Rays, Red Sox, Squirrels & Lions!

Greetings Lifers, 

On behalf of myself, I’d like to congratulate the 2011 Tampa Bay Rays on winning the wild-card playoff spot last night in “defies description” fashion, and while I am at it, I’d like to thank God for trusting me and the other Christ followers who root for the Team That Shall Not Be Mentioned with the trial we now face (the one where we try to comprehend what just happened to our team). I cling to James 1:2-4 and consider it all joy to be facing this test of my baseball allegiances and sensibilities – I trust that He will lead us into perseverance and make us mature, lacking nothing.

All spiritualizing aside, was that not the craziest night of baseball ever?

So now for something completely different – I watched a squirrel navigate a parking lot the other day from my perch inside the Subway I was sitting in. A funny creature, the squirrel – I watched for what had to be 2-3 minutes and took in these observations:
        -   Squirrels don’t blink. Like not at all. Their big brown eyes are constantly open.
        -   They pretty much move in 3-4 step bursts – hop, hop, hop, stop, sniff, pan the scene, repeat. Cautious critters, they are (Yoda sentence there).
        -   The varmint I was watching (wanna call him Rocky, after the Rocky and Bullwinkle Show? Sounds good to me...) stopped over a man hole cover that had some water pooled on its top. I witnessed my first ever squirrel drink, and even that was done wide-eyed and cautious.

I know – you’re reading and wondering about squirrel talk – where is this all heading? How about here – what can you and I learn from Rocky? As I saw him bug-eyed and 4-hopping through the parking lot, it occurred to me just how careless I can be as I go through life. And no, I'm not merely talking about parking lots. Spiritually speaking, I think victory over flesh and sin comes to those who are carefully navigating the potential pitfalls each one of us face. What I’m saying is that we could all stand to be a bit more perspicacious (SAT word) - vigilance is a Christian's best defense against mess.

So, are you in a situation in life that could lead you away from the righteousness of God? Does the place you work in or the people who work there have like tractor-beam powers over you and you're making right choices? Do you have that old sin pattern that gets triggered when you're in certain environments? Take a page from the Rocky playbook – eyes open, head on a swivel, 4-hopping through the potential mess-makers of life. What did Peter tell his readers about our adversary?

⁸ Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.                                         1 Peter 5:8

Y’all are careful in the parking lot, you hear? See you this weekend.

Peace,

Mark

Bay Life Garden Work Day! This Saturday, October 1 8:30 am – 12 pm

Everyone welcome – we need you!!

Any amount of time you can be here will be appreciated. Meet in the back of the Worship Center at our garden.

Handy items to bring with you:

            Wheelbarrow

            Shovel

            Garden gloves

            Lawn Chair

            Water Bottle

At the INFOdesk this week:

• Welcome to the Nursery class – Oct 9 | after the 11:30 am service
• Bloodmobile – Oct 9 | after services in the Cry Room
• Bay Life Kids Drama Clinic – Oct 9 | 1:30 pm in the Student Center
• Kids First Step Class – Oct 16 | 10 am in Rm 606
• Welcome Lunch – Oct 16 | 1 pm in the loft register at the INFOdesk
• Worship Night & Artist Forum – Oct 16 | 7 pm in the Worship Center
• Christmas Event Drama Auditions – Oct 22 | 9 am in the Worship Center

Choose “AWE” Over “AWWW”

Greetings Lifers,

What is it called when one word can mean at least two different things, depending on the context/spelling? You know, like someone can be “right” when they turn “right”, but the first use of right means “correct” and the second is the “opposite of left”. Or how about getting “left” because you failed to turn “left”? I know when you use a word the wrong way it’s called a malapropism, but I can’t remember the word for this lingual phenomenon. Hang on – that’s why God made Google (be right back).

Back – and I found it. Homonym – a word that sounds (and is usually spelled) the same but has different meanings. I knew there was a word for it. Okay, so why the grammar lesson? I’ll tell you.

