day 2 from Big Stuf (www.bigstuf.com)

Day 2 here at Bigstuf camp in Panama City and our first day on the beach and it has been nothing but glorious. Yes, i know not everyone can be here on the beach but hey, someone has too and we have a bunch of high school students who are loving it. God has really been setting the table through Jared Herd and Stuart Hall here speaking and band leading each session we have been in. Our small groups met last night and got off to a great start. You never know how God is going to work in the hearts of kids at any camp but the theme is BROADCAST and we are asking each other what we are broadcasting with our life...simply said what we cling too the most is what we broadcast with our lives. It would be amazing if our teens could come to love Jesus and see what happens. We will see...


Just a few crazy things. We have a camp mascot, a pickle that Nathaniel Edmonson bought at a store. Yes, I said it a pickle. This morning it went to the session and ad its own seat. I will give ya a picture to check out. It is amazing, we are inspired. We also entered the volleyball tourney this year and something HUGE happened. We scored 2 points, still got beat, but we scored. CAN YOU SAY AMAZING! In three years we scored our first 2 points, year one we got shut out, year 2 we dd not enter, year three we score 2, year 4????what could happen. Keep praying for us as we are gone, we need it for sure...

memorial day weekend...

When you live in a military town memorial day takes on an entirely different meaning. We are blessed to be able to live alongside families who serve our country and protect our freedom. I consider it an honor to call many of these families friends. I have been blessed to get to know teens who watch their moms and dads go to Iraq for a year at a time. Every day the reality of war is present in Clarksville and we live knowing that our friends are standing in the gap for us here in the States. When i think about ti all i can say is thanks. Thanks to the families who sacrifice, thanks for helping this world be a better place. Make no mistake, the guys we have deployed around the world fight because they believe in America, what America stands for. They fight for their sons, daughters, wives back home....for their future. Someone has to look evil in the face and do something about it, many of my friends do just that. Thanks.

Today, this weekend. We had a great Sunday at GCC. Chelsea's family came up and I got to play golf with my father-in-law at Swan Lake. We were going to take all the kids (our 2 and my in laws adopted 4!!!!) to the water park in hopkinsville on Monday but, well if you live in Clarksville you know about the rain. We still had a great day here at home. I stayed off the cell, hung out with the family and still managed to cook a steak tonight. Memorial Day is meant for the grill and when the rain stopped I made it happen. Great rest before the busy summer hits. First camp of summer is next week. It is gonna be a great summer, get to be a part of some great stuff for students and get ready for fall at GCC. I sense God has some huge stuff for us to experience this year.

http://thebeardedwonder.org go check this out!

hope all are doing well! It is memorial day weekend and I am chilling with my family in shelbyville trying to get away for some rest. I was just Clay has the sweetest beard in the universe. Big Beard is amazing. Go check out his blog. http://thebeardedwonder.org/

If you know me you know I have been influenced, mentored from afar by books and teaching by Andy Stanley. here are som great quotes on our team found from Andy recently...just read and think...

To reach people no one else is reaching we must do things no one else is doing

The next generation product almost never comes from the previous generation. Must be a student not a critic.

What do I believe is impossible to do in my field but if could be done would fundamentally change my field.

Pay attention to the people who are breaking the rules.

When your memories exceed your dreams the end is near.

Don't let success or momentum over shadow your vision. Keep the vision out in front.

Go clarksville! make some news baby!

Got into work this morning and Jeremy Chandler came into he office and told me about a report on the best and worst cities to raise a family in...not a good way to start the day if you live in Clarksville.

Here was the top ten places to raise a family...by the way i used to live in #2!
1 Honolulu, Hawaii — Schools spend almost $9,000 per pupil, unemployment ranks less than half the national average, and you can play on the island of O'ahu's 125 beaches.
2 Virginia Beach, Virginia
3 Billings, Montana
4 Columbus, Georgia
5 San Diego, California
6 Des Moines, Iowa
7 Minneapolis, Minnesota
8 Madison, Wisconsin — Madison has a high number of pediatricians per capita.
9 Colorado Springs, Colorado
10 Santa Rosa, California

Ok, great but they forgot to mention that in most of those cities the idea of having a one income family and not living in the ghetto is almost impossible. The crazy thing was Clarksville was rated the worst place to raise a kid in because of per student education spending. Numbers never say it all, we have great schools, great teachers and this is a great city. I am a little biased, I love Clarksville, love this city and at least people can afford to buy a house here and still put gas in their car or go to the movies! The other thought is, who would not want to raise their kid in Hawaii??? it is paradise, what kind of crazy study is this!

