The words, “Make a choice! Commit!”, still ring in my ears from my high school basketball coach (Jay Dye). You see I loved several parts of the game, scoring, rebounding and even making a pass or two. At the end of my junior year my coach challenged me to make a commitment. He said, “Hal, you are a jack of all trades and a master of none”! We had just lost in the state playoffs and I had a double/double and was shocked at his lack of reverence for my game. But, he knew me and knew I needed to make a commitment to try and master some element of the game so I could take my game to the next level. He was right.
You have probably discovered like I have, commitments not only define my life, they improve it. Of course the best commitment I ever made was to become a Christ-Follower. Let me tell you about another commitment in my life. Twenty-nine years ago I made a commitment to love this hot blonde (Sandra Kay Littlefield) for the rest of my life and we were married. (This goes without saying- I am not in trouble and writing this to find may way back in good graces- honest! ) This commitment defined and improved several areas of my life from the moment I made it:

• I now got to sleep with Sandy (I must be careful giving too many details- my kids hate me saying I got to have SEX with their mom)
• I had someone to share all of life with
• I had someone who loved me unconditionally
• I stopped dating other women
• I stopped spending all my money on me
• I learned to share
• And many more….

I am a better man, pastor, father, friend, Christ-Follower and just overall person because of this commitment.
This weekend at The Bay we are finishing our series, Dangerous Church. I am going to challenge our Christ-Followers to make some commitments that will define and grow their faith. I hope you will be there.

Talk Back
Can you tell me of one commitment you made that has improved your life. And to increase the variety of responses lets not mention the 2 I mentioned above- a commitment to Christ and a commitment to a spouse. Are you ready? I am all ears or should I say eyes?

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This weekend we talked about the way God used the disciples and how God will use us. Every time I think about who the “12” were and really who they were not- I am amazed and encouraged. Amazed because these guys were not men of privilege, formal training or experience; Encouraged because I can see God could use me as well. They did have a history of hanging out with Jesus! That is where I want to be, hanging out with Jesus and focusing on His plan for world domination (not mine, lol)! Too often my thoughts, energy and prayers are about what I need and feel. I believe God cares about “my stuff”- but somehow I find myself caring (too often) only about “my stuff”. I want to be a “whatever it takes” man after God’s heart. God whatever it takes for you to use me I am all in!

Talk Back:
1. Does that make sense?
2. Have you been there?

ps- This was the Dangerous Church Rewind we used this past weekend. My son used a little editing license (took advantage of me) at the end. You will laugh!

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When I read the story of the early apostles in the book of Acts I am inspired:

In this passage, We find the Apostle Peter getting his feet back under him with amazing courage. A few months earlier Peter denied Christ not once but 3 times! On the day of Pentecost we find him preaching to thousands. This rag tag group of disciples had been empowered by the Holy Spirit and were “filling all Jerusalem” with their teaching. These Christ Followers had become DANGEROUS DISCIPLES! Their message and lifestyle was threatening the status quo. Religious leaders and political leaders were taking note. They had a passion and faith that would not back up when they came face to face with beatings and threats of death. This next weekend we are going to discuss the topic of DANGEROUS DISCIPLES. I would like to begin the discussion today.

Please give me your thoughts:

1. What does it mean to you to be a Dangerous Disciple?

2. How can a church create an environment where we can partner with people and encourage them to become DANGEROUS?

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Do you remember being Dangerous as a kid? Maybe you (like me) jumped off roofs, rode your bicycle downhill while standing on the seat or snuck out of the house late at night. One of the most Dangerous things I remember doing as a kid was crawling through drainage pipes. My buddy Kevin and I discovered the drainage pipe system near a major highway. We were about 10 years old and loved adventure and honestly we were bored. We told our folks we were going exploring in the woods- but made a detour with our flashlights to the drainage pipes. When we entered the pipe was probably 10 feet high. As we walked the pipe got smaller and smaller until we had to crawl. (When I think back on this it seems more stupid than Dangerous!) Anyway, we traveled back into the system for an hour or so and then made our way back out. When we got back out we were pumped. We had gone where no man had gone before! We told our friends how Dangerous we were and invited them to join our team. We continued to do this exploration for months and then it became boring as well, so we moved on. As a kid and young adult I never settled for boring and safe- but I have become too domesticated and often settle now.
This month we are beginning a series called Dangerous Church at Church at the Bay. I confess as I have gotten older I have become too domesticated in my faith as well! I sense the older I become the more risk averse I find myself. I remember, back in the day, I loved the big challenge and risk. When I first became a Christ-Follower I went out sharing my faith on Saturday nights in Underground Atlanta with a group we called Charlie’s Raiders. We would find ways to engage people in discussions that would lead to sharing the gospel. This led me to spending a summer sharing my faith as a summer missionary on St Pete Beach. The rejection rate was high and the sense of being on mission for God is even higher. I don’t believe that is an effective method for sharing my faith today but I loved the sense of living on the edge and trusting God that those days provided.
Two years ago Sandy and I took a dangerous leap of faith together to start a church in Tampa. We had several join us and God has led the way. Church at the Bay is a church that will try almost anything to help people establish a growing relationship with Jesus Christ and equip them to become difference makers in this world. I believe it is a dangerous place where God is in the business of changing lives. Ready for the truth- if we are not careful- Church at the Bay can become domesticated! We will do several things that will make it “safe” like:

• Focusing on excellence at the exclusion of innovation. Just keep improving what we are doing rather than changing.
• Refuse new ideas because they are not tested.
• Begin to focus on managing the church rather than leading the church.
• Basically move away from faith and toward safety.

Does this sound interesting? Then plan to be a part of Dangerous Church 2008 at Church at the Bay!

Talk Back:

1. What is something dangerous you did as a child that gave you hero status in your own mind?

2. What is a Dangerous step you have taken in your walk with Christ?