Life Change

Are You Making A Difference?

Thu, 24 May 2012 16:34:49 -0500

By Courtney Etzel

Life Church recently held an event for women called Heart and Soul. It was a great night, full of worship, tears, and laughter. If you missed this event, you really missed out, so be sure to mark your calendars for the next one.

At Heart and Soul, Tammy Cole recommended four books that we talked about in an earlier post here on our blog. One of the books Tammy suggested was Kisses from Katie by Katie Davis, so I’ve been reading it. In the book, Davis shares her personal story and reveals how God’s plan for her life was different than what she had envisioned for herself. Ultimately, she moved to Uganda and fell in love with the country and the people, and began to see God’s plan unroll.

The passion and sacrifice Katie Davis made was inspiring. I began to imagine what would happen if everyone shared Katie’s passion to make a difference and to show the love of Jesus to others. I know we can’t all move to another country, but we can go to our own backyards, our own neighborhoods, and we can make a difference in the lives of people we come into contact with on a daily basis.

If you want to make a difference in people’s lives, I encourage you to serve in a ministry here at Life Church. There are so many opportunities available. Find one that best fits the talents God has given you by going through our Life Track program and start making a difference today!

Your abs aren’t the only thing that can benefit by you...

Tue, 22 May 2012 20:19:31 -0500

Your abs aren’t the only thing that can benefit by you signing up for a gym membership at Sneakers Health & Fitness! It could also help the Heart for the House campaign. This limited-time deal is just ONE of the creative ways you can contribute to Heart for the House.

And you thought it got cold in Wisconsin! Check out one of the...

Fri, 18 May 2012 08:33:00 -0500

And you thought it got cold in Wisconsin! Check out one of the missions projects that will benefit by Life Church’s Amazing Race 5K.

High Risk Faith

Thu, 17 May 2012 09:53:32 -0500

By Cassie Voisin

Many of you know that Phil and I are expecting our first child at the end of August. Being parents has been something we have always dreamed of, so we couldn’t be more excited!

With all the excitement comes some struggles. The “morning” sickness (more like all day sickness) has been constant throughout the pregnancy, and due to some concerns from the doctor, I have been labeled a high risk pregnancy.

When you are high risk, there are a lot of doctor appointments, and many “what if’s” and concerns to consider. It would be easy to become discouraged, but I know I have a God who is BIGGER than anything we could face.

Going through a high risk pregnancy is the hardest thing I have ever done, but I trust that if God brings me to it, He will bring me through it. My circumstances will always be changing, but the character and promises of God will always be constant. I just have to do my part to make sure I am using this circumstance as a stepping stone and not a stumbling block in my walk with Him.

Some things that have been helping me grow…

Praying: I am honest with God with about how I feel. I simply have conversations with Him; I give Him my stress, concerns, and also thank Him for everything I am grateful for.
Remembering God’s Promises: My favorite verse has always been Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” This means ALL things. Not just the easy things or the things I think I can do, this means ALL things.
Letting my friends and family love on me: Friends and family mean everything to me! I have been blessed with so many of them who care so much and have helped me a lot. They have prayed for me, held me accountable, took some things off my plate to make things easier, or just listened when I needed to vent. God has blessed me with some amazing people in my life!

It’s easy to say we have faith, but what matters is how we walk out that faith when we encounter struggles. There will always be struggles. Will we stand strong and have faith in God?

4 Books for Your Summer Reading List

Wed, 16 May 2012 14:53:38 -0500

Looking for some summer reading guaranteed to move your heart and make you think? Here are the books Tammy Cole recommended at last week’s Heart & Soul Encounter:

1) Ms. Understood - Rebuilding the Feminine Equation, by Jen Hatmaker.

As described on Jen’s blog, “Women have been identified in many conflicting ways. Sometimes goddesses, slaves, or seductresses, but always misunderstood, by themselves and others. [Ms. Understood] uses examples from the five women named in Jesus’ lineage to help define a daughter of Christ, each has something to pass on. Courage, wisdom, and influence are the heritage of a woman.”

2) Compelled by Love, by Heidi Baker - Based on the beatitudes as seen through the eyes of third-world pastors and missionaries, this book chronicles the twenty-seven year ministry of Heidi and Rolland Baker in the war-torn country of Mozambique.

3) Kisses from Katie, by Katie Davis. A MUST READ if you even think you have a heart for mission work! Here’s an excerpt from the introduction: ““I have absolutely no desire to write a book about myself. This is a book about
a Christ who is alive today and not only knows but cares about every hair on my head. Yours too. I’m writing this book on the chance that a glimpse into the life of my family and me, full of my stupidity and God’s grace, will remind you of this living, loving Christ and what it means to serve Him. I’m writing with the hope that as you cry and laugh with my family you will be encouraged that God still uses flawed human beings to change the world. And if He can use me, He can use you.”

