net news

In this issue:

  • Tim's ramblings (deeper than normal!)
  • SUNDAY 25TH FEBRUARY--t4tbc
  • LATEST LEADERS' NET NEWS
  • Gen Net news
  • WALSALL LEADERS
  • Sandwell Churches
  • "The Godman" released
  • Watoto Children’s Choir in Bilston
  • BICENTENARY OF THE ABOLITION OF THE SLAVE TRADE ACT
  • Homelessness eradicated in Southport!
  • Christian Aid Act Justly Conference
  • OFFICE SPACE TO LET IN STOURBRIDGE
  • Jobs
Dear, dear Black Countryites,.
 
Hope all is well again. It seems like we're well into the new year now already doesn't it?
 
Like me, you probably get asked 5 times a day how you are. Well, thanks for asking! Things are fine...I don't FEEL great, but realize more and more than I should be manipulating my feelings rather than them manipulating me. I really sense that I need to do something very intentional of late with regards to my mental strength. It keeps hitting me how powerful our minds are, and rather than them malfunctioning from time to time due to emotions or stress, I should take control and see to it that this doesn't happen.
 
I am convinced...yes, convinced that we can do this. We are called to RENEW OUR MINDS....this means that Jesus doesn't do it for us.......we do! So why do we allow so much stuff to control the way we feel.....why does the way we feel have such a huge influence over us.
 
SIMPLE......we live in a culture underpinned by "Existentialist Philsophy". Very simply put, our primary instinct is heavily influenced by our feelings. This is why our society is so fragile. And even our churches get affected by this. Very often, how we feel is stronger than how we are, so reality to us is being shaped more by our feelings (which are largely made up of emotion/stress/circumstances) than facts. Therefore truth is felt, not dealt, it could be said.
 
REALITY....this is a word/concept that has me challenged. Think about some of this stuff guys as you ponder how you are (feeling).
 
I remember being told ages ago that the greek word very often used in The NT for TRUTH can be translated as REALITY too. Therefore, that which is true is that which is real. So, truth is reality. So reality is really (what is real) truth. When we think of people being "real", we are saying that they are true, genuine and authentic (root word for authority).
 
If you think this through, it seems to me that we can actually be like God (which we are called to be by the way) in that we can actually create reality in our own minds, and we can therefore shape more than we realize. We were created in His image, or in His imagination. We were designed with the in-built capacity to renew our thinking just as we renew our cells.
 
And we can create our own view of Him in our imagination too. Where else can we understand and relate to our creator. I cannot think of anything that God says or does toward us that does not pass through our minds or souls, or need agreement from this very wonderfully human part of us that Christ died to redeem.
 
So,if we do not use what God has given us, we will find that reality gets shaped for us, and truth can therefore be easily distorted. But how do we know what is true, and what is truth?
 
This is why the enemy so longs to get hold of our imaginations. If he can control our thoughts, he can shape or limit what we perceive as reality, and therefore, he can control truth. Ultimately, Jesus is THE TRUTH, and as such cannot be controlled by anyone or anything, but He can be limited in our lives in as much as we can choose not to believe what He says to be true. He can also be severely limited in that we can very easily misunderstand Him......who He is, what He's like, eg. And when you think that He chose to build His "ekklesia" on the revelation of understanding who He really (or truly) is, no wonder the enemy has earmarked this as a primary target.
 
Do you know who Jesus really is? In other words, do you understand THE TRUTH concerning His real identity? Upon this rock foundation He is still building His EKKLESIA community, both locally and globally.
 
Ths is is the most critical question you will ever be asked.
 
But the true answer can only come from within, and never from mere education, no matter how religious or pious, as it a gift from The Father in Heaven. Being "born from above" is really then a divine encounter with someone in whom TRUTH itself is hidden and revealed. Jesus enters our understanding and re-shapes reality forever.
 
