Warning....I am about to go off! If you are easily offended when someone tells you the truth..you may want to not read this BLOG today!
This past week I have had way to many conversations with parents or leaders about the on-going and rising problem that many of our boys and teens are having with Internet pornography. This week we heard from some elementary boys (4 & 5th grade) that they had seen porn on their computers at home while doing research for a school project. Others in that group said they had been to a friends house and saw it there. Unbelievable!!!!
The issue is definitely huge with high school boys and we still have picture sharing on phones between girls and boys that of course gets passed around to all their friends. This is crazy......
If you read this as a parent of a boy......you should understand that your kids will at one time try and view porn at your home. They just will. So what is a parent to do????
You should do what we talk about here at least 5 times a year! GET A DARN INTERNET FILTER ON ALL COMPUTERS IN YOUR HOME! There are plenty of ones to choose from....but get one NOW! Not having an internet protection filter on ALL computers in your home is like spreading poison all over your house in every corner, on every seat, on every dish, spread all over the carpet, sprinkled on every toy.... and then hope that none of your kids will be poisoned.
Beyond basic filters, if you have teenage boys, you need to make sure that all computers have password safe entry so that the real tech smart ones can't beat the filter system. If the computer can't be turned on.....they can't beat the system. I know some families that have instituted that their computers are not allowed to be "on-line" after a certain hour at night and this is regulated by a pass word.
Some parents think....."I have a good kid who does not do those things.." Perfect, that is the kid you want to help. Remember the old saying..."Locks keep honest people honest." That is the principle here....you are helping your kids who really want to do the right thing to do it! The teenager who wants to view porn and has a car...can drive anywhere he wants and get online for it. The at home safe guards help the boys and DAD stay away in those tempting moments.
Moreover, letting your kids go to some one's house to stay the night and not checking if that home is "safe" is irresponsible for any parent. If you ask someone that you are sending your kid to their house about the use of the computers in their home and they get offended.....then that is a great sign you don't let your kid stay the night there or even hang out there all day.
Parents.....C'mon we have to start using our heads and start being the parents in our homes. Trust me, your kids may not tell you "thanks" for all the protection you provide against the evil things lurching around on the Internet....but inside they are thankful that you care enough to help them do the right thing.
Here some ones you can go online and look at for help:
Safe Eyes
Total Guard
Christian Internet Protection
There are many on line....go get one.
Lets not let our kids become addicts to porn and all the junk it does to their mind as it completely distorts their view of men/women relationships, what is appropriate and sex in general. It is an epidemic...you have the cure!
One more thing....most kids and teenagers at Team Church don't read my daily BLOG. So, please don't run to your kids and ask them if they are the ones who we are talking about. Trust me....your kids are the ones we are talking about. My son is the one we are talking about! All kids are the ones we are talking about. They don't need to know that you and I had this little talk. We want them to keep sharing freely at church!
Friday, February 27, 2009
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Do You Remember?
March is almost here....unbelievable! However, it is very true. It has been four months since we announced during a Sunday service that we were changing our name to Team Church. It has been two months since we made that a public announcement at the first of this year along with a short message series reminding us all of who we have always been as a church and how we were now mixing it that with our new name.
I wanted to use today's BLOG to remind you of those statements and then ask you how you are doing as you internalize the mission and game plan of your church...Team Church. Here you go...
One Purpose: Reach people where they are and lead them to full devotion in Christ.
Shared Responsibility:
• Love one another in fellowship
• Serve in the Church
• Give to God through the church
• Share Jesus with others
Personal Devotion:
• Pray
• Know and use the Bible
• Worship
Game Plan:
• Reach & Impact the Crowd
• Train & Empower our Players
Very simple....very clear....life and community changing. Every person that calls Team Church home should know the verbiage to this simple and distinguishable mission statements, values and Game Plan.
Easily described in our church tag line.....One Purpose, Shared Responsibility, Personal Devotion.
"Do all the good you can, By all the means you can, In all the ways you can...To all the people you can, for as long as you ever can!" John Wesley
I wanted to use today's BLOG to remind you of those statements and then ask you how you are doing as you internalize the mission and game plan of your church...Team Church. Here you go...
One Purpose: Reach people where they are and lead them to full devotion in Christ.
Shared Responsibility:
• Love one another in fellowship
• Serve in the Church
• Give to God through the church
• Share Jesus with others
Personal Devotion:
• Pray
• Know and use the Bible
• Worship
Game Plan:
• Reach & Impact the Crowd
• Train & Empower our Players
Very simple....very clear....life and community changing. Every person that calls Team Church home should know the verbiage to this simple and distinguishable mission statements, values and Game Plan.
Easily described in our church tag line.....One Purpose, Shared Responsibility, Personal Devotion.
"Do all the good you can, By all the means you can, In all the ways you can...To all the people you can, for as long as you ever can!" John Wesley
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Sick Kids Everywhere
It is 5:30am and I have been listening to Brady, my 3 year old, cough for the last 2 hours. Poor guy sounds horrible! I know that many many families have kids that are sick and that it goes from one family member to the other and then from one family to another. I heard of one school somewhere that had so many kids and teachers sick they just canceled school for two days to stop the spreading and because they could not get anything done.
This all reminds me to remind you of our "sick kid policy" at Team Church. As much as we love to have your kids in church on Sunday....if they are sick......please leave them home. If you have any questions about what we ask you to do go to teamchurch.com/kids or email Christa or Clint in the Kids Ministry. This week we have cleaned every toy, table and the like with disinfection Lysol spray! This place is clean!
Speaking of kids.......don't forget to bring your 1-5th grader to Team Kid tonight or your Middle and High School to Pursuit. Their will be over 200 kids here tonight...I hope one is yours!
"Tis great confidence in a friend to tell him your faults, greater to tell him his!"
- Benjamin Franklin
This all reminds me to remind you of our "sick kid policy" at Team Church. As much as we love to have your kids in church on Sunday....if they are sick......please leave them home. If you have any questions about what we ask you to do go to teamchurch.com/kids or email Christa or Clint in the Kids Ministry. This week we have cleaned every toy, table and the like with disinfection Lysol spray! This place is clean!
Speaking of kids.......don't forget to bring your 1-5th grader to Team Kid tonight or your Middle and High School to Pursuit. Their will be over 200 kids here tonight...I hope one is yours!
"Tis great confidence in a friend to tell him your faults, greater to tell him his!"
- Benjamin Franklin
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Graceful Living
Sunday we talked about Graceful Living....or....Living In Grace. I shared with you that the Bible is very clear that the "way we get into a relationship with Jesus Christ is the same thing that sustains us through our life." That of course is Grace!
It is through this ability to live daily in grace that we are able to get over our past and not feel shame and guilt in our current lives because of something we did or did not do....in our past. Since the service on Sunday, I have heard many great "take-away" truths that people told me really helped them. I thought it would be helpful to share a few of those in today's BLOG.
When we live in Grace we can walk around each day knowing that we are continually accepted by God and we do not have to worry about trying to earn his love, favor or acceptance. I compared this to great joy to going into an amusement park and having an arm band that allows you to enjoy every ride that you want as many times as you want without worrying about what the cost of each ride may be. This is way better than having to pay an amount of tickets for each ride and watching your tickets get fewer and fewer with each ride. In Christ we have freedom to enjoy this world....inside the boundaries of the "park" and in keeping with the rules of the park.
