Our hearts are filled with thanksgiving to the Lord as we think of you and the hundreds of volunteers who gave of their time and so effectively demonstrated the kindness and love of our God and Savior to those who came out for the celebration. Words seem inadequate to describe how blessed we feel to be leading such a vibrant, talented and dedicated team of staff and volunteers.

We are so excited about all that God has in store for us in the next 30 days—the Elementary Camps, the James River Women’s Rally with Nancy Alcorn and Project Partnership are just a few of the exciting opportunities that will be taking place.

You are loved…we are praying for you…and even after all we have just experienced, we know that—“The Best is Yet to Come!”

As we unite our hearts in prayer, things will happen at I Love America that would not happen otherwise—lives will be changed, people will be encouraged and God will be glorified. Between now and Sunday, we want to encourage you to be in prayer for the following:

1. SOULS

·   For God to prepare people’s hearts for the Gospel today and in the days leading up to the event

·   That people will sense God’s hand the moment they step on the property

·   For every volunteer to be anointed to share the Gospel in every way

·   For an anointing to be on the Gospel set, the choir, the orchestra and the worship team

·   That Scotty’s preaching and altar call will be anointed and powerful, and that God will transform lives through it

2. WEATHER

·   For a front to move in and cool things off

·   82° with a slight wind from the NW

·   No rain

3. EVENT PREPARATION

·   Supernatural protection:

o Safety during site preparation

o Safety for all who attend the event on the 4^th

·   For all of the ministry teams and departments as they prepare for the event 

While we will not be having our regular Wednesday Night Prayer meeting or children’s activities, Debbie and I will be at the land for a time of prayer at 7:00 pm and would love to have you and your family join us if you’re available. 

Several people have asked about the Sunday schedule of services: WE WILL BE HAVING CHURCH ON SUNDAY, JULY 4^th at our regular service times (8:30, 10:00 & 11:30 am) at both James River and Wilsons Creek. Gates will open at the I Love America site at 1:00 pm. 

God has given us an amazing opportunity in I Love America to host the community, share the Gospel and demonstrate the love, the joy and the power of Christ in our lives. It is going to be a great day—we can’t wait to see what God will do! 

With enthusiasm and excitement,

John and Debbie

Lead Pastors, JRA

This past weekend at James River Assembly was extraordinary in several ways. The weekend started off with a powerful time in God’s presence at the Good Friday service. On Saturday, the Early Childhood Department put on an Easter Express at both James River and Wilsons Creek that included 37,000 stuffed eggs for the Easter Egg Hunt, train rides, fire engines and a petting zoo. The combined attendance at both campuses totaled more than 8,200 people with many new families registering their children for Easter Services the next day.

On Easter Sunday, the Lord gave us an amazing day with 157 decisions for Christ in the adult auditoriums, and 192 decisions for Christ in the Elementary Department. Think of it–349 people came to Christ at James River Assembly on Easter Sunday! The attendance set a new record with 15,870 people attending the Easter Sunday morning services.

If you were in the worship services, then you know what an incredible job the Worship and Creative Service Departments did in creating a presentation that shared the Good News in a powerful, contemporary and Christ-exalting manner. The music, videos, sound and lighting were spectacular!

From those working the café, to those serving in the kids area, to those driving the golf carts in the parking lot and serving in the Red Carpet ministry–so many did so much to make those coming to James River Assembly feel at home in God’s house! Your willingness to serve, your love for the Lord and the joy with which you served made us feel so blessed to be your pastors!

Our hearts are filled with gratitude to the Lord and love for you. We pray the Lord will bless you in every way for all that you did to make this past weekend possible–you made Jesus famous, darkness tremble and heaven smile.

Much love,

John & Debbie
Lead Pastors, JRA

Her name is Lori and she works in the JRA Café. A year ago her life was totally different. Raised in a mainline denomination, she had only heard about Jesus but had never met Him. The search for meaning in life took her through drugs and across the ocean, but left her in despair. Wanting to take her life but afraid even that might not work, she saw a James River yard sign. She’s not sure how many times she passed it on her way home but one day she found herself thinking, “I can’t go to James River on Easter but I am going to go on the following Sunday.” On April 19th she showed up, heard about the plans to start Wilson’s Creek and when the invitation was given, she understood God had plans for her! She came forward and committed her life to Christ and was baptized on the following Sunday. One year later, her life is totally different and her countenance radiates the joy of the Lord–which is a sign in itself!

