John Warden's Mother

Just to let you all know that John Warden's mother passed away on Tuesday at around 6 pm. She has been ill for some time. The funeral service will be on Friday at 11.30 from her home and then to Roselawn afterwards.

 

Our prayers are with John and his family at this time.

 

God Bless.

 

Jack

TOPHOUSE!!!

I'm having a laugh here! Several people have sent an answer for the following:

 

Which word can be placed between the two following words to make two new ones?

TABLE_______HOUSE

 

Everyone so far has said TOP, but check this out - Tophouse is NOT a WORD! So - wrrrrrrong!

 

I know why you're all thinking Top, but try again! I suppose New Life is a clue though!

Weekly Contact 24 Nov 08

Good Monday to one and all! Let's start the Christmas countdown. It's only 4 weeks and 3 days until Christmas Day. 'Tis cold outside, but sunny and nice, and is good enough for Christmas Shopping. It's only time to start thinking about those Christmas decorations and trees etc, so let's start getting into the Christmas spirit.

 

Sunday was another good day at church. Numbers attending were good, although some of our regulars were missing from both services. So for those who were not there I hope everything is ok and we look forward to seeing you again soon.

 

Sunday morning: This week's message was "Seeking the Real Fire of God". This was a follow on to my last two Sunday morning messages "Seeking a Fresh Visitation from God" and "Seeking the Creative Power of the Holy Spirit". The main points were:

 

1. Sometimes you cannot tell the difference between what's real and what's false until you get up close and touch it, but those things that are false, even within the church, will soon be exposed.

 

2. The imitation is always cheaper than the real thing; the real thing is always more costly.

 

3. God offers us a real relationship with himself, and for this it cost him.

 

4. If we want real fire we need to offer real sacrifice. David said, "I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord that cost me nothing" (Psm. 24:24).

 

5. False Fire comes in different forms: (a) False Religion; (b) False Worship; (c) False Service/Ministry

 

Sunday night: We continued with the series 'Facing the Giants'. Last week it was the Giant of Despair, this week it was the Giant of Peer Pressure. We saw that Peer Pressure comes to all of us regardless of age and that it comes from family and from friends at school and work etc.

 

We saw that before David faced Goliath he faced 2 Peer Pressure Giants; One from his Brother Eliab who questioned David's motives; who tried to put him down; and who tried to convince David there was something going on when there was nothing going on! The other Peer Pressure Giant was from King Saul who tried to get David to conform by putting on his armour so he would just like him or like one of the other soldiers!

 

Thank God for one young man who committed his life to Christ at the end of the service.

 

Conversions: Besides the young man mentioned above, we thank God for others who during the week committed their lives to Christ. One was a taxi driver friend of Raymond Barrett's whom Raymond led to Christ during the week; another was Jade, who manages the Bytes Project based at Top House, who committed her life Christ in the office; and third was another friend of Raymond Barrett's who committed his life to Christ at home last night with Raymond and me being present and praying with him at the time. I believe there is something happening right now that is a good indicator for the future and for decisions we might well make in the coming weeks and months.

 

Thursday Night Specials: Last Thursday night's FIST was excellent. Well done Craig Seawright and Team. The Doctor/Pastor was excellent as he talked about stress. Everyone present deeply appreciated what he had to say and found him quite easy to listen.

 

This week it is BreakOut. Please try to make it along and come prepared to participate in corporate worship and prayer or even to share something that God has put on your heart.

  

Riddle/Question: The answer to last week's Riddle is "Echo". NO ONE got this!!! I later sent out a math challenge. Several people got this. Others failed miserably and some just gave up before they cracked! The answer to that is 10990.

 

This week's question is:  Which word can be placed between the two following words to make two new ones?

TABLE_______HOUSE

 

This weeks Bible Verse: Proverbs 3v3. Let love and faithfulness never leave you.

 

Jack's Pat on the Back: This week goes to Maureen McAuley (and all who help out) who is doing a great job with the children in the crèche. So, the next time you see Maureen, please give her a pat on the back from me and from all the parents who's kids go to the crèche. By the way, did you give Sammy and Daniel a pat on the back?

 

Prayer: Without saying much, please keep Shannon in your prayers. I visited with her when I was last in the US. She really is unwell and is far from being her normal self.