In my personal experience, I find that my life is shaped by which side I choose this particular homonym I am thinking of, especially when things that I would rather not have to live through come into my life. Here’s what I mean - my flesh looks at my troubles and immediately says. “AWWW!” as in, “Aww man, why did this have to happen to me now?” When I choose this side of the homonym, I trend in the direction of self pity and disappointment with God and His plan. Now, since trials almost always spin off into more trials (have you noticed this? Job loss leads to money crunch leads to marital angst leads to personal anger leads to words I wish I could take back... getting the picture?), I find that this path leads to innumerable “AWWW’s”, each one acting as a shovel to dirt, digging deeper the hole of discouragement. This is certainly a choice we have the right to make, but my take on the Scriptures is that this “AWWW” is not what God had in mind for us when He sent His Son for our sakes. In fact, Jesus came and died so that we could live out of the other side of this homonym.

He came that we might live in AWE.

Same word (except for the “e”), but something completely different from the flesh “AWWW”. Essentially, when you and I face life's messes, we choose between “AWWW” or “AWE”. When we stay in awe of what God has done, is doing, and will accomplish in our lives through our mess, we go through messes clinging to Him rather than angry at Him. The early church in Acts 2:43 was filled with this kind of awe, and it altered the way they handled their things and each other. Awe made them generous, allowing them to see past their own needs to the needs of their brothers and sisters, and gave them a perspective in life that lead to peace, even when things weren’t peaceful. What else could make a guy like Stephen preach the gospel so clearly that his incensed listeners picked up rocks and threw them at him? He was in awe of his Savior, so much so that his own well being came a distant second. Is this kind of awe what the apostle Paul was teaching the Philippians to pursue when he demanded that they be anxious for nothing but instead look to God in everything, asking Him for what they needed while thanking Him for what He had done (AWE alert!)? And is this kind of awe the source of the peace that surpasses human understanding (Philippians 4:6-7)? Methinks ‘tis true.

So, in whatever you face today, or in your tomorrow, or in your yesterday that has the residual strength to mess you up now, my simple prayer for you is this - that you will choose “AWE” over “AWWW” every time, by the grace of our awesome God who promises to walk us through our awful things. Blessings, my friends.

Peace,

Mark

At the INFOdesk@baylife.org

·        Practical Prayer Training - Sep 25 | 1 pm in Rm 603 - all are welcome

·        Prayer Night - Sep 27 | 7 pm in the Student Center

·        Bloodmobile - Oct 9 | after all Sunday services

·        Kids First Step Class - Oct 16 | 10 am in Rm 606, register at the INFOdesk

·        Welcome Lunch - Oct 16 | 1 pm in Worship Center lobby



God's Grace

Greetings Lifers,

What is up! Half-way through another Thursday – must be time for an email to you all. Which direction should we head in for this one? Light and airy? Solemn and introspective? Revelatory and detailed? A combo of all three? I don’t know – may be I’ll just type and see where this goes.

How about we start, finish, and find our middle in the inestimable grace of God, no matter which of the previous tones prevails?

Truth be told, God’s grace is smack-dab in the middle of every mood, emotion, and circumstance that we face, regardless of its positive or negative vibe. What I mean is that everything we are is rooted in, wrapped around, and heading into the grace of God. In Him we live and move and have our being (Acts 17) - and all because of grace. He has truly given us beyond what we could ever merit.

I find His grace more evident in the good times, don’t you? It’s hard not to, especially if you’re just coming out of a period of life where things haven’t been so great. You know what I'm talking about? That break you’ve been waiting for finally arrives and you can point to nothing else except the grace of God as it cause. It’s like someone turns the “God volume up to 11” and you’re hemmed in on all sides by His love and mercy and grace.

But then there are those not-so-great times, right? The times where God’s grace seems all but invisible, unperceivable to the afflicted and unattainable to boot. But I am reminded over and over again that “grace unseen” is not the same as “grace not at all”. Grace gurgles just below the surface of our calamities, like a huge oil field hidden beneath a lifeless desert. All we see is desolation, but God is working behind (and beneath) our scene as He prepares a gusher of grace for the exact time we need it. His grace may come in the form of complete deliverance, but more often I find that it takes the form of a reprieve, a brief but welcome respite from the desert so that we can refuel and have enough to face whatever is coming next.