Is your sign up yet? Of course, it’s easy to put up a yard sign and YOU SHOULD! But an even brighter sign is the joy of the Lord and a countenance that says, “I am in love with the God of the universe and He cares for me.”

Thankfully in the midst of this disaster, Mission of Mercy has informed us that the 10 projects where we sponsor nearly 1,100 children did not experience significant damage, so the children and their families are safe. While we thank the Lord for watching over those children, our hearts are broken by the devastation the people in and around Port au Prince are experiencing.

What can we do as a church? We can pray! We can give! We can go! Tonight at the Prayer Meeting, we will be praying for the people who have survived this disaster and the workers who will be trying to help them.

On Sunday, January 17, we will be receiving a special offering to help with the relief and reconstruction efforts. We’re praying this will be one of the biggest “relief offerings” we have ever taken at James River Assembly. Would you prayerfully ask the Lord what He wants you to do in participating in this offering. By praying and generously giving together, we can make a huge difference in the lives of those who have been touched by this disaster.

Finally, you may have the opportunity to go to Haiti. If you would be interested in going on a medical, relief or construction trip to Haiti, please email Tina Carner (tcarner@jamesriver.org), include contact info and which type of trip (medical, relief, construction) you would prefer. As ministry team travel opportunities to Haiti become available, she will be in touch with you.

Impacting our world with God’s love…it’s what Jesus has called us to do and I am glad I can say it’s what James River Assembly is all about.

We’re looking forward to seeing you at church tonight and can’t wait to see what happens on Sunday!

John & Debbie Lindell
Lead Pastors, JRA
www.jamesriver.org

Some have thought me disrespectful or using slang. So whether people agree with using X-mas or not, perhaps a little background on its use will at least help people understand why at the very least X-mas is not slang, disrespectful or “taking Christ out of Christmas.” I am indebted to WikiAnswers for helping me provide a concise but detailed explanation.

Writing Xmas is not slang nor is it taking Christ out of the season. In many respects, Greek is the language of Christianity–the New Testament was written in Greek and utilized the Greek alphabet. There are still traces of the Greek in symbols and phrases used today, like calling God ‘the alpha and the omega’ meaning ‘the beginning and the end’ because alpha is the first letter of the Greek alphabet and omega is the last. It’s like calling Him the A to Z!

Another place you might see Greek symbolism used in modern western Christianity is the Ichthys or fish symbol. You’ll have seen it somewhere, it’s the classic fish shape that people sometimes use to show they’re Christian. It’s called an Ichthys because that is Greek for fish. Why a fish as a symbol of Christianity? Because ‘Ichthys’ stands for Içsous Khristos Theou Huios, Sôtçr which means “Jesus Christ God’s Son, Savior.” The ‘ch’ in Ichthys stands for Christ, and the Greek symbol used to for ‘ch’ looks a lot like an ‘X.’

Similarly, the ‘Chi-Rho’ symbol that looks like an ‘X’ superimposed over a ‘P’ is actually the Greek letters Chi (X) and Rho (P) which are the first letters in Christ’s name. This symbol, like the fish, is almost as old as the Cross symbol and can be found scratched on the walls in the early Christian Church catacombs in Rome. The coincidence that the ‘X’ Chi letter also looks like a cross resulted in the ‘X’ being adopted as an abbreviation for “Christ.”

From ancient times, Christians have used the Greek letter that looks like an ‘X’ as an abbreviation of ‘Christ.’ Therefore, ‘Christians’ is abbreviated to ‘Xians,’ ‘Christ’ is abbreviated to ‘X’ and ‘Christmas’ is abbreviated to ‘Xmas.’ This is useful when people want a shorter way of writing something and is a reminder of Christianity’s roots.

The word ‘X-mas’ should never be pronounced ‘Ex-mass’ as the ‘X’ in it is not the letter ‘X’ in our alphabet. The letter is actually the Greek letter Chi “χ” (which looks like an ‘X’) which is the first letter of the Greek word ‘Christos’ meaning ‘Christ’.” Therefore ‘X-mas’ should be pronounced simply ‘Christmas’ because that is exactly what it is.

