The Hand of God on the Wrist of Dana -- November 21, 2014

Last Friday night, our younger daughter, Dana, attended a birthday party at Pump It Up in Pelham for her friend, Vishwa.  Vishwa was turning nine years old.

The party started at 5:30pm and was slated to run until 7:00pm.  Christina and Audrey took Dana to the party.  I met them after I finished work.  Then, Christina and Audrey took off for home to work on a project.

That left me in charge of the well-being of Dana.  (You other dads know where this story is heading)

From 5:30 to 6:30, the kids had a great time playing on the slides and bouncy houses.  At 6:30, it was time to eat.

Dana came over to put on her shoes.  Everything seemed fine.  All the kids went to the party room.  Vishwa's mom and some other family members passed out pizza to the 28 kids.

I noticed Dana wasn't eating.  And she loves some cheese pizza.  I went to check on her.  She was crying.  And holding her left wrist.

I asked her what happened.  She said she was climbing up the ladder to the slide.  Something pushed her hand backwards real fast and she felt something pop.  She was still having fun so she just kept playing.

Now that things calmed down, though, the pain started.

Dana has never broken a bone or sprained an ankle or anything involving a lot of pain.  So this was new to her.  Fear of something unknown mixed with pain made tears flow down her cheeks.

I looked at her wrist.  She had a nasty bruise forming on the inside of her left wrist.  Moving her wrist in any direction caused a shooting pain.  She could open and close her fist, but that hurt too.  I was afraid she had broken her wrist.

I checked the time on my watch.  Children's Hospital on Acton Road closes at 8:00pm.  So we had time to get there.

Now to make the call to Momma.  

I told Christina to start heading toward Children's Hospital; we'd meet them there.  But they had an issue.  Traffic was at a crawl.  An accident on I65 had snarled traffic.  They weren't going anywhere fast.  She suggested the hospital there in Pelham.  I concurred.

Even though she was in pain and crying, I insisted she wish Vishwa a Happy Birthday and thank Vishwa's mother for inviting her.  To Dana's credit, she did both.

When Vishwa's mom saw the tears, she asked what had happened.  I told her about Dana's wrist.

Then Vishwa's mom, Urmila, said some of the sweetest words I've ever heard:  "Go see my husband over there; he's a wrist surgeon".  I was floored.

I went over to Vishwa's dad, Dr. Nilesh Chaudhari.  I introduced myself and told him of Dana's dilemma.  And, with gentleness, he took Dana's hand and started to examine her wrist.  Dana was a trooper while he checked her out.

He ruled out a break.  No swelling.  He said it was most likely a tendon or ligament that was injured.  He recommended icing her wrist and giving her Motrin for the pain.  He even gave me his cell number to call if it wasn't better by Saturday morning.

He said we didn't need to go to the hospital.  Just follow his advice.  I thanked him profusely before heading outside.  Turns out, Dr. Chaudhari specializes in Carpal Tunnel surgery and Hand & Wrist Fracture & Dislocation Treatment (found that out on the HealthGrades website later).

We got in my van and started home.  I called Christina to tell her the news.  At first, she didn't understand why I wasn't taking Dana to the hospital.  Then it sank in what had happened:  God provided for exactly the right person to be there at the right time and right place.

One verse came in my mind--Philipians 4:19 that says, "And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus".

Some might call it a fortunate happenstance that the birthday girl's dad was a wrist surgeon when your daughter has a wrist injury.  I call it a testimony of God's ability to calm His children (both Dana and me) with a healing touch.

Our lesson this week finishes our study of Joseph.  The Bible passage is Genesis 50:15-21.  It's called "Overcome an Earthly Mindset".  The point of the lesson is:  We can trust God is at work on our behalf.

So join us Sunday at 9:47am for the final installment of this series.

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

Loyally yours, Darren Bayne

"The church’s impressive roll call of godly people who did not get what they wanted suggests that we should expect to encounter God at the most unlikely place of all — at the intersection of expectation and disappointment." -- John Koessler

Be Grateful. Even when things are a little plain. -- May 9, 2014

I had the worst fast food experience ever at Wendy's on Tuesday night.