When we live in Grace we only have to live up to God's expectations. No one else! We have an audience of One....the only One who matters. God expects us to live in Grace and Truth when it comes to obedience and forgiveness.
When we live in Grace we can get over our past because God said he has wiped the record of our wrongs away. It does not matter how you feel.....your feelings are many times wrong. We have to let the truth of what God says about forgiveness transform our feelings. Many of us have to still live with the consequences of our actions. However, just because the consequences are still here and maybe painful, does not mean we have to live in continual shame or guilt. We cannot attribute our continual consequence to mean that God still holds that wrong against us and therefore we are still guilty and should feel shameful.
Grace.... it is amazing! It is the only way to live. It helps us move on from our past and helps us fore a better future as we learn from our past and resolve to live in freedom and truth.
This Sunday we will take the principle of Grace and she how it can transform our parenting! This Sunday is Graceful: Parenting. Start now thinking who you can invite to this incredible and life changing service.
"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore, Dream. Discover.
- Mark Twain
It is through this ability to live daily in grace that we are able to get over our past and not feel shame and guilt in our current lives because of something we did or did not do....in our past. Since the service on Sunday, I have heard many great "take-away" truths that people told me really helped them. I thought it would be helpful to share a few of those in today's BLOG.
When we live in Grace we can walk around each day knowing that we are continually accepted by God and we do not have to worry about trying to earn his love, favor or acceptance. I compared this to great joy to going into an amusement park and having an arm band that allows you to enjoy every ride that you want as many times as you want without worrying about what the cost of each ride may be. This is way better than having to pay an amount of tickets for each ride and watching your tickets get fewer and fewer with each ride. In Christ we have freedom to enjoy this world....inside the boundaries of the "park" and in keeping with the rules of the park.
When we live in Grace we only have to live up to God's expectations. No one else! We have an audience of One....the only One who matters. God expects us to live in Grace and Truth when it comes to obedience and forgiveness.
When we live in Grace we can get over our past because God said he has wiped the record of our wrongs away. It does not matter how you feel.....your feelings are many times wrong. We have to let the truth of what God says about forgiveness transform our feelings. Many of us have to still live with the consequences of our actions. However, just because the consequences are still here and maybe painful, does not mean we have to live in continual shame or guilt. We cannot attribute our continual consequence to mean that God still holds that wrong against us and therefore we are still guilty and should feel shameful.
Grace.... it is amazing! It is the only way to live. It helps us move on from our past and helps us fore a better future as we learn from our past and resolve to live in freedom and truth.
This Sunday we will take the principle of Grace and she how it can transform our parenting! This Sunday is Graceful: Parenting. Start now thinking who you can invite to this incredible and life changing service.
"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore, Dream. Discover.
- Mark Twain
Monday, February 23, 2009
What Our Teenagers Were Doing Yesterday
I have always challenged parents to get their teenagers involved in our student ministry as much as possible. In today's culture, teenagers need more than just an hour on Sunday. They need a place to be encouraged in their faith, challenged to not give into common traps, learn what God says about life and to also serve others in God's name......all of this while having fun that is designed for their age and sometimes gender.
What was your teenager doing yesterday afternoon? playing video games? texting? watching TV? "just hanging"? Sleeping? complaining about being bored?
Here is what I witnessed a bunch of our teenagers doing yesterday afternoon:
* I went with a group of 6th grade Middle School boys and their Home Team to the Howell Center. They spent two hours cleaning, tearing down old stuff, throwing it in the dumpster.....and "sweeping" to get the indoor pool room ready for our church to renovate it this Spring as one of our anniversary service tour projects.
* On our church campus another group of 7th & 8th Grade boys had their Home Team far back in the woods of the new church property. They had their Bible study and discussion time mixed with exploring the woods, jumping over the little river back there, doing crazy things in the woods that boys like to do and planning a camp-out.
* Our High School band was practicing for Wednesday night at Pursuit....where they use the entire stage, lighting, multimedia and everything else we use on Sunday morning for a great service each Wednesday night. It is amazing to watch all of this technology being used.....by teenagers. Moreover, the entire band and tech crew is made up of Teenagers. Four different kinds of guitars (I have no clue) drummer, keyboard and a few singers. They are awesome!
* After the band rehearsal they actually had student auditions to play or sing in the band. A group of high school boys and girls were sitting in the atrium area waiting for their time to try-out. Very professional..very American Idol.
* In other areas of the building other Home Teams were gathered too. Each Sunday they may do something different...but when they meet it is a great time to be together and accomplish what I talked about at the start of this BLOG.
Today those middle school and high school students will go back to school. They will be faced with pressures that you and I cannot even imagine....because our culture has made a huge swing away from the morals and values we hold true as Christians. They are growing up without implications of authority and they are being raised in a culture that lets them believe they are entitled to the best with out having to earn it. Moreover and most alerting is that what is common now in the minds and actions of teenagers is different because of the technology that was not here when I was in High School 2 years ago. If you think "oh, it is the same." you are kidding yourself or very uninformed. More than even when we started (CSF) Team Church teenagers need constant involvement in that which is pure, good, and godly. They need a place that loves them but won't let them settle for spiritual mediocrity. They need a place that challenges them to rise far above what is now common in their culture.
Academics, Athletics and other pursuits should be gone after.....but should never be seen as more important than their pursuit of God's best. Parents are the ones who set the tone and more importantly set the weekly schedule.
So....what was your teenager doing yesterday afternoon?
"Train a child in the way he should go,
and when he is old he will not turn from it." Prov 22:6
What was your teenager doing yesterday afternoon? playing video games? texting? watching TV? "just hanging"? Sleeping? complaining about being bored?
Here is what I witnessed a bunch of our teenagers doing yesterday afternoon:
* I went with a group of 6th grade Middle School boys and their Home Team to the Howell Center. They spent two hours cleaning, tearing down old stuff, throwing it in the dumpster.....and "sweeping" to get the indoor pool room ready for our church to renovate it this Spring as one of our anniversary service tour projects.
* On our church campus another group of 7th & 8th Grade boys had their Home Team far back in the woods of the new church property. They had their Bible study and discussion time mixed with exploring the woods, jumping over the little river back there, doing crazy things in the woods that boys like to do and planning a camp-out.
* Our High School band was practicing for Wednesday night at Pursuit....where they use the entire stage, lighting, multimedia and everything else we use on Sunday morning for a great service each Wednesday night. It is amazing to watch all of this technology being used.....by teenagers. Moreover, the entire band and tech crew is made up of Teenagers. Four different kinds of guitars (I have no clue) drummer, keyboard and a few singers. They are awesome!
* After the band rehearsal they actually had student auditions to play or sing in the band. A group of high school boys and girls were sitting in the atrium area waiting for their time to try-out. Very professional..very American Idol.
* In other areas of the building other Home Teams were gathered too. Each Sunday they may do something different...but when they meet it is a great time to be together and accomplish what I talked about at the start of this BLOG.
