97 West

If you could play any character from one of your favorite movies, who would you be? 

God is spinning this magical and immense story, and He invites you to play a lead role.  Yes, you.  Over the past 3 weeks at 97West we have sought to identify the real “you” – the Beloved, unique YOU that God created.

As you get to know this “Real You,” do you feel that maybe you have spent the majority of your life auditioning for the wrong role in the story of life?  Tonight I will tell you about God’s story, and we can figure out when the character of YOU enters this grand stage.

As a single, perhaps you want to know who that soul-mate is – that Mr. or Miss Right.  Or maybe during your workday you begin to question what is it, really, that would be the ideal vocation?  You spend more time pursuing the right job or ideal relationship rather than discovering the Real You, your true self.

What we’ve considered over the past couple weeks is that one of the biggest questions you can hope to answer is “Who Am I?”  When we discover our God-given identity, our Real Name, then our relationships and vocational callings may make a little more sense. 

Rather than staying home tonight and surfing the same old results on eHarmony or Monster.com, you should join us tonight as we spend time surfing the Scriptures and listening to the unique Real Name that God has given you.

 gary

I went out to dinner after a church event several years ago.  As I walked up to the restaurant hostess she said, “Hi, Gary.”  The people in my group gave me one of those “Do you know who she is” looks.  I couldn’t recall ever seeing this girl before, so how could she know who I am?  A part of me felt a bit cocky as I considered the ways in which she might know who I am, but another part of me was concerned that she may know me in a way that I’d rather not be known.

Before we sat down I figured out how she knew who I was: I forgot to remove my nametag.

Show up tonight and you will be asked who you are so that we can write your name on a sticky name badge.  Telling someone your name is easy, but revealing who you really are, well, that’s a bit more difficult.

This may sound like a stupid question, but do you know who you are?  Really?  Tonight we keep giving clues.

gary

Tonight’s 97West is all about YOU.  If you’ve joined us in the past then you know that we typically encourage one another to think of others, putting others needs before our own, offering our lives in service to others.

But tonight it’s all about YOU.  This may sound appealing at first, but here’s the rub: some of you have a difficult time looking yourself in the eye – the real YOU.  In fact, you may find it easier to serve others because that diverts the attention away from the YOU that you are hoping to hide or mask over.

Tonight we tackle the Biblical command to love others as you love yourself – but what if you don’t love yourself???

See you at 7:30, when it’s all about you.

gary

Here we go again.  Entering year number EIGHT of 97West.  Can you believe it?  There are a handful of you that were around when this all began, and you figured that there was NO WAY you’d still be attending a “singles” worship service in 2010.  Others of you will be attending tonight for just the second time ever.

I gotta be honest and tell ya that this previous two-week break over the holidays was tough.  I really missed our time of worship and just hanging out.  I’m looking forward to making up for lost time.  Let’s look back.  Let’s look ahead.  And at the same time, let’s make the most of this present moment.  Hope to see you at 7:30!

gary

We will not have 97West 12/22 and 12/29 due to Christmas as well as New Years… We will meet again January 5th, same time, same place. 

 If you are interested in going to any of our Christmas Eve services, they are at 5 PM, 7 PM, and 11PM.  Contemporary worship will be during the 11 PM service.  We will also have a dessert social at 10 PM.   All services are at the Ballast Point campus which is 5101 Bayshore Blvd., Tampa, FL 33611.

This is gonna sound crazy, but tonight at 97West you might arrive when it’s dark, but leave in the light.  No, we are not planning a marathon worship service to last all through the night; I’m just saying that by 8:30 or 9 tonight you could be walking out of this building in the light.  You will just have to be here to experience it for yourself.

Tonight will be our last get-together until after the New Year (January 5).  I will see you tonight at approximately two hours after sunset.

gary

Ps. We will not have 97West December 22 & 29. We will pick back up on January 5. Have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

The day after Thanksgiving my 7-year old son declared that it would be a special day.  Apparently Thanksgiving Day wasn’t enough, so he suggested we add another “special day” to the holiday.  I asked him what would make today such a special day.  He listed the following criteria:

1. No yelling
2. No name-calling
3. No throwing food

I found that to be an interesting combination, but agreed it would make for a nice Friday.

So what does a “Special Day” look like for you?

We continue looking at Jesus’ “I Am” statements in the gospel of John.  Tonight we consider how Jesus could play a key role in the special day your soul longs for.

Join us at 7:30 where the only yelling will be in the crowded atrium, and the only name-calling is when we refer to Christ as the Resurrection and the Life.  Oh, and stick around afterwards where we will throw food… down our throats.

~gary

97 Biscayne Ave., Tampa, FL 33606

PS. Don’t forget to purchase your Christmas Party tickets tonight for $20. The party is Sunday at Datz Deli from 6-9PM.

PSS. Angel Tree Festival is this Saturday from 2-4PM- We would love your help! Sign up tonight with Christa Willis.

A few weeks ago we began to examine the claims of Jesus. Over the weeks since Glyn launched the series, Gary has begun to show how sufficient Christ is…
When things aren’t … Christ is …
The truth … the good shepherd … the door …
That flows so easily from the tongue, doesn’t it? “Christ is … sufficient.”
I am lots of things, a man, a husband, a father, a pastor and a leader but more than that I am a Christ follower …
So what stops me – all of me – from living in the truth of the sufficiency of Christ? What stops me from living because Christ is … ?
I have a hunch – and tonight I am going to go with it -
I reckon that the problem I have with the sufficiency of Christ has less to do with the strength or weakness of my faith and more to do with my emotional insecurity …

Want to explore the idea with me?\

Join me tonight …

Craig  

PS. Purchase your Christmas Party Tickets tonight or online at
http://tinyurl.com/yzq88q5. The party is Dececmeber 13th, from 6PM-9PM at Datz Deli. The cost is $20.