December 20, 2013

Christmas is coming and we are so excited to share it with you!  I know we are enjoying parties and get-togethers with friends, and even snowball fights for the students…yes they got me!  All this is leading up to Christmas Day, which is getting closer with each passing day.  I hope you are looking forward to this next week as much as I am.  We have much to celebrate.  We will be sharing a Christmas message this coming Sunday from Luke 2:1-18 and John 1:14.  I hope you take a moment or ten to look over these passages and jot a few notes yourself before the day comes.

Also, on Christmas Eve we are having two services at 5:30 and 7:00 pm.  These will be one-hour services which will include caroling, scripture readings, communion and candlelight.  These are beautiful service each year and this year will be no exception.  Come celebrate the birth of Christ on Christmas Eve with your family and friends. 

Last Sunday we ended the series “Straight Talk.”  What a series, and what challenges were laid at our feet.  After having gone through a study like the book of James, it’s great to take an inventory of what was learned and how we could respond.  I believe as we do this God has a way of speaking very specifically . . . I hope you will do this with me.  If you do, I know you will experience God’s direction for your life.

Also we are launching a new series for the month of January called “To Begin With . . .”  I believe you’re going to love it and I can hardly wait to kick this off on January 5.  Be thinking of friends and family that you could invite to join us.

This has been a crazy good year in many respects, with a few challenges thrown in too, but in it all my God has proved Himself good.  Through it all I am choosing JOY as we close it out, and I know joy awaits me in the new year as well.  Wherever you are right now . . . choose joy, our Savior has come!

We love you and look forward to seeing you Sunday as we celebrate Christ, catch up with friends and find ourselves challenged by God’s Word.

Pastor Craig, Becky, Seth, Hannah and Riley the dog

December 12, 2013

Hello!!  I hope your week is coming along well and you’re keeping Christ first in your day.  If the day has already gotten away from you, STOP!  Make a plan to connect to Christ as soon as possible.  You won’t regret it.

This last weekend our topic was “Drawing Closer to God.”  When we draw closer to God, we have to understand humility is not optional.  Humility is an interesting picture for us…one good way for us to experience humility is to come before the Lord with empty hands.  We come not holding on to anything but Christ.  Our hands should be empty of sin and what we think are our greatest accomplishments.  Humility is recognizing we are in relationship with Christ only because He has forgiven us, and that whatever great things we think we could bring…really aren’t THAT great.  It also means that we are not going to let any of our current pursuits like sports, fitness, career, relationships or anything else get between us and God.  Those things are not bad…unless they keep our hands so full we are unable to grasp the hands of Christ. 

James at this point in his letter isn’t asking what could be…he is asking what will be?  Today is the day for all of us to ask, “What will be?” 

This coming weekend we are wrapping up our series “Straight Talk” with a message called “Remember These Things.”  Check out Chapter 5 of James and jot a couple notes for yourself before Sunday comes.  Also, this week we will display before and after services a number of ministry opportunities in our community, which you can ask questions if interested. 

Sunday is a time for us to celebrate the goodness of God, catch up with friends, pray with one another and enjoy the challenge of God’s Word.  We are praying it will be a powerful God-honoring experience for all of us. 

Lastly, we are looking forward to the start of our 3 service format (8:30, 9:45, 11:30) kicking off January 5!  If you are not already serving, we need you to join a team and help make this a success.  We have many teams you could serve on with various levels of time commitments.  Please let us know where you will serve so we can get ready for Jan 5.  See the Sunday insert for opportunities to consider.

We love you and look forward to seeing you soon. 

Pastor Craig, Becky, Seth, Hannah and Riley the dog 

P.S. Who could you ask to come to church with you in the new year?  Many people say ‘yes’ if asked by a friend.

December 4, 2013

The holidays are in full swing!  I hope you enjoyed Thanksgiving and are looking forward to Christmas!  I know that it’s weeks away, at this point, but Christmas is a season not a day.  I want to enjoy the season celebrating the greatest gift ever given to mankind.  My family is following along with the daily devotional we gave out on Sunday and I hope you will do the same.  This devotional is a great tool to keep our focus on Jesus among the many distracting voices surrounding us.  While our society is focused on Black Friday deals being extended on electronic gadgets and the bad behavior of shoppers stampeding to get them, we can step outside the madness and enjoy the real gift of Jesus.  The One in whom lasting peace is found.  Don't miss the season…it’s in your hands. 

