Today we hear a lot of closing greetings from Paul to the people at the church in Colossae. Greetings from folks who are with the Colossians and ones who are with Paul.
Some typical stuff there.
But with those greetings come some closing exhortations that are important: “Continue steadfast in prayer…Walk in wisdom…Let your speech be gracious.”
Be careful that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit based on human tradition, based on the elements of the world, rather than Christ.
Colossians 2:8 (CSB)
Pray, walk, and talk.
He has preached the Good News to them, countering heresies and false teachers and philosophies. He has addressed these people – who he did not know – in a fatherly, pastoral way on the full divinity of Jesus (and why that is essential). He has shared that they are dead to sin and alive in Jesus. He has has reminded them to set their “minds on things that are above, not on things that are on the earth.” He has given them practical reasons to deal with all relationships in love, honor and respect, as serving the Lord.
And now it is time to close his letter with “pray, walk, and talk” like the redeemed people they are. A loving reminder to both “walk the walk” and “talk the talk” as a praying Christian.
As we conclude our journey through this beautiful book of the Gospel, may we see Jesus in and through every page. For everyone. Forever.
So we pray, in Jesus. We walk, in the wisdom of Jesus. We talk with the graciousness of Jesus.
Jesus.
Always.
For everyone.
Forever.
“Thank You, heavenly Father, for sending Your Son, our savior, Jesus, in whom the fullness of the deity dwells, to accomplish everything for us and our salvation. Let all our thoughts and actions be based as ones who respond to Your gift of mercy and grace in Him through our relationships, our philosophies, our actions, and our prayers. Grant that in every way, we are pointed to Him, dependent on Him, share Him, live Him, and love Him. Always. In His precious name do we pray. Amen.”
Click to the right of each above for a description of the position, including duties, qualifications, limits, etc. Please read through those position descriptions prior to nominating someone for a position to make sure the person meets the requisites.
Any voting member of LifeBridge may nominate or be nominated for each of these positions (with the gender restriction for those serving on the Board of Elders), with the stipulation that the prior approval of the person being nominated must be secured. (That is, if you are going to nominate someone, talk to them first and get their approval.)
Self-nominations are acceptable.
You may nominate by filling in the form below. Or, if you would prefer to not do so via the form, please email the LifeBridge Vice President your nominations.
On Sunday, October 26, 2025, following worship (around 11:15/11:30am), LifeBridge will hold its annual Congregational Voters’ Meeting.
Information and agenda items will appear below as they become available (so check back often).
AGENDA
Call to Order
Opening Prayer
Approval of Minutes
Congregational Voters’ Meeting Minutes October 20, 2024
Call to Order
President Vic Grisbee called the meeting to order.
Opening Prayer
Pastor Scott Heitshusen opened the meeting with prayer.
Approval of Minutes
Jesus Sanchez made a motion to approve the June 2, 2024 Congregational Voters’ Meeting minutes. Second by Giles Montgomery. Motion passed.
Nominating Task Force Presentation and Elections
Current Election Information Jesus Sanchez presented the current nominees.
Current Nominees
President: Nominee: Jesus “Zeus” Sanchez – 1 year left on term
Vice-President: Nominee: Stephen Deutsch
Treasurer: Nominee: Margie Ashorn
Elder Position 2: Paul White – Incumbent
Elder Position 4: Carl Sebesta – Incumbent
Elder Position 6: David Walker – Incumbent
Elder Position 7: Jason Wolfe – Incumbent
Nominations From the Floor Jesus Sanchez asked if there were any nominations from the floor. There were none. Wayne Heitshusen made a motion to accept all nominations as presented and approve by acclimation. Second by Pastor Leland. Motion passed.
David Walker, Head Elder presented the Head Elders Report via teleconference.
Angie Wolfe’s Outreach Update is attached.
Sealy Pregnancy Resource Center Update
Pat Penner gave an overview of 2024. There have been 196 moms in 2024. There have been 84% positive tests and 67.2% were abortion vulnerable. 26 babies have been born this year. 44 ultrasounds have been performed and a new ultrasound machine arrived. The diaper bank was started and 1,311 packages of diapers have been distributed. The Annual Christmas Party will be held on December 14. 35-40 volunteers will be needed. 110 children are attending. The Prayer Garden is complete. There are 734 plants and 6 trees in the Prayer Garden. 150 were lost but have been replaced. The Kid Zone is complete. One pending project is putting a fence around the Kid Zone and the Prayer Garden.