Here was the list of cities (top 10 wost to raise a kid in)

The 10 Worst Places to Raise a Family (from best to worst)10 Springfield, Missouri9 Dayton, Ohio8 Corpus Christi, Texas7 Flint, Michigan — Country's highest violent-crime rate6 Columbia, South Carolina5 Waco, Texas4 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania3 Fayetteville, North Carolina2 Beaumont, Texas — Long-standing air-quality challenges 1 Clarksville, Tennessee — Low educational spending: $6,729 per student

Go Clarksville! make some news!

here is the link for this study - http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24713234/

what is a good day...

What makes a good day? What makes a day a success or failure? I am beginning to discover that the best days are not consumed with getting my list of tasks finished but rather packed with paying attention to opportunities with people. Yes, one on one conversations...yes the kind that mess up a schedule and keep productivity low. Yes time away from my planned activities. Spending a few minutes with a team member at work that needs direction on their project. Jumping on the trampoline with my daughter. Making my mind be fully present in a meeting and not drifting to the next task I need to work on. Hanging out with someone who pops in the office to talk. Taking time to head to an unplanned lunch with a friend who needs to talk

So many day I get to the end of these people packed days and look at my list of stuff that I needed to accomplish and feel failure. In reality I was just responding to the opportunities God put in front of me. I just feels like I am off track with my plan but I have valued what God values supremely...people. I can not get over how much God loves us, He loves people. God has called me to love Him and love others. I Corinthians 13 talks about love, and what love looks like when aimed at others. If that is love then I have to be living that out to those God places in my daily path.

Its messy but it might be the greatest investment...the people investment. well, got to go and catch up on other TASKS...yea they still have to be done.

here's ya TROPHY...

yea, that is my Kozbi and her first trophy. koz played soccer this spring on the best team in Clarksville, the Super Flower Power Team and they kicked some serious tail all year. Sure they do not keep score in this league until you get older but hey, who cares. Kids under 5 running around kicking the ball - it is great! We loved watching her learn the game. Since she got a trophy I thought I would give out some blog trophies...here goes, my 2008 trophies...

Best Diet Mountain dew Drinker - Michael BAYNE...need I say more!

Best Small Group leader at Relevant goes to AMANDA BOLES,
wow, what a great job you have done investing in your girls this year at REMIX each week. Relevant Student Ministry was so blessed to have you on the team. (we will keep Duke also, love that guy!)

Best LEADERS at GCC - every leader in Cross Street and Grace Acres!
Yes, what a great year for the family ministry at GCC, you guys volunteer each week and erve kids and families. I have loved watching you lead each week and make grace a place that families want to come back too!

Best wife and kids - Chelsea, Kozbi and Kelyn, WOW I am blessed!

Best 10-6 Playoff team - lets go Titans!

Best band who led at MERGE - Cam's band...I have forgot the name but man they did a great job.

Best dad - Chad Rowland gets the Honor...man that guy loves his kids!

Best Ronaldo - Ron Edmonson with his new Malta name since he is gone this week

Best Practical Joke - Michale Higdon got the entire office today, your time is coming man!

best burger in the UNIVERSE -Five Guys

Feel free to add on to it in the comment section! You have to love trophies!

back from ORANGE 08...

Our team of 8 got back from Orange 08 (www.theorangeconference.com) last night. What a great week to get away and be with people passionate about the church and the next generation. How we invest in preschoolers, kids, and teens will shape how the next generation leads the church of Jesus Christ. (not your church or mine or your denomination of mine just the church we all belong too, it was founded by Jesus and it will never end) There is great hope that we can make a difference in the lives of kids and families and we get to be a part of the next chapter of what God wants to do here in the United States. I sensed the entire conference that God is doing a new things in the hearts of His followers who are called to invest in children and teens. Just such a blessing to be a part of that move of God. I can not wait to see what God does here in Clarksville over the next year in the church and in the families that live here.

