Pastor James’ Blog

Life House has “officially” opened their Life House Coffee Shop Senior Adult Game Day!  Each Wednesday at 1 p.m. the Coffee Shop will be open for any area Senior Adults who would like to come “hang out” and fellowship.  We will have games (dominoes, skip bo, checkers, & more) and even have FREE refreshments of all kinds.  Why not spread the word and make plans to come join us!  Lee & Linda Ross are in charge of this new ministry and they would love to have you and your friends come join them for the fun!  Could you make a few phone calls and invite your friends and neighbors to come with you?  Being a new ministry we know it’s going to take time to “get the word out” but YOU are invited to come join the fun. Don’t sit home bored or wishing you were around other people — come join us!  Hope to see you there!!

Just a “teaser”.  If all goes as planned next Sunday we will have a special surprise during our morning service. If it goes as planned I can truthfully say I’ve never had anything like this happen in any service i’ve pastored in for the past 29 years.  You might want to come to “check it out”!    Also, if you are a part of the Life House Church Family – don’t forget that between now and next Sunday you are supposed to be working on your “seven touches”.     Take care – see you in God’s house.   Pastor James

   In spite of the tropical storm that swept through the Texarkana area last night we had church today. Thankfully we had electricity. Many of the churches and homes in our area are still without power.  We had a good morning of worship even though some of our regulars were sick and affected by the storm.  We had several “new” faces and it was a blessing to welcome them to Life House. 

   We learned from God’s Word today that everyone has problems. Everyone suffers troubles from time to time.  We also learned the futility of trying to “work things out” with our own human understanding. We MUST go to the Lord and allow Him to direct our paths. Follow His directions (even when it doesn’t make “human sense”). When God tells you to dip SEVEN times in the muddy water – you be sure that it’s the right place and don’t settle for SIX! When God says SEVEN – SIX won’t do!  God is still in the miracle working business – He can heal broken hearts, broken relationships, broken homes, broken lives and even broken churches. God wants it “done” HIS way. So STOP trying to work life out on your own terms – listen to the Lord and you will never go wrong!  Hope you had a great day in the Lord too!   Pastor James

Hurricane Ike is making it’s way up the Texas coastline and many cities are experiencing mandatory evacuation.  While we aren’t anywhere near the coast it seems that “hurricane panic” is even in east Texas – Southwest Arkansas.  The grocery stores are brimming over with people buying milk, bread and staple goods. Flashlights are flying off the shelves. Gas lines are everywhere and one friend from Hope, Arkansas told me that there was “no gas left in Hope due to the panic of people trying to get prepared for the storm”.  While I am sure it’s possible for us to experience high winds, torrential rainstorms, maybe even a torndado – why the panic?  Why is it that we get so “shook up” and scared about something we know is coming ahead of time and can get prepared for and yet people fail to prepare for other events that are surely coming to them in this life.  One big event that is coming for sure is that Jesus is coming back to take His children home.  The Bible clearly teaches that there will be “two in the field, one will be taken and the other left.  Two will be in the bed, one will be taken and the other left.”  YET people do not get in a panic or rush to prepare for eternity.  HMMM…maybe the human race isn’t as smart as they think they are. As sure as hurrican Ike is coming our way – even more assuredly Jesus is coming our way too. It’s time for many to “get ready”.   Get right with God – make sure of your salvation. Get ready cause He’s coming ….ready or not!   Prepare for eternity. Prepare for the coming storm.  My heart is burdened for souls. My heart wants to see the people around us saved before it’s too late. Spread the word. Jesus is coming again – sooner than you and I think.   Prepare!!  Pastor James

This has been a busy but GREAT day!  We finished the night with Life Group for three age groups. Please understand – up until tonight we have only had one Life Group and everyone met together in the worship center. Tonight – we were “instant in season and out of season”…and thanks to our children’s director we “whipped” up things to be able to break up into three groups.  We had a 4th Grade down  group,  a 5th – 12th grade group and then the Adult group  met in the worship center.  Why the sudden change of plans? Well – tonight we had 11 in the younger age group, 19 in the older children/youth group and 16 adults in the Adult Life Group.  We were down in number in the adult group because some of our regular people  had to work and some were out of town.   Altogether we hit a “new” high attendance for Life Group”S”  with  46 present. PLEASE Pray PRAY PRAYYYYYYY!!!!  We desperately need someone who  is grounded, youth oriented,  interesting and that can handle discipline (our children and youth have no concept of “church” or “sunday school” – so you have to be loving, firm and prepared for anything). This ministry is a blast – seriously!  I am having the time of my life! I’m enjoying ministry now in a different way – and it’s a great way!  Pray for us – pray for the children and youth that we are ministering to and pray for God to send the RIGHT workers.   Since I am sharing prayer requests with you – here’s a few more:    Pray that:    1. God would lead us to a black man (age doesn’t matter) that is called to preach , that has a real heart for souls and people that might serve as my associate pastor.  2. Pray for musicians, praise team members, and choir members of ALL colors that want to lead out and lead us to praise the Lord in all styles of music.   Pray that God would open doors and give me wisdom as I lead this great church. 

