Pastor James’ Blog

My post yesterday must have stirred somebody to pray!  Just today God has already begun answering some prayer items for us!!  This morning I went to the post office and there were two checks in the mail. One from a partner church and one from a lady who attends a church of a different denomination. The total of the two checks was almost $3000.00.  WOW! GOD IS SO AMAZING!!!!  Now we only like $9,995.oo to go to be able to buy the van that we recently saw. You say “NO WAY” – I say – WAYYYYYY with GOD!!!! With God all things are possible! PRAY!!!

Our church family totally enjoyed being able to give out Thanksgiving boxes to 60 needy people this year and doing that only made us want to do it more!  We were praying and hoping for a way to have another opportunity to give out some food to the needy in our area for the Christmas season and it looks God is making that possible.  A preacher that attends Weight Watchers saw me this morning ( I dropped by the Center to do our staff Weigh In) and when he started to leave he asked me about our new ministry and said, “COULD YOU USE SOME CHICKEN”?  DUH – I’m a Baptist aren’t I? LOL   Well, come to find out he had some “connections” to a pastor and church that had been given a huge (12,000 pounds) of frozen chicken from a major chicken producer. They had already received 10,000 pounds of chicken and with the help of several churches gave it out to the needy.  The man gave our names to the pastor and the pastor contacted me this morning asking if we would be willing to take some chicken “off of his hands” and I said YES!  There were only two requirements: 1. That it be given to people that need it or will use it.  2. That Jesus be given the credit for it. We can give it through our ministry but in the name of Jesus. Anyone see anything wrong with that? I DON’T!!!!  So it looks like we will be the recipients of some chicken in the near future.  Glad it’s not cooked already or I might think I had died and gone to heaven!!! (Just joking for those of you with no sense of humor!! LOL) .   Praise the Lord for His provision. Praise Him for another chance to reach the community. Praise Him for it all!  

Lastly – we praise Him for the service tonight. We had a great crowd of children, youth and adults at Life Group tonight. Thanks to those who are stepping up to work and minister. Thank the Lord that we are seeing the children who once acted like they had never been in church or a structured environment begin to act like they have been in church now!  Many of the children, youth and adults bless my heart to hear them say, “my church”, “my pastor”, “our church” and such. There is a sense that they have now accepted the ministry and it’s in their heart. We thank God for those who have been reached and pray that MANY MANY more can be reached in 2009.  God has been so good to us!  To Him be glory!  My heart is full and excited about all that God is doing at Life House in our lives. It’s a blessing to serve Him.  Please continue to pray for us and contact us when you get a chance. Also, if you want – post a comment or two. It’s always a blessing to “HEAR” from those who are reading the web site and blog. We know that more and more people are reading from the web stats that our webmaster is getting. THANKS and post a comment if you will. Take care and  MERRY CHRISTmas to you!    Pastor James

It’s hard to believe that Life House Church and Ministries is almost 8 months old and that we are going to be marching into a new year of ministry in a few short weeks.  Right now I am spending time, praying, planning and looking toward 2009.  We have seen many victories and blessings and there are more ahead. We are so thankful for all that God has done in and through our sponsor church, partner churches and membership at Life House. So many people have prayed, worked and given sacrificially to get this new ministry off the ground.  We believe that God wants to use Life House Church in 2009 to continue the work HE has begun in College Hill. Pray for us. Pray that I will have wisdom, sensitivity to the leadership of the Lord and that God would show me the direction to lead this new church plant. Pray for God to save souls, add to our church family by baptism and letter and for our members to grow in the Word and in stability. 

Pray for the Life House Church family as we seek to get out into the community in 2009 and let Jesus shine among the people. There are so many hurting, sick and dying people in our area who need the Lord. There are families who are struggling and many who are falling apart – who need to know that Jesus is the answer. Pray that we can impact College Hill and the surrounding area like never before for the Lord!  If you or your church feels led – contact us and make plans to join us for one of our community outreach events or even a “mission trip” to help us reach souls this year.  We would be glad to have you do mission work with us. 

Also, pray for God to continue to meet our needs finacially. We are a baby church and it will take 2/3 years (maybe longer but our goal is 3 at most) to be able to be a self support and stable congregation.  We begin buying our present building in January 2009 and we are excited about that!  The building has been appraised at a much greater value than we will be buying it for.  Our thanks to the owner,  who doesn’t want to MAKE money off of the building, but rather just recoup the amount he paid for it many years ago. He has a heart for College Hill and wanted someone with a heart for the Lord and for souls to buy the building – THAT’S US! We are praying that we can “pay it off” in record time so that the monthly amount will not hinder us growing and doing ministry in the area.  We are buying it for $140,000.oo – it is appraised at about 7 times that much.  Pray that God would help us pay it off ASAP!   Maybe you want to help us by giving a end of the year, tax deductible gift – if so contact us!  You would be helping a new church gain financial freedom to do more ministry in 2009 than we could ever dream!  Pray about it.  All gifts toward the building (big or small) will get us that much closer to being able to pay it off!