Yesterday we had a few surprises. Andy Stanley was a surprise visit, Eddie Kirkland ( a friend the I met at Bigstuf and who has done some ministry with Freddy T) got to lead us in worship during the morning sessions, and Louie Giglio spoke in the last session. Tried to recap some ideas that flowed from the first day so here goes...

Andy Stanley...came and basically did a Q and A with Reggie and helped us think through family ministry in the local church, spiritual growth, and gave some insight into where he sees in church culture right now. Great reminder from Andy to be careful of serving others without the name and message of Jesus on our lips as we go. We serve not in our name but in the name of Jesus. As we serve we lead others to the only hope we have JESUS. Great insight...Also great insight into what spiritual growth looks like but you will have to get the session.

Louie...wow really asked everyone to examine of hearts and motivation for how we do church. In our attempt to be relevant do we miss the fact that Jesus transcends all of our feeble attempts. Our goal is to be like Jesus, think like Jesus, live like Jesus, lead others to Jesus, love others like Jesus. The truth is that we are not called to copy culture or manipulate culture we are called to CREATE culture that allows Jesus to be the center of all we do in HIS CHURCH. This thing we call church is His anyway not ours. The message from Louie was innovate, create, dream, move forward BUT NEVER WORSHIP RELEVANCE. The end goal is to spread the fame of Jesus Christ not our cool environment.

Right now as I finish this, I am so thrilled Jesus captured my heart. This is all for Him...my life, my time, my family, my dreams all for Him. In that place i find life, His life.

amazing 2 days at ORANGE...

It has been an amazing 2 days so far at the orange conference (http://www.theorangeconference.com ) this week. Yes, it is called orange and the idea behind the conference is that 2 combined influences in a child/teens life is greater than either one alone. we families and the church link arms in helping kids see and embrace Jesus Christ the influence is stronger than either one alone. If you ever get a chance to be a part of this conference it is so worth your time. Listen to how RETHINK describes the conference...

100 years from now the only thing that will matter in someone’s life is their relationship with God.

Those of us who host and participate at Orange are committed to systematically evaluating why and how we do ministry. We make an assumption when we create a conference for Christian leaders, that those who attend really are CHRISTIAN LEADERS. Therefore they want to have an honest discussion about how to reach and inspire the next generation to BE the church. They don’t mind if we engage in a healthy debate about the methods and practices of the church. As long as we are all driven by an UNCOMPROMISING MISSION to influence children, teenagers, and families to grow in their passion for Christ, then we should fight hard for the best ways to do just that. If that discussion is filtered only through conventional models or led by self-promoting entities then it doesn’t create the kind of authentic experience that challenges us to RETHINK what we do and implement the necessary changes.

There is just too much at stake to sugar-coat, water-down, or tip-toe around the issues.
That’s why we invite a special breed of leaders to speak at Orange.That’s why we value unfiltered debate.That’s why we ask hard questions.

Just amazing...I have sensed God presence here in this place in so many ways. Every session and every breakout is packed with people hungry to see this generation come to Christ. There is no fear of asking questions or rethinking how we do ministry here and there are over 48 denominations here gathered. Preschool, Children, Youth leaders all together hungry for God to use our churches to lead this generation to the cross. There is nothing we can do in our own strength, God must lead the way and together over 5,000 of us have begged God to show us the next step. There are so many thoughts that have surfaced for me, and so many moments this past week where my heart has screamed YES as the speaker spoke...

Reggis Joiner, helped us look at Luke 15 and ask our selves are we loving those away from God, prodigals, like the loving Father in the story or like the older brother. Go read that...think about it in terms of our churches. Loving father mindset or older brother? Jesus in this chapter is addressing the judgement of the Pharisees as they were mad that Jesus was eating with sinners. read it and think about it.

Francis Chan, helped us examine if our churches really look like the church birthed in the book of Acts. Do we make excises for our churches and dismiss the power of community and the Holy Spirit because of our American context. Can our churches look more and more like a place Jesus would be welcome in? Are we willing to embrace the risk having God lead us to live more and more like his Son?

