SteveandGill.com

i61's Life Centre Vision

2011-06-20T11:15:00.002Z

Part of the Vision of the team at i61 is to develop a Centre for Life Issues, as well located as possible. A place people could go to, not only to make friends but to build their confidence to share their hurts and hang ups. A place where we could either help them directly with their problem or at least direct them to experts who could.

This place would have a Coffee Shop, but has to be located in a place it’s easy to get to. It doesn’t need to be in a high profile location but easily accessed by bus routes etc. The Coffee shop would become a hub where people can get to know one another in a relaxed atmosphere and develop trust before opening up and sharing what problems they have. Many people are sometimes just too embarrassed to share where they are at. Debt, unplanned pregnancy, drink, raising children, teens, the internet, abuse, eating disorders and so on and so on.

Let us share just a few of these issues

Mums first steps – no amount of preparation can give you all the skills you need to be a new mum. We want to offer practical hands on help and teach mums some of the basics they find themselves struggling with.

A Family Contact Centre which would include a kitchen-diner and a small lounge in which the parents of estranged families can meet in a supervised or unsupervised contact with their children. Family break-up is sadly a common part of modern society but this facility would offer a home from home environment in which family values, contact and relationships can be maintained even in the midst of difficult circumstances.

Life Skills: teaching both children and adults life skills, such as hygiene, nutrition, anger management, how to have good relationships, how to deal with past hurts, how to play, how to nurture, how to create.

Debt – first steps towards where to go and how to get the help to start that long journey out of debt and into financial security.

Drink - not just the problem of a few, but many people today are heading for health problems later in life due to the consistent over drinking of beer and wine at home – we can help educate and stem the tide towards alcoholism.

Food – so many families today live on convenience or junk food. We want to help families understand the physical, emotional, financial and relational benefits of growing, shopping, cooking and eating great food.

Facebook & Twitter – education for how to look after yourself online. Simple steps to protect your web pages and some healthy Do’s and Don’ts

Music, Dance and the Arts. We would have a small provision of recording & practice space as well as dance facilities, photography & video editing to help not only develop new skills but also confidence. These facilities would be available to local community projects, schools or individuals, as well as regular lessons offered.
Honestly, the possibilities are endless.

The i61 Life Centre would work in partnership with, and assist local agencies to be able to address many of these issues within the local community. It’s a vision for a Centre, where Life Issues and solutions are everyday occurrences. We have some of the funding in place and are actively looking for a place where we can start. This Vision is closer today than at any other time in i61′s short life.

Be a part of these incredible solutions and join us every Sunday at 11 AM at Ysgol John Bright

Dear Friend by Max Lucado

2010-03-19T12:18:00.001Z

Dear Friend,

I'm writing to say thanks. I wish I could thank you personally, but I don't know where you are. I wish I could call you, but I don't know your name. If I knew your appearance, I'd look for you, but your face is fuzzy in my memory. But I'll never forget what you did.

There you were, leaning against your pickup in the West Texas oil field. An engineer of some sort. A supervisor on the job. Your khakis and clean shirt set you apart from us roustabouts. In the oil field pecking order, we were at the bottom. You were the boss. We were the workers. You read the blueprints. We dug the ditches. You inspected the pipe. We laid it. You ate with the bosses in the shed. We ate with each other in the shade.

Except that day.

I remember wondering why you did it.

We weren't much to look at. What wasn't sweaty was oily. Faces burnt from the sun; skin black from the grease. Didn't bother me, though. I was there only for the summer. A high-school boy earning good money laying pipe.

We weren't much to listen to, either. Our language was sandpaper coarse. After lunch, we'd light the cigarettes and begin the jokes. Someone always had a deck of cards with lacy-clad girls on the back. For thirty minutes in the heat of the day, the oil patch became Las Vegas—replete with foul language, dirty stories, blackjack, and barstools that doubled as lunch pails.

In the middle of such a game, you approached us. I thought you had a job for us that couldn't wait another few minutes. Like the others, I groaned when I saw you coming.

You were nervous. You shifted your weight from one leg to the other as you began to speak.

"Uh, fellows," you started.

We turned and looked up at you.

"I, uh, I just wanted, uh, to invite ... "

You were way out of your comfort zone. I had no idea what you might be about to say, but I knew that it had nothing to do with work.

"I just wanted to tell you that, uh, our church is having a service tonight and, uh ... "

"What?" I couldn't believe it. "He's talking church? Out here? With us?"

"I wanted to invite any of you to come along."

Silence. Screaming silence.

Several guys stared at the dirt. A few shot glances at the others. Snickers rose just inches from the surface.

"Well, that's it. Uh, if any of you want to go ... uh, let me know."

After you turned and left, we turned and laughed. We called you "reverend," "preacher," and "the pope." We poked fun at each other, daring one another to go. You became the butt of the day's jokes.

I'm sure you knew that. I'm sure you went back to your truck knowing the only good you'd done was to make a good fool out of yourself. If that's what you thought, then you were wrong.

That's the reason for this letter.

Some five years later, a college sophomore was struggling with a decision. He had drifted from the faith given to him by his parents. He wanted to come back. He wanted to come home. But the price was high. His friends might laugh. His habits would have to change. His reputation would have to be overcome.

Could he do it? Did he have the courage?

That's when I thought of you. As I sat in my dorm room late one night, looking for the guts to do what I knew was right, I thought of you.

I thought of how your love for God had been greater than your love for your reputation.

I thought of how your obedience had been greater than your common sense.

I remembered how you had cared more about making disciples than about making a good first impression. And when I thought of you, your memory became my motivation.

So I came home.

I've told your story dozens of times to thousands of people. Each time the reaction is the same: The audience becomes a sea of smiles, and heads bob in understanding. Some smile because they think of the "clean-shirted engineers" in their lives. They remember the neighbor who brought the cake, the aunt who wrote the letter, the teacher who listened ...

Others smile because they have done what you did. And they, too, wonder if their "lunchtime loyalty" was worth the effort.

You wondered that. What you did that day wasn't much. And I'm sure you walked away that day thinking that your efforts had been wasted.

They weren't.

So I'm writing to say thanks. Thanks for the example. Thanks for the courage. Thanks for giving your lunch to God. He did something with it; it became the Bread of Life for me.

gratefully,
Max

Merry Christmas

2009-12-25T11:46:00.001Z

He Lives Within You

The virgin birth is more, much more, than a Christmas story; it is a picture of how close Christ will come to you. The first stop on his itinerary was a womb. Where will God go to touch the world? Look deep within Mary for an answer.

Better still, look deep within yourself. What he did with Mary, he offers to us! He issues a Mary-level invitation to all his children. "If you'll let me, I'll move in!"

Proliferating throughout the scriptures is a preposition that leaves no doubt- the preposition in. Jesus lives in his children.

John was clear, "Those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them" (I John 3:24 NIV, emphasis mine).

Christ grew in Mary until he had to come out. Christ will grow in you until the same occurs. He will come out in your speech, in your actions, in your decisions. Every place you live will be a Bethlehem, and every day you live will be a Christmas. You, like Mary, will deliver Christ into the world.

God in us! Have we sounded the depth of this promise?

God was with Adam and Eve. God was with Abraham. God was with Moses and the children of Israel. God was with the apostles.

But he is in you. You are a modern-day Mary. Even more so. He was a fetus in her, but he is a force in you. He will do what you cannot.

Can't stop drinking? Christ can. And he lives within you.

Can't stop worrying? Christ can. And he lives within you.

Can't forgive the jerk, forget the past, or forsake your bad habits? Christ can! And he lives within you.

Courage

2009-09-25T10:09:00.001Z

The disciples were alone in the storm for nine tempestuous hours. Long enough for more than one disciple to ask, "Where is Jesus? He knows we are in the boat. For heaven's sake, it was his idea. Is God anywhere near?"

And from within the storm comes an unmistakable voice: "Courage! I am! Don't be afraid!" (Matthew 14:27, literal translation).

From the center of the storm, the unwavering Jesus shouts, "I am." Tall in the Trade Tower wreckage. Bold against the Galilean waves. ICU, battlefield, boardroom, prison cell, or maternity ward--whatever your storm, "I am."

Christ comes astride the waves and declares the words engraved on every wise heart: "Courage! I am! Don't be afraid!"

My Body is About Him

2009-07-11T13:04:00.000Z

by Max Lucado

"Don't you know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you?" (1 Corinthians 6:19 NLT). Paul wrote these words to counter the Corinthian sex obsession. "Run away from sexual sin!" reads the prior sentence. "No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body." (v.18 NLT).

What a salmon scripture! No message swims more up-stream than this one. You know the sexual anthem of our day: "I'll do what I want. It's my body." God's firm response? "No, it's not. It's mine."
Be quick to understand, God is not antisex. Dismiss any notion that God is antiaffection and anti-intercourse. After all, he developed the whole package. Sex was his idea. From his perspective, sex is nothing short of holy.
He views sexual intimacy the way I view our family Bible. Passed down from my father's side, the volume is one hundred years old and twelve inches thick. Replete with lithographs, scribblings, and a family tree, it is, in my estimation, beyond value. Hence, I use it carefully.
When I need a stepstool, I don't reach for the Bible. If the foot of my bed breaks, I don't use the family Bible as a prop. When we need old paper for wrapping, we don't rip a sheet out of this book. We reserve the heirloom for special times and keep it in a chosen place.
Regard sex the same way--as a holy gift to be opened in a special place at special times. The special place is marriage, and the time is with your spouse.
Casual sex, intimacy outside of marriage, pulls the Corinthian ploy. It pretends we can give the body and not affect the soul. We can't. We humans are so intricately psychosomatic that whatever touches the soma impacts the phyche as well. The me-centered phrase "as long as no one gets hurt" sounds noble, but the truth is, we don't know who gets hurt. God-centered thinking rescues us from the sex we thought would make us happy. You may think your dalliances are harmless, and years may pass before the x-rays reveal the internal damage, but don't be fooled. Casual sex is a diet of chocolate--it tastes good for a while, but the imbalance can ruin you. Sex apart from God's plan wounds the soul.
Your body, God's temple. Respect it.

Trusting God when there are no answers

2009-06-20T08:59:00.003Z

after attending the funeral of a young woman, Gail, (Muriels daughter) who died from cancer, the 'UCB word for today' seemed appropriate.....

The secret things belong to the Lord... Deuteronomy 29:29

Life's losses leave us hurting and wondering. Cancer takes a young mother or father. Divorce strikes your happy home. Financial ruin devastates your retirement plans. A child goes to jail, is killed or commits suicide. Such times raise questions which are difficult, if not impossible to answer. We examine the circumstances again and again. We speculate about the details, searching for clues that might make some sense and make it easier for us to bear. We turn the spotlight on ourselves, others, even God, wondering what could or should have been done differently that might have prevented this. We turn to friends, fellow believers and pastors only to hear what sounds like religious platitudes and inadequate attempts to minimise our pain. When answers don't seem forthcoming and the heavens are silent, what should you do? Here are two Scriptures to help you in such times: 1) 'The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us' (Deuteronomy 29:29 NKJV). When it comes to understanding things, we have our territory, God has His. And ours is limited to what He decides to reveal. At that point you must 'Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding' (Proverbs 3:5 NKJV) 2) 'And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God...' (Romans 8:28). God may explain it to you, or He may not. But He's 'the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End' (Revelation 22:13 NKJV), which means, He has a plan and He's working it out for our good and His glory. So trust Him!

'Are you a second miler?'

2009-06-17T09:12:00.001Z

If someone forces you to go one mile, go...two... Matthew 5:41

In Roman times soldiers could make Jewish citizens carry their gear for a mile. But Jesus says: '"If someone forces you to go one mile, go...two."'
Max Lucado writes: 'We've a second-mile servant in our church. By profession he's an architect; by passion, a servant. Prior to each worship service he does his rounds through the men's restrooms...wipes sinks, cleans mirrors, checks toilets and picks up paper. He tells no one and requests nothing in return...Let me tell you how to spot [second-milers]. They don't wear badges or uniforms; they wear smiles. They've discovered ...joy in the extra effort...satisfaction in helping others...that the real reward rests at the base of the second mile-post... Why? Liberation! They've passed from slave to volunteer. When Mary anointed Jesus' feet, one-milers like Judas criticised the deed as wasteful. Not Jesus. He received the gesture as a demonstration of love, a friend surrendering her most treasured gift. There's an elderly man in your community who just lost his wife. An hour of your time would mean the world to him. Some kids in your city have no dad to take them to the cinema or football games. Maybe you can. They can't pay you back but they'll smile like a cheshire cat at your kindness. How about this one? Down the landing is a person who shares your last name. Shock them with kindness...your homework done with no complaints...coffee served when they awake...a love letter written for no special reason. Alabaster poured out 'just because.' Jesus chose the servants' quarters. Can't we?' John Gardner said, 'When people are serving, life is no longer meaningless.' You're not called to 'get by,' you're called to go 'above and beyond.'

The Cure for Disappointment

2009-06-05T10:38:00.000Z

Don't ask God to do what you want. Ask God to do what is right.

When God doesn't do what we want, it's not easy. Never has been. Never will be. But faith is the conviction that God knows more than we do about this life and he will get us through it.

Disappointment is cured by revamped expectations.

I like that story about the fellow who went to the pet store in search of a singing parakeet. Seems he was a bachelor and his house was too quiet. The store owner had just the bird for him, so the man bought it. The next day the bachelor came home from work to a house full of music. He went to the cage to feed the bird and noticed for the first time that the parakeet had only one leg.

He felt cheated that he'd been sold a one-legged bird, so he called and complained.

"What do you want," the store owner responded, "a bird who can sing or a bird who can dance?"

Good question for times of disappointment.

dancing feet

2009-05-31T21:03:00.001Z

dancing feet
Originally uploaded by just *gill

He chose to save you!

2009-05-30T09:29:00.000Z

He saved others; himself he cannot save... Matthew 27:42

When the pastor introduced the visiting speaker, an elderly preacher walked to the pulpit and told this story: 'A father, his son, and his son's friend were sailing off the Pacific coast when a storm overturned their boat sweeping all of them into the ocean. Grabbing a rescue line, in a split second the father had to make the most excruciating decision of his life - which boy to throw the other end to and which one to sacrifice. He knew his son had accepted Christ and his friend hadn't. Anguished, the father yelled, 'I love you son,' and threw the rope to his son's friend. By the time he'd pulled the boy back to the capsized boat his son had disappeared beneath the waves. His body was never recovered. The father knew his son would step into eternity with Jesus and couldn't bear the thought of his friend facing eternity without Christ.' At the end of the service a teenage boy approached the old man and said, 'That's a nice story, but what father in his right mind would sacrifice his son's life in hopes that the other boy would become a Christian?' 'You've got the point,' the old preacher replied, 'It's not realistic. But I'm standing here today to tell you that story gives me a glimpse into what it must have been like for God to sacrifice His only Son for us. You see...I was that father, and your pastor was my son's friend.' The Pharisees who watched Christ die said, 'He saved others; himself he cannot save.' And they were right; He couldn't do both, so He chose to save you. Today will you accept His offer of salvation?

