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My Facebook Plan for 2012

January 9, 2012 in Tampa Church, Vision, What kind of church with Comments Off

I have been active on Facebook for years and I want to be more strategic in 2012.  I want my personal account and Church at the Bay account to be a place to find wisdom and be encouraged.  I/We am/are doing several things in 2012 that, to be honest, need your help to succeed.  Here are the plans:

 

Wisdom for the Week

Each Monday morning I will make a post asking you to comment with verses that help you focus your week or encourage you to go strong.  The verses you post may be ones that you have memorized or came to “life” from your time with the Lord.  So on Monday’s especially- I need you to stop by my Facebook page and give us all your verse.  And, if we are not Friends on Facebook- hit me up, I would love the connection.

 

Daily Verses from my Quiet Time

Each day (that is my plan) I will post a verse on Facebook that God used to speak to me in my time with Him.  I have been spending time daily with God for over 30 years.  A friend of mine in college challenged me to start- and he was right- God used it to change my life.  So my verses may or may not fit your “moment” but I want to be transparent with some of the things God is teaching me.  The outcome I hope will be more people spending Time with God on a daily basis.

 

Encourage People to “Like” us on Church at the Bay’s Facebook page

Our hope is to make this page a daily conversation about what God is doing at CATB and answer questions you may have.  So if you are not yet a friend- go here and hit us up on the “Like” button.  In 2012 we want to help you use Facebook as a tool to invite and connect your friends to CATB and hopefully Jesus Christ.

 

Enlist a Facebook Team at Church at the Bay

I want to enlist a group of people to help Church at the Bay be strategic on a daily basis with Facebook.  No I don’t want you to start spamming people’s pages!  What if- you made “personal” invites with video and or articles that we post that your friend might be interested in?  Then every week this group would make at least 3 personal Facebook invites.  This action could prove to be life changing for your friends.  Sound interesting?  Watch for more….

 

Whatever it Takes!

January 2, 2012 in Tampa Church, Vision, What kind of church with Comments Off

         

Happy 2012! I love New Year’s, fresh starts and challenge!  We are starting this New Year with a message series called- WHATEVER IT TAKES!  If there is one phrase that defines our culture at Church at the Bay- WHATEVER IT TAKES may be it!  We will do whatever it takes (short of sin) to reach people for Christ and help believer’s take their next step with Christ.  Our history has shown that we are a WHATEVER IT TAKES kinda church!  We have had challenges and your response has always been… you guessed it- WHATEVER IT TAKES!

  • When we launched CATB I asked for 50 more volunteers and you responded in droves with – WHATEVER IT TAKES!
  • We added a service and the retort was – WHATEVER IT TAKES!
  • We needed to sponsor a Haitian Orphanage and CATB said – WHATEVER IT TAKES!
  • We have moved from a cafetorium to a gym to a school to another school and Church at the Bay exclaimed – WHATEVER IT TAKES!
  • We have raised money for equipment, church plants and disaster relief and our church has said every time – WHATEVER IT TAKES!

I think you get my drift- Church at the Bay will do WHATEVER IT TAKES short of sin to help people “know” Jesus Christ.

We are going to shake things up a little this new year in the arena of Partnership.  We will redefine what it means to be a Partner at Church at the Bay.  We will re-work the way people make a commitment to Partnership.  We are going to challenge you to stretch and engage your heart, mind and bodies in ministry.

So if you need to miss- I recommend it not be during the month of January 2012 because… Well you will need to attend to understand that!

I look forward to seeing you Sunday and please bring a friend… I promise the message will challenge you!

What kind of church??? pt. deaux

February 6, 2009 in What kind of church with Comments Off


This is a continuation of Wednesday’s post- if you have not read it click here.

So what kind of church are you? I believe any time we find ourselves with a question and only 2 choices- it’s either a bad question or I haven’t thought long enough. That is right I only gave you two choices- you were set up! I believe the right answer to the question is both and. I believe CATB needs to be a barricade building church and a hospital building church. Let me explain:

  • CATB is into building barricades. It is important that we teach the truth (the Bible) for application. The truth can protect you from going over the edge of the cliff. Every week I challenge you to take your next best step with Jesus and apply the Biblical truth to your life. The Bible is a book to be lived not just studied. As a pastor, I must tell you the truth about what the Bible says, even when the issue is unpopular. Why? Thanks for asking, because God’s Word is the manual for how to live. When we violate scriptural principles we do not break the commands- we are broken on them. God’s rules, guidelines, principles and laws are not for the purpose of keeping us from something but for the purpose of keeping us for something. So when I teach the purpose is not to beat you up but to help you take your next best step with Jesus. I am also accountable to God for what I teach.
  • CATB is into building hospitals. Too often when we hold up God’s standard we in turn reject those who have blown it. Whether they did it by accident or went full force against what we told them. We (I) become judgmental and say- “I told you so, It’s your fault.” The problem is my words are true but not helpful. When someone is in a ditch they don’t need us yelling- “What are you in a ditch for”. What they do need is a hand up- and CATB is all about that. In fact, we need to help them however we can. Grace is a huge piece of the Gospel with many facets. So at CATB it doesn’t matter how you have blown it- we will give you Grace and forgiveness because that is what we received and still need. That doesn’t mean you won’t experience consequences- it does mean that God loves you as much as anyone and it time to get up and follow Him. We want to use the truth as a ladder and not a hammer!

So if you want the clear truth and principles on how to follow Christ- come on! If you have blown it, screwed up and need a fresh start- you will fit right in!

By the way- this weekend- Ultimate Fighting- Fighting for your Marriage!
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What kind of church???

February 4, 2009 in What kind of church with Comments Off

Have you ever thought about what kind of church- Church at the Bay is or wants to be? I believe there are 2 models for churches that most of us are familiar with and they both respond to the reality of dangerous cliffs in life. See if you can recognize your church:

BUILDING BARRICADES CHURCH- these churches are all about the truth and keeping people from error and sin. They know that sin will plunge them over the cliff and destroy their life. They talk clearly about the consequences of violating God’s truth (falling off the cliff). These churches help many people see error and avoid the pain of cliff jumping without a parachute. People who attend are grateful for the abundance of TRUTH.

BUILDING HOSPITALS CHURCH- these churches focus on helping the people who have gone over the cliff. They find them on the rocks below with their lives damaged by the sins they participated in. Basically, they take the bricks and mortar of grace and build a hospital for all who fall. They help people get back up, experience God’s forgiveness and start over in their life. People who attend are grateful for the abundance of GRACE.

Think about Church at the Bay (or your church) and ask a few questions:

  • What kind of church do you attend?
  • What kind of church would you want to bring your friend and family to?
  • What kind of church is Jesus wanting to build?


Check back in on Thursday or Friday and we will continue the discussion.
You might want to read Matthew 16:13-20

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