Chatter, June 2012

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J U N E 2 012

7/31/2019 Chatter, June 2012


Think for a moment about snow. Ah, snow. Yes. I remember snow. It’s cold.

Sometimes slushy. Always mysterious and eeting, but never neutral. It delights

or horrifes. It makes you catch your breath, or breathe a threat — at least in Texas.

Snow is provocative; you must pick a side. When it’s thick and dense like the

sucked-out structure o a syrup-less Slurpee, snow is odder or snowball fghts,

snowmen-crating, and, most magically, snow angels. Love snow or hate snow,there is a unanimous cheer or snow angels. (Don’t you love this subject matter in a

month like June?)

Since snow was so rare when I was a child, I always experienced a moment o

trepidation beore laying down in the unpredictable rothiness to ail around.

There was only a promise o a delightul angelic creation and the payo required

close proximity, the risk o getting cold, the risk o being absorbed. But once I was

on my back and deaened by the roar o crystals scraping under polyester coat

sleeves, snow was bliss.

Lie is like snow. While circumstances may seem ordinary, even the most mundane

posses the same exotic ability to make you pick a side. Like snow, circumstances

are unpredictable and mysterious, ever changing, never static — even on “normal”

days — and at every waking moment, we are either disappointed or pleased, with

very little neutrality at any point along the way. The places, people and things we

encounter are as numerous as snowakes on a January day (somewhere north o

here, that is), and we are constantly orced to deal with a world in which we care,

in which we happen to have opinions and preerences about the variations. It’s

exhausting, isn’t it?

The question is, will we get down in the deaening middle o it all and ail around?

Will we believe the deception that satisaction is possible i only we get in the

thick o lie and exert ourselves towards an end that pleases us? And that’s wherethe snow metaphor ends, because lie doesn’t conorm, it won’t behave, and the

impression we leave will not be angelic at all.

Even King Solomon, the wisest, richest ruler o Israel, wouldn’t touch lie with a

ten-oot pole. He let that to the big guns: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and

lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge him, and he

will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3: 5-6).

Not even Solomon’s vast understanding and resources could be trusted; even his

own heart was suspect. I’ve always thought he sounds a little paranoid, sort o, like

he thinks he’s in the Indiana Jones snake pit or something. Lean not, he tells us;

lean not . His words are extreme. But lie is extreme. (Just like snow. Go fgure.)

We are to take all the emotional energy o our hearts — the fre spent pining orsomething (or someone) to change, our exertion towards a more secure situation —

and thrust it at the only One who can make any meaningul headway. We are to lie

down and luxuriate not in circumstances that happen to conorm with our ideals

and dreams, but in the Lord, who never changes and who sets the pace or every-

thing else. We must be militant about how to invest our trust.

And I suppose at the end o the day, a straight path is all I really want. Potholes and

thieves might litter the straight way, but just knowing I’m on a bona fde trajectory

prescribed by a loving, intentional Father, is enough to keep my chin up and my

gaze set. A straight path is solid ooting over waves, it’s a trail through a blizzard;

it’s an acknowledgement that the scenery may change (and may not be pretty), butthat there are more important things to do in this lie than sight-see.

That’s enough or me. Trust must be enough. It’s the only way to really play, to re-

ally enjoy the variance, to really negotiate the snake pit.

And oh, by the way, I love snow. Just so we’re clear.

June, however, is a dierent story.

a letter romChatter

Why are we here?IBC is on a journey committed to growing in Christ,connecting in community and joining the mission.

This commitment comes from Jesus’ words in the Great Commandment(Matthew 22:36-39) and Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20).

Thanks for picking up Chatter . Chatter is a publication of Irving Bible Church in Irving, Texas.

Editor Julie Rhodes

Art Direction, Design & GoodnessJosh Wiese, Dennis Cheatham, Lindsey Sobolik

The Final Say Julie Pierce

Admin Extraordinaire

Victoria Andrews

Editorial Assistance/ProongSummer Alexander*Annie Stone*

PhotographyDavid Farris (5K )*Evan Chavez (Potluck Lunch)*

Patty Thompson (My Zone, Like the Dickens)*Jill Park (Game Changer )

WritersJason Fox*Jenny Simmons*Peggy Norton*

Thoughts, comments, ideas?Email Chatter at [email protected].

*Most beloved and indispensable Chatter Volunteer.

Irving Bible Church: a community on a journey.

Contact IBCIrving Bible Church | 2435 Kinwest Pkwy, Irving, TX 75063 | (972) 560-4600

Web irvingbible.org | Twitter @ibcvoice | Facebook irvingbible

Sign up for the IBC eLetter, a weekly email update for key ministry eventinformation and announcements, along with a short devotional by PastorAndy to encourage you on your journey week-to-week. Subscribe today atconnect.irvingbible.org.