Love

2009-05-28T10:37:00.001Z

'Love does not consist in gazing at each other, but in looking outward together in the same direction. '– Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Easter Thoughts

2009-04-03T10:13:00.000Z

Simon from Cyrene Carries Jesus' Cross
by Max Lucado

"A man named Simon from Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was coming from the fields to the city. The soldiers forced Simon to carry the cross for Jesus" (Mk. 15:21)

Simon grumbles beneath his breath. His patience is as scarce as space on the Jerusalem streets. He'd hoped for a peaceful Passover. The city is anything but quiet. Simon prefers his open fields. And now, to top it off, the Roman guards are clearing the path for some who-knows-which-dignitary who'll march his soldiers and strut his stallion past the people.

"There he is!"

Simon's head and dozens of others turn. In an instant they know. This is no dignitary.

"It's a crucifixion," he hears someone whisper. Four soldiers. One criminal. Four spears. One cross. The inside corner of the cross saddles the convict's shoulders. Its base drags in the dirt. Its top teeters in the air. The condemned man steadies the cross the best he can, but stumbles beneath its weight. He pushes himself to his feet and lurches forward before falling again. Simon can't see the man's face, only a head wreathed with thorny branches.

The sour-faced centurion grows more agitated with each diminishing step. He curses the criminal and the crowd.

"Hurry up!"

"Little hope of that," Simon says to himself.

The cross-bearer stops in front of Simon and heaves for air. Simon winces at what he sees. The beam rubbing against an already raw back. Rivulets of crimson streaking the man's face. His mouth hangs open, both out of pain and out of breath.

"His name is Jesus," someone speaks softly.

"Move on!" commands the executioner.

But Jesus can't. His body leans and feet try, but he can't move. The beam begins to sway. Jesus tries to steady it, but can't. Like a just-cut tree, the cross begins to topple toward the crowd. Everyone steps back, except the farmer. Simon instinctively extends his strong hands and catches the cross.

Jesus falls face-first in the dirt and stays there. Simon pushes the cross back on its side. The centurion looks at the exhausted Christ and the bulky bystander and needs only an instant to make the decision. He presses the flat of his spear on Simon's shoulders.

"You! Take the cross!"

Simon dares to object, "Sir, I don't even know the man!"

"I don't care. Take up the cross."

Simon growls, balances the timber against his shoulder, and steps out of the crowd onto the street, out of anonymity into history, and becomes the first in a line of millions who will take up the cross and follow Christ.

He did literally what God calls us to do figuratively: take up the cross and follow Jesus. "If any of you want to be my followers, you must forget about yourself. You must take up your cross each day and follow me" (Lk. 9:23 CEV).

Our Christmas Miracle

2008-12-21T21:29:00.002Z

16th December 2008
"oh that was a day that was!"

We had a phone call at 5.45 am from Lee to say it was time for Sarah to go into hospital, she had been in labour since 4.30 and would we come over and sit with Kyria until she woke up.
Not long been in labour, so probably no rush, I thought about getting filled up with petrol in the car while the pumps were quiet, but decided against it.

We hastily got dressed and rushed over anyway.

We arrived at their house about 6.15, Sarah was lying on the sofa in the middle of a contraction, Lee was loading the car with the overnight case while I prayed with Sarah,
"Please Lord, be with Sarah, help the birth to be an easy one, Holy Spirit be there in power in the delivery room today, Be this baby's deliver I pray! Amen."

(Little did I know then how much He was gonna answer that prayer!)

"Ready for the car now" says Lee and tries to help Sarah get up from the sofa,

Sarah says, "I'm having an epidural when I get there for sure!"

Then an even stronger more intense contraction comes, she can't move, she's screaming,
"Nooooo I cant move, I can't - I feel like I wanna push.... Lee get my jeans off!"

Uh oh! - this is it, I remember that feeling from personal experience and there's no holding it back, when the urge to push comes - the baby's coming ready or not!

(apart from the urge to push - no one says get my jeans off in front of the in-laws without a very GOOD reason!!)

I push the coffee table off the rug and Lee helps Sarah onto the floor -
I run & get towels, quick wash of the hands, rush back down stairs to find Sarah and Lee on the floor,
I get myself to the right end with Lee, take a look and we can see the baby's head starting to appear.

Steve still on phone, "They can see the baby's head!"

999 man calmly, " Yes sir, we are going to deliver the baby now"

Steve, "NO you don't understand -WE NEED AN AMBULANCE!"

999 man, "yes sir, it's on its way"

999 man, "how old is she? first baby?"

Steve, No second, she's 24!"

Sarah, "I'M 2333333333333!!!!!!"

Steve, "she's 23!"

999 man, "Let me have the details"

Steve, "No you don't understand the baby's coming!"

999 man, "Okay I'll talk you through it"

Steve, "I cant hear you, too much noise!!!"

Lee to me, "Is that the baby's head or is that the sac?"

Me, "Its the sac, the waters haven't broken."
Lee, "The waters haven't broken"
Steve, "The waters haven't broken!"

Me, "Ok, they have now"
Lee, "they've broken now!"
Steve, "It's okay they've broken now!"

Steve to 999 man, "I can't hear you, what are you saying!!!!"

(this only happens on TV right? just hilarious looking back now)

Me, "Okay sarah the baby's coming now and everything's gonna be fine,
you're doing great Sarah, the heads coming now,
I can see her she's beautiful, head out now, she gorgeous, she perfect ,
good girl Sarah your doing fine. everything is going great."
(where did this calm come from?)
"Yep, there she is, You're doing great Sarah,"
shoulders, then body -everything perfect, quick check yep its a girl like we expected, but you never know,its best to check these things
"Yes your little girl is here now Sarah and she just perfect, gorgeous-
Everything's alright"

Lee, "Sarah, you did it, we did it, she 's beautiful she's gorgeous, she perfect."

Sarah, "awwwwwww I wanted an epidural!"

At 6.32am Moriah Grace Houghton came into the world,weighing 7lbs 8oz,
born on the floor, right under the Christmas tree, assisted by her Nana and her Daddy - with Papa on the phone,
Oh yes and the 999 man who we couldn't hear because of all the noise.

At this point the ambulance arrived.

We laid Moriah on her Mommy's tummy, Daddy cut the cord, after the paramedic had clamped it.
(They had a bit of a funny discussion between them as to where abouts to cut it).

Kyria then woke up she came into the room, smiling all over her little face,
excitement written all over it!
"Moriahs come, the baby's come out now- just like Mommy said"

Everything was perfect.

Born at home, surrounded by love,

Even Nanny in Canada was there via Skype!

What We Have Discovered...

2008-11-09T10:35:00.011Z

There is a new generation of people who are happy to come and join us on a spiritual journey. Recognizing that we're all in our different places on the road and thats okay.....

No really, it is okay! No place is less important than another. We are in this together.

A community of people, some who believe, some who don't, some who are not sure, and some who are wanting to, but don't know how.

Today's generation is not likely to respond to a one-time, high pressure, conversion sales pitch. No they are looking for authenticity in action, a faith that works in real life!

People at the start of that journey must feel that they are part of such a community before they come to accept Christ for themselves.

In other words 'Belonging comes before Believing'

Todays evangelist must look for signs of of the Holy Spirit at work in peoples lives, and connect with them at a community level.

'Old style' evangelism techniques and programs will not work in this generation.

What do I mean by 'old style' well, 'old style' says, believe to join our church, believe and become one of us, believe first - then belong.....

Turn it on its head!

It works!

at i61 it's happened. We have found ourselves sharing life together. Belonging to each other like a family... People just doing life together.

Everyone using their own gifts and abilities for the common good.

Not waiting for believing to come first, no you want to belong, then you are in.

Just come as you are.... God does the rest!

i61Discovering My Spiritual Gifts

2008-10-11T05:12:00.008Z

On Saturday 25th October we will be introducing Part 3 of the i61Discovery Series.

We will go on a discovery of who God made you to be and we believe that once you understand who God made you to be, then you'll understand what God made you to do.

so......... THE PURPOSE FOR THIS CLASS: Ephesians 4:11-12 "God has given pastors and teachers to prepare God's people for works of ministry, so the body of Christ may be built up."

The Bible says that it's our job as pastors to prepare God's people to do ministry. We consider this class to be the most important because we're now helping people discover what ministry is all about. Remember Ministry is Serving others in Love

THE PRINCIPLE:
MY MINISTRY IS DETERMINED BY MY MAKEUP.

Understand the purpose why we were created is shaped by understanding the kind of person I am. This is the secret of knowing God's will for my life. Why?...................... because God is consistent in His plan for each of our lives.

He would not give us inborn talents and all sorts of life experiences and then not use them. We believe by reflecting on these factors we will discover the unique way God intends for us to serve Him. There are two results from discovering our gifts………. fruitfulness and fulfillment.

So. THE FOCUS OF THIS COURSE............ at i61, we focus on an individual approach to ministry rather than an institutional approach. An institutional approach is when you centre it around the church……….. and people are just seen as resources. Most churches act this way. They make up a large list of jobs that need to be done.……………… Then they go find people to fill the jobs whether they match or not.

At i61, we take the exact opposite approach to ministry. We centre it around people and each person's uniqueness. We never want to force a square peg into a round hole.……………… Our goal is not to build an institution……… Our goal is to build people and we're going to focus on five personal factors that have combined to shape the real you. By identifying the specific traits that you possess, I think you're going to get real excited about this class. This class could change your life.

We're going to identify your unique S.H.A.P.E............. and we will look at i61's vision for ministry,……… and preview the opportunities. We will also look at what spiritual gifts are and what each spiritual gift actually means in your life

After this class you're going to have the opportunity to discuss what you've learned about yourself with us and take a huge step towards discovering your purpose

So, who is up for this?? Email steve@i61.org as

this first course is limited to just 15 people

Do You Want to Grow?

2008-10-06T05:51:00.005Z

Ephesians 4v11-13
It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

If you have done the Discovery Course you will know we define "Becoming a Spiritually Mature Christian" as simply "Becoming more like Jesus"

So How do we become more like Jesus?

Yes we read, yes we pray, yes we develop a relationship, but more than all this, more than everything we can learn and everything we know about that people tell us, explain to us and exhort us to emulate

We have to actually put it into practice. WWJD

What Would Jesus Do?

How would he act, what would he say, how would he reach across a divide of life without Him and a life with Him

In school today, at work or in the home, when faced with a difficult decision or a potential arguement WWJD???????

and let me start the ball rolling by apologising for the last post,
because He wouldn't have done that.
SORRY :-)

Dependability

2008-10-01T11:40:00.004Z

What Annoys you the most in other people????

For me it's whether they are dependable or not. People often ask me why I am flying around before a Sunday meeting sometimes and other times, I look so serene and calm and the picture of self control.

Well, 9 times out of 10 I can pin this down to the fact someone has let me down. You know, when someone says I'll be there at 10am and they turn up at 10.30am or not at all. Then when I get home I find a text on my mobile (which i leave at home on a Sunday because it's church) saying SORRY!!! :-)

Well, if I'm to be honest, that sucks. WHY?? Because if you don't turn up, guess who has to do it....... usually me because others have already fulfilled their turn, so someone has to do it.

So, next time, don't ask yourself, why is Steve doing an impersonation of a headless chicken, ask yourself, WHO LET HIM DOWN THIS WEEK??

OH NO, IT WASN'T YOU WAS IT

p.s. I love you so much, when you do it

We Have a Dream

2008-09-19T07:34:00.005Z

Started out this weeks message wanting to call week's two message
‘An Atmosphere for growth’

But I didn’t think this wasn't hard hitting enough or strong enough to make the point

So I thought of -
“Intensifying the atmosphere for Expansion & Increase”

But this felt too clumsy and long winded,... so then came
“An Investment in Others Lives”

Then I found a great song by Frank Sinatra called ………….
‘The Best is yet to come’

But I ended up with Martin Luther's world famous declaration and changed it into
……………………………….. “We have a Dream”

It is a dream to..............

What sign have you posted on the door of your life

2008-09-15T05:07:00.006Z

When God called us to do i61……..we were busy. Busy doing work & busy doing life

When Jesus called Matthew, .......... when he called James and John,……. Andrew and Peter,……….. were they already retired. Did they have their feet up waiting for that moment. NO, they were busy people…………………..Busy collecting taxes,………Busy running their fishing business trying to build up a fishing empire………………………. Local businessmen with busy lives

When God calls people to do something great,……….. to do something that will make a difference to hundreds,………… even thousands of people,……….. that’ll make a difference not just in this generation but in the next one

Does he wait for us all to retire so we have more time? NO……………. he calls on people who are already showing the potential of who they are………….. and what they can do and achieve in their everyday lives in school,…… at home……….. and in the workplace.

But when God comes calling…………..
Our Time is torn between these new possibilities ………………. and our life commitments.

We all need to put food on the table,…… to pay the bills & make ends meet…………. OF COURSE WE DO. But do you know what??????
God’s call is always going to be inconvenient to you. And God doesn’t even worry about this inconvenience to you because he has helped produce you the way you are . He’s helped you learn through life’s storms and now he’s ready for a growth environment to take place within you and around you

Those of you with children……… have you ever asked them to do something, and they say to you “I don’t want to do it” or “I’ll do it later” and you say “No, go and do it now”

They might have all the reasons in the world why they can’t do it now,……….but you know if it doesn’t get done now,……… it’s probably……. not going to get done at all and a day later, it still hasn’t been done because other things are more important,…………….

Ask any parent whether…… getting a simple thing done………. can result in a lot of drama and even some pain. BUT with God………… He does it differently…………….

He may ask you to do something and you might say ‘Later’ ....but God doesn’t operate like a parent. He doesn’t wait until you want to get round to it. If you consistently say to God……. Not Now…… It’s Inconvenient……… what does he do??

In the parable of the great Banquet, He shows us what happens when we are invited by God to do something

'Tell those who have been invited that ….. everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.'
"But they paid no attention and went off—one to his field, another to his business………...
"Then he said, 'The banquet is ready, but those I invited did not come. Go invite anyone you find.'
It ends up saying "Many are invited, but few are chosen."

In that parable, people gave excuses…………. but the Master of the banquet goes on and invites those who want to be there

I believe..... God moves with the Movers…………. Even though he loves everyone equally, ………….. He still moves with the movers

God won’t wait years and years explaining to you why it would benefit his kingdom and also how it will benefit you even more,……. if you actually get on and do it.

What's He been trying to get you to do??

Is THIS Revival?

2008-09-08T06:34:00.010Z

I asked the question on my Facebook:

Is THIS Revival?

And this was Christine’s reply
"naaaw... cos revival has to be prayed in and prayed in and prayed in and prayed in... and prayed in and prayed in and... and it always has to happen someday in the future, and we won't have to do anything - it'll sweep over u... Read Mores and make everyone saved, y'kmow someday... unless, ummm unless... hmmmmmm"

This made me laugh so much. There is a truth contained within that needs to be learned and applied in our churches today

Ecclesiastes 3 says:
There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven:

a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,

a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,

(& Steve’s own addition)
There is a time for Prayer
and there is a time for doing

We can use Prayer as an excuse that, without prayer nothing happens. And I believe this can be true, BUT unless at some point the church puts hands and feet to what they are praying for, almost certainly (99% of the time), we continue to wait. We just keep on praying.