Thank you, Pastor Brent, for your message of “Amazing Grace” that you gave us last Sunday.  It’s a challenge to speak to adults and kids, but you did a great job!  This next weekend we are continuing our series “Straight Talk.”  We will be looking at the passage found in James 4:7-10.  Take an early look and jot a few notes down before Sunday comes. 

Our times together are few in the span of a year’s time. Only 52 Sundays out of 365 days . . . don’t miss out on all the joys of gathering as God’s church.  This coming Sunday is a time for us to celebrate the goodness of God, catch up with friends, pray with one another and enjoy the challenge of God’s Word.  We are praying it will be a powerful God-honoring experience. 

Lastly, we are looking forward to the start of our 3 service format (8:30, 9:45, & 11:30) kicking off January 5!  If you are not already serving we need you to join a team and help make this a success.  We have many teams you could serve on with various levels of time commitments.  See the Sunday insert for opportunities to consider. 

We love you and look forward to seeing you soon.

Pastor Craig, Becky, Seth, Hannah and Riley the dog 

November 26, 2013

Happy Thanksgiving! This week is a great reminder of all we have to thank God for in our lives. 

Psalm 69:30

“Then I will praise God’s name with singing, and I will honor him with thanksgiving.”

Too often, we read a verse like this and skirt over it like it doesn't mean anything.  Unfortunately, in this culture of ‘me’, this kind of a verse doesn't mean much of anything to many.  We can get so preoccupied with ‘me’ we don't think to give God "praise" or "honor" or even thank Him for all that is good in our lives.  I don't want to be that person. 

This Psalm starts with "Then I will."  When is "then"?  "Then" can be anytime and anywhere.  "Then" is my choice.  Let's make "then" our today and tomorrow and the next day . . .  and even make it look like "now."  I have a lot to give God praise for...and I know that we all do.  What if we all took a couple of moments over the next few days to make a quick list, and then we could begin giving God thanks for what's on the list.  I'll bet that list starts to grow as we take our mind off ourselves and put it on Him.  Let's make "then" now.

This coming weekend is going to be a special time as we gather together to celebrate the goodness of God, catch up with friends and seek to grow in our knowledge and understanding of God.

My family and I can hardly wait to see you and hope you will be joining us.

We love you,

Pastor Craig, Becky, Seth, Hannah and Riley the dog

P.S.  Even though we had 1,000 people in attendance Sunday, parking was a lot better.  We so appreciate your help and cooperation out there!  We are looking forward to our three service format starting Jan 5 which will help us even more!  Start thinking of which service you will be attending...8:30, 9:45 or 11:30.

November 19, 2013

James 2:17 “So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless…I will show you my faith by my good deeds.”

“Straight Talk,” our series in the book of James, is tilling up the ground of our hearts.  Sunday we saw many, many hands go up acknowledging God was speaking to us about our lives.  Specifically the things in our lives that reflect the heart of God to others.  We say we have faith in Christ, but do the actions of our lives reflect that faith?  It’s a question we asked ourselves on Sunday and I challenge us all to do it again today…right now.  What actions have spoken for our faith today?  These actions have not made us fully devoted followers of Jesus, they are the result of us becoming followers of Jesus.  We do not serve others to become a follower of Jesus.  We are followers of Jesus, therefore we serve.  It’s an important distinction and one we can rest in today.  You and I are not performing for God or others, but are expressing our faith in Jesus with every step we take in His shoes and on His paths.  When we reflect His life with ours, we are connecting our faith with good works, and that kind of faith is certainly not “dead” or “useless.”

For this coming weekend we are going to be in James 3:1-12.  It’s called “You Said What?”  Take a look and jot down some notes before Sunday to see how God speaks to you about it.

We love you and thank God for you!  We are so excited about what God is doing in your life and can't wait to gather with you to celebrate, catch up with friends and listen to the heart of God speaking through the Bible.

Pastor Craig, Becky, Seth, Hannah and Riley the dog

PS:  Wow!!!  We have been experiencing our largest crowds ever as a church in the last months and we know it’s been a little tight in the parking lots.  Sunday we are going to talk about some exciting changes that will help us.  I’ll give you three guesses as to what our growing church will need to do next, it’s going to be great!

November 13, 2013

KEY THOUGHT: TRIAL and DIFFICULTY do not have to chip away at our faith... we can GROW and FLOURISH.

We have been speaking about this key thought drawn from James 1:2 - ". . . when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy."

