Supporting your Pastor

"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!

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

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.

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!

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!

"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."

A Day to Remember

On June 27th, 2006 at 2:04 P.M. my life was forever changed when my wife gave birth to Gracen Hope Payne. I was not ready for the storm of joy and emotion I would feel when I saw my precious baby girl come into this world.

I would like to thank everyone for their prayers for my wife and Gracen's safety during the delivery. Life Church is our family and we thank everyone for visiting and being there for us during this exciting time!

Grace and Hope

God gave Jodi this name (Gracen Hope, sounds like Grace and Hope) for our child one morning as she was praying. How true it is that we are in desperate need of God's "Grace N' Hope."

What's in your account?

"Not that I am looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to your account." ( Philippians 4:17)

We work hard to build us up savings, retirement, and other resources to give us more comfort while here on earth. All of these "things" will one day turn to rust and we certainly can't take them with us in eternity. So why work so hard for something that is temporary?

The Bible tells us to "not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matt.6:19-21)

What ashame if we were to build up our earthly account only to find our heavenly account empty one day. We are to build us up a heavenly account! Everytime you win a soul to Christ that is credited to your account! Everytime you give to a missionary who wins a soul to Christ that is credited to your account! Everytime you serve or bless others you build up your account! Everytime you take the time to spend with a child that goes to your account!

So how does your account look? What's in your account?

Congrats Pastor Joel and Angel Dyke!

A congratulations is in order for our Pastor and his wife Angel as they celebrated thier 19th Wedding Anniversary this week! Congratulations guys! Thank you both for who you are and all you do for everyone at Life Church.

Note: Angel. How did you do it? 19 years with this guy!!!???

THANK YOU!

Pregnant with a Promise

"This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit." (Matthew 1:18)

Each year my wife and I pray for God to give us a "word" for the upcoming year. In 2005, the Lord gave my wife the word "expectancy" and this year he gave me the word "fulfillment."

As most of you know Jodi is pregnant and about to give birth to a baby girl. For the past 9 months we've been "expecting" something. We've been expecting a promise to be fulfilled. There were pains that Jodi has been going through since her pregnancy but she is "expecting" a promise to be fulfilled that will make it worth it.

Did you know that you can be spiritually "expecting"? Spiritually pregnant? What has God promised you? There is a word that God has spoken over your life that you conceived and now you are spiritually impregnanted by that promise and you are waiting for that promise to come forth. It may seem like it's been taking a while but you are spiritually pregnant, it takes time. It may seem like its taken awhile to come forth. To manifest. To come to pass. To be fulfilled but it's coming forth because you are spiritually pregnant. Sure it may hurt while the time passes. There may be pain, there may be trials but it will be all worth it when the promise of God for your life gives birth!

Are you expecting?

Xtreme Life Night

Tonight, we had another great service in our student ministry here at Life Church.
Ian, Hannah, and Caleb led us in several wonderful worship songs to our Lord. You are doing a great job guys!
We taught from Genesis 11 about living for Christ or living for ourselves. Are we involved in God's plans for our lives or are we "making a name for ourselves"? We really challenged the students tonight from the word of God.
We wrapped up the message with a powerful testimony from Hannah Dyke. GREAT JOB HANNAH! It is so encouraging to see the fruit of the Holy Spirit in our teenagers lives!
Matt Nance came in behind me and wrapped up the service wonderfully as he always does.
Last and least, we had alot of fun playing a few games of volleyball. (my team won and no it was not rigged."
Have a great week!

Day at Duck Commander

Well I did it! I took an afternoon of work off! No worries! No cares! Just laid back fun!
I had the honor to spend an entire afternoon at the home/business of the Duck Commander, Inc. by invitation from my good friend Jeptha Robertson.
We started off our afternoon with a wonderfully cooked meal by his mother Mrs. Kay Robertson her self. Man, that woman can cook!
After lunch, Jep and I headed off to a private pond located at the end of the earth to do some fishing. We spent around five hours catching all the large-mouth bass we could handle but releasing them after each catch.
After our adventure, we headed back to my place with his wife and kids for supper. Of course we couldn't finish off the evening until we had watched the latest DuckMen video, "Relentless."
I encourage you to go to www.duckcommander.com to check out this site! They are great Christian people who use duck hunting as a platform to reach people. Believe me, they've done it!

Lessons from the Tower of Babel

SIn Genesis chapter 11 we read about the famous story of the Tower of Babel. After reading this story, there are several lessons I can take from it that speaks into my life. I'll share a few of them with you.