New to IBC? Turn to page 18.

How do we do this?Growing in ChristAt the heart of the journey is the gospel of Jesus Christ, the story of the Son of God coming into our dark world to bring light, life, hope and transformation.The journey begins when we trust Christ, but it doesn’t end there. God’s desirefor each of us is for our hearts and lives to become more like the one who hassaved us (Ephesians 4:11-13).

Connecting in CommunityThe gospel story draws us into a community of people whose lives have beentransformed by Jesus. This journey is not one that we undertake alone. We aredesigned to do l ife together as a community of Christ-followers. It is essentialthat we walk with one another on the journey (John 13:34-35).

Joining the MissionThe gospel tells us that one day God will take all that is broken in this world andmake it whole. Those of us who are on the journey together are called to bepeople who do what we can to make glimpses of that day show up in our day.We do this by telling the gospel story and demonstrating gospel-shaped love toa needy world (Matthew 28:18-20).

7/31/2019 Chatter, June 2012


Photo Update: Carry the Jerry + Basic 5KOn March 31, over 240 runners participated in the Dallas arm of the2012 Carry The Jerry + Basic 5K beneting Water is Basic. An identi-cal race was held the same day in Charlotte, NC, raising thousandsof dollars to provide clean drinking water for the people of SouthSudan. Relay teams competed with lled jerry cans, and individualsran the 5K. A typical jerry can lled with water weighs 42 pounds,which Sudanese carry for miles after lling up at the nearest watersource each day. (Over 70% of the Sudanese population does nothave access to clean water due to years of devastating civil war.) Visitwaterisbasic.org to get involved.

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LIKETHE

DICKENS

The phrase “I cannot tell what the dickenshis name is” appears in William Shakespeare’s“The Merry Wives of Windsor.”

They developed Marriage Core, a

marriage study currently used in about

30 churches worldwide (implemented

at Irving Bible as “Marriage at IBC”),

but Chip and Rebecca Dickens confess

they’re just like everybody else.

Their story writes like a movie.

Jock meets class beauty. Jock gets turned down. Three times in a row. Intel-

ligent beauty fnally says “yes” and Jock spends the next our years convincing

her that they are going to get married.

“I love this story,” Rebecca says with a playul smile.

“No — wait — I want to tell it,” Chip says. “I really love this story!”

Chip and Rebecca, the husband and wie team behind the internationally

known marriage study, Marriage Core, seem unlikely candidates to write a

ground-breaking marriage curriculum because they are way too...normal .

“Ok, you tell the story,” Rebecca says with an amused smile.

“Ok. So I went to Texas Wesleyan to play basketball. And that was it. I literally

showed up thinking that I would work my way into classes ater I played or a

season or two. I didn’t know you had to register or classes or take classes.”

“Can you believe that? He’s serious. He really didn’t know he ha d to register,”

interjects Rebecca.

“The only thing let was an 8 a.m. business class,” Chip says, recalling the frst

time he spoke to his uture wie. “And there was this crazy cute girl on the ront

row, all dressed up, and I wanted to talk to he r.”

Legend has it, Chip ound a way to run into Rebecca at the end o class one day

and Rebecca politely said, “Isn’t it nice to have that project done?”

To which Chip replied, “I don’t know. I haven’t started.”

“Well that’s stupid,” she said, and smugly walked away.

Being (More Than) Friends

Headed into my frst journalistic interview since high school, I, Jenny, elt a bit nervous about interviewing marriage experts. I assumed Chip and Re-

becca would be well into their 60s or early 70s, with owing gray hair (the

pre-cursor o true wisdom) and a brood o grandchildren. I prepared mysel or

long, awkward, loving gazes between the two sages and wondered i I would

end up conessing the fghts that happen in my own marriage, and i Chip and

Rebecca would then give me the tender and obsolete advice an old man gave

me in college, “Whatever you do — just hug it out.”

I preer bickering and sleeping on the couch, old man.

What I ound instead were two adults in their mid-40s, who laughed a lot,poked un at each other, respected one another, and swear by the act that they

are not marriage experts.

ABOUT THE DICKENS Chip and Rebecca have been married 20 years. Chipis a professor in the Biblical Counseling Department at DTS and Rebecca hasa master’s degree in Math, which she uses as a private math coach. They havetwo children: Josh, 14, and Jill, 11. Chip once legitimately believed the green,pocket size New Testament he was given when he was 16 years old was con-traband. He didn’t know Bibles were allowed to leave the church and found

it ludicrous that you could buy one at Wal-Mart. Rebecca really does have agreat-great-great Uncle Moses. To nd out more, visit MarriageCore.com.

