"Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that thier work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you." (Hebrews 13:17)
Since coming to Life Church to serve over three years ago my respect for pastors has gone up tremendously. So many people think that being a Pastor would be the ideal job. I mean all they do is get to pray and preach right? Hmm...think again! There are so many things that pastors have to do "behind the scenes" that people never see. They are far too numerous to name so I won't even go there.
Point is, I often think, "Am I a joy or a burden to my pastor? Maybe we all need to ask ourselves that question. So many times, we only bring the negative to our pastors attention instead of all the positive we see going on.
I want to challenge you this weekend. Get behind our pastor! Support him! Pray for him! Be good to him and not only him, but his family. He watches over us like a good leader!
Thank you Pastor Joel for everything you do for Life Church WM and our community. Angel, Bekah, and Hannah, thank you for giving your lives for the gospel!
We love you!
Friday, July 21, 2006
Thursday, July 20, 2006
Xtreme Life Wednesday Night...
Welp, if you missed this past Wednesday nights youth service you missed a good one! The youth band was passionate as ever as they led us into God's presence in worship.
We wrapped up our three week series with the last message entitled, "Speak no evil...". We talked about the power of the tongue and how there is life and death in the words we speak. We had several teens respond in obedience to God's word during our ministry time. God's spirit really moved! As his spirit touches us let us then go out and touch others that need to be touched!
Be blessed!
Beck
We wrapped up our three week series with the last message entitled, "Speak no evil...". We talked about the power of the tongue and how there is life and death in the words we speak. We had several teens respond in obedience to God's word during our ministry time. God's spirit really moved! As his spirit touches us let us then go out and touch others that need to be touched!
Be blessed!
Beck
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
I repent!
Well, I need to confess something. I did something to our Pastor here at Life Church West Monroe that I feel very bad about. I mean, how could I have done this? After all Pastor Joel has done. He's been there for me, counseled me, given me opportunities to serve, and I go off and do this?!
Well, here is what happened. I beat our Pastor twice last night in NCAA Football on the Play Station...Yes...on his own turf.
Well, here is what happened. I beat our Pastor twice last night in NCAA Football on the Play Station...Yes...on his own turf.
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
The Greatness of knowing Christ
"But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things." (Philippians 3:7-8)
Paul was a man whose life was radically changed by the power of Christ. Before Christ, Paul was known as Pastor Joel put it, "a present day Bin-Laden". He was a very "religious" man who was faultless as far as the law was concerned. If there was an award given for being "religious" Paul would have won it. But knowing God is not about being "religious" it's about having an intimate relationship! It's not about what you look like on the outside, it's about having Christ living on the inside of you!
Paul said that nothing compares to knowing Christ! As a matter of fact, he considered everything else a loss compared to knowing Christ! Sadly, many people have forsaken knowing Christ instead to run after other things. Relationships, money, social status, are just a few things that people allow to compare to knowing Christ and compete with a relationship with him.
Paul said "I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead." (Philippians 3:10-11)
How badly do you want to know Christ? What competes with Christ in your life? What competes to take the place of the relationship with him? Is it worth it? Remember, nothing compares to the greatness of knowing Christ Jesus!
Paul was a man whose life was radically changed by the power of Christ. Before Christ, Paul was known as Pastor Joel put it, "a present day Bin-Laden". He was a very "religious" man who was faultless as far as the law was concerned. If there was an award given for being "religious" Paul would have won it. But knowing God is not about being "religious" it's about having an intimate relationship! It's not about what you look like on the outside, it's about having Christ living on the inside of you!
Paul said that nothing compares to knowing Christ! As a matter of fact, he considered everything else a loss compared to knowing Christ! Sadly, many people have forsaken knowing Christ instead to run after other things. Relationships, money, social status, are just a few things that people allow to compare to knowing Christ and compete with a relationship with him.
