Pastor James’ Blog

Usually when long holiday weekends roll around church attendance takes a big hit but in spite of the holiday and several of our regulars having to be away we still had 59 in attendance. God is blessing the mission work at Life House and for that we are thankful.  We had a couple of new faces in our service this morning and it was refreshing to see them with us.  The Life Group Studies for the next few weeks will center on prayer. God desires the church to be a “house of prayer”.  One of the foundational lessons that we at the mission must learn is to be people of prayer. This Wednesday night during Life Group we will be learning what it means to get down to the business of prayer. If you get a chance join us this Wednesday night for Life Group at 6:30 p.m. .   Hope you all have a great “rest of the holiday” !!  Pastor James

   Just a quick note to wish all of our friends and “readers” a happy Labor Day weekend.  Hope you are in church somewhere tomorrow and hope you have a great time enjoying your family, friends and all of the blessings we enjoy as americans.  Take care and come see us at Life House this weekend if you get the chance!  Pastor James

   As many of our friends and church family know Cindy’s Mom has been in a local nursing home since last December suffering with the “later” stages of Alzheimers.  Recently we’ve moved Cindy’s Dad into our home and this weekend the “kids” began the task of going through things at the home place.  There are many mixed emotions among the family. Sometimes there is laughter as a memory is shared. Sometimes there are tears as other memories come from deep within.  Thankfully this family has as it’s base a relationship with the Lord.  Thankfully we don’t have to walk through times like these alone. Jesus promise is just as real today as it ever was. He PROMISED that He would be with us always – even to the end of the world.  We aren’t the first family to walk this road and neither will we be the last. It’s our prayer that no matter what you are going through today you will have the peace of knowing that Jesus is right there with you. As children of God we never have to walk alone.  The weekend isn’t over and neither is the task of going through everything, having an estate sale and selling the house that the family has known and enjoyed for many many years – but one thing is sure –  we have peace in knowing God is still on His throne. He knew all this was coming our way and we will make it through. As one song writer wrote many years ago…”through it all – i’ve learned to trust in Jesus, I’ve learned to trust in God.”  Trust Him – He will never fail you.  Pray for Cindy, her dad, her siblings and all of the grandkids. Most of all – no matter what YOU are going through – RELY ON HIS PROMISE – He won’t fail you.   Pastor James

Too many times we as christians try to “work things out”. We figure, guess, wrangle and see if we can find ways to accomplish what we need when WE WANT IT.  God has a different plan. God already knows what we need EVEN BEFORE we do!  Such is the case time and again at Life House.  Taking on the building we are in was a HUGE undertaking.  Remodeling, getting it up to code, getting it useable and functionable seemed almost impossible. As a mission church we knew it would take lots of money, time, energy and more to accomplish all that needed to be accomplished.  YET – time and again God keeps on providing what we need  – when we need it.  We can’t count the times that God has supplied furniture, workmen, chairs, refrigerator, blinds, carpet, paint, wood, – you name it – God has DONE IT!   Even today God supplied us with lots of things for our new nursery area – from a sister church in Mena!  Also, this church just voted to partner with us – AMEN!!!  God is still God and He still knows best.  What about you? Have you been struggling wondering how things are going to work out? Why not try living by faith? Why not learn to trust God? God knows what is best and IN HIS TIME and IN HIS WILL – all things will work together for good. (Romans 8:28 is still in the book!).  Shame on me for ever trying to “work it out” or “figure it out” — instead I need to completely, totally trust the Lord!  Thank you Jesus for all you have done, are doing and going to do in our lives and at Life House! TO GOD BE THE GLORY!  Pastor James

One of my recent brainstorms was that I would really love to substitute teach in the Arkansas school district – especially in the schools that are near our church building.  I figured it would help me become more known to the children, youth and parents  in the area and that can’t be a bad thing especially when you are out and about in the neighborhoods seeking to invite them to church. WELLLLLLLLL – for those who don’t know it – it’s been almost 28 years since I was in high school.  To become employed with Texarkana Arkansas School district you must complete a ton of paper work AND take a TEST!!!!!!  YIKES! Well, the “testing time” is over and I passed with flying colors but I was scared that I might flunk out since it had been so many years since i had dealt with school – especially “MATH” !  I have never been too good with math but I am horrible at taking a test and answering math questions under pressure. Thankfully I even did well on the math portion of the test. Hopefully in the next two weeks after the background check (think I can pass that one? HMMM! LOL ) I will begin working during the daytime in the school disctrict. Pray for me as I really feel that this will be a big addition to my ministry in the area. 

Hope your day is going well and just remember – It might be hard to teach an old dog new tricks but the old dog can still take a test and pass it!    Pastor James

We had a BIG DAY at Life House today!  Little by little the building is shaping up and coming together. It is functional and getting better all the time. This week we had a group come in and they were able to get the children’s area A/C unit working and boy was it just in time!  We hit a new record in attendance today (60!) and it was awesome!  You should have heard the people singing!  The coffee shop, foyer and children’s area were alive with people coming and going before the service started. This week we hope to get the lot next door to the church “groomed up” so that many of us can park on it and make room for more cars. It was parking room only today! It was almost “standing” room only in the worship center.  It was great to see new faces. Several mentioned that they feel led to become involved with us at Life House because they believe in our mission and purpose. Some were coming to “check us out” and begin to pray about what God wants them to do in their lives. Pray as we continue to see new people that God will save souls, add to the church by baptism and by new members as HE pleases.