We also are in need of a good used/new church van to be able to pick up children and adults in our local neighborhoods to get them to church. We are a “walking” neighborhood so when it’s cold or gets dark early our local people have a hard time getting to Life House. We know of a good used van for $12,000.oo and we are praying that if God wants us to have it that HE will provide the funds like He did recently when we bought the empty lot next door. HE CAN and HE WILL if it’s HIS WILL. Pray!!!

NOTE: I’m sure that some will say – “WHY NOT HAVE FUNDRAISERS TO PAY OFF THE BUILDING?”  We began Life House Church with the idea that we would never hold “fundraisers” to buy or purchase anything.  We want to be a debt free church and the only debt we hope to incur is when buying property  or building. Even at that we do not want to resort to fundraisers, because  our community already has the idea that “all that churches and preachers want is your money”.  We don’t want them to ever see or hear that from Life House. We don’t even “take up” offerings in our services – we have an offering box available so that our members can place their tithes and offerings  in it and guests can give as they feel led. 

2009 is going to be a great year for Life House! Pray for us! Come see us! Invite me to come speak to your church or group (at no cost) and come see us when you can!  It’s a blessing to serve the Lord in College Hill and to be one of your North American Mission Board Missionaries!   …’till later… Pastor James

We don’t usually have Sunday Night worship services at Life House but this Sunday we will! We will be blessed to have our Sponsor Church family (Shiloh Baptist) with us. We will meet at 6:00 p.m. Make plans now to join us for this special time of praise and worship. God is “gonna show up and show out”!!  Pastor James

There are many people who say they believe God can do anything but they don’t believe in miracles. If you don’t believe in miracles you might not want to talk to one of our couples in our church family.  This young couple were expecting a baby girl but not as soon as she chose to come into the world.  The doctors in Little Rock wanted to keep her from having the baby until it was further along and the lungs were more mature and formed better. God had other plans. The call came that the baby was going to be born early and pray that it would survive. The mother delivered the baby last Monday and was in our service – Wednesday night!  The baby is still in Little Rock in the hospital but the physicians can’t believe that she doesnt’ need all the care and attention that most babies born so early need. She is a miracle. The Mother told the doctors when they shared with her that they couldn’t understand how the baby is doing so good – “It’s a miracle because my church family was praying for us!” Wow! Praise God!  Stop by the wall in the worship center and view the new born pic of this little miracle! Praise God – He’s still in the miracle working business!   Pastor James

One of the things that we desperately need at Life House is more room for parking. We can only hold about 12/14  cars on our lot at one time. We have been praying that God would make a way for us to buy the empty lot next door. Earlier in the summer there was a real estate “for sale” sign on it and we called to find out how much they were asking. We found out that they wanted $9,000.00 for it. In our depressed economy, in our area – it’s not worth that much.  It did not sell. The sign came down.  After a month or so I found out who the owner was and called him and asked what he wanted for the land next door to us. He said, “I was asking $9000.00 but I will take $7,000.00 for it now.”  Well…..we have been praying and little by little a “lot fund” has come about.  We believe that we can get it for less than the “7″  – hopefully “5 or 6″.  God has blessed us with money coming in for the lot from time to time. Just today someone from out of town sent us a $1,000.00 check to help ”wherever it’s needed”.  Well – we NEED the lot next door!  I got a call from a lady recently who is visiting our church and due to some inheritance she has gotten she wants to donate $1,200.00 to the “lot fund”.  We haven’t received that check yet but i’m sure we will soon. God is blessing and soon we will be able to purchase use that lot for parking and future growth at Life House. Pray for us and pray that we can acquire the lot in God’s timing. 

Also, if you want to pray for “big things” that are needed: Pray for a church van for us to be able to go into the area and pick up people who need a ride to church. Many of them are walking but with winter weather on the way we would love to be able to give them a ride to church.

And..if you know of anyone who wants a big tax deduction for 2008 – tell them to call me. We will begin buying our present building in 2009 and if someone wanted to help that would be a BIG blessing!  God is so good to let us buy the building at 1/10th it’s appraised value.