 

I left work at 6:30 pm to go home.  Decided to stop by Wendy's to have a quick bite to eat.
 

Now, I'm a Wendy's fan.  When I traveled all the time, Wendy's was my destination twice a week.

 

My favorite is the #6 Combo:  Spicy Chicken Sandwich (no lettuce or tomato), small fry, and small Coke.  In all my years, no Wendy's has ever messed up my order.
 

Until Tuesday.

 

I gave the cashier my order, paid with my card, and got the receipt.

 

Then, I waited.  And waited.  And waited.

 

Four other patrons who had ordered before me milled about.  Waiting.

 

After the guy before me got his order, I knew I was next.  Nine minutes after I ordered.

 

The lady behind the counter calls out, "Son of Baconator Combo.  No lettuce or tomato".  Nobody moved to get it.  She repeated, "Son of Baconator Combo.  No lettuce or tomato."  Still, nothing.

 

Once more, she says, "Number 5:  Son of Baconator Combo".

 

I pulled my receipt from my pocket.  To my horror, she had charged me for a #5 Combo.  I went up to the counter and politely told her, "I ordered a #6 Combo--no lettuce or tomato".

 

She calls her manager to her register because she doesn't know what to do.  He helps her change the order.  Turns out the #5 Combo is ten cents less that the #6 Combo I wanted.

 

I steeled myself to be asked to pay the extra dime (plus tax).  But the manager looks at me and says, "You got a little discount on your order."  Not "Sorry", not "I apologize for our mistake; we'll get you taken care of really quick".

 

How grateful should you act when someone makes a ten cent mistake in your favor?  Is there a dance involved?

 

So I wait some more for my #6 Combo:  Spicy Chicken Sandwich (no lettuce or tomato), fries, and Coke.

 

And wait.  And wait.

 

The fries she had put on my tray were given to the next person in line.

 

More minutes pass.  Then she gets out a bag.  Puts a sandwich and fries in it.  Sits a Coke on the counter.  Says, "Number 6 Combo".  Twenty-one minutes after I'd placed my order.

 

Of course, I'd told her back then that I was eating my meal inside the restaurant.  But at least I had my food.  Even if it was in a sack.

 

I walk to the counter to get napkins, straw, and ketchup.  Wendy's has the little paper cups you squirt ketchup in.  I can't put them in a bag.

 

So I walk back to the counter and ask for a tray.  The cashier looks dumbfounded when I place my bag on the tray and walk away.

 

Back to the ketchup squirter.  Ketchup squirter has only enough ketchup for two little cups; I like five cups.

 

Back to the counter.  "Your ketchup squirter is out.  Can I please have some packets?".  The cashier hands me four packets of ketchup.  I do the quick conversion in my head.  Two packets of ketchup equals one little cup of ketchup.  I already have two little cups of ketchup.  I now have the equivalent of four little cups of ketchup.  I need five.  One short.  

 

I can feel myself getting impatient.  Many things I'd like to say run through my head.  I thought it best to walk away with a ketchup deficit than to risk making a bitingly sarcastic comment.

 

So I go to a table.

 

I open my bag.  Get out my sandwich and fries.  Place the bag on the floor out of my way.  Squeeze ketchup on my opened sandwich wrapper.

 

Then I take a good look at my Spicy Chicken Sandwich.  Poking out of it was lettuce.  I open the bun.  You guessed it:  a tomato.  After I expressly said on two separate occasions that I wanted a Spicy Chicken Sandwich with NO lettuce or tomato.

 

I take off the tomato and toss it in the bag on the floor.  I grab the lettuce from the sandwich.  I toss it in the bag.  But while flying through the air, an unattached piece of lettuce shoots off to the side and misses the open bag.  It lands on the carpet.

 

I looked at that stamp-sized piece of lettuce sitting on the floor.

 

And I looked at it.

 

And I was thinking, "After all they've done to screw up my order, I ought to leave that piece of lettuce lying there."  And I do.  I take a bite of my sandwich.  Then I look again at the lettuce on the ground.

 

I can't bring myself to leave it there.  Sure, they messed up.  But that doesn't mean I should mess up their floor.