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According to the 2010 U.S. Census,

married couples have dropped belowhalf of all American households for the

rst time.

The city of Los Angeles was founded onSeptember 4, 1781, by Spanish governorFelipe de Neve.

Get involved in Marriage at IBC

If you had to rate your marriage on a scale of one to ten, what wouldyou give it? Seriously, think about it for a second. If you’re interestedin reigniting your marriage in the context of open, honest community,

consider Marriage at IBC. See ad, pg. 17.

“We realized that more thanbooks or seminars or anythingelse, the key to having a good relationship was this idea that our relationship with each other should refect who God is.”

“I don’t know how to be a husband,” Chip says humbly. “As soon as we were

married, I elt so ill-prepared to be a good husband. I didn’t have anything to

all back on.”

Chip’s dad bailed when he was 12 years old, and he didn’t grow up in a church

where he might have seen husbands and wives striving to honor God in their

marriages. Chip was a blank slate.

“What I saw growing up is not what I wanted to all back on. I realized early

on that the only thing I had to all back on was Christ, who enables me to be a

good husband. That’s it. I rely on that grace. And then I experiment.”

Experimenting seems to be the key or a marriage that went rom being on two

parallel tracks to becoming a union o two deeply intertwined riends.

“Four years into marriage, we let all o our riends and amily and everything

we knew and moved to Los Angeles or Chip’s frst real job ater getting his

Ph.D.,” Rebecca says.

“There are like 13.5 million people in this city and we don’t know any o them

and they don’t know us,” Rebecca remembers, adding, “And we have to be

riends now, Chip!”

Rebecca’s upbringing was the complete opposite o Chip’s. Loving amily,

chock-ull o generations o pastors and missionaries. (Chip inorms me, with

some sarcasm, that he’s pretty sure most

o her amily can be traced back to Mo-

ses.) But her amily’s deep love and loy-

alty created riction in the early years o Chip and Rebecca’s marriage because it

was dicult or the young couple to cre-

ate enough space rom her amily to truly

bond with one another.

“The emotional and geographic space rom

riends and amily was one o the best

things to ever happen to our marriage,”

Chip says. “Beore Caliornia there was

no ‘us’ or ‘we.’ We loved each other, but in

Caliornia God helped us start becoming

one. When there is no one else, you have

to depend on each other. You have to be the only other person or your spouse

during that season,” Chip says.

Figuring It Out…KindaFast orward 17 years, two children, and a ew career moves later, and Chip

and Rebecca are still working on the in’s and out’s o marriage...while other

people watch.

“As a new believer, at the age o 20 or so, I thought I was supposed to spendenergy on pretending our marriage was good instead o using that energy to be

something else,” Chip says.

“Marriage is where our aith has gotten lived out,” Chip reects. “We realized

that more than books or seminars or anything else, the key to having a good

relationship was this idea that our relationship with each other should reect

who God is.”

Rebecca adds, “God has been writing our story. And we have kept coming

around to this theme o however we love one another — whatever that looks

like — it should be a display case or an advertisement o God’s love.”

And that’s the guiding principle behind their marriage — love each other in a

way that reects who God is.

In light o this discovery, Chip, who is a Proessor o Biblical Counseling at Dal-

las Theological Seminary, has been a keen observer o the pitalls common to

marriage ministry. “Proessionally, I could see what was going on in marriage

ministries around the country. They were all ministries that would show up

or a big event, and ater they let town, there wouldn’t be any transormation.Kind o like going to youth camp — normal lie wouldn’t change. Rebecca and I

started thinking, what i it wasn’t like a big event, but just an authentic conver-

sation and a handul o couples having a weekly conversation about marriage?”

It was around that time that the Fusion class at IBC asked Chip and Rebecca

i they would come talk about “marriage-y things.” Instead o teaching, the

couple would get on stage and bare it all.

“We didn’t mind letting people eavesdrop. Instead o teaching, it was us on

stage, being open, authentic, vulnerable — letting them see our messiness.

Sharing our own stories and working out some o our own issues on stage elt

like the most honest and real way to talk about marriage,” Rebecca says. “The

thing is, you can’t just go to a ‘one and done’ experience to transorm or fx your

marriage because marriage isn’t a one and done.”

What began as reality sessions lived out in ront o other couples in The Alcove

at Irving Bible Church has since turned into a 24-session course, comprised

o conversation starters to guide couples

through honest, vulnerable conversa-

tions. Now it’s used around the world in

over 30 churches.