While you may not like the use of X-mas as an abbreviation for Christmas…the ‘X’ stands for Christ…it has since the earliest of times. Christ is the reason for the season… and for everything else.

Church family,

The Lord seems to be forming patience and a call to endure in us. This time of uncertainty beckons us to either trust in the Lord, His goodness and His timing or slip into paralyzing anxiety. Throughout the scriptures we read about Spirit-filled courage and a solid trust in the goodness of our God. David writes in Psalm 27:14, “Wait for the Lord, be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!” Please know that as we pray for Matt in this season we are also praying that the Lord be near to you.

Matt will start in-patient rehab on Wednesday, which will include speech, occupational and physical therapy, and will extend his hospital stay between one to two weeks.

His recovery will take longer than originally anticipated, but everyone is encouraged by his daily progress.

The pathology report of Matt’s tumor is still not available from Dr. Barnett. We will continue to provide updates as information is made available; please be patient because updates may not be daily.

Thank you for your faithfulness in praying for him, Lauren and the kids. If you want to send the Chandlers a card, please send it to 2101 Justin Road, Flower Mound, TX 75028. Your prayers and written notes are encouraging to the family.

A Halloween Story

I grew up in a day when Halloween was little more than pumpkins, fall festivals, hayrides, and dressing up as a pirate or a farmer to go trick-or-treating. That is what it held for my now very post-Halloween-age children as well. As a result, I’ve had a built-in resistance to those Christians who bash October 31st as a pagan festival that followers of Christ have no business supporting, much less engaging. Yes, I know its history, but few celebrations in our day are free of pagan roots, and the idea that donning a costume and receiving a mini-Snicker bar is an invitation to the occult is ludicrous to my thinking. And if you want to really push me, I’ll bring up the fact that at the very least it can be celebrated as Reformation Day (when Luther posted his 95 theses on the door of the Wittenberg church). So I still hold to the child-like fun the night can hold, but I no longer view the day itself as innocuous.

For example, the costumes (among adults, at least) might as well be advertised as “Dress like a Slut” day. This is not original with me. In an article in The New York Times titled, “Good Girls Go Bad, For a Day,” Stephanie Rosenbloom writes of the changing nature of women’s Halloween costumes in the last several years. Little Red Riding Hood, in her thigh-highs and miniskirt does not seem en route to her grandmother’s house. Goldilocks, in a snug bodice and platform heels, gives the impression she has been sleeping in everyone’s bed. And then there is the witch wearing little more than a Laker Girl uniform, a fairy who appears to shop at Victoria’s Secret and a cowgirl with a skirt the size of a – well, you get the point. As Rosenbloom notes, the images “are more strip club than storybook.” It’s a wonder, she adds, that “gyms do not have ‘get in shape for Halloween’ specials.”

Of course, experts are often trotted out to speak of this as the “empowering” of women as they embrace their sexuality, and look for deep and positive meanings in the evolution of Cinderella from virgin to vixen. But take a walk through your neighborhood mall’s costume store, as I recently did – mine featured a prominent “no one under 18 allowed without a parent” sign out front – and you can cut through the sociological analysis. And need I even delve into the gore side of things?

Then there is the Christmas-ization of Halloween. There are now Halloween trees decorated with ghosts and pumpkins, orange lights on houses, and even Halloween displays on lawns. In an article in USA Today on how Halloween is getting “Christmassy,” Maria Puente writes that “Halloween…is second only to the December holiday in spending.” Don’t believe it? According to the National Retail Federation, Americans spent $5.7 billion in 2008 on Halloween. Yep, 5.7 billion.

But here is my biggest complaint of all: we are giving the world of the occult what it most wants. And what does the world of the occult most want? To be trivialized. C.S. Lewis, in his famed Screwtape Letters, said that what demons hate most is to be mocked. Perhaps during Lewis’ time, that was true. But they’ve gotten wise. Now, I think they like it. Why? It is one more way to mask their reality. I was jolted into how we have removed the reality of the occult from our American culture during a recent trip to the Philippines. Reading the Manila Bulletin one morning (the nation’s leading newspaper, I saw the following headline: “93 students possessed by evil spirits.” It was striking in how “matter of fact” it was. Just a story about what happened.

