We were supposed to have our first ever “Back Yard Bible Bash” this morning from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. but the Lord had other plans for us. The weather was dark and windy when I woke up at 5 a.m. and it only grew worse from there. Wind, rain, lightening and dark clouds were the order of the morning. While we were a little dissapointed that we wouldn’t be able to hold our “Back Yard Bible Bash” — we did realize that there is always another day. God had His reasons for the weather so we are now at plan “B”. We have decided to re-schedule our event for Monday evening, June 23rd from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.. We will have a Life House Church Family – “finger food fellowship” potluck on Friday night, June 20th at 6 p.m. and following the meal any and all who can, will go out with us into the community to pass out fliers announcing the event. Even though this is plan “B” for us – it is plan “A” for God! Aren’t you glad that even when we don’t know or understand the BIG picture that God is in control? He sees and knows all and is able to make “all things work together for good” for His people. Everything we purchased (except for cupcakes) can be frozen and ready for the re-scheduled event, so no worry -no waste. As for the cupcakes – it’s sad but I guess we are going to have to eat them in the morning at Life House Coffee Shop before our morning Celebration Service. It’s a tough job but i’m sure we can find someone to do it!! Pray for us and come visit us sometime at Life House Church. Pastor James
P.S. – Tomorrow is Father’s Day. Happy Father’s Day to all of you who are “dad’s” out there! God bless you as you seek to live good, wholesome, godly lives daily for your master and for your families.!!
Can you believe it? Our first ever – BACK YARD BIBLE BASH is almost here! Tomorrow at 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. we will be hosting a neighborhood event for the local children. Almost 500 fliers have gone out and we are scrambling as a core group to get things in order. Hot dogs, Sno Cones, Popcorn will be the order for the day and most of all we are going to be giving out God’s love! It’s not about the food, not about the games, not about the music or even the new church — it’s about giving people Jesus. Pray – PRAY – PRAY!!!! We want to show this community that God loves them, can save them, can restore, forgive and give them eternal life and even “LIFE TO THE FULL” in the here and now. This is the first of several events for the summer leading up to our “LAUNCH DAY”. Pray and if you get a chance come by and help out! Thanks to all who have worked so hard to make tomorrow a huge success. I’ll update you on the outcome of it all tomorrow night. It’s exciting serving Jesus! Pastor James
“Who is welcome at your church?” That question was posed to me yesterday on the telephone. Someone called me and wanted more information about the “new” church and that question came up.
Food for thought: Is EVERYONE really welcome in your church? We as “church people” SAY that anyone and everyone is welcome in our churches – yet that’s not true. It would be a better statement to say “Anyone who meets our criteria – they are certainly welcome.” It seems that we put limitations on the grace of God. We want “our” church to be shiny, spotless and free from “sinners” – you know those people who have been hurt, stained and trampled by the world. We want to have a “perfect” looking church. We want those who “dress right”, “talk right”, “live right” – by our own personal standards. HOW SAD! If the truth were to be known – there are as many worldly people living sinful lives IN THE CHURCH as there are outside the church. Sure – we look good on the outside but many times our hearts aren’t anymore right than those outside the church. The church isn’t to be a museum of saints — it’s a hospital for sinners. Jesus didn’t come to call the righteous to repentance but sinners. Life House is a place where you can come – in spite of all your hurts, sins, flaws and problems. We can’t change you but we can share Jesus and He can save, forgive, clean up, change and restore people. HE IS ABLE!! So who is REALLY welcome? I don’t know about your church – but at LIFE HOUSE CHURCH ANYONE IS WELCOME!! Well, maybe not everyone. We really don’t want to have to deal with “PERFECT PEOPLE”. So if you are perfect do us a favor — dont’ come to Life House…you will be dissapointed. PERFECT PEOPLE NOT ALLOWED – ALL OTHERS ARE WELCOME!! Pastor James
One of the biggest helps to us as a new church plant is to have other churches and believers join us in the work. We are blessed already because we have a great Sponsor Church (Shiloh Baptist Church). Last night I had the blessing of filling in for Bro. Todd (the pastor of Shiloh) since he and his family were away on a much needed vacation. The Shiloh Church family have already been a blessing to the work at Life House Church because they have supported us with their prayers, encouragement, physical labor and finances. They are “partners in the harvest” with us – not just in word but also in DEED. They don’t just talk, they actually help! I know that God is going to bless this great pastor and church for taking on the responsibility to help plant a new church in Texarkana.
We are also blessed because already we have two other sister churches who have signed on as “partner churches” and they are helping us financially each month. We also have the North American Mission Board, Arkansas Baptist State Convention and the Southwest Arkansas Baptist Association as partners. A new church plant can’t have too many partners so we are still praying and looking for more. I am scheduled to go to North Arkansas in the near future to share the new work with a church there. I am talking with another church who is interested in helping financially and physically in the work. God is meeting the needs of this new church plant through the love, physical and spiritual support and financial gifts of people and churches who love souls. Thank God for churches who see “the big picture”. A church that is growing must have an “ACTS 1:8″ vision. A church that is only concerned about their “little world” (their budget, their programs and their buildings) is a church that is inward focused and won’t see real church growth. It’s more than “swapping members” with other churches by letter. A kingdom focused church is one that is out “fishing for men” instead of just being “keepers of the aquarium”. Thank you partner churches for all you have done and all you will do to help Life House Church become a kingdom focused ministry in College Hill.