Today those middle school and high school students will go back to school. They will be faced with pressures that you and I cannot even imagine....because our culture has made a huge swing away from the morals and values we hold true as Christians. They are growing up without implications of authority and they are being raised in a culture that lets them believe they are entitled to the best with out having to earn it. Moreover and most alerting is that what is common now in the minds and actions of teenagers is different because of the technology that was not here when I was in High School 2 years ago. If you think "oh, it is the same." you are kidding yourself or very uninformed. More than even when we started (CSF) Team Church teenagers need constant involvement in that which is pure, good, and godly. They need a place that loves them but won't let them settle for spiritual mediocrity. They need a place that challenges them to rise far above what is now common in their culture.
Academics, Athletics and other pursuits should be gone after.....but should never be seen as more important than their pursuit of God's best. Parents are the ones who set the tone and more importantly set the weekly schedule.
So....what was your teenager doing yesterday afternoon?
"Train a child in the way he should go,
and when he is old he will not turn from it." Prov 22:6
Friday, February 20, 2009
Fellowship Serivce and Baptism Coming Up
On Wednesday night, March 18th, we will have our next Fellowship Service. That is also the next time we are having a Baptism celebration. If you have never been baptized as a professing Christian....this is your is big night. This Sunday morning make sure you sign up to be baptized and one of our pastors will contact you.
Our Fellowship services are a highlight and are always a great night of worship, communion and celebrating new life in Jesus Christ as people are baptized. This is a night that we punctuate our One Purpose of reaching people where they are and leading them to full devotion in Jesus Christ. It is a night that we see first hand what happens when we all Share Responsibility in our One Purpose. Moreover, it is a night when those who are growing in their Personal Devotion see the fruits of their devotion to Christ. Mark your calendars....don't miss it!
Also, don't forget to keep up with where we are in our 10 year anniversary service tour. Click here to read about how you can celebrate with us and make a lasting impact in our community.
Our Fellowship services are a highlight and are always a great night of worship, communion and celebrating new life in Jesus Christ as people are baptized. This is a night that we punctuate our One Purpose of reaching people where they are and leading them to full devotion in Jesus Christ. It is a night that we see first hand what happens when we all Share Responsibility in our One Purpose. Moreover, it is a night when those who are growing in their Personal Devotion see the fruits of their devotion to Christ. Mark your calendars....don't miss it!
Also, don't forget to keep up with where we are in our 10 year anniversary service tour. Click here to read about how you can celebrate with us and make a lasting impact in our community.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
New Series Starts Sunday
Well.....I am back in the saddle. The Hibbard family had a great time away for 3 days and even got in one day of snow skiing. The weather was beautiful and the snow was actually pretty good too. (not always the case in NC...) It was different this time as Peyton snowboarded for the first time and Brady went skiing for the first time ever. For a 3 year old turning 4 in May.....he did awesome. Once he was done with the worthless ski lessons, I took him down the bunny slopes and then we hit the big time. He had a great time ridding the big lift and then skiing down the big slopes and as he said...."going really fast!"
While I was a way playing......our staff and volunteers completely redesigned the stage as we kick off a new message series this Sunday. This Sunday we start a great series called Graceful. We will look at how we can use this thing called Grace in very specific areas of our life. Here is the exciting lineup:
February 22nd Graceful Living: Enjoying today as we move on from a painful past that now causes shame and guilt.
March 1st Graceful Parenting: A new perspective on what our kids need from us can radically change our parenting style and make it more productive.
March 8th Graceful Giving: When we are a person who is truly grateful for what we have been given, then we become a gracious giver.
March 15th Graceful Dying: Dying is something that will happen to all of us. Once we conquer our fear of death....we can start to really live.
Over the last few weeks we have learned the real meaning of the word Love and how to apply it to our everyday life. This will be a great new learning on the word Grace!
Click on our website Teamchurch.com to see the promo for the new series and then make sure you invite a friend! This Sunday our Creative Arts Ministry has a very powerful presentation you wont want to miss! Arrive early and sit up front!
While I was a way playing......our staff and volunteers completely redesigned the stage as we kick off a new message series this Sunday. This Sunday we start a great series called Graceful. We will look at how we can use this thing called Grace in very specific areas of our life. Here is the exciting lineup:
February 22nd Graceful Living: Enjoying today as we move on from a painful past that now causes shame and guilt.
March 1st Graceful Parenting: A new perspective on what our kids need from us can radically change our parenting style and make it more productive.
March 8th Graceful Giving: When we are a person who is truly grateful for what we have been given, then we become a gracious giver.
March 15th Graceful Dying: Dying is something that will happen to all of us. Once we conquer our fear of death....we can start to really live.
Over the last few weeks we have learned the real meaning of the word Love and how to apply it to our everyday life. This will be a great new learning on the word Grace!
Click on our website Teamchurch.com to see the promo for the new series and then make sure you invite a friend! This Sunday our Creative Arts Ministry has a very powerful presentation you wont want to miss! Arrive early and sit up front!
Monday, February 16, 2009
Three day break with family
Hey!
My kids are off school for three days....so the Hibbard's are gone.
So.....no BLOG until Thursday! I don't email, BLOG, Twitter or do any of the sorts when I am gone....no way! Unplugged is the only way to go!
My kids are off school for three days....so the Hibbard's are gone.
So.....no BLOG until Thursday! I don't email, BLOG, Twitter or do any of the sorts when I am gone....no way! Unplugged is the only way to go!
Friday, February 13, 2009
Anniversary Service Tour
Over the next few months we are celebrating our 10 year anniversary as a church. As you know, we have decided not to celebrate in a normal way. No big banquets, no huge picnic, no one BIG night of music and festivities......nope, we are celebrating by serving on our community! We are doing 10 service projects that deeply impact some important needs in our area. Hundreds of volunteers and thousands of dollars will be invested in our community. Our new website has a special page to tell you about each project and give you the dates each one will occur. It is our hopes that you will be a part of as many as possible. As a matter of fact....some have taken our 10 for 10 challenge.
Click on this link Team Church Anniversary to read all about them.
Tomorrow is Valentines Day. Have you given your special card with the insignia away yet? Also, MEN.....even though V-day will be over....this Sunday I will be giving some everyday verbal romantic tips away that will help you in your quest to be what my wife calls....."Mr. Wonderful!"
Also, please whisper a prayer for those killed late last night in the plane crash in New York area. I believe that 47 people were killed....all on the flight and one on the ground.
"As the deer longs for streams of water,
so I long for you, O God.
I thirst for God, the living God.
When can I go and stand before him?
Day and night I have only tears for food,
while my enemies continually taunt me, saying,
“Where is this God of yours?”
Psalm 42:1-4
Click on this link Team Church Anniversary to read all about them.
Tomorrow is Valentines Day. Have you given your special card with the insignia away yet? Also, MEN.....even though V-day will be over....this Sunday I will be giving some everyday verbal romantic tips away that will help you in your quest to be what my wife calls....."Mr. Wonderful!"
Also, please whisper a prayer for those killed late last night in the plane crash in New York area. I believe that 47 people were killed....all on the flight and one on the ground.
"As the deer longs for streams of water,
so I long for you, O God.
I thirst for God, the living God.
When can I go and stand before him?
Day and night I have only tears for food,
while my enemies continually taunt me, saying,
“Where is this God of yours?”
