Getting stressed?

This is a stressful time for us as we look to move house, we spent yesterday looking at dentists to try to secure Debs a new job, timing is everything as we need it all to come together as soon as possible yet so much of it seems out of my control

The book of Ecclesiastes reminds us that God has set a proper time for everything under heaven (see chapter 3). He is the controller of the universe, so I don’t have to be. There will be mistakes, things that fall through the cracks, and misunderstandings, but I believe we can trust God to work out every problem. As Solomon said, “He makes all things beautiful in His time” (Ecclesiastes 3:11). Instead of stressing over the move and everything else, I am determined to use this time as a faith-building experience, and trust God to take care of us and steer us through

What are the things that you need to let go of and Trust God?

Clayheads

 

The Potteries!

What a city.

Stoke – On – Trent.

Famous throughout the world for delicately placing pieces of clay together to form cups & saucers; scultping ornamental figures; and painting beautiful figurines.

Have you ever dropped one of these works of art?

They smash easily. Within a second, something so beautiful and valuable is smashed into thousands of pieces. Out of almost perfect order comes absolute chaos.

Bethel is full of people just like ornamental pottery.

People who, according to Psalm 39, are like a mere ‘breath’.

People.

Life.

So delicate.

Now, put these awesome & beautiful works of art together and we have a different story. Put these ‘clayheads’ together and we have ‘church’. Now we are not talking delicate, we are talking invincible.

‘And now I am going to tell you who you really are… on this rock I will put together my church, a church so expansive with energy that not even the gates of hell will be able to keep it out.’ [Matt 16 The Message]

Now we have a total different scenerio!

Church is the coming together of wonderful, precious, beautiful, scultpted, fagile, works of art called people. The coming together of such splendour creates this awesome, sublime, phenomenal, catastrophic, adventurous, creative, explosive, energetic, unstoppable force that Jesus is committed to building. This gathering of heroes is called the church!

The church!

Who would have ever thought it!

Bethel, surely this is the House of God – what an awesome place.

why blog?

Appraently this week is blogging week, no I don’t know why either, the stuff below is taken from the Blog of Craig Groeschel who is the Pastor of the excellent lifechurch.tv, he is a regular blogger and explains here the reason he does so, check out his blog at swerve.lifechurch, Craig writes

I thought long and hard before I made the commitment to blog. Like you, I don’t need another thing to fill my time. After praying about it, I decided blogging should be an important part of our ministry. Here are a few reasons why you might consider blogging:

• You can mentor other leaders. Mentoring pastors is the reason for this blog. Instead of talking to one pastor at a time, the blog enables Bobby and me to talk to thousands.
• You can communicate with your church. This is not my goal, but I know tons of pastors who do this effectively.
• You can journal what God is showing you. Many people could benefit from what God is doing in your life. A blog is a good outlet for sharing.
• You can build new friendships. Many of you have become friends as a result of our daily blogging interaction.
• You can minister to people. Just as God might use your sermon, God can use your written words.
• You can share Christ with people who stumble across your blog.
• Your ideas can travel. Not only can you speak to your primary audience, but others may pick up on what you’re saying. They might also link to you, which can help spread your message.

Bethel News Vol 3

Hey guys,

What a phenomenal month November is set to be!

Life just keeps on getting better here at Bethel. With the ‘bounce in the house’ our time together will be absolutely awesome. This Sunday will be no expectation. This Sunday I will be preaching a message that I honestly believe will radically enhance the life of all that hear what is said. This Sunday I will be talking regarding the 4^th cultural pillar of ‘POSITIVE’. Get ready for an awesome party on Sunday morning, guaranteeing a life changing encounter with a phenomenal God who loves us for who we are!

Please can I encourage you to:

1. Be expectant – nothing can be birthed without being expectant. God uses our expectant hearts to bring to birth. Hebrews 11:6 [The Message] tells us “It’s impossible to please God apart from faith. And why? Because anyone who wants to approach God must believe both that he exists and that he cares enough to respond to those who seek him.” Come on guys, let’s be expectant; let’s be in faith and who knows what might happen when we gather together in the presence of a ‘pleased’ God?
2. Be engaging – if you think that we merely gather together to receive then you have totally missed the point of Church. Hebrews 10:24 clearly states that we ‘spur one another on’. As soon as you get to church on Sunday, encourage at least 2 others. As the praise starts, encourage the person next to you to join in; as soon as the preaching begins; encourage the preacher with am ‘amen’, ‘come on’ or ‘preach it’; and a soon as it is time to buy coffee, be generous!
3. Be eight again – when I was eight years old, all I wanted to do was learn and enjoy life. I was living in Biddulph and would very often play ‘hide and seek’ on what used to be called ‘the tracks’ (an old trainline). During playing with friends I would learn ‘stuff’ about life. Then ‘life’ happened and as an adult it is easy to become cynical, difficult, not wanting to play and enjoy because I’m happy as I am, thank you! Hey, come to church on Sunday as that eight year old, without a care in the world. I know your world will have cares but put them aside and enjoy Jesus with friends and people who love you!
4. Be an echo – of all things Bethel. Talk about the great things that are happening to friends and family. Hey, maybe they will want to come with you. Maybe there relationship with God will be re-kindled. Maybe they might meet Jesus for the first time. Bring somebody!

