going to school and spending an enormous amount of money to learn how to treat poop water.

Yup. Poop water. And I didn't get the job yet.

But we have been under attack spiritually, emotionally, and mentally as well.

We got home this weekend with no money in the account to find out house INFESTED with fleas. Our flea bag cat decided he wanted to share the wealth I guess. So we took some money we didn't have and treated the house and the cats to protect our kids and our ankles (those suckers bite HARD).

Then, after a very encouraging Arise meeting, I got a call that Daneal had broken down on the side of the road. The brakes needed fixing. More money we don't have. I went to buy the parts I needed and I realized I lost my wallet. Ouch.

After that all worked out Daneal went to the beach. Brennan was playing too close to the water and fell in. This took an emotional toll on Daneal that she could not handle.

Needless to say, we are broken.

To make the matter worse, I had to scan my college diploma over to the state so I can took the poop treatment test (officially called waste water treatment, but we call it "poopsmithing"). I left the diploma on the desk and my son destroyed it.

I lost it.

Why did I lose it over a tattered piece of paper? Because it represents something I cannot change. It represents a physical image of what is really going on. I have a Master's degree and I cannot land a minimum wage job. That piece of paper is useless right now. It hit too close to home at a bad time.

Now that that has all been said, I have to say that when the smoke cleared, I still saw Christ. It was hard to acknowledge He was there, protecting me, but I know He is. And that will not relent.

John 11:1-4 speaks of Lazarus. Here is the beginning of the story:

"Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. (This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair.) So the sisters sent word to Jesus, 'Lord, the one you love is sick.' When he heard this, Jesus said, 'This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.'"

Now if you read on you find out Lazarus dies. So was Jesus lying? No. He said, "this will not END in death." He then raises Lazarus from the dead, a physical image of what He does for all of us in sin.

There are some situations I am in, and I am sure you may be in, that look like an illness that is untreatable. A pathway to death. This could be an actual disease, a financial struggle, a relationship... I don't know. But what I do know is that for those who believe in Christ, His people are covered and not meant for death. These things happen so that Christ can be glorified.

Whatever situation you are in, especially the hard ones, know it is an opportunity for Christ to be glorified. Even the situations that appear to be death-bound.

Live Brave.

Lord, have mercy. 

 

Independence Day

John Adams said this concerning July 2, 235 years ago:

"The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more. You will think me transported with Enthusiasm but I am not. I am well aware of the Toil and Blood and Treasure, that it will cost Us to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these States. Yet through all the Gloom I can see the Rays of ravishing Light and Glory. I can see that the End is more than worth all the Means. And that Posterity will tryumph in that Days Transaction, even altho We should rue it, which I trust in God We shall not."

Now he thought the Declaration was going to be signed that day, but it turns out further editing needed to be done, and the prophesy of our forefathers was delayed by 2 days. But other than the date, he was spot on. He forgot to mention the burger, brat, and steak though.

It is so important to remember our past. As a nation, we were built on freedom and liberty. It started with freedom of religion and faith, then moved on to freedom to grow tobacco, freedom from taxation without representation, and finally, freedom to live in a government by and for the people.

We have strayed from this as a nation. Our government is bigger than ever and our people are not happy. The USA is not living up to what the forefathers wrote about so long ago. The idea of America is not yet realized. The dreams of happiness are being shattered. It is time for a real change. And only the people can do do it!

We need to stand united again. I am proud to be an American. And I will celebrate our 235th year of independence because the reality of our situation may not be ideal, but the dream and idea of American liberty will always be in our hearts whenever our flag raises high.

As a Christian, my faith and foundation is in Jesus Christ. And as an American, I strive to support our country to remain free, so people can hear God's voice without somebody else forcing them to do things they do not believe. We are a free country, and it is time we went back to that. To all Christians, Christ set us free, so we are free indeed. But we are also free to believe this. Let us not forget our message is Jesus, and as Americans, our message is freedom. We are to love people who do not agree with us. That is our responsibility as Christians and Americans.

Our government is full of crooked rich folk who are looking out for themselves. It is high time as Americans that we stand up to our government and let them know, Christian or not, we are free.

To all our troops, thank you. To all our civil service people, thank you. For those in power of our government and in office working for the liberty of our people, thank you.

But to those crooked, evil men and women in office who don't really care about the true idea of America, freedom and liberty, we will be celebrating on the 4th together, but understand that your people are tired of tyranny, and your day is nearing its end. In the following years, we the people will take over if you are found lacking in compassion, love, courage, decency, and liberty. That is not a threat, that is a Constitutional fact.

We live in the best country in the world. But there are too many enslaved to this system we have set up. It will change because it has to change. Otherwise it will be our downfall. America was built on freedom, and most Americans are not free.

Smaller government. Compassion to the needy. Power to the humble. Restored rights to the people. Land of the free. Home of the brave.

We will be free. I thank God every day that I am an American.

