A Lunch to Remember -- July 26, 2013

Welcome to Moe's!

That's one of my favorite phrases to hear.  Why?  Because it means I'm about to eat a Joey burrito with steak and black beans.  Rice, cheese, salsa, and lettuce along with tortilla chips make this meal complete.

Such was the case last Sunday for lunch.  After "big church", I changed into shorts and headed to the Moe's at Lee Branch on 280.  The plan was to eat, then go to Academy Sports.  Yes, that's how I roll.

Anyway.  I'm standing in line at Moe's waiting for my turn to order.  Behind me are four nicely-dressed college-aged kids; two guys, two girls (hey, I'm 41; college-aged=kids).  I can't help but overhear their conversation.  One of the guys will be buying everybody's lunch, but he's short on cash.  So they are scouring the menu board trying to maximize the amount of food they can get with their limited funds.

They start working up their plan.  One of them volunteers, "If we just drink water, we can save almost $8!". 

After giving my order to the folks behind the counter, I move on down toward the cash register.  The register is backed up with others ready to pay.

One of the girls from the group of four had given her order and was right behind me.  The other three were still ten feet behind us.  To pass the time, I asked her, "You seem to be part of a group, what are ya'll doing?".

Her answer floored me.  Without missing a beat, she replied, "We are part of a group called 'Pray for Birmingham'.  Our mission is to go into areas around the city and pray for the people of Birmingham.  We want to shine the light of Jesus to the whole city."

Now, let me back up to get a running start.  Scott's sermon just 71 minutes prior to this conversation was titled "Don't Shout: Shine".  The scripture was Matthew 5:13-16.  In it, Jesus tells his followers to be salt and light.  God really must have thought He needed to hammer this into me.  He used two people to give me the same message within a two-hour time frame.

I told her that Birmingham, and our whole country, could use lots of prayer.  And I congratulated her on doing God's work.  By then, her friends caught up to us.  She dove back into a conversation with them.  It was my turn to pay at the register.

I got out my card and paid for my lunch.  Then, I reached for my money clip and got out a twenty dollar bill.  I quietly told the guy at the register that the twenty was to go toward the group behind me.  He nodded and I took my tray.

The restaurant was crowded.  The only place for my party of one to sit was just across the half-wall from the register.  I'd gotten my drink and salsa, said grace, and was unwrapping my burrito when I heard the next part of the story.

All four of the 'Pray for Birmingham' group had their food and were ready to pay.  The guy at the register said, "That will be $14.32".  One of the group replied, "Something must be wrong.  All four of these meals are on one bill." 

The guy at the register said, "Yes.  But he already paid for the rest of it" while pointing at me.

Four pairs of eyes turned to me in amazement.  They settled their bill, then came to my table.  It's the most "God Bless You's" I've ever gotten without sneezing.

I told them to keep doing Christ's work and enjoy your meal.

I thoroughly enjoyed mine.


Now for a preview of this week's class...

The title of our lesson this Sunday at 9:50 am is "God Promises the Messiah".  Our scripture passage is Isaiah 53:2-12.

The outline of the lesson is:
1.  The Messiah Became One of Us
2.  The Messiah Suffered for Us
3.  The Messiah Rescues Us

Finish Friday strong.  Enjoy Saturday with your family.  See you Sunday!

Loyally yours,

Darren Bayne

"What the caterpillar calls the end, the rest of the world calls a butterfly." -- Lao Tsu

A Tent for Church? -- June 28, 2013

One of my favorite TV shows when I was growing up was M*A*S*H.  Set during the Korean War, it followed the high-jinx of the doctors and nurses of the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital.  Most of the time, they stayed in one place.  But sometimes, they had to pack up everything and bug out to a new location further away from the fighting.

This week, we will look at God's plan for His mobile house of worship--the Tabernacle. 

It got me thinking:

If you were designing the blueprint today for your new home, what would be the most important thing you’d want to include or change from your present dwelling? Why?

At 9:50 am this Sunday, discover what God's design said not only about His relationship with the ancient Israelites but also about what He wants out of His relationship with you.

Here is our outline for "God Dwells Among His People":

Follow God’s Plan (Exodus 26:30-33)

Encounter God’s Presence (Exodus 29:43-46)

Acknowledge God’s Glory (Exodus 40:34-38)

Finish Friday strong.  Enjoy Saturday with your family.  See you Sunday!

Loyally yours,

Darren Bayne

"There are a lot of ways to become a failure, but never taking a chance is the most successful."  Anonymous

Go Where I Send Thee -- June 7, 2013

It was July 1995.  My first job out of college was in Birmingham with Parisian, the clothing store.  I had worked a year in the store and a year in the Planning Division at corporate.  I wanted a sales job.

One of my best friends, Brad, worked with a company called Gumdrop Books.  His dad helped start the business in the early 70's.  Brad had a sales territory available.  Problem was:  it was in North Carolina.  From Charlotte to the coast; two counties deep the whole way.  It was the southeastern third of the state.

I was 23 and single.  If I looked at it logically, the centerpoint of the territory would be near Pinehurst, North Carolina.  Great place to play golf, but not a place you'd want to be single.  Though it would mean more driving, I decided I'd live in Charlotte.

Brad went with me to find an apartment in Charlotte.  It needed to be on the eastern side of the city since that's the direction I'd go every week.

We went to a complex called Woodway Point.  It was mid to upscale.  Had a pool and a small gym.  Trash pickup service.  They had a one bedroom unit available on the top floor--a must for me.

I almost pulled the trigger and put a deposit down, but I thought I needed to look at a few more places.  We left to go to the next complex on my list.

We drove two miles to the next apartment.  We pulled in to the leasing office.

I couldn't open the door of my car.  Something was stopping me.

I looked over at Brad.  I told him, "I'm supposed to be at Woodway Point."

He shrugged his shoulders and chuckled.  We drove back to Woodway Point

I wrote a check for the deposit.  A few weeks later, I moved in and started working with Gumdrop Books.

I mentioned that Woodway Point had a gym, right?

Two years after I moved in, I met this cute redhead named Christina at that gym.  We became friends, started dating, and got married.

All because I couldn't open my car door at an apartment complex down the road.

I know God guided me to that particular place at that particular time.  It wasn't His booming voice, just a nudge in the right direction.  The important thing was that I went where He wanted me to go.

And that has made all the difference.  (In a really good way)

This Sunday at 9:50 am, we'll look at the story of Abram.  You know him better by his newer name, Abraham.

God told him to move from where he was to another place God would show him.

The outline of the lesson is:
     A Plan of Blessing (Genesis 12:1-3)

     A Response of Obedience (Genesis 12:4-7)

     A Relationship of Faith (Genesis 15:5-8,13-17)

Finish Friday strong.  Enjoy Saturday with your family.  See you Sunday!