God wants to answer our prayers, but he needs someone who’s prepared to actually get off their backsides, get their hands mucky and get into it

and here is the secret:

You’ve got to do it every day
You’ve got to do it every week
You’ve got to do it everywhere
You’ve got to do it consistently
You’ve got to do it with perseverance
You’ve got to do it with unity
because it COMMANDS a blessing (Psalm 133)
You’ve got to do it, even when you can’t anymore
You’ve got to do it, when it costs you
And You’ve got to want to go and do it

One off stuff, produces nothing

Here is an exert from Welsh Revival.com

This was a Revival with youth on fire – young men, yes and women. After the first stirrings amongst the young women of New Quay, young women continued to play a part in the Revival work – young Florrie went on a team to North Wales with her friend Maud – others used their voices as instruments of God’s message and amongst the most well known was Annie Davies Maesteg who accompanied Evan Roberts on his missions. Yes a storm had hit the churches yet for so many it was a storm of love and power which completely transformed their lives.

Read more at http://www.welshrevival.com

If you’ve got the fire in you, read this
http://www.openheaven.com/library/history/wales.htm

and even more then read this
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/history/welshrevival_1.shtml

I never knew church could be this good!

2008-09-07T16:56:00.004Z

Hey Everyone, we'd love you to meet Alex & Tara

2008-09-02T03:46:00.010Z

The USA ROADTRIP

Next Wednesday (11th), we see Alex & Tara (by the way it's pronounced 'terror') move from Florida to come and join us all at i61, as they feel a call of God to be with us. For us, it's an exciting time and they will add a fantastic dynamic to the life of the church with their fun, their vitality and their desire to see God use them in any area. They are stepping out of the boat.

Over the last 3 weeks or so they have been touring the USA, from Washington to Chicago, Grand Canyon to Las Vegas, side stepping policemen and crushing locusts, travelling an enormous 9,710.4 miles in a car, once.....driving non stop for 21 hours to avoid a hurricane, you can see all this on their flickr (photo) site. Take a look and leave them some messages of encouragement.

Add them as a friend on facebook (ALEX) ..... (TARA) and get to know them, but most of all please pray for them as they take this enormous, gigantic step of faith.

This is what they look like

dat is wel cool.... innit

2008-08-31T14:01:00.014Z

Hey it's time we started blogging again, so here goes

This weekend was the Teens "Take Over" at i61 and as you can see from the picture I just had to have my say....... weeeell......not really, they wrote me into the sketch as a teen, (which I stank at).

The best part of all that took place this weekend was the amazing job... me homies...., who were involved, did.

Gill & I are so proud of you guys, not just for today but also at the amount you have all grown in your faith throughout the summer holidays. You made God your focus - and just look what happened!

So many gifts & talents came to the forefront through this time & God is evidencing some of the skills and abilities you will work in, in the future.

He has such a great plan for your lives. Its exciting!

Jeremiah 29:11

Each of us has such a huge part to play in how God can shape us and how he can get things done in and through our lives & how he can bring us to the full potential that he has planned for us.

Keeping close to him as you have done this summer is what its all about, you've teamed up with God and the results have been awesome!!

We wanna hear from you, just how much you think you have grown as a Christian?what do you feel you've learnt?

Personally for yourself & also what do you see for others?

Come on leave comments now!

please don't box me in!

2008-03-28T17:26:00.003Z

Definition for out-of-the-box thinking - thinking that moves away in diverging directions so as to involve a variety of aspects and which sometimes lead to novel ideas and solutions; associated with creativity

Inside The Box
Thinking inside the box means accepting the status quo. For example, Charles H. Duell, Director of the US Patent Office, said, "Everything that can be invented has been invented." That was in 1899: clearly he was in the box!
In-the-box thinkers find it difficult to recognize the quality of an idea. An idea is an idea. A solution is a solution. In fact, they can be quite pigheaded when it comes to valuing an idea. They rarely invest time to turn a mediocre solution into a great solution.
More importantly, in-the-box thinkers are skillful at killing ideas. They are masters of the creativity killer attitude such as "that'll never work" or "it's too risky." The best in-the-box thinkers are unaware that they drain the enthusiasm and passion of innovative thinkers while they kill their innovative ideas.

Even great creative people can become in-the-box thinkers when they stop trying.
Apathy and indifference can turn an innovator into an in-the-box thinker.
In only one case is in-the-box thinking necessary. This comes from a cartoon: a man talks to his cat and points to the kitty litter box. He says, "Never ever think outside the box!"

Outside the Box
Thinking outside the box requires different attributes that include:
Willingness to take new perspectives to day-to-day work.
Openness to do different things and to do things differently.
Focusing on the value of finding new ideas and acting on them.
Striving to create value in new ways.
Listening to others.
Supporting and respecting others when they come up with new ideas.
Out-of-the box thinking requires an openness to new ways of seeing the world and a willingness to explore.
Out-of-the box thinkers know that new ideas need nurturing and support. They also know that having an idea is good but acting on it is more important!

So, are you in, or are you out?

We Just Luv 'Em!

2007-12-10T15:32:00.000Z

This verse just kind of sums up our heart for i61

“We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God, but our lives as well: (1 Thessalonians 2:8).

God of the moon and stars

2007-11-28T23:05:00.000Z

LIAR LIAR!

2007-11-19T18:39:00.000Z

'LIAR LIAR'
was a very funny movie, but in real life, lying is no fun!

At a golf club in Stuttgart, Germany, four men walked up to an elevated green, in search of their golf balls.
The first man anticipated that his shot was long, but he could not find the ball on the back of the green.
While his three other friends looked for the ball in the high grass, the man cleverly slipped a ball from his pocket and dropped it on the fringe and announced, “Here it is. I found it.”
But a few moments later, as they were about to putt, the flag was removed from the hole.
And there, inside the hole, was the man’s original golf ball. The guy had made a hole-in-one, but his lie had ruined his achievement.

Commandment - 9 says:

“No lies”

There are many ways that we lie.
When you tell a half truth you’re telling a whole lie.
A lie can be falsifying information or you can lie by concealing information.

You can lie without saying a word….

Honesty is important - we know that, so why do we lie?
Matthew 12:34 “For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.”

Jesus is saying the real problem is not our mouth but our heart.
‘The heart of the issue…. Is the issue of the heart…’

Matthew 15:19 “For out of the heart comes evil thoughts, murder, adultery, fornication, lying and slander.”

So what’s the motive of the heart behind lying?

Lying is just a symptom of a deeper problem.

So lets look at some different types of lying
first of all there is

1. The Gossip.

Sometimes this can seem like a bit of fun, talking about people behind their backs…. Saying nasty things.

Or it can even be intentional – malicious things.
Things told……. to get revenge.

You don’t like somebody and they’ve hurt you.
You make up some lie about them.
Or some half truth… or even something they confided to you… something personal.

And you spread it around.
It’s a betrayal of trust.

What’s the motive behind that?
Jealousy, revenge, hurt, anger, hate, resentment.

Spreading gossip about someone...
Lies like this cause damage that is difficult to repair.

A Vicar was wrongly accused of something. It was a scandalous story that swept through his small town like a wild fire. Phone call after phone call, people were asking each other, “Have you heard about the Vicar? Can you believe it? He shouldn’t just leave his church, he should leave town. His poor wife.” But after some time, the story was found out to be completely false. And a couple in his church were guilty for spreading the lies. They felt bad after a little while and went to confess to the vicar. So they asked for his forgiveness. Of course, he forgave them, as Jesus would have—he said, “I will forgive you. But will do you do something for me?” “Anything for you,” the couple replied. He said, “I want you to go home and get one of your chickens. I want you to pluck out the feathers and put them in a bag. Can you do that for me?” “Of course,” the couple replied. And they went home and did exactly that. And returned for further instructions. “Good,” he said. “Now, I want you to take your bag of feathers and walk around our town for a little while. And I want you to drop a few feathers on to the ground at each street corner. Then, after you have done that, I want you to go to the top of the old city water tower and empty the rest of the bag of feathers from there…letting them scatter wherever the wind takes them. Can you do that?”  “Of course,” they say. And they do just that. Again they returned, and he said, “Great. Now, I have one more thing for you to do. I want you to go back through town and gather up every single feather again.” The couple said, “But…that’s impossible. The wind will have blown the feathers all over the county by the time we get to them.” And then it struck them…their lies had done such great damage to the Vicar, that it never can be fully undone.””

2. The Self-Protector.

The self-protector lies to avoid consequences.

You’re trying to protect yourself, prevent pain.
“The dog ate my homework.” Kind of lie..

When you don’t want to get into trouble you tell a lie.

The motive behind that kind of lie is fear, fear of being found out… fear of punishment.

Or more subtly – what if a friend has a strong dominating personality and you just go along with stuff – because its easier -
When you don’t have the courage to say “no”.
That’s the cowardly liar …. Without even saying a word..... The self-protector.

3. The Bragger.

The bragger lies to impress people.
You’re trying to create an image - so you boast.

You exaggerate and build yourself up -
The motive behind this kind of lie is ‘Insecurity’

What comes over as pride and ego, when you pull away the
Layers, is a very frightened, insecure person.

If I don’t think I’m good enough as I am –
- then I have to puff myself up.
At the root of it is insecurity.

4. The Manipulator.

This one lies to get their own way…

We want things our way.
We plan and scheme - we twist the truth, we make false promises because we want it our way…

I want to get what I want- when I want it.

The motivation is greed or selfishness.

This liar says, “This is what I want at all costs - therefore I’m going to do whatever it takes to get it even if it means lie.”
It’s basically selfishness—

5. The Convenience liar.

When it takes effort to tell the truth.
We just brush it off …
Because it takes time to explain. & We can’t be bothered.

Or we don’t want to get involved -
so you tell the police, “I didn’t see anything” when you really did.

The convenient lie we just do it because we just don’t want to take the time. What is the motive behind that kind of lie?

Laziness.

This is the kind of lie you tell in social situations.
When you don’t want to offend anybody.
Little ‘white lies’ we call them….
“Darling, you look sooo wonderful in that dress”

Jesus said that what’s in your heart is what’s going to come out of your mouth.
So the heart of the issue - is the issue of the heart—
maybe you’ve recognized yourself, or someone else…. ???

Whoops upside your head... i say whoops upside your head

2007-11-12T23:06:00.002Z

ANGER - a preview of tomorrows message at i61

2007-10-27T11:26:00.000Z

i61 @ 11am Sunday - Tomorrows Opening Gambit

In any relationship that you have,………… conflict is inevitable…… but combat is not. How do we learn to disagree without being disagreeable? To argue without killing relationships

One of TWO things happen due to Anger and conflict. You will either have a breakdown –
Relationships will either be damaged because of the conflict
or there will be a breakthrough to a new level of maturity and intimacy in the relationship.
The key is how you ‘handle’ your anger.

Proverbs 11:29 "The fool who provokes his family to anger and resentment will finally have nothing left."

The word finally… suggests that we head down that path again and again,…… believing that those we hurt and offend will ALWAYS put up with how we are.
But the truth is, as the Bible says here……………. We will finally end up with nothing.
More marriages and more families are destroyed by anger than anything else.

During a Conflict:
Most people fall into one of two types of people............

What are they........ you'll have to come to i61 @ 11am tomorrow (Sunday) to find out or check out the Podcast new week at www.i61.org

Re-Train The Brain

2007-10-22T08:24:00.000Z

Recently I had eye laser surgery to correct my vision.

At the consultation it was explained to me that that I had good close up vision but my distance sight was poor.
To correct the distance problem in both eyes would leave me with poor reading vision .
So I would be swapping one problem for another.

But he explained that there is a solution, have one eye corrected for the distance sight and leave the other one untreated to do the close up work.
I was unconvinced at first.

My right eye would allow me to see up close and my left eye that would allow me to see in the distance.

"In reality,we don't see with our eyes" he said, "we see with our brain."

So we would be tricking the brain and going against the way it was created."

"Your brain maybe confused for several months," he continued. "You will step off of curbs that are not there. You will be unable to read except for short periods because your eyes will be at war over which one gets to do the job. You will reach for something only to knock it over. When your brain becomes retrained, the confusion will fade and your vision will improve greatly."

He was right!

That is exactly what happened. The first few months were frustrating sometimes,
but eventually my vision has improved and it now feels 'normal' to have each eye doing their own thing!

Training the mind is not only a physical possibility, but a spiritual principle.

The mind is a great battlefield. What controls the mind has won the battle.

Problematic circumstances, negative and depressive thoughts can lead us into a negative and depressing problematic way of living.

Whereas positive, happy, constructive thoughts, looking to God for answers to the problems we face, and the strength to deal with them. To make right choices in our life.

Can all lead us to live a successful happy life. even in the midst of troubles.

Every day we are at war for the control of the mind.
Who wins that war is up to us and the choices that we make.

We must wage peace in the mind by controlling and filtering what we allow to dwell in our thoughts.

The Apostle Paul gives us a challenging standard for our thought life in Philippians 4:8-9
"Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right. Think about things that are pure, lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned from me and heard from me and saw me doing, and the God of peace will be with you."

What Paul is telling us in this passage is that the best way to control our thoughts and mind is by controlling the outside influences.
We must filter every movie, book, television program, conversation, and song – anything we hear – through this standard of excellence.

The main weapon in mental warfare is the deliberate feeding of good stuff and Godly stuff into the mind.
Reading the Bible and praying at home each day, (even if its only 15 minutes a day)
Church on sunday, connect group mid week,it gives us a spiritual top up for this kind of living.

We must re-train the brain -

Life can be difficult, problems come and along with them the learned negative thought patterns kick in.

What we allow to dwell in our minds will work its way out in our lives.

Do not give away the control of your mind to anyone but God.

FINDING TRUE PURPOSE IN LIFE!

2007-10-15T06:31:00.000Z

When God created us he put a vacuum in our hearts which can only be filled by himself. We are restless, like a piano out of tune, until we let him come in.

Many times we don't understand this restlessness;
but there is an anxiety, a loneliness and only God can fill that. One day I walked past a church in town and saw a sign "Seek and you will find"
I was seeking, I had met Jackie and Jamie, Shirley and Ken. They were Christians, and I couldn't pinpoint what it was, but they had something that I knew I needed.
It was to do with God, they tried to explain it to me, but I believed in God, I was a Christian, wasn't I?

So what was the difference? Now I was seeking!
There is a difference in believing that God and Christ existed and really believing in them.

John 1:12 To all who believed in him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God

Yes, believing is one thing, but 'accepting' or 'receiving' him, is a definite act of faith.
Not an act of emotion but a commitment of ourselves to him-

"To them he gives the Power to become children of God"....

No longer restless orphans searching for something we can't seem to find.

The emptiness is filled, the loneliness gone, we have come home....

God will not cramp our style - he'll enhance it!
He gives us the dimension to living that he wanted us to have when he made us.
He takes our talents and our abilities, sometimes ones we never knew we had and brings them out. Because we have God confidence, not self confidence, the ego is gone and in it's place we have faith and trust, and peace that's beyond understanding.

The Power to Change a Human Life

2007-10-01T06:38:00.000Z

The local church is the hope of the world.