Sealy Christian Pantry Update
Sue Kristynik presented an update on pantry activities. In 2023, the pantry transitioned from drive through distribution to in person check-in and qualification. In 2024, the pantry extended hours, operating from 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. every Wednesday. An appointment system was also implemented for food pick up. This was done to manage the traffic in the parking lot. The pantry is on pace to feed over 12,000 families in 2024 compared to 8,000 in 2023. They are averaging 225-250 families per week. We will surpass over 1 million pounds of food distributed in 2024. The pantry’s partnership with the Houston Food Bank continues to grow. This summer, the pantry was selected to pilot a non-congregate feeding program which offered 5 breakfast/5 lunch/5 snacks to kids in the area. School supplies were also given to the kids as part of this program. Karing 4 Kids have filled the closets at each of the school campuses with emergency food for hungry kids. Deliveries are being made to Silver Lakes and the Oaks. 2024 marks the year that our dream of a new pantry building has become a reality. We broke ground in 2023. The end of November is the target for the site to be complete. The plan is to use December to ready the new site so we can be operational beginning on January 8.
Board Reports
Treasurer: Mary Abbott-Gray
The office remodel is complete. There was $27,856 in designated funds and $10,760 was received in addition to the designated funds for a total of $38,616. The rummage sale proceeds were $4,141. Various items were purchased with these proceeds: work table in the kitchen, shelves, 2 utility carts, desks, table truck, chair truck, additional tables and chairs, sofa tables, etc. Mary presented the YTD Statement (attached). Quarterly Giving was reviewed (attached). The 2025 budget was presented (attached). Vic Grisbee asked for a motion to accept the 2025 budget as presented. Pastor Dale Leland made a motion to accept the 2025 budget as presented. Second by Sieg Leland. Vic Grisbee asked if there were any further questions. There were none. Motion passed.
President: Vic Grisbee
Gave the following update:
Crow’s nest is completed.
The parking lot is 95% complete.
Remodeling of the offices is complete.
Installed new air conditioning that included a mini-split in the kitchen.
Hired James White (1 day a week) for maintenance work.
Open Discussion
Wayne Heitshusen thanked Vic Grisbee for his year as president.
Motion to Adjourn
Giles Montgomery made a motion to adjourn. Second by Carl Sebesta. Motion passed.
Today’s lesson is a tough one. It has a lot in it that, albeit short, is not easy to hear or do.
There is a list of what seem to be directives that can go against our desires, sensibilities, and culture.
Be careful that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit based on human tradition, based on the elements of the world, rather than Christ.
Colossians 2:8 (CSB)
They deal with wives, husbands, fathers, bondservants, and masters.
It seems so out-of-date and out-of-touch. So cringe. So wrong.
But that’s because we are still viewing things through earthly, cultural lenses, not on God’s “higher things” lens.
If we view our earthly duties and relationships merely in the context of this world, they will be twisted and distorted; adulterated; out-of whack.
The way to view any and all the relationships God has given us is through His lens and His example.
Jesus came and gave everything for us. He sacrificed. He endured wrong and humiliation. He turned His cheek. He gave His very, innocent life for us and our sins.
He humbled Himself. For us. Forever.
That’s the example. That’s the mindset we should have in dealing with those we interact with all around; those who we serve under and those who we serve in positions of authority.
And even further, we should view our service as serving Him in all things!
“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men…You are serving the Lord Christ” (Colossians 3:23).
He came to serve and sacrifice for us, who were completely unworthy, because of His immense love for us.
We respond by serving Him as best we can in love and heart-felt gratitude by serving others in every relationship we have.
We have salvation through what Jesus did. We get to respond to that everlasting Gift of mercy and grace through our service of, to, and with others.
What a blessing!
“Thank You, Lord Jesus, for coming to serve and give Your life as a ransom for many; for us; for me. Grant me the will and desire to respond to Your Gift in my service to everyone You have placed in my life in the same way of sacrificial love. In Your previous name do we pray. Amen.”
