Pastor James’ Blog

   Last Monday night the Life House family observed their first Lord’s Supper together.  The service was very different from any I had ever held as a pastor.  Since we are a mission congregation, and we are dealing with so many new believers, it’s important to use every moment possible to teach the Word and the truth of it.  God enabled us to view the Lord’s Supper through “different eyes”.  I tried to teach the church family about the elements, their importance and the reason for “unleavened bread and unfermented fruit of the vine”.  Then we looked at Isaiah 53 and then moved right into the Lord’s Supper.  I’ve never been in a more reverent, Spirit filled service in my life. God was all over the house.  The people worshiped in one accord and a spirit of unity was so evident.  God showed up in such a sweet way.  So many of our people commented about the service and how special it was.  Thank God for the blood!  Thank You Jesus for your love!  Pastor James

Today is my 34th spiritual birthday!  March 30, 1975 – Richmond Road Baptist Church in Texarkana, TX was the day and place I gave my heart to Jesus and He saved me.  I never will forget that day – no matter what.  Many hills and valleys have come in my 47 years of life but never – never – NEVER has the Lord ever let me down.  He is my Savior, my Father, my Keeper, my Healer, my Provider, my Encourager, my Guide — He is my friend.  He has blessed me in so many ways through these many years and I don’t deserve a one of them.  I celebrate today not because of who I am, what I may or may not have accomplished or any thing else I have done -  I celebrate because the same Jesus who touched me, drew me to Himself, saved me, keeps me and walks with me – wants to do that in YOUR life too. I celebrate that my JESUS loves all people. I celebrate that my JESUS forgives, saves and restores any and all who will come to Him by faith.  I celebrate Jesus today!!!  Thank you Jesus for it all!!!  Pastor James

  The Lord really “Showed Up and Showed Out”  around Life House yesterday!!!   The day began with God’s people gathering together for the weekly Sunday Celebration Service. We had a few new faces and the Lord blessed with a total of 84 present.  Of that 84 – 21 of them were children in kid’s worship!!  PTL!!!!     We had one man come forward desiring believers baptism at the end of the service.  

I announced at the end of the service that “tomorrow night we will have our first ever observance of the Lord’s Supper at Life House”.   I encouraged all baptized believers to be present for this special service.  At the end of our service yesterday one of our ladies,  who was awaiting baptism,  asked to go ahead and be baptized so she could participate in the Lord’s Supper.  We had a total of five awaiting baptism (we planned to baptize them on Believer’s Baptism Celebration Day – May 3).  Before the day was out  all five ended up desiring to be baptized last night. Since we  do not have a baptistery and it was getting later and later in the day I decided that the easiest thing to do would be to borrow my folks  “hot tub” and baptize the group last night.  24 people  from Life House went together to  Macedonia Baptist Church in Doddridge, AR – to attend the start of their revival and at the end of the revival service we all “trekked” to my folks, got ready and baptized all five of our newest believers in a hot tub! PTL!!!   It was a great event in the life of Life House Church!!  Hopefully, we will be able to post the pictures taken from it on our website soon.  

Another big blessing…  one of our men had the blessing of leading his mother to the Lord yesterday during lunch!!  The “neat” thing is that one of his daughters had asked what the “prayer box” at church was all about before the service started yesterday morning. When the Dad explained that we write out our prayer requests and put them in the box so that the church family can pray with us about the needs. The little girl wrote out a request about her grandmother – who ended up getting saved later that afternoon!!!  Isn’t God awesome!!!

     God continues to amaze me at all He has done and is doing at Life House. I count it a blessing to even be able to sit back and watch His hand in the lives of people in our area.  I’m having the time of my life!  Who would have thought that 30 years into ministry Cindy and me would be involved in a new mission plant and seeing things we’ve never seen before in ministry?  Not me!  But I’m glad God saw fit to allow us to serve Him at Life House!  Keep praying for us – we have a long way to go, many souls still need to be saved, touched, delivered, fed, loved and more.  The work has just begun and Jesus is leading the way!!!   Pastor James

Just a quick note to say a great big THANKSto the youth and sponsors of Hickory Street Baptist Church in Texarkana, AR.  This group came this morning, in very coldweather and helped some from Life House paint the building, trash cans and tables at Bramble park.  This is a very nice looking park but the items mentioned above were littered with graffiti and not so nice pictures drawn by “wanna be artists”.  We are having a community wide easter egg hunt in the park on April 11th at 10 a.m. for all age groups, so we felt it would be nice to clean it up before we tried to share Jesus with the community.  Thanks for loving missions and being the hands and feet of Jesus, Hickory Street Youth!!!  Pray for us as we seek to touch some lives with the community wide easter egg hunt. We want the community to know that Jesus loves them and that we, at Life House, do too!  Thanks again!!  Pastor James

Keep watching for some pictures to be posted from this event in the very near future on the gallery pages.