We are stewards of the transforming message of the love of Christ, known as the ‘Gospel’. It is the only agency in society that does that. Church addresses the deepest needs in the lives of human beings. Church can lead people into a whole new way of living and loving and serving and transforming the society around them or they can be bland, almost silent and virtually non-existent as far as it’s community is concerned.

Church leaders need to grasp the reality that the ongoing destiny of those around us are entrusted to us by God. Leaders need to realise it is desperately important that we get it right when it comes to connecting with our community. To evidence our lifestyle, our love and our strategies. To make the most of every person God gives us, to help people realise how effective they can be in loving, in caring, in helping others around them. The success or failure of our churches directly affects every person within easy driving distance of our locations. Eternal destinies are within our reach and God wants us to be effective in every area of church life. We need to realise that best practices in every area of the life of the church needs to live up to the potential within every person and not be allowed to fall short or even worse to barely make the first step.

The church is the hope of the world………………………….. and we have to give the best we have in ALL areas of it’s life. The best messages, the best welcome, the best teaching, the best children’s work, the best youth and young peoples work. The best in all areas. If the world is offering better than the church, then the church is falling short.

To fulfil this we need the desire, the passion, the self belief and most important of all we need to know Jesus is with us in this call. When he was with his disciples he encouraged them when they did well, but he also challenged them when they fell short. He had a wide perspective of their potential, he didn’t say go to your village, he didn’t say go alone, he said “you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

What part do you play? What is your gift?

Together, we can change a human life and together we can change the world

Culture Changers??

2007-09-15T09:47:00.000Z

By Phil Baker

Anthropologists who study "culture" define it as an integrated system of ideas, beliefs, traditions and customs. This defines the way we as humans think and determines the way we act.

Every organisation, every family and even every individual, has a culture about them.

The most effective way to change culture is through effectual leadership.

So how do leaders change culture? Here are 3 suggestions

Leaders model the preferred culture
Leaders teach and train people in the organization the preferred culture
Leaders must confront the existing culture

Food for thought for all culture changers?

1 year old and.....

2007-08-11T14:21:00.000Z

discovering life
discovering friends

discovering lollipops!

discovering water

discovering nature..

ain't life grand?

Laughter is good medicine! (proverbs 17:22)

2007-08-03T20:40:00.000Z

Sick Leave

I urgently needed a few days off work, but I knew the Boss wouldn't
allow me to take a leave. I thought that maybe if I acted crazy, then
he would tell me to take a few days off; so I hung upside down from the
ceiling and made funny noises.

My co-worker (who's blonde) asked me what I was doing.

I told her I was pretending to be a light bulb
so that the Boss would think I was 'CRAZY'
and give me a few days off.

A few minutes later the Boss came into the office and asked,
'What are you doing?'
I told him I was a light bulb.
He said, 'You are clearly stressed out. Go home and recuperate for a couple of days.'

I jumped down and walked out of the office.
When my co-worker (the blonde) followed me, the Boss said to her,
'And where do you think you're going?'

(You're going to love this. . . )

She said, 'I'm going home too!
I can't work in the dark!'

Who am I?

2007-07-19T21:58:00.000Z

"Solve The Puzzle of Who You Are"

Discover the true potential of who you are…

It’s the road to self discovery, finding your true identity…

God has placed treasure within human vessels - each one of us

There is great potential within you, in fact there is greatness within you!

People with potential are ten a penny -
But people who get up off their behinds and realise that potential are rare...

Make some choices today to make some changes in your life towards realising that potential that is within you.

This sunday I'm going to be talking about how we can take back our lost initiative and gain control of our God-given destiny!

If you’re tired of sitting back? Accepting your lot in life

Change things.

Get up – clear out – take new ground – live your dream!

What is potential?

-Untapped power
-Dormant ability
-Undiscovered treasure
-It’s who you are, but no one knows it yet.
-What you could become.
-What could be and is yet to come.

Don’t settle for where you’re at –
- if you know there is more in you.

Last sunday I spoke on potential if you wanna hear more, get the pod cast
And this sunday we're going deeper into this journey of self discovery... join us at i61 ...

Yay God!!!

Let me know your comments on this subject, all contributions are welcome :)

Happy Talking!

2007-07-04T21:28:00.000Z

This saturday 7/7/07 is 'i61 daughters' and we're going to be
"Practicing Happiness"
& it's gonna be fun!
9.30 - 12 am @ i61 for girls & women of all ages! Come and find out more...
How can we find happiness in life amidst our troubles and circumstances,
For starters, here's the top ten tips:

1. Decide to be a happy person. As Lincoln observed, most people, most of the time, can choose how stressed or happy, how troubled or relaxed they want to be. Choose to be happy.

2. Watch and Read less news. I know this can be difficult because the stock market fluctuates, politicians politic, and sports teams compete. But, most of the time, you don’t need the stress. So, just don’t watch. I think it was Henry Thoreau who noted that if you’ve ever read about a train wreck, you understand the principle and don’t need to know any more about it.

3. Practice the Attitude of Gratitude. We all have so much to be grateful for. Just thanking the many people who assist us, encourage us, teach us and open doors for us could take all day!

4. Take Time. My dog has taught me much about loyalty, about noticing the sights, sounds, and smells in the yard, about being relaxed and about play. Eat when you’re hungry, nap when you need it. Get your ears scratched whenever possible!

5. Laugh everyday. Hear a joke, tell a joke, laugh at yourself, laugh with your friends and family and co-workers. There are very few medicines as powerful as laughter, and I don’t think you can over-dose, although it is addicting!

6. Love well. Express your affection, appreciation, friendship and warmth to those around you, and they will almost always respond in the most amazing ways! Be generous…it pays great dividends!

7. Work hard. This one comes as a bit of a surprise, but there is tremendous satisfaction in being competent, and joy in completing our assigned tasks. One of the great sources of happiness is to do work that is worthy of you, and to do it well.

8. Learn something new, everyday. To be happy, most of us must also be growing, expanding, learning and challenging ourselves. Read, listen, adapt and stretch to accommodate new ideas and new information.

9. Use your body as it was designed. Walk and run, stretch, throw things, and lift things. Dance! Exercise is good, but mixing up a batch of cookies, or exchanging backrubs. You have a body and it can be either a source of joy, or a source of aches and pains. Your choice.

10: Avoid toxins. I prefer writing positives (things to do) rather than negatives (things to fear), but reality says there are negative people and there are bad chemicals, stressful noises, and unsafe places. Don’t go there! Avoid poisons whenever possible. It seems to work out better that way.

OH NO!!!!!

2007-07-02T20:41:00.000Z

THIS IS HAPPENING RIGHT HERE IN OUR OWN COUNTRY!

We Must Stop This Immediately! Have you noticed that stairs are getting steeper. Groceries are heavier. And, everything i s farther away. Yesterday I walked to the corner and I was dumbfounded to discover how long our street had become!

And, you know, people are less considerate now, especially the young ones. They speak in whispers all the time! If you ask them to speak up they just keep repeating themselves, endlessly mouthing the same silent message until they're red in the face! What do they think I am, a lip reader?

I also think they are much younger than I was at the same age. On the other hand, people my own age are so much older than I am. I ran into an old friend the other day and she has aged so much that she didn't even recognize me.

I got to thinking about the poor dear while I was combing my hair this morning, and in doing so, I glanced at my own reflection.........well, REALLY NOW- even mirrors are not made the way they used to be!

Another thing, everyone drives so fast these days! You're risking life and limb if you happen to pull onto the motorway in front of them. All I can say is, their brakes must wear out awfully fast, the way I see them screech and swerve in my rear view mirror.

Clothing manufacturers are less civilized these days. Why else would they suddenly start labeling a size 10 or 12 dress as 18 or 20? Do they think no one notices?

The people who make bathroom scales are pulling the same prank. Do they think I actually "believe" the number I see on that dial? HA! I would never let myself weigh that much! Just who do these people think they're fooling?

I'd like to call up someone in authority to report what's going on -- but the telephone company is in on the conspiracy too: they've printed the phone books in such small type that no one could ever find a number in there!

All I can do is pass along this warning:

WE ARE UNDER ATTACK! Unless something drastic happens, pretty soon everyone will have to suffer these awful indignities.

PLEASE PASS THIS ON TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW AS SOON AS POSSIBLE SO WE CAN GET THIS CONSPIRACY STOPPED!

PS: I am sending this to you in a larger font size, because something has happened to my computer's fonts - they are smaller than they once were.

Have a good day

Spiderman 3

2007-06-16T20:42:00.000Z

"Whatever comes our way, whatever battle we have raging inside us, we always have a choice. ... It's the choices that make us who we are, and we can always choose to do what's right."
- Peter Parker in Spiderman 3

i61 BBQ

2007-06-13T06:46:00.000Z

On Friday we knew Sunday was going to be a nice sunny day and we thought hey, let's have a few people round for a BBQ.

Church was great Sunday morning but nothing had prepared us for what was about to happen next. Oh yes, I'd said to the kids bring a swimming costume as you will get wet, but I had no idea most of the adults would end up the same way

57 people turned up and another 22 couldn't come (you missed yourselves - don't miss this next one)

Anyway, rather than witter on about how brill it was, I'll just post a few pics from my friends who are great at taking great pics

The Water Slide proved a Huge hit and the youngsters (hey there's one in here that's not so young..... who is it?????)

That's right it's Jenna!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The tiddlers were happy in there own pool

but those Big 'uns ................................... They Came

.............. they saw

they just took over

But when we looked back at the adult take-over, we found these were to blame

They may look a cute bunch but it was they who caused mayhem at the i61 BBQ

from the Window of Alex & Tara's House

2007-06-02T13:57:00.001Z

FLORIDA
yep, 3 months of drought and we arrive in this
.........

good job I brought my mobile phone with me

and we don't have to go all the way to the beach to enjoy the water sports

Last Night we enrolled the help of neighbours to get to the restaurant

and the weather in Wales right now
.............. sigh!!!!

:D Girls if you've ever had a Mammogram... remember, it could have been worse!

2007-05-30T08:24:00.000Z

POWER OUTAGE DURING A MAMMOGRAM

I actually kept my mammogram appointment. I was met with, 'Hi! I'm
Belinda!' This perky clipboard carrier smiled from ear to ear, tilted
her head to one side and crooned, 'All I need you to do is step into this
room right hereee, strip to the waist, thennnn slip on this gown.
Everything clearrrr?'

I'm thinking, 'Belinda, try decaf. This ain't rocket science.'

Belinda skipped away to prepare the chamber of horrors.

Call me crazy, but I suspect a man invented this machine. It takes a
perfectly healthy cup size of 36-B to a size 38-LONG in less than 60
seconds. Also, girls aren't made of sugar and spice and everything
nice....it's Spandex. We can be stretched, pulled and twisted over a
cold 4-inch piece of square glass and still pop back into shape.

With the right side finished, Belinda flipped me (literally!) to the
left and said, 'Hmmmm. Can you stand on your tippy toes and lean in a tad
so we can get everything?'

Fine, I answered. I was freezing, bruised, and out of air, so why not
use the remaining circulation in my legs and neck and finish me off?

My body was in a holding pattern that defied gravity (with my other
boob wedged between those two 4' pieces of square glass) when we heard,
then felt a zap! Complete darkness and the power went off! 'What?' I yelled.

'Oh, maintenance is working. Bet they hit a snag.' Belinda headed for
the door.

'Excuse me! You're not leaving me in this vice alone, are you?' I shouted.

Belinda kept going and said, 'Oh, you fussy puppy ... the door's wide
open so you'll have the emergency hall lights. I'll be righttttt backkkk.'

Before I could shout 'NOOOO!' she disappeared. And that's exactly how
Bubba and Earl, maintenance men extraordinaire, found me, half-naked and
part of me dangling from the Jaws of Life and the other part smashed between
glass! After exchanging polite 'Hi, how's it going' type greetings, Bubba
(or possibly Earl) asked, to my utter disbelief, if I knew the power was off.

Trying to disguise my hysteria, I replied with as much calmness as
possible. 'Uh, yes, yes I did. Thanks.'

'You bet, take care', Bubba replied and waved good-bye as though I'd
been standing in the line at the grocery store.

Two hours later, Belinda breezes in wearing a sheepish grin an d
making no attempt to suppress her amusement, she said.

'Oh I am soooo sorry!
The power came back on and I totally forgot about you! And silly me, I
went to lunch. Are we upset?'

And that, Your Honor, is exactly how her head ended up between the
clamps........

A Request for your prayers and insight

2007-05-30T07:05:00.000Z

As most of you know Prayer Week 2007 just ended and we are getting a lot of e-mails in about what was going on around the nation and also what people are feeling for the future of Prayer Week

Here is just one of many e-mails. It's from a Pastor in Leicester. Please read it, then pray and let us know what you are sensing.

Great to be involved in Prayer Week again, good opportunity to come together with other churches with a common focus, being of one heart and mind with a purpose to pray in the Kingdom.

We find that Prayer Week is a totally non threatening forum, found it has been a power tool for unity in local and city forums here. Such an acceptance and welcoming of the Week now after a continuity of involvement over the years.
Have intercessors prayer walking our community, adopting streets, this was extended in prayer week to take in 7am. time of prayer walking daily ...awakening the dawn and taking back the start of the day for the Lord.

The Godfrey event in Leics. was once more totally awesome, powerful time of worship and intercession, touched a particular chord here in Leics. with praying for Madeleine and other disappeared and stolen children. A couple of our youth who were with us were set free from embarrassment and released into freedom in praise and worship and prayer...one of them even turned up at the 8am. prayer meeting next morning and prayed for his generation...The offering on the evening was once more abundant grace of God outpoured, able to bless not only Godfrey, Henry and Jesse in a way that honours the anointing on their lives but also gift to the Love Leicester 2007 initiative and help with the orphanage and training centre we're building in Uganda under the banner of our charity "Walk a Mile in My Shoes". Tangible outpouring of the commanded blessing of an open heaven when we are in unity and sacrificial in service. Psalm 133 and Malachi 3:10 . God at work, touching our local area and extending to bless the city and others in another nation...through the young lives touched we also touch the future.

Prayer Week is vehicle for vision, a platform for unity and a positive influence for the Kingdom locally, nationally and internationally.

Looking forward to 2008, sense a building of momentum in and for the nation....in partnership with Hope 08 I am convinced that we shall see a powerful turn of the tide and a revelation of the knowledge of the glory of the Lord.

Bless you guys for being faithful to the Heavenly Vision, it's a privilege to partner in Prayer Week.
Lynne.

It's a Jungle Out There

2007-05-25T10:41:00.000Z

The story is told of a man on an African safari deep in the jungle. The guide before him had a machete and was whacking away the tall weeds and thick underbrush. The traveler, wearied and hot, asked in frustration, “Where are we? Do you know where you are taking me? Where is the path?!” The seasoned guide stopped and looked back at the man and replied, “I am the path.”

We ask the same questions, don’t we? We ask God, “Where are you taking me? Where is the path?” And he, like the guide, doesn’t tell us. Oh, he may give us a hint or two, but that’s all. If he did, would we understand? Would we comprehend our location? No, like the traveler, we are unacquainted with this jungle. So rather than give us an answer, Jesus gives us a far greater gift. He gives us himself.

Does he remove the jungle? No, the vegetation is still thick.