Loyally yours,

Darren Bayne

"There is the risk you cannot afford to take, and there is the risk you cannot afford not to take." - Peter Drucker

Back to the Basics of the Bible -- May 31, 2013

This week is SEC Media Days down in Destin, Florida.  What that means is the football coaches from all the Southeastern Conference teams meet together about different issues.  Everybody's record is the same right now.  Hope springs eternal.

It won't be long until fall camp begins.  But it doesn't matter which team you root for, the formula for fall practice is the same:  Start with the basics and keep adding to it until you are ready for that first game.

Well, we are going to do something similar this summer.  No, we won't be running drills or blocking and tackling (there's no orthopedist that could handle all our injuries if we attempted it).

Over the twelve weeks of summer, we will hit the basics of the Bible.  From Genesis to Revelation in three months of Sundays.

Here's the situation I want you to think about as we launch this study:  Imagine you are sitting at a table outside of Starbucks.  You are reading your Bible.  Someone who's never heard of Jesus comes up to you and asks, "What's that book about?".  What would you say?

If we want to reach the unchurched and the lost, we have to meet them where they are.  Not everyone grew up going to Sunday School.  They don't know the stories in the Bible.

It's our job to go back to the basics.  If you heard God's story for the first time, what questions would you have?  What would you want to know more about?

Those are the questions we'll tackle this summer.

We'll kick off this Sunday at 9:50 am with "God Begins the Story".

Here's our scripture passages:
1.  God Creates (Genesis 1:1,26-27)
2.  Humanity Rebels (Genesis 2:15-17;3:6-7)
3.  Sin Has Consequences (Genesis 3:14-19,23-24)

If you've ever wanted a refresher course in Bible history, this is your time.  Who knows?  You might be have the chance to put it into practice at Starbucks.

Finish Friday strong.  Enjoy Saturday with your family.  See you Sunday!

Loyally yours,

Darren Bayne

"It's easy to have faith in yourself and discipline when you're a winner. But if you want to be a winner you must have faith and discipline even when you're not a winner." - Vince Lombardi

Freedom Is Not Free -- May 28, 2013

Yesterday was Memorial Day.  It's one of my favorite holidays because it celebrates those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our country.

I took my family to the Alabama Veterans' Memorial across 459 from Liberty Park.  We walked inside the room whose walls contain the names of every service member from Alabama killed in America's wars from World War I until today.  The names were grouped by county for each war.  I thought it interesting that my home county, Henry County, lost more men in World War I than in World War II.

We explained to the girls about what Memorial Day means and why we should never forget those who died to keep us free.  In that light, we finished our lesson this week with a video...

Make it a great week!

Loyally yours,

Darren Bayne

"If someone is going down the wrong road, he doesn't need motivation to speed him up.  What he needs is education to turn him around."  Jim Rohn

Are you Deployed or AWOL? -- May 24, 2013

Memorial Day is Monday.  It is a day set aside to honor the memory of those in our military who gave their lives to protect our nation.

It started my thinking about what we are supposed to do as Christians.  When I searched through the Bible for references to soldiers and battle, I was surprised at how much was there.

We live in interesting times.  Not the worst times; not the best times.  Just interesting.  Why?

Because the bride of Christ is under attack more than it has been in hundreds of years.  And as cultured as we think we are, we as humans keep repeating the same mistakes.

The parallel I see in our culture is in the Old Testament Book of Judges.  Judges 17:6 says, "All the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes" (NLT).  Does that describe the world we live in today? 

Like it or not, as Christians, you and I are in a spiritual battle for control of our country.  This nation was founded on Christian ideals.  But those underpinnings are being eroded faster than ever before.

It's tempting to stay within the walls of our church.  Holed up in "Fort God".  Believing if we just all stay together, everything will be OK. 

Well, it won't be.

The military has a term called "AWOL" which stands for Absent WithOut Leave.  A loose definition says that you are AWOL if you are NOT in the right place at the right time in the proper uniform.

Does that describe us?  You might think the right place to be at all times is at church.  Yes and no.  Think of the church building as base camp.  It's a great place to get nourishment and regroup and rest, but it's not where the battle will be won.  It will be won out there--where the fields are ripe for harvest, but the workers are few.

When is the right time for spiritual battle?  Is it when everything dies down and it looks "safe" to be a Christian?  Uh, no.

And what is the proper uniform a Christian should wear?  Great question.  That is what our lesson will be about this week.

Instead of using our books for this week's lesson, we are going to look at what we should do as soldiers of Christ.

Here's the outline of what we'll discuss:

1.  A soldier for Christ is equipped for spiritual battle.
2.  A soldier for Christ constantly trains for battle.
3.  A soldier for Christ goes where needed.

If you are traveling for the Memorial Day holiday, be safe and have fun.  But if you are in town, join us at 9:50 am as we tackle some tough issues.

Finish Friday strong.  Enjoy Saturday with your family.  See you Sunday!

Loyally yours,

Darren Bayne

"Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow -- this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."  Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address

Perseverance -- May 17, 2013

"Perseverance"

What does "perseverance" mean to you?

What or who comes to mind when you think about that word?

It seems like the new motto in our country today is "If at first you don't succeed, try something else.  You deserve to be happy".

But there are things in life that are worth working and striving for.

I've had a long lesson on perseverance over the past two years in changing careers.  After taking inventory of my skills and gifts in October 2011, I decided to make a career of teaching adults.  Two avenues lay ahead--teaching at the college level or training in a corporate environment.  Since I have my bachelors degree but no masters or doctorate, the college teaching route would take time and money.  I didn't have enough of either so that route was out.

So I focused on corporate training.  I knew that there must be a professional organization that corporate trainers belonged to.  I found that group--ASTD (American Society for Training and Development).  Birmingham has a chapter of ASTD.  I attended my first meeting in November 2011.

It was great!  I met people who did what I wanted to do.  They were neat folks who did cool stuff.  I asked lots of questions of them at the monthly meetings. 

Things stalled out for a while.  I'd ask if they knew about open positions; nothing was available for someone like me with no true training background.  But I persevered.  I continued going to the meetings each month.  Over the summer of 2012, I decided to press harder.

I scheduled phone and in-person interviews with people I met through ASTD for them to critique my resume and give me ideas on how to market myself.  I never asked them for a job, just another contact that I could interview.  I did this for about four months.  I talked to 18 different people.  But still no job.

My perfect attendance record at ASTD meetings showed I was committed to the organization.  So in September 2012, I was asked to be the Vice President for Marketing and Communication for the chapter in 2013.  I accepted.  A slot opened up for a national ASTD training meeting in Washington, D.C., and I was asked to go.  I jumped on it.

That conference let me network with even more people and tell my story.  I got encouragement and advice from trainers all over the country.  They gave me tips on what industries and positions would fit my skill set.

With renewed hope, I continued my job search when I got home.  Jobs in the industry were still not plentiful.

Fast forward to February 2013.  I saw a position at Regions Bank that I thought would fit my skills perfectly.  I applied for the job.  I talked to people I knew who worked there asking them to recommend me.  Two were ASTD members.