The story detailed how at least ninety-three students at a public high school in Bontoc (the Mountain Province General Comprehensive High School) were reportedly possessed by evil spirits while they were attending classes. The event led to the suspension of regular classes for several days. They took them to the Bontoc General Hospital for treatment. It didn’t help. Later, they were brought to the churches in the town where they were blessed by priests, and this reportedly brought them back to their normal condition.

Happy Halloween.

The “Prince of Preachers,” Charles Haddon Spurgeon, wrote the following:

The prayer meeting is an invaluable institution ministering strength to all other meetings and agencies. This brings a further observation. This united prayer should specially be made for the ministers of God. It is for them in particular that this public prayer is intended. Paul asks for it: “Brethren, pray for us” (1 Thessalonians 5:25). God’s ministers will always confess that this is the secret source of their strength. The prayers of the people must be the might of the ministers. Keep in mind why the minister more than any other person in the church needs the earnest prayers of the people. Is not his position the most perilous? Satan knows if he can once smite through the minister’s heart, there will be a general confusion among God’s people. It is around the standard bearer that the fight is thickest. There the battle-axes ring upon the helmets and the arrows are bent upon the armor, for the foe knows that if he can cut down the standard, he will strike a heavy blow and cause deep discouragement. Press around your minister, then, you men at arms! Knights of the cross rally to his defense, for the fight grows hot. The person you call to the office of the ministry needs you to stand fast at his side in the hourly conflicts. The life of a minister is so perilous that I may well cry, “All hands on deck!” Let every saint give himself to prayer; let even the weakest saint become instant in supplication.

Do pray for those in ministry. If God gives a minister to your church and you accept the gift most cheerfully, do not so despise both God and the minister as to leave the minister without your prayers.

The preservation and health of the minister is one of the most vital points to the church. You may lose a sailor from the ship, and that is very bad–both for him and for you–but if the captain should be washed overboard, what is the vessel to do? Therefore, though prayer is to be made for every person in the church, yet for the minister is it to be offered first and foremost because of the position that he occupies. If you were to keep a private table for personal spiritual growth, he is, as it were, to keep a public table–a feast of good spiritual things for all comers. How shall he do this unless his Master gives him rich provisions? If you are to shine as a candle in a house, the minister is to be a lighthouse to be seen far across the deep. How shall he shine the whole night long unless he is trimmed by his Master and fresh oil is given him from heaven? If there is any truth in all this, I implore you to generously and constantly pray for those who minister to you.

• In the last 4 Sundays, 129 people have made decisions for Christ.
• James River Assembly became 1 church with 2 locations!
• We had an amazing attendance last Sunday:
  • James River Campus:                                                              7,827
  • Wilsons Creek Campus:                                                          2,165
  • James River Assembly Total Attendance:                                9,992
• At the Wilsons Creek Campus, 46 Elementary children made decisions for Christ on Sunday!
• Life Group Link placed 442 new people into Life Groups.
• Realife Student Ministry has raised over $130,000 for Speed the Light (Youth Missions) and had one offering in September of $20,000!
• Already there are over 1,500 women registered for the Designed for Life Conference.
• This week, we will be traveling to Havana, Cuba to present medical equipment to one of the leading cardiac hospitals.

Once again, we have been amazed by the willingness of so many people to serve God with passion and excellence. At both campuses, hundreds of people have committed to getting involved with a “whatever it takes” mentality to reach people for Christ, encourage other believers, and build the church! We pray God’s greatest blessings will rest on each of you!

The Daniel Fast may have come to a close, but God is still working. The prayers we have been praying will be answered. This praise report from Michael and Jeanine summarizes the kind of faith-filled attitude that God will honor:

Thank you for inviting us to join with the church for the Daniel Fast. When it began, we were facing a job loss and prodigal son. So in addition to praying for Wilsons Creek, we also have been praying for these needs. 14 days, many, many prayers and pounds of broccoli later, we have a new and better job. One down and one to go. I can hardly wait!!! Back to prayer and broccoli.

We love you much and pray God’s very best over each of your lives.

The Best is Yet to Come!