I remember my basketball coach telling me to play defense with my head on a swivel! He was teaching me to fully engage in the game! You see if you are going to be effective in basketball- since it is a team sport- you must be aware of:

• Where you are on the court
• Where the guy you are responsible for is
• Where your team mates are
• And where the other team’s players are

This also translates to offense. The best offensive players have a real “court awareness”. Do you know that not only is life a team sport so is Church. If we do not understand who we are and our next steps as well as next steps for others- we are living an ego-centric, self centered (redundant I know) hedonistic lifestyle that will never honor God.
This weekend we begin to unpack a two week mini-series- Vision 360! The idea is this, what is God’s vision, plan and purpose for my life and how does that impact and connect with the local body of Christ (Church at the Bay). So- CATB- let’s get our head on a swivel and see what is next for ME (week 1) and for WE (week 2). Here is a verse to challenge you to be ready for the next 2 weeks:

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Mother’s Day was very cool at CATB. The Bay from its beginning has been strategic about targeting men. This does not mean we don’t like the ladies- we just have a style that targets men and their culture. Men seem to only speak man and don’t get the softer side lingo. Fortunately, ladies understand both Man speak and Women speak! So as we have targeted men- the ladies can easily translate (man speak, after all, has fewer syllables . Sorry guys, but we don’t do very well translating Women speak and too often men check out of church. In fact- because most churches speak the softer kinder language of ladies- Men are bailing on Church in America. At CATB we have changed the language. I don’t really announce this Man targeting on the weekend much- and yet I have had ladies tell me, “I get what you are doing and I think I will be able to get my husband to come as well- thank you”. Why is it they get it? They are bilingual!
We decided to honor the ladies at CATB in a new way on Mother’s Day. We had a ladies spa- for 30 minutes after each service:

• All kinds of finger food
• Round tables and a lot of conversation
• No children or husbands in the room
• 7 Masseuses on the side doing chair massages.
• Sparkling cider
• Celine Dion playing in the background (I guess- I was not allowed in)
• Ladies talking about … whatever they wanted to!
  

We were not sure how it would work- would the ladies hang out and relax after a service? Best I can tell from comments, email, Twitter responses and Facebook- it was a Home Run (in Man speak). One other cool thing- six people indicated they committed their lives to Christ!
We start a 2 week series this weekend- Vision 360! We have some important Vision to unpack- do not miss.

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I know the title sounds weird- this is what it is about. Two big hits today:

First, Men, Frat House kicks back for 4 weeks starting tomorrow morning. 6:15 am at the Davidsen Middle School cafeteria. There will be about 50 men there. We are done by 7:15. Because it is at 6:15, it filters out the guys who can’t pay the price (unless you are already at work- in that case you are Tarzan!).

Second, This weekend is all out for the Ladies. We are having a Ladies Spa at Church at the Bay- here are the particulars:

• We are decorating the cafeteria for this event.
• It will be for 30 minutes after each service
• No men or kids allowed
• We will also provide childcare during that time for those who might need it
• ITS ALL FREE
• Chocolate, massages (10 masseuses) and other stuff that the ladies planning it would not tell me about. They said something like I wouldn’t understand it

So if you are a lady or know a lady make sure you (they) are there this weekend. Church at the Bay Ladies Spa!

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Sandy and I went on a marriage intensive last week (Thursday through Sunday). David and Karen Speicher led the sessions and they were excellent. I must admit I am always a little leary (actually if I am honest- I am scared to death) in situations like that… but these two do an incredible job. Why do I mention that? Glad you asked, Church at the Bay is having its first married couples retreat and if you are married I want you there. Here are the details including the cost of $175 per couple. If you want to know what is included go to the web page with information and a sign-up opportunity. Please push your excuses behind you and sign up. We have 30 slots and half are already filled. Once we get 30 couples signed up- we will try to get more rooms but, no guarantees. I have had a person or two suggest this might be expensive (8 hours of Marriage help and a night in a motel for $175… really?) Just for fun, this retreat is cheaper than

• 2 hours of quality marriage counseling ($90 to $150 per hour)
• A divorce ($1500 to $15,000 plus half your stuff)
• A nice date night (unless you are cheap, I will not call anyone out here)
• A super bowl ticket ($2000) and you know how important that is!
  
• 1 Months car payment
• (Your best idea here)

So ladies, talk to your husband- men talk to your wives. Make plans to be there- let’s help every marriage at CATB take their next best step with God!

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