A New Creation

Greetings Lifers,

So it’s been too long – how are you doing, my Lifer friends? I am groggy from a 5:30 wake up call with my 3 high school kids (they catch a bus at like 6:20 – yikes), but other than that I am pleased to say life is quite satisfying right now. I am still reading through a book called “Grace Walk” by Steve McVey, and I find it quite edifying. Here’s an excerpt of what I read this morning:

“The human spirit is the essence and core of our existence. Before we trusted Christ, we had no meaningful identity because our spirit was dead. But when we trusted in Christ, the Spirit of Christ came into us and we gained an identity grounded in Christ. Peter said we became partakers of the divine nature. Since the Spirit of Christ comes into a person’s spirit at salvation, and because the essence of what we are is determined at the spirit level, one who has trusted Christ becomes a Christian.”

(this is the good part)

“To say that you are a Christian doesn’t simply refer to the particular set of doctrinal beliefs you hold. It doesn’t just refer to the way you live. It points to what you are at the deepest level of your being. At the center of your being is Christ! He has become your very life!”

“The totality of the Christian life is contained in Jesus Christ! The Christian life is not about Christ. It is Christ. It is God’s purpose to bring every Christian to the place where he no longer lives for self, but where Christ is allowed to live His life through us.” (pgs. 70-71, “Grace Walk”)

I know it’s only a couple of sentences, and I recognize that this Steve guy is not writing a part of the Bible or anything, but I hope you are picking up the implications of what he is saying. I find that I too often operate my life outside of my identity in Christ. I settle for “old Mark” when he doesn’t even exist anymore, if I am a new creation in Christ (which I am). I need to be less consumed with trying harder to be good and just learn to accept that I am good because of what Christ has done, is doing, and will do in the future through me. Anyway, great book so far – encourage you to read it.

I wrote for a specific reason – to invite you to get “Out of the Box” with me and the rest of the Lifers on this Sunday night from 6-8 p.m. in our Worship Center. Meet your new Life Group (sign up online if you haven’t yet or come to Out of the Box and find a group there), enjoy some wacky game show-type games (Let’s Make a Deal, anyone?), and then hear some short but important challenges for the year to come as together we seek to get out of some the boxes our fears and flesh put us in as we seek to let Jesus live through us. Then of course there's the ice cream to cap it all off, and what’s better than ice cream? Free ice cream, that’s what.

So if you’ve been hearing us talk about it at our weekend services or if you’re just hearing it now, plan to join us this Sunday night. If you have kids kindergarten age and below, their will be childcare provided. Otherwise, the older kids will have plenty to keep them occupied with the rest of us –  there’s even a game show game dedicated to them and their parents (it’s a “kids say the darnedest things” meets “the newlywed game” thing – awesome).

If you are coming, do let us know if you haven’t already. Email Melanie Langston at mlangston@baylife.org and tell her who is coming with you. If you need childcare, let Tammy Paul know at tpaul@baylife.org. Till this weekend, may God bless you with the knowledge that if you are in Him, you truly are a new creation, and the old you is dead. May we all surrender to Jesus as He lives His life through us.

 Peace.

Mark Saunders

Pastor

At the INFOdesk@baylife.org

• Prayer Night – August 30 | 7 pm in the Student Center
• Ladies Bible Study – August 31| 7 pm in the lobby of the Worship Center
• Ladies Bible Study – September 1 | 9 am in the lobby of the Worship Center
• Worship Choir – September 1 | 7 pm in the Worship Center
• Baptism – September 10 & 11 | Pre-baptism meeting Aug 27 & 28 at the fountain in the courtyard after each service

Reaching our Neighbors, Co-workers, Classmates & Friends

At the INFOdesk@baylife.org

• Life Group Leader Training – August 21 | 6:30 pm in the Worship Center
• Worship Arts Fall Kick-off – August 25 | 7 pm in the Worship Center
• Bay Life Out-of-the-Box – August 28 | 6 pm in the Worship Center
• Prayer Night – August 30 | 7 pm in the Student Center

Greetings Lifers, [Written Aug 11th]

Well, so far, so good – the first week of three services has come and gone and our church seems none the worse for wear (I’ve said that saying before, but I am not entirely sure what it means – felt weird typing it, actually – but I digress....). To all who served so capably and faithfully in making each service run smoothly, I say a heartfelt “thank YOU”. The 10 o’clock service was our most populated (as you might guess), but with our high school group meeting at 11:30 for the first time this week, I am praying for things to even out between the two later offerings. All of you 8:30 people were AWESOME considering the earlier hour – way to go and praise God for coffee (?).