I was one of two finalists but I didn't get the job.

That hurt.

But the hiring manager for that position told me that a different manager was looking for a Mortgage Trainer.  Though I had only six months of mortgage experience, I did have seven years of financial services experience in banking and brokerage.

From first talking about the position to being hired took about six weeks.  But I am now having the time of my life.  One quote keeps coming to mind about my ordeal: "What we attain too easily, we esteem too lightly".

Many times I could have given up and looked for something else in sales.  I refused to settle.  I took a part-time job building bikes at Toys R Us when my Gumdrop Books' job was on break for Christmas.  But I refused to settle.

God blessed our family with this new job.  I thank Him every day for it.

Our lesson this Sunday at 9:50 a.m. is on perseverance.  We'll look at what the Bible says about persisting through tough times.

Here is the outline for this week's lesson on perseverance:

1. God is glorified in the perseverance of His people through times of trial (1 Peter 1:3-9).

2. God’s people persevere in light of the promised new heavens and new earth (2 Peter 3:8-13).

3. God’s people demonstrate their perseverance by their actions (1 John 2:15-19).

 If you are going through a rough time right now, this is a lesson you want to be here for.

Finish Friday strong.  Enjoy Saturday with your family.  See you Sunday!

Loyally yours,

Darren Bayne

Resolve says, "I will." The man says, "I will climb this mountain. They told me it is too high, too far, too steep, too rocky and too difficult. But it's my mountain. I will climb it. You will soon see me waving from the top or dead on the side from trying."

A Mother's Hand of Prayer -- May 10, 2013

Sunday is Mother's Day in case you haven't heard.  If you are heading out to town to visit your Mom, travel safely.

Who was the first person who taught you how to pray?  It was probably your mom.

It may have been a simple children's bedtime prayer like:

"Now I lay me down to sleep.
I pray the Lord my soul to keep.
Angels watch us through the night,
And keep us safe 'til morning light.
Amen"

She then stroked your hair with her hand and you drifted off to sleep.

A mother's hands are always moving--tirelessly and selflessly.  But it's a mother's hands in prayer that are powerful.

Last Sunday, Dr. Rick Lance, Executive Director of the Alabama Baptist State Convention, spoke in Big Church.  His sermon was entitled "Pray By The Hand".  I hope he won't mind me relating what he taught us about prayer.

He gave us a model for our prayer time with God by looking at the back of our hand.

It starts with the Thumb.  Our thumb is the closest digit to our body; it represents praying for ourselves.  Not a laundry list of "God do this and that for me".  Praying for ourselves means asking for spiritual cleansing.  We should ask God to forgive us for (1) sins of commission [things we did wrong]; (2) sins of omission [things we should have done but didn't]; and (3) sins of disposition [lousy attitudes].

Next, we have Little Finger.  It represents those who suffer.  This includes both physical and emotional suffering.

Third is the Index Finger.  It means praying for those who are elected.  We should pray for those elected in positions in the church and pray for those elected to positions in local, state, and national government.

The Middle Finger reminds us to pray for souls--those needing Jesus.

Finally, the Ring Finger helps us to pray for service opportunities.

One hand; many prayers.

When we meet this Sunday at 9:50, we'll discuss Session 11 entitled "Following: The King Shepherds His People".

Here's the outline of the Bible passages we'll go through:

1. Shepherds serve God’s people by embodying the truth they proclaim (1 Timothy 4:11-16).

2. Shepherds serve God’s people by preaching truth, even when it is costly (2 Timothy 4:1-8).

3. God’s people follow the shepherd by submitting to God’s Word (Titus 2:11-14).

Finish Friday strong.  Enjoy Saturday with your family.  See you Sunday!

Loyally yours,

Darren Bayne

“When your mother asks, "Do you want a piece of advice?" it's a mere formality. It doesn't matter if you answer yes or no. You're going to get it anyway.” -- Erma Bombeck

An Oldie But a Goodie -- May 3, 2013

Last night at 9:37 pm, the sound on our television went wacko.

Have you ever heard someone after throat surgery that talks with an electronic device against their larynx?  That metallic, robotic sound?

That's what our TV now sounds like.

It's amazing that it has lasted this long.

Quick bet (am I allowed to gamble with my Sunday School class?):  Who has the oldest TV in your living room that you watch on a daily basis?

I think we'd win.  You see, I got our television set in a sales contest when I worked for Wachovia Bank in Charlotte, North Carolina in 2000.

Anybody using a TV that's older than 13 years?  Anyone?  Anyone?

Now you may think that I'm chomping at the bit to run down to Best Buy for a new HD set.  Not really.

Before we invest in something new, I want to make sure that what we have isn't easily fixable.  If I can plug some $15 speakers into an audio-out jack and keep using it, then we are golden.  Just because it's old doesn't mean it doesn't work.

Same thing can be said about the Bible.  Just because it's old doesn't mean it doesn't work.

The Bible has been an inconvenient book for thousands of years.  It's God's Light shining in a dark world.

Some argue that the Bible is no longer relevant; that it's just stories that belong in the history section of the library.

Others say the Bible has lost its usefulness; that we as a culture have grown past it.

What say you?

Do you know the Bible well enough to answer someone who criticizes it?  Have you read the Bible all the way through?

I'll let you in on a little secret.  No matter what you may be going through, there is something in the Bible that either tells of someone else who went through it or gives you a way to handle it.  And if you can't find it by yourself, ask an older Christian.  They'll know.

I challenge you to read the Bible.  You'll find things that will surprise you.

Just a reminder: we'll be combining with the other adult classes in the sanctuary this Sunday at 9:50 am.  Nate will lead our lesson.  I have no clue what it will be about, but I know it will be wonderful.

Finish Friday strong.  Enjoy Saturday with your family.  See you Sunday!

Loyally yours,

Darren Bayne

"The Bible gives us a list of human stories on both sides of the ledger. One list of human stories is used as examples--do what these people did. Another list of human stories is used as warnings--don't do what these people did. So if your story ever gets in one of these books, make sure they use it as an example, not a warning."  Jim Rohn

Unity in the Church -- April 29, 2013

We live in the United States of America.  But are we as a country UNITED?  Most every issue, social and political, shows the divide that exists in our nation.

Just looking at the popular vote in the last four presidential elections shows the split:

2012 Presidential election:  Obama 51%     Romney 47%
2008 Presidential election:  Obama 52%     McCain 45%
2004 Presidential election:  Bush 51%        Kerry 48%
2000 Presidential election:  Bush 48%        Gore 48%

But the one place we are to be united is inside the walls of our church.  As Christians, we are commanded to be unified under the banner of Jesus.

Super-disciple-maker Paul of New Testament fame wrote four letters while in prison for preaching the Gospel.  We looked at passages from three of those letters.  The one theme that ran through them was unity.

We saw in Ephesians 4:1-6 that " Therefore I, the prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk worthy of the calling you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, accepting one another in love, diligently keeping the unity of the Spirit with the peace that binds us. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope at your calling— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all."