After almost 8 years of ministry at Bethany Baptist Church in Spring Hill, AR God called my family and me to work with the First Baptist Church of Shady Grove, in Laurel, Mississippi.  This move was a big one for us!  We had never lived more than 50 miles from “home” and we were about to embark on a new ministry that was 6 hours from our folks and friends.  While it was a big decision,  we knew God wanted us to go and help build this great church.  It’s always hard to leave your family and friends and begin a new life but move we did!!  While I know it wasn’t “halfway around  the world” , my family and I did enter into a new life that was quite different from the one we left behind. Though the people were much like the people “back home”,  there were some local differences in their likes and dislikes, various phrases and meanings of words and for many people in the area  their particular “personal” religious beliefs about the church, Bible and people in general.   We never got used to “boiled peanuts” or even hearing the phrase “turnips and roots” (top is turnip and bottom is root – here – we have greens and turnips) but those are just a couple of examples of different phrases used that were weren’t familiar with.  We always considered ourselves very conservative when it came to our particular doctrine and beliefs about the church, Bible and ect. but almost immediately it appeared that we became almost “liberals” because of some of our beliefs. Let me clarify that we didn’t have any problems “doctrinally” with the people of FBC Shady Grove but it seemed that there were many in the state association that held to the belief that the KJV Bible was/is and always will be the only “Bible” one can use. Some even (and I heard it with my own ears at a big associational meeting) believed that the “KJV was good enough for Paul so it’s good enough for me”!  Hmm,  last I checked the Apostle Paul didn’t have the KJV Bible but then again what do I know since i’m not a Bible scholar with a dr’s degree?  Some also held to the belief that their particular denomination was the ONLY one who would be in the “bride of Christ” and some of the ”preacher brethren” also held that “a real preacher wears a suit”.  If i’m not mistaken those are personal opinions (which i respect for anyone who holds them) but they are not written anywhere in the Word of God – KJV or otherwise!.  

One thing that WAS the same as “back home” was that  FBC Shady Grove has some of the best cooks on the face of the earth and they ALL want you to eat!!  I was a heavy guy before I got there and didn’t lose one ounce while there!!  They can still cook and they still love to share. Lots of good eating memories there!

When we first arrived and moved in the parsonage at FBC Shady Grove we were greeted by a loving church family. They (throughout the time we were there ) took good care of us. They shared their garden goodies, they made sure we were comfortable, they provided so many things and in so many ways and we will always be grateful to them for their care.  The parsonage was LARGE and roomy (although it was located next door to the church and on a major highway) and provided a good home for us while we were there.  The church building proper had been built many years before. Located on a major highway into the city,  it was clearly seen by many people in the surrounding area.  The building needed “updating” and so almost immediately we began that project.  We voted to “re-model” the auditorium and we moved into the newer fellowship hall building for worship.  The pews were placed in there and we set up a “worship center” to be used while the auditorium was being re-done.   The people were patient and excited.  It was a joy to be involved in the remodel. There was a lot of hard work, time, prayer and etc done to get that building cleaned up, remodeled and back in shape to be used for worship. There is no way to name all of the people at the church or in the community that worked countless hours to get the job done.  One thing for sure the majority of the people were willing to follow and work to get the job done.  During my time there it could easily be said of the people at FBC Shady Grove, “the people had a mind to work”.  I don’t know what they’ve done or accomplished since our time there but I KNOW they worked hard while we were there.  At the end God blessed by allowing us to move back into the auditorium and it was beautiful.  New carpet, re-done pews, plaster walls re-done and painted, sound booth built, new lighting and beautiful stained glass windows were placed in the church. Without a doubt it was a beautiful place to worship the Lord in.  