 

So I pick it up.

 

And I take another bite of my sandwich.  Doesn't taste quite right.  It's chicken.  It's fried.  But it's NOT spicy.

 

Great.

 

It's a regular, run-of-the-mill, PLAIN chicken sandwich.

 

All this, and I still don't have what I asked for.  Unbelievable.

 

But it's food and I'm hungry.

 

I should be grateful.  I'm kind of grateful.  Just not happy.

 

So the lesson this week might be geared to me more than anyone.  It's entitled "Hope Expressed".  It's about gratitude and thankfulness.  It comes from Psalm 138.

 

Come join us at 9:47 am on Sunday morning.  Unless you are traveling to see your mother.  It will be Mother's Day, of course.

 

Don't forget.

 

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

 

Loyally yours,

Darren Bayne

“Each day give thanks for the gift of life.” – Pablo Picasso

Where Were You During the Blizzard of 2014? -- January 31, 2014

It looks like we are on the back side of the Blizzard of 2014 (aka Winter Storm Leon).

What was your story?

I got to spend the night at the office Tuesday night.  

Forty-nine of our 50 students made it back to their hotel by foot, car, or hitchhiking that night.  The hotel had no drivers to send the shuttles for them.

Going home Wednesday, I saw some great "Good Samaritan" moments and some outright idiotic driving decisions.  No doubt, you did too.

We'll still be comparing stories by the time we meet again on Sunday at 9:47 am.

Our official lesson this week is called "What About People Who've Never Heard About Jesus?".  I say 'official' because that's what the book has for this week.  The passage is Romans 1:16-25.

Here's the rub, though.  Owen did a great job of answering that question last week.  It was a tangent he took off on without knowing it was the heart of this week's lesson.

I didn't want to duplicate what we did last Sunday, so our lesson will be about something else.  What will it be?  Not sure yet. 

I'm waiting on God to nudge me in the right direction.  He always does.

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

Loyally yours,

Darren Bayne

“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago; the second best time is today.”  Chinese proverb

Stand Firm in Your Faith -- November 1, 2013

I hope you've had a great week.

Mine was schizophrenic.  At work, I finished an important project and prepared for a new class.  At home, the girls had a great time at our Fall Festival on Wednesday and Trick-Or-Treating in Paxton Place on Thursday. 

But it wasn't a good week at all for some people I love; three different people to be exact.  My heart hurts for the situations they face.

First, on Monday, my best friend from high school emailed me to say his older brother has a mass on his pancreas.  They did a biopsy yesterday and will know something next Wednesday.

Second, on Tuesday, my mother told me that hospice has been called to take care of her best friend whose breast cancer has spread to her brain.

Third, on Wednesday (during the Fall Festival), one of my good friends from college texted me to say his dad's cancer had returned to his spine.  His kidneys and bowels have shut down.  To quote my friend, "It won't be long."

God has been hearing from me more this week than He has for a while.  I've prayed for healing.  But mostly I've prayed for peace for those afflicted and the people who love them.  Each of the ones affected is a Christian; their final home is no mystery.

October 16th was my birthday.  My wife and girls gave me Andy Andrews' new book "The Noticer Returns".  I started reading it last Saturday and finished it Wednesday night.

One story in the book gave a wonderful picture to those whose loved ones are facing death.  I paraphrased it and sent it to one of my friends.  I'm going to share it with you because either you or someone you know may be the one in fear of being 'left behind' when a loved one slips from this life into the next.  Adapted from pages 143-144 of "The Noticer Returns"...

"Friend,

You think that your sweet father is at the end, but that is only a lie you have believed.  Because your fear has grown, you believe his fear has become greater…which is another lie.  You believe he is experiencing something bad that gets worse until there is nothing at all.  That, too, is a lie.

Here is the truth, Friend.  He is not at the end.  He is at the beginning.  His fear has not become greater; it has become less and less until now, his fear is gone altogether.  And he is not experiencing something bad that gets worse until there is nothing at all…he is experiencing something incredible that gets better, until there is everything.

