...it just ebbs and flows. If you don't know, Bay West Church has experienced our share this week of the launch, so keep praying.
Larry, our SP, had to go to the emergency room on Sunday right after the service. He probably should have gone before the service, but he wanted to be a part of commissioning everyone who was going to Bay West. I've been sick for about 2-3 weeks or so, nothing nearly as serious as Larry's by far, but just had the accelerator to the floor for 6 months or so and this is just the result. Finally had to break down and go to the doctor myself, and get a shot, take a day off and go short days on work for a couple of days (which means keep working, but just try to be calm about it).
Last night, I got a call from one of our Launch Team guys. Tuesday night, he & his son had put out about 20 signs on Malabar in West Palm Bay about the Launch on Sunday...you know, those political signs that stay up for weeks. Well, someone had gone down Malabar and taken all 20 down. I'm not sure if someone just knocked them all down or actually took them away, but they aren't standing.
We also have not received all the final confirmation on the storage space we'll need...computer software issues have taken extra time this week...we've had some extra miscommunication as far as staff at FBC that's taken some re-communication and backtracking and clarification on stuff...nothing major...if you shoot a BB at something, it's not so bad. If they come one at a time, not that big of a deal, but if you shoot 100 at the same time, that's a shotgun shell...bigger deal.
Most of the time, spiritual warfare is always around, so it never really stops, it just goes in waves when you are attempting to accomplish something for the Lord. Personally, I don't think it will destroy the work or anything like that, because God is still in control. Most of the time, sw really just attempts to steal the joy of those involved. It's a good reminder that you are probably doing the right thing, if it upsets the enemy so much, but it's all good.
All I ask, is that all of you pray extra hard this week...we don't want to pull up short and that we don't get thrown off by the inevitable little things that get thrown our way.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
More pub for launch...
Is it big enough to call it "pub", I think so. Billie Williams at the FBC Weekday Preschool, had her parents orientation meeting today (has another one tomorrow), gave out our info, talked about it and let Katye speak to the parents in attendance about Bay West. She had a signup sheet for anyone who wanted more info and one lady even said she'd heard about it and said that her family was going to go this weekend.
The FBC Weekday Preschool has become a pretty good entity with a good rep (according to Ann Marie's Kindergarten teacher at West Melbourne School For Science) and lots of people send their kids there, regardless of their religious affiliation or the church thing at all. In Susanna's class, there's only one kid besides Susanna that goes to FBC. There are also several families from Palm Bay whose children attend. Anyway, the point is that everyone that goes there aren't Christians necessarily...not a requirement to go or anything. It's just another way that we can reach into the community to help build a bridge from Bay West Church to the community of people in West Palm Bay.
The FBC Weekday Preschool has become a pretty good entity with a good rep (according to Ann Marie's Kindergarten teacher at West Melbourne School For Science) and lots of people send their kids there, regardless of their religious affiliation or the church thing at all. In Susanna's class, there's only one kid besides Susanna that goes to FBC. There are also several families from Palm Bay whose children attend. Anyway, the point is that everyone that goes there aren't Christians necessarily...not a requirement to go or anything. It's just another way that we can reach into the community to help build a bridge from Bay West Church to the community of people in West Palm Bay.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
One more testimony of stuff...
Stan Berry called me in my weakened condition to tell me some encouraging tidbits from his day.
1) He ran into someone at Publix and in talking with them, was able to share about Bay West and they seemed to be interested in coming.
2) He also ran into someone else later that had gotten our mailer and their kid had already been nagging her to take him there on Sunday.
Things are working as God continues to move to bring Bay West Church to Palm Bay...don't miss your part in this, okay?
1) He ran into someone at Publix and in talking with them, was able to share about Bay West and they seemed to be interested in coming.
2) He also ran into someone else later that had gotten our mailer and their kid had already been nagging her to take him there on Sunday.
Things are working as God continues to move to bring Bay West Church to Palm Bay...don't miss your part in this, okay?
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Family Fun Night went great...not wet
Last night, I was a little worried about the rain and thunderstorms, whether it would even go off. This morning, I thought about calling it early...but, we figured we'd just deal with it, suck it up and just go for it....good thing too!
At Bay West Church's first official community event, there were a lot of people there...a LOT. We cooked 500 hotdogs and they were ALL gone...while I know some people might have gotten two, there were also those that didn't eat any. Lots of kids as well...The Community Center opened up for open gym, and we rented it out for 2 of the 3 hours and it was PACKED (thanks, Dudley, you are simply the man...know you hate that I said your name, but you are).