Psalm 42:1-4
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Parking & Seating Matters
Every Sunday I sit in the "green room" preparing spiritually and mentally for the message I am about to deliver. As I am waiting there I see the flood of Team Church vehicles come pouring onto our campus looking for a place to park. As the minutes get closer to the start of the service....available spaces get fewer and fewer. By the time the service starts (especially 2nd service) there are really no spots open.....our excellent parking team begins parking people around the drop off area and the like. The packed parking lot is great.....except for the people who can't find one.
I need for all those who are here for both services (because you are serving one service and attending another or you are a groupy who just hangs out) to park in the new grass parking area on the hillside or if it has rained recently to park across the street at the warehouse parking. The owners have given us permission to park there when needed. Many first time guest arrive a little late and do not know where to go when they get here. Allowing them to park in the upfront spots allows them to see the signs and main entrance a lot easier. Moreover, it makes their walk time shorter as they may be a little late or need more time to find everything.
Secondly, we need all Team Church regular attendees to sit up front and be willing to sit "cheek to cheek". We are doing the research and will be ready to order our 225 balcony theater seats as soon as we can financially afford to purchase them.(special thanks to those who currently sit in the balcony on the carpeted cement...there is a special place in heaven for you HA HA) Both services are continually over "80 percent" full and that practically means that it feels full and people feel like they can't sit together if they have 4 or more in their group.
Current finances is not allowing us to move forward as planned with new parking, seating and the like. So.....time to Team Up and do the best we can! This is one thing I have always loved about so many of you......you understand that Sunday morning is not always about selfish convenience. Sunday is not just an hour in your week that you show up for a great experience...Sunday is a special day that plays a part in the totality of what it means to be a life-changing church every day of every week in our community.
Great job Team Church!
"Even so, you have done well to share with me in my present difficulty. As you know, you Philippians were the only ones who gave me financial help when I first brought you the Good News and then traveled on from Macedonia. No other church did this. Even when I was in Thessalonica you sent help more than once. I don’t say this because I want a gift from you. Rather, I want you to receive a reward for your kindness.
At the moment I have all I need—and more! I am generously supplied with the gifts you sent me with Epaphroditus. They are a sweet-smelling sacrifice that is acceptable and pleasing to God. And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.
Now all glory to God our Father forever and ever! Amen."
Philippians 4:14-20
I need for all those who are here for both services (because you are serving one service and attending another or you are a groupy who just hangs out) to park in the new grass parking area on the hillside or if it has rained recently to park across the street at the warehouse parking. The owners have given us permission to park there when needed. Many first time guest arrive a little late and do not know where to go when they get here. Allowing them to park in the upfront spots allows them to see the signs and main entrance a lot easier. Moreover, it makes their walk time shorter as they may be a little late or need more time to find everything.
Secondly, we need all Team Church regular attendees to sit up front and be willing to sit "cheek to cheek". We are doing the research and will be ready to order our 225 balcony theater seats as soon as we can financially afford to purchase them.(special thanks to those who currently sit in the balcony on the carpeted cement...there is a special place in heaven for you HA HA) Both services are continually over "80 percent" full and that practically means that it feels full and people feel like they can't sit together if they have 4 or more in their group.
Current finances is not allowing us to move forward as planned with new parking, seating and the like. So.....time to Team Up and do the best we can! This is one thing I have always loved about so many of you......you understand that Sunday morning is not always about selfish convenience. Sunday is not just an hour in your week that you show up for a great experience...Sunday is a special day that plays a part in the totality of what it means to be a life-changing church every day of every week in our community.
Great job Team Church!
"Even so, you have done well to share with me in my present difficulty. As you know, you Philippians were the only ones who gave me financial help when I first brought you the Good News and then traveled on from Macedonia. No other church did this. Even when I was in Thessalonica you sent help more than once. I don’t say this because I want a gift from you. Rather, I want you to receive a reward for your kindness.
At the moment I have all I need—and more! I am generously supplied with the gifts you sent me with Epaphroditus. They are a sweet-smelling sacrifice that is acceptable and pleasing to God. And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.
Now all glory to God our Father forever and ever! Amen."
Philippians 4:14-20
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Church Coaching Center Starts Today!
Today the coaching center that we are a part of and support through money, time and materials kicks off in Rock Hill. The name of the Coaching center is The Cypress Project. This is a year long teaching, coaching and mentoring process for church planting pastors or other pastors who want to bring a new direction and philosophy to their already existing church. Our very own Neal McGlohon is the founder and leader of the Cypress Project.
Currently we have 3 host cities areas. Charlotte/Rock Hill, Columbia and Myrtle Beach. For this first season of coaching we have 31 pastors from 14 different cities. Moreover, Neal led a group in Calgary Canada last month and a group up there wants The Cypress Project to possibly start a center there. As you know, we use a percentage of our mission budget to support this great cause as we seek to Team up with many other churches in their quest to plant new churches that actually reach
people who are Christians or those who no longer attend church. Moreover, we want to help these new churches become churches that impact their local community in real and relevant ways.
Steve Miller, our new pastor for Team Church in Lancaster Co. is going through the process this year and we are excited about that. Speaking of our new Team Church campus.......this Sunday we will have our 2nd preview service there as we gear up for our Easter Morning launch. We believe that there is a huge need in that area for a church like ours and the evidence is the excitement that our new campus has already experienced.
Team Church is our new name.......it is just who we are!
"There is no delight in owning anything unshared" Seneca
"Fame usually comes to those who are thinking about something else." Oliver Holmes
Currently we have 3 host cities areas. Charlotte/Rock Hill, Columbia and Myrtle Beach. For this first season of coaching we have 31 pastors from 14 different cities. Moreover, Neal led a group in Calgary Canada last month and a group up there wants The Cypress Project to possibly start a center there. As you know, we use a percentage of our mission budget to support this great cause as we seek to Team up with many other churches in their quest to plant new churches that actually reach
people who are Christians or those who no longer attend church. Moreover, we want to help these new churches become churches that impact their local community in real and relevant ways.
Steve Miller, our new pastor for Team Church in Lancaster Co. is going through the process this year and we are excited about that. Speaking of our new Team Church campus.......this Sunday we will have our 2nd preview service there as we gear up for our Easter Morning launch. We believe that there is a huge need in that area for a church like ours and the evidence is the excitement that our new campus has already experienced.
Team Church is our new name.......it is just who we are!
"There is no delight in owning anything unshared" Seneca
"Fame usually comes to those who are thinking about something else." Oliver Holmes
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Our Band Rocks
As many of you know, our Team Church band is in a fun competition with two other church bands from the area. This competition is sponsored by Christian radio station 91.9 You can go vote by clicking here
Get out and rock the vote!
While talking about our band I wanted to share some things that is very cool and many times unique to our church band.
KC Clark is our Worship Pastor and does an incredible job of leading this amazing band. He is the only paid person who plays or sings in our incredible band. We value excellence in our band but we also have a greater church value of serving in ones gifts and passions to help Team Church obtain our One Purpose. We each must share in the responsibility of the One Purpose as volunteers. Therefore, we have incredibly gifted musicians who play each week....however, they are not paid. A few of them are "professional" in the fact that they are paid other places to play....but not here. They are volunteers just like the people running the lights, parking cars, teaching 5th grade and wiping baby butts in the nursery. I couldn't imagine paying someone to come play in our band knowing that the only reason they are here is to collect a pay check. I have often wondered....if we paid someone to be here...then another church or organization offered more....would they leave us for that place because the money was better?