 

Have a great week. See you soon.

 

Stay focused; stay strong; and keep being a God-influence.

 

Pastor Jack  

 

 

WARNING

Hi folks (everyone on the New Life list).

 

Julie this is not your fault:

 

An email has been sent using Julie Gould's email address promoting a computer web site. As far as I am aware if you open the link it will forward the same message to everyone in your address book. Just delete it without opening.

 

Correct me Julie if you did send the message.

 

Just looking out for you!

 

Jack 

TEST YOUR MATHS SKILLS

If you can open the spreadsheet, you'll see a short list of people who have gotten the correct number.
This is not a trick question. This is a real math problem so don't say that a bus has no legs.
 
There are 7 girls in a bus.
Each girl has 7 backpacks.
In each backpack, there are 7 big cats.
For every big cat there are 7 little cats.
 
Question: How many legs are there in the bus? (there is no bus driver)
 
(The number of legs is the password to unlock the Excel sheet. If you open it, add your name, save as your own file, attach and send it on to see who else can unlock it.) Send it back to me.
 

Weekly Contact 17 Nov. 08

I don't know about you, but there's a real sense of excitement at church. This is reflected in the attendance and in the exuberant and anointed worship, both on and off the platform, and by the way the Word of God is being received. I obviously want to encourage this in all who read this Weekly Contact.

 

Sunday Morning: This week's message "Seeking the Creative Power of the Holy Spirit" was a follow on from last week's "Seeking a fresh visitation from God". As with last week I asked the question, "Why should we seek the creative power of the Holy Spirit?" and the simple answer is because we need the creative power of the Holy Spirit. The main points were:

 

1. The Church that Jesus is building - not based on our likes and dislikes

2. Making the church relevant - but not at the expense of truth (not tweaking and desensitising God's Word to make it more acceptable)

3. Everything about the church Jesus is building is supernatural

 

Sunday Night: I began a series entitled "Facing the Giants". Last night's giant was "The Giant of Despair". The main points were:

 

1. Life is not a stroll in the park, but is more like a walk in the woods where you never know what's behind the trees, or as Forest Gump's mama always said, "Life is like a box of chocolates; you never know what you're gonna get!"

2. Keep your chin up when the chips are down   

3. For every Red Sea, there's a way through

4. Scream AT your Giant, not FROM your Giant

 

The response afterwards was quite revealing in that quite a number of people (maybe 20 +) raised their hands for prayer, which shows that many believe they are facing this particular giant.

 

Thursday Night Specials: Last Thursday was Advance. Great feedback! It was a very enlightening and challenging night as we looked at attitudes, particularly towards the "Gay Community". Thanks to young Connor for holding the fort singlehandedly, although Jonathan did turn up and was able to help out!

 

This coming Thursday is FIST. Free stew and curry from 7 pm followed by a great programme. Come on ahead men, this is your event. We look forward to seeing you there.

 

This Week's Question/Riddle: "You heard me before, yet you hear me again; then I die - 'til you call me again". What am I? Answer: _________________

 

The answer to last week's question was: CAT (well done to those who got it).

 

This week's Bible Verse: Proverbs 3:1, 2. (Wisdom says) "do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity".

 

New Feature: Jack's Pat on the Back!

This week's "Jack's Pat on the Back" goes to Sammy Anderson and Daniel Thornton for the way they have developed as guitar players and for the contribution they make to worship in the church. Why not help me out and pat them on the back for me the next time you see them!

 

Have a great week. See you soon.

 

Stay focused; stay strong; and keep being a God-influence.

 

Pastor Jack  

Weekly Contact 10 Nov. 08

What a day we had yesterday. It sure is good to be back. But a word of thanks to John, Jonathan, Craig and Gareth and everyone else for looking after things and for doing their bit while I was away, as they do when I am here.

 

Sunday Morning: I am not sure I have ever seen it as packed on a Sunday morning other than for a dedication service. There was such a sense of God from the moment we began to worship. It was like everyone was in great voice. One person said to me afterwards they felt as if there was a moment when it seemed there were 1,000's singing and that perhaps heaven had joined in with us.

