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Casting the Vision

May 28, 2009 in Video, Vision with Comments Off

This past weekend we unpacked a big piece of Vision and what’s Next for Church at the Bay. I know some of you were out of town. Here is the unpacking of our move to Steinbrenner High School from our 11:00 service …
(no video? click here)


Now- don’t miss again. In fact this weekend will rock your world as we launch our new series about Jonah called: Mutiny: Got a little captain in you?

Vision 360

May 18, 2009 in Vision with Comments Off

We launched our new mini-series- Vision 360 and we had baby dedication. The room was alive! You might have noticed:

  • Could you figure out the optical illusions on the walk up? My favorite is the old lady/young lady.
  • Had to bring the high-chair on the stage- why? You will have to listen
  • How ’bout the new “kid” in the band! Steven can play and sing and he is 12 (okay- 17- his Mom will hate me for that one). Rock on Steven!
  • I loved the energy this weekend- I could feel it all the way back in the locker room
  • Our title was “Vision 360- ME”. We talked about next steps for everyone in the room. Focused in on Matt 28:18-20
  • Man did I need the snow cones this weekend! It is freakin hot
  • How about the 18 babies we dedicated! This is a fertile group.
  • Parents made a commitment to raise their children in a home that honors God
  • CATB committed to pray and create environments where kids are loved, valued and challenged to follow Jesus
  • Did you catch the mentoring tool idea?
  • Next weekend we will unpack some fresh vision for CATB
  • Our title is “Vision 360- WE”
  • CATB is almost 4 years old- what is next? I believe we have some clear direction from the Father and we will talk about it.
  • Frat House has 2 more weeks!

Wow- I can’t wait until next weekend. Please come ready to worship as we celebrate the Lord’s Supper and cast some fresh vision.

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Monday Morning Download

January 5, 2009 in Monday Morning Download, Vision with Comments Off

It is 2009 whether we are ready or not! This weekend was a great time of worship, vision and celebrating the Lord’s Supper. We are pretty stoked about what is coming in the next few weeks. I outlined it this weekend- but just to make sure you get it … our next series- TXT.

  • It will be 3 weeks long
  • We will be looking at the uniqueness of our Bible
  • and… We will be adding some interactive elements
  • You will be able to text a question in during the teaching time and I will answer some on the spot!
  • For those questions I don’t get to (and they make sense) we will get to on Wednesday night
  • We will be broadcasting live (on the internet) at www.churchatthebay.tv at 8pm
  • You will be able to watch and ask questions
  • It will be fun- bookmark the page now

Something you can pray for- the staff pastors at The Bay are heading to Orlando for a retreat. We do these at least yearly but try to do them every 6 months. During this time we will:

  • Pray and seek the Father’s direction
  • Plan for the coming year
  • Evaluate where we are and ask what is next?
  • Give each other feedback
  • And around 8pm we play Texas Hold’em. (I must admit- I lose every time. I love going all in! But, that will change this time

I usually do some personal goal setting this week- but I will put it on hold until we get back from our retreat.

2009 has more potential for CATB and you then any year. Will you step-up to the challenge of making a difference!

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Trail Blazers, Pioneers and Settlers part deux

October 16, 2008 in Vision with 1 Comment


I want to build on yesterday’s post by drawing some analogies to the local church. Settling or Pioneering is not dependent on a building. I was a pastor at Flamingo Road Church. We transitioned a small very traditional church into something that connected to culture. We went from a building to a school and that set the Pioneer mindset. We moved back into one building and then into a much larger one. Flamingo Road Church, under the current leadership of Troy Gramling, has never settled! I have also watched portable churches get tired and become settlers, giving up on The Mission. So here are the categories as I believe they relate to churches:

  • Settlers: We all tend to move here. Settlers begin talking about maintaining, growing programs and taking care of their own. The budgets and staffing in these churches reflect this as well. Nothing wrong with those characteristics unless they define and dominate your church. Settlers make more rules and focus less on people far from God. Mind you, these are good people and most of them love God, they have just lost sight of the call of God.

  • Pioneers: These churches never arrive- they stay on mission. They understand the Great Commission said GO and they live that verb out every day. They purposely change things so people don’t begin to Settle. One of the advantages of being portable, like CATB, is the requirement of large numbers of volunteers to pay the price. This builds a culture and a virus (sorry for mixing metaphors) of Pioneering. When they serve, we hope they get infected with the Go and live their life On Mission for God. Pioneers look to serve and because of that they create environments that are infected with the gospel.


I want to be a part of a church that isn’t afraid to risk it all for the kingdom. Under God’s leadership, the pastors of CATB are focused on the GO of the Great Commission.

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