The GREAT thing was that there were A LOT of community people that I'd never seen or met before...lots of people that got the mailout, saw a sign, looked on the web, were invited by friends or just people they ran across...I was really pleased, but boy, am I tired...as are a lot of really great servants who will sleep well when they go to bed tonight.
GREAT JOB! I don't know how many will come, but there were a lot of people who said they were planning on it...we'll see. Here's our first real attempt to reach out and serve the folks of Palm Bay, Florida...West Palm Bay...and it seems to have worked. I would totally love to name EVERYONE who worked there, but I'd forget someone and that would stink...so I won't...I'll just say I know that God is pleased with your sacrifice and that's why you were there.
At Bay West Church's first official community event, there were a lot of people there...a LOT. We cooked 500 hotdogs and they were ALL gone...while I know some people might have gotten two, there were also those that didn't eat any. Lots of kids as well...The Community Center opened up for open gym, and we rented it out for 2 of the 3 hours and it was PACKED (thanks, Dudley, you are simply the man...know you hate that I said your name, but you are).
The GREAT thing was that there were A LOT of community people that I'd never seen or met before...lots of people that got the mailout, saw a sign, looked on the web, were invited by friends or just people they ran across...I was really pleased, but boy, am I tired...as are a lot of really great servants who will sleep well when they go to bed tonight.
GREAT JOB! I don't know how many will come, but there were a lot of people who said they were planning on it...we'll see. Here's our first real attempt to reach out and serve the folks of Palm Bay, Florida...West Palm Bay...and it seems to have worked. I would totally love to name EVERYONE who worked there, but I'd forget someone and that would stink...so I won't...I'll just say I know that God is pleased with your sacrifice and that's why you were there.
Friday, September 4, 2009
Signs are up in Palm Bay about Sunday night
Signs for the Family Fun Celebration are up in Palm Bay...some really great people put them out and some really weird looking guy in an Alabama hat just had to take his picture by one today...
We'll see if the weather cooperates...we've got about 60% chance of Thunderstorms on Sunday afternoon at present...the chances have been getting worse...we'll see what God has in mind.
We'll see if the weather cooperates...we've got about 60% chance of Thunderstorms on Sunday afternoon at present...the chances have been getting worse...we'll see what God has in mind.
And things keep coming...
Katye, my wife, was wearing her Launch T-shirt at Nicole Cote's School of Dance, which is where our girls take dance. Someone stopped her and started talking about Bay West Church, and said that she'd heard about us and was planning to come.
Little words here and there...don't forget to invite your friends...Launch is in 9 days at Heritage High School in West Palm Bay.
Don't forget the Family Fun Celebration on Sunday night!
Little words here and there...don't forget to invite your friends...Launch is in 9 days at Heritage High School in West Palm Bay.
Don't forget the Family Fun Celebration on Sunday night!
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Another really cool email in a timely fashion...
I got home from our Launch Team meeting last night, felt REALLY tired...long day...
The day started well with a great Worship planning session, then a meeting with a guy who agreed to be our drummer for a while...but as the day wore on the issues came in...isn't that just the way it is?
Lots of issues to deal with...all of them level "5"...allegedly...then some good stuff, but you know how it is...the challenging seems to take more out of you, even when the good is there, too.
To end the day, I had a standoff with my 5 year old daughter and we both ended up crying and pledging to be better (okay, I'm a sap, sue me...she's got me, can't help it.)...I'm getting really sick and it won't quit, but I don't have time to quit so it will. So, all in all, it's a pretty not so great ending... I'm lucky I have people that are praying for me or I simply wouldn't be making it (I know they are, they email me that they just did, facebook me right after they do, text messages, v-mails, so that's AWESOME...it's not always necessary to pray for storms to stop, but better to pray for strength to withstand them, to learn what you need to learn through them, and grow closer to God in the process...because that's what it's for....but I digress.)
Back to the story... I'm feeling pretty much lower than a worm's belly button and I decide to check my email...yeah, when you're low you might as well go in for the kill, because usually email can be that...but I got a really cool email from someone who'd seen our flyer and was really glad we were coming to the area. That's great! Made my day!