Giving hope to anyone who thinks they

are not qualifed or are ill-prepared to be

in a healthy marriage, the very normal

Chip and Rebecca prove time and time

again that being in a loving marriage is

possible or anyone.

“I’m not an expert,” says Chip. “The beauty

about the Marriage Core material is that

there is no expert in the room. We’re just

normal. We are normal couples, some

urther along in the journey than others, all with the same goal o fguring

out how to have a marriage that reects Christ. We’re all just trying to fgure it

out together.”

Jenny Simmons loves storytelling.

Jenny, Ryan, and their daughter Annie moved to Nashville this month after a lifetime in Dallas and six

years at IBC. They already miss Chatter . To keep up with the storytelling, visit jennysimmons.com.

7/31/2019 Chatter, June 2012


“I love my dad because he lets

me have sugar.” Paige (Kindergarten)

“I love my dad because I really love him.” Madison (1st grade)

“I love my dad because he isplayul.” Jaylon (2nd grade)

“He is an awesome fsherman andhe takes care o me.” Matthew (3rd grade)

“He is the best. He makes melaugh. He takes me places. Hemakes me a good Christian. He isthe dad everyone wants to have.”Karsynn (4th grade)

“1. You have grace.2. You love me.3. You are nice.4. I love you.5. From Emily your Daughter”Emily (5th grade)

My Zone is a great place for kids to experience

God’s love in the context of fun, friendships,

and plenty of SLIME. Games, crafts, prizes, mu-sic, dancing, snacks and Scripture study make

Wednesday nights at IBC a must for elementa-

ry kids. Watch for fall kickoff details in Chatter.

Father’s Day is June 17. Here’s what My

Zone kids had to say about what they love

so much about their dads.

7/31/2019 Chatter, June 2012


Take a moment to pray or the ollowing teams o children, middle and

high school students, and young adults as they travel the world on behal o IBC.

Young Adults: June 24-JulY 4

Mombasa, Kenya

Mission: The team will be working in an outreach library started by IBC mis-

sionaries to build relationships with Muslims in the community. They will

also be teaching classes and possibly doing a camp or kids.

Pray for: Team unity, exibility and vulnerability; or the people they meet ,that they would be open to Christ; or Jackie, who runs the library as she pre-

pares to host the team even while preparing to get married in August.

HigH scHool: June 25-JulY 1

Navajo Indian Reservation (Apache, Arizona)

Mission: The native population o the Southwest has suered under the

weight o extreme poverty, racism, substance abuse and political corruption,

but it is also alive with stories, culture, art, and dance. The high school team

will spend a week among the Navajo learning about their culture and history,and serving the Navajo people in a variety o ways.

Pray for: Open hearts rom the people the team will be serving, and that the

team will show Christ’s love with their actions.

HigH scHool: JulY 28-August 3

Honduras, Central America

Mission: The team will participate in work projects at local schools, eedingimpoverished children, delivering gits to orphans, and working alongside the

Missionaries o Charity at their home or the elderly and those aected by

AIDS.

Pray for: Strength, endurance, and love while serving the children.

Middle scHool: June 9-14

New Orleans, LA

Mission: Almost 10 years ago, New Orleans experienced a lie-altering hurri-

cane. Many areas still look the way they did weeks ater the storm hit. Stu-

dents will be tearing down, cleaning up and building homes in the inner city o

NOLA. They will also be helping a low-perorming school district improve its

national ranking by cleaning and reurbishing classrooms.

Pray for: Students and sta as they become the hands and eet o Jesus to

those still impacted by Hurricane Katrina.

Middle scHool: JulY 30-August 2

DFW area

Mission: One o the biggest values communicated in the IBC middle school

ministry is that “mission” is not just something you do in Honduras or NOLA

— mission can be done in your own backyard. The local trip or IBC middleschool will be an opportunity or students to experience (and help to meet) the

great needs here in the DFW area.

Pray for: Students and sta as they support one o our West Dallas partners in

spreading the Gospel o Jesus to inner-city children and amilies.

Zone 6:30 (eleMentArY): June 25-JulY 4

Moshi, Tanzania (close to Mt. Kilimanjaro)

Mission: Kids rom IBC will get the chance to meet all fve o the Compassion

International children Zone 6:30 sponsors, as well as serve in a local orphan-

age. In partnership with ALARM, the team will host a conerence or 20 local

church leaders on c hildren’s ministry. Kids will get the opportunity to experi-

ence the local culture and way o lie by attending a church service, going to the

market, visiting a coee plantation, and going on saari.

Pray for: Travel saety, physical health, and that the IBC kids would under-

stand their part in Go d’s world mission.

otHer iBc teAMs going out tHis suMMer

Goma, Congo

Pray for: the IBC men who will be teaching at the Pastor Training Conerence.

