Come Away...to a weekend of rest and relaxation; away from the "to do" lists and the hustle and bustle of life. As women, we tend to invest much of our time and energy into caring for others. We do however, need to stop and refuel from time to time. The men of Life Church have graciously blessed us with a prepaid retreat as a way to show love and care to the women of Life Church. Please consider 'coming away' to embrace the encouragement of other women and to be still with an open heart and mind in order to receive the renewal that Christ desires for you. Jesus says in Matt. 11:28-30, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
~Shelby Wagner
As Life Church's first ever Ladies Retreat approaches several women will be weighing in and sharing some of their thoughts about the retreat, life, some of their personal experiences, friendships and what they are hoping to get from the retreat. This is a way for you to begin to get to know some of the women who call Life Church their home and for you to know that we all want as many women to join us as possible! And remember you can sign up to attend on our website and join our facebook page for more updates- Life Church Ladies Retreat. - Mindy Wolfe
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Community At Life Church
No one can know Jesus fully, change deeply or reach the world without being in positive, healthy Christian community. WOW. That’s a BIG Statement! Yet, test it out - if God himself exists in community as the Father, Son and Holy Spirit why do so many of us live isolated, independent lives. What gives?
The reality is we all need people who will encourage us when we’re down and who we can encourage when they are down. We need people to help us in our times of need and we need to help others when they are in need. And the greatest proof that Jesus is alive is when his followers love each other.
Because healthy community is such a high value at Life Church we are strategically planning to launch some small group options for the fall. We are currently running a training group of around 15 people to lead these small groups. Each group will provide a great way for you to connect with other followers of Jesus on mission.
But until we have organized groups - take some initiative and get to know some new friends at Life Church. Have a backyard barbecue this summer. Throw a dinner party, go see a movie, go bowling or golfing with some new friends, get together downtown on a first Friday - and while you’re together spend some time talking about what Jesus is doing in your life. He is what we all have in common.
The reality is we all need people who will encourage us when we’re down and who we can encourage when they are down. We need people to help us in our times of need and we need to help others when they are in need. And the greatest proof that Jesus is alive is when his followers love each other.
Because healthy community is such a high value at Life Church we are strategically planning to launch some small group options for the fall. We are currently running a training group of around 15 people to lead these small groups. Each group will provide a great way for you to connect with other followers of Jesus on mission.
But until we have organized groups - take some initiative and get to know some new friends at Life Church. Have a backyard barbecue this summer. Throw a dinner party, go see a movie, go bowling or golfing with some new friends, get together downtown on a first Friday - and while you’re together spend some time talking about what Jesus is doing in your life. He is what we all have in common.
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Come Away!
The men of Life Church are awesome! I am so excited to be writing today about what they did for us women. The men of Life Church got together and decided to raise the funds to pay for ALL the women of Life Church to get away for a weekend!!! They told us they think part of being a good man is caring for the women in their lives and that includes all the women in our church body. So, they raised the funds to provide us with a sweet location, all our meals provided and a speaker to refresh our hearts. Because they are super thoughtful they didn’t want to necessarily plan our whole retreat and end up with it being not quite what we women would like. So, they set out to enable us and help us create a weekend that meets our needs as women. Seriously, that’s awesome!
In light of their heart for us, our theme this year is going to be - Come Away. Come Away from the stressors of life, the regular routines and the constant responsibilities to a restful and fun place. Be ready to lie by the pool, have someone else cook all your meals for a few days, and have your heart encouraged. Also, be ready to Come Away from the weekend and return home with some new perspective, with deeper friendships and connections not only to other women but also to Jesus and His word. Our speaker, Anita Keagy, from http://joyshop.org/ will be talking to us about how to read our Bibles. She is going to actually walk us through a simple process that we can use by ourselves every day - this alone has the power to completely transform your life! If you are not reading your Bible on a daily basis and enjoying freedom and encouragement and refreshment for you soul you need to come this weekend! For a tid bit of her message hop on over to her website - she has an incredible story to share with us.
In the next few weeks several women from Life Church will be posting blogs all about the retreat. We are excited and we want as many women as possible to join in - Come Away with us (on the guys’ tab!) and let’s have a fabulous weekend together!
- Mindy
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Be The Best You
This week I traveled to Charlotte, NC where I met up with a group of GHCN church planters. During a training session the presenter made this statement: “Most people over-value what they are not and under-value what they are.”
Is this statement true in your own life? Do you see someone elses gifts, talents, abilities or skills and wish you were more like them. It is so easy to get discouraged with ourselves as we compare ourselves to others.
But Jesus has something totally different for us in mind. Jesus made us to be a part of His ‘body’ (1 Cor. 12:12-26) and the bible says we are his ‘masterpiece’ (Eph. 2:10). There is no one else in this world with your mix of talents, abilities, personality, experience, and passions. And through Jesus, you can make an impact in a way that no one else can.
As we each follow Jesus, let each of us be the best “you” that we can be.