The truth is, at some time or another, we are all going to be tempted to believe that this verse must mean something else!  This is especially true when we face "trouble" in the early stages.  Today I want to challenge each of us to step into the truth of God's Word when facing trouble.  We can trust Him...my God knows BEST and He would not and will not lead us down a dead-end street.  If you are experiencing a season of trouble do not let it dictate how you will live.  Recognize, as did James, that it's an opportunity to see God in a way that we can't without the trouble.  Remember the trouble and danger are real, but so is the rescue! 

If you are struggling today, determine to think differently and to exercise the faith God has given you by believing God instead of your worst fears.  Psalm 34:4, 6, 8. "I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears...⁶ In my desperation I prayed, and the Lord listened; he saved me from all my troubles... ⁸ Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!"

This coming weekend we are working through the passage in James 2:14-26. The passage starts by asking a question, "What good is it?"  It's a great question!  Investigate a little or a lot on your own before Sunday morning, and see how you might answer the question yourself.

We can hardly wait to join with you as we celebrate the goodness of our God, catch up with friends and pursue the heart of God together.

Pastor Craig, Becky, Seth, Hannah and Riley the dog

P.S. You may have experienced some parking issues lately.  This is due to high attendance at our services and wow!  What great issues to work through!  We are working through them and will be communicating to our church about solutions in the next week or two.  "Consider it an opportunity for great joy."

November 6, 2013

“Drive a stake in the ground next to Jesus... Anchor yourself to it and refuse to leave.  He will certainly not leave you.”

This is a statement from last week’s message as we spoke to the challenge of endurance.  Endurance is something we gain as we drive our stake in the ground to “Face trials of many kinds” and it comes from our current study - “Straight Talk: A Study in the book of James.”  Wherever you are at today; whether it’s a time of trouble or a time of calm…I challenge you to see what you are anchored to.  The truth is - facing our trials by anchoring ourselves to Jesus with faith and gaining endurance through the experience, is far better than being tossed back and forth by the storms of life.  Most do not anchor themselves to Jesus, they keep their options open and they reap the consequences of being thrown about by the storm on the open waters. 

I want to personally encourage you to drive that stake deeper and refuse to be moved from His side…You will make it, in fact you will have endured and as James 1:4 tells us you will be “complete.”

This next weekend we are continuing our study as we finish chapter 1 and will be speaking to - what to do, when we don’t know what to do.  I can hardly wait!  Read the whole of James 1 to gain insights into you.

I want to celebrate with you a milestone for our church!  Sunday was the largest attendance we have had in our four years, other than Easter.  We hosted 1074 on our campus.  Thank you to all who make it possible for us to gather each week because you choose to serve.  Thank you for your servant’s heart and faithfulness to meet a need.  That number is significant because it represents people who want to be part of this great story God is writing.  Thanks for being gracious to one another in the parking lots, hallways and sanctuary seating.

We will see you this coming weekend as we celebrate the goodness of God, catch up with friends and learn what God has to say to each of our lives.

Pastor Craig, Becky, Seth, Hannah and Riley the dog.

P.S. We are asking that you not park on the grass next door at this time.  The city is limiting our parking to the paved areas at this point.  Thank you for your cooperation and patience.  We will watch our service times to allow for at least 30 minutes in between services for your convenience.

October 29, 2013

Hello!

We will be back this coming Sunday!  I am recovering well and am fired up to be back.  We have missed you!  Whether I come back with the beard or without it is a mystery only to be revealed on Sunday morning!

I will be picking up our new series “Straight Talk - from the book of James.”  I have been anticipating this message for weeks and am eager to share it with you.  Truthfully, it’s a message all of us need to hear, chew on and then do something about.  If you want to read ahead to get prepared for this coming weekend, read through James 1:1-8.  Jot down some notes and see how God speaks to you from the passage.  This is a unique passage that has huge implications for each of us as we walk through difficulty, and I don't mean small stuff…it speaks to the big stuff too.  I believe God has something to say to each one through this upcoming message.

I want to say thank you to Pastor Cheryl, Pastor Brent and Doug Britton for opening the series for us this last weekend.  It’s so important to have people we trust teaching us each week.  It feels great to have such a competent team.

Last but not least, we are thrilled about the impact we are able to have in our community through the Trunk or Treat event on Thursday the 31st.  Come out and help serve the children and families of our community by supporting the event.  If you are still looking for a way to get involved, we need more candy. You can drop it by the church office or bring it the night of the event.  We also need you to like and share the most recent post about it on our Facebook page (facebook.com/baysidech) to help get the word out.