The Summer 2012 Prayer Guide Next Gen at IBC Joins the Mission

7/31/2019 Chatter, June 2012


Chatter | 8

Idioms can really

open a can of worms.

Misae Amemiya liked to play the lottery — but not or money. I

Misae won this lottery, it would change her lie. In Tokyo, Japan the

game o chance Misae was trying to win was the Green Card lottery,

a congressionally mandated program that gives people rom other countries a

chance to win a United States Permanent Resident Card.

The third time was a charm or Misae, and she fnally won the game and set o

to begin the adventure o a lietime. She let behind her parents and a brotherand traveled over 5,000 miles across the Pacifc Ocean and landed in Cali-

ornia. Misae was ortunate enough to be working or an employer in Japan

that had oces in Caliornia, but her internship ended just a ew months

later. Finding Caliornia an expensive place to live, Misae reached out to some

riends she knew who had relocated to Texas and decided to join them.

Once again, she was on the move. When Misae got to Texas, she was able to

fnd a job working or an airline. She was fnally getting settled and becoming

accustomed to lie in the U.S.

“Dallas seemed like a small town to me, co mpared to all the p eople in Tokyo,”

Misae says. “And the biggest dierence I noticed was that everyone was so

open and riendly.”

Misae embraced her new lie in the States and continued to make riends. Her

job at the airlines eventually ended, but she continued to fnd her way and meet

many new people. When she met Susan, they quickly became best riends. Su-

san grew up in Korea so she and Misae had many things in common, except or

one. Susan grew up in a Christian home, but Misae had grown up as a Buddhist.

Misae explains that her amily did not go to temple all the time or live a strict

Buddhist liestyle, so when she came to the States she was open to trying di-

erent religions, and visited many dierent churches over the years. Although

she enjoyed learning about dierent religious traditions, even today Misae

admits being conused by all o the denominations.

But when Misae visited IBC in 2005, things began to change. “When I started

coming to IBC, I elt good about coming to church again. It’s such a welcom-ing place, and I am always amazed at the stories I hear when I am here,” Misae

explains. “It is a privilege to meet such good people.”

Misae had been coming to IBC with Susan or about six months when she

learned about the ESL (English as a Second Language) class oered on

Wednesday nights. At frst she was reluctant to attend because o the time

commitment, but she knew she wanted to improve her English, and the ESL

class oered her the resources she needed.

According to Corey Wallis, the ESL program acilitator, the class is open toanyone in the community and is not just about teaching English. “It’s a practi-

cal way to show love,” Corey explains.

And it was this love and acceptance that Misae ound in the class that made

her stay and began to make a signifcant impact in her lie. “It is an honor or

me to know such great people, and the teachers are amazing,” Misae says. “I

eel a sense o accomplishment.” And well she should.

The hardest part o learning English is the slang, according to Misae. Misae

recalls when she frst came to the U.S. and someone used the phrase, needle in

A gAMe cHAnger ESL at IBC opens doors to aith and riendship or Misae

7/31/2019 Chatter, June 2012


Chatter | 9

According to a 2009 “Japan Times”

article, fewer than one percent of Japanese are Christian.

A 2008 Baylor University poll found that

55% of those interviewed answeredafrmatively to the statement, “I was

protected from harm by a guardian angel.”

a haystack. She had no idea what that meant until the man who said it took

her or a drive and showed her what a haystack looked like. It was only

then that she realized how hard it would be to fnd a hidden needle.

Misae says that one o the best things about learning English is that she

has been able to learn more about Christianity and is better able to read

and study the Bible. Ater being in the ESL class or the past two years, she

eels she may be ready to attend the Women’s Bible Study at IBC.

But Misae was not the only one to beneft rom the ESL class. One o her

ormer instructors asked Misae to help him learn to speak Japanese, so

she agreed to teach him. Now, he has been teaching English in Japan at a

private, Christian school and recently decided to renew his contract or

another year.

It is this give-and-take, easy camaraderie that makes the ESL class and

IBC so dear to Misae. What started out as a visit to a church has become

a lie changing, arming experience as Misae continues to improve herEnglish skills and learn more about what it means to be a Christian.