Do not let this be a false cry for change like we have seen in the past. The government should fear the people, not the other way around. I hear many people talking about real change, but nobody wanting to risk the little they have to attain it.

I'm not a huge fan of politics, but if we really want to see change we have to stop voting for the status quo. I know I cannot separate myself as a pastor or an American, and I also think endorsement from a church is immoral, so this has nothing to do with my office as a Reverend. But as an American, somebody like Ron Paul is a leader who can bring America back. He's crazy enough. You will not hear that from the pulpit, only from my personal blog (disclaimer: NO candidates or parties are affiliated with Arise Community Church).

But do your own homework. Find a leader who represents you and your family and go for it. If you can't find one, run for office yourself!

I know this has been a rambling of thoughts, but if you're sick of seeing people lose job after job while the rich continue to get tax breaks and bail outs and in turn get elected for office, then you understand where I am coming from.

Quit getting held up in superficial squabbles and take a stand for true freedom. I mean for crying out loud, most Americans haven't even read the Constitution! Let's unite under liberty. On July 5th please seriously consider doing something for your country. If you already do, thank you. It's time to live up to our standard of bravery with faith in our country and faith in God who provides for us. And whatever you believe, at least believe in the real dream of freedom.

For now, let's get back to celebrating America. God bless the USA.

Politics and Church

Recently, I  was asked to be part of a conversation on a Christian talk radio podcast called "Getting Real".

This was a lot of fun. I got to catch up with my old friend Marv Nelson and "meet" and converse with a church-planting pastor from Louisiana named Nate Lawson. It was an interesting conversation on politics and the church. I thought it was going to be awkward, but all 3 of us kind of agreed on the same things. I kinda wish a Bill O'Reilly fan would have called in and cursed us out. But either way, it was a ton of fun and Jesus' Name was made more famous. You can listen to it here:

Politics and Church - "Getting Real" With Marv Nelson

Here is the link to the show if you want to tune in next week as well with Marv and his other guests ("Getting Real" is Thursdays at 4pm EST):

"Getting Real" - A Podcast from ACAC

Marv also has a book out. Pretty ambitious young man! Check it out here:

Pinocchio vs. The Real Boy

That's it for now! Look for an update next week about the Extreme Tour!

 

Tattoos

Since the message I preached on Father's Day about Jesus and religion (the first in a 3-part series entitled "Sick of Religion") I have had many people already ask me about the issue I brought up about tattoos, the theology behind it, and my own testimony regarding it. 

I never addressed my tattoos before in a sermon or message prior to this past Father's Day. The third Preview Service of Arise on Father's Day actually marked the first time I preached in a public setting without long sleeves on. I usually did that out of respect, but thought it was hypocritical of me to cover something up that I am proud of at the risk of offending somebody.

The fact is, I have actually had MORE chances to share my faith with others BECAUSE of the tattoos I have. I made it clear in the message that Jesus did not tell me to go and do this, nor do I think it is for everybody. But what is clear is that there is no place in the Bible that adamantly says that people will go to hell if they have tattoos. The Bible actually doesn't even say that Christians should not get them. Let me explain.

The Bible says in Leviticus 19:28 that none from the nation of Israel should mark their bodies for the dead, nor shall they have tattoos. In those days, pagans would cut themselves, take the burned ashes of their relatives, and in a weird way of worship, rub the ashes into the cuts so that when it healed they would have a "tattoo" of their relative. It was more than a memorial. It was an act of pagan worship to the dead. A tattoo was noticeable. That kind of worship marked a person for what they believed and who they served. God was calling His chosen people, the people of Israel, to not worship in such a way, and to set themselves apart from that.

Further proof that this was a law for the Israelites concerning their being "set apart" in that specific time, for that specific people, is the verse RIGHT BEFORE IT: Leviticus 19:27 - "You shall not round off the hair on your temples or mar the edges of your beard." This was yet another way to be set apart, to be holy for God during that time. 

I have no problem with people saying that the Bible says we cannot have tattoos, as long as they also have never trimmed their sideburns or beards. They would also have to sacrifice a long list of animals per year (Leviticus 3), remember to not work from sundown Friday night to sundown Saturday night (Leviticus 19:30 - no working at all on Saturdays!), and not eat any pork chops or bacon (Leviticus 11:1-8). 

We have to remember that these laws were cultural and distinct to the Israelite nation. I know many churches that will use this argument to tell people that tattoos are forbidden, but fail to comment on shaving beards, working on Saturday, and eating pork (or lobster for that matter). True, Jesus declared all things clean to eat to Peter during his prayer time (Acts 11:5-9), but what of the other cultural laws? Are we not going to discuss what was meant for the Jewish nation and what is meant for us? It seems we like to pick and choose our theology. But God sent people to BE the church. He also had people WRITE DOWN this important stuff in a book and compile it together. When we look at these things, we must be careful before we tell others what is right and wrong. The real message is God's love.

