Join us on the weekend of September 10th & 11th for our new series "The Lies we Believe". Not to mention, the Bayside Worship CD is released! And I thought launching our internet campus that weekend was going to be awesome -- click here to check out our new website!
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Check out some upcoming announcements!
Lies We Believe Promo from Bayside Community Church on Vimeo.
Lies We Believe Promo from Bayside Community Church on Vimeo.
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Get To vs. Got To
Several months ago, my friend Jordan Becnel was sharing on the concept of "get to vs. got to". As our Worship and Creative Arts Pastor for Bayside Community Church, Jordan has had many opportunities to "get to" do ministry. Whether loving on someone from his team, or a random person on the weekend, God has given him the opportunity to be "the hands and feet" of Christ on multiple occasions. And as he was sharing in one of our pastor meetings, he cautioned us to always have the "get to" mindset.
When you begin in ministry of any kind ... you have the undeniable sense of accomplishment, the eagerness to be used by God, to go out and change the world for Him ... and it is awesome. You get to go talk with someone, or you get the opportunity to pray over a need, or you are given the chance to spend meaningful time with a friend in need. But as the opportunities continue to present themselves, the "get to" sometimes fades into a "got to" mentality. I have "got to" speak all weekend, or "got to" get up early for prayer, or I have "got to" be at this or that ... and it's not that it's a complaint, but rather the excitement sometimes fades.
Whether you are a "professional" Christian like myself (yes, I get paid to love people, I have it made!), or just someone trying to live their lives to the fullest in Christ, sometimes we lose our sense of how incredible God is, and that he chose to use a sinner like myself (you probably don't sin like I do, so this may not be as incredible for you).
This past weekend we had John Maxwell live and in person at Bayside, and he was amazing. His wisdom on leadership, and his ideas about investing in your kids by paying them for reading instead of chores, wow! Yet, I was blown away by someone else that weekend. One of our volunteer worship leaders (I won't mention her name - but she plays everything, and sings like an angel) was walking to her car after the 2nd Saturday night service when I joined her on the sidewalk. Knowing her commitment with family, her job, and volunteering ... I asked "So, you here all weekend?" And her response with a smile "Absolutely, I am excited that I "GET" to be here tomorrow. She understands the concept of Get To vs. Got To. Do you?
When you begin in ministry of any kind ... you have the undeniable sense of accomplishment, the eagerness to be used by God, to go out and change the world for Him ... and it is awesome. You get to go talk with someone, or you get the opportunity to pray over a need, or you are given the chance to spend meaningful time with a friend in need. But as the opportunities continue to present themselves, the "get to" sometimes fades into a "got to" mentality. I have "got to" speak all weekend, or "got to" get up early for prayer, or I have "got to" be at this or that ... and it's not that it's a complaint, but rather the excitement sometimes fades.
Whether you are a "professional" Christian like myself (yes, I get paid to love people, I have it made!), or just someone trying to live their lives to the fullest in Christ, sometimes we lose our sense of how incredible God is, and that he chose to use a sinner like myself (you probably don't sin like I do, so this may not be as incredible for you).
This past weekend we had John Maxwell live and in person at Bayside, and he was amazing. His wisdom on leadership, and his ideas about investing in your kids by paying them for reading instead of chores, wow! Yet, I was blown away by someone else that weekend. One of our volunteer worship leaders (I won't mention her name - but she plays everything, and sings like an angel) was walking to her car after the 2nd Saturday night service when I joined her on the sidewalk. Knowing her commitment with family, her job, and volunteering ... I asked "So, you here all weekend?" And her response with a smile "Absolutely, I am excited that I "GET" to be here tomorrow. She understands the concept of Get To vs. Got To. Do you?
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Two heads are better than one.
Who hasn't heard that quote? Two heads prevail, blah, blah, blah ... Except
It's true! This morning I was under pressure to get audio equipment running in 2 min rather than the 20 it normally takes. I was trying to login to the computer for iTunes to play and I couldn't remember the password. I mean I knew it, but it wouldn't work, and the pressure was mounting! So I gave up, abandoned the computer and grabbed a nearby iPhone playlist... Ahh the morning was saved, and our prayer meeting began.
But I was still hung up on the computer, when a coworker confirmed the password was correct. So I took a closer look and realized the dreaded Caps Lock was on!
I found it interesting that it wasn't until someone confirmed in me what I KNEW to be true, that I trusted in my understanding. How many times have you been in a situation where you have abandoned the "truth" simply because you were alone, and without support. Key for me this morning ... Isolation is a scary place to live, for that is where Satan comes at us the most. In the garden Eve was alone, and that is when she allowed Satan in when he said "surely God didn't really say that?". I wonder had Adam been there with Eve, watching her back, being her support, confirming in her what she knew to be true ... Ladies, childbirth could have been a whole lot easier. At least those were my thoughts at 6:30 this morning.
It's true! This morning I was under pressure to get audio equipment running in 2 min rather than the 20 it normally takes. I was trying to login to the computer for iTunes to play and I couldn't remember the password. I mean I knew it, but it wouldn't work, and the pressure was mounting! So I gave up, abandoned the computer and grabbed a nearby iPhone playlist... Ahh the morning was saved, and our prayer meeting began.
But I was still hung up on the computer, when a coworker confirmed the password was correct. So I took a closer look and realized the dreaded Caps Lock was on!
I found it interesting that it wasn't until someone confirmed in me what I KNEW to be true, that I trusted in my understanding. How many times have you been in a situation where you have abandoned the "truth" simply because you were alone, and without support. Key for me this morning ... Isolation is a scary place to live, for that is where Satan comes at us the most. In the garden Eve was alone, and that is when she allowed Satan in when he said "surely God didn't really say that?". I wonder had Adam been there with Eve, watching her back, being her support, confirming in her what she knew to be true ... Ladies, childbirth could have been a whole lot easier. At least those were my thoughts at 6:30 this morning.
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