Jesus did not introduce denominations of Christianity to the world; he taught ONE WAY.  Through Jesus is the only way to the Father.

Being in a church should be like being in a rowboat.  Everyone isn't holding the same oar, but everyone should be rowing their oar in the same direction.

Moving into Philipians 2:1-4:  "If then there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by thinking the same way, having the same love, sharing the same feelings, focusing on one goal. Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. Everyone should look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others."

Scott Guffin's April 22nd, 2013 blog post was entitled The "Mysterious Triangle of Strength".  In it, Scott explains Dr. Frank Minirth's idea of this "Mysterious Triangle of Strength".  It speaks of three things that together give a person of God strength in tough times.  The first is The Bible--God's Word.  The second is Prayer.  The third is the Body of Christ--The Church.

The image I have of these three--the Bible, Prayer, and the Church is this.  Let's say you want to rely on just the Bible for your journey.  It would be like riding a unicycle.  You'd get there, but it would take a lot of effort to stay upright.

If you rely on the Bible and Prayer, you now have two wheels--a bicycle.  It would be much easier to go, but you'd always have to be moving forward or else risk toppling over.

But if you use the Bible and Prayer and the Church, you are now riding with three wheels on the ground.  You are much more stable.  And in those times where your strength is sapped, you can rest in God without falling down.

Our final scripture came from the letter from Paul to Philemon.  Now Philemon had been led to Christ by Paul earlier in Paul's ministry.  Philemon was a slave owner.

One of Philemon's slaves was a man named Onesimus.  Onesimus had fled from Philemon's house and probably stole something on the way out.  Onesimus later met Paul and became a Christian.

In this letter, Paul urges Philemon to accept Onesimus back into his household without punishment.  In verses 15-18, Paul writes:  "For perhaps this is why he was separated from you for a brief time, so that you might get him back permanently, no longer as a slave, but more than a slave—as a dearly loved brother. He is especially so to me, but even more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.

So if you consider me a partner, accept him as you would me. And if he has wronged you in any way, or owes you anything, charge that to my account."

Philemon did nothing wrong, but Paul asked him to wipe Onesimus' slate clean.  Philemon had every right to be hurt, angry, and upset with Onesimus' actions.

But Paul wanted Philemon to show the same grace to a slave that Jesus showed to him--total forgiveness of past sins.  Grace was the price of admission.

Unity isn't natural.  Unity isn't easy.  It means letting go of your selfish motives for the good of others.  But the payoff is the increase of God's Kingdom.  And that's a trade you should make every day.

To finish, we saw a video that summed up our lesson.  It was "Mark Lowry--Recovering Fundamentalist".  It is one of the best explanations of our need for Jesus that I've seen.

Make it a great week!

Loyally yours,

Darren Bayne

“A coach is someone who can give correction without causing resentment.” - John Wooden

Where Is The Glue? -- April 26, 2013

"If everyone did things the way I do them, this world would run so much better."

Do you ever catch yourself thinking that?

I sometimes do.

I do things in a way that makes sense.  To me at least.  You might think what I do is nuts.  You're wrong.  But you're entitled to your opinion.  It's an incorrect opinion.  So keep it to yourself.

That kind of thinking is divisive.  And pretty selfish too.

Inside of a church, that kind of thinking is a cancer.  If left to fester, it can cause all kinds of problems.

As Christians, we are called to be united in Christ.  It's simple, but it ain't easy.

Why?  Because we are still human.  And we like getting our own way.  The problem comes when our way gets in the way of God's way.

So this week we will look at the call for unity in the church.  Keep in mind, though, that this is about unity inside the church.  Nothing in scripture tells us to be united with the world.  We'll touch on that too.

Here's the outline for our lesson about "Our Unity: United in Truth, Clothed in Grace" on Sunday at 9:50 am:

1. The foundation of unity (Ephesians 4:1-6)

2. The exercise of unity (Philipians 2:1-4)

3. The example of unity (Philemon 15-18)

I'm excited about hearing all your different opinions on unity.  Read that sentence again and think about it for a minute.

Finish Friday strong.  Enjoy Saturday with your family.  See you Sunday!

Loyally yours,

Darren Bayne

"Every excuse I ever heard made perfect sense to the person who made it."  — Dr. Daniel T. Drubin

We Are Ambassadors for Christ -- April 19, 2013

"We are ambassadors for Christ."  2 Corinthians 5:20

It is part of our lesson this week called "Our Mission".

That verse brings back lots of memories for me.  It probably does for some of you, too.  For everyone else, I'll explain why this verse is so important.

You see, this verse is the motto for RA's (Royal Ambassadors).  I grew up in a church that had RA's for the boys and GA's (Girls In Action) for the girls on Wednesday night.

Each week, our group of guys would stand in a circle.  We'd cross our right arm over our left and join hands with the boy on either side of us.  We'd then recite together:  "We are ambassadors for Christ.  2 Corinthians 5:20".

Then we'd have a devotion and play games.  Four-Square was my favorite.

"We are ambassadors for Christ" squeezes the essence of the entire New Testament into five words.

Once you become a believer in Christ, a follower of Christ, a disciple of Christ, you are His ambassador.  You represent Jesus in your interactions with others.  That is an awesome opportunity and an awesome responsibility.

You know or have known people who embody the role of "Christ's ambassador".  But where do you stand?

If you have kids, you are the spiritual leader of your family.  Your job is to show Christ's love to your children.  How are you doing on that one?  Me?  I can do better.

Hebrews 13:7-8 says: "Remember your leaders who have spoken God's Word to you.  As you carefully observe the outcome of their lives, imitate their faith.  Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever".

Let no one ever doubt that you are standing for Jesus in all that you do.

As we gather this Sunday at 9:50 am, we'll look closer at being "ambassadors for Christ".

Here is our outline for our lesson:
1.  God's people are called to be on His mission (Acts 1:4-8).
2.  God's people are entrusted with His message (1 Corinthians 1:18-25).
3.  God's people are called to be His messengers (2 Corinthians 5:14-21).

Finish Friday strong.  Enjoy Saturday with your family.  See you Sunday!

Loyally yours,

Darren Bayne

"When the character of a man is not clear to you, look at his friends." - Japanese proverb

Can I get an AMEN, ya'll? -- April 12, 2013

Last Sunday through Tuesday, our family was at Orange Beach, Alabama for my wife to train someone in her company's Robertsdale facility.

On the way there, we stopped at Priester's Pecan candy store on I-65 just south of Montgomery.  Along with delicious candy, the store also has t-shirts with fun sayings on them.

My six-year-old daughter got a big kick out of a shirt that read "Can I get an AMEN, ya'll?". 

Fast forward to Monday night.  We're at a restaurant having dinner.  My six-year-old starts telling us a story.  She wraps up the story.  Then she says, "Can I get an AMEN, ya'll?".  We cracked up.

What does that have to do with our lesson this week?  Not much.  I just thought it was a funny story.

