Pastor James’ Blog

We don’t “officially” launch as a church until Sunday, August 10, 2008 so we are using these first three months to get the core group ready both spiritually and trained for the new work.  We prayed last week during the Life Group that God would bless us with 40 this Sunday since the past two Sunday’s we had hit 35. God did it…AGAIN!  We rejoiced to have 41 present for service (45 for the afternoon lunch) and one new member by letter. PRAISE THE LORD!!!!  God is so good!  Keep praying, inviting and being faithful Life Church – we “ain’t” seen nothing yet! 

We had our first “official” “eating meeting” following our service today and it went great! Lots of food, great desserts and even lots of home made ice cream!! Best of all we enjoyed the fellowship and games together as a core group and friends.  You can view pictures and more from today on our gallery – so go there and enjoy!

We’ve noticed that there are many people who “view” the site and read the blogs but never leave a comment. That’s cool! We experienced a tremendous number of web site “hits” during June and expect even more during July. Thanks for stopping by.  For those who are not a part of Life House: Pray for us. As an (SBC) Mission we need your daily prayers for God’s guidance and provision. This isn’t our work – it’s one we feel God started and wanted in the College Hill area.  Keep watching this site and follow our journey…but one note of caution – you better “hang on” cause it’s going to be exciting!!

You ever had one of those “feelings”?  You know – the kind where you know something good is about to happen but you don’t know what? Well…that’s the feeling i’ve had this weekend. I believe that we are about to see something good – maybe even GREAT happen at Life House this weekend!  I dont’ know what but something inside of me says that God is getting ready to do something bigger and better than we’ve even experienced up until now!!  We’ve seen God confirm – time and time again – that this new ministry is His plan and His will. We’ve seen Him provide when we didn’t even know where the money, items or things were going to come from. God has time and again proven faithful!! AMEN!!!!!  He is so awesome and I know that the God who called us to this work has many great things in store. I just pray that we as a core group are ready for all that we are about to see!! Keep praying Church – Keep watching and soon we will see something that “ONLY HE CAN TAKE CREDIT FOR” happen AGAIN at Life House!  I can’t wait till tomorrow!!  Pastor James

     I can’t count the times we have seen friends since we have begun the new work at Life House and most of them usually ask “How are you guys doing?”.   So…to answer the question so all will know.  We are doing GREAT!  God is totally supplying our every need as a family and as a church. We are eating at least three meals a day, our bills are paid, we have great place to live, food in the fridge and we still go out to eat! Nothing really has changed for us except we have begun a new ministry. Though we don’t have as much expendable money as we once did, we are having our needs (and many of our wants)  met and we are very happy.  There is a peace in knowing that you are where God wants you.  Pray for us, come see us and know that we are FINE!  God is faithful!  Happy 4th – eat a burger or two and stop and thank God for His blessings on you and yours!  Pastor James

Happy 4th of July!  On this day americans celebrate freedom. We are one of the most blessed countries on the face of the earth. Thank God for His blessings!  At Life House we go through a weekly study which has a devotional in it for each day of the week.  This week we have studied FREEDOM.  I want to share with you the preface of our study this week because it really shares some thought provoking ideas.

“I have heard about freedom from sin and freedom in Christ many times. I have experienced salvation and the freedom it brings. I have had periods in my life that I was living for God and trying to do right and that is a wonderful experience.  However, I never really saw true freedom until I waled into McPherson Prison!

There were ladies there that are totally free. How can they be totally free and be behind bars? It is a God thing.

Thse ladies have allowed God to make them free from sin, but they have also allowed Him to make them free under the control of righteousness.  Although this may make no sense to you, I tell you you just have to see it.

But, after going in there and seeing their example, I came away wanting that same kind of freedom. I want a freedom that is evident to the world. I want to be free from being drug down with the things of this world. I want to be free from the control of my flesh, althought I will continually have to war against that flesh. I want to be free to be the person God created me to be!

Do you want that, too?  If so, I promise you God can give that freedom to you  and me both. However, we have to learn to daily say, “No, self” and “Yes, Lord.”  ARE YOU WILLING?

My prayer is that we are all willing and ready to experience the freedom this world does not understand, but that God offers to anyone who will give Him his/her life.

Have you been trying to remove the chains that bind you? If so, why not quit trying to do it and let God do it for you?  Give your whole life to Him – not just as your Savior, but as your Lord!”

   Thank God for freedom in America but also the freedom we can find in Christ as our Savior and as our LORD!  Real freedom can’t always be explained but must always be experienced to totally understand it. Special thanks to my wife, Cindy, for writing the above and sharing her testimony about freedom.

Also, HAPPY ANNIVERSARY today to Cindy, my bride for 28 years and counting!  I love you and look forward to more! 

Happy 4th to all — Pastor James

Some Christians never cease to amaze me.  Isn’t it funny that many times we as Christians have some strange idea that God only works in the framework of our little world and our little church? Isn’t it funny that sometimes we think that if it isn’t done the way “WE” do it then it’s not scriptural?  Isn’t it funny that many so called “LOVING” Christians can’t love anyone or support anything that doesn’t prosper them and their own little world?  It’s time for the church to get real. It’s time we let God out of OUR little box.  I’m so glad that ministry is measured by scripture rather than by man’s pitiful opinions.  Since beginning the new work and patterning it after the “simple church” plant plan i’ve heard it all. You MUST have  Sunday School! You MUST have committee’s. You MUST have deacon’s. You MUST have monthy/quarterly business meetings.  You MUST have Sunday night services. HMMM…show me that in scripture! Not your personal opinion. Show me where you MUST. Those things are well and good…and even great if they are developed and functioning properly. If you only do them because “that’s the way it’s always been done”…then they are useless.  There is an old saying…”there is more than one way to skin a cat” and believe it or not the church can function just as well and JUST AS SCRIPTURALLY without some of those things too! SURPRISE!!!  By the way…if ANY group, ministry or organization isn’t building up the body, winning souls and/or growing christians spiritually then it’s not worth the time and effort we waste on them.  (YES I said it and i’ll run before taking it back!)  Maybe if more christians spent more time in prayer, real Bible study, building up the body of Christ (not just our own little kingdom) and winning lost people to Christ we would see churches prosper.  How about you and your church? Do you spend more time backbiting, tearing down others and wasting God’s precious time while the world “in the shadow of your steeple” is dying and going to hell? Are you doing “CHURCH WORK” or the “WORK OF THE CHURCH”?   Hmm…good question – why not have a little talk with Jesus and decide today that you are tired of “doing church” and that you desire to “BE THE CHURCH”!!    I don’t know about you but i’m tired of “DOING CHURCH”….I desire in these last days to BE the church Jesus desires for us to be!  Pastor James

This Sunday (July 4th weekend) the Life House Church family are going to have their first ever “after church” event.  We are going to have potluck lunch together and then stay and play volleyball and other games in the gym area to fellowship with one another.  Our schedule for next Sunday is as follows:

9:45 a.m. — Prayer Walk

10 a.m. – Life House Coffee Shop Fellowship Time

10:30 a.m. – Celebration Worship Service

11:30 or so – Potluck Fellowship Meal

Afternoon – Volleyball, games and fellowship

 We hope you will come join us as we get to know one another and enjoy being a new church family. It’s going to be great! Invite your family and friends to come with you. Bring a pot or two or three of your favorite dishes and then let’s eat, fellowship and enjoy God’s blessings together!  See you soon!  Pastor James