 Life all of a sudden just got really exciting. Bethel is fast becoming an awesome place to be. Don’t miss out!

 Other things to remember:

 THIS THURSDAY 7.30pm – it is officially the GIRLS night here at Bethel. This is an awesome night for all the ladies.

NEXT MONDAY 5^th , TUESDAY 6^th  & WEDNESDAY 7^th sees our corporate monthly sessions of Prayer & Fasting resume. The centre is open 6am – 8am, 12pm – 2pm, 6pm – 8pm.

NEXT THURSDAY 8^th 7.30pm is the Music, Creative Arts & Leadership evening. You have to get yourself to this awesome night of development.

The Bounce is in the House!

Keep going for it,

James

Bethel news Vol 2

Awesome events to look forward to in the coming weeks:

1. Keep an eye on the web! We have several websites being launched over the next few weeks including www.trentmoneywise.org/ www.lovestoke.org/ and our new online home of all things Bethel www.ourc1ty.org . These ministries are phenomenally exciting as we look to become effective in the 21^st century.

2. Thursday 1^st November sees our very own meeting for all the ladies. Come and enjoy hanging with all the girls of the house as they discover who they really are in God.

3. Following the absolutely incredible night last Thursday, we are pleased to announce a second Music, Creative Arts & Leadership evening here at Bethel. Thursday 8^th November 7.30pm will see a wonderful night of developing the house in these 3 exceptionally important area’s. Come along and be apart of the amazing journey from a certain place to an awesome place!

4. Guys! You Guys! How radical was the Men’s Bight O’ Prayer? It was totally mind blowing! Get next months in your diary NOW! Friday 16^th November 10pm – 2am

And finally,

5. Saturday 24^th November 7.30pm is the date for our very own ‘night of induction’. Robert Mountford is guest speaker. Get along to what is looking to be lining up as a momentous occasion in the life of Bethel.

See you on Sunday.

Keep going for it

James

The BOUNCE is in the HOUSE!

Yesterday, during our time together as church, I saw this community called Bethel experience ‘freedom’.

At present we are unearthing precious gems as we examine our new ‘cultural pillars’. Yesterday we looked at ‘Generous’ which is intrinsically linked to freedom.

Jesus gave his all so that we may have freedom.

If we are generous with our all we bring freedom.

Simple really.

The effects are not simple. The effects are bountiful.

As the beautiful people of Bethel began to praise, they were challenged from Psalm 144 that David made a decision to ’sing a new song’. We believe that a new song is in the house.

Bethel, yesterday made a decision to be generous in praise and the freedom was evident.

We have a new phrase here at Bethel -

THE BOUNCE IS IN THE HOUSE.

To see so many people, in one place, in one heart, in one voice and all in time bouncing in praise was an awesome sight.

We are definately moving from certain to an awesome place!

You got to be a part of this!

THE BOUNCE IS IN THE HOUSE!

Just Do It!

 

Years ago, a very famous sports company began a marketing campaign using the phrase ‘just do it’.

It was a great campaign because it very simply empowered the individual to break free from restrictions and pursue their desired objective.

I am pretty sure that the church either didn’t listen to the inspired slogan or thought that the sports company was trying to encourage Jesus!

In church life, only in church life, do we expect great things and consider our efforts to be not required. How wrong we are. We believe for thousands to flock to us because we sings love songs to Jesus. How wrong we are!

Proverbs tells us that ‘all hard work brings a profit’. Yet we consider that it is Jesus who must do the hard work, we must simply bask in His presence. How wrong we are.

Bible.

Good place to start.

Jesus.

Great example.

Matthew 14 shows us a great example of how Jesus wants to operate through and in us. The multitudes of people were hungry. They required substance. This is like our cities and communities, they require substance, they are hungry for more in life.

It is our understanding that Jesus fed the people. How wrong we are. If you look at the passage carefully Jesus tells His disciples ‘YOU DO IT’! They submit all that they have (the boys picnic) and then Jesus gave thanks and broke the loaves. He then placed back into the disciples hands what was required to fulfil the mission.

Hey listen, we are believing for awesome things here at Bethel, Stoke on Trent. We are not playing games here; thousands of people are ‘hungry’ and we carry the answer. Jesus is not going to wonderfully excuse us for being lazy. His cry is ‘YOU DO IT!’

What a phenomenal thought, He will give thanks and administer that which we give over to Him. He will empower us to just do it. What a divine opportunty we have. Called for such a time as this.

Bethel, this is our finest hour. Just do it – ‘YOU DO IT!’ is Jesus’ cry.