Donald Miller, helped us look into the life of a leader, a servant leader. Jesus modeled this idea. Jesus influenced so many but LEAD a few disciples. Jesus allowed people to participate in God's mission to bring redemption. He helped those around Him be a part of God's plan. Will we really know the people we lead, will we help people do more than they think they can for the Kingdom? Will we dream and lead with out fear?

It is sweet to worship with so many people hungry to see God move in this generation right now with all their hurt and pain. it is wild to ask question and dream about what can be. It is great to get away and dream and refuel!

God of this City...great song, great idea!

If you have not heard the new Passion CD, go out and get it or download it. Tomlin sings a song on the cd called God of This City, it is amazing. We have been able to sing it a few times at GCC and people have really connected with the idea of the song. I find it wild to be living in a city and watch God turn my heart toward the city and the people who live here. We are a corporate sponsor of Rivers and Spires (www.riversandspires.com) a city festival here in our town. I was in a meeting today about the festival and looking around at the folks in the room. We were from all walks of life and all different types of organizations all working together to make sure this festival happens and it a blessing to the city of Clarksville. We all cared about one thing, the good of the city. Of course my heart wants to see people all over the city encounter Jesus Christ but I also want the best for this city. I want and need to understand what people care about in Clarksville. I am hoping that people here in this city will understand that the church can bring hope to city, help to the city, and people that are ready to serve. I hope we will serve asking nothing in return. I hope we will serve and display the hope of Christ through every aspect of our lives. Maybe people will see Jesus really have changed our lives, He is real! In the end, if we serve our city will be a better place to live. As we serve others we will care about the things that people here care about. This weekend we are going to be camped out with about 100 GCC volunteers in the teen area of the festival. It is going to be amazing for us to be right in the middle of this thing serving others. I have to say I am stoked about the folks that are serving. God is doing great things in our city, we get to be a part of God's movement here. Go God!

merge, summer, life with the girls...

This Blog thing...wow...i treat this like an online journal. as many of you know I talk a ton about my family, Jesus, church, Grace Community, and openly dream a little on here. If you read this I am sorry for the randomness of my brain. I do this for me so through the years I can look back and see how God has been stirring in my heart. I am not perfect, and do not have it all figured out so with that said, welcome to the mind of Bayne. it can be scary...

April is here...not the beginning the MIDDLE of April. Is it not crazy how fast time flies when you get older? I remember how slow I felt time went when I was in school. Some Saturdays could feel like they went on forever. Some weekends seemed like they would last forever. Now I am a dad. Wow, time just seems to fly. My oldest girl, Kozbi, is starting Kindergarten next year. Kelyn turns 2 in just a few days. Chelsea and I have been married for 12 years, that is wild! I have been back here in Clarksville for a year now. Time goes by so fast. The only thing I am sure of anymore is to live every moment for God's Glory. God made this thing called life anyway, maybe when I live each moment to the fullest, slow down and value each minute, try to live like Jesus showed us, maybe time will slow down a little. Well the Bible does say that life is like a "vapor" so time will always slip away and move fast but I just want to seize all of it I can for as long as God lets me.

We just finished an event with relevant called MERGE. The idea behind the weekend was that teens would spend a weekend together in small groups, staying in homes, led by their lifegroup leader. This was our first retreat like this with our teens at GCC...it was based around an event many of you have been a part of called Disciple Now but instead of bringing people here to lead our students our adults who have been leading our small groups all year led the groups at merge. Sure we did several large gatherings where a band and speaker led but once again God seemed to work the most in the group times. Discipleship and growth seem to explode when people work through the Bible, Faith, their life in a small setting built around relationship. Each large group session was amazing last weekend and each time we encountered truth from God's Word but growth happened when small groups met! It seems in our environment that we all make progress on our journey with Christ when we work through it with other people. It is not just my faith it is our Faith...questions can be asked...our struggles become know and we find out we are not alone. Teens need community, they need a place to belong, they need a place where it is ok to question, dream, discover truth with others. I was so stoked because it happened last weekend at Merge. What I experienced last weekend is what keep me focused. To see teens embrace Christ, embrace community, to connect is amazing. I am amazed that I get to spend my time working with families at Grace Community. It has been a great year!