4) The Circle Maker, by Mark Batterson. A book guaranteed to impact your prayer life in a profound way. The Circle Maker uses the legend of Honi the Circle Maker - a man who prayed a seemingly impossible prayer and refused to budge until God answered it - to challenge you to draw circles around your own prayers. You can read a review of it on our blog here.

Life Church Showing Some Love for Our Moms

Mon, 14 May 2012 13:49:17 -0500

Life Church Showing Some Love for Our Moms

To all the MOMS: Thanks for ALL you do!!

Mon, 14 May 2012 09:14:13 -0500

To all the MOMS: Thanks for ALL you do!!

Why does the INVITE matter? Because it can change...

Thu, 10 May 2012 15:29:00 -0500

Why does the INVITE matter? Because it can change someone’s life! Kevin Miller shares a story from a recent mission trip to Liverpool, England.

Twitterview with Heart & Soul Speaker Paula Muehler & daughter Makenzie

Wed, 09 May 2012 20:54:18 -0500

LIFE CHURCH - Q1: #MothersDay is next weekend. Do you have any special plans? #LCHeart

Paula Muehler - Mother’s day usually starts with my favorite breakfast. I plan to spend the rest of the day is with my family.

LIFE CHURCH - Sounds fun! Breakfast is always good - especially if someone else cooks it for you!

LIFE CHURCH - Q2: Makenzie- What’s 1 of the most important things your mom has taught you?

Makenzie Muehler - My mom has taught me that I don’t have to let any problems I may have stand in the way of what I can accomplish.

LIFE CHURCH - Q3: Paula - At HEART & SOUL you’ll be talking about your family’s journey of faith & Makenzie’s Chronic illness, right? #LCHeart

Paula Muehler - Yes that is correct.

LIFE CHURCH - Q4: Paula - What’s 1 thing you’d say to other moms (& dads) in your situation?

Paula Muehler - Deal with it as a family Don’t let illness put barriers on your child’s life and always remember God is in control.

LIFE CHURCH - Good #advice!

LIFE CHURCH - Q5: Makenzie - Like your mom said, you’ve refused to let your illness put barriers on your life. How do you stay so positive?

Makenzie Muehler - I stay positive by always reminding myself that my God is bigger than any disease & He’s got a plan.

LIFE CHURCH - Q6: Are there any Bible verses you turn to time & again for encouragement?

Paula Muehler - I have two, Jeremiah 29:11 and Romans 8:28.

Makenzie Muehler - Jeremiah 29:11 and 2 Corinthians 12:9-10.

LIFE CHURCH - Q7: Paula - Even when times are stressful/busy, why is it important for women to take time to connect with God & one another?

Paula Muehler - Connect daily with God to keep focused Connect with friends to support the various journeys God has us on.

LIFE CHURCH - Q8: And HEART & SOUL is a great place for women to connect! What are you most looking forward to at HEART & SOUL? #LCHeart

Paula Muehler - My prayer is that God will be able to use our story to provide hope & encouragement to the ladies of LC.

LIFE CHURCH - We hope so, too! Big THANKS to you & Makenzie for chatting w/ us today! Look fwd to seeing you at HEART & SOUL!#LCHeart

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Want to find more information about the Women’s Ministry at Life Church? You’ll find it here.

George and Danielle share their sacrifice for Heart for the...

Wed, 09 May 2012 12:11:37 -0500

George and Danielle share their sacrifice for Heart for the House.

Family Impact

Thu, 03 May 2012 20:48:00 -0500

By Ryan Coggins

Few people have left such a profound impression on my life as my grandpa. It wasn’t through his words or lectures, for neither were necessary to impact my life. It was through his tangible devotion to Christ that I saw what it meant to be a follower of Christ and a pastor.

I remember going to the grocery store or to a restaurant, and without fail, he would share his faith in Christ with someone. It was never forced, but through simple conversation, genuine care, and meeting felt needs, he left a mark on this world. He lived out the great commission daily.

I remember living with him and my grandma one summer in college, and I was astonished by how many hours he spent reading the Bible and praying. He told he he had read the Bible cover to cover four times that year and it was only May! This is a man who pastored for fifty years, and was a student of theology. He could probably quote most of the Bible. And yet, he would tell me (and still tells me) about things he never before saw in scripture. His love for the word was rich and deep.

I remember hearing stories from my mom of the humble lifestyle she grew up in, as the daughter of a church-planter. Most of her upbringing was spent literally in church, because her bedroom in the church doubled as a Sunday School classroom on the weekend. My grandfather truly laid down his lifestyle for the sake of the call.

To this day, I have never heard my grandpa pray (which has been countless times) without crying. Although he’s built like a lumberjack, his heart is melted by the love and grace of his creator.

I’ve encountered many pastors in my life. I’ve known thousands of Christ Followers. But my grandpa showed me what it meant to be a pastor and follower of Christ like no one else. My prayer is that these words would one day be said of me.