We also had the blessing of pastoring some of the greatest people on the face of the earth while there and lest I forget anyone that is living I will only mention a couple who have already gone on to be with the Lord.  Dr. & Mrs. Gerald Kellar were both in the membership of this church while we were there. Dr. Kellar & Mrs. Mary Lou were both “big names” in the BMA of America.  Bro. Gerald & Mrs. Mary Lou were (still are) highly respected people and the thought of me being his pastor was one that caused me to tremble. The fact is – i’ve never met anyone more humble, loving or kind than the Kellars. They both went out of their way to love me and my family and be an encouragement to us on a regular basis.  Even when I felt the message “flopped” Bro. Kellar always patted me on the shoulder, shook my hand or hugged me and said something positive and sought to build up “my pastor” as he called me.   I laughed many times at his idea that “chocolate pie is the nectar of heaven” or his talking with Cindy about the Cowboys .  They loved the Lord, loved God’s people and loved FBC Shady Grove. 

We had the blessing of visiting many homes, eating with many people, laughing, crying, sharing, burying, baptizing, and marrying many people in that area. We to this day have fond memories of the church there and still keep in contact with many of the people from FBC Shady Grove. Who knows, maybe someday I’ll preach a revival there or even have the blessing of going to attend a service and see some of those great people. Many of the people we loved are now gone on to be with the Lord. Many who touched our lives in a positive way are still living.  We can join the apostle Paul in saying, “I thank my God for every remembrance of you”.  

While we were there the church called Bro. Jonathan Russell to serve as our youth pastor.  He moved along way from Brockman Hill, AR to begin a new life in Mississippi and to this day he is still in Mississippi and now pastoring a great church – Raymond Road Baptist Church in Jackson, MS. Bro. Jonathan continues to be a friend to this day.  Bro. Jonathan became the pastor of FBC Shady Grove after Cindy and I left the church to move back to Arkansas and pastor Faith Baptist Church in Texarkana, AR.

One of the best words that I could use to describe the attitude of the people and atmosphere at FBC Shady Grove while we were there is the word “cooperation”. The people there were willing to follow their pastor and try new things to reach people for the Lord.  We saw souls saved, people baptized and many join the church by letter. When we left the church we left knowing that it was stronger than when we came. 

We also made some good friends while we were there. Many of the people there touched our hearts and lives and will never know what they mean to us this side of heaven.  Sure, there were a couple of people there who weren’t “as big a blessing” to our  lives  and ministry there but there are those kind in most churches.  I am reminded of a sign on the highway as you enter one town in Mississippi…. “Welcome to _________, the home of 300 friendly people and a few old sore heads.” ,  I wonder if it’s legal to hang that kinda sign in front of most churches? All in all we know God  sent us there and we are thankful for that short period in our lives.  Lest you think that we left on bad terms because we were there such a short period of time (almost 3 years) — we didn’t. As a matter of fact, we left on good terms but felt God calling us to move and help a church get back on their feet.  

  Our prayers are still with the good people of FBC Shady Grove. We pray for their Pastor and staff as they seek to lead this great church into the days ahead. We pray that souls will be saved and that God will move this church (as I pray for all churches) “out of their box, out of their comfort zone ” and into seeing many souls saved, the church grow numerically and in the Word and be found faithful when Jesus comes. 

Thanks FBC Shady Grove Family for your love, support and prayers for my family and me – even to this day.  You have touched our lives and we pray that somehow we were a blessing to you while we were there. 

BTW…one big blessing in the area is “CHARLIE’S” “fish camp”   in Ellisville, MS (near Laurel) . If you haven’t eaten there – you’ve missed it.  I made a promise to myself (and Cindy to) that we would there every time we  visit the area – and so far I’ve kept that promise!! LOL  

                                         With good memories, great love and prayers for the future -  Pastor James

   Life House Church places a big emphasis on the study of God’s Word and the importance of it.  As a church we must always “stick to” God’s Word, study it, learn it and apply it to our daily lives and the life of our church.  It is important for EVERY MEMBER of our church family to be faithful and teachable not only on Sunday but also to Life Group.  Presently we are studying “Training Faithful Men & Women” during our Life Groups. The purpose behind the study is to get some foundational truths molded into the lives of our core group of believers in order to train them to be leaders for the future ministry of our church.  We cannot make a lasting impact on the community until we have a strong core group that is willing to dive deeper and grow stronger in the Word.  From the pastor to the people – we all must remain teachable, willing to learn and ready to hear God’s Word.   Last night we discussed what it means to lose  your “first love” and the evidences in the life of a believer that he/she has lost their “first love”.   What a great study.