In John 3, Jesus shows Nicodemus that when we are born from above, we can see The Kingdom. He then tells Nicodemus how he can enter that reality, or that dimension of TRUE LIFE that is beyond the reach (of understanding) of those that are earth-bound, ie, restricted to perceiving reality as it is shaped by the world's culture. Truth is not to be merely read. Reality is not to be observed and sung about. Life is to be lived to the full, to the uttermost, to the boundaries.
 
Truth is to be experienced and consumed. Reality is to be entered and occupied. The Kingdom of Heaven is to be brought to earth and it's reality is to be translated into the natural dimension. That's your job! But you must first enter and experience that reality  in your own life before projecting this into your world. His Will is that we re-shape our culture with the culture of Heaven, His dimension......His reality.
 
Understanding is therefore crucial in our approach to Him, and therefore, this is what FAITH is really all about then, but it's not intellectual. It is our ability to understand THE TRUTH as He is revealed. Faith, therefore, is knowlegde, but a very specific type of knowledge----revelation.
 
Revelation is something that is supernaturally opened up to us from above......something that is suddenly (or over a pocess of time) seen to be true, and reality can therefore be re-shaped by our re-understanding of what we perceive to be real. In other words, a realization occurs that changes our take on reality. Something shifts.
 
Truth is a very valuable commodity. Without truth, there is nothing left that we can build anything on. The world's culture is based on distorted truth, and lies. Our ability to believe lies determines how we interact with this culture. Our willingness to engage with a distorted version of reality shapes our position in this dimension.
 
Jesus came to show us another way, a higher calling. He was revealed to enable us all to reach beyond the limitations of fallen humanity to aspire to live as He did, as a Man on the earth. That challenge enters your world every day you arise. It knocks at your door even now. Do you hear Him?
 
Jesus wants to re-invade your world today and bring His version of reality to the table. He wants you to feast with Him and grasp again what LIFE is really (or truly) all about.
Will you eat at His table? Will you allow your thinking to be re-shaped by facts beyond the ability of your natural mind to grasp?
 
Our world is desperate for a new version of LIFE. Our surroundings are crying out for something beyond all this to be revealed. Paul wrote to Christians in Rome 2000 years ago and told us that creation itself was waiting for THE SONS OF GOD to be revealed on the earth.
 
She is still waiting.
 
History will record whether or not this generation of Christians in this part of the world will arise out of the mediocrity and apathy of 21st Bristish culture to reflect the true nature of their TRUE FATHER. And this is what "bringing glory" is really about, ie, to reflect the true nature of something, or someone.
 
The Black Country awaits this revelation right now. It's populus is secretly desperate to be distracted by a new wave of Heaven in their lives. Let us bring glory to our Father by loving people with His heart as he reveals it afresh as we seek Him, and let us honour Jesus by actually doing the very few things He actually asked us to do.
 
How are you? And can you use your feelings rather than be defined by them.
 
What is really happening in your life right now, and how can you read this accurately in light of what is happening in Heaven right now. What is truth to you? Can you enter into an encounter with THE WORD OF TRUTH beyond reading words that are true?
 
Have a great week guys, and I pray that you will be a storefront for The Kingdom of Heaven as you go about your normal, daily lives. You were called to be a doorway into a new reality for those who are lost from this, so walk it out in the only way you can.....as you. The real you.
 
Much love,
 
 
Tim
For your Network in The Black Country

    Leadersnet News- click

    Gennet News - click

    WALSALL LEADERS- A Call to Prayer

    Greetings, church leaders!

    Several of us met with members of Pray California on Tuesday.
    It was a very encouraging time and we felt a joining of our hearts with theirs.
    We feel that they carry something that would be good for us in Walsall to hear and participate in.
    Consequently, we have invited the team from California to join us for the 'Catalyst' breakfast on 27th Jan.
    We believe they will in fact be a catalyst for prayer and other developments in our journey together.