Does he purge the predators? No, danger still lurks.

Jesus doesn’t give hope by changing the jungle; he restores our hope by giving us himself. And he has promised to stay until the very end. “I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matt. 28:20 NIV).

We need that reminder. We all need that reminder. For all of us need hope.

Some of you don’t need it right now. Your jungle has become a meadow and your journey a delight. If such is the case, congratulations. But remember???we do not know what tomorrow holds. We do not know where this road will lead. You may be one turn from a cemetery, from a hospital bed, from an empty house. You may be a bend in the road from a jungle.

And though you don’t need your hope restored today, you may tomorrow. And you need to know to whom to turn.

Or perhaps you do need hope today. You know you were not made for this place. You know you are not equipped. You want someone to lead you out.

If so, call out for your Shepherd. He knows your voice. And he’s just waiting for your request.

& so it continues.....

2007-05-20T17:59:00.000Z

The Emerging and Emergent Church debate is on-going and is proving to be very interesting and amusing, thanks to contributions from D&S, very funny guys... this cartoon is for you!

Intellectually stimulating and challenging thanks to Jeff & Anonymous (is that you Paul?)
Christine, I agree with you about not liking labels....
(isn't that what the emerging church is emerging from?)

Another definition of 'Emerging Church' I found-

“People who are going about being ‘the church’ in a bit of a different way to the way that most people are going about it”

This is too wide reaching and worrying to me in one way, because it is open to abuse and cultish-type sects developing under the banner of :
"We are Emerging Church, yay we're cool & trendy, you can trust us!!!"

Yes, I must say that this is a concern, also a quick thought coming to mind here:
Is this the way new denominations begin?

but having said that I simply LOVE being a
“People who are going about being ‘the church’ in a bit of a different way to the way that most people are going about it”

But what label do I have? or even do I need?
All I know is, I love Jesus & I'm heavenbound and wanna take as many with me as I can!!!!!

Debate & Question Time...

2007-05-17T11:54:00.000Z

Todays subject is :
So what is 'Emerging Church'

A growing range of ministries claim to be ‘emerging church’ including; youth church, prayer monasteries, church in an office, pub or coffee shop. Some argue that emerging church is just the latest evangelical obsession. We’ve had cells, seeker friendly services, gold teeth – is emerging church another passing trend or might it help turn the tide on church decline?

Interest in the emerging church, is not limited to those in the emerging generation – and nor should it be.

So what is 'Emerging Church'

'And what is it about ‘emerging church’ that has such wide appeal?

Pete Ward, author of ‘Liquid Church’ puts it, why are ‘lots of different people using the term “Emerging Church” to talk about lots of different things – none of them the same?’

* What’s behind the explosive growth in the emerging brand of church?

* What key distinctives of authentic emerging churches can be identified?

* Why an emerging brand of church?

* So what’s led to the growth of the emerging church?

Andrew Jones
describes the emerging church as “budding movements outside the institutional church. People that have left or never attended church but are following Jesus, sharing lives together and being the church. They are not really new church/ house church people. They are beyond the radar.”

Simon Hall, agrees. He says the driving force for these sorts of churches are “struggling Christians trying to find new ways of being church for themselves. They are genuinely searching for a deeper experience of faith. Emerging church is everything that is happening as people get frustrated with both mainstream church and the shallowness of their own spirituality. The emerging church which is worth living and dying for is the church that emerges out of pioneer missionary work in Britain.”

In this sense, it’s a bottom-up movement, driven by a desire among 20s and 30s to create spiritual homes appropriate to their culture.
(20s & 30s ! what about 40s 50s 60s etc. ?)

Emerging definitions?

How do you define or pin it down?

Andrew Jones, “I have tried to define it and have failed miserably,” he admits. “That is OK though. People in the emerging culture do not really want or need such a definition. And some of us are hesitant to give one because behind the practices of emerging church lies a radically different mind set, value system and world view.”

Recognising that “institutional forms of Christianity are hollow, boring, irrelevant and have little bearing on the real issues of their lives”, focused on the desire among 20s and 30s to belong and find meaning, value and purpose.
(sorry to harp on -but 40s, 50's 60's need this too!)

For mainstream churches brave enough to explore planting emerging church, the situation is comparable to that facing missionaries who leave Britain to serve overseas. It’s all about exploring, becoming part of a new culture, leaving behind old norms and entering an emerging culture with Jesus as the only reference point.

Churches are screaming out, they have a message that is worth hearing, but don't have the language to communicate it!
How many churches are willing to confront their inability to speak a language that can be understood by the emerging generation? How many churches are willing to learn that language?

“Loosing oneself” is more than buying the book and learning the theory. It’s incarnating into the culture in order to impact it, as Jesus did.

Returning to missionary roots

The church must return to its pioneering edge. As Hudson Taylor threw away his English clothes when he entered China, mainstream churches wishing to reach the emerging generation must do the same.

Pete Greig sees it as the difference between having a cultural presence (a place in the culture) and trying to be culturally relevant (having no place in it, just entering to ‘redeem’ people out of it). Those who enter not because it’s their culture but because they want to save people from it will stand out a mile.

Simon Hall, leader of Revive, adds, “as long as the emerging church is growing out of the established church it will have limited success”.
As an accredited Baptist minister who runs an emerging Baptist church plant, he is not suggesting mainstream denominations cannot pioneer emerging churches.
Rather, that any plant must be allowed to submerge itself in emerging culture and cease growing out of its mother congregation.

Differentiating whole-life from programme-led

“Younger Christians in the emerging church are more open to a radical whole life faith than older generations that have often given their first allegiance to modern culture”, argues Christian author and futurologist Tom Sine.

The emerging church is driven by community rather than platform”.

Emerging obsession?

The emerging church is an obsession for many involved in it. It is their lifeline, their hope of a spiritual community appropriate to their culture. For many mainstream churches, emerging church is also an obsession – but sometimes for very different reasons. The challenge for all followers of Christ today is to allow the emerging church to be what its name suggests – something which has come out of and moved on from what went before.

Okay, what do you say on emerging church?

debate? question? definition?

Go have your say!

cherie blair had a baby at 45......

2007-05-15T09:51:00.000Z

Now considering that fact,
and also the fact that women are having babies older these days,
and considering the fact that I'm 48
(gonna be 49 in August i know, but hanging on in there cuz every last month counts right?)

Now bearing all this in mind wouldn't you think that just once, yes just once would be nice, someone might in their wildest imagination think that I'm Kyrias mum?

But no, I get " Oh isn't she sweet, are you her Nanny?" Yes I am, says me "I thought so" says 'cute' little girl at church....

"Oh is this your little grandbaby, she's adorable?" - "yes she is on both counts" says I....

Then just now there am I minding my own business at Tesco checkout, buying little kiddies plastic garden chairs.
Then out of the blue the checkout girl says: "Are these for your grandchildren?"
"yes" says me.
"I thought so"
"How many have you got?" !!!!!! says girl on checkout.
"just the one... but she has a lot of friends" say I, smiling sweetly and feeling about 105.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm very proud to be a Nana, and my grandbaby is cute and adorable and simply the best baby in the whole world -
And there is no way I wanna be a Mum to a 9 month old baby again.....

I know it's true that God didn't intend for women my age to have babies,
cos we might put them down and forget where we put 'em!

I love being a nana, i just don't love looking like one!!!!

So before I go and put down the walking stick and pick up me knitting..... one question"
Do you think Cherie Blair gets this when she's out with her little Leo?

Or is it just me looking very ancient?

Or maybe its the company i keep, i.e. the grey haired dude I hang out with...

Yeah I know!

TGIF

2007-05-11T16:21:00.000Z

Hey, its friday again, wow time flies!

but it's a great weekend ahead of us at i61, we've been encouraged this spring by meeting lots of new people, and the return for the summer of a few old friends.
Things are increasing in pace at i61, lots of good stuff happening.
Alpha every thursday 7pm it's fun!
& Teens (11-18) check out www.homelytartsclub.com its a cool wednesday evening thing.

- Steve has been working all week really hard for saturdays 'Financial Workshop' come and learn how to handle your money in a sensible way, in this crazy easy-credit world we live in!
Then sunday, I have some neat DVD clips of the new Spiderman 3 movie
and my message is called "Why Forgive?"
Yeah there is a connection i promise!

See you at i61 this weekend?

A Week in the Life of Me, Steve-O and the New Beastie

2007-05-04T14:39:00.000Z

Monday, I find myself heading off to Bristol after being referred by my dentist for some specialist root canal treatment... what a nice man he is..... not!

Steve drove me in his lovely new car. Its a beastie!
(So is my dentist sending me all that way for torture treatment!)

A 4 hour drive and 1 1/2hour appointment later I'm feeling fed up to the back teeth, excuse the pun. So Steve takes me out to a fabulous Italian restaurant the San Carlo, where I suck on some spaghetti and drink some nice wine, then I feel much better...
see what a nice man he really is!
Then tuesday we come home via the shopping mall.
The beastie is now covered with dead flies splattered, blood and guts everywhere...

Wednesday I baby sat Kyria while Lee and Sarah went to lead worship at the i61 'deeper' meeting.
Me n' Kyria had fun, but I missed a fantastic message from Dan Gill,
so everyone delights in telling me.
Never mind I'll listen to the podcast... Ha!

Thursday was Alpha night, a small turn out, but we enjoyed our chatting and listening to big Nick...

Friday, hey thats today... get back to ya on that one!

The Firm.

2007-04-23T17:09:00.000Z

Having a Bad Back SUCKS!!!!!!!

2007-04-19T08:01:00.000Z

Many suggestions have been made for my bad back.

Someone suggested acupunture

But I'm not sure, what do you think??

and when Phil & Chris arrived, there were 50

2007-04-16T05:39:00.000Z

Now how's that for a BBQ at short notice.

The sun was shining, everyone was in party mood and Easter week had just been amazing. One home from the Philippines, one home from Mexico, two back from Hemyock and together we are family (there is a song in there somewhere)

Thank You everyone for a wonderful day yesterday.

Sadly we had some cuts and bruises, a sore shin and worst of all a broken arm. Oh the trials and tribulations of enjoying yourselves.

Hope you all enjoyed it.

By the way the girls beat the boys at least 15-8 at soccer. Well done girls....... you were awesome........ the smaller girls ate some of the bigger boys... you make great lions...... and Matt is still running around the outside of our house thinking others are chasing him. Can someone come and collect him please.

If you missed it, there will be a next time.

and why is it, when you say pull a funny face, only half the people can manage it?? Any thoughts??

'Smile For The Camera'

2007-04-14T16:33:00.000Z

I think they get the naughtiness from me!!!

click here

i61 - Celebrating ONE year in the making

2007-04-10T16:06:00.000Z

Celebrating ONE year
in the making

Jesus is Lord

Easter Sunday was a total BLAST from beginning to end

We had between 150 & 200 people in the meeting and over 350 for the afterwards festivities.

Have you any pics, then please send them into steve@i61.org

In the meantime maybe these will wet your appetite, click photo below to see more pics and click each pic to see them bigger


i61's 1st Easter

One Year on and Growing

2007-03-28T07:41:00.000Z

1 Corinthians 3:6

I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow.

She's a chip off the old block

2007-03-25T17:24:00.000Z

Here's a pic of our lovely little grandaughter, does she remind you of anyone ??

"Miracles Happen (When You Believe)"

2007-03-22T07:29:00.000Z

Miracles happen,
You showed us faith is not blind
We don't need wings to help us fly
for miracles happen

We can't imagine living our lives without you now
Not ever having you around
We found our way out
so on you we depend
Don't have to look back to realize how far we've come
There are million reasons we're looking up
Just don't want this to end

You showed me faith is not blind
We don't need wings for us to fly
Miracles happen,
When you believe

You have shown us dreams come to life
That taking the risks was worth it
For all things will come with time
When You believe

There is no question we are finding
the missing pieces
The picture is becoming clear
Pieces falling into place

This is our moment, you and I are looking up
Someone is watching over us
Keeping me close
Closer to you everyday

There's nowhere on earth we'd rather be
No one can take these things away
Memories, challenges, mountains to climb
and yet a helping hand just when it's needed

You have shown us faith is not blind
We don't need wings to help us fly
For miracles happen, When you believe

You shown us dreams come to life
That taking a chance is right
All things will come with time
When You believe

When you believe
The soul is a shining light
When you believe
The heart has the will to fight
You can do anything, don't be afraid
We're gonna find our way

You have shown us faith is not blind
We don't need wings to help us fly
For miracles happen, When you believe

You shown us dreams come to life
That taking a chance is right
All things will come with time
When You believe

adapted from a song with no name

Isn't Christine good???

2007-03-17T18:18:00.000Z

Let's be honest, ANYONE WHO CAN MAKE US LOOK THIS GOOD HAS TO HAVE A GIFT

What do you think??

go to www.rebeccahelen.co.uk to book her for yourself

Exploring the Land of Canaan

2007-03-17T08:56:00.000Z

It might help you if you click HERE and read this Bible passage first

A few observations............

1. Everyone of the 12 spies was chosen by God even though He knew 10 would come back with a bad report. Perhaps God wanted to allow them to test their own prejudices and uncertainties for what God had given Moses. Let's be honest, we all feel we hear God better than everyone else - Read THIS - and see what Miriam and Aaron thought. Even though many times Moses had a proven track record when it came to hearing what God wanted, they still thought they knew better

2. They went into Canaan looking at the size of the people, the strength of their towns and the quality of their land. When God gives us a vision for where we might end up in the future at 'i61', what do we SEE (spiritually)?

3. They allowed their human eyes to determine their steps. Open your eyes with faith and trust in what God can do, through us and what do you see?

4. It's time to take the land God has given us...... it took the Israelites 40 years to make an 11 day journey! many of them died in the wilderness....
Who wants to wait 40 years only to die in the wilderness? - NO WAY

Joshua & Caleb saw the promise, they believed it and recieved it, Hooray!

Do you look at the promised land and see potential and promises yet to be fulfilled or do you see the impossible, the unsure and the unlikely.

I see a mission and we are the ones on the mission field. Who shall we serve together

Unbelief.......................??? Doubt.......................... ???? Impossible Dreams.....................?????

Or the KING OF KINGS, through whom ALL things are possible

Today I Feel FREEEEEEEEEEE ...........

Anyone for Baptism?

2007-03-11T14:12:00.000Z

So far we have eight people being baptised on Easter sunday morning, we're renting a pool specially for it, so nice and warm it will be too :)

Afterwards we'll be having a party, hog-roast, lamb roasts, bouncy castle, velcro wall, sumo wrestling, easter egg hunt, lots of fun & celebrations!

Here is a clip of a baptism (but this one is happening in a public swimming pool)
Hey why didn't we think of that???

Hey girls come on to i61 2morrow!

2007-03-09T19:19:00.000Z

The Middle Wife

2007-03-05T19:28:00.000Z

(not sure where this story came from but it's funny)

I've been teaching now for about fifteen years. I have two kids myself,
but the best birth story I know is the one I saw in my own second-grade
classroom a few years back.

When I was a kid, I loved show-and-tell. So I always have a few
sessions with my students. It helps them get over shyness and usually,
show-and-tell is pretty tame.