Is this statement true in your own life? Do you see someone elses gifts, talents, abilities or skills and wish you were more like them. It is so easy to get discouraged with ourselves as we compare ourselves to others.
But Jesus has something totally different for us in mind. Jesus made us to be a part of His ‘body’ (1 Cor. 12:12-26) and the bible says we are his ‘masterpiece’ (Eph. 2:10). There is no one else in this world with your mix of talents, abilities, personality, experience, and passions. And through Jesus, you can make an impact in a way that no one else can.
As we each follow Jesus, let each of us be the best “you” that we can be.
Friday, March 16, 2012
1 Year For Jesus
Sunday will mark the 1 year anniversary of Life Church! Its hard to believe that Life Church has already hammered out a full year for Jesus.
I am so grateful to be on this mission with you all and I am stoked to see what Jesus will do through Life Church next year as we keep pointing everyone toward Him.
When our small band of crazy young folks settled here in Lancaster almost 2 years ago - we were passionate about creating a church where Jesus and His grace were the focus and where there was an environment where people could come as they are to find life in Him - no matter how jacked-up they were.
Over these 12 months we have gone from 20 to 120 people and the stories of life transformation far surpass anything I had hoped for. We have seen over 30 people find life in Jesus for the very first time with many others finding encouragement, hope, community and new life breathed into their walk with Jesus. Every week I hear new details on how Jesus is changing lives through the community of Life Church.
I am so grateful to be on this mission with you all and I am stoked to see what Jesus will do through Life Church next year as we keep pointing everyone toward Him.
Friday, February 24, 2012
No Man Left Behind
Being a Vietnam movie with some Mel Gibson style gore, “We Were Soldiers” is a must see. Gibson plays the role of military commander Lieutenant Colonel Harold Moore. The Colonel gives his men a speech just before they are to leave for battle. He promises them “I will be the first man on the battlefield and I will be the last man off the battlefield. And I will leave no one behind, dead or alive.”
The words from the Colonel are a battle cry for the men at Life Church. The American male is under siege from political, social, scientific and religious critics. In many ways this criticism is justified - yet the result has been that men have lost their way. We have no unified vision for good manhood. Consequently, men have responded by becoming chauvinistic oppressors, immature idiots or selfish pansies distracted by the pleasures of life.
It is time we respond differently.
If you are a man who attends Life Church, we will not leave you behind. You can not hide in the back row, you can not disappear into the crowd. We will find you and challenge you to be a man for Jesus. Jesus’ calling on your life is profound and challenging. We are here to help you join the men who are on the battlefield of life fighting alongside Jesus for the gospel, our wives, our sons & daughters, our grandkids, our communities – you must join us. We will not leave you behind.
Pastor Jason
The words from the Colonel are a battle cry for the men at Life Church. The American male is under siege from political, social, scientific and religious critics. In many ways this criticism is justified - yet the result has been that men have lost their way. We have no unified vision for good manhood. Consequently, men have responded by becoming chauvinistic oppressors, immature idiots or selfish pansies distracted by the pleasures of life.
It is time we respond differently.
If you are a man who attends Life Church, we will not leave you behind. You can not hide in the back row, you can not disappear into the crowd. We will find you and challenge you to be a man for Jesus. Jesus’ calling on your life is profound and challenging. We are here to help you join the men who are on the battlefield of life fighting alongside Jesus for the gospel, our wives, our sons & daughters, our grandkids, our communities – you must join us. We will not leave you behind.
Pastor Jason
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Its All About Jesus
If you have been attending Life Church for any amount of time I hope you have heard one consistent message from us: Jesus. Being a Christian means that I am someone who is learning to trust Jesus - nothing more, nothing less.
It’s not about moral achievment.
It’s not about religious rituals.
It’s not about working hard to be good.
It’s not about making promises and vows.
It’s not about getting gold stars on heaven’s chore chart.
It’s about Jesus.
Like a rebellious teenager we thought we knew better and we snuck out of the house, went to the party, got drunk, and woke up in a jail cell with wet pants and smelled like vomit. Jesus came and found us, paid our bail, brought soap, a wash bucket and fresh clothes.
We don’t deserve what Jesus did. We don’t deserve His kindness & forgiveness. We never will. But he freely offers it to ALL who are willing to put their faith and hope in Him. This is good news.
This is why at Life Church - It’s always going to be about Jesus.
It’s not about moral achievment.
It’s not about religious rituals.
It’s not about working hard to be good.
It’s not about making promises and vows.
It’s not about getting gold stars on heaven’s chore chart.
It’s about Jesus.
Like a rebellious teenager we thought we knew better and we snuck out of the house, went to the party, got drunk, and woke up in a jail cell with wet pants and smelled like vomit. Jesus came and found us, paid our bail, brought soap, a wash bucket and fresh clothes.
We don’t deserve what Jesus did. We don’t deserve His kindness & forgiveness. We never will. But he freely offers it to ALL who are willing to put their faith and hope in Him. This is good news.
This is why at Life Church - It’s always going to be about Jesus.
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