    We would welcome all leaders to come along especially if you have never been before. It is a little difficult to judge how many will be there but we plan to cater for about 40 of us.  If you could let us know either way it would be a help.

    Also, if we could aim to write down our main prayer concerns for our nation, our town, our church, it would make our sharing more concise and we would be able to pass them on for the team to collate.

    We do hope you can join us on 27th.

    God bless you,

    John Price, Dave Bonny, Steve Kirk



    17th January 7.30pm      "Family"  Muslim imam & Vic Gledhill  Blue Coat Comprehensive School
    20th January 10.30am    Thanksgiving for Christian Projects   St. Paul's The Crossing
    27th January 8.00am      Leaders' Breakfast 'Catalyst'  Walsall Christian Centre, Corporation St West.
    7th February 12-1pm       Leaders' Prayer Small Street Centre
    13th Feb  9.30-1.00         Leaders' Net (followed by lunch)      All Nations, Wolverhampton
    Sandwell Churches Link Conference - 'Faithful values in Sandwell' .....8th Feb
     
    Information, poster and booking form for the Sandwell Churches Link Conference 8 Feb 07. If you are interested in attending and have not booked in yet please contact
    sandwellnet@thenet.org.uk
     
    Funding available for Sandwell Voluntary sector organisations!
     
    YOUTH DIVERSIONARY ACTIVITIES/TRIPLE S - GRANT APPLICATION DOCUMENTS FOR 2007/08

    The Youth Diversionary Activities Programme (YDA) and the Triple S Project have Neighbourhood Renewal Funding available to support diversionary and sport/physical activities for young people, during 2007/2008.

    Copies of the invitation letter, application form and guidance notes can be downloaded from the Sandwell MBC website using the following link:

    http://www.laws.sandwell.gov.uk/ccm/navigation/policing-and-public-safety/crime-and-law-enforcement/

    Godman Mission pack - see details

    COMMEMORATION OF THE BICENTENARY OF THE ABOLITION OF THE SLAVE TRADE ACT - 25th March @ Bethel Convention Centre - See details
    Pete Cunningham has eradicated homelessness in Southport!
     
    At the same time as pastoring a local church, he set up the commercial enterpise of "Green Pastures" to create sustainable housing for the homeless as an investment opportunity. They now have over 150 properties supported by investors who are happy to get a return on housing the homeless and the hurting.
     
    Our vision is to see street homelessness eradicated in our area through a network of "safe houses" - family houses operated with a Christian ethos and run as a commercial, social enterprise. 
     
    If this interests you....come and listen to Pastor Pete Cunningham at All Nations Christian Centre, Temple Street, Wolverhampton on Saturday 3rd February 10am - 12.30..
     
    Please let us know, either by email reply, or by ringing Gill Trevor on 01902 714469.  
    Jeremy Watson
    ...for the Wolverhampton Safe Houses Project 
     
    OFFICE SPACE TO LET IN STOURBRIDGE. 
    LSD Promotions Ltd, Montfort House, Lower High Street, Stourbridge (next door to the job centre), have a large area of self contained, Ground floor office space to let, an area of approx 350sq ft, with reception area off, storage, kitchenette, ladies and mens toilets, french windows to garden. Nearest parking Lower High St or Crown Centre car park.
     
    LSD occupy the front ground floor, they host the Chawn Hill Church offices on the 2nd floor, and their other tenants are Solmotive, Oasis Trust, and Elam Ministries.
    This is a rare opportunity for a Kingdom business, or Ministry to become part of a beautiful 'spirit-filled' building. 

    The commercial rate for an area this size is in the region of £120-£150 per week. LSD will consider offers/or to sub-dividing the area if they have two or more clients who are keen to share. Call Linda McGillicuddy 01384 440059 or email admin@lsdpromotions.com

    vacancies

    YOUTH CLUB LEADER - click link above

    Trainee Personal Advisers2 - click link above

    Personal Advisers - click link above