 

The message I brought was 'Seeking a fresh visitation from God'. I asked three questions and gave answers as follows:

 

1. Why do we need to seek God? Because we need something fresh! Yesterdays blessings were great, but that was then. We need God today. What God did in Bible times was great, but that was then. We need God today. What God did in significant historical times for the church was great, but that was then. We need God today.

 

2. How do we seek God? (a) Early - that is early in life and early in time; before it's too late. (b) Earnestly - not haphazardly (c) Diligently - work at it; don't give up.

 

3. What should we expect when we seek God? God to listen and to answer; To find God; A fresh visitation of the Holy Spirit.

 

Sunday Night: It seemed like we picked up from where left off from the morning service with the same excitement and the same sense of God in the house. The message I brought was 'Real Friendship'. The basis of the message was John 15:15 where Jesus said he no longer called us servants, but friends. I asked one question and gave a three part answer:

 

What is a real friend? (a) Someone who is always there for you (b) Someone who appreciates you for who you are (c) Someone who is willing to die for you. 

 

ADVANCE: This coming Thursday at 7.45 pm. The title for the evening is 'Changing attitudes in a changing world, but maintaining Godly standards that protect people'. This night will stretch you and will hopefully correct wrong attitudes. Not to be missed!

 

Question: I am one with eight to spare unless of course I loose one. What am I?

 

Bible Verse: "He (God) guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones" (Prov.2:8).

 

Have great week. See you soon.

 

Stay focused; stay strong; and keep being a God-influence.

 

Pastor Jack  

Update from USA

Hi y'al!

 

Kathleen and I are having an awesome time in the US. My time with John and Tracey was just as good as always, with John taking time off work to look after me from the moment he picked me up at the airport until I left again a week later.

 

I spoke at The Upper Room Fellowship in Clinton, Maryland; Living Word Community Church, Mechanicsville, Maryland; New Harvest in Surrey, Virginia - New Lifer's will remember Pastor Gerry & Sylvia Shannon and also members of the team from New Harvest who visited New Life a few years ago.

 

I then flew to Denver, Colorado and was met by Kathleen. Here I spoke at the Evangelical Free Church in Fort Collins to a total of 300 young people and some adults; Crossroads Church in Loveland (again to about 300 young people); Rocky Mountain High School (Assembly plus two separate classes, again totalling about 300 young people and teachers); and Destiny Church (AG) in Cheyenne, Wyoming. I had the amazing joy of leading almost 60 people to faith in Jesus Christ and praying for dozens of others who came forward for ministry. Besides the above I spoke in one home group arranged and hosted by amazing friends Mike and Tabitha Clinton, and also had lunch with pastors in Fort Collins.

 

I want to thank everyone who made this such a successful visit: John & Tracey McInerney; Bob & Amy Parry; Mike & Tabitha Clinton; Tim & Meg Britton; Steve & Patti Smith; Pastor Phil Harris; Pastor James Wickham; Pastor Gerry Shannon; Pastor Rick McGraw; Grant Pahlau; Dan Schmidt; Ryan Anderson; Sten Carlson, and of course everyone who bought my books! I completely sold out whatever I managed to carry with me. On the last night people were buying up the books before the meeting even started. Young people were even getting me to sign their Bibles and church programmes, which made me feel a bit like Nicky Cruz; except I did not refuse to sign their Bibles! (I hope I have not left anyone out; forgive me if I have). I apologise also to those I never got to meet during this visit. There were so many who wanted to meet with us, but we were kept so busy we were unable to visit with everyone, but believe me, we very much appreciate all of you. 

 

I am writing this message from a home in the Rocky Mountains; kindly loaned to Kathleen and me by Bob & Amy. This is such an awesome place. The drive up through the mountains was amazing. We have just come home from driving around Lake Dillon (I think that's what it's called) from Dillon to Breckenridge to Frisco and back to Dillon. The trip was breathtaking (Thanks Bob & Amy for encouraging us to take up your offer!). We are going into Vail tomorrow (Tuesday 4 November) for our 36th Wedding Anniversary.

 

In a few days we come down from the mountain and return again to reality. We understand how Peter, James and John must have felt, but that's life. However, we are so looking forward to returning home and to being back at New Life City Church on Sunday.

 

Please continue to pray for us as we will have to make some difficult decisions in the coming weeks and months.

 

 

 

     Pastor Jack