Well it has been a while since I have posted. I am going to try to do better with this, it is amazing how quickly the time goes by . Speaking of time, my oldest child Bradyn recently started second grade, my middle Madi just started kindergarten and my youngest Brock is almost two. I cannot believe I have a child in second grade, it seems like yesterday I could hold him in one arm.
As I began to think about my children the other day I remembered the Proverb in the Bible that says a good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children. Of course, the first thing that usually comes to our mind when we hear the word inheritance is money, but I think the Bible is referring to more than money. I have found with my children that it takes more of an effort for me to give them my time and attention than it does to just buy them something. In today's society there seems to always be some new gadget to keep your kid happy, but it is your time and attention that they really desire, and that desire is a God given one, it is a desire that can only be fulfilled by a parent.
It is in these moments that we teach and show our children the attributes of God. Love, Patience, Integrity, Character, perseverance, peace, joy, etc. The fact is the greatest inheritance we can leave our children is that thing that will not fade away with death or the passing of this world, and that is to live a Godly lifestyle, treating people with respect, and making a difference in the world around us. These are things that can only be taught by spending time with our children.
So before yours are grown and gone, vow to spend some more time with them and leave them a lasting inheritance.
Jake
Friday, September 12, 2008
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Hot Fudge Showdown
This past Sunday night at youth we had a hot fudge sundae contest to see who could build the best looking and best tasting hot fudge sundae. They broke up into pairs of two and competed to see who would take home the crown of Sundae champ. (Congrats to Trey and Chris for winning). What we all realized is that some times what looks good doesn't always taste good. Some of the sundaes were pretty terrible.
Afterwards, we talked about how the things of the world are not much different. Many times the things the world has to offer look very good and appealing, but when you actually take a bite it winds up not tasting very good at all, in fact it's almost like food poisoning and may even taste good going down, but when it gets down. Well you know the rest of the story.
Jesus however, is quite the opposite. He tells us "Taste and see that I am good" I have never had a person that gave thier life to Christ come back later and tell me that they regreted it. The reason for this is because once a person truly gets a good taste of a relationship with Christ, they realize that Christ truly is good.
So if you are tired of chasing temporary highs, try Jesus! He won't dissapoint!
Saturday, August 2, 2008
Unleash The Dream Within
"Fear not that thy life shall come to an end, but rather fear that it shall have no beggining" This is a quote that I recently came across by John Cardinal Newman, and how true it is so many times in life we live by the rules of playing it safe, but sometimes playing it safe can be risky business. When God first laid it on my heart to plant Eagle Heights Memphis I thought that it was just me talking, that God wouldn't tell me to uproot from a great life, a great church, and a great job to go and start a church from scratch 400 miles from home. I thought that just didn't make very good sense. However, that was the problem, I was spending all of my energy making plans for God, instead of really seeking God and what it was that He really wanted me to do. The point is this, maybe there is something that you have always dreamed of doing, or maybe God is telling you to take a leap of faith into the unknown and the unfamiliar, keep this in mind. Twenty years from now you will be more dissapointed by the things you didn't do than by the things you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore, Dream, discover. (Mark Twain)
Friday, July 25, 2008
Growing
I have titled this blog growing in expectancy of what the Lord is doing here at Eagle Heights. Last night we had our second connection group meeting (It was a great meeting). We had several new folks and everyone that came again from last week. We are excited about what God is doing. He is writing our story, and we are watching it unfold. I think that planting a church is kind of like reading a book. You know that the end has great things in store, but you have to take it one page at a time. We are looking forward to reading our story that God is writing, and we hope that you will join us and be a part of it as we watch God build His church for His Glory.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
A Brave Soul
This past Sunday we had our first youth event, we had a blast and we gave away a phone. Cograts to Liz for winning the phone You are the texting queen. One of the things that we did was a belly buster competition in which they were climbing up onto a wall about 4 feet high and seeing who could do a true belly buster without breaking or folding. I have attched a pic of one of the youth that we caught in mid air.
As I was looking at the picture, once again God gave me a paralell as it relates to us His children and Himself. The kids were willing to jump off of a rather high place and expose themselves to a considerable amount of pain for the glory of being called the belly buster champ (Wow) and I don't think any of us remember who won the competition.
However, when it comes to God, often times He requires us to do just the same, something that may seem somewhat crazy and courageous both at the same time, though it may seem foolish to some it is wisdom to God. (God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise 1 Corinthians 1:27). Maybe God is calling you to jump off into something that is unknown, unfamiliar, maybe even a little painful, but just remember that God always rewards our obedience to Him.
As I was looking at the picture, once again God gave me a paralell as it relates to us His children and Himself. The kids were willing to jump off of a rather high place and expose themselves to a considerable amount of pain for the glory of being called the belly buster champ (Wow) and I don't think any of us remember who won the competition.
However, when it comes to God, often times He requires us to do just the same, something that may seem somewhat crazy and courageous both at the same time, though it may seem foolish to some it is wisdom to God. (God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise 1 Corinthians 1:27). Maybe God is calling you to jump off into something that is unknown, unfamiliar, maybe even a little painful, but just remember that God always rewards our obedience to Him.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
And we're off
Well tonight we had our first connection group meeting in my home. It was great! I am looking forward to next weeks meeting.