  It was also great to see several people “step up to the plate” to assist and work in various areas this morning that I’ve never seen involved in church before.  Two of our teen ladies took on the project of greeting and passing out the bulletins and Life Group Study Guides this morning. Another one of our youth excitedly worked the projector for the song service. It’s great to see people begin to step up and get involved with the work of this new ministry.

  This past week we saw one saved and in the past three weeks we’ve seen four saved and two follow the Lord in baptism. We rejoiced as we were able to “give out” free to the community over 100 bags of school supplies. Thanks again to one of our partner churches for collecting the supplies and allowing us to give them out in our area.   

     We also rejoiced as we got word this past week that a local business is going add us to their missions support with a monthly partner gift.  I received word via e-mail that a sister church from out of town will vote Wednesday night as to whether or not to become a partner church. This same church has already given their VBS offering to Life House and also gave us some furniture and chairs.   God is working and we stand amazed at all HE is doing. We “AIN’T SEEN NOTHING YET” – so get ready!

One of our visitors this morning made me laugh as she shared that she had asked one of our members about the new church and ministry. The member told her that she would love for this visitor to come visit with us at Life House but that Life House Church was different from your ordinary traditional church. She told the visitor “if you are searching for a church home where you can join and sit you better not come to Life House because at Life House we expect you be faithful, tithe and get involved in the work!”!!  The visitor laughed and said that at least she knew what to expect!  Believe it or not the visitor showed up this morning and said she enjoyed the service! AMEN!

Keep praying for us that we can be the mission church God desires for us to be. Pray that we might continue to impact our community with the Gospel. We’ve only just begun and God has great plans for Life House and College Hill Community!  I can’t wait till next Sunday!  Pastor James

Life House Children’s Ministry is little by little getting geared up to reach our community and provide quality worship for all the kids who come to our services on a weekly basis.  D.O.G. is going to be their “theme” – “Depend On God”.  The D.O.G. Kid’s Zone is shaping up! In order to get to the children’s worship area each kid must pass through the “Dog House” opening. The kids are going to be excited because it’s going to be colorful, fun and most of all help our kids know that even when it seems they can’t depend on people – they CAN Depend On God!    What about you – are you depending on God? Are you relying on Him instead of yourself, your family, your money, your brains?  God loves each and every one of us and desires us to cast our cares, worries, problems and life on Him because He cares about us.  Life look unstable? D.O.G.!!  Job look shaky? D.O.G.!!  Scared about the future? D.O.G.!!  Don’t know which way to turn? D.O.G.!!  Simple – yet profound – DEPEND ON GOD!  Pastors, deacons, sunday school teachers, staff members, spouse, kids, boss, parents, best friends – they can all let you down – but Jesus will never forsake you, leave you, or forget you. He is a friend that “sticks closer than a brother”.  Depend On God!!!!!!!!!  Pastor James

While it might not be a MAJOR thing to many people, last night the members of Life House saw some signs of growth among some of our area young people.  Last night one of them asked if they could sing for us. She sang accapella and it was great. She was somewhat shy but it took alot of courage to sign for the first time in church in front of her friends and people she didn’t know.   Two other teen girls participated in the Life Group Study by coming up and reading several verses for us.  One teen led us in closing prayer. Now in an established church that probably isn’t a very big thing but in a mission such as Life House – we count it as MAJOR progress.  Pray for our area. Pray for these young people. They are searching for someone who cares. Someone who loves them and isn’t afraid to show it or say it. They need affirmation and acceptance. They need someone to teach them “right from wrong” and do it with a loving heart. We are blessed to have made friends with many (of all colors) and have them in our home on a regular basis. This mission field is truly white unto harvest. Pray for us!  Pastor James

Our Life Group Study this week is Matthew 25:34-40. Jesus was seeking to teach us to be aware of those around us and minister to not only the spiritual needs of people but also the physical needs of people. It’s more than giving them a quick hand out. It’s more than writing a check. It’s about getting involved with people, knowing them and meeting their needs – IN THE NAME OF JESUS.  If we serve people for self gratitude or self praise then our work is in vain. Sure it helps those we give to – but it does nothing for us spiritually. We must be servants. We must give as Jesus gave…freely, with love, nothing expected in return. Are you practicing this? Are you seeking to meet needs of others with all that God has blessed you with?  Remember, our earthly possessions can either be horded up, stored up, or they can be used to bless others. How are you living your life? Selfishly or giving self away for the sake of blessing others?

One new note: Life House was blessed yesterday to get a call from a local business that informed us that they give to missions every month out of the profits that God has blessed them with. This business supports several mission project throughout the world. They have chosen to add Life House to their budget giving! AMEN AMEN AND AMEN!  We appreciate their generosity and love for missions!  God has placed His stamp of approval on this mission time and time again! Praise Him!!

OK – I know that some of you who read these blogs are also people who love a good sale!  Life House is in need of a large quantity of New International Version Bibles that we can give away to those who are coming but can’t afford a good Bible. We aren’t looking for the most expensive Bibles – but we also want to give them something that has readable print, nice enough cover and that they can be proud to read and carry with them.  IF YOU FIND A GOOD PRICE on a Bible – please send me the name of the store or the internet site that they can be ordered from.  PLEASE make sure that it’s a Bible that you personally wouldn’t mind carrying around. some printers have cheap Bibles and they have such small type that you can’t read them easily and some have such flimsey pages and ink that it rubs off when you touch it.  I’m looking for a couple of cases of good valued NIV Bibles that we can proudly give out to those who are attending and serious. These won’t be just handed out randomly – they will have to show that they are interested in God’s Word and serious. Thanks!  LET ME KNOW ASAP if you find some!   Pastor James