Romans 7:18

Hello friends,

It's a rainy day here in sunny Florida! Oh well, it'll be beautiful tomorrow. Today, I've been reflecting on some thoughts that my friend Glen shared last night at Bay Life Worship Choir - a great evening together, by the way. We were looking at the lyrics of the song Forever Reign http://m.youtube.com/index?desktop_uri=%2F&gl=US# . The opening line says, "You are good, You are good when there's nothing good in me". Glen showed us a verse in Romans that made this idea jump off the page for me. This is what it says:

For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. (Romans 7:18 ESV)

This is Paul, yes the writer of half of the New Testament, making this confession to us. If even he had issues with doing what is right, who are we to think that we would not have trials, temptations and struggles in this life. If we're relying on our own willpower to keep our Christian lives on the rails we're going to be disappointed. We are human, our faithfulness to our Savior has to be infused with a heaping dose of grace for it to work. To think that we can be Christ-followers otherwise is to devalue His cross and its absolute necessity in this world.

With this truth, we are both humbled and we are buoyed up. We must remember that we can only live for Him as we rely on Him and, that we should not be crushed with the reality of our inevitable failures. Praise God, what a relief! However you're struggling today, be encouraged that He loves us in spite of ourselves and keep on trucking!

Thanks Glen!

Brad

Spring Musical Season Starts Tonight!

Hey Bay Life Worship Choir,

I hope that you're well and that you have plans to join us tonight as we begin our preparations for our Spring Musical scheduled for May 5-6. It's going to be a great choir season with performance events, a good number of soloist opportunities and even an ensemble or two.

I can't wait to go over the music with you all this evening. Come out to at 7 pm and don't forget to make that phone call and bring a friend.

I thought I'd let you see the choir book front cover.

See you tonight,
Brad

Merry Christmas! It's the best day of our lives!

I sit here in my living room, reflecting on the year that was, thinking about the day that is and looking to a future that will be.

It's been a great year. God's favor on me, my family, my church, my city, my country has been real and precious. To say that God has been good is sincerely an understatement. Sure, there have been losses, difficult times and heartache but God has been faithful and He has overcome the world. I am blessed.

Today, friends will join our family for Christmas, I have all of my needs met and my family is happy, safe and present. I am blessed.

From here, the future looks amazing. Our plans for next year are exciting and filled with hope. Much of it will come true and much will happen for good that I haven't even directly planned. Glory to God - I am blessed.

Over time, I realize that the balance of positive and negative experiences in life will change and eventually, life will be hard. That in essence is our human condition but God is still good.

So, today is the best day of our lives because today is the day we have. I pray that you will trust God, dig in and do it with everything you've got.

Merry Christmas!

Brad

Special Christmas Weekend

Hope Has Come! 

Don't miss this weekend at Bay Life Church! We have an exciting, special weekend planned that will be a perfect opportunity for you to bring a friend to church for Christmas. So, if you know someone who attends church at Easter and Christmas, make sure that you extend an invitation to them this weekend.

We'll be live at Bay Life on Saturday, Dec 17 @ 6 pm and on Sunday, Dec 18 @ 8:30, 10 & 11:30 am. To watch online, go to baylife.org and click on watch live.

Christmas blessings to all!

See you there,

Brad

That Starry Night - Christmas 2011

Hey Everyone,

Tonight we begin music preparations for Christmas! Yes, it feels a little late compared to other years, but we're confident that things will be ready for our services on Dec 17-18. If you're a part of our team, consider this is your notice to make sure that you attend all rehearsals as we get ready.

This year we've moved our main Christmas worship event to the week before Christmas to make sure we're able to create something that will appeal to those who come to church twice a year out of obligation - we hope to engage them in a presentation of Christ's birth that they cannot ignore. Start inviting your friends and plan to make a difference in somebody's life this Christmas.

We're also excited to begin our holiday series next weekend, Nov 26-27. Throughout the series we'll be observing the five weeks of Advent by following the weekly theme and by lighting a candle in our weekend services.

Nov 26-27 - Love Has Come
Dec 3-4 - Joy Has Come
Dec 10-11 - Peace Has Come
Dec 17-18 - Hope Has Come
Dec 24 - Christ Has Come

It's going to be a great season - don't miss it!

Brad

Volunteer Profile - Lisa Ranck

Lisa has served in our choir for 4 years and is a member of our Soprano section. Thanks for sharing Lisa!

A Big Weekend for Bay Lifers!

Hey everyone,

I’m so excited to get together with our worship arts volunteers this evening as we continue working on our recording and spend time preparing for this weekend’s services. It’s always a pleasure to see everyone and hear how God has been working in your lives these days.

All week, we’ve been preparing to celebrate baptism with about 30 Bay Lifers in this weekend’s services. Plan to be here so that you don’t miss out on the celebration.

Finally, I want to say thanks to all of the great actors who came out last weekend to audition for our Dec 17th & 18th Christmas Worship event. We’ve cast the drama portion of the service and we’re just finalizing the last few details. I’m excited to get busy producing a creative, engaging event to which Bay Lifers will be eager to invite their friends.

Who will you invite this Christmas season? Start thinking about it now.

Blessings to you!

Brad