Greetings Lifers,Missed you guys! I was in Texas last weekend enjoying some time with old life group mates from a previous church family. In my absence I was praying for you all as you assembled last Saturday and Sunday? It’s nice to go away, but it’s great to come home - I am amped to be talking to you again at our upcoming services and look forward to seeing you at one of them. The Bible is clear on our mandate as a body of believers – it's for our best that we gather together each week:
24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds,25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:24-25
Looking forward to being gathered, spurred, and encouraged! As for what I am talking about this weekend – I know I’m not alone in being the guy who walks into a room, pauses, and then walks back out because he can’t remember why he went in there. I stand for prolonged periods over open drawers in my kitchen trying to recall which utensil is best for eating soup. I sit down to my computer screen and notice an email I started to write to my church 2 hours before but failed to complete (this may or may not have occurred with this particular offering). I am over-prone to forgetting my point.
So it is with church. We can show up week after week, serve faithfully, give generously, and have little to no clue as to why we are doing these things or to what we are giving ourselves. This week, we will be reminded of why we are in our room and of what God is wanting to use us for as we walk this part of life’s journey with Him. Come ready to listen and be changed by God’s mission for us. See you soon.
Peace,
Mark
At the INFOdesk@baylife.org
Life Group Leaders Bonus Training – Oct 30 | 6:30 pm in the loft
Men's Retreat – Nov 4 & 5 | Register at the INFOdesk - $50
Holidays of Hope Food Collection begins on Nov 5 | in the lobby
Scrapbook & Crop for Missions | $25 – fliers at the INFOdesk
Revolve Student Retreat – Nov 11-13 | $65- visit the Family Ministry Center
Sewing Team Meeting – Nov 13 | 1 pm in the Conference Room
Life Group Leaders Training – Nov 13 | 6:30 pm in the loft
Ladies Missions Bazaar – Nov 16 & 17 | 7 pm & 9 am in the lobby
Thanksgiving Dinner – Nov 24 servers needed | register to serve at baylife.org
Friday, October 28, 2011
Friday, October 7, 2011
Lifers, Start Your Engines!
Greetings Lifers,
I have never been mistaken for a gear-head, one of those guys who can tell what’s wrong with your vehicle by listening to it idle and then fix it with a crescent wrench and a stick of Doublemint. On top of that, I have yet to take in a car race of any kind; open wheel, closed wheel, professional or amateur, street or track (although I may be guilty of trying to beat another car to a drive-thru lane at a fast-food joint a time or two – I don’t think that counts as a full on race though). But here’s the deal - even I know that race cars won’t race until the drivers crank the motor. Hence the pre-race request for the starting of engines. Spoiler alert – you’ll never win a race in a parked car.
This car talk comes to you courtesy of this weekend’s service subject – on Sunday I will be preaching through the first 10 verses of Ephesians 2, where the Apostle Paul explains, as clearly as anywhere in Scripture, what the gospel of Jesus Christ is. He points to what we’ve been saved from, what we are saved to, how we are saved, and then what happens after that. So here’s where the car stuff comes in – I know many of you have taken advantage of our worship stations during our services, and whether it’s been in a prayer request pinned to one of the crosses or in a name placed inside our walls, you’ve asked God to lead one of your not-yet-saved friends/family members to repentance and regeneration. I love that about our church – we know that people need a Savior and we are committed together to seeing the gospel spread in our world.
This weekend is a chance for you to shift out of neutral with some of your friends who need Jesus. You have between now and Sunday morning to pray for them and ask them to join you at church. If we’re going to have a car in this race with Jesus (and we all do if we have found faith in Him), then we’re going to need to steer it into traffic at times like these. I’d love to be a part of God’s plan in reaching your friend – let’s double-team ‘em on Sunday. You get them here, and together we’ll point them to Jesus! Lifers, start your engines!
This car talk comes to you courtesy of this weekend’s service subject – on Sunday I will be preaching through the first 10 verses of Ephesians 2, where the Apostle Paul explains, as clearly as anywhere in Scripture, what the gospel of Jesus Christ is. He points to what we’ve been saved from, what we are saved to, how we are saved, and then what happens after that. So here’s where the car stuff comes in – I know many of you have taken advantage of our worship stations during our services, and whether it’s been in a prayer request pinned to one of the crosses or in a name placed inside our walls, you’ve asked God to lead one of your not-yet-saved friends/family members to repentance and regeneration. I love that about our church – we know that people need a Savior and we are committed together to seeing the gospel spread in our world.
This weekend is a chance for you to shift out of neutral with some of your friends who need Jesus. You have between now and Sunday morning to pray for them and ask them to join you at church. If we’re going to have a car in this race with Jesus (and we all do if we have found faith in Him), then we’re going to need to steer it into traffic at times like these. I’d love to be a part of God’s plan in reaching your friend – let’s double-team ‘em on Sunday. You get them here, and together we’ll point them to Jesus! Lifers, start your engines!
Peace,
Mark
At the INFOdesk@baylife.org
Blood Pressure - 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, register at the INFOdesk
Welcome Lunch – Oct 16 | 1 pm Register by Oct 9 at the INFOdesk
Life Group Basic Training – Oct 23 | 6 pm in the loft
Prayer Night – Oct. 25 | 7 pm in the Student Center
Men's Steak-n-Games – Nov 4 & 5 | $50 register at the INFOdesk
Scrapbook & Crop for Missions Nov 5 | 9 am $25 register at the INFOdesk
Thursday, September 29, 2011
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
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
Everyone welcome – we need you!!
Any amount of time you can be here will be appreciated. Meet in the back of the Worship Center
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
Thursday, September 22, 2011
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.
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
· 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
Thursday, September 8, 2011
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 assistantBeverly
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
Peace,
Mark
At the INFOdesk@baylife.org
- Welcome Lunch | Sunday, Sep 18 @ 1 pm, lobby - register at the INFOdesk
Community Garden - 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
Thursday, September 1, 2011
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
I just received word from their current Pastor thatMadison
“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!
I just received word from their current Pastor that
“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
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
Thursday, August 25, 2011
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
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.
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
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