WE have seen it work and cling to:  Philippians 4:19

“And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”

Thanks to all of our partner churches and friends who pray, work and give to help this ministry get off the ground!              Pastor James

IT’S TRUE — you did see “PASTOR JAMES” coming out of the Silver Dollar Club on East Street tonight. HEY – even better than that – you saw me coming out of there TWICE!  Yes – you can quote me on that!  Tonight at the beginning of the Fall Festival I wished that we had enough hot dogs for me to be able to carry a tray of them to the little club down the street and give to them as a way of connecting with the patrons there.  No preaching, no high pressure. Just a gift to let them know that we care.  Sure enough the ladies in the snack shack assured me that we had PLENTY of hot dogs and they fixed a tray of them up for me to carry down there!!  Well – the first time I went in with a tray load of hot dogs they were stunned.  It was a blessing to see their faces when I told them I was from the new church down the street and that we were having a fall festival and just wanted to share some hot dogs with them to bless them. One lady tried to pay me for them and I told her I couldn’t let her pay me for them or it would rob us of the blessing. They all thanked us and were nice. At the end of the fall festival we took another tray load of hot dogs to them and they were just as nice and very appreciative of the gift. NOT ONE BAD ATTITUDE, NOT ONE BAD WORD.  They were a little stunned but we had the chance to talk and even invite some of them to come join us one Sunday.  I know – “you shouldn’t go in there” – but if I remember correctly – isn’t that the type place Jesus went? Hmmm…if you are going to gossip PLEASE GET IT RIGHT –  YOU DID SEE “Pastor James” coming out of the Silver Dollar – with a smile on his face and a prayer on his heart.  Pray for and love people – Jesus did!

Pastor James

What a great night!  The Shiloh Ladies Ministry and the Shiloh Church Family really outdid themselves tonight at Life House!  They thought of everything!   Lots of prayer, time, work and heart for souls went into this big event and gospel seeds were spread all over College Hill.  WOW!  To put it conservatively – we think we easily ministered to 250 people. Someone else thought it was closer to 300. God knows the number –  all I know is that the gym area of our building was overflowing most of the night. Games, hot dogs, sno cones, popcorn, hugs, smiles and laughter were all over the building. We had the chance to meet, greet, speak to and try to connect with people of all ages and walks of life.  We believe that we were able to make some great contacts for the Lord tonight.  God is so good!  To be honest – I sure hope Bro. Todd (Pastor at Shiloh) doesn’t want to get too much out of his people this weekend because they worked themselves to the bone! THANK YOU Shiloh for putting the 2008 Fall Festival on for us at Life House. Thank you for allowing us to have a very small part of the night but also allowing our people to try to minister to and connect with all who came in the building.  We are going to see fruit spring up in the weeks and months ahead because you worked so hard!   I know everyone is tired tonight but i’ll guess that they will sleep contentedly because they know they did their best for the Lord. THANKS AGAIN!   We have some of the best partner churches of any mission anywhere. We are blessed!  WE love you all – Pastor James

Dr. Emil Turner (Executive Director for our Arkansas Baptist State Convention) posts blogs also and I love reading them.  Here is one that might touch you.  Hope you “get it”  – it was a sermon for me!  Enjoy!!

“Granny Grouch”
Posted on Friday, October 17, 2008
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Granny Grouch was at the counter.  I didn’t much care, I only wanted my pizza and Pepsi and I’d get out of her way.   The mall food court was the only place I felt like eating after a long day and I just wanted to get my food, eat it, and go watch the LSU football game in the hotel room.  The elderly lady working at the pizza joint acted like my order was an imposition.  One word, gruff answers, refusing to make eye contact, heavy sighs, all communicated “go away”.  Granny Grouch.

I stood there tolerating it, when an African-American teenage girl came to the counter.  “How much for a refill on my Pepsi?” she asked, holding out a beat-up Pepsi cup.  “Free”, growled GG from behind the counter.  “Oh, thank you” said the teenager, “you are the nicest lady in this mall”.  Granny Grouch suddenly melted.  “Aren’t you nice”, she responded, “This old cup is all beat up, let me get you a fresh one”.  You could literally see the change.  Then the elderly pizza lady and the teenage girl chatted about how busy their days had been, and the young lady went off drinking a free Pepsi.

I have heard a lot of good sermons.  I know some “big name” preachers.  But I have never seen more effective encouragement than the African-American teenager offered to the elderly lady working the pizza counter.  I don’t know the spiritual condition of either person, but I know encouragement when I see it.

The teenage girl could tell that the lady waiting on her was grouchy, just as surely as I could tell it.  But she chose to encourage the lady.  Scripture tells us to encourage one another.  Too often we respond to folks “in kind”, or we do as I was doing—noticing the surliness and feeling spiritually superior because I could recognize it.  If I really wanted to be spiritual, I might have even prayed for her.  But the younger lady did something.  She applied Hebrews 3:13: “encourage one another”….  