Now a long time ago, the world only spoke one language prior to this event in time.

In Genesis chapter 11 verse 4 it says, "Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves..."

Lesson #1 Quit trying to make a name for yourself.

So many times in life we live to make ourselves known. We want to be in the spotlight, we want to get all the recognition, we want to make a name for ourselves. We go through life making our own plans and our own agenda's never seeking the council or advice of the Holy Spirit. In other words, we do our own thing!
The Bible says that Jesus was a man of no reputation. In other words, Jesus didn't go around trying to make a name for himself! The Bible says, that God lifts up the humble but brings down the proud. John the Baptist said, "He must become greater and I must become less."
God does have a way of lifting us up but only when we bring ourselves low at his feet.

LESSON #2 God may mess up your plans.

"Come let us go down and confuse thier language..." (Genesis 11:7)

When God sees that the plans we've made in our heart could stear us from his will he may come down to "confuse" those plans. He does it because he loves us not because he's "mean." Aren't you glad he's "confused" some of your plans in your life?

"Many are the plans of a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails." Proverbs 19:21

Self-Esteem

"Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness..." (Genesis 1:26)

This past Wednesday night we discussed the topic concerning alot of teenagers today and that is self-esteem.

A recent country music song came out and it talks about how all week long some people are nobodies but the weekend is here and it's time to "get drunk and be somebody." Sad huh? Do you really think a bottle is going to make someone special? Yea, maybe for a moment but you always wake up with that same "empty" feeling inside. You don't need a bottle, or a pill, or a million dollars to make yourself feel like somebody.

Alot of teenagers find thier self worth in what other people think. They tried hard to "fit in" by doing the things necessary to do to "fit in". Insecure in themselves, they hide behind a fake laugh, a new haircut, a joint, a drink, or even in the back seat of a car.

Before we jump on the teens case, we do it ourselves as adults. Insecure of who we are in Christ, we try to "be somebody" by driving the nicest vehicles, or owning the nicest homes, or being the best dressed.

There are two questions we need to ask ourselves concerning our self-esteem.

1) How do I see myself?
2) How does God see me?

So how do you see yourself? Unimportant? Not wanted? A waste of space and air? Ugly inside? Not loved?

How does God see you? You were made in his image and he didn't make a mistake when he made you! No, he made a priceless work of art when he made you! The Bible says you were "fearfully and wonderfully made!" He put you together very carefully! There is not another you out there! In other words, God didn't make any junk! And your self worth? You were worth so much that he died for you! When is the last time someone went through what Christ went through for you? No one ever has and no one ever will!

Today, realize that you are somebody and its not because of any thing YOU have done! You are somebody because Christ loves you, died for you, and wants to have a relationship with you!

KMCT Tonight

I had the honor to do something that I don't really do very often and that is to go on Christian T.V. I was invited to go on with Bro. Mike Reed of Lamb Broadcasting to talk alittle about what God is doing in and through the student ministry at Life Church. Bro. Mike and I also studied Daniel 3 to talk about the trials we go through as Christians.

"Fully Alive" will air tonight at 7:00 P.M. on KMCT.

Dixie Diehard Saturday

We had a great Life Church WM showing at the Biedenharn Baseball Complex in West Monroe this past Saturday for the Dixie Diehard's game.

Dixie Diehard's is a baseball leauge for kids with either physical or mental disabilities (usually both) that require the help of a "buddy" to assist him or her in playing the game. It's very humbling assisting someone that is almost totally reliable on your help and protection. These kids aren't worried about the score or how many hits they got during a game, they are only interested in having a good time. This game also gives the parents of the disabled kids a chance to be a "parent" for about two hours as they have a break while someone else is helping with thier kids.

I couldn't help but notice as I was standing out in the field with my "buddy" the baseball field next to us. The game that was being played there was quite different than the one I was involved in. I watched as "normal" kids were hitting and fielding on thier own while thier parents watched proudly in the stands. I couldn't help but wonder how that made the parents of the kids I was involved with feel. Questions like, "Why my kid?" or "I wonder what it's like to sit in those stands?" may have crossed thier minds. If it did I couldn't tell because these parents were just as proud or prouder of thier "disabled" kids.

We overheard a grandmother saying to her grandson, "It is only by God's blessing that you aren't in those other kids shoes." We were surprised to hear the grandkids response, "Grandmother, I think they are the ones that are trully blessed."

Maybe we can learn something from these very special individuals.

Thanks for a great showing Life Church!

Who can you help?

"Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act."
(Proverbs 3:27)

All of us have been given some measure of "power" here on earth. Even Jesus Christ told Pilate and I paraphrase, "the only power you have has been given to you from my Father in heaven."

Alot of people who have "power" abuse that power and will use it to manipulate people.

The Bible tells us "not to withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in YOUR power to act."

Who around you do you have the power to help? Financially? Spiritually? Do you have the opportunity to help someone be promoted? Do you have the power to bless someone's business? Has God prompted you to bless someone that has been faithful and deserving? If you have the power and the opportunity to do good to someone and you don't then who will?

God does good to us even when we don't deserve it so how much more should we do good to those that do?

Strolling through Proverbs

I've been spending alot of time in the book of Proverbs lately and I tell you what...I'm enjoying it! To me, there isn't another book in the Bible that is so relevant to our everyday life.
The next few post's, I would like to take some time to talk about a few scriptures in the book of Proverbs.

Proverbs 3:5-6

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight (or he will direct your paths)"

1. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart."
Man, that can be a tough one. If there is anyone on this earth whom we can trust can't it be God? But why is it sometimes it IS so tough to trust him? Maybe the word trust has been thrown around by other relationships we've been in. Maybe you've heard the words, "trust me" from another person and that statement hasn't meant much to you.
We are told to trust God with ALL of our heart. Not some of it. Not half of it. ALL of it! When we do, we will experience peace and joy beyond our comprehension.
2. "lean not on your own understanding."
You may be going through something in your life now and asking yourself, "Why am I going through this?" "I don't understand why this is happening." "Why did this happen to my friend?" or "Why didn't I get that big case?".
We are told not to lean on our understanding I believe because OUR own understanding is limited. In other words, we can't see the big picture, only God does! He alone knows what's best and we must trust in that!
3. "in all your ways acknowledge him"
In every area of your life we are to acknowledge God. Through the good and the bad! We are to say, "Lord, I don't know why I'm going through this but I acknowledge your presence! I acknowledge your goodness and I praise you for it!
4. "and he will direct your paths"
When we are truly trusting God in our lives and giving him full acknowledgement of every aspect we not need to worry about where our lives are headed because he is first and foremost in our lives! "Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these other things will be added unto you as well." (Matt. 6:33)

Praise you in this Storm

"That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, "Let us go over to the other side." Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat."

As believers we must realize that Jesus is always trying to take us places in our Christian walk. He doesn't want us "complacent" in our walk. He doesn't want us to be the same today as we were a year ago, so he must "take" us places.

"A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, "Teacher, dont' you care if we drown?"

As Jesus takes us places through life there will be times where we go through storms. Notice as they were going through this storm Jesus was asleep on a cushion.
Maybe you are going through a storm right now and you are asking yourself, "Does Jesus care what I'm going through?" "How can he "sleep" when I am going through this storm?" We must realize all through Jesus DOES care about what we go through he isn't "caught off guard" by it.

"He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!"
Can you imagine what this scene may have looked like? Lightning! Thunder! Waves crashing over and in the boat and no Jesus waking up! Notice that none of those things woke him but when one of his children called on him...That will preach!...He woke up!

Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?

As sure as the sun comes up we can be sure we will go through storms in life but there will be a point where Jesus steps in and speaks to your storm, "Quiet! Be still!" "That's enough!" My child can take no more!"

What God would teach us through this passage I believe is we need to learn to praise him through the storms of life! We need to see that God is not only good when things are going good but God is good all the time, even when things appear to not be going good! Take heart! God is with you in your storm!

Beck

The Price for Freedom

Almost two years ago I came to a turning point in my secular career. My dad was retiring after 24 years with State Farm, five or more of those years which I worked for him, and it was time for me to make a decision. I decided to become an agent myself with the New York Life because I wanted the opportunity to "be my own boss." In other words, I wanted to be free! In charge of my own time! What many don't realize is freedom comes with a price. Yes, I'm able to hunt more, enjoy time with my wife more, and spend more time doing the things I like to do but not without a price! Hard work and unfaltering commitment must be paid for this freedom! In other words, freedom is not free!

Jesus Christ come to this earth to set us free from sin but not without a price! He paid the ultimate price by dying on a cross for our sins that we may enjoy the freedom in Christ we have now.

As we approach Memorial Day Weekend, we must remember the price that was paid for our freedom! We are to honor the dead of those who died in combat for the freedom of others! We have many brothers and sisters in Christ that have given thier lives for the sake of the gospel we need to remember as well.

Enjoy your weekend but remember the freedom with have today whether it be in Christ, in this country, or in any other area there had to be a price to pay! Be thankful!

Beck