We'll be on Session 7 entitled "Our Identity: The Grace-Shaped Family of God".  The topic will be Faith versus Works.  We'll look at what the Bible says about what constitutes a true believer in Christ, and we'll talk about things that we sometimes add to it.

Here's our outline for Sunday at 9:50 a.m.:

1.  Works-based religion threatens the centrality of faith in Jesus Christ (Acts 15:1-5).
2.  God's people are constituted by grace alone through faith in Jesus alone (Galatians 2:15-21).
3.  God's people are marked by faith in Jesus alone that results in good works (James 2:18-26).

Finish Friday strong.  Enjoy Saturday with your family.  See you Sunday!

Loyally yours,

Darren Bayne

“You win some, you lose some, you wreck some.”  Dale Earnhardt

The original Earth, Wind, and Fire -- April 5, 2013

Violent wind.  Flames of fire.  Voices speaking in all languages.

New drama on TV?

No.  It's what happened at the birth of the New Testament church.

The name for it is "Pentecost".  It comes from the Greek word for "fiftieth".  It happened fifty days after Easter Sunday; ten days after Jesus ascended into heaven.

I always thought of Pentecost as a Book of Acts thing.  It stands alone in the way the Holy Spirit filled the one hundred or so that were in that room.

But the date has significance from the Old Testament also.  The Festival of Weeks (or Shavuot) celebrates Moses being given the Ten Commandments by God on Mount Sinai fifty days after the Passover.

So Pentecost occurred on the anniversary of God giving The Law to the Jewish people.

In the Old Testament, God gave The Law to the people to tell them how to act.

In the New Testament, God sent the Holy Spirit to help people witness about Jesus.

Hundreds of years apart, but on the same day of the year.  Do you think God was trying to tell us something?

Join us Sunday morning at 9:50 a.m. as we dig into the Pentecost.

Here's the outline for our lesson:
1.  The Holy Spirit indwells every believer (Acts 2:1-4).
2.  The Holy Spirit empowers the spread of the gospel (Acts 2:22-36).
3.  The Holy Spirit builds the community of faith (Acts 2:37-42).

Finish Friday strong.  Enjoy Saturday with your family.  See you Sunday!

Loyally yours,

Darren Bayne

“Sorrow, anger, and resentment look back; worry looks around; while faith, hope, and optimism look to the future.”   Dan Miller

Celebrating the Empty Grave at Easter -- April 1, 2013

Why do you think there are so many more songs about Christmas than there are for Easter?

 

Both celebrate Jesus.

 

Want my opinion?

 

Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus.  Everybody likes babies.  Babies are cute.  Babies aren't controversial.  Babies are safe.  Babies are born all the time.  Jesus' birth is a warm fuzzy feeling.

 

But Easter.  Jesus grew up.  Jesus preached things that weren't (and still aren't) popular.  Jesus was killed, but He rose on the third day.  That's not normal; that's not natural.  Jesus demands a choice.  Jesus' resurrection requires faith.

 

When I was preparing the lesson, I wanted to find songs that spoke of Jesus' resurrection from the grave.  I didn't have as many choices as I thought I would.

 

You can find lots of songs about the cross.  Old hymns and new music abound for the cross.  The resurrection, not so much.

 

In a blog interview with Adrian Warnock, Adrian said, "There seems little doubt to me that preaching in the average church today tends to stress the cross and assume the resurrection. The exact opposite is true of the preaching of the Apostles in the book of Acts--they stressed the resurrection and assumed that their hearers already knew about Jesus' death." www.edstetzer.com January 19, 2010 

 

My search for the right song took a while, but it was worth it.  I found this video for "Alive" by Natalie Grant.  

 

So what do we do about the Easter story?

 

Does it fill us with joy like it did for those who lived it?  Or do we say "ho-hum", pass the ham?

 

Does it give us hope?  Or is it just the same old story we hear every year?

 

Do we tell others about what Jesus did for us?  Or do we think we shouldn't 'rock the boat' by forcing our beliefs on other people?

 

Scott did a wonderful job in his Easter sermon on Romans 6:3-4.  But we closed our lesson with a short sermon by someone whose voice you'll recognize.

 

Make it a great week!

Loyally yours,

Darren Bayne

“It is better to be hated for what you are, than to be loved for what you are not.”  Andre Gide

Good Friday? Really? -- March 29, 2013

Well, today was the day.

I know that it officially started last night.  But today is when it really began.

So much pain.  So much suffering.

It should have been you; it should have been me.  But it wasn't.

It was Him.

He put up no fight.  He gave no excuse.

He went willingly.  Because it was the only way.

There had to be a sacrifice.  The ultimate sacrifice.  The sacrifice that would forever change a fallen world.

Jesus allowed Himself to be nailed to that cross.

He knew it had to be done.

He bore the sin of the world.  And, more importantly, He was separated by death from His Father. 

The darkest day in the history of the world.  

But we don't despair.  Why?

Because It's Friday...but Sunday's comin'!

We know the rest of the story.  On Sunday, we celebrate Easter.  Resurrection Day.

At 9:50 a.m. this Sunday morning, we'll delve into what happened starting on that first Easter Sunday.

Here's what we'll discuss:
1.  The risen King is victorious over death (Luke 24:1-8).
2.  The risen King is recognized by the disciples and validated by Scripture (Luke 24:36-49).
3.  The risen King is enthroned and exalted over all creation (Luke 24:50-53).

And remember to ask someone to come with you.  We'll make room.

If you are traveling for Easter, be safe. 

Finish Friday strong.  Enjoy Saturday with your family.  See you Sunday!

Loyally yours,

Darren Bayne

"Christianity is in its very essence a resurrection religion.  The concept of resurrection lies at its heart.  If you remove it, Christianity is destroyed."  John Stott

Heading to The Cross -- March 22, 2013

What does The Cross mean to you?

Michael W. Smith sang a song called "Cross of Gold".  In it he says this:

"For some it's simply something to wear around your neck
Just a chain
Jewelry
Is it decoration?
Is it an icon
Or proclamation?
An icon of what?
What?
For some it's simply something to wear around your neck
Just a chain
It means a lot more than that to me"

This Sunday is Palm Sunday.  It's the day Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey.  People celebrated.

But Jesus knew what was coming.  The Cross.

He knew where He would suffer.  The Cross.

He knew where He would die.  The Cross.

This week, we look at "The Cross" in Session 4 of our book.

Here's the outline for our lesson:
1.  Jesus is the Messiah-King who suffers for His people (Matthew 16:13-16,21-24)
2.  Jesus is the sacrificial Lamb who brings about the new covenant (Matthew 26:26-29)
3.  Jesus is the self-giving King who brings salvation to His people (Matthew 27:45-50)

So join us at 9:50 am Sunday morning as we kick off Holy Week.

Finish Friday strong.  Enjoy Saturday with your family.  See you Sunday!