We’re now moving from a time when Paul was preaching the Word and teaching the Colossians about some theological aspects of the faith to a time when he is going to instruct and exhort them in how to live; what to do and what not to do; what is godly and what is not.
Today he gets to the heart of the matter of setting our minds on “things that are above, not on things that are on the earth.”
Be careful that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit based on human tradition, based on the elements of the world, rather than Christ.
Colossians 2:8 (CSB)
That’s good advice for Christians, especially when our culture seems to be going in all the wrong directions. We can get so tied up in the news and the issues of the day; so many worries and concerns that we forget that we are dead to this world and way of doing things and are united with Christ. We forget that we should be clothed with Him, and so should set our minds on things above where He is, instead of all of these things that are around us. We should be putting off those things of the world, those concerns, those issues. Things like “sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness.” We should look at things that divide us and put them off as well because they are a part of this world. We are to set our minds on higher things, on things Above. Because if we are dead in Christ, then we should be dead to this world.
Certainly those things will still affect us and touch us, and we will be hurt by some of them. That is the reality of being still on this side of eternity. But the reality for Christians is that our Home is above and our mind should be on what is Above; not stuck here, not worried here, not concerned with anything here.
We look to Christ and what He has already done for us. That He has already conquered all of these things here – even death itself. So since we are dead to these as well now, let us look to Him. Let us look Above. Let us look on the godly, holy things, the higher things, and not on the things here.
Christ has already accomplished it all for us, for all, forever.
“Thank you, Lord, for conquering all of what is down here on earth, all of the bad that affects us each and every day. Thank you for letting us die to them as well through faith in You. Help us now, Lord, focus not on the things here, but on You and the things above; on how to act in a spiritual way; in a way that is holy; in a way that is pure; in a way that is honorable; and not in ways of our culture and world. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”
Right; wrong. Good; bad. What to do; what not to do.
These have their bigger fulfillment in the question: How do we please God?
Be careful that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit based on human tradition, based on the elements of the world, rather than Christ.
Colossians 2:8 (CSB)
That’s what our sanctified hearts want to do. We want to know how to act in a way that is godly.
For that we look to Scripture.
But that can be confusing, too.
The bible has a lot of rules and statutes that are unclear, confusing, or may even seem contradictory – especially when we look at some in the Old Testament. Are we, “New Testament people” supposed to keep those, too?
These were issues the early Church faced, too. Some – especially those who were Jews – were saying that those Gentiles who became believers had to fulfill those Old Testament rules, too.
Paul is having none of it!
Not because they were bad or wrong. Far from it! They were from God so they were (and are) good!
But they have been fulfilled now in Jesus. Those things pointed to the coming of God’s chosen Christ. Jesus took care of all of them on our behalf, so they would no longer stand over us; accusing us; condemning us.
We are now free in Him!
Free from the rigidness of the rules of the OT Sabbath. Free from the laws on what constitutes clean and unclean foods. Free from so many of those things that were meant to being us closer to God but ended up being things that we broke and pushed us away from Him instead.
But does freedom in Jesus mean freedom from to sin?
Absolutely not!
So the question remains: what do we do to please God?
First, if not addressed and repeated in the New Testament, it’s likely not something that must be done. Often, though, even those aspects that are repeated and addressed differently. “do not murder?” is strengthened to “don’t even hate!” “Do not commit adultery” to “do not look lustfully.”
The easy way to get at things is to see that “love God with all your heart, mind, souls, and strength and your neighbor as yourself” still holds. But the dictums of how those play out are more flexible.
Second, we should see our freedom as a means to seek how we can serve Him and others better. Freedom to serve, not be served.
Third, we should take a look at those rules and laws God gave – even in the Old Testament – and ask why God gave them and if doing them would still be good and pleasing to Him. Not of mandate, but of desire in seeking His heart.
Serving God is easy when we do so from a stance of freedom and joyful response, rather than dutiful obligation.
We are free in Jesus!
We are love and serve Him and others in all we do joyfully!
That’s the heart of it!
“That You, Jesus, for fulfilling every point of the Law perfectly and completely for us and for our salvation! Send us Your Holy Spirit so that our heart rejoices at the opportunity to respond to this great gift in loving service to You and others. Amen.”
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