The same is true for any volunteer aspect of Sunday morning. Paying nursery workers? Paying to have a parking team? Paying to have someone work in the cafe? Serving is too much of what it means to be a fully devoted follower of Christ and if done correctly, it is one of the greatest joys a person can experience in the local church.
Now of course, in order to keep the high quality and commitment in our band we don't burn them out by asking them to play every week. With the amount of time they put in each week practicing for each service.....that would be unfair to ask. So we have many people who rotate through each week as they play. This means that each week our band has different people playing with each other. This shows how truly gifted they are....as a group of about 15 band members...they get to know each other but on any given week only 4-7 may be playing. They get the music one week, they come together on Monday night to practice and by Sunday morning it is incredible. Moreover, many of the songs we sing on Sunday are written and produced by the people in our band. This is how we are in the competition.......the song you vote for must be original to that church band. So go vote.....
One more thing...for those who may be wondering! Serving and volunteering in a our church does not have to happen on Sunday. We have opportunities all during the week. (We even have a clean team that comes in and cleans the bathrooms and the entire building as volunteers.) These volunteering opportunities through out the week enable the staff to also be volunteers at Team Church. That is right.....me and our staff are not above anyone else at Team Church. There are no superstars here that only work when they are getting paid. Each staff members gives extra time during the week in serving that may not be in their job description and enables us to experience the joy of Serving and Sharing in the Responsibility of the church. From day one a staff member is told that if we expect people to work full-time and also volunteer at the church.....then we do the same thing. As I have said before, what I do on Sunday is no greater in God's eyes than what the band does and what a nursery work does. We all have been given gifts, passion and a role to play.
"Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is a process; working together is success!" Henry Ford!
"When your organization operates like a strong family, you can't be knocked out by one punch!" Coach K
Get out and rock the vote!
While talking about our band I wanted to share some things that is very cool and many times unique to our church band.
KC Clark is our Worship Pastor and does an incredible job of leading this amazing band. He is the only paid person who plays or sings in our incredible band. We value excellence in our band but we also have a greater church value of serving in ones gifts and passions to help Team Church obtain our One Purpose. We each must share in the responsibility of the One Purpose as volunteers. Therefore, we have incredibly gifted musicians who play each week....however, they are not paid. A few of them are "professional" in the fact that they are paid other places to play....but not here. They are volunteers just like the people running the lights, parking cars, teaching 5th grade and wiping baby butts in the nursery. I couldn't imagine paying someone to come play in our band knowing that the only reason they are here is to collect a pay check. I have often wondered....if we paid someone to be here...then another church or organization offered more....would they leave us for that place because the money was better?
The same is true for any volunteer aspect of Sunday morning. Paying nursery workers? Paying to have a parking team? Paying to have someone work in the cafe? Serving is too much of what it means to be a fully devoted follower of Christ and if done correctly, it is one of the greatest joys a person can experience in the local church.
Now of course, in order to keep the high quality and commitment in our band we don't burn them out by asking them to play every week. With the amount of time they put in each week practicing for each service.....that would be unfair to ask. So we have many people who rotate through each week as they play. This means that each week our band has different people playing with each other. This shows how truly gifted they are....as a group of about 15 band members...they get to know each other but on any given week only 4-7 may be playing. They get the music one week, they come together on Monday night to practice and by Sunday morning it is incredible. Moreover, many of the songs we sing on Sunday are written and produced by the people in our band. This is how we are in the competition.......the song you vote for must be original to that church band. So go vote.....
One more thing...for those who may be wondering! Serving and volunteering in a our church does not have to happen on Sunday. We have opportunities all during the week. (We even have a clean team that comes in and cleans the bathrooms and the entire building as volunteers.) These volunteering opportunities through out the week enable the staff to also be volunteers at Team Church. That is right.....me and our staff are not above anyone else at Team Church. There are no superstars here that only work when they are getting paid. Each staff members gives extra time during the week in serving that may not be in their job description and enables us to experience the joy of Serving and Sharing in the Responsibility of the church. From day one a staff member is told that if we expect people to work full-time and also volunteer at the church.....then we do the same thing. As I have said before, what I do on Sunday is no greater in God's eyes than what the band does and what a nursery work does. We all have been given gifts, passion and a role to play.
"Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is a process; working together is success!" Henry Ford!
"When your organization operates like a strong family, you can't be knocked out by one punch!" Coach K
Monday, February 9, 2009
Stuff The Bus Went Well
Yesterday, as you pulled onto our church campus, you saw a big Union County School bus parked on the grass island in front of the building. Yesterday we accomplished our 2nd service project in our 10-Year Anniversary Service Tour. Today, volunteers from Team Church will deliver our U-haul filled with school supplies to Indian Trail Elem School. It will be much needed supplies for many kids! Great Job Team Church!
Yesterday, I also gave a talk called Fake Love. I know that we all will be able to use the message and the special note card that was provided. Remember to write in the space provided on the card them give it with the sealed insignia on it.
As a reminder here is what Paul says Love Is NOT:
Love is NOT Envious!
Love is NOT Boastful and Proud!
Love is NOT Rude!
Love is NOT Selfish!
Love is NOT Easily Angered!
Love is Does NOT hold a Grudge!
If you have someone in your life that you have been Loving in a Fake way....ask God to forgive you, then give them the note card. Be sure to tell them what you have done poorly and how you plan to change. Do this.....and they will love it more than chocolate, cards, flowers, and all the normal stuff we buy at Valentines Day as we sweep through the store and "grab" something because we have been told that Feb.14th we have to......
Speaking of V-day...here is a little Bible Poetry to help the guys out on what to say in your card. Straight from the Bible in Song Of Solomon 4:1-7
You are beautiful, my darling,
beautiful beyond words.
Your eyes are like doves
behind your veil.
Your hair falls in waves,
like a flock of goats winding down the slopes of Gilead.
Your teeth are as white as sheep,
recently shorn and freshly washed.
Your smile is flawless,
each tooth matched with its twin.[a]
Your lips are like scarlet ribbon;
your mouth is inviting.
Your cheeks are like rosy pomegranates
behind your veil.
Your neck is as beautiful as the tower of David,
jeweled with the shields of a thousand heroes.
Your breasts are like two fawns,
twin fawns of a gazelle grazing among the lilies.
Before the dawn breezes blow
and the night shadows flee,
I will hurry to the mountain of myrrh
and to the hill of frankincense.
You are altogether beautiful, my darling,
beautiful in every way.
Yesterday, I also gave a talk called Fake Love. I know that we all will be able to use the message and the special note card that was provided. Remember to write in the space provided on the card them give it with the sealed insignia on it.
As a reminder here is what Paul says Love Is NOT:
Love is NOT Envious!
Love is NOT Boastful and Proud!
Love is NOT Rude!
Love is NOT Selfish!
Love is NOT Easily Angered!
Love is Does NOT hold a Grudge!
If you have someone in your life that you have been Loving in a Fake way....ask God to forgive you, then give them the note card. Be sure to tell them what you have done poorly and how you plan to change. Do this.....and they will love it more than chocolate, cards, flowers, and all the normal stuff we buy at Valentines Day as we sweep through the store and "grab" something because we have been told that Feb.14th we have to......