Misae is still brought to tears by a story she recalls about one o the frst

times she went down to the altar to pray during a service. It was a very emo-

tional moment, and when she returned to her seat, she was crying. A gentle-

man seated close by came up to her when the service was over, touched her

arm and told her he would pray or her. Misae could not believe that a com-

plete stranger would pray or someone he did not even know. Even today, she

would like to meet that man and thank him or his kindness. (It was the 10:45

a.m. service i you are out there!) A riend told Misae that the gentleman was

About ESL at Irving Bible ChurchThe ESL class is held every Wednesday night as part of 2435

Kinwest, IBC’s community center night. According to Corey Wal-lis, the ESL facilitator, all are welcome regardless of their Englishprociency. The class groups students into three different levelsdepending on their abilities. Currently, there are about 25 peopleenrolled. If you would like to volunteer, it is not necessary for youto speak another language or have teaching experience — just aheart to serve. Contact [email protected].

her guardian angel; Misae agreed, and is starting to understand the kindness o

strangers when they have the love o Christ in their hearts. Also, Misae says that

Easter is now her avorite holiday.

Although Misae misses her amily — she tries to get back once a year to visit —

she is extremely happy and gracious about the road she has traveled with all

o its twists and turns: Caliornia, Texas, Irving Bible Church, and fnally, her

riends in ESL.

And all because she won the lottery.

Peggy Nortonwants to give a shout out to her small group members: Cheryl &

David, Debra & Patrick, Christy, Reed and Lisa, to let them know that they are a

great source o encouragement.

Peggy Norton is a communications professional with over 20 years of writing experience primarily incorporate communications. She has been married for 27 years and has one son Brandon who is attend-ing UNT. In addition to writing for Chatter , she is an IBC small group leader.

ESL meets Wednesday nights at IBC.

7/31/2019 Chatter, June 2012


TmprTr pprpriTcTiviTis r Txs: A Nifty Guide

rea stuff To DoIt’s June in DFW and that means bigger,

better bugs, and bigger, better stuff to do.

Check out these family-friendly events. Most

are free!

lg Dy clbrTin: Jn 14

Ofcials in Grapevine will hold the city’sannual Flag Day Celebration on Tuesday,

June 14 at 11 a.m. The event is free, and

will take place at Grapevine’s Gazebo,

located in the 300 block of Main Street in

Historic Downtown Grapevine. The event is

open to the general public, with cookies and

lemonade to be served upon conclusion ofthe program.

riDy irwrks

Jn 1, 8, 15, 22, 29

Enjoy a 12-minute reworks display taking

place over Lake Grapevine every Friday night

at 9:30 p.m. Best viewing locations are your

favorite lake parks or on top of the parkinggarage at the Gaylord Texan Resort.

rT wrTh hrD “cw cmp”

may 26–sepTember 2, 1:30–2:30 p.m.

Children and adults experience life on the

trail and see how authentic equipment wasused during the cattle drive era. Cost is free;address is 131 E Exchange Avenue, Fort

Worth, TX 76164 at the Livestock Exchange

Building.

kiD T D T Th Dlls Z

Jn 2, 6- 9 p.m.

The rst annual Kid To Do at the Dallas Zoowill feature approximately 20 restaurants

serving kid-friendly fare along with fun, fes-

tive activities for the whole family includingentertainment by award-winning children’s

singer and performer Eddie Coker, giraffe

feedings, exploration of the new Koala

Walkabout exhibit, animal encounters,bounce houses, a DJ and dancing, a private

bird show, face painting, and more! Cost:

$60. Children 2 and under are free.

snDs lwisvill cncrT

sris: Jn 5, 7-9 p.m.The “Sounds of Lewisville” concert seriesoffers a free summertime family enter-

tainment option in Old Town Lewisville.

Concerts will be every Tuesday until July

31. Guests are encouraged to bring chairs/

blankets. Outside food and beverages are

not allowed, but can be purchased on site.

Event is dog friendly.

mily mvi Tim T Th

librry: Jn 26, 4:30-6:30 p.m.

Join the Irving Central Library on the fourth

Tuesday of every month for a family-friendly

movie and free snacks.

Do not drive. Do not go outside.

Do not collect $200. Do not play MONOPOLY.

Merrily go tobogganing,

and then learn to spell it.

Notice speck of frost on windshield.

Check for school closings.

Shyly break out ip-ops. Avoid eye contact.

(Do not avoid pedicure.)

Sun yourself on the veranda.

(Say with British accent.)

Denial phase: Surely, surely this is it.

Anger phase: Really? Really?

Bargaining phase: Oh Lord, never again will

I snicker about Snuggies®.

Slather epidermis with SPF 89,000.Listen to it giggle.

Plead with your Maker.

Ice sh in the Trinity River.

EAT AT YOUR PERIL.

Celebrate Christmas and/or a chilly Texas

Easter and/or Pumpkin Spiced Lattes.

Second-guess Cosby sweaters.

Visit the park/zoo/duck pond.

Commence self-delusion.

Feel a bit uncomfortable.