Anyway, just a quick reminder of why we are doing this – there are just over 3,100 people packed in to every square mile in Brandon alone (I didn’t look up the surrounding regions – sorry), a total of 103, 000 souls (according to 2010 census numbers). My best guess is that the 105 churches (source: superpages.com (phone book)) in our area may welcome about 20,000 people to worship (based on a Gallup poll that found that 20% of any American population goes to church each week), and too many of those churches either aren’t preaching the Gospel or stopped caring about the people in their community who are staring down a Godless eternity. 80,000 people spending their weeks, months, years with no face time with Jesus. I know, the numbers are a bit fuzzy, but can we all agree that any number above zero is too many?

That’s why we went to 3 services – to afford us the chance and motivate us toward reaching our neighbors, our coworkers, or classmates and friends for Christ. When you come to one of our services and see some empty chairs, my prayer is that you’ll picture your Names in the Wall sitting in them next to you some day, singing praise to Jesus and being changed by His Word. Can you see them? That’s why we are doing three services – so our friends can know Christ.

So I will see you this weekend – I am looking forward to our dialogue on what it means to “fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith”. Hope to see you – have a blessed weekend!

Peace,

Mark

3 Sunday Services 8:30, 10 & 11:30 am - See you there!

At the INFOdesk@baylife.org

• Bloodmobile – August 7 | 8:30 am – 1 pm in the north parking lot
• Life Group Basic Training – August 7 | 6 pm in Room 603
• Free Blood Pressure Screening – August 14 | after service in the Cry Room
• Life Group Leader Training – August 21 | 6:30 pm in the Worship Center

Greetings Lifers,

It has truly been a while since I last wrote an email to you all – how’s it going? I am getting re-acclimated to my environment after some time away in Africa (awesome) and with my family (different, but equally awesome). I am looking forward to three nights with my bride to myself this weekend – this is our first year to send all of our brood on the same summer camp (high school). Be praying for a great weekend for our students, and in addition, would you pray that God would bring our next youth pastor to us soon? We have had some gifted candidates apply and are now deliberating on who God would have for this important role. Thanks.

It’s a big weekend for us as a church as we move to 3 services Sunday – 8:30, 10:00, and 11:30. Figured out which one you’ll be going to? For the record, I’m going to all three. I know that many of you have already committed to work in the various areas of ministry that will be needed in these services – huge thanks to you for your service. Remember why we are doing this – so that more of the people in our community can come to know and follow our savior Jesus Christ. This happens when we “the found” make ourselves available to the lost, the let down, and those looking for their next church home, befriending them and then inviting them to church. I talked to a Lifer in his 30’s this past week who just a few years ago reunited with a younger brother that hadn’t grown up with him. The two were living in the same town and didn’t know it. They started piecing together their sibling friendship, and as a result, the long lost brother started asking questions about God. This past week I got to meet this brother at our Saturday night service – he had come with his big bro to church. How great is that? Years apart, reconnected, and walking together in their journey with God.

It’s stories like these that leave me wondering how many more people are out there in need of someone who will lead them to Jesus. There has to be tons of folks who are just waiting for an invitation – maybe it’s that family member of yours who’s going through that “thing”, or that coworker you share lunch with, or that classmate you shouldered that semester project with last year. Our heart and hope as a church is to see God change people – I pray that we are all available to do our part.

There’s more to know about this weekend and beyond, so let me turn this email over to those details – pray you have a great weekend, and see you at one of our 4 services!

Free,

Mark Saunders

Pastor

Bay Life Kids:

Preschool and Nursery Families:  You may check in your children at any registration station when you arrive, however, the hallway doors will remain closed until the directors clear the hallways for the next service. For the safety of all of our children, pick up from the previous service must occur before drop-off starts.  Our coordinators will clear the hallways as quickly as possible, but we ask for your patience as we manage the process.  You're welcome to wait in the Student Center lobby until both doors open and drop off can begin for your service.  Thanks for your cooperation.

Elementary Families: Elementary student drop-off  happens in the center of the Family Chapel, the Large Group area. Each row is labeled with a group name and coaches will be available to direct you to the correct area. Pick up your student at their small group tables located on the left (Kindergarten through 2nd grade) and right (3rd & 4th grades) sides of the Family Chapel after service.

Back to School Supplies:

This is the last weekend to drop off backpacks and school supplies for the YMCA Back-to-School Supplies Fundraiser. No time to shop? You can still participate by donating $35 to fill a backpack. If you need school supplies for your children, stop by the INFOdesk  to complete a request for assistance.