Kids bring in pet turtles, model airplanes, pictures of fish they
catch, stuff like that. And I never, ever place any boundaries or
limitations on them. If they want to lug it in to school and talk about
it, they're welcome.

Well, one day this little girl, Erica, a very bright, very outgoing
kid, takes her turn and waddles up to the front of the class with a
pillow stuffed under her sweater. She holds up a snapshot of an
infant.

"This is Luke, my baby brother, and I m going to tell you about his
birthday."

First, Mom and Dad made him as a symbol of their love, and then Dad put
a seed in my Mom's stomach, and Luke grew in there. He ate for nine
months through an umbrella cord."

She's standing there with her hands on the pillow, and I'm trying not
to laugh and wishing I had my camcorder with me.

The kids are watching! her in amazement.

"Then, about two Saturdays ago, my Mom starts saying and going, 'Oh,
Oh, Oh, Oh!'" Erica puts a hand behind her back and groans.

"She walked around the house for, like an hour, 'Oh, oh, oh!'"

Now this kid is doing a hysterical duck walk and groaning.

"My Dad called the middle wife. She delivers babies, but she doesn't
have a sign on the car like the Domino's man.

They got my Mom to lie down in bed like this." Then Erica lies down
with her back against the wall.

"And then, pop! My Mom had this bag of water she kept in there in case
he got thirsty, and it just blew up and spilled all over the bed, like
psshhheew!"

This kid has her legs spread and with her little hands are miming water
flowing away. It was too much!

"Then the middle wife starts saying 'push, push,' and 'breathe,
breathe.'

They started counting, but never even got past ten. Then, all of a
sudden, out comes my brother.

He was covered in yucky stuff that they all said it was from Mom's
play-center!, so there must be a lot of toys inside there."

Then Erica stood up, took a big theatrical bow and returned to her
seat.

I'm sure I applauded the loudest.

Ever since then, when it's show-and-tell day, I bring my camcorder,
just in case another "Middle Wife" comes along.

Is Grace in the Place?

2007-02-23T13:10:00.000Z

Some enviroments communicate "Come in, kick off your shoes, and let's hang out for a while"
while others warn, "If you meet the conditions, and prove yourself to be worthy, maybe we'll accept you but be careful - we'll be watching"

Can we communicate that we're a place where you're accepted even if you don't believe what we believe, do we make you feel you belong?

Or, are we a place that reverts to rules, regulations and conformity out of a fear of 'messiness'

The difference is there among churches and faith groups today, totally not cool!
subtle but deadly....

What is 'Grace' apart from a nice girls name?

What does 'Grace' look like?

Grace brings resources to sinful and broken people.
Graces creates safety that prompts healthy confession.
Grace shouts: "I'm broken, but I'm loved!"

Heres the struggle: "When do I bite my tongue and when do I speak the hard truth? When are we going to confront Mike? or do we allow him to experience the consequences of his action and love him along the way? Is Sue convinced that we love her? That we will never hurt her like others have done? Can we fight and still meet for dinner?
Do we know how to distinguish "its bad" from "you're bad"

The answer to all these questions is a resounding. "I haven't got a clue!"

Thats how grace works, its an art more than a science.

Guard the messy moments when a heart opens up, when a confidence is shared, when a sin is confessed, when a dream is expressed, or a wound is exposed. Do not be intimidated.
Enter the sanctity of those moments with Holy fear and awe. Don't run- God is in the middle of the burning bush.

People don't want to join a strategy they want a community, and they will if grace is in the place. If not the fullness of life in Christ will never be realised, hopes and fears will never surface, and prodigals will never come fully home. Law produces death.
But when grace is in the place, stand back. The sweeping wind of the Spirit is likely to blow, and it may knock you off your feet.
And that is cool, very very cool....

....

Happy Birthday ALEX

2007-02-22T10:43:00.000Z

Click Picture to enlarge

Do not despise the day of small beginnings

2007-02-21T07:48:00.000Z

It was only months after I asked Jesus into my life, that God gave me my first test. It was nothing big, nothing life changing for anyone involved, in fact it was miniscule

I was driving down a small side road about 4 blocks from the church. It wasn’t a road I went down very often. I usually used the parallel one to it. As I approached the bottom of the road which had a left or right intersection and I was considering putting my right indicator on, a simple thought came into my head ‘tell Keith he’s going to be alright’, I literally shook my head as I wasn’t sure where the thought had come from, than again ‘tell Keith he’s going to be alright’

My problem was I didn’t know a Keith, well expect for the Pastor of the church we had just started going to only a few months previously, and I hardly had spoken two words to him.

As I thought this, the Pastor came from behind the wall to my left with 2 children, one in his left hand, one in his right. They were gleefully talking to ‘Keith’ our Pastor. I slowed up to allow them to cross in front of me.

‘Tell Keith he’s going to be alright’, it resonated like a clanging cymbal, load and clear.

I trembled, in my car seat, ‘What,…. What…. Tell him what?’

‘That he’s going to be alright’

‘But there’s nothing wrong with him’

Why I can’t learn to stop arguing with God I do not know but I’ve been doing it from the beginning.

I turned the car right and looked at them as I drove past, my knees literally quivering.

‘That’s stupid’ I said (Can you believe I called God stupid!!!!!)

‘What good will that do?’ and I continued to drive on. I joined the motorway and rove to my appointment. I didn’t want to be late, but this nagging thought in my head

‘Tell Keith he’s going to be alright’

I did what all good husbands would do at this point, I telephoned my wife for a second opinion. It really is a good job that our God is a forgiving God.

‘Gill, I think God told me to tell Keith he’s going to be alright, and then he walked out in front of me, but it sounds stupid and I can’t do that, let’s be honest what would he think, and he hardly knows me, and anyway I’m 10 miles away now, but what do you think???’

I was talking faster than I was thinking. At last Gill got an answer in

‘If you feel it might be God, you’d better do it’

That was not the answer I was hoping for, but I remember saying ‘Okay I’ll call you later and let you know how it went’

I turned my car around, my appointment would just have to wait. I drove, too fast back down the motorway to my exit, up the slop and right into Prince’s Drive. The church was now only as minute away.

I thought ‘Let’s be honest he’s probably long gone by now’

Now, I laid out a fleece.

‘Lord, if I can’t park then I know this isn’t you and I’m wasting my time. If this is you then you can make a parking place available for me, and not just one available but one exactly outside the church building’

Now our road the church is located on, is just around the corner from the shopping centre and is almost always full during the middle of the day, except maybe on a Sunday.

I drove past the church on my left and looked up the road to the side of it. It looked full to capacity. I had to go onto the next road and follow the one way system to be able to come back down the road I needed.

As I turned into the road and I started to drive down it, the church was at the end of the road to the right. Everywhere looked full.

‘That’s it then’ I said as I drove to the bottom of the street ‘No where to park, it can’t have been God’ and just as I thought it a car on the left side pulled out of a parking place and drove off. It was almost outside the church building, but not quite. It was just before the church, did this count?’

I pulled the car into the space which was directly opposite the side road that went up the side of the church building and was a short cut to the top of town.

I parked the car and looked up this side road, there was Pastor Keith still with these tow children, one in each hand, still talking gleefully to the adult who was guiding them and sharing time with them.

If I had not parked exactly where I was I would have missed them and then I wouldn’t have been able to tell him ‘He was going to be alright’

Now I knew it was God, or at least I truly hoped so. I got out, locked the car quickly and began to run, yes run, I needed to catch them up.

As I approached them calling Keith’s name, the three of turned and wondered why this man was running towards them. They weren’t so much alarmed as looking at me quizzingly.

‘Hi Keith, my names Steve, I’ve been coming to the church for some time now’ I was puffing from my exertions.

‘Yes I know you’ said Keith

‘Well, eh, well, eh God told me to tell you that everything is going to be alright’.

Keith stopped and looked down at the children. ‘There children didn’t I tell you that the seventh Christian we meet today will have a message for me’, looking back at me he continued ‘Steve’ you are the seventh’

And that was that, he smiled, thanked me for the word and walked away. Chatting to the children as he went.

I was left stood there thinking ‘Was it a message from God or not’.

I traipsed back to my car, sat in it for 15 minutes in bewilderment, rang Gill who affirmed me, but even to this day I’m not sure what it meant to Keith. It turned out his was suffering from ill health which I knew nothing about, and he left the church just a few months later to retire from the ministry.

But what happened that day is, God tested me. He wanted to see if I’d respond. To see if I was brave enough, bold enough.

He entrusted me within something very, very small, but I believe that when we respond in that manner of trusting in Him and doing what He asks....... then more will come, probably much, much later

Alpha Super Saturday

2007-02-18T06:43:00.000Z

Yesterday was SUPER SATURDAY at i61, with 2 great groups of people seeking after God (and finding Him) for themselves. 4 sessions in 4 hours, you'd think it would be overload, but we all ended up wanting more.
It was total, it was awesome, and profound. Many thanks to everyone who helped out.

CHRISTINE - WE Missed You Loads - GET WELL SOON ....

Were you there, perhaps you'd like to share a thought or two about the day

Church has a lot to Offer

2007-02-16T06:54:00.000Z

This weeks 'North Wales Weekly News' has this article on page 37

A Conwy bobby says a local church can be a hub of the community after he joined the congregation

i61 Church leaders Steve Houghton & Jeff Gill joined PC Adam Smith on foot patrol in Conwy. But after the beat PC Smith joined the service at Bryn Morfa Caravan Park and said that the church has a lot to offer the locals.

"I was pleasantly suprised. I was welcomed at the door and offered refreshments" he said "After the service I was given the opportunity to speak with everyone attending and set up a small area where people could discuss issues, take my details, hand out leaflets & property marking equipment.

"I left the service realising all parties had gained something by this new fortged partnership - members of the public had met a local police officer and received advice on crime prevention and other issues.

i61 had a new community contact with the police to assist in future projects and I had learned something new

Whatever your beliefs, this was a message on modern living, traditional values and self reflection"

Childrens TV

2007-02-08T00:12:00.000Z

Well at i61 we do talk about some great subjects. Tonight, we worshipped passionately, we prayed for people to experience a new level of Gods love for them, we took communion together, preached our hearts out, worshipped agaian and then we sat and chatted about Kids TV. It was Fun !!!!!

As promised I said I'd blog one of my fav ourites from when I was very, very little. So here it is SuperCar -

Let me know if you'd like part of an episode too
Anyway - what is your old favourite??

When Mice Roar

2007-02-06T22:44:00.000Z

When Mice Roar
HIS HUGE OUTSTRETCHED ARMS PROTECT YOU - UNDER THEM YOU'RE PERFECTLY SAFE. PSALM 91:4
Max Lucado tells the following story: 'Two-year-old Sarah sits on my lap. We're watching a comedy on television about a guy who has a mouse in his room. He is asleep. He opens one eye and finds himself peering into the face of the mouse. I laugh, but Sarah panics. She turns away from the screen and buries her face in my shoulder. Her little body grows rigid. She thinks the mouse is going to get her. 'It's okay, Sarah,' I assure her. Still, she's afraid. But with time I convince her and she goes from white-knuckled fear to peaceful chuckles. Why? Because her father spoke and she believed him. Would to God that we could do the same! Got any giant mice on your screen? Got any fears that won't go away? I wish the fears were just television images. But they aren't. They lurk in hospital rooms and funeral homes. They stare at us from divorce papers and eviction notices. They glare through the eyes of a cruel parent or an abusive mate. There are times when mice roar. Times when you need the strong arms of God to run to and hide in.' Listen: 'His huge outstretched arms protect you - under them you're perfectly safe... because God's your refuge...evil can't get close to you, harm can't get through the door. He orders His angels to guard you wherever you go. If you stumble, they'll catch you; their job is to keep you from falling (Ps 91:9-12 TM). You have nothing to fear!

Gill gets in some practise for her 'Giants' message tomorrow

2007-02-03T16:18:00.000Z

Tomorrow Gill is preaching on bringing down the GIANTS in your life and as part of her preparation she decided, she can do all things through Him who strengthens her (Phil4v13)

Should be a good message tomorrow
:-)

A Brief Update

2007-02-03T08:14:00.000Z

Continuing on in the story of Joseph and his brothers. Today's reading takes us through Pharaohs dream and the incredible restoration of Joseph from jailbird to 2nd in command in Egypt IN ONE DAY.

This is an incredible illustration of how God can change our circumstances instantly. However, the waiting time for Joseph had been over 20 years. I wonder how he coped through all that time and whether he ever became disillusioned with God.

The answer to that is a resounding 'NO'........ how do I know??? Look at verse 16 in Genesis 42
"I cannot do it," Joseph replied to Pharaoh, "but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires."

Evidence of his continued trust in God. In Gods strength and not in his own. He's still close to God for sure and unwavering in his belief of what God can do. (after 2 years in prison would we still be trusting God?)

Okay my main point today is this............ when we do something wrong it sticks to us in our lives like glue. It doesn't let go and it gnaws at our very soul. What on earth am I on about??

Look at this
Gen 42v 21 They said to one another, "Surely we are being punished because of our brother. We saw how distressed he was when he pleaded with us for his life, but we would not listen; that's why this distress has come upon us."

They are still guilt ridden at what they had done over 20 years previously to Joseph. It still dominates every bad situation they experience. It the overriding issue for them ALL............. It's the reason everything bad happens to them (at least in their own thinking - they are guilt ridden)

Thankfully because of Jesus we can let go of these guilty feeling and be renewed in Him. Don't let the bad moments in life control your future. Jesus came so we could receive forgiveness for our sin. So ask and receive

1 John 1v8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

For me today is about letting go and letting GOD!

Have a good day

Joseph - A Very Special Person

2007-02-02T06:48:00.000Z

What do you know about the story of Joseph, maybe his technicolour coat? or perhaps he became 2nd in command over Egypt. Or that he had many brothers and they all became tribes of Israel

As I was reading this morning I noticed one of the main keys to Josephs life - What is it? - READ THIS and see if you notice the same thing I did.

Joseph has already been sold to Potiphar and his wife fancies him like crazy. Then she cries foul and lies about his intentions and into prison he goes. But then in prison exactly the same thing happens as in Potiphar's house. No, he doesn't have women chasing him. Take a look at verse 6 & verse 23

This guy was reliable. So reliable that others completely trusted who he was, what he did and how he could do it.

I believe this to be a key in Josephs life. If he was asked to do something, he always did it and probably did more than required. This is a very special characteristic in a person and will elevate anyone in their own lives to special possibilities.

Now, don't just wizz past this thought because for Joseph it transformed his entire life and it can transform yours too.

Twice in this passage it says "because the LORD was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did."

& I believe that's because God could trust him to do the job too.......... what do you think???

No Voice!!!!

2007-02-01T09:19:00.000Z

Here is your chance to say all those wonderfully funny quips about what it must be like when Steve has no voice.

That's right, this morning he has no voice at all and is reduced to sign language, a grunt or two, a smiley face (well not too smiley) and a computer he keeps typing messages into for me to see.

When I got up he had typed up a lovely Valentine picture and it said 'I Love You' ... ahhhhhh

Oh well, I wonder how long this will last.

By the way, don't phone him...... he won't answer (hehe)

Today is saturday.. What are we doing at church?

