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Marriage Retreat- sign up

March 13, 2011 in Marriage with 1 Comment

Church at the Bay will host a marriage retreat led by marriage counselors David and Karen Speicher… here are the basics:
What

  • A retreat to help you take your marriage to the next level

Who

  • Married Couples that attend Church at the Bay

When

  • May 20-21
  • Begins at 6:30 PM Friday and concludes at noon on Saturday
  • Take off early from work- catch an early dinner
  • You can check in at 3pm

Where

  • Renaissance Tampa International Plaza Hotel (International mall Tampa)
  • Pictures
  • Directions

How can I sign up (cost $150)

  • We have 30 rooms reserved (once sold out we will attempt to get more- but no guarantees)
  • 1st to pay will be guaranteed a spot (see payment options here, on the right side)
  • You must be married to attend
  • If you are attending retreat you must sign up through CATB- we have special rates
  • Price includes Hotel room for 2, materials and conference fee. (breakfast on your own on Saturday morning)
  • Begins at 6:30 pm Friday May 20th (take off work early and eat before you arrive)
  • We will conclude at noon on Saturday

Questions? Please email Neal@churchatthebay.com

Marriage 3-D: The Power of 3!

March 7, 2011 in Marriage with Comments Off

We all know the stats- marriages are struggling as never before, more and more couples are divorcing after the kids leave home, and  many  who those who say “I do” are saying “I don’t” at a nearly 50% rate.  So how do we change those numbers- because no one gets married and make the plan for divorce.  How can we make a plan for staying in love and staying married?

There is an Old Testament passage that says this:

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12-     9 Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. 10 If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. 11 Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? 12 A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.

Did verse 12 jump out at you? Think of your marriage for a moment.  Remember when you said “I do” before God?  I think we all know term “tie the knot”, what about adding a third braid?  The truth is, marriage will cause your rope to fray.  Sometimes it’s the good,  sometimes the bad and sometimes a surprise…

  • Get a job or lose a job
  • Have a child or a child moves out
  • Buy a house or lose a house in foreclosure
  • Start your career or retire

… all of these cause for wear and tear.  So you are saying, “Hal, you made your point- now how do we strengthen our marriage with a third strand (GOD)?”  I am so glad you finally asked ;-) .  That is where we are headed this Sunday- Marriage 3-D: The Power of 3!  This could change your marriage- be there and bring a friend.



Parenting… Art, Science or Luck?

February 28, 2011 in Marriage, Parenting with 2 Comments

When Sandy and I were first married we wanted kids!  So after two years of life on our own we got pregnant (when I say we-I mean she).  17 months after our son was born (Hal4) we had a daughter (Ashley) and the complexity of marriage and parenting grew exponentially.  You see, we had both grown up under different parenting styles and we had to come up with our own.  We needed to develop a style that worked for us.  This was a challenge because we both KNEW our way was best.  Fortunately, Christian parenting books were on the rise and we read several and decided what we thought good parenting looked like.  The problem was we thought once we decided it would stay the same.  As our kids grew and attended elementary school we had to change some approaches and then again for high school.  We discovered parenting is an art not a science and it must evolve with the maturity of our kids.

One of the things that surprised me was how many parents had the science down and wanted to show us what worked every time.  They were so smart- they gave us “proven techniques” on such issues as:

  • Potty training
  • Talking back
  • Putting your kids to bed
  • Dating
  • And on and own.

One of the things I noticed was most of the parents with all the answers had not been at it very long.  We have all discovered what happens with kids- in time you will be humbled by your overstatements like, “I would never” or “We have found this always works”.  A pastor mentor of mine said this-“Hal, listen to everyone but, listen closely to the parents whose children have grown up and you like how they turned out”.  He was brilliant because as we all have discovered- getting young kids to comply can be accomplished in many ways!  But, what do they look like later.  How do they treat people, develop a work ethic and move out on their own,etc.

So Sandy and I began the journey of parenting with two big principles in are tool box (we got more later):

  • We would always display a united front (we wouldn’t let the little guys divide and conquer us)
  • Our goal was to raise Godly, 35 year old parents (not merely gain compliance for the moment)

So this next weekend our topic is: When Kid’s Attack!  We will look at some Biblical principles for parenting and try to give you a new tool or two for your parenting toolbox.

This past weekend we talked about Great Sex.  I promised a video of a couple who started out living together and then discovered God’s plan.  You can watch their story here.

Perfect Marriage? Please Don’t Read

February 13, 2011 in Marriage with Comments Off

This week we began Marriage 911, were you there?  We talked about if love is going to last it requires action on our part.  This means love is something we do (verb) not merely something we feel.  When love is a verb the issue is not what do I feel but how will I act:

  • Will I let go of the competitive fixing edge I have?
  • Will I defer to what they are interested in rather than what I default to?
  • Will I pay attention and move toward their interests or merely go deeper with mine?

When you consider the behavior of love we have a great example- Jesus Christ.  If He chose to hang on to all that was His,  we would never have a relationship with God.  He went first!

The truth is- this is the question many of us are asking or waiting to know the answer to- “If I defer to you (ie, love you) will you respond in kind?  When I ask that question I am merely making love a tool of manipulation.  I will show you love if you show me love.  That is not the kind of love Jesus talks about in John 13:34.  His love is- Let me go first.  I will sacrifice first!  That is why we are spending five weeks on the topic of “Making Love Last”.  Make plans to be here this next weekend as we look at communication with,  “I Love You- You’re Wrong”!

Here is our intro….

[No Video- click here]
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