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Soul Detox

January 28, 2013 in hal mayer, Tampa Church with Comments Off

Soul Detox Web FrontIt is a new year!  … How many of you have done a body detox or know someone who has gone through that discipline?  If you have ever done a detox you know how amazing you feel afterwards.  I am not saying that it is an enjoyable experience- but you can’t argue with the results.  The first detox I ever did was probably 30 years ago.  It was a fruit juice fast and I did the fast for 21 days.  At first my body was screaming for carbs and comfort food but after one week I was amazed at how much energy I had and how my cravings diminished.  I really think many of us are addicted to food (I know I tilt in that direction) and I have found that through a detox- I can break through that addiction.  I am not recommending that for you- a detox is between you and your doctor!  I want to talk about a different kind of detox.

If there is benefit in a body detox- is there benefit in a soul detox as well?  I think so!  Think of all the toxins we experience daily, all the unfiltered garbage that we ingest mentally and how it can “kill” our hopes and dreams and often leave us depressed.  Maybe that is why the Apostle Paul recommends to the church in Rome what I believe is a Soul Detox in

Romans 12:2
2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. (NLT)

Or this paraphrase

2  Don’t allow the toxic beliefs and passions of this world mold your life.  Instead, let God teach you how to detox your soul by changing how you think and process this life.  When that happens you will begin to understand God’s will for your life and how to please Him- it begins with a Soul Detox by meditating on God’s word. (HMP)

By the way- HMP= Hal Mayer Paraphrase ;-)

Are you interested in this process of detoxing your soul?  Make sure you attend this Sunday, toxins and all, as we start our new series- Soul Detox.  Please bring a toxic friend!

Check out the trailer

No video?  Click here…

Also… We will be challenging everyone to do the Soul Detox devotions during February… You can find them here..  Create a free account- then go to plans and Search Soul Detox

Are You Ready for the NEXT LEVEL?

November 1, 2010 in church at the bay, Church Tampa, churches tampa, hal mayer, pastor hal mayer, Relevant Church, Tampa Church with 2 Comments

Are you ready to take it to the Next Level? I am not talking about your dating life, marriage, job or even exercise routine!

What I am talking about is how to deepen your relationship with Christ at Church at the Bay. We have a class called Next Level and in that class we will…

  • Talk about how Church at the Bay started and what is next for us as a church.
  • Discuss what next steps will help you take your relationship with God to the Next Level.
  • Take time to answer any questions you might have.

How will we do this?

  • We will begin right after church with lunch for all participants and their children. (this Sunday, November 7th)
  • We will provide childcare for kids up to the 5th grade.
  • We will finish by 2pm. (Usually just under 2 hours from start to finish).
  • Our time will be interactive.

Next Level will also give you the opportunity to become a Church at the Bay Partner. Instead of membership (which is about privileges) we have Partnership (which is all about a common mission). We would love to help you take your relationship with God and Church at the Bay to the Next Level. Have you signed up? Not yet? Then email Don (Don@churchatthebay.com) right now with the number of people attending and if you need childcare.
If you missed our first message, Bitterness, in our Baggage Series you can watch below:

I have BAGGAGE (and so do you!)

October 25, 2010 in church at the bay, Church Tampa, churches tampa, hal mayer, I was thinking, pastor hal mayer, Relevant Church, Tampa Church with Comments Off

Everyone has BAGGAGE! BAGGAGE accumulation is part of life! The problem is sometimes we refuse to deal with our BAGGAGE- we never check it- and life becomes unmanageable! You see baggage can so overwhelm you and me that life becomes about managing baggage and not following Jesus. BAGGAGE comes from all directions. Maybe your BAGGAGE is from:

  • A friendship that went bad.
  • Your parents mistreated you.
  • Your boss didn’t promote you.
  • You husband left you.
  • You experienced the death of a close friend.
  • Maybe you have been unable to have children.
  • You might have lost a child to death or even a divorce.

I could go on and on and you could grow this list as well. The question isn’t if we have baggage- we do- the question is how will we deal with it? In the verse below the writer of Hebrews talks about BAGGAGE and how those who have gone before us are watching. They are cheering for you and I not to lose focus.

  • Hebrews 12:1-2 (1) Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. (2) We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.

If you are interested in dealing with your baggage or you have a friend who can’t move because of the BAGGAGE they are carrying- plan to attend our series that begins this Sunday- BAGGAGE!
If you missed this weekend – here is the video teaching…

Which Why is Your Why?

October 11, 2010 in church at the bay, Church Tampa, hal mayer, Tampa Church with Comments Off

It seemed like one of the first words out of my kid’s mouths. Sometimes it meant, “Please clarify so I can understand better”, and other time it meant, “Please tell me your reasoning to see if I agree”. We all have used the word with friends, bosses and even God. What is that word? WHY. As a parent you are tempted to respond every time with, “Because I told you so”. Early on in my parenting experience I determined the “why” for understanding was good… but the “why” to determine if I had good reasoning would get the response- “now”!

How did I tell the difference? One “why” was asked as the job was being done or just afterward. The other “why” was asked before the task was started. The first “why” was for understanding and did not represent rebellion. The second “why” was full of rebellion.

This weekend we discussed that real faith is always followed by obedience. So is it okay to ask God why? Yep, unless it’s the “why” of slothfulness or determining if God has a good idea. Most of us would never say that out loud but, inside our lack of faith drives us to measure God’s plan.

The principle, “Light received brings more light- Light rejected brings darkness”, is experienced in the “why”. If you obey and ask “why” or if you trust God when things go south- you get more light!

Let’s make sure we ask “why” at the right time and for the right reason.

Miss the weekend? Here is the video teaching…
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