Next week, on Monday night, instead of “usual”  Life Groups we are going to have our FIRST Lord’s Supper as a church family.  This will be done in the adult setting for the first time in order to teach our adults the truths and importance of observing the Lord’s Supper as a church.     The plan for the next Life Group was to go to Lesson 4 but that has changed.  We are going to join the men and ladies group together to learn about the scriptural “PRINCIPLE OF AUTHORITY”.   I want to encourage you to make it a point as a member of Life House and anyone who wants to learn this foundational principal to be with us.  You can’t grow deeper in the Word, with the church or in your faith until you get the basics and this principle is very basic to our growth.  Visitors from other churches are welcome but I challenge you to be present for the “Principle of Authority” study.    

I love you and CHALLENGE you – get in the WORD – today!  Pastor James

Our first “full time” church was Bethany Baptist Church in Spring Hill, AR.   It was a sad day but also an exciting day when Bethany called my family and I to serve there. We loved the church family at Bodcaw #1 so much that it really hurt alot to leave but we knew it was time and that God was calling us to a new church and ministry.  When Lloyd Turner and friends pulled into our yard with the moving truck that would take our little families belongings to a parsonage in Spring Hill we were very excited.  New town, new church, new people and new life and new ministry. We didn’t know that we were going to be starting a long ministry there and grow to love the people like our own family.  The parsonage was so beautiful and the church so welcoming and  the  community so friendly it was next to impossible to not love the whole new life God had laid before us.

Immediately we started to work at the church and in the community to seek to minister to the church family and reach new people for the Lord and church.  It was an exciting time as we began to go into the community, meet people, visit the sick, preach/visit the nursing homes and hospital.  We have such precious memories of many of those people who have already gone to be with the Lord.  Hugh & Verna Garner, Rinaldo Sooter, Les & Ressie Huckabee, Mrs. Mae Turner  and more.   We had many laughs and many tears as a church family. We rejoiced at births of babies, souls being saved and lives changed. We cried at deaths, sickness, and tragedy.  

We remember “Hubie burgers” (Huburt & Vena Mae Kidd Grocery) and later it was “Mrs. Julie’s Store” – the friend fish, burgers, and more.  We remember the school and the first day of kindergarten for Josh – Mrs. Ruth Hicks was his teacher.  We grew to love the school and the Spring Hill Bears alot. 

We remember “shorty” our little pembroke welsh corgie and how he loved everyone in the community. Everyone around our home fed him. He loved going down to the school which was near the parsonage and getting treats from the c hildren there.  He loved the “woods” and the pond out back. 

We remember the great VBS each year.  Talk about big VBS days!! Kids would come out of the woodworks to come to Bethany VBS.  The church vans would run two and three times just to pick them all up!  We remember the t-shirts that were given out every year for perfect attendance and seeing those Bethany shirts throughout the year on children at school, restaurants, and in the neighborhoods around. 

We remember the world famous “BETHANY QUARTET” that we all loved and enjoyed “back in the day”. lol Churches all over would invite them to come sing and though they might not have ever been on TV or big time radio they sang with all their hearts and blessed alot of people in the area.

We remember revival and great church services. We remember souls being saved and baptismal services on a regular basis.

We remember the way they treated their pastor and family – with love and they did their best to “take care of” us.   The “poundings” and more.

I also remember a two year period that I did more funerals in that short amount of time than i had ever officiated and have since officiated.  It was during that time we lost some of the best people you could have ever known in the church and in the community.  One thing for sure – when death hit Spring Hill – it didn’t matter what church you went to or who your family was – the community pulled together to help and get the survivors through it. 

We made memories in that church that have lasted through the years and friendships that still linger on to this day. While I’m sure that Bethany has seen many “great days” and good pastor’s through their many years as a church – it was our blessing and privilege to be a part of their lives for about 8 years. 

Thanks Bethany family for the way you loved us, took care of us, supported us and helped us during those years of ministry. Thank you for what you meant in the life of my wife and boys. You sowed some memories into our hearts that we won’t ever forget. Thanks for your prayers and support – even up until this very day.  We cherish our time there and we thank God for having been able to be a part of your church ministry. 