Don’t settle for feeling spiritual, instead, behave biblically.  Encourage one another.

Dr. Emil Turner – Executive Director of Arkansas Baptist State Convention

    The blessings just keep on coming at Life House!  Jesus passed by during our services today!  We were blessed with many first time visitors and a real spirit of worship was present. God blessed as people came to the altar and even had one saved! Praise the Lord!  Mission work is much different from that of an established church and every small milestone is one more milestone toward becoming an effective church for the Lord.  One of my pastor friends, (Rev. Keener – New Town Baptist), said recently, “It’s not about the number of people you have, it’s about the dedication of the people you have!”  Though we are a mission and still small – after five months of growth we have seen God bring together a group of dedicated people to do the work of the ministry at Life House.  A church family is only as effective as the dedication of it’s membership. It’s one thing to “talk a good talk” and it’s totally another to “walk the talk”.  It’s my prayer that God would give all churches dedicated people to help in the work of the ministry.

     Another blessing today was that the D.O.G. (Depend On God) Kidz Zone Kidz all colored “We Love Our Pastor” coloring sheets to show their love and appreciation to me as pastor since October is Pastor Appreciation Month.  I’ve made a display of all of them on my office door and I really appreciate all of their efforts, hugs and love. 

   This afternoon some of us attended New Town Baptist Annual Building Fund Program. One of my friends, Sis. Omie Blake, invited us to attend and what a service it was.  Several area churches came and sang as well as several individuals. The music was a blessing as well as the fellowship with our friends.

  TWO  reminders to all who read this blog…

1.  This coming Friday night will be our first ever “Family Movie Night” at Life House. It will begin at 6:00 p.m..  Free refreshments will be served.  We will be showing on a giant screen in the gym area – “FACING THE GIANTS”.  We hope you can come and bring a friend with you.  There is no cost for the movie or refreshments. 

2. Next Sunday afternoon we will have sponsor the “Life House Traveling Kidz Klub” at three locations in College Hill.  We will have puppets (the puppet crew from Dallas Avenue Church in Mena, AR is coming to help us), refreshments, crafts and music.  We will need as many volunteers from Life House Church as we can get to accomplish this event. Several from Shiloh Baptist (our sponsor church) are going to come help us out too.   If you have a LIFE HOUSE t-shirt why not wear it next Sunday!

COMING UP SOON…    November 9th at 6 p.m. (Sunday night) we will have a joint evening worship service at Life House with our sponsor church, Shiloh Baptist Church.  We are planning to have a finger/fork fellowship following the service to allow both churches to get to know each other. 

    Someone brought a copy of a song by Chris Tomlin called ”God of This City”.   The very words of this song really describe the heartbeat of Life House ministries. Here is a link to a video version of it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d61LamkXfwk    I hope you will click on it and enjoy it – but most of all listen to the words.   You will see what I mean.

   When the day has been said and done – it’s a joy to be able to say — Jesus passed by!   Keep praying and keep watching for God to do even more in the future.          Pastor James

For anyone who knows me very well will readily agree that patience isn’t something I’m good at. If we are planning on doing something – my motto: Let’s do it! Stop talking about it – just get it done.  Well,  God’s timing is always best but we are seeing His hand move in some great ways in recent days at Life House. 

Our services today were a blessing!  In spite of several of our regulars out due to being sick and one couple away “filling in” at another church so the pastor could be on vacation our attendance was still great!  We are even seeing God possibly opening a door to provide us with an answer to one of our biggest prayer requests: a black associate pastor.  We enjoyed a time of fellowship at lunch today with a young man and his wife – he’s 30 and a great man of God. We enjoyed getting to know this new family and who knows this might be the man God has for us at Life House. For now — He is praying and we are praying and will take some time to get to know one another better. We will be sharing, discussing our vision for Life House and seeing if God is in this. Pray that both parties know God’s will.  If this is the man God wants for us – let’s get him on board — if he’s not then one thing for sure – i’ve made a new friend and a helper in the ministry.

Tonight we had the blessing of filling in for Bro. Donnie Edwards at Dallas Avenue Baptist Church in Mena, AR.  This is a growing, friendly and happy church. The music was great. The fellowship and unity in the atmosphere was a blessing. They are an easy group to preach to and they love souls.  They have been and are being a blessing to the work at Life House!   They have voted to partner with us and we are excited to have them “on board” as prayer partners and financial helpers in the mission work.  Pray for this good church and their staff. We look forward to working with them in the future at Life House.

Well – I hope your day was blessed and that you can look back on it with a joy in your heart.  Pray for us and pray for Cindy’s Dad who will have surgery Wednesday morning.  Pray for us as we try to take care of him.

Bed time and much to do – so i’m outta here!  Pastor James