What stands out in the Bible is repetitive phrases. Nowhere else does the Bible teach on tattoos in a negative light. In fact, there are 2 places where tattoos are mentioned in somewhat of a positive light. The first being found in the prophetic chapter of Isaiah 44:1-5 where God says He will pour out His Spirit, and some will react by singing, praying, and writing the Name of the Lord on their hands. This verbiage wasn't meant to be taken as if somebody had a Bic pen and was writing God's Name down. This phrase was meant to be understood on a more permanent level - what we might call a tattoo.

The second place it comes up again is in Revelation (a book I am scared of because interpreting what it means seems so improbable). It is here: Revelation 19:11-16. In this part of the prophecy (a story John is telling that alludes to Jesus' return) Jesus enters on a white horse. He comes down looking pretty fresh. It mentions what He looks like and how He is described. He has eyes of fire. He is wearing a robe dipped in blood. On that robe, and written on His thigh (where some would say this is a tattoo - but that is not 100% clear) is "King of Kings" and "Lord of Lords".

I am not saying tattoos are meant to be a necessity or a command from God to actually go out and get now. Not at all! What I am saying is that if you have tattoos, or you are thinking about getting a tattoo, pray about it first. But do not let somebody tell you that you will be hell-bound for such an act. It is simply not true. I know plenty of Christians who love Jesus who have tattoos.

To close, I was asked then why I have tattoos and what they mean to me. Basically, tattoos are a way for me to remember things about myself. I am a forgetful person. I forget what God has done for me. Sometimes I let my situation overpower my foundation, which is Christ. These pieces of art are reminders of who I am and who God says I am. I could go into detail on all of them, but I will not right now. In general, all of my tattoos give me a remembrance of who I am and where I come from. They remind me of Christ, and what He did for me. I have a few blatantly Christian tattoos, and I have some that need explaining, but they are all oriented in my faith, the story of my life, and the remembrance of Christ who is in control. 

To listen to the sermon from Father's Day, go HERE.

Father's Day Service @ Arise

So I am so freaking PUMPED about Sunday! We start a new series! Here is some info on it and a link to our news page. As always, go ahead and visit www.ariselongisland.com - we worked real hard on that site!

We start a new series called "Sick of Religion" for the summer for our Preview Services through the summer (once a month). 

All services through the summer are 10:15am, 9:45am free cafe. Childcare available! Here is the schedule:  

June 19th (Father's Day)
July 17th
August 21st

All services through the summer will be at the Port Jeff Polish Hall:

35 Jayne Blvd.
Port Jefferson Station, NY 11776

These are Preview Services only. We are not yet meeting every week. We will start meeting every week on our Launch Day, October 2nd, 2011! Please join us this summer to check us out!

Info Page: Click here.

Francis Chan is Chiming In...

I saw this video a few weeks ago and it really affected me in that as pastors, church leaders, and representatives of Christ, we need to study and think long and hard about what we are saying about some "religious" issues. Check the video out. He has amazing points as to what churches all around the globe do when they create doctrine. His new book seems to be a rebuttal on Rob Bell's ideas and maybe even all of our religiosity. 

 

Our Second Preview Service Last Sunday

I have to say that I am amazed at what God is doing at Arise Community Church already. It blows my mind. I really stand in awe of how He is moving and what He is doing. The team He has set up around us, the volunteers He has put in place, the people we are reaching out to, the venue... all of it overwhelms my soul.

Last Sunday we had 51 people show up to the Port Jeff Polish Hall. To put some context on this, we planned to have no more than 40-45 on Easter - so we thought this week wouldn't top that either. Going from 77 to 51 is a drop, but not in church plant world! This was a huge success in attendance!

I do have to say though that numbers don't mean everything. Sure we should celebrate that we are above what we expected, but really I want to celebrate the things that matter most. People who were thinking of never coming back to church again are now SERVING (not just attending) in God's church! People who don't know Jesus are showing up to church because they feel like they could belong! People's lives are being changed by God's Good News and His love for us! People are meeting Jesus! AWESOME!!!

I know I say it a lot, but I need to address my gratitude for the help we have received. To all volunteers: THANK YOU. From the bottom of my heart the whole staff/core team thanks you! Keep showing up for God! 90% of ministry is showing up! YOU are playing a part in changing people's lives through Jesus' message - JUST WHAT HE TAUGHT US TO DO!

Our next Preview Service is June 19th, same time of day, same place as the last 2. In the meantime we will be holding information meetings at the Train Car seen from 347 & 112 in Port Jeff, located at the north end of Canal Rd at 10:15am starting THIS SUNDAY (Mother's Day). If that is not your cup of tea, we understand and will see you on June 19th! SO EXCITED! 

Real quick too: we will not only be taking part in the events and service projects for/by the community, but we will also be teaming up with other ministries to serve and hopefully use our resources (such as the Train Car) to do that! More updates to follow!

Live Brave.