Run / Walk / Bike the Amazing Race 5K & Help Missionaries

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 21:39:11 -0500

Missionaries across the globe are in constant need of supplies. Here’s your chance to help! On Sunday, May 20, 2012, Life Church will hold the Amazing Race 5K at Sussex Village Park in Sussex, Wisconsin. Whether you walk, run, bike, or rollerblade, all proceeds will benefit the Boys and Girls Missionary Challenge and Speed the Light.

RACE DETAILS

Distance: 5K (3.1 miles)
Date: Sunday, May 20, 2012
Time: Registration - 2:30 p.m.; Race - 3:00 p.m.; Awards - 3:45 p.m.
Location: Sussex Village Park, W244N6067 Weaver Drive., Sussex, Wisconsin
Incentives: Participants receive a complimentary t-shirt prior to the race and refreshments immediately following the race.
Registration Fee: $25 per person (Discount offered for additional participants)
Deadline for Registration: May 6

Additional information and registration info can be found on the Amazing Race 5K registration form.

What Do Circles Have to Do with Prayer?

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 18:43:09 -0500

By Randall Cartwright

I recently read Mark Batterson’s book, The Circle Maker. I am not a very consistent reader, but this book about prayer grabbed my attention and inspired me to pray harder, pray longer, and most of all, pray more boldly.

Batterson claims that our prayers have the power to change everything, but most of us give up way too easily. The idea of prayer circles are simply a way to encourage us to keep asking until God delivers. “Drawing prayer circles around our dreams isn’t just a mechanism whereby we accomplish great things for God. It’s a mechanism whereby God accomplishes great things in us,” he says.

In the book, Batterson relates the story of Honi, a Jewish hero famous for praying for rain. During a drought, Honi the Circle Maker drew a circle in the sand and refused to budge from inside it until God answered his prayer for rain. It was a bold, seemingly impossible request, one that drew criticism from others. But God honored Honi’s faith by finally sending the rain they desperately needed.

Instead of praying bold prayers like Honi, I often find myself just praying what Mark Batterson calls “911 prayers.” I’ll pray “emergency prayers” or prayers that request something I need right away. But Batterson says, “We shouldn’t seek answers as much as we seek God. If you seek answers you won’t find them, but if you seek God, the answers will find you.”

I don’t know about you, but I want to be more like Honi. I want to pray boldly. To pray with more focus and with more faith. Do you ever sense that there’s far more to prayer, and to God’s vision for your life? What impossibly big dream is God calling you to draw a prayer circle around?

He is Risen…He is Risen Indeed!

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 14:28:00 -0500

By Jim Sukup

Easter has always been a special day to me. I remember dressing up in suit and tie when I was younger, and once, when I was about 10 years old, even wearing a fedora when I went to church with my family. To me, Easter has always felt like New Year’s Day. A day where you reflect on the past and then leave it behind. A day of new beginnings, a day to make new plans and commitments, a day that makes the future look bright. Why? It has nothing to do with party hats, staying up past midnight, or even wearing a fedora to church. It’s all about Jesus, His death and resurrection and how that impacts my life. What Jesus did gives me the ability to be all that he has created me to be. Each Easter I am reminded that I am loved, I am special to Him and He has a wonderful plan for my life.

But this Easter was particularly special because of the services at Life Church where some people shared their personal testimonies of miracles. Powerful stories of healings, family restoration and a wife who shared how God brought back life to her husband. Watch them for yourself at http://vimeo.com/40038038. It’s one thing to experience Jesus in our own lives, but it can be even more exciting to see it in the lives of those around us.

Is 2012 going to be a good year… oh yeah!

As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives,” (Job 19:25 NASB).

“Glory of it All” - Performed Easter 2012

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 22:11:10 -0500

“Glory of it All” - Performed Easter 2012

Spring Break is almost here! If your High School or Middle...

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 16:54:23 -0500

Spring Break is almost here! If your High School or Middle School student would like an opportunity to get off the couch and put their faith into action, SERVOLUTION is the perfect thing! Find out what it’s about in the video then download your Servolution parent consent form and schedule here.

God is using Life Church to help change lives! Sherry Williams...

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 11:43:17 -0500

God is using Life Church to help change lives! Sherry Williams shares her moving testimony.

Why are we still talking about CHAIRS at Life Church? Because...

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 11:35:00 -0500

Why are we still talking about CHAIRS at Life Church? Because they matter! Watch Randy & Pam Siefert share how God used chairs to bring blessing into their lives!

When you step out on faith, your whole family can feel the...

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 11:34:12 -0500

When you step out on faith, your whole family can feel the impact! Watch John & Denise Infield’s inspiring story about what happened when they stepped out of their comfort zone and helped plant Life Church.

Why do we care so much about adding more seats? See for...

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 11:32:56 -0500

Why do we care so much about adding more seats? See for yourself!