One thing I forgot today about what is and isn't good...

One more thing that I forgot to say today about what makes a "good" life.

For most of the planet, "good life" means that you do most things right, and everything thinks you are a great person...but as I said today at church, a "good life" has very little to do with what people think of me and everything to do with what people think of God.

What that means is that even in my failures, I can live a "good life".  As I live my life attempting to be honorable to God, I'm probably going to make some mistakes and fall.  If I'm living the world's definition of a "good" life, then I'm done pretty much...game over.  But if my life is truly about focusing everything I can to bring glory to Christ, I can still be living a "good life".  I can take advantage of God's grace and bring glory to Him by showing others that God's grace is amazing.

When I ask for God's forgiveness, accept His grace and point to His healing, I can bring glory and praise to God's great love, grace and healing power....doesn't make me look too swift.  I look flawed and imperfect...this is the place where people usually hide their failures, so they won't look bad.  That's not God's plan.  When we fail, we should not be reluctant to testify of where we failed and God showed up.

Like I said, that won't make us look too good, but that's not really the point is it.  It's all about "what people think of God" after witnessing my life, not about how great they think I am...think about it.

Please continue to pray for us as we try to be the church of Jesus to the people of Palm Bay, Florida at Bay West Church.

For the city...

When we began to consider taking the Campus Pastor role for Bay West Church, going on 2 years ago, God really began to speak to me about some things.  I became very disinterested in just being "another church" in a city.  That's not a problem really, because every church needs to be who they are and what they are and collectively, the Lord works through His body (or bodies, if you think local churches).  I'm cool with that, but for some reason, I became disinterested in it.  Through the time, I felt that we at least needed to think on a little bit larger scale.

I shared with our Community Impact Team my vision for us in Palm Bay.  How can we effect the city?  What goodness can we bring to it?  I believe that we've got to think a little larger than the boundaries of our meeting place.  Then, as we discover this, how do we make unapologetically clear, without bragging or arrogance, that Christ is the reason for whatever the goodness is.  Because He loves us, in gratitude to Him, we try to make Palm Bay a better place...securing more opportunities to point to His greatness.

I began to think...does this mean that we partner with civic organizations?  Does this mean that we randomly give out kindness in small acts?  Does this mean that we tackle a need and see if we can make a dent in it?  Do we try to join with those who are looking to unite the church of God in a more citywide sense and really try to take on some of the problems in Palm Bay?  Do we invest in other churches and church/campus starts?  I believe the answer may be "yes" to all of them...but we must approach our opportunities with wisdom.  I personally believe that if we lift up the name of Christ, He will draw all men to Him...in doing so, I don't think we'll have to "do a sales job", per se at all.  It's also NOT about Bay West.  We could flourish or fade, but our focus must remain constant.  Our existence in not paramount, but our obedience is.

I heard a quote from Charles Stanley once that was particularly thought provoking.  He was in a particular situation and was asked if he thought he'd "win".  His response was something like this:  If I win, I win.  If I lose, I win.  I'm just supposed to trust God to follow Him with my actions and trust Him for the outcome.  As we look ahead, I'm trying to be as open to the Lord about what we need to do...I am very sensitive about saying things like "surely the Lord wouldn't have us..." because those statements are often made to find a reason to escape doing something that is too hard.

Personally, I believe in the power of Christ to change a heart, a city, a county, a state, a country and a world... I'd like to be a part of that...starting here in Palm Bay.

Please pray for our leadership here that as we look to find what God would have us do to follow Him.  Whether we last 3 years or 30 years or 300 years, the direction that I feel the Lord leading is toward one that will make a lasting difference.  Those directions usually lead to the necessary places, but the sobering part is found in realizing that the necessary places are not always the most risk-free places or the easiest or the most well-travelled ones.  be ready.

Family Fun Night a success!

Wow...it's done.  Thanks to all who helped setup.  Nice job Randy and Bevan...great to have good folks you can depend on on staff at Bay West.

All Things New...thanks for the use of the PA, a top-notch show as well, great spirit, and zero ego...nice.  Bay West Band and Christian's band were stellar...

To all the guys who worked double over-time Friday, Saturday and Sunday on the stage....way to go...good thing that won't have to be built again.

To all the bounce house foremen, superhuman hotdog cookers, balloon-wielding magic men, info table jockeys, bunch wrappers, tiny tot entertainment brokers and Bearbonez Productions...way to go!  Great job!  Hard work is rewarding...

To all the neighborhood folks who showed, it's our sincerest desire that you had fun and if there's any thanks to be had, point it Jesus, it was his party.

500 hotdogs....
boatload promotional bottled water...
3 bounce houses...
1 stage and 3 bands...
over 500 people...

Awesome outreach to meet more folks in the neighborhood...great times.

Load it up...."Jesus to the City" starts next week!

Jesus to the City

Just what are you here for...seriously.

When I was in Seminary, many times I would meet students who were there and when you asked them what they were involved in doing for the kingdom, they would say "I'm going to Seminary".  Usually this was followed by how "one day" when they were out of Seminary, God would give them a place to serve and then they would be "serving God".

I always had a problem with that type of philosophy.  I don't think there "comes a day when we will" serve Christ...I believe that day is right now. 
Sometimes, I feel like many of us act as those guys in Seminary..."some day" "one day, when ______ _____, then I'll ________ for God".  It might be couched in the sweetest and most innocent "I'm not ready" verbiage, but it's the same ol' thing.

At every place we are, we have something that God has for us in service to Him. God is not a big wasteful guy...truthfully, He's the most efficient leader I know.
God made you and you breathe...that fact alone is enough for you to know that You have something important to be about for Him.  Some where, some how, God chose for that miraculous power that's called "life" to been spilled on you...so you've got no excuse.  You have all the tools at this very moment to do/be/accomplish everything that God intends for you to do/be/accomplish at this very moment...what are you waiting for?

Stop "waiting" for the moment that just passed you by while you were reading this sentence, reach up and grab the next one that will be gone by the time you click off this page.

Jesus to the City...July 4th...see what it's about.