We love you and can hardly wait to see you again as we come to celebrate the goodness of our God, catch up with friends and reach further to pursue Christ.

Pastor Craig, Becky, Seth, Hannah and Riley the dog

October 25, 2013

Hello! 

My recovery is coming along well and I am looking forward to seeing you very soon.  Thank you to our church’s board and our amazing staff team for taking the ball and running with it so well in our absence.  I want to say a special thank you to Pastor Cheryl Bangs who has led our day-to-day operations so well.  I do not know what we would have done without these special people. 

This weekend we begin our new study from the book of James - “Straight Talk.”  Oftentimes, we need someone to sit down with us and give it to us straight.  The need to tell us like it is, not like we want to imagine it to be.  We need to hear it seasoned with grace but it needs to be the raw truth about where we are at . . . this is the book of James.  What a challenging book!  The following verses say it all. 

“…don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. ²³ For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. ²⁴ You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. ²⁵ But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.” James 1:22-25

I am encouraging all of you to be present for the start of this new exciting series.  I believe this will prove to be another great adventure into God’s Word.

We look forward to seeing you very soon and are praying for you and your families.  We love you!

Pastor Craig, Becky, Seth, Hannah and Riley the dog

P.S. We only need a few more cars to finish our Trunk or Treat event and a BUNCH of candy, so please join us at this great event.  You can sign up to have a trunk on our website at www.baysidech.com, and bring your candy on Sunday.  My family is excited to participate this year with our own trunk.  See you there!

 

October 17, 2013

We wanted to give you some wonderful news regarding Pastor Craig.  The pathology report showed that after testing 74 lymph nodes, only the one they were already aware of had cancer in it.  We are praising God for this great news!  Thank you for your prayers!

October 16, 2013

On Sunday we wrapped up our series "What On Earth Am I Here For." The Bible says that God created you for five purposes. You are called to be LOVED, to Belong, to Become, to Bless and to be Sent.

Being Sent has three dimensions:

Personal - my personal mission to the people in my life
Local - my life group's mission to others in our area
Global - our mission to support others who are serving in other countries

How can you share the news that God is gathering a family that will love and live with Him forever in these dimensions of your life?

As we close this series, what are the next steps to living out your purposes?

A quick update on Pastor Craig: He is home and recovering very well. We are so pleased with the great report.

We are looking forward to Dr. John Jackson being our guest this Sunday. Please invite a friend to join you. It promises to be a GREAT day.

 

Please watch the video below for a preview of this Sunday.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERSpvqWuphw

October 2, 2013

Romans 8:28 “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.”

Today is a gift from the hand of a gracious God.  Live this day with purpose!  Do not let someone else ruin or steal this day from you.  It’s your day . . . it’s your gift!  Own it. 

Discouragement is a choice before us every day.  It’s my determination that I will reject discouragement and choose JOY.  I can do this because I know my purpose for the day ahead of me.  In the first weeks of the series “What on Earth Am I Here For?” we have learned that we are called to be LOVED by Christ, to BELONG to Christ and to BECOME like Christ.  Each day presents opportunities for me to live these purposes to the full regardless of what happens.

This coming weekend I am eager to speak to our fourth purpose.  This is going to be tremendous as we look into God’s Word together to understand what on earth we are here for.  My family and I will be here and are excited to see you as well. 

Please be praying for me and my family as my awaited surgery is Tuesday, October 8.  I anticipate being out for about 3 weeks.  I am at peace with it and can’t wait to get this done.  I am confident that our church is in good hands with the oversight of our staff team and the accountability of our Church Board.  Even more than that we have hundreds of amazing partners in ministry that already shine so brightly as they selflessly serve one another week in and week out.  We cannot thank you enough . . . but we will keep trying.

I ask that while I am recovering each of us will:

1. Be present and accounted for.  We need to be together.

2. Be faith-filled people as the mission of God continues.

3. Remain faithful to whatever responsibilities we carry.

4. Be the beautiful, gracious and kindhearted people we have always been.

5. Continue to be generous with our time, talents and financial resources.

We love you and can hardly wait to join you as we celebrate the goodness of our God, catch up with friends and experience God’s presence together.

Pastor Craig, Becky, Seth, Hannah and Riley the dog

P.S.  October is going to be an exciting month as we will be having Dr. John Jackson as our Guest Speaker on October 20^th, we’ll be kicking off our new series on October 27^th called “Straight Talk from the Book of James”, and we’re also hosting our 4^th Annual Trunk or Treat for the community on October 31st.