Where is your focus?

I have been reading a book recently 'The Pursuit of God' by A.W. Tozer and have found it a real encouragement if not somewhat challenging. Below is a quote from it, the language is a little old fashioned but enjoy:

As we begin to focus upon God the things of the spirit will take shape before our inner eyes. Obedience to the word of Christ will bring an inward revelation of the Godhead (John 14:21-23). It will give acute perception enabling us to see God even as is promised to the pure in heart. A new God consciousness will seize upon us and we shall begin to taste and hear and inwardly feel the God who is our life and our all. There will be seen the constant shining of the light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world. More and more, as our faculties grow sharper and more sure, God will become to us the great All, and His Presence the glory and wonder of our lives.

Publicity Photo Shoot

Working nights tonight but am going to have to be up and at Brookvale Park, Stockland Green for midday today for a press conference and photoshoot in relation to the Brookvale Park Fun Day in partnership with Redeeming Our Communities and West Midlands Police. A number of activities are planned for the weekend of the 23rd and 24th July including conversations around the potential for further projects in the Stockland Green area under the banner of ROC. We will be looking to pull together statutory agencies, third sector organisations and volunteers to provide community projects for people from the surrounding communities. Keep an eye on your local press and check back here for updates on ROC West Midlands.

Redeeming Our West Midlands Communities

ROC in the West Midlands - the story so far...

The official UK-wide launch of Redeeming Our Communities began in the West Midlands at the NEC arena in Birmingham in 2006. With over 7,000 in attendance from around the UK, this began a wide-spread movement of people inspired to work in partnership to see their communities transformed.

A few years later, a number of people from Birmingham were amongst the guests at the Echo Arena for the launch of Redeeming Our Communities: Merseyside on June 16th 2009. Debra Green, National Director of Redeeming Our Communities, was then invited to meet some church and civic leaders in Birmingham. It was decided that the time was right for a launch of ROC in Birmingham, which happened on 16 November 2010. Read more about this exciting event here.

We've seen exciting developments since this event including the opening of ROC Café Cobridge in Stoke as well as a developming relationship with the Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service. Our ROC Regional Representative, Gordon Blake, has been busy spreading the ROC vision and keen to see more developments across the West Midlands before the end of 2011.

An update from Gordon Blake, ROC West Midlands Representative:

I have met with leaders from churches in the Bordesley Green area who are keen to get together to run a project in that area and we are looking into the potential of a ROC Café in Bordesley Green, making use of a church cafe already running in the area, there are still meetings to be had to establish whether they can provide sufficient people to run one successfully.

I have got involved in a project already running in the Stockland Green area, Erdington: this is a community outreach project making use of a local park and lake and involves the running of a Kayak Club, a local sailing club and potentially basketball coaching all based around Brookvale Park. As part of this project we are looking at the potential of a ROC Café also in the park to bring people in but also to signpost them onto more long term options for them. Take a look at this link to Brookvale Park Fun Day. ROC will be there to discuss with partners and churches the plans for a ROC Café.

One of the people who has got involved in this project is part of a community project in Perry Barr, Living Stones Embassy, and he is interested in getting involved with Brookvale with a view to starting a ROC Café in Perry Barr.

However following on from the above projects I have now been approached by people outside of the Birmingham area. In the last few weeks I have had conversations with someone looking to start a ROC Café in Wolverhampton, this project is in very early days so stay tuned for more information.

I am also in conference with a church in Coventry they are in the process of mapping the services provided by churches across the Coventry area and inviting others to join with them to launch ROC in Coventry, hopefully this will begin in September.

Behind the scenes I have been speaking with a number of organisations looking to develop partnerships that will help to add structure and value to ROC projects across the midlands providing long term solutions for the issues that we are looking to address.

Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord...

Mk 10:43-44 (NIV):- …whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.

Eph 6:7-8 (NIV):- Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free.

There is a lot of uncertainty around at this time in many different areas of life. In times like these it is tempting to just do what is required, no more, no less or perhaps even give up completely. But be encouraged God is in control,
"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future" - Jer 29:11 (NIV).
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord - Rom 8:38-39 (NIV).

We are called to serve God in every part of our lives; we are not only working for earthly bosses or caring for earthly families, we are working for God. We are called to serve no matter what the circumstances, in all you do do it as if you were doing it for God, he will reward you.

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving - Col 3:23-24 (NIV).

God is in control of your future not man, I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread. They are always generous and lend freely; their children will be a blessing - Ps 37:25-26 (NIV).

Fulfil your day to day duties to the best of your ability, with excellence and humility, working for the ultimate authority – God himself.

ROC Nottingham

On the 15th June I had the privilege of being involved with the launch of Redeeming Our Communities, Nottingham below is an article about this fantastic evening including some photos from the event.

ROC Nottingham Launch

Event aims to inspire change through joint action in local communities

New ways of tackling poverty, addiction, crime and isolation were showcased at a special forum in Hucknall on Wednesday June 15th which brought together a host of local organisations keen to work together to make a difference across local communities read more

Sunday night Live

In a belated follow up to my earlier post about Johnny Kinch and his book Johnny be Good take a look at this, Sunday Night Live I'll be in Loughborough tonight along with some fantastic live entertainment, if you're in the area come and check us out at Costa Coffee, Loughborough. Take a look at the archive post to find out a little more.

Sedgeley Park

Spent the day at Greater Manchester Police's leadership academy today at Sedgley Park for a Christian Police Association national council meeting. Many things discussed including how can we publicise our existence to faith groups around the country, if you are the leader or member of a church group we want to link in with you so that we can support each other in making our communities a better place to live.