Spritz Evian at your discretion.

Search in vain for optimism.

Mark your calendar: It’s June of 2012.

Hawk kidney on Craig’s List

to pay air conditioning bill.

In your delirium, enjoy mental ice shing.

Move to Australia.

7/31/2019 Chatter, June 2012


Chatter | 11

Bible Reading and Reection at IBCThe Bible Reading and Reection seminar at IBC is an experience designed to

deepen your relationship with Jesus as you spend time reading and reecting

on the Bible. You will learn to hear rom God as you read his Word, and discover

how to make Scripture reading experiences more spiritual, powerul, joyul, andunderstandable.

Here’s what one IBCer has to say about it.

WHAT OTHE PATICIPANTS HAE SAID:

“I never knew that I could experience the Bible in this way.God has already shown me so much.”

“This class is ‘outside the box’ down to the details o thinking,reading, retention, and research.”

Attend the Bible Reading and Reection class this summer.Date: June 23

Time: 9 a.m.–Noon

Where: West D

Register: brr.irvingbible.org

When the responses o people rom1,000 churches who took the REVEALsurvey were analyzed, Refection onScripture was discovered to be morelikely to help people grow in spiritualmaturity than any other practice by a signicant margin. This was true acrossall levels o spiritual maturity: beginning,intermediate, and advanced.

INTEIEW: JOE ATLIFF He’s just a regular Joe with two great kids, a wie, and a mean underhand pitch.

IBCer and ormer IBC sotballer Joe Ratli attended the IBC Men’s retreat this

year and ound a new way orward in his spiritual growth through the Bible

Reading and Refection seminar.

Chatter First o, does anything intimidate you about the Bible?

Joe atliff I would read 5 or 6 pages o the Bible and look back on it and say,

“Ok, what does that mean to me?” I could recount the story and I wasn’t intimi-

dated by it, but I couldn’t understand how to internalize it; how to comprehend

the meaning behind the lesson. I would get the stories, but not how they apply

to me.

Chat What inspired you to attend the seminar?

J I grew up a nice little southern Baptist boy, but despite being in the church,

nobody had ever explained how to read and study the Bible. I’ve always read

it like you would a novel or a story, chapter ater chapter. I wanted to dive in a

little bit deeper.

Chat What was the most useul takeaway rom that morning?

J To actually shorten the sections you’re reading, and to internalize whatyou’re reading. Focus on a word rom a passage, a phrase rom a passage. Ask,

“What does that passage mean or my lie in relation to that word or that

phrase?” It is a way to make the pas-

sage apply instead o just reading or

entertainment. I you’re reading a

smaller section, it means more to you.

Chat How has your view o the Bible

changed?

J I’ve always known that the Bible

is kind o the road map; your guiding

light as God’s Word. I’ve always known that, so my view has not changed, but

my understanding has changed. Now I’m able to ollow the road map instead o

just wandering around.

Chat How has your lie changed?

J I only did this a couple o months ago, so give me a break! [Laughs.] No, I

fnd mysel wanting to read the Bible more reque ntly.

Chat Who is the ideal candidate or Bible Reading and Reection?

J I think i you have aith that what the Bible says is real — i you’re not on the

ence — then that’s when this really becomes valuable. It’s more about learning

to eed rom the Bible, as opposed to the basic stu o acceptance and believ-ing. You can come to belie in the Bible by doing this seminar, probably, but it

seems to me once you’re there, you have to be taught how to fsh.

The word “Bible” comes

from a Greek word meaning“the books.”

The Gutenberg Bible owned by theUniversity of Texas at Austin was

purchased in 1978 for $2.4 million.

7/31/2019 Chatter, June 2012


Chatter | 12

About to put Chatter down?

Don’t cease without praying.

Governor Rick Perry declared

April 22–24, 2011, as Days of Prayerfor Rain in the State of Texas.

Do you sometimes struggle with prayer?How to pray? What to pray?

Being a Christian is more than merely believingpromises and obeying commands. At its very essence,

Christianity isn’t a religion; it’s a relationship. And as weall know, a relationship requires a high commitment tocommunication. That’s where prayer comes in. Join usthis summer as we learn to pray God’s way, accordingto his Word.

A 5-week BibleStudy for Women

Lord, Teach Me to Prayby Kay Arthur

July 10 – August 7, 2012

Tuesdays, 6:30–8:30 p.m.Registration is $15

(includes workbook).

For more info or to register,visit women.irvingbible.org.

KidZone is available byadvance registration, andcosts $10/child. Register yourchild for: “KidZone-Summer Womens BS-7/10/12.”

