church « MikeOharaLive

12Feb/100

Parenting Questions

We have some great questions coming in for our "Rock the Doc" feature that's part of our parenting series at GBCK. These questions will be answered by psychologist, Dr. Hale Akamine on February 21 and 28.

Here's a sample of some of the questions:

• What do I do when my child (4 years old) get so angry after being spanked? I talk to him softly and don't spank him in anger - yet he reacts with yelling and screaming.
• What are some ways/ideas to help teach my children empathy, and compassion? They are young but I want to start before it's too late.
• When do I bring up sex to my children? And how do I teach it in a biblical manner so they know it's sacred?
• When do you let your child make their own decisions whether or not to quit an activity? I have a child (age 6) in piano, and he tells me he wants to quit. But I see he can play if he practices and sometimes enjoys it. Should I give in to his wishes?
• When should you teach your children about sex?
• How concerned should we be about our son's tendency to play with "girly" toys?
• When should we talk about sex to our young kids?

I can't wait to hear how Dr. Hale will answer these questions! You may submit your questions here.

"Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it." (Proverbs 22:6)

Tagged as: hale akamine, Kapolei, Parenting No Comments

28Dec/090

Cry Baby

I think I cried more yesterday at church than I have in my entire life.

Yesterday we held one very scaled-down service. We met at 10am except we had no children's church, signs, banners, coffee, hospitality area, or connection table. There was a small worship team, minimal media, and metal chairs. We minimized our set-up to give our volunteers a break. It was one of my favorite services we did all year.

OK, back to the crying. It started during the last song of worship. Sometimes the presence of God brings me to tears; this was one of those times. Then I got up to preach. The message was mainly about how in 2009 GBCK lived out our core mission which is to develop our faith, deepen our connections, and devote our lives to God's mission.

I got choked up at different times during the sermon as I retraced GBCK's 2009 faith journey. As I reflect back on yesterday, I think certain things trigger emotion in me:

• Change lives: I believe every person sitting in those chairs represents a miracle. Each person is a testimony to God's power to change lives. Each life tells the story of God's crazy love for his people.
• Pride: I'm proud of GBCK, and it has nothing to do with me. I'm proud of how the GBCK community is trying to live out their relationship with God. I know their struggles, I know their pain, yet they are faithful. It's a privilege to serve as their pastor.
• The Gospel: Jesus made it possible again to have a relationship with the Heavenly Father, and I want to help others to do the same. The amazing grace of God is overwhelming at times.

The crying isn't melodrama, it's genuine. I get embarrassed by it and wish it wouldn't happen at times.

But, at the same time I'm believing for many more opportunities to cry in 2010 if it means more changed lives and the Gospel of Christ spreads.

Filed under: Reflect and Review, church No Comments

21Dec/091

Speed Bumps

Yesterday we had our Christmas services at Grace Bible Church Kapolei. One element we always add to these "big" services is food. We do this for a couple of reasons: first, it adds a special-ness to the service because we don't serve food every week. Second - and more importantly - it creates a speed bump after the service. Food slows people down and prevents people from racing to their cars.

I think speed bumps are critical to the health of a church. Slowing people down creates an opportunity to connect with people. I love it after church when I see people praying for each other, trading phone numbers, or just having conversation. The reality is there will always be a percentage of people who don't connect with the church in any other way than attending on Sundays. Speed bumps help us to connect with those people too.

We have a hospitality tent set up weekly with coffee and snacks to encourage people to linger. Just another speed bump.

Yesterday I connected with a guy who's been checking us out over the last year or so. He walked in after not being in church for months. He's looking for hope and he knew to come to Jesus. So, over a plate of chow fun and manapua we decided to get together weekly for a season so we can walk though the "stuff" together. Thank God for the speed bump.

Tagged as: church, gbck, grace bible, Kapolei, Pastor Mike Ohara 1 Comment

14Nov/092

Why do I need to go to church?

For part 3 of our FAQ series we will answer the question, "Why do I need to go to church?"

If you think you need to go to church to be a good person, become more spiritual, or reserve your spot in heaven, then you don't need to go to church. There are lots of good people who don't go to church. Many people are in touch with their spirutality outside of church. And going to church will guarantee you a place in heaven no more than sitting on an airplane will make you a pilot, or going to McDonald's will make you into a Big Mac.

So, why go to church?

From my early teens to my early 20's I was pretty disengaged from church. I attended church, but I wasn't there, if you know what I mean. I mostly went out of obligation and because I liked a girl (she's my wife now). It wasn't until I turned 22 that I discovered I needed to go to church. When I think back, the need to go to church stemmed from a simple yet life-altering decision: I decided to follow Jesus.

It was this decision that caused me to need to go to church. I admit, I haven't always been happy with church, or I haven't always felt like going to church. Yet my commitment to follow Christ goes deeper than man's faults or how I'm feeling. In short, if I'm committed to following Jesus I need to go to church.

This Sunday we explore how following Jesus and going to church cannot be exclusive to each other.

Let me also say that at GBCK we try hard to make church a comfortable and compelling place for people to meet Jesus. This includes those who are discovering, or re-discovering, a relationship with Jesus.

There are many reasons not to go to church. Yet the ONE reason to go is found in the decision to follow Jesus who "loves us as if there's only one of us." (Augustine)

Tagged as: church, find a church, grace, Grace Bible Church Kapolei, Kapolei, why go to church 2 Comments

9Nov/090

Reflect and Review

Moved out of the church house this past Saturday. It's the end of an era for GBCK. We're in temporary offices until we can land in something more permanent.
Completed part 2 of our FAQ series. We addressed the question, Why do bad things happen to good people? The honest answer is there is no simple answer. However, we discussed some "markers" we can look for along the way, especially when trying to navigate the problem of pain and suffering.
I'm digging our new "Family Zone" at the back of the cafeteria. We're trying to make it comfortable for families with young children. We're currently looking for some folding rocking chairs for nursing mothers.
This was the first Sunday trying out a new volunteer rotation for the operations crew. Seemed to work well, and hopefully we can give more breaks to the crew. It's hard work to create a comfortable and compelling environment for people to meet Jesus every week. Our ops team is outstanding!
I love seeing how new people are "biting" into God. You can almost see God working things out in their lives.
I feel as excited about the church as I did when we first started three years ago.
With that said, there's lots to do to move us into the next season. This means higher leadership and change. Gonna be painful at times, but so necessary.
I'm going to start carrying a BB gun when I preach. We had two birds fly into the cafeteria this Sunday. It's not the first time too. I'm going to shoot one soon. (Just joking, don't write me angry emails.)
The Xchange youth service was great! Lots of new kids, really inspiring testimonies and music, and as always, choke food. Don't forget: Chun Wah Kam (across Kapolei theaters, 7pm, Fridays).
We cannot stop reaching people for Jesus. God's desire is that none should perish and that all would come to repentance. Let God's desire be our mission!