Loyally yours,

Darren Bayne

“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” — Winston Churchill

This Way to the Great Egress -- March 15, 2013

Have you ever talked to someone about Jesus and they said, "If I could see Jesus do the miracles the Bible says He did, I would believe in Him"?

In sales, that would be called an objection.

You know what it really is?  A lie.

Why?  Because many of the people who actually SAW Jesus perform miracles did not believe in Him.

Oh, they loved the show that Jesus put on.  They clapped when the blind were given sight.  They "oohed" and "ahhed" when the lame were made to walk.  They cheered when a demon was driven out of someone.

But they didn't believe Jesus was the Messiah.  For them, it was entertainment.

When Jesus asked them for their commitment, the show was over.  Fun?  Yes.  Following?  No.

Have things changed in two thousand years since Christ walked this earth?  What do you think?

You can tell someone about the great and mighty things God has done in your life; they'll try to give you a different explanation.

You'll tell them about answered prayers; they will say it was a coincidence.

All you can do is tell your story.  It's the Holy Spirit who will open their ears.

This week's lesson is Session 3 in The Gospel Project.  The title is "Jesus' Miracles".

Here is the outline for our lesson:

1.  Jesus' miracles signified His compassion for people -- Mark 1:29-34
2.  Jesus' miracles signified His power and authority -- John 6:1-14
3.  Jesus' miracles signified His identity as the promised Messiah -- Luke 7:18-23

I hope to see you on Sunday at 9:50 a.m.  If you are traveling for Spring Break, be safe and have fun.

Finish Friday strong.  Enjoy Saturday with your family.  See you Sunday!

Loyally yours,

Darren Bayne

“You can’t always believe everything you think.” – Jones

Witnessing with Training Wheels -- March 12, 2013

When Jesus began his ministry at age 30, he could have announced it any way He wanted to.  He was the Son of God, you know.

He could have come out like this: 


But He didn't.

Instead, Jesus went to the synagogue in his hometown of Nazareth.  He read from the scroll of Isaiah which prophesied about the coming of the Messiah.  When He was finished, Jesus said, "Today as you listen, this Scripture has been fulfilled."

We fast forward a little bit to a parable Jesus teaches about witnessing. 

What can we learn from this parable?  When you tell someone about the Gospel, not everyone is going to accept it.

Why is that important?  Even Jesus didn't convert 100% of the people He talked to.  But that didn't stop Him from trying.

You and I need to be willing to DO something about what Jesus said.  What are we good at?  This video unfortunately describes us a lot of times...

Where does that leave us?  With a challenge.

Here's my challenge to you:  invite someone to Sunday School for Easter.  I'm not asking you to attempt to share the Good News with anyone.  Just invite them to church with you on Easter Sunday.  Think of it as "witnessing with training wheels".

So ponder on who you can ask.  Be the eager sower; throw the seed.  You may be surprised at the harvest.

Make it a great week!

Loyally yours,

Darren Bayne

"Experience is a hard teacher, because she gives the test first and the lesson afterwards." -- Unknown

Jerusalem, We Have Liftoff! -- March 8, 2013

"Hello world".

With those two words, Tiger Woods began his professional golfing career.  But even before then, everyone in the golfing world knew about him.  Many who didn't follow golf had heard of the teenaged golf sensation.

Tiger announced his start at a well-publicized press conference; Nike started a slick advertising campaign. 

How did Jesus start his professional career?

Did He answer an ad in the Jerusalem Herald saying "Messiah wanted"?  Of course not.

Did He call all the scribes together for a press conference to announce that He was the Son of God?  No.

Did He rent a billboard on the Mount of Olives saying "Jesus is the Word--Pass it on"?  Nope.

So how did Jesus begin His ministry?  At 9:50 a.m. this Sunday (adjusting for the time change), you'll find out.

Our lesson is Session 2 in our new book and is called "Jesus' Teaching: The Teaching of the Kingdom".

Here's the author's outline:

1. The kingdom has arrived with the coming of Jesus (Mark 1:14-15).

2. The kingdom is the demonstration of God’s saving power (Luke 4:16-21).

3. The kingdom is proclaimed to all kinds of people (Luke 8:4-8).

4. The kingdom has authority because of the identity of the King (Matthew 7:28-29).

Finish Friday strong.  Enjoy Saturday with your family.  See you Sunday!

Loyally yours,

Darren Bayne

"A hug is like a boomerang - you get it back right away." - Bil Keane

The Incarnation -- March 4, 2013

We started our lesson with a video:

The point of the video is perspective can change based on circumstances.

It was the same thing when Jesus came.  The title of our lesson was "The Incarnation".  Incarnation is just a fancy theological word for 'God becoming man'.

Before Jesus came into the world, God had not spoken through any prophet to the Jews for 400 years.  The Jews expected a conquering king but got a little baby.  That baby grew up to change the world.

One of our passages introduced us to John the Baptist.  He told everyone that he was preparing the way for the Messiah.

We saw a video that shows how all of us are supposed to tell of Jesus.  It was called Contagion.


We ended with one final video.  It talked about why Jesus had to come into the world and when His suffering began. 

Next week we will look at Session 2.  It will focus on Jesus' teaching.

Make it a great week!

Loyally yours,

Darren Bayne

"Treat every person with kindness and respect, even those who are rude to you.  Remember that you show compassion to others not because of who they are but because of who you are." - Andrew T. Somers

How Do You Start Talking About Jesus? -- March 1, 2013

If you asked someone if they knew who Jesus was and they said "no", how would you begin to explain who He is?

Would you tell of His birth, ministry, death, and resurrection?

Or would you hem and haw, then walk away frustrated that you couldn't explain anything?

The first four books of the New Testament are Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.  Each of these four men spent years with Jesus in His ministry.  You would think that each of them would tell their stories in roughly the same way.  But each told his story of Jesus emphasizing different things.

Matthew begins his book with Jesus' genealogy.  Here in the South, we'd say that Matthew began with who Jesus' "people" were.

Mark's book starts with Jesus' cousin, John the Baptist, and transitions into Jesus' baptism by verse 9.  From there, the action is full bore.

Luke, the doctor that he was, tells you he is writing his book to give an "orderly account" who Jesus was and what He did.  Luke's writing is very precise and clinical with lots of details.

And then there is John.  You must remember that John was one of three disciples in Jesus' inner circle.  Of the four gospels, John begins as the most theologically rich.

Our lesson will dive into that pool.  The scripture will be John 1:1-18.  We begin our new Sunday School book, and, with it, a study of the New Testament.

So be in class by 9:50 a.m. Sunday morning as we look at "The Incarnation".

Finish Friday strong.  Enjoy Saturday with your family.  See you Sunday!

Loyally yours,

Darren Bayne

“Research shows that 90 percent of five-year-olds are creative, but only 2 percent of adults are.” -- Lee Silber

Homecoming -- February 22, 2013

home-com-ing   [hohm-kuhm-ing]

noun

1.  a return to one's home; arrival at home.