Many years ago a souther gospel group sang the following words and they really express my heart right now. “I wouldn’t take nothing for my journey now – gotta make it to heaven somehow – though the devil tries to turn me around – he’s offered everything that’s got a name – all the wealth I want and worldly fame – but if I could, still I wouldn’t take nothing for my journey now!” 

 I’m enjoying the journey and I wouldn’t take “nothin” for it!  Hope you are enjoying yours too!!!!  

                                                                                                Pastor James

today is the first Life House Coffee Shop FREE game day for adults in the area. The coffee shop opens at 1 p.m. and we will have refreshments of all kinds, soda’s, coffee, tea and ect.  Come and bring a friend or two and play dominoes, skip bo, chess and much more. We are hoping that as time goes along this will become a local “hang out” for any and all adults who need some place to go to enjoy fellowship. You don’t have to be  part of the Life House family to come – it’s free and for everyone.  We also hope to see this new ministry grow to the point that we will need to open it two or three times a week and someday every day of the week. Pray for us and drop and ”sit a spell” this afternoon at Life House.

Also, all area city police, firemen, city workers and Miller County Police and area workers are all invited to drop by for free refreshments anytime. It would be our privilege to serve you for serving us. COME BY!

 NOTE OF BLESSING…  When I checked my e-mail this morning a pastor from one of our partner churches sent me a note confirming that I was coming to speak at his church in the near future and he wanted to share with me that the ladies of his church had decided to have a garage sale to raise money for Life House because they believe in what we are doing – missions – reaching souls. THANKS! Thanks to all who love souls and don’t just talk it – but put feet to their prayers to help us reach souls! 

                                                                                                        Pastor James

  Isn’t it just like God to do things BIGGER and BETTER than you could ever hope or think?  Just this past Sunday our new Children’s Director and I were talking about some things that might be needed for the children’s ministry at Life House.   Being a mission church – we are a work in progress. We buy things as the money comes in and every time there is a need God always comes through and supplies.  WELL……

When I went to the post office this afternoon to check the mail for the church believe it or not there was letter from a church in Arkansas that had “heard about Life House” from one of our Partner Churches in their area.  This year at VBS the children of this church collected money to be given to Life House Children’s Ministry to be used in any way that they wanted or needed it!!!!  I almost cried and almost shouted right there in the post office!!  Over and over God has proven Himself sufficient for our every need as a new church. We pray God’s blessing on this church for their love for children and for missions! May more churches get involved with missions and not just talk about it!  Praise Him!  Pastor James

We had a great time of worship at Life House this morning. Isn’t it awesome that God is able to speak to us through so many avenues? This morning our song service was great but one song inparticular really touched my heart. God wants to speak to His “sheep” if we will only take the time to open our hearts and ears and listen.  In one service God may be speaking to several people  about different things in their hearts and lives. He may use music, message, written Word, teaching, special music or anything at all. He is God and has the power to use anything and everything to get His message across. 

It was good to see a few “new” faces in our service and know that little by little the ministry that God has planted at Life House is growing. 

Don’t forget that THIS COMING Wednesday at 1 p.m. is our Life House Coffee Shop Game Day for all adults in the area. Come and bring a friend. We will have dominoes, skip bo, checkers, and free refreshments. Come “hang out” and enjoy a time of fellowship with friends and family.

Also, Saturday night is the 7-12th Grade Game Night in the gym. Invite your friends and make plans to attend yourself. We will have refreshments and fun!  From 6 to 8 p.m. or so…so be there!

Next Sunday our church family and guests are invited to go with us to New Town Baptist Church Building Fund Musical at 3:00 p.m. Make plans to meet at the church at 2:30 p.m. and go as a group.

Better go and get a nap – it’s 1st Sunday and that’s when I’m supposed to go with the ladies to the jail to preach. So hope you have a great week and God will use YOU to be a blessing in His work.  Take care and God bless you all!  Pastor James

Read “A Great Opportunity Is Coming.”   http://www.insidethepastorsmind.blogspot.com/

It’s exciting that we are seeing more and more churches feeling compelled by the Lord to join us as we plant this new church in College Hill. Even today we received our first partner check from a couple of doctors in this town who have decided to partner with us. God is sooo good!  When you pray – ask God to bless those churches, businesses and individuals who have decided to become partners with us.  God never leads where He can’t provide. Praise Him for it all!  Pastor James

I just had to write tonight after coming home from Life Group. We are studying prayer and seeking to make Life House a “house of prayer” church.  Tonight we had 41 for Life Group. It was such a blessing as people began to give PRAISE to the Lord for His blessings, miracles and touch on their lives tonight. Also, it was touching as people began to share their hearts with prayer requests. Pray that we can grow to be a mighty church of prayer! God is “up to something” at Life House and i can’t wait to watch Him move! Praise Him for His blessings!  Pastor James