Ah, but make no mistake – the grace is there. It’s the heart beat of the Christian life – in fact, take a second to put you pointer finger on your carotid (that’s the artery in your neck, in case you’ve blocked out freshman year anatomy class). Feel that pulse beating? As sure as you heart is pumping blood through your veins, so God is pushing His grace to and through your soul, always, without ceasing. His grace makes us go. Praise God for His amazing grace. Amen.

Now for some more of what God is doing around here at Bay Life, I turn it over to my stellar assistant Beverly – see you Sunday (or Saturday night). Bring your friends with you!

Peace,

Mark

At the INFOdesk@baylife.org

• Welcome Lunch | Sunday, Sep 18 @ 1 pm, lobby - register at the INFOdesk
• Community Garden at Bay Life | Sep 24 & 25 - informational meeting after services
• Practical Prayer Training | Sep 25 @ 1 pm Rm 603 - open to all
• Life Group Bonus Training | Sep 25 6:30 pm, the loft
• Prayer Night | Sep 27 @ 7 pm, Family Chapel

Prayer Requests for a Couple of Lifers

Greetings Lifers,

Normally I start our Thursday email off with some pleasantries and small talk and then progress to a pithy anecdote on life with Christ from my recent experiences. Not so much today. I write soliciting your prayers for a couple of Lifers. Many of you have been here long enough to know and love Steve and Lindsay Frissell and their kids. Steve served here for years in our youth ministry before eventually ending up at a church in Texas. Their daughter Madison is a freshman in high school now and has bravely faced some recent surgeries that sought to correct an issue in her sternum (a metal bar was inserted to keep it from growing incorrectly and affecting her vital organs).

I just received word from their current Pastor that Madison has developed an infection since her surgery that is pretty serious and may require the removal of the previously inserted bar. Here’s an excerpt from the email I received.

“They saw their doctor this morning; he is doing some x-rays and any other diagnostics necessary to determine the source of the infection. They were hopeful yesterday that the infection was being caused by the stitches from Madi’s surgery a few weeks ago to insert a bar behind her sternum. But their doctor told them today that he is concerned and that there is a possibility that they will have to take the bar out of her chest if the infection is found there.  This would not be good news obviously, and Steve and Lindsay are, understandably, struggling.  Please pray…

-          For the infection NOT to be anywhere that would cause the bar to need to come out.

-          That the Dr.s can figure out the source and prescribe a swift course of action to heal the infection

-          For the whole family, (Steve, Lindsay, Madison, Reagan, McKinley and Harrison) comfort, grace, rest in their souls

-          For protection and encouragement for Madi.  (I’m not sure how much she knows about all this, so don’t be posting anything about this on Facebook right now).”

Steve’s parents (Rick and Denise) could use our prayers as well.

I said a couple of Lifers need prayer – Randy Buchholtz (the elder who prayed this past Sunday at the beginning of our services) is continuing his ongoing battle with cancer (a type of lymphoma) and is setting down to another treatment today. Prayers for his healing and for peace for him and his wife Susan (and daughter Deanne) are much needed.

I figured that these needs are a bit more pressing than you pondering my ruminations. More of that next week.

P.S.    The 10 o’clock service is almost full – some of us Lifers who frequent that time need to move to one of our other services (Saturday at 6, Sunday at 8:30 or 11:30) to make sure that folks visiting our church at the 10 o'clock have seats in that service. Pray about it. See you this weekend!

Peace,

Mark

At the INFOdesk@baylife.org

Free blood pressure check – Sunday September 11 | after the 10 & 11:30 am services in the Cry Room

Welcome Lunch - Sunday, September 18 1 pm | Register at the INFOdesk 

Community Garden on sight at Bay Life | Informational meeting after services on September 24 & 25

Practical Prayer Training – September 25 1 pm | Modular room 603 open to all

Life Group Bonus Training – September 25 6:30 pm | in the loft

Prayer Night – September 27 | 7 pm in the Student Center

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.