How to Build Alife
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guidethe September 2017 – January 2018 How to build aLife 191-193 Upper Lisburn Road, Finaghy, Belfast BT10 0LL INTERESTING people who have God in their lives... Alice Cooper “I grew up in a Christian house,” said Cooper. “My dad was a pastor, he was an evangelist for 25 years, and I used to go up and do missionary work with him with the Apaches in Arizona. My grandfather was a pastor for 75 years. I grew up in a Christian home. And my wife’s father is a Baptist pastor. So, I was like, we were PK’s – preacher’s kids – so we married each other.” “So I always refer to myself as the real Prodigal Son, because I went out and the Lord let me do everything,” said Cooper. “Maybe didn’t let me but allowed it, and then just started reeling me back in. You know, you’ve seen enough. Let’s bring you back to where you belong.” “When you get out there and realise you’ve had every car, every house, and all that, you realise that that’s not the answer,” he said. “There’s a big nothing out there at the end of that. So, materialism doesn’t mean anything. A lot of people say that there’s a big God-sized hole in your heart. And when that’s filled, you’re really satisfied, and that’s where I am right now.” Cooper then explained that his return to Christianity occurred when he tried and eventually quit drinking alcohol in the mid-1980s. (He also had a dangerous addiction to cocaine, which he discussed in the 2014 movie, Super Duper Alice Cooper.) “I stopped drinking and I started going back to church,” he said. Matthew McConaughey “As soon as we had children, I was like, You know what? Church was important to my childhood, even if it was just for the ritual of giving an hour and a half on Sunday to yourself, to pray and to think about others, even if you’re tired or whatever,’” McConaughey said. “I noticed how much I missed it and needed it.” 2 INTERESTING people who have God in their lives... David Luiz “My faith in Jesus gives me strength to keep on going out on to the field and to do my best,” he says. “But I also want to inspire others - that is what God inspires me to do. For me, true life is found in the relationship with Jesus Christ. I believe that everything in life belongs to God and he has a clear plan for us if we follow him.” Mother Teresa We think sometimes that poverty is only being hungry, naked and homeless. The poverty of being unwanted, unloved and uncared for is the greatest poverty. We must start in our own homes to remedy this kind of poverty. John Lennox “The most incomprehensible thing about the universe is that it is comprehensible.” God’s Undertaker: Has Science Buried God? – John C. Lennox 3 LIFE – It Happens! Whether we like it or not, life is happening to us right now. Each one of us is building a life. So how is your life going? No life can be on pause. The seconds count away. If I were building a house, I’d want progress reports from the architect and builder. If a kit-car, a regular call from the mechanic – “Aye, aye, the wheels are on and the steering wheel’s attached. Waiting for the engine from Germany.” Progress reports. The greatest gift we have is life. Yet, unlike homes, cars and bank balances, many of us rarely, if ever, think about what we’re building. There are so many pressures (holding down a job, paying the mortgage or rearing children) pushing us along, it can feel as if we are not in control of the who, what, when, where and why of life. Building a Life God wants to help. He so badly wants to help you build your life. What if you are missing out on what could be with God’s help? But isn’t God for seriously dull people? Organised religion can grievously misinform people with wrong ideas about God: “Do this/don’t do that/and never smile!!” God isn’t about religion and lists of do’s and don’ts. He’s interested in you as a person and how He can bless your life. He longs to have a relationship with you. He sent Jesus into the world to find you, to forgive your sins and make this relationship possible. 4 A LIFE WITH GOD Jesus says Matthew 7:24-27 New International Version - UK (NIVUK) The wise and foolish builders 24 ‘Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.’ Having God in our lives makes such a difference. Come and join us on Sunday mornings, and throughout the week at our various events and activities, as children, young people and adults all discover what life can be like if God is helping us to build it. God makes all the difference in the world. Please accept this edition of The Guide as our invitation to our church, Lowe Church, Belfast. You can follow us on Facebook and check our website – www.lowe.church – for updates and further information. Have a great autumn! James Minister/ Senior Pastor 5 Community Open Day Saturday 9th September 2017 • 1-5PM Come along to an action-packed day of fun and extravaganza at Lowe Church. No matter the weather, the show will go on! All activities can be brought indoors Activities include: ALL FREE OF CHARGE!!! giant slide • bouncy castle • Phil’s farm • children’s train • Buddy the Clown • and many more fun inflatable activities Super Hero Sundae SUNday 10th September 2017 • 11AM Dress up as your favourite Super Hero! Ice-cream and goodies 6 SpecialJoin us on Guest Days On the Sofa On the Sofa with David Blevins Ireland Correspondent with Sky News Sunday 5th November @ 11am Come and hear about faith, the news and politics from a live reporter LIFE, MEMORIES AND FAITH On the Sofa A Special On the Sofa with Paddy Quinn Former Tyrone GAA player Sunday 26th November @ 7pm 7 Discovering Hope 8 Discovering Hope 9 Sundays @ Lowe Service Times 9.45am Traditional 11.00am Contemporary 7.00pm Discipleship and Café Praise 10 Sundays @ Lowe As an all-age and inter-generational church, our three worship services reflect different styles of praise and worship. 9.45am - Traditional Hymn Singing 11.00am - Contemporary Praise 7.00pm - Fresh Expression, giving opportunity to explore new approaches to praise and worship. On pages 38-45, a weekly guide to ‘what’s on’ on Sundays is listed. The following symbols will give you an idea of diversity within Lowe praise services and what might appeal to you most. How to Fusion with Guest build Praise Leaders a life New Expression Praise & Prayer Conversations with Job Youth Service On the Sofa Guest Live inMusic Café Hub Choir There are so many ways to express praise! Come and join us! 11 Café Hub Special Coffee Times Monday Evenings at the HUB 7.30-9.30pm commencing Monday 2nd October Chill/chat/relax or plug in to an activity of your choice such as crafts/book club/board games etc Macmillan Coffee Morning Friday 29th September 10.00am – 12 noon Join us for some good coffee and eats and raise money for a great cause! LOOKING FOR THE PERFECT PRESENT FOR YOUR LOVED ONE? THEN COME AND JOIN US FOR A COFFEE MORNING, CAKE SALE AND A DISPLAY OF MIGLIO JEWELLERY ON SATURDAY 28TH OCTOBER FROM 10:00-1:00 IN THE HUB PROCEEDS IN AID OF LOWE MISSIONARIES 12 DAY TRIP to Kildare Outlet Saturday 11 November 2017 Contact Church Office for details and to book your place 139 HANDEL’S MESSIAH ‘IN A DAY’ Saturday 13th January 2018 Come and be part of the concert choir! Come and attend the Concert! The “In a day” event involves morning and afternoon rehearsalS, with the performance beginning at 7pm. Everyone is welcome to the evening performance. Singers are invited to attend from 10am. Light refreshments will be available throughout the day. This offers an enjoyable day of music-making for singers of all abilities. Suggested donation of £10, All profits going to Cancer Research. Please contact the church office to register interest and /or for more details. 14 Hoping for Help? CHRISTIANS AGAINST POVERTY (CAP) is an award winning charity committed to helping people who have problems which could cause poverty. Lowe, in partnership with CAP, runs services for debt, unemployment and addiction. All services are free. weighed down by debt? Free debt counselling in your community from Belfast Finaghy Debt Centre capdebthelp.org CALL FREE ON 0800 328 0006 Calls are free from landlines and mobiles in the UK 15 Hoping for Help? Unemployed? BELFAST FINAGHY JOB CLUB STARTING 2ND OCTOBER 2017 meets at LOWE CHURCH 191-193 UPPER LISBURN ROAD, FINAGHY MONDAY 10am – 12noon CALL FREE ON 0800 328 0006 Calls are free from landlines and mobiles in the UK OR 07704 218 560 FREE LIGHT LUNCH PROVIDED DO YOU NEED HELP? Talk to us about our Hamper and Helps Ministries For more information please contact the church office 16 Hoping for Help? Want help for life-controlling habits such as smoking, drinking, gambling, internet addictions? This free confidential eight week course will run during October and November.