The other side of things was that this email was PARTICULARLY important because one of the things we've had to deal with was some well-meaning person calling the church to complain about the separation of church and state and how we shouldn't be meeting in a school...didn't matter if we pay BIG money for rent just like anyone else could...because we are a church, we should be penalized for that. I also found out that a few well-meaning people had been pestering the principal, John Tuttle, at the school as well. Our Worship Minister ended up on the call with the well-meaning person and made a really good point..."sir, you make a good point, but isn't it funny that we vote at every election that's had in churches all over the country?"...guy didn't know what to do with that one...kind of took the wind out of his sail...
Anyway...you can see how God sets up stuff to keep you going and give you energy and encourage you, because this was a big email. I hope the person who sent it didn't mind, but I copied-n-pasted a really nicely put portion (minus their names and stuff) and forwarded it to John over at the school. He only gets the junk calls and emails and he needs to know as well how many people appreciate our being in the school. He's a good guy trying to do a hard, yet very important job.
And this type of thing happens all the time...so there's my "just another cool email" story...hope it helps you to. Here's to bringing Bay West Church to West Palm Bay and doing our part in obedience to join with all the other GREAT Palm Bay churches there to reach Palm Bay, Florida for Christ.
P.S. And if that wasn't encouraging enough, the next article I read was that Mark Ingram and Julio Jones (two big starters for the University of Alabama football team) were cleared to play against Va Tech on Saturday night and our starting DE, Brandon Deaderick, who was shot during an attempted mugging on Tuesday, miraculously, only sustained a flesh wound in the arm, so he won't miss his entire senior season or anything...good news all around...every little bit helps...God knows that.
The day started well with a great Worship planning session, then a meeting with a guy who agreed to be our drummer for a while...but as the day wore on the issues came in...isn't that just the way it is?
Lots of issues to deal with...all of them level "5"...allegedly...then some good stuff, but you know how it is...the challenging seems to take more out of you, even when the good is there, too.
To end the day, I had a standoff with my 5 year old daughter and we both ended up crying and pledging to be better (okay, I'm a sap, sue me...she's got me, can't help it.)...I'm getting really sick and it won't quit, but I don't have time to quit so it will. So, all in all, it's a pretty not so great ending... I'm lucky I have people that are praying for me or I simply wouldn't be making it (I know they are, they email me that they just did, facebook me right after they do, text messages, v-mails, so that's AWESOME...it's not always necessary to pray for storms to stop, but better to pray for strength to withstand them, to learn what you need to learn through them, and grow closer to God in the process...because that's what it's for....but I digress.)
Back to the story... I'm feeling pretty much lower than a worm's belly button and I decide to check my email...yeah, when you're low you might as well go in for the kill, because usually email can be that...but I got a really cool email from someone who'd seen our flyer and was really glad we were coming to the area. That's great! Made my day!
The other side of things was that this email was PARTICULARLY important because one of the things we've had to deal with was some well-meaning person calling the church to complain about the separation of church and state and how we shouldn't be meeting in a school...didn't matter if we pay BIG money for rent just like anyone else could...because we are a church, we should be penalized for that. I also found out that a few well-meaning people had been pestering the principal, John Tuttle, at the school as well. Our Worship Minister ended up on the call with the well-meaning person and made a really good point..."sir, you make a good point, but isn't it funny that we vote at every election that's had in churches all over the country?"...guy didn't know what to do with that one...kind of took the wind out of his sail...
Anyway...you can see how God sets up stuff to keep you going and give you energy and encourage you, because this was a big email. I hope the person who sent it didn't mind, but I copied-n-pasted a really nicely put portion (minus their names and stuff) and forwarded it to John over at the school. He only gets the junk calls and emails and he needs to know as well how many people appreciate our being in the school. He's a good guy trying to do a hard, yet very important job.
And this type of thing happens all the time...so there's my "just another cool email" story...hope it helps you to. Here's to bringing Bay West Church to West Palm Bay and doing our part in obedience to join with all the other GREAT Palm Bay churches there to reach Palm Bay, Florida for Christ.
P.S. And if that wasn't encouraging enough, the next article I read was that Mark Ingram and Julio Jones (two big starters for the University of Alabama football team) were cleared to play against Va Tech on Saturday night and our starting DE, Brandon Deaderick, who was shot during an attempted mugging on Tuesday, miraculously, only sustained a flesh wound in the arm, so he won't miss his entire senior season or anything...good news all around...every little bit helps...God knows that.
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