Wow – we were so blessed and we ARE so blessed…… Pastor James

Yesterday for some reason it hit me “big time”….over the last 10 months I’ve seen real Christians, doing real work for no glory and no pay. The members and friends of Life House are active in so many ways trying to touch hearts, meet needs and “do” the work of the ministry each week. They seek to be “HIS HANDS, HIS FEET, HIS HEART.”   Just like yesterday – at one given time there were men and boys outside working on the lot next door to get it shaped up, some were inside working on the children’s area getting it ready for today, some were folding clothing that has been collected for the homeless, others were practicing the music for today’s service, another was working on the computer, some were cleaning the building and more.  These were God’s people in action. While I’m sure I could have picked any of the other 300 days that this new church has been around (because there has been A LOT of work done in these past 10 months by many people) this one day it just “HIT ME” — this is the church in action.  Jesus never intended for us to be concerned with buildings, budgets and our own little kingdom. He loved people and wanted to reach, touch, love, meet needs and more. He was “moved with compassion” on them. We should be too.  I’m glad that I’m a part of a church “in action”.  Come join us…it’s not “church as usual”. It’s not about ME or YOU — not about a building, clothing, money, who sings best, who is most important or who is most popular or who has the most power – it’s about a love relationship with Jesus and getting out and doing HIS work – that HE has called us to.  I love you Jesus and I love you Life House Church family.  Pastor James

  Every church has expectations for those who become members of it.  Life House has four commitments that you must agree to and keep in order to become a member and remain a member. Anyone can come to Life House. Anyone can visit and enjoy all of the services, activities and events…but only those who are willing to make a commitment and keep that commitment can be members of the local body.  What are our commitments? They are simple, biblical truths that bind our hearts to each other as believers….

If you wish to become a part of Life House church you must commit to :

1. Be faithful to celebration worship services on Sunday.

2. Be faithful to a Life Group meeting.

3. Find and be faithful in at least one area of service. The choice of where to serve is between you and God but every Christian should be a serving Christian.

4. Be a storehouse tither.  We are a mission and we must be taught biblical stewardship. We can’t expect our partner churches to support us if God’s people aren’t giving as God has set up for the church to give and be taken care of.    (At Life House we don’t “do” fundraisers – we believe that if God’s people give as He has instructed us that He will take care of our needs as a church. We don’t sell anything to make a profit – we always give things away.)

So the question is – as  a member of a local church body – are you doing your part? Are you keeping your commitment to the Lord and your brothers and sisters? Are you carrying your part of the burden?  Are you really a beneficial part of the local body or are you simply a person with your name on some church roll somewhere that no one really knows.  If that’s the case – the church should drop you from their rolls or you should have the christian gumption to notify the pastor and ask that your name be removed because you aren’t really a part of the body – you’ve been amputated from the body by your own actions, decisions and choices.  While I know some traditional Christians are going to thing all of this sounds harsh or hard – that’s alright. When you become a part of a body of believers  you ARE making a commitment and you should keep your commitments!   I’m glad to be a part of such a body that not only expects their members to keep their commitments but doesn’t push people into “church membership” just for numbers sake. It’s a commitment to the Lord and the fellow believers and shouldn’t be entered into lightly.  Take stock my friend – are you really a blessing or burden to the church where your membership is?  If you are a burden – I challenge you to get up and do something about it.  Either get totally in and help them reach their world for Jesus or be “man enough” to get out and don’t hinder the work your fellow brothers and sisters are trying to do for the Lord.   With love – it’s time to get up, get committed and BE the church Jesus intended us to be.  Now get up friend — there is work to be done…JESUS IS COMING SOON!!!   Pastor James

   In these hard economic times people are struggling to make ends meet. Groceries are at an all time high.  Life House Church received several cases of Sara Lee Sourdough Bread and some regular loaf bread from one of our sister churches on the Texas side.  Regions Christian Center (sbc church) is so good to always call us when they get a shipment of food of any kind and have too much for their ministry to use.  Some of our people picked up the bread last Thursday.  Yesterday, while working at the meeting place, several of the regular youth of our church came by. I mentioned that if they were looking for something to do that they could tape invitation sheets to each loaf of bread and as usual they were more than willing to do it.  After they completed that task I figures while they were there that a couple of us adults and those few youth could load up the buggies (we are probably the only church around that has two old buggies and use them all the time!) with bread and just walk the community and give it out.   We headed out and one person, home at a time we gave out bread to those that wanted it.  We got many reactions and best of all it helped our youth understand that that our church exists to share Jesus love with anyone and everyone.  It was a good learning experience and best of all the kids seemed to have fun doing it. We don’t know how many people we will see from the bread give away come to Life House — and frankly that’s not the goal – the goal is to give help,  love and encourage them to go SOMEWHERE to church that preaches Jesus.  The interesting note was that during the “giveaway” we realized that out of the seven people helping – five of the seven had been saved at Life House in the past 10 months!  We are so blessed…and who knows maybe someone else will come to know Jesus…because of a simple loaf of bread.   Pastor James