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
Thursday, May 30, 2013
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
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
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
Friday, May 24, 2013
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
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
Friday, May 17, 2013
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.
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."
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."
Friday, May 10, 2013
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".
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
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
Friday, May 3, 2013
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
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
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