2.  an annual event held by a college, university, or high school for visiting alumni.

-per Dictionary.com

Have you ever participated in a Homecoming at your alma mater?

You go back to campus and see what's the same and what's changed.  You may run into some friends you haven't seen for a long time.  You catch up with how their lives have progressed.

You show your kids your classrooms.  They roll their eyes.

You remember fondly all the great times you had.

But it's not the same.

As much as you would like to go back in time and enjoy those days, they are gone.

I'm not trying to be somber.  It's just that in 89 days, I will celebrate (or mourn) the fact that I will have been graduated from Bama for 20 years.

And as much fun as I have going back to campus for football games, basketball games, and gymnastics meets, it's different.

I wouldn't change my life now for what I had then.  The experiences I had helped shape me into the man I am now.

When the Jews were released from Babylon and went back to Jerusalem, they were ecstatic.  Until they saw how bad Jerusalem looked.  It was a bittersweet homecoming for those who remembered what the city looked like in its prime.

This Sunday at 9:50 a.m., we will see what those who returned were faced with.

The outline of Session 13 called "The Return" goes like this:

1.  God's people rejoiced in their return from exile yet longed for full restoration (Ezra 3:10-13).
2.  God's people lived in light of the promise of God's presence and peace (Zechariah 8:1-8).
3.  God's people looked to the kingdom that would reconcile us to God and others (Malachi 4:4-6).

Finish Friday strong.  Enjoy Saturday with your family.  See you Sunday!

Loyally yours,

Darren Bayne

"Be absolutely clear about who you are and what you stand for. Refuse to compromise." -- Brian Tracy

Keep HOPE alive -- February 21, 2013

"HOPE" was the focus of our two stories.  Each story took place in Babylon about 500 BC.  Daniel and his friends had been sent from Judah to Babylon when King Nebuchadnezzar captured the Southern Kingdom.  Ezekiel was in Babylon to make sure the transplanted Jews did not forget God.

The first story from Daniel 1 tells the story of Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego undergoing training to serve the Babylonian Empire.  They asked to be served vegetables and water instead of the king's lush meal offerings.  From paintings from the time period, male beauty meant chubbiness and big muscles.  Going vegetarian wasn't normally the way to accomplish that.  Daniel and his friends wanted to show that God would take care of them.

The video we saw to illustrate this was "Stand Up" from the VeggieTales Rack, Shack, and Benny. 

It's a really catchy tune.

Our second story was from Ezekiel 37:1-14.  It was a vision that God gave Ezekiel about a valley of dry bones coming to life.  It represented the prophesy that God's people would be freed from their captivity and go back to Jerusalem.  It was a message of hope.

We watched a video that showed us The Valley of Dry Bones.

We did not have time to watch a second video about this passage.  It's from The Wiggles called "Dem Dry Bones". 

It's much more kid-friendly.

Jerusalem fell to the Babylonian army because the Jews had forgotten God and had instead worshiped the gods of pagan nations.  The way for us to not face God's discipline is to do what He tells us to do.

We finished with one final video:  Fellowship of the Unashamed

It finishes like this:  "I am a disciple of Jesus Christ.  I must go until He returns, give until I drop, preach until all know, and work until He stops me.

And when He comes to get His own, He will have no problem recognizing me.

My colors will be clear."

Make it a great week!

Loyally yours,

Darren Bayne

"Through humor, you can soften some of the worst blows that life delivers. And once you find laughter, no matter how painful your situation might be, you can survive it."  Bill Cosby

"I don't know what You're doing, but I know who You are" -- February 15, 2013

Do you know someone who is going through a rough time right now?

Is it you?

As long as you are on this earth, you will have your share of difficult circumstances.  As Andy Andrews says:  "Everybody is either in a crisis, coming out of a crisis, or about to go through a crisis".  It's part of life.

And just because you are a Christian doesn't mean you are immune.  In fact, if you study scripture, you'll find that Christians will have it tougher than non-believers.

But as a Christian, you've got God on your side.

Yesterday was Valentine's Day.  It was not a night to take the family to dinner because of the crowds, so I picked up a carry-out order from P.F. Chang's.  On my way home, I heard this song called "Who You Are" by J.J. Heller.

It is a song about faith in difficult circumstances.  The chorus of the song says to God:  "I don't know what You're doing, but I know who You are."

Our lesson this week looks at two stories from the Old Testament about tough circumstances.  It is Session 12 and is called "The Exile: God Prepares His People for Deliverance".

The first story is about Daniel and his friends (you'll find out who they are Sunday at 9:50 a.m.) in Daniel 1:8-17.

The second story is a vision that God gave Ezekiel in Ezekiel 37:1-14.

We will see how these have relevance to our lives today.  It will even give you strength to bear your circumstances now or give you wisdom to encourage those going through a difficult time.

Finish Friday strong.  Enjoy Saturday with your family.  See you Sunday!

Loyally yours,

Darren Bayne

"If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant: if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome." — Anne Bradstreet

Where Could It Happen? -- February 8, 2013

You may or may not know that I grew up in Headland, Alabama which is in the southeast part of the state.

The situation with Jimmy Lee Dykes holding a kindergarten boy hostage last week played out 10 miles from my hometown.

This week, I want you to hear from Cecil Sanders, the pastor of FBC-Headland (the church I grew up in):

“When the World Descended Upon Dale County

Last Friday some deacons and I helped serve the first responders at the hostage sight in Midland City. We were there in coordination with the Columbia Baptist Association and the Salvation Army. Our job was to prepare and serve donated food items to federal, state and local law enforcement officials as they took breaks in their ‘round-the-clock’ surveillance. I also had the opportunity to check in with the hearts and spirits of these dedicated men and women all focused on bringing a peaceful resolution to a difficult hostage situation. I’d like to share with you some observations, impressions and reflections.

The value of human life: Upon arriving and throughout our service there we were amazed at the massive amount of resources – men, women, equipment, technology…etc. – mobilized because of one man’s actions and on behalf of one little boy. A bad decision is costing hundreds of thousands of dollars. And yet the life of Ethan is worth every dollar! Human life is precious and worth all the effort and resources invested. The tragic irony is how little we value pre-born children who, thanks to modern medicine, are viable long before their “due” dates. How can it be that we “move heaven and earth” to save a kindergartener, but continue to abort healthy unborn babies by the thousands each year? God so loved each person that He gave His ALL – He moved heaven and earth in sending Jesus – to redeem any and all who believe.

The awareness that our nation is hurting within: Speaking with an FBI official from Atlanta I was struck by his candidness. “When I was growing up,” he said, “there was no doubt in my mind that I was safe at school. It never occurred to me that I should fear for my safety while on the grounds of my school.” This man went on to say, “I’m a father of four children and I am very concerned. This event (Midland City) and the others (Newtown, Columbine) deeply trouble me.” This man was baring his soul. He was obviously well trained, skilled, intelligent, strong and rugged. But this brave man also had a disturbed heart. I thanked him for his service and pray for him to know peace through Christ.