Paul said "I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead." (Philippians 3:10-11)
How badly do you want to know Christ? What competes with Christ in your life? What competes to take the place of the relationship with him? Is it worth it? Remember, nothing compares to the greatness of knowing Christ Jesus!
Saturday, July 15, 2006
Got Paint?
We just wrapped up a morning of fun-filled paint-slingin, sweat pourin paintball fun! Wait a minute here!!! Christians can't do that! We dont' need to be teaching teenagers to have fun now do we? Where in the world is the church headed!!!??? Oh my gosh! Please!!! Jesus is the King of Joy! We preach Jesus to these teens week in and week out! It's okay to have alittle fun along with it huh? Feed em nanchos, chips, and fill the room with PSII's who cares! The point is, once they are there they are going to get a straight forward message from the word of God! If they get it with cheese runnin down thier face, who cares! Didn't it say in Corinthians to, "find a common ground?".
I spent my high school years having fun alright! Right along with the devil! I thought Christians were nerd's and didn't know how to have fun. Well, we are seeing these teenangers get right with Jesus and why should't Christians have the most fun? I mean, we do know the true meaning of life!
Anyways, I had a blast guys! (little sore from getting shot) I love all of you and you are the best teens ever! I'm proud of you!
I spent my high school years having fun alright! Right along with the devil! I thought Christians were nerd's and didn't know how to have fun. Well, we are seeing these teenangers get right with Jesus and why should't Christians have the most fun? I mean, we do know the true meaning of life!
Anyways, I had a blast guys! (little sore from getting shot) I love all of you and you are the best teens ever! I'm proud of you!
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
"See no evil..."
"The eye is the lamp of the body..." (Luke 11:33)
Tonight, we started a three week series entitled, "See no evil...hear no evil...speak no evil". The series will be about guarding your eyes, ears, and mouth. We talked about guarding our eyes from the lust driven society that we live in today. These teenagers are bombarded with lust-filled MTV videos, reality shows, pornography, and the list goes on!
Satan has been trying to get to us through the "eyes" since the beginning. "When the woman saw the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eyes she took some and ate it." Genesis 3:6
King David was tempted "through the eyes" in II. Sam. 11 when he lusted after Bathesheba. Just "looking" won't hurt will it? Just "looking" led to adultery, murder, and the death of his son! Sin has consequences!
So how do we guard our eyes or "see no evil" in such a day as this? The Bible says in Matthew 5:29 "If your right eye causes you to sin gouge it out." No not literally, but what it means is this; If you have problems on the computer don't get on it! Throw it away! Shot it! But gouge it out! If you can't help but look at that lady that works in the store, don't go in it! Turn your head! Gouge it out!
Job said "I made a covenant with my eyes..." We challenged the teens tonight to make a covenant with their eyes! A binding agreement not to "see no evil."
Tonight, we started a three week series entitled, "See no evil...hear no evil...speak no evil". The series will be about guarding your eyes, ears, and mouth. We talked about guarding our eyes from the lust driven society that we live in today. These teenagers are bombarded with lust-filled MTV videos, reality shows, pornography, and the list goes on!
Satan has been trying to get to us through the "eyes" since the beginning. "When the woman saw the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eyes she took some and ate it." Genesis 3:6
King David was tempted "through the eyes" in II. Sam. 11 when he lusted after Bathesheba. Just "looking" won't hurt will it? Just "looking" led to adultery, murder, and the death of his son! Sin has consequences!
So how do we guard our eyes or "see no evil" in such a day as this? The Bible says in Matthew 5:29 "If your right eye causes you to sin gouge it out." No not literally, but what it means is this; If you have problems on the computer don't get on it! Throw it away! Shot it! But gouge it out! If you can't help but look at that lady that works in the store, don't go in it! Turn your head! Gouge it out!
Job said "I made a covenant with my eyes..." We challenged the teens tonight to make a covenant with their eyes! A binding agreement not to "see no evil."
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