Speaking of V-day...here is a little Bible Poetry to help the guys out on what to say in your card. Straight from the Bible in Song Of Solomon 4:1-7
You are beautiful, my darling,
beautiful beyond words.
Your eyes are like doves
behind your veil.
Your hair falls in waves,
like a flock of goats winding down the slopes of Gilead.
Your teeth are as white as sheep,
recently shorn and freshly washed.
Your smile is flawless,
each tooth matched with its twin.[a]
Your lips are like scarlet ribbon;
your mouth is inviting.
Your cheeks are like rosy pomegranates
behind your veil.
Your neck is as beautiful as the tower of David,
jeweled with the shields of a thousand heroes.
Your breasts are like two fawns,
twin fawns of a gazelle grazing among the lilies.
Before the dawn breezes blow
and the night shadows flee,
I will hurry to the mountain of myrrh
and to the hill of frankincense.
You are altogether beautiful, my darling,
beautiful in every way.
Friday, February 6, 2009
Prayer Works.....Story from the trenches
Last Friday we had a special Economic Crisis Prayer Time. It went great....here is a personal story I received this week:
Hi Kenny
This past Friday evening, Nancy and I attended the special prayer service for the economic situation and for those without jobs or losing their jobs. We left this service with a sense of re-newness and hope for ourselves and a prayer for all others.
I have been unemployed for over a year, about 9 months for Nancy. Looking for a job is a full-time job in itself. We have searched many job placement companies on the Internet, local newspapers, walked into businesses and left a resume or filled out applications and have sent countless resumes to job postings. I had even opened my search to areas with low unemployment in other parts of the country with the thought of relocating if necessary. I have tried to begin my own small home repair and handyman business and have done work for others, but not enough to make a living. I believe its because people just don't have the money to spend or are putting remodeling and repairs on hold until the economy strengthens. I had been in construction sales (cabinets) for over 15 years but the housing construction has all but stopped. Everyday, the news has been bleak with more layoffs to come.
I had a health insurance policy and just recently canceled it because the insurance company refused to pay for recent bills (over 7K) accumulated after some extensive tests that were ordered by my doctor. I was paying $500 a month just for myself! Nancy could not be insured with this company and has not had health insurance since she was laid off last April. It just seemed we were going further and further in the hole and we really could not see a light at the end of the tunnel. However, we continued to pray and supported Team Church the best way we could, financially and as volunteers because we believe in the church and the support of the staff, but more importantly, we believe in God.
When we left the church on Friday after the prayer service, music and your message, all these re-confirmed our belief in God and the ministry of the church. Out of the blue on Monday morning, I received a call from a company I had interviewed with over a month ago asking if I was still looking for a job and would I come in for another interview?? I was offered a job after this second interview! At this point, I begin sometime around the middle of February, if not sooner. Along with having a paycheck, the company will pay for my health insurance totally and I will be able to add Nancy to the policy as well! I am excited and can only give God the praise and glory for giving us another chance. Even though I will be doing some extensive travel with this company, including most weekends, I can continue worshiping with Team Church by reading your daily blogs and watching all missed services on the Team Church website. The job and the pay is not ideal, but I am just thankful I have been offered a job (with those important benefits)!
Thank you Kenny and thank you Team Church for your support and your prayers. I feel better about myself, more than I have in a long time. Roger
WOW...that is great. In these challenging times, we need God and His people to be the "Church." Great job Team Church!
Things To Remember For THIS Sunday:
1) Please be on time, don't miss the first 5 minutes of the service.
2) Please sit close and to the front. (We are trying to think of how we can get the new seats paid for and in the balcony)
3) THIS SUNDAY IS STUFF THE BUS....for Indian Trail Elem.
4) BRING A FRIEND!
Hi Kenny
This past Friday evening, Nancy and I attended the special prayer service for the economic situation and for those without jobs or losing their jobs. We left this service with a sense of re-newness and hope for ourselves and a prayer for all others.
I have been unemployed for over a year, about 9 months for Nancy. Looking for a job is a full-time job in itself. We have searched many job placement companies on the Internet, local newspapers, walked into businesses and left a resume or filled out applications and have sent countless resumes to job postings. I had even opened my search to areas with low unemployment in other parts of the country with the thought of relocating if necessary. I have tried to begin my own small home repair and handyman business and have done work for others, but not enough to make a living. I believe its because people just don't have the money to spend or are putting remodeling and repairs on hold until the economy strengthens. I had been in construction sales (cabinets) for over 15 years but the housing construction has all but stopped. Everyday, the news has been bleak with more layoffs to come.
I had a health insurance policy and just recently canceled it because the insurance company refused to pay for recent bills (over 7K) accumulated after some extensive tests that were ordered by my doctor. I was paying $500 a month just for myself! Nancy could not be insured with this company and has not had health insurance since she was laid off last April. It just seemed we were going further and further in the hole and we really could not see a light at the end of the tunnel. However, we continued to pray and supported Team Church the best way we could, financially and as volunteers because we believe in the church and the support of the staff, but more importantly, we believe in God.
When we left the church on Friday after the prayer service, music and your message, all these re-confirmed our belief in God and the ministry of the church. Out of the blue on Monday morning, I received a call from a company I had interviewed with over a month ago asking if I was still looking for a job and would I come in for another interview?? I was offered a job after this second interview! At this point, I begin sometime around the middle of February, if not sooner. Along with having a paycheck, the company will pay for my health insurance totally and I will be able to add Nancy to the policy as well! I am excited and can only give God the praise and glory for giving us another chance. Even though I will be doing some extensive travel with this company, including most weekends, I can continue worshiping with Team Church by reading your daily blogs and watching all missed services on the Team Church website. The job and the pay is not ideal, but I am just thankful I have been offered a job (with those important benefits)!
Thank you Kenny and thank you Team Church for your support and your prayers. I feel better about myself, more than I have in a long time. Roger
WOW...that is great. In these challenging times, we need God and His people to be the "Church." Great job Team Church!
Things To Remember For THIS Sunday:
1) Please be on time, don't miss the first 5 minutes of the service.
2) Please sit close and to the front. (We are trying to think of how we can get the new seats paid for and in the balcony)
3) THIS SUNDAY IS STUFF THE BUS....for Indian Trail Elem.
4) BRING A FRIEND!
Thursday, February 5, 2009
The Dream Continues
Early yesterday while no one was here in the office and the Snow was still on the ground and nesting quietly on the branches of the trees.....my mind began to dream about what will be happening in the years to come on the now 60 acre beautiful campus God has given us to use.
I have a fresh since of what the property looks like as I took my two boys on a "tromp" through the new back 40 acres. We are so blessed and God has been good.
I began to dream about.....in no certain order:
* The incredible outdoor and indoor play ground we will have for the kids.
* The waking/jogging trail that will swirl its way through the woods, along the creek and around the property.
* A creatively designed and used community care building that will have places specifically helping single moms, the financially less fortunate, counseling center, celebrate recovery, pregnancy crisis center, adoption center and the like.
* A phenomenal gym for Team Church and the community to use. (Our growing Zumba crew will love that!)