2007-01-27T16:04:00.000Z

We had our i61 Daughters meeting today and it was cool, we had a great mix of girls of all ages -
teenagers and oldies alike.... Steve led worship with a band of an average age of 26
( it would have been much younger without him in it!)

BTW-the drummer is cool... so jeff watch out!

it was a fun time, the theme was 'The woman at the well' from the Bible, John chapter 4......

key phrase:
"to be known is to be loved"
"to be loved is to be known" and we ALL need that!

it wont be podcast so if you wanna copy of the message e-mail me ok?

We discovered that we all have a deep deep need to be known and to be loved... to be loved and to be known.... to drop the pretense, drop the mask and be real with each other and with God.....
Today we did some of that.

Sarah did a prophetic painting, as part of her worship which was amazing, it was a heart, but with a hidden message to the nation- she never saw it herself!
Come along to i61 to see it for yourself. we'll have it on display...

i did a bible study on the woman at the well, i love that story....

Christine did the main message, she said she finds it hard to call herslf a woman cos she feels about twelve inside even though she 28!
i feel 18 inside but i'm 48 so maybe we're all the same, except christine looks nearer to twelve that i do to eighteen! Blah blah blah!
christine, has experienced more in her 28 years than many of us do in a lifetime- she is a strong woman with profound wisdom beyond her years, she shared some deep insights into our ability to hide our true selves from each other... and why we must try hard to not do it....
and we need friends... yes we need each other and we need God.. and that good.

i61 church in a Pub.......

2007-01-25T23:27:00.000Z

Lessons from a Pub.....

'MEN WILL KNOW THAT YOU ARE MY DISCIPLES, IF YOU LOVE ONE ANOTHER' JOHN 13:35

Chuck Swindoll writes this:

'One day, a Marine Corps buddy who came to Christ told me, ‘Chuck, the thing I still miss most is the fellowship I had with the guys at the pub. I can’t find it amongst the Christians I’ve met. I no longer have a place to admit my faults and talk about my struggles, where somebody won’t preach, frown, quote a verse, or blab it all over the place.’
'The local pub’s an attractive counterfeit for the church. Ever watch Cheers? It’s an imitation, dispensing booze instead of grace and escape instead of reality.
But it’s an accepting and inclusive fellowship; unshockable and democratic. You can tell them your secrets and they usually won’t tell others.
It flourishes not because its patrons are all alcoholics,
but because each of us has a God-given desire to know and be known, love and be loved, and we seek these things for the price of a few beers. 'Christ wants His church to be unshockable; a fellowship where people can come and say, ‘I’m beat... I’ve had it,’ and find real answers!' Now, before you shoot me for comparing your church to a pub, ask yourself (a) If you discovered your spouse had been unfaithful, who could you confide in? (b) if your biopsy confirmed cancer, who would you turn to? (c) if you were lonely, where would you go? Jesus said, '... men will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.' And love ain’t what you say, it’s what you do!

Big Rocks....

2007-01-25T23:03:00.000Z

Big Rocks First!

"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." (Matthew 6:33)

Big Rocks
A college professor teaching a course on time management set a large jar on his desk and filled it with big rocks. He asked his students, "Is the jar full?" They said yes. Then he poured a bag of small gravel into the jar. He asked, "Is the jar full?" and again received a "yes" answer. Then he poured in a bag of sand and a pitcher of water until all the crevices of the jar were filled. Then he asked, "All right, what does this illustration teach us?" One student replied, "That's easy. It teaches us that no matter how busy your life is, you can always make room for more."

"No, you've missed the point completely!" the professor said. "This teaches us that if you don't put the big rocks in first, you'll never get them in at all." This is a great life lesson! The big rocks are life's priorities, and they have to be first on our schedules or they'll get crowded out by other things.

A Prayer for Today

God, help me to put the "big rocks" in first each day so I can get the really important things in life done. Thank You for giving me all the time I need to do what really matters. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Why does it Matter What I Believe??

2007-01-23T13:02:00.000Z

Can One Man's Ideals affect our lives??

This one certainly did.

Everyday we’re influenced by our own worldview…….. It determines our happiness,…….. it determines our success and what we feel about life………….

So…….. First, what is a worldview? Definition: My worldview is how I view everything in life.

How I view God. How I view myself. How I view other people.

Remember Forrest Gump. He said, “Life is like a box of chocolates.” You never know what you’re gonna get
NOW……… If we want to change our life we’ve got to change our mind first.
We’ve got to change what we believe.

There are so many things that are in your thinking database and some of them need to be deleted.

We need to get a new view of you. God’s view of you. A faulty set of beliefs can be disastrous and although a worldview can make our lives miserable or make our lives happy, the good news is that worldview is a choice.
Nobody forces you to believe anything. ……………………..You can believe anything you want.

Even God doesn’t force you to believe anything. It’s your choice.

He has created you in His image and He’s given you the free will to choose what you believe and what you don’t believe. There are various beliefs or views of how we see the world

Here are some of them

1^st - This can be summarized in the word More. More, more, more. That worldview is called Materialism.Materialists believe in the purchase of happiness & If I can’t afford it…………. that’s ok, I’ve got a credit card.
The materialists confuses their value with their valuables.
But Jesus said“A man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” .

2^nd - The second worldview is ‘I’ve got to think of Me First’. We live in a ‘Me First’ mentality world. It’s called individualism.…………….Individualism says I don’t really care about you.

I can’t get involved you see- I’ve got to think of me………….But, Jesus taught a totally different worldview. He said this “If you try to keep life for yourself, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for Me you will find true life.”
………………. Jesus says you only begin to live when you begin to give your life away.

Significance in life does not come from serving yourself, not from status, salary, or success.

It comes from serving. By serving God and serving others………

Proverbs 21v17 “Are you addicted to thrills? What an empty life. The pursuit of pleasure is never satisfied.”

3^rd …………‘Whatever works for you’ or ‘If it feels good, do it’ In other words it may not be my thing but if it works for you, fine. It doesn’t matter if it’s right or wrong. It doesn’t matter if it hurts anybody or not.………………………………….If it works for you, fine.

This idea is called Pragmatism.

There’s a problem with that. There are things that work - that are evil.
But the Bible says this in Proverbs 21v16. “There is a way that seems right for a man but in the end it leads to death.”

4^th - Here’s another one. God doesn’t exist. Or if He does exist He doesn’t matter………. This worldview is called atheism. It says…. I just believe that everything in life is a result of chance. We’re all accidents of nature.

There is no God. God does not exist & God doesn’t matter. But, if God doesn’t exist and God doesn’t matter,……….. it follows you don’t matter.

That’s the logical, conclusion of that worldview. We are just an accident of nature.
If there is no plan, no purpose, no design in life then life doesn’t matter……… we’re of no value.

The Bible says this in Romans 1v20 “From the beginning of creation God has shown what He is like by all He has made.” & in Psalm 14v1 “The fool has said in His heart ‘There is no God.’”

5^th - Here’s another one we find a lot……….. ‘You are your own God’
If we don’t worship God………. we worship something. Sometimes we just make it ourselves……… This idea of you’re your own God is very popular.

This worldview says I am the master of my fate. I am the determiner of my destiny. I am in charge.……………It’s a lot of self-help stuff.

A lot of new age stuff……….. “You’re divine. You’re a god. God is within”
It feeds our selfish desire……..we love to hear that.
It was the original temptation when Satan told Adam and Eve, “Eat this and you’ll be like god.”

That worldview is called Humanism. The Bible says this in Romans 1v23 “They exchanged the truth of God for a lie and they worshipped created things rather than the creator.”

6^th - There’s one other worldview…………………….It’s the one that the Bible talks about.

God made me for His purposes. The Bible calls that Theism.
Theism comes from Theo, which is the Greek word for God. Theology is the study of God.
The Bible says that God created us for a purpose.……….Judaism and Christianity both are theistic worldviews that God made us for a purpose.

Colossians 1 says this “For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible, everything got started in Him and finds its purpose in Him.”

Everything! Absolutely everything was created by God, for a purpose.
By God and for God.
Until we understand that, life never makes sense!

If you want to hear all of this message click here If you've the perserverance for it, it will last about 20 minutes

Go on have a laugh.....

2007-01-18T21:10:00.000Z

A cheerful heart is good medicine but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

Proverbs 17:22

One winter morning in Iowa a couple was listening to the radio while eating breakfast. They heard the announcer say, 'We are going to have 8 to 10 inches of snow today. You must park your car on the even-numbered side of the street, so the snowplows can get through.'
Norman's wife went out and moved her car.
A week later while they were again eating breakfast, the radio announcer said, 'We are expecting 10 to 12 inches of snow today. You must park your car on the odd-numbered side of the street, so the snowplows can get through.'
Norman's wife went out and moved her car again.
The next week they were again having breakfast, when the radio announcer said, 'We are expecting 12 to 14 inches of snow today. You must park ...'
Then the electric power went off. Norman's wife was very upset, and with a worried look on her face she said, 'Honey, I don't know what to do. Which side of the street do I need to park on so the snowplows can get through?'
With the love and understanding in his voice that all men who are married to blondes exhibit, Norman said ...
'Why don't you just leave it in the garage this time?'

philososophy

2007-01-17T17:59:00.000Z

For those who love the philosophy of hypocrisy and ambiguity...

1. Don't sweat the petty things and don't pet the sweaty things.

2. Atheism is a non-prophet organization.

3. If man evolved from monkeys and apes, why do we still have monkeys and apes?

4. I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman, 'Where's the
self-help section?' She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.

5. What if there were no hypothetical questions?

i61 Daughters Thoughters

2007-01-12T19:20:00.000Z

I'm thinking what the new "i61 daughters" should be about, I really want to know what you girls are thinking right now, so I started by asking christine by e-mail,
her thoughts (and her permission) inspired me to post this -----here is her reply:

"Someone said at the first Daughters that they liked the stories and wanted more of that. So stories are good. We should have stories.
But we need to be doing something too. Or we could turn into 'woman's story Hour' and never actually do anything with the morals of those stories.

Sometime I would love to have someone old share something, the elderly are still a great mystery to me, I don't know if I'm alone in that though.

What's our purpose? Should we have it in writing? I love what Steve's been doing with Deeper meetings, every few months getting back to why we are doing what we are doing, keeping the goal in front of us. I think we need to do that in all areas of i61, or we'll just end up with meetings for the sake of having meetings and then it'll end up with us going "Huh, why we are doing this ?, another thing i've got to drag myself to, great."

I want Daughters to be an Outreach. I want all parts of i61 to be outreach.
I want to have something good, something easy and welcoming to invite all the mums that come to Mums n' tots (you know all those Mums!!!) to. What do we want to tell them? we want to tell them they are good and pretty and that God likes them and that we like them, and that old people like them and that young people like them and how they are the just the right Mum for their child (crike, I still have to chant that to myself every day) and how to not lose their temper so easily and how to not feel so isolated at home and here are some fun ideas for you to do with your child and how to get on with your Mum that doesn't seem to like you very much, and how to be comfortable with the shape they are and how to be a good wife and how to escape from abusive situations and how to deal with PMS and how to be nice to people who they don't want to be nice to and how to cry when they really need to cry and how to express themselves and how to feel the fear and do something that they want to do anyway and how to be a positive person and how they can be normal with God and even rant if they need to..

We need something positive to start with. I was wondering about your famous "power of words" message. Could we use it again ? a special 'for women' one.

Another thing I got excited about this evening, I was reading your Power of words blog (august 06) and the one right above it. What has limited you ? who have you been listening to ? You'll never...

Yes! I wanna loose people (not lose, well....sometimes) Let's break off those "you will nevers", let's tell people "You can, y'know, that little thing in your heart that you long to do, but you stuff down because of "you'll never" s in your life...what are they? You can!!"

... Christine was open hearted and wonderfully honest,
so over to you, i61 women or women everywhere, wherever you are -
what do you think we need? be honest now.....

Life is for Living!

2007-01-11T00:43:00.000Z

Let's make 2007 a year to remember,
its so easy to get into a routine of the same old, same old,

But how we can move into the future with confidence, and be successful with all the things that God has planned for us this year?

The Lord says "Forget the former things, do not dwell on the past. Look, I am doing a new thing"

Let's make it more personal, What is God calling you to in 2007?
Grab hold of the new thing that God wants to do in your life.

How do you do that? No matter where you’re at in your faith journey…..

Regardless of whether 2006 was a brilliant year or a disastrous year or more likely- a bit of both…. Or an indifferent year…

How do you move forward into the New Year with confidence?
How do you make 2007 your year?
Make it count for you?

Make a difference in the world in some small or big way this year…

Maybe some of you have got into a rut, and the idea of a fresh start appeals….
New Year is always a good time for that. A time to make changes, New Year resolutions....

So take stock of where you are at, be honest with yourself, what needs to change,
re-focus on whats important and plan the way ahead. Strategize...

Don't leave it to chance or fate... don't say "some day" I'm gonna do something for God , yes someday I will .......

NO - make it "today"

Do it today!

Ask God to guide you and take control:
Make goals and plans, but be flexible, allow God to make changes and re-direct you along the way.

Be bold and step out of your comfort zone and take on new challenges, take risks for God!

God is directing your life, but remember: He can't steer a parked car!

Keep on moving.... Life is for living!

i luv football

2007-01-05T22:10:00.000Z

How to give a cat a pill:

2007-01-03T22:55:00.001Z

How to give a cat a pill:

1. Pick up the cat and cradle it in the crook of your left arm as if holding a baby. Position right forefinger and thumb on either side of cat's mouth and gently apply pressure to cheeks while holding pill in right hand. As cat opens mouth, pop pill into mouth. Allow cat to close mouth and swallow.

2. Retrieve pill from floor and cat from behind sofa. Cradle cat in left arm and repeat process.

3. Take new pill from foil wrap, cradle cat in left arm, holding rear paws tightly with left hand. Force jaws open and push pill to back of mouth with right forefinger. Hold mouth shut for a count of ten.

4. Kneel on floor with cat wedged firmly between knees, hold front and rear paws, and ignore growls emitted by cat. Get spouse to hold cat's head firmly with one hand while forcing wooden ruler into mouth. Drop pill down ruler and rub cat's throat vigorously.

5. Retrieve cat from curtain rail, get another pill from foil wrap. Make note to buy new ruler and repair curtains. Carefully sweep shattered figurines and vases from hearth and set to one side for gluing later.

6. Wrap cat in a large towel and get spouse to lie on cat with cat's head just visible from below armpit. Put pill in end of a drinking straw, force cat's mouth open with pencil and blow down straw.

7. Check label to make sure pill is not harmful to humans. Apply Band-Aid to spouse's forearm and remove blood from the carpet with soap and water.

8. Tie the little angel’s front paws to rear paws with garden twine and bind tightly to leg of the dining table. Find heavy pruning gloves from shed. Push pill into mouth followed by large piece of filet steak. Hold head vertical and pour 2 pints of water down cat's throat to wash down pill.

9. Get spouse to drive you to the emergency room, sit quietly while doctor stitches fingers and forearm and removes pill from your eye. Call furniture shop on way home to order a new table.

10. Arrange for an armed guard to collect the mutant cat from hell and contact local pet shop to see whether they have any dogs.