As I finish this blog – a phrase from the late christian comedian – Jerry Clower – comes to mind…
“AIN’T GOD GOOD”! You better know it! Pastor James
SPECIAL NOTE: We have hit new “high’s” for the past two weeks during our Sunday Celebration Service and we’ve not officially “launched” the new church yet! PTL!!!
Are you or your church searching for a missions opportunity this summer? If so, come join us at Life House. We are a North American Mission Board Church Plant (SBC) and we have much to do this summer to get ready to launch (open our doors to the community) by August 10. If you want to do physical labor, spiritual labor, or just want to help financially – we could use you! Contact me and I will get you the information needed to get you on the mission field in Texarkana. Most of all – PRAY for us. We want to reach souls for Jesus! It’s not about building our own little church – it’s about building the Kingdom for Jesus. So join us…and hurry! Pastor James
Life House Church has a full summer of work and ministry planned and it’s time to start praying! We begin with our first Back Yard Bible Bash on June 14. I hope you can join us on Wednesday Night, June 11 for Life Group at 6 p.m. at Life House and then join us for the neighborhood blitz afterwards. We want to spread the word in the target neighborhood so that the families and kids will be aware that they are welcome to come to the B.Y.B.B.! Pray that God would use this event to:
1.) Open doors into the community with the gospel.
2.) Help us introduce Life House Church to the community.
3.) To enable us to make contacts with people of all races who are searching for a church home.
4.) Help us to reach the lost in our area with the good news that Jesus saves!
It’s going to be an exciting summer! Don’t miss anything!
NOTE: If you are one of our Partner Church’s we invite you to join us for any and all of the events listed on our calendar. If you would like to help with one of the Back Yard Bible Bashes, Vacation Bible School, the 7-12th Grade Community Outreach Event or any other event – please contact me! If you would like for your church to become a “Partner Church” with Life House – let me know!
Let’s pray and get ready – God is going to give us a harvest! Pastor James
Everywhere we look God just keeps on pouring out His blessings on this new ministry. Over and over He has confirmed that He is in it. I got word today that another church has voted to add us to their budget and become one of our “PARTNER CHURCHES”. AMEN! PRAISE THE LORD! This particular church has a love for souls and is even willing to come help us sometime during the summer as well! Thank God for churches that can see beyond their own walls and that have a heart for souls. Thank God for those who aren’t simply concerned with “church as usual” but have a desire to be a part of the harvest God has planned in these last days. Pray that other churches will feel led to become “Partner’s In Ministry” with us. Isn’t it great to be a part of a group of churches and associations that don’t just “talk” support but really give it? Makes me proud to say i’m Southern Baptist! Keep praying and keep watching…God’s got more from where all these blessings have come from. The blessings are on their way!!! Pastor James
Just a quick note to let everyone know that we have posted some very important dates for Life House on the web calendar. We will be announcing those dates during Life Group and Sunday Service as well as publishing them in our weekly bulletin. Things are progressing and on August 10 (if all goes as planned and the Lord wills) we will be officially “LAUNCHING” as a church. PRAY PRAY PRAY! We have much to do and little time to do it. Also, don’t forget that this Friday is a work day and night. If you can do anything – then you are eligible! So see you at Life House Friday sometime to work and make some progress on the physical building. Share Jesus and see you soon! Pastor James
Last Sunday morning one of our SBC pastors in Louisiana was preaching on the subject of hell and during his message he used a phrase that has stuck with me since hearing it…”chasing chariots”. Men, women, boys and girls are headed on their way to hell while we, “the church”, sit in our nice comfortable buildings, dressed “just right” and hold our programmed, planned and perfect worship services. We seem to be more concerned with our “programs” than the program Jesus called us to. We MUST get out of our building and chase some chariots because the world is dying and going to hell. Shouldn’t we enjoy worship but place the emphasis where Jesus placed it? He came “to seek and to save that which was lost”. Phillip, God’s man of the hour in the New Testament, was found obedient to the Lord when he left a revival meeting that was going on and followed God’s direction to go to the desert. When he got to the desert he saw an Ethiopian Eunuch in a chariot reading the book of Isaiah as he moved along. God pricked Phillip’s heart and caused him to chase down the chariot and speak to the man about Jesus. If you read the text you will find that the Ethiopian gave his heart to Jesus and then submitted to believers baptism. That’s what “CHASING CHARIOTS” is all about!! God help us to be willing to listen, follow and even chase chariots in order to win souls to the Lord! May God forgive us for being so religious that we refuse to get away from our own planned agenda’s and get our hands, feet and heart dirty in the work of the harvest. Church – I challenge you — let’s get out and chase some chariots this week!
I love you and can’t wait to see what God is going to do in June at Life House Church. Pastor James