* A unique and incredible building for our growing kids ministry.
* A new auditorium one day for the adult services as the Student Ministry takes over our current building!
* A great looking and functional building that will allow people at Team Church with skills in mechanics, fixing things, and the like to serve single moms and those less fortunate in ways that are real.
* A sports complex with multiple fields and courts of all kinds to allow Team Church to have fun in sports but also to allow our city a safe place for kids and adults to use our community driven facility.
* A open courtyard that connects all buildings with outdoor seating areas, benches and the like. This will be a great place to spend many afternoons in the beautiful Carolina blue skies.
* A book store, cafe and library type atrium area that has in-door & out side seating area that spills int the court yard. This will be connected to the new main building.
The dream list goes on....but you get the idea. The great thing is that this is what we dreamed about 10 years ago.....5 years ago...and last year when we launched our Expand Campaign. In some form, it is what we dream of doing in every city we pant a Team Church.
The great thing about our beautiful campus is that it will be a place that is designed for Team Church to use as we reach and impact our community AND our community to use as they lead out in their own specific passions and calling. We already Team up now with Public schools, public recreation and many more here.....it will only get better.
As a matter of fact.... Tonight while a large group of Team Church men are here going through the Tony Dungy study called Quiet Strength...another church, Champion Christian Center, will be using a part of our facility for a leadership training they are doing for their church.
Some may say.....those are BIG dreams in a time when our nation's economy is going down the toilet. That is true.....however, I believe that in a few years we will look back at these hard economical times and it will be a great testimony of God's faithfulness!
"Let's attempt something so great for God, that it will only happen if God is in it!"
- Kenny Hibbard at first Sunday service January, 1999.
"Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt!"
- Special Olympics Prayer
I have a fresh since of what the property looks like as I took my two boys on a "tromp" through the new back 40 acres. We are so blessed and God has been good.
I began to dream about.....in no certain order:
* The incredible outdoor and indoor play ground we will have for the kids.
* The waking/jogging trail that will swirl its way through the woods, along the creek and around the property.
* A creatively designed and used community care building that will have places specifically helping single moms, the financially less fortunate, counseling center, celebrate recovery, pregnancy crisis center, adoption center and the like.
* A phenomenal gym for Team Church and the community to use. (Our growing Zumba crew will love that!)
* A unique and incredible building for our growing kids ministry.
* A new auditorium one day for the adult services as the Student Ministry takes over our current building!
* A great looking and functional building that will allow people at Team Church with skills in mechanics, fixing things, and the like to serve single moms and those less fortunate in ways that are real.
* A sports complex with multiple fields and courts of all kinds to allow Team Church to have fun in sports but also to allow our city a safe place for kids and adults to use our community driven facility.
* A open courtyard that connects all buildings with outdoor seating areas, benches and the like. This will be a great place to spend many afternoons in the beautiful Carolina blue skies.
* A book store, cafe and library type atrium area that has in-door & out side seating area that spills int the court yard. This will be connected to the new main building.
The dream list goes on....but you get the idea. The great thing is that this is what we dreamed about 10 years ago.....5 years ago...and last year when we launched our Expand Campaign. In some form, it is what we dream of doing in every city we pant a Team Church.
The great thing about our beautiful campus is that it will be a place that is designed for Team Church to use as we reach and impact our community AND our community to use as they lead out in their own specific passions and calling. We already Team up now with Public schools, public recreation and many more here.....it will only get better.
As a matter of fact.... Tonight while a large group of Team Church men are here going through the Tony Dungy study called Quiet Strength...another church, Champion Christian Center, will be using a part of our facility for a leadership training they are doing for their church.
Some may say.....those are BIG dreams in a time when our nation's economy is going down the toilet. That is true.....however, I believe that in a few years we will look back at these hard economical times and it will be a great testimony of God's faithfulness!
"Let's attempt something so great for God, that it will only happen if God is in it!"
- Kenny Hibbard at first Sunday service January, 1999.
"Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt!"
- Special Olympics Prayer
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
The Snow Dance Part Two
Either I was not paying attention or the weather men got caught totally off guard. There is more snow in our part of Charlotte today than we had two weeks ago. However, I should have known it was going to snow last night. All night Brady was telling us it was going to snow and he was going sledding again......because he had done the Snow Dance. Once again his older brother was telling him he was crazy! I thought he was being silly......he knew he wanted some snow.
The roads from my house to the church were not bad but had more ice than last time. They say it is not suppose to get warmer than 34 today. We will see. As for tonight's Team Kid and Pursuit we are going to cancel all scheduled events and programs for tonight. Please help spread the word ASAP! Also, this info will be on our website Teamchurch.com
This Sunday is our 2nd Service Project on our 10-Year Anniversary Service Tour. We will be stuffing a school bus with school supplies for the kids at Indian Trail Elem School that are in need of supplies so that they can finish the school year out strong! Please bring what you can this Sunday and help us make a huge impact in these kids lives.
Also, be looking for more details on the next 8 projects! This anniversary Service Tour idea is revolutionary and God placed the effort in our hearts last summer.....knowing that 2009 would be a tough year for many of the organizations and schools we are serving. We are getting to be "The Church" as talked about in the New Testament at a time when we each need the other. As I stated on Sunday... cool videos, great music, great teaching, creative kids ministries and gourmet coffee is a wonderful thing. However, in and of themselves, none of these makes a personal difference in the lives of people who are hurting during the week. "Being the Church" is something that happens everyday and not just on Sunday. I am so glad we get to celebrate our 10 years as a church this way in these times. Remember...Real Love is a action not a warm fuzzy feeling....it is what you do. We have always been a church that acts and I "love" that about Team Church.
Here is what Jesus said:
"Then the King will say to those on his right, Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.
Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
The King will reply, I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me. Then he will say to those on his left, Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'
They also will answer, Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?
He will reply, I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me."
Matthew 25:34-45
"The true measure of a person is how they treat someone who can do him absolutely no good." Ann Landers
The roads from my house to the church were not bad but had more ice than last time. They say it is not suppose to get warmer than 34 today. We will see. As for tonight's Team Kid and Pursuit we are going to cancel all scheduled events and programs for tonight. Please help spread the word ASAP! Also, this info will be on our website Teamchurch.com
This Sunday is our 2nd Service Project on our 10-Year Anniversary Service Tour. We will be stuffing a school bus with school supplies for the kids at Indian Trail Elem School that are in need of supplies so that they can finish the school year out strong! Please bring what you can this Sunday and help us make a huge impact in these kids lives.
Also, be looking for more details on the next 8 projects! This anniversary Service Tour idea is revolutionary and God placed the effort in our hearts last summer.....knowing that 2009 would be a tough year for many of the organizations and schools we are serving. We are getting to be "The Church" as talked about in the New Testament at a time when we each need the other. As I stated on Sunday... cool videos, great music, great teaching, creative kids ministries and gourmet coffee is a wonderful thing. However, in and of themselves, none of these makes a personal difference in the lives of people who are hurting during the week. "Being the Church" is something that happens everyday and not just on Sunday. I am so glad we get to celebrate our 10 years as a church this way in these times. Remember...Real Love is a action not a warm fuzzy feeling....it is what you do. We have always been a church that acts and I "love" that about Team Church.
Here is what Jesus said:
"Then the King will say to those on his right, Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.
Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
The King will reply, I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me. Then he will say to those on his left, Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'
They also will answer, Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?
He will reply, I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me."
Matthew 25:34-45
"The true measure of a person is how they treat someone who can do him absolutely no good." Ann Landers
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
How is the self evaluation going
On Sunday I gave the meaning of Love found in 1 Corinthians 13:1-7. We learned that this word in the original Greek is Agape and the other word used in the New Testament for Love is Phileo.
Agape Love is unconditional as it is shown and given no matter what the other person does or does not do. It is also NOT feelings or affection based. That kind of love would be more for Phileo. We also took time to to investigate what the Bible means when it says that Love is Patient and Kind. We found out that biblical patience means that we are slow to anger and displeasure in the ones we love. Moreover, the word kind here is an action verb that has nothing to do with being nice, sweet or pleasant. Those are great things.....but they don't express real love.
(For a very clear message on Real Love as it pertains to Patience and Kindness...go to our website and watch it. Click here!)
So, how did your self evaluation go? Are you a person who shows Real Love to your spouse and kids? What about other family members and friends? We should never be surprised when we act in what I called UN-Love and those in our life respond the same way.....especially our kids.
A Real Love Prayer:
Lord, teach me to be generous.
Teach me to serve you as you deserve;
To give and not count the cost,
To fight and not to heed the wounds,
To toil and not to seek for rest,
To labor and not to ask for reward,
Save that of knowing I am doing your will! AMEN
Agape Love is unconditional as it is shown and given no matter what the other person does or does not do. It is also NOT feelings or affection based. That kind of love would be more for Phileo. We also took time to to investigate what the Bible means when it says that Love is Patient and Kind. We found out that biblical patience means that we are slow to anger and displeasure in the ones we love. Moreover, the word kind here is an action verb that has nothing to do with being nice, sweet or pleasant. Those are great things.....but they don't express real love.
(For a very clear message on Real Love as it pertains to Patience and Kindness...go to our website and watch it. Click here!)
So, how did your self evaluation go? Are you a person who shows Real Love to your spouse and kids? What about other family members and friends? We should never be surprised when we act in what I called UN-Love and those in our life respond the same way.....especially our kids.
A Real Love Prayer:
Lord, teach me to be generous.
Teach me to serve you as you deserve;
To give and not count the cost,
To fight and not to heed the wounds,
To toil and not to seek for rest,
To labor and not to ask for reward,
Save that of knowing I am doing your will! AMEN
Monday, February 2, 2009
Real Love
On Sunday I announced that I was pulling for the Cardinals. Well....at least we got to see a great game. Also, I think the Steelers are a great team, organization and unlike our beloved Panthers....they play with intensity and passion every game. To honor the Steelers, Mike Tomlin their coach and more importantly Jesus Christ in whom Mike Tomlin lives an open committed life.....here is a statement from him last week. It too talks about REAL LOVE....as we learned yesterday!
Fatherhood comes first, then the game
Commentary By Mike Tomlin
When I am asked for my advice on how to succeed in life, I often answer: dream … dream big. And it will be a dream come true Sunday when I walk onto the field to coach the Pittsburgh Steelers, in the Super Bowl. It is a dream made possible by the incredible effort of my players; the unwavering support of the owners, the Rooney family, and Steelers fans; and the steadfast love of my family — my wife, Kiya; my mother, Julia; and especially the man I call Dad.
Leslie Copeland came into my life as my stepfather when I was 6 years old. He was a postal worker; I had a passion for sports. He took the overnight shift so he could coach my baseball team. I worked hard so he'd be pleased with me. Over time, I began to see he was teaching me much more than how to throw a baseball or catch a pass. He was teaching me how to be a man. He was teaching me how to be a father.
I had big dreams when I was a child. But without my dad, those dreams might not have come true. He brought stability to my life. He made my world a safe place in which to think and to learn. And though not every boy may aspire to become a football coach, every father can aspire to become the dad of his child's dreams. But to make that a reality, fathers must choose daily to work toward that goal.
In my own home, that means I make my wife and our children — Dino, Mason and Harlyn Quinn — my No. 1 priority. I try to start my day by eating breakfast with my children. In those minutes, I learn what's going on in their lives, and have the opportunity to share the values my wife and I want to pass on to them.
I also try to make my life fit into theirs. When I can, I drive them to school, coach their sports teams and go over their homework. If they're proud of me for coaching the Steelers, that's great, but I want them to know that my primary purpose in life is to be their dad.
Dreams can take us far; they can take our children far. But our children need our help. They need dads who believe in those dreams as strongly as they do, men with the maturity and wisdom to guide them to the place where their dreams are within their grasp. Children need a father like my own, who day by day and year by year lifted me higher and higher, until the possibility of my dreams was well within my reach.
I would not be coaching the Steelers in the Super Bowl now if it weren't for the man who walked into my life when I was a young boy and became my dad. I've always dreamed of being a champion, but it was my dad who championed my dreams.
Note: Mike Tomlin, the Pittsburgh Steelers' head coach, is also a spokesman for the fatherhood program All Pro Dad
Fatherhood comes first, then the game
Commentary By Mike Tomlin
When I am asked for my advice on how to succeed in life, I often answer: dream … dream big. And it will be a dream come true Sunday when I walk onto the field to coach the Pittsburgh Steelers, in the Super Bowl. It is a dream made possible by the incredible effort of my players; the unwavering support of the owners, the Rooney family, and Steelers fans; and the steadfast love of my family — my wife, Kiya; my mother, Julia; and especially the man I call Dad.
Leslie Copeland came into my life as my stepfather when I was 6 years old. He was a postal worker; I had a passion for sports. He took the overnight shift so he could coach my baseball team. I worked hard so he'd be pleased with me. Over time, I began to see he was teaching me much more than how to throw a baseball or catch a pass. He was teaching me how to be a man. He was teaching me how to be a father.
I had big dreams when I was a child. But without my dad, those dreams might not have come true. He brought stability to my life. He made my world a safe place in which to think and to learn. And though not every boy may aspire to become a football coach, every father can aspire to become the dad of his child's dreams. But to make that a reality, fathers must choose daily to work toward that goal.
In my own home, that means I make my wife and our children — Dino, Mason and Harlyn Quinn — my No. 1 priority. I try to start my day by eating breakfast with my children. In those minutes, I learn what's going on in their lives, and have the opportunity to share the values my wife and I want to pass on to them.
I also try to make my life fit into theirs. When I can, I drive them to school, coach their sports teams and go over their homework. If they're proud of me for coaching the Steelers, that's great, but I want them to know that my primary purpose in life is to be their dad.
Dreams can take us far; they can take our children far. But our children need our help. They need dads who believe in those dreams as strongly as they do, men with the maturity and wisdom to guide them to the place where their dreams are within their grasp. Children need a father like my own, who day by day and year by year lifted me higher and higher, until the possibility of my dreams was well within my reach.
I would not be coaching the Steelers in the Super Bowl now if it weren't for the man who walked into my life when I was a young boy and became my dad. I've always dreamed of being a champion, but it was my dad who championed my dreams.
Note: Mike Tomlin, the Pittsburgh Steelers' head coach, is also a spokesman for the fatherhood program All Pro Dad
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