5 Purposes ??? now added to

2007-01-02T16:34:00.000Z

What are the Five purposes ??

1 Corinthians 3v6 says

‘I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow’

One of the key issues facing the church today is spiritual health. Trying to see the overall picture of a church. Now the first mistake in doing this is that we look at it with the eyes of a man. Instead of looking at it from Gods perspective. But what is Gods perspective?

It’s all laid down in His word.

Now to actually see what it means to have a healthy church it means having to look deeply into his word and digest it, chew it, like a cow chews the cud. We can’t just take a quick look and instantly know what Gods plan is for his church.

So, we are going to study the bible together and try to come to a few simple conclusions and see what they mean for us.

Some people think of vision as the ability to see into the future. Now that isn’t necessarily incorrect but neither is it the full picture. Prophetic vision given by God can see into the future

Noah and the ark

Moses and the Israelites and the promised land,

Solomon and the plan for a temple etc etc

But vision is also ------- the ability to accurately assess current changes and take advantage of them -----

It’s taking Gods perfect plan for his church and applying it to today’s world, today’s society so we are relevant.

So let's ask ourselves some questions

1. Who did Jesus target most of his ministry towards???

2. What did Jesus do while he was on earth?

3. What would he do if he was here today?

Would you agree that whatever Jesus did while he was here, we could safely say we are to continue today

That the various elements of Jesus’ ministry should exist

That if he did it then, he would expect us to continue on, on his behalf today

Would you agree that it is not our job to CREATE the purposes of the church? BUT to DISCOVER them??

Jesus said ‘I will build my church’ Matthew 16v18

There are five distinct areas of church within the following scriptures, I want you to discover what they are

Read the following

Matthew 5:13-16
Matthew 9:35
Matthew 11:28-30
Matthew 16:15-19
Matthew 18:19-20
Matthew 22:36-40
Matthew 24:14
Matthew 25:34-40
Matthew 28:18-20
Mark 10:43-45
Luke 4:18
Luke 4:43
John 4:23
John 14:6
John 10:14-18
John 13:34-35
John 20:21
Acts 1:8
Acts 2:40-47
Acts 4:32-35
Acts 5:42
Acts 6:1-7
Romans 12:1-8
Romans 15:1-7
1 Cor. 12:12-31
2 Cor. 5:17-6:1
Galatians 5:13-15
Galatians 6:1-2
Ephes. 1:22-23
Ephes. 2:19-22
Ephes. 3:6
Ephes. 3:14-21
Ephes. 4:11-16
Ephes. 5:23-24
Col. 1:24-28
Col. 3:15-16
1 Thes. 1:3
1 Thes. 5:11
Hebrews 10:24-25
Hebrews 13:7
Hebrews 13:17
1 Peter 2:9-10
1 John 1:5-7
1 John 4:7-21

We distinguish the excellent man (woman) from the common man (woman) by saying that the former is the one who makes great demands upon himself (herself), and the latter who makes no demands on himself (herself).

Jose Ortega y Gasset (1883 - 1955)

Is God Calling?

2006-12-30T14:58:00.000Z

Good question: Did God call me? Or was I "only a volunteer?"
God Loves Volunteers

Then I heard the voice of God, "Whom shall I send?" And I said, "Here I am, Lord. Send me!" He said, "Go and tell this people." (Isaiah 6:8, 9a)

We tend to glorify God's anointing of the unwilling-Moses, who was persuaded by a burning bush and other arguments; Paul, who was knocked down and temporarily blinded; etc.
But God loves willing spirits. And empowers them. God showed Isaiah a needy people hoping Isaiah would volunteer to minister to them. David was commended as a man who sought after God's heart.
If God shows you a need, perhaps He is actually hoping you will volunteer to fill it. Or inspire another willing spirit who can. The most honoured callings come from the quiet whispers of the Holy Spirit who says, "Look at this need. What can we do about it?"

A Sense of Destiny
We are God's workmanship created in Christ Jesus to do good, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:10)
You were created to do good. When you do good, God gets a good reputation. In church-speak, this is called "glorifying God."
Glorifying God-this is why you were put on earth. And if you don't do good, you will miss your destiny. Whatever task you are given, do it the best you possibly can. Get better at it. This is glorifying to God and what you are called to do.

Let People See Your Heart
I did not shrink back from declaring to you anything that was profitable. (Paul to the Ephesians in Acts 20:20)
If you are going to answer God's call, you've got to open your heart. This keeps you close to the heart and pulse of people. Your vision may be fuzzy and your strategy flawed, but when people can see the Spirit leads your heart, they will follow.
I'll admit this is hard for me. I would rather listen than talk, be a sounding board than "share." But my scars are also my credentials. If God can comfort, heal, help, forgive, and sustain me, He can do it for anybody.
If your experiences, mistakes, or tragedies can help someone else find Jesus or grow their faith, share it. It's called "being a witness."

Nothing to Lose
I consider my life worth nothing to me if only I might finish the race and complete the tasks that the Lord Jesus has given of me, the task of testifying of the Gospel of God's grace. (Acts 20:24)
What makes suicide bombers willing to sacrifice their lives for a cause? They consider themselves already dead so their cause-however misguided-might go forward.
Paul considered himself dead. His goal was that Christ might live His life using Paul's body. Doubtlessly, this is the hardest principle of Christ-Living, but the most important.
Paul found it hard, too. He said, "I die daily" and urged others to "Offer yourself as a living sacrifice."

We can get lost in the trappings of programs and business of church life. But the real mark of a Christian is their willingness to live a life worthy of His calling.

Help Desks (these are true transcripts)

2006-12-28T19:27:00.000Z

Caller: I've been ringing 0700 2300 for two days and can't get help
Operator: Where did you get that number from sir?
Caller: It was on the door
Operator: Sir, those are our opening hours
___________

Caller: Does your European breakdown motoring policy cover me when I am travelling in Australia?
Operator: Doesn't the name of the product give you a clue?

___________

Caller: The coffee cup holder on my computer is broken. Can I get a replacement please?
Operator: I'm not sure what you mean where exactly is this coffee cup holder?
Caller: Well, theres a button on the front of my computer and when I press it a drink caddy pops out.
Operator: Sir, I think you'll find thats the CD slot.

___________

Operator: How can I help you?
Caller: I have spent all week trying to rewind my DVD, how do you rewind it?

__________

Operator: Computer assistance, may I help you?
Caller: Yes, I'm having trouble with my word processing package.
Operator: What sort of trouble?
Caller: Well, I was just typing along, and all of a sudden the words went away.
Operator: went away?
Caller: they disappeared.
Operator: Hmmmmmm...... so what does your screen look like now?
Caller: nothing.
Operator: nothing?
Caller: its blank; it wont accept anything when I type.
Operator: are you still in the system, or did you get out?
Caller: how do I tell?
Operator: can you see the C : prompt on the screen ?
Caller: whats a sea prompt?
Operator: never mind, can you move your cursor around the screen?
Caller: Ther isn't any cursor; I told you it wont accept anything I type.
Operator: Does your moniter have a power indicator?
Caller: whats a moniter?
Operator: Its the thing with the screen on it, that looks like a TV, doers it have a little light that tells you when its on?
Caller: I dont know.
Operator: Well, then look on the back of the moniter and find where the power cord goes into it. can you see that?
Caller: yes I think so.
Operator: great. follow the cord to the plug, and tell me if its plugged into the wall?
Caller: yes it is.
Operator: when you were behind the moniter, did you notice that there were two cables plugged into the back of it, not just one?
Caller: no.
Operator: well, there are. I need you to look back there again and find the other cable.
Caller: Ok here it is.
Operator: follow it for me, and tell me if its plugged securely into the back of your computer.
Caller: I cant reach.
Operator: Ok, can you see if it is?
Caller: no
Operator: even if you maybe put your knee on something and lean right over?
Caller: Oh, its not because I dont have the right angle- its because its dark.
Operator: dark?
Caller: Yes - the light is off, and the only light I have is coming in through the window.
Operator; well turn on the light then.
Caller: I can't
Operator: why not?
Caller: because theres a power cut.
Operator: a power.....power cut? Aha OK, we've got it sorted now. Do you still have the boxes and manuals and packing stuff your computer came in?
Caller: Well, yes I keep them in the cupboard.
Operator: Good. God get them, and unplug your system and pack it up just like it was when you got it. Then take it back to the shop where you bought it from.
Caller: really? is it that bad?
Operator: yes, I'm afraid it is.
Caller: well alright then, I suppose. What do I tell them?
Operator: tell them you're too ******** stupid to own a computer!

It's our Anniversary!!!!!!!!!!!!

2006-12-26T08:53:00.000Z

Hi Folks
and a Merry Boxing Day to you all

It's our anniversary.!!!!!!!

Yes, we started 'Blogging', ONE Year ago today (Click here and go to bottom of page to read what amazing things we were doing last year)

Some things we have discovered in this Blogging World in that year are.................

1. It's a bit of fun!

2. It's a great way to share your lives with your friends and family.

3. Procrastinating is fun

4. It's a great way to express your feelings, happy sad or angry!

5. You learn an awful lot about people by what they write

6. The comments are often funnier than the blogs

7. It's easy to upset or annoy people with your blogs, sorry to those people we upset or annoyed.

8. Some People check everything you say and never tell you (or Comment)

9. Anonymous people can be rude, they can be funny, but they are always annoying

Now, tell us what you have learnt

Merry Christmas to you all........

2006-12-25T07:28:00.000Z

Jesus Christ is Lord

Do I Hear an 'Amen' to that?

Christmas Eve at Conwy Castle

CLICK HERE TO VIEW FIREWORK DISPLAY

and this morning as day broke at our home

everything was white with Frost

Just One More Day

2006-12-24T06:57:00.000Z

How much can you do in 1 Day

Well my plan is to go to church............ get the place ready........... lead a service, sing a fews songs, preach a message, meet some new people & hug some old (and not so old) friends........... then off to Tesco's for those bits we've already eaten and shouldn't have............. (I'm watching the weight, carefully honest).

Then it's off to Jeff & Christines with boyo and Madame for some festive fun at their house and into Conwy for the Town Band, Carols around the tree (and we are not leading it phew!!!!) and then a procession through the streets to the castle where hundreds of kids will meet father Christmas and a firework display

then it's back to the house with Lee/ Sarah & Kyria (her 1st Chrsitmas awwww) turn on the TV and put my 'ELF' dvd I've been dying to watch all year.

All in all a very full and fun filled day................ and for all those we love that we won't see today. Well the picture is for you

Hope you have a good one.............. One more blog tomorrow
Be blessed

Christmas is sitting in front of the Fireplace with your feet up

2006-12-21T17:14:00.001Z

It just doesn't get any better. Christmas dinner (Turkey, and all the trimmings & crackers) with all your friends from church.

Read Beth's Blog ...... it says it all and much better than I ever could.

This morning it was an early start. 8.30am to start cleaning up the church. Then Tesco's (argghjhhhhh , enough to send you stark raving mad) .... then it's out present buying (in Llandudno) for Lee & Sarah. Bet you don't know what we got, they sure look pertti

Then more shopping in Conwy and bumped into some of our favourite people.
And at last we trudged into our home. It was freezing, so we lit the fire and ahhhhhhhhhhh

Christmas doesn't get any better than putting your feet up with the fire warming your feet.

'Tis the Season for Cracker Jokes

2006-12-20T05:32:00.000Z

Okay you clever people out there. as you know it is the season where we all pull a Christmas cracker and frantically look for the little piece of paper with the joke on it.

Some crackers today let us down badly by giving us a Trivia offering instead but IT'S JUST NOT GOOD ENOUGH. We want JOKES, good ones, not so good ones and really aweful ones. So,....... here is the place to tell us your BEST or WORST cracker joke from Christmas 2006

Here is my starter for 10 (Old 'University Challenge' talk)

What did the Lone Ranger say to Tonto as they approached the Canadian Border

'Onto Toronto, Pronto, Tonto'

and while you are thinking of that try this GAME

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year....

2006-12-18T18:58:00.000Z

From our house to yours......... xxxxxxxxxx

i61 Kids Christmas Party....

2006-12-17T17:09:00.000Z

Was a Blast!!!!

Was it the luck of the draw ???

2006-12-16T08:42:00.000Z

Of all of the guys who were wandering around the world, near the time of the coming of the Christmas child, why did Joseph get tapped on the shoulder and chosen to parent the second person of the Trinity?

Was it just the luck of the draw?

Was there a lottery system going on in heaven and Joseph’s name was on the ball that came up through the tube and he got selected?

This is the opening gambit for tomorrow's message, if you don't like it, don't tell me

The perfect Blog........... or maybe not

2006-12-15T21:36:00.000Z

Yes Christmas is coming.................. yes it's a busy time.............. but I'm being encouraged to BLOGGGGGGGG.

We all have hopes and dreams of what we might receive on Christmas Day.

Personally, i'm so looking forward to all that we are doing at 'i61''. It's been a season of open doors and possibilities. You can expect loads, then feel like you're going to get very little and then realise you are about to get so much more than you ever asked for, or even imagined.

I am suddenly expecting SO MUCH...................

I can feel it....................... I can sense something very, VERY BIG, Very BIG indeed.

God is good........... watch this space and Hebrews 11.

It's Impossible to please God without ....?

Answers here please

OUR SONG ..... ahhhhhhhhh

2006-12-13T06:51:00.000Z

Cutest Little Baby Face....

2006-12-11T21:45:00.000Z

We Love Christmas!

2006-12-11T12:46:00.000Z

 Q. What would have happened if it had been three Wise Women instead of  three Wise Men?

 A. They would have asked directions, arrived on time, helped deliver the  baby, cleaned the stable, made a casserole, and brought practical gifts.  

 But what would they have said when they left...?   "Did you see the sandals Mary was wearing with that gown?"
 "That baby doesn’t look anything like Joseph!"  
"Can you believe that they let all of those disgusting animals in there!"  
"I heard that Joseph isn’t even working right now!"  "And that donkey that they are riding has seen better days too!"  

"Want to bet on how long it will take until you get your casserole dish  back?"  

love this.....

2006-12-09T22:03:00.000Z

"'Safe?' said Mr. Beaver...'Who said anything about safe? 'Course he isn't safe. but he's good.
He's the King, I tell you.'"

"'You would not have called to me unless I had been calling to you,'" said the Lion."

"'Yes,' said Queen Lucy. 'In our world too, a Stable once had something inside it that was bigger than our whole world.'"

Meet Buck & Doe

2006-12-09T17:45:00.000Z

Oh Yes, all you lovely people............... be prepared......... for Christmas party extra-ordinaire
Tomorrow everyone is invited (after church) to a Christmas party at OURS and just to get you in the festive mood, I'd like you to meet 'BUCK & DOE'

If you come tomorrow, you can feed them and take them for a walk, and talk to them and say Coooo aren't they luverly........
Or you can just look at them

Church is going to be great tomorrow................. so many good things planned and then THE PARTY................. bring yourselves......... bring some food........ bring some drink
We're gonna play games and stuff our faces, and have chocolate and play some more games, and play X-box (Boys only!!!!).......... oh okay,....... you gals can join in too

See you tomorrow
and if you can't come............... we love you anyway and get yourselves down to
'i61'