Before this man was ever born, when he was warm and snug inside his mama’s belly, he kicked and twisted, moving this way and that.  For months he struggled.  He became uncomfortable.  He longed for more freedom and began to sense that the world he inhabited was not where he ultimately belonged.  He did not know what was on the other side of his struggle, but he was getting ready to experience something new and wonderful that in his wildest imaginings could not be described.  Friend…he was getting ready to breathe.

And when he finally drew that first breath, it was clean and fresh and like nothing he had ever felt.  He took another breath and another—and all around him, loved ones and friends cheered in a joyous celebration of his arrival.

Look at him now, Friend.  For many years this dear child was happy and content in this body.  But for some time now, he has struggled.  He has become uncomfortable.  He has begun to long for freedom from the pain of this body and has sensed that the world he inhabits is not where he ultimately belongs.  Even now he does not fully appreciate the reality that is waiting on the other side of his struggle, but he is preparing to experience something new and wonderful that in his wildest imaginings could not be described.  Right now…right this minute…he is getting ready to breathe.

And when he draws that first breath, it will be clean and clear and fresh, like nothing he has ever experienced.  He will take another breath and another and another; and all around, his loved ones, his family and friends, will cheer in a joyous celebration of his arrival.

Do not be afraid for yourself, Friend.  You can make the same journey one day—you can join him if you choose to do so.  And don’t be afraid for him.  He is fine.  Remember…he is getting ready to breathe."

It's a beautiful picture, isn't it?  Now you may wonder where this ties in with our lesson for this week.  The title of the lesson is "Stand Your Ground".  The point is to never compromise when the issue is a matter of biblical right and wrong.

As a Christian, I should not despair in these situations.  God's hand will move to glorify Himself.  I need to stand firm in the promises He's made to us.

We will discuss our scripture passage from Galatians 2:1-14.  Be there at 9:45 am this Sunday morning.  You don't really have an excuse not to make it on time because you'll have an extra hour to sleep.  It's "Fall Back" weekend so set your clocks back an hour on Saturday night.

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

Loyally yours,

Darren Bayne

"Be sure you put your feet in the right place, then stand firm." -- Abraham Lincoln

Bestowing a Gift -- September 9, 2013

Who deserves to go to heaven with you?

Who should be told about the Good News of Jesus?

Is that guy over there witness-worthy?

Does that girl qualify for hearing your testimony?

Would you be comfortable with that person sitting in the pew next to you during Big Church?  Dressed like that?

Why would you ever start a conversation with that guy about God?  Just look at him.

Let's discuss the answers to these questions Sunday at 9:45 am.

Read James 2:1-13 so you'll know see what Jesus' step-brother said.  That's a good place to start.

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

Loyally yours,

Darren Bayne

“There are no rules around here!  We’re trying to accomplish something!”  Thomas Edison

The Bible: The Ultimate Kevlar Vest -- August 2, 2013

Do you ever feel like Christians are the new "bad guy" in our culture today?

It's not to the throw-them-to-the-lions level--yet.  But a vocal minority is doing a good job shaping the national conversation in a way to criticize and marginalize God's followers.

So what should we as Christians do? 

I guess we could try to debate those who think differently than us.  We could picket outside of businesses that are "sinful".  We could even go on websites and post messages that tell people they are going to hell if they don't believe what we do.

Or we could do something really radical--learn what's in the Bible.

To handle the arrows of hate that are shot at us, we need to be wearing the armor of God.  That's where God's Word comes in.

If we as Christians will read and follow the Bible, we will influence others who are searching for meaning in their lives.

This week, we transition from the Old to the New Testament in our trip through God's Story.  The next few weeks will highlight the boulders on which our faith as Christians rest.  Think of it as a refresher course on Bible basics.

Our lesson this week is called "God Sends His Son".  We'll talk about:
1.  Jesus is Fully God and Fully Man (John 1:1-2,14)
2.  Only Jesus Came to Bring Salvation (John 1:11-13,18,29)
3.  Only Jesus Embodied God's Kingdom (Matthew 4:17-24)

So join us at 9:50 a.m. Sunday morning.  You'll be glad you did.

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

Loyally yours,

Darren Bayne

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