The witness of God’s church: A member of the Dale County School Board shared that federal officials from all over the nation were amazed and overwhelmed with the generosity and support shown by the local faith community. Food donations, volunteers serving and continual prayer spoke highly of God’s people here in the Wiregrass. Believers letting their light shine brought glory to God.

The time and place in which we live are ordained by God. Our world is troubled and increasingly uncomfortable for Christians. However, this is the time and place in which God has placed us. May He empower us to be His effective representatives in our world.

Thankful to hear just now (Monday) that Ethan is free!

(But I take no delight in the death of Mr. Dykes – Ezekiel 18:32)

Cecil Sanders”

We are going to step away from our usual Sunday School lesson this week.  Instead, we will meet with other adult Bible study groups in the sanctuary to hear the testimony of Irene Gleeson.

Here is what our church newsletter says about it:

“What happens when one person gives complete control of their life to Jesus? After the death of her mother, a divorce, the loss of all she had known, and a desperate and wide-ranging search for truth, Irene Gleeson made the decision to give Jesus control of her life. Since that time, God has used her willingness to affect the lives of thousands.”

Make sure you are in the sanctuary by 9:50 a.m.

I know we will be blessed and challenged by her story.

What do commentary on a hostage situation and a visiting missionary have in common?  Discipleship.  You know--the word Scott has been preaching about all year (think about that for a minute).

It doesn't matter if you are going a few miles up the street or to another continent.  God calls us to go and make disciples. 

If you think about it, God doesn't have a long list of prerequisites for us to be used in His work.  All He asks us to be is willing.

Pray for a willing spirit.  God will do the rest.

Finish Friday strong.  Enjoy Saturday with your family.  See you Sunday!

Loyally yours,

Darren Bayne

 "You are not here merely to make a living. You are here in order to enable the world to live more amply, with greater vision, with a finer spirit of hope and achievement. You are here to enrich the world, and you impoverish yourself if you forget the errand." - Woodrow Wilson

A Different Game -- February 1, 2013

"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference."

So ends the classic poem "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost.

Today is February 1st; the start of a new month.

Let's play a game from today through Sunday morning.  Here's the rule (there's only one):  Do Something Different!

What do I mean?  OK.  Here are some suggestions:

     *  Take a different route home from work.
     *  Tell someone "Good Morning" with gusto in the afternoon and see what they do.
     *  At the restaurant, order something you've never tried before.
     *  When you are stopped at a light, give the driver of the vehicle next to you a big smile and a "thumbs up".
     *  Ask a stranger where they bought their shoes.
     *  Eat a meal with your left hand (if you are a "righty").
     *  Skip through a store (works best if your kids are with you, but your choice).
     *  Answer the phone (especially telemarketing calls) with a thick foreign accent.

When we get together on Sunday, I want you to share your stories.  It'll be a hoot!

I will do something different Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.  It will carry over to how we do Sunday School.

The way we usually approach our lesson each week is to first go through our scripture passages.  Here's what they are for this week:

1 Kings 18:20-39 and
2 Kings 17:6-18

After the Bible story, we look at how the scripture applies to us today.

Well, this week we are going to reverse that.  This Sunday at 9:50 a.m., we will do some application stuff first.  Then we will look at how things were handled thousands of years ago.

So join me as we zig, then zag instead of zagging, then zigging.

Finish Friday strong.  Enjoy Saturday with your family.  See you Sunday!

Loyally yours,

Darren Bayne

"It's easier to act your way into a new way of thinking than to think your way into a new way of acting." — Millard Fuller

Wisdom at the Wheel -- January 28, 2013

Each Friday, I introduce our lesson for the week.  Many times, I give you a peek into the lives of our family and what’s on my heart.

Why do you think I do that?

The biggest reason is that I want you to see how the Holy Spirit is guiding and directing my moves in something simple like the preparation of a Sunday School lesson.

Pop quiz:  What do you call the story of what God has done in your life?

It’s called a testimony.  Sometimes we get very nervous about the thought of sharing our testimony with someone who doesn’t know Christ.  But your testimony is simply your story of how you’ve seen God work in your life.

I’ve been reading a book called “EntreLeadership” by Dave Ramsey.

Have you heard of Dave Ramsey?

Dave’s bread and butter is giving people scripturally-based financial advice.  This book is different.  The subtitle on the book is “20 Years of Practical Business Wisdom from the Trenches”.  In short, it’s a business management and leadership book.

Our lesson about wisdom came from concepts in the book.  Now a few of you might have a spring in your step knowing this is a business book.  Others might put your brain in neutral because running a business is the last thing you want to talk about on a Sunday morning.

So I’m asking you to bear with me and come with me on a journey that will touch on wisdom in a very practical way.

I finished the book while in the carpool line waiting to pick up the girls on Thursday.  Having nothing else to read, I opened the book back up toward the front and started reading some more.  That’s when it hit me.

The section I opened up to was on Goal Setting.  Dave talks about how Zig Ziglar uses a graphic called the “Wheel of Life” to describe the different facets of our life.

Here are the seven parts to the “Wheel of Life”:

 

We looked up scripture that gives us wisdom as it relates to each of the seven spokes on the wheel.

First up is CAREER.

Matthew 25:21: 

21 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

Colossians 3:23:

23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,

Second is FINANCIAL.

Ecclesiastes 5:10:

10 Whoever loves money never has enough;

    whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income.

    This too is meaningless.

Luke 14:28-29:

28 “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? 29 For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, 30 saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’

Third is SPIRITUAL.

Romans 12:10-12:

10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

Psalms 119:10-11:

10 I seek you with all my heart;

    do not let me stray from your commands.

11 I have hidden your word in my heart

    that I might not sin against you.

Fourth is PHYSICAL.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20:

19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.

1 Corinthians 9:24-27:

24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. 27 No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

Fifth is INTELLECTUAL.

1 Peter 1:13:

13 Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming.

Proverbs 1:7:

7 The fear of the LORD

is the beginning of knowledge;

fools despise wisdom and discipline.

Sixth is FAMILY.

1 Corinthians 7:3-5:

3 The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. 4 The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband. In the same way, the husband does not have authority over his own body but yields it to his wife. 5 Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

Ephesians 6:1-4:

1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— 3 “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”

4 Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

Proverbs 31:30-31:

30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;

    but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

31 Honor her for all that her hands have done,

    and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

Seventh is SOCIAL.

Acts 2:42:

42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

Galatians 6:10:

10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

John 15:15-17:

15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other.

Do you feel wiser now?

Here’s my challenge for you.  If you like this concept of the “Wheel of Life”, grow this list of Bible passages that fit each section.

It can be your very own in-depth Bible study on wisdom.  I promise that the more time you spend in God’s Word, the more you will grow in Christ.

Make it a great week!

Loyally yours,

Darren Bayne

“Man is made so that whenever anything fires his soul impossibilities vanish.”  - Jean de la Fontaine