We are pumped about our upcoming youth event the 312 text challenge. If you are reading this and are from the ages of 12-18 you have to come. We will be giving away a free I-Phone(or comparable to whatever your plan provides) to the winner. We will be texting, swimming, eating, and winning prizes. You don't want to miss it, this Sunday night at 6:00. Look for the details in the events section on the youth page of the web-site.
Today I was reading in Psalms 144:1 Bless the Lord who is my Rock.
I want to encourage you today to remember that the Lord is your shield and your strength. No amount of worrying or fretting about a situation can change the outcome. You must lean not into your own understanding and in all your ways acknowledge God, and He will direct your paths. I want to encourage you to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might and in the end God will see you through, for His promises are always true and He is always faithful.
May you be Blessed Today,
Jake
We are pumped about our upcoming youth event the 312 text challenge. If you are reading this and are from the ages of 12-18 you have to come. We will be giving away a free I-Phone(or comparable to whatever your plan provides) to the winner. We will be texting, swimming, eating, and winning prizes. You don't want to miss it, this Sunday night at 6:00. Look for the details in the events section on the youth page of the web-site.
Today I was reading in Psalms 144:1 Bless the Lord who is my Rock.
I want to encourage you today to remember that the Lord is your shield and your strength. No amount of worrying or fretting about a situation can change the outcome. You must lean not into your own understanding and in all your ways acknowledge God, and He will direct your paths. I want to encourage you to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might and in the end God will see you through, for His promises are always true and He is always faithful.
May you be Blessed Today,
Jake
Thursday, July 3, 2008
We are here
It is 12:09 a.m. on 7/4/08 and I am posting for the first time from Memphis. I find it interesting that I woke up to make this post on Independence day (The day that we celebrate our nations independence from tyranny and oppresion, and our rights as free people of a free nation), how blessed we are.
I am excited to see where the Lord is going to take us from here. For those of you who may have gotten a flyer or an invitation to come to our church, and are visiting the web-site for the first time. I felt it neccesary to explain a little about what we are doing, and how we are going about doing what it is we are doing.
Eagle Heights is a new church plant that is being started here in Memphis in which I (Jake Claunch) will be the lead pastor. I have been the youth pastor, associate pastor and just about any other ministry position you could think of at a church in Hammond Louisiana for the past seven years (Eagle Heights of Hammond).
In the fall of 2007 God called us to Memphis to plant a church, so with the support of our home church we have now officially moved here to start Eagle Heights Memphis.
In the begginning stages we will be meeting as a home church in my home on Wednesday nights at 7:00 p.m. We will be meeting as a small group, also called a connection group. Child care will be provided. We will also be holding our youth group services on Sunday nights at 6:00 p.m. at the home of Charles and Becky Claunch. Of Course, it is our prayer that these locations will only be temporary locations and we can move into a more central facility in the Cordova area. We will be having our first connection group meeting on Wednesday 7/16/08 at 7:00 p.m. at our home at 1360 River End Cv. Cordova, Tn. 38016. I look forward to seeing you there.
In regards to what denomination we are? Eagle Heights is an interdenominational church. The best way to describe that is to think of an interstate that connects states. That one interstate may connect many many different states, each state having its own personality, culture, ethniticity, history, landscape, and makeup. However, all are joined together by the one common thread of the interstate that runs through them. This is what we desire to be at EHCC, a church where people from all different walks of life feel welcome, accepted, and challenged to live a happier more fullfiling life through the common thread of Christ Jesus our Lord and Saviour.
I am excited to see where the Lord is going to take us from here. For those of you who may have gotten a flyer or an invitation to come to our church, and are visiting the web-site for the first time. I felt it neccesary to explain a little about what we are doing, and how we are going about doing what it is we are doing.
Eagle Heights is a new church plant that is being started here in Memphis in which I (Jake Claunch) will be the lead pastor. I have been the youth pastor, associate pastor and just about any other ministry position you could think of at a church in Hammond Louisiana for the past seven years (Eagle Heights of Hammond).
In the fall of 2007 God called us to Memphis to plant a church, so with the support of our home church we have now officially moved here to start Eagle Heights Memphis.
In the begginning stages we will be meeting as a home church in my home on Wednesday nights at 7:00 p.m. We will be meeting as a small group, also called a connection group. Child care will be provided. We will also be holding our youth group services on Sunday nights at 6:00 p.m. at the home of Charles and Becky Claunch. Of Course, it is our prayer that these locations will only be temporary locations and we can move into a more central facility in the Cordova area. We will be having our first connection group meeting on Wednesday 7/16/08 at 7:00 p.m. at our home at 1360 River End Cv. Cordova, Tn. 38016. I look forward to seeing you there.
In regards to what denomination we are? Eagle Heights is an interdenominational church. The best way to describe that is to think of an interstate that connects states. That one interstate may connect many many different states, each state having its own personality, culture, ethniticity, history, landscape, and makeup. However, all are joined together by the one common thread of the interstate that runs through them. This is what we desire to be at EHCC, a church where people from all different walks of life feel welcome, accepted, and challenged to live a happier more fullfiling life through the common thread of Christ Jesus our Lord and Saviour.
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