A Summer Women’s Bible Study

Are you hurting, Beloved? Does the pain run deep? And when I call you

“Beloved,” do you believe it?

Do you ever fnd yoursel wondering whether you are truly loved by anyone — even

God? Then again, perhaps pain isn’t the issue in your lie right now. Even so, you

eel torn by conusion, stress, or doubts. Perhaps you’re so pressured, so burdened,

and so weighed down that you wonder how you’re going to make it.

The news is bad

the situation dicult

the crisis overwhelming

the insecurity debilitating

the decision-making process scary.

On any given day you can fnd yoursel concerned about any or all o the ollowing:

yoursel, your spouse (having one, not having one), children (wishing, wanting,

having, wishing you didn’t), your riends, your fnances. The uture. The past.

The present.

What will you do? How will you make it? Where will you turn?

There are answers to those questions, loved one, and you can fnd them in the Word

o God and in prayer, as you cast all your cares on Him because He cares or you.

The Word o God is the oundation or everything else in our lives. According to

Jesus Himsel, man lives by every word that comes out o the mouth o God. The

Word o God is God-breathed. That’s the very term the apostle Paul used in his let-

ter to young Timothy:

All Scripture is inspired by God and protable or teaching, or reproo, or cor-

rection, or training in righteousness; so that the man o God may be adequate,

equipped or every good work (2 Timothy 3:16).

The word “inspired” in this passage comes rom a Greek word that literally means

“God-breathed.” When God speaks on any given issue, what He speaks is truth.

What He commands is to be obeyed. God has spoken and it stands. We are to

believe and obey.

Yet being a Christian is more than merely believing promises and obeying com-

mands. At its very essence, Christianity isn’t a religion, it’s a relationship. And as

we all know, a relationship requires a high commitment to communication.

That’s where prayer comes in. It is through prayer that you and I communicate

with our heavenly Father.

Think about the everyday needs and demands in our lives: the decisions we must

make, the wisdom we need, the resources we require, the relationships that need

so much tending, discernment, and sacrifce. Is it any wonder the Bible says, “Pray

without ceasing”?

We need the strength, wisdom, and love o the Lord in our lives, and we need these

things desperately.

Though Scripture sets orth all o the goals and standards or everyday lie in prin-

ciple, it usually doesn’t fll in the practical details. That’s why we need to talk and

listen to our heavenly Father.

This, Beloved, is prayer. And that’s what this study is all about — learning to pray

God’s way, according to His Word. It’s about learning how to talk to God anytime

about anything and everything. Or to put it in words that resonate with our spirit,

prayer is about communion with God.

This journey o learning you’re about to embark on has already been completed by

hundreds o thousands o people all over the world, many o whom have written to

Precept Ministries with testimonies o what a help and an encouragement it has

been in their lives.

I oer this book with the prayer that God will use it mightily to teach you to pray

“according to His will,” and that His words on prayer will abide in you. Remember,

Jesus said, “I you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish,

and it will be done or you” (John 15:7).

I am so excited about the truths you are going to learn rom the precious Word o God in the ollowing pages, and the incredible dierence I know they will make in

your lie and in your relationship with the sovereign ruler o the universe. In just

our short weeks we will learn God’s basic precepts on prayer—principles that will

give you a thoroughgoing biblical understanding o this crucial area o lie.

What you learn in this study, dear child o God, will be yours to put into practice or

a lietime, just as Jesus intended when He taught His own disciples how to pray.

Taken rom: LORD, TEACH ME TO PRAY IN 28 DAYS

Revised and updated, Copyright © 1982/2008 by Kay Arthur Published by Harvest House Publishers, Eugene, Oregon 97402www.harvesthousepublishers.comUsed by Permission. Not to be reproduced.

“Teach Me To Pray”by Kay Arthur: Preace

7/31/2019 Chatter, June 2012


Chatter | 13

Chatter potluck recipe: one

part Kentucky, all parts Fried,and twelve parts Chicken.

On May 17, 1884, P. T. Barnum helped

to squelch doubts about the BrooklynBridge’s stability by parading 21 elephants

across its length.

THURSDAY,

RSVP at [email protected].

Potluck Lunch and

Fellowship/The Bridge

On Sunday April 15, the senior commu-

nity at IBC gathered or their monthly

potluck lunch ollowing the 10:45 p.m.

service. Fondly dubbed the “seasoned

saints,” IBCers o a certain age also enjoytaking in local theater and eating out

together every month. Check out This

Month or the latest happenings with

Seniors at IBC (pg. 14-15).

In an eort to enrich the lives o young

and old alike at IBC and cultivate mean-

ingul relationships that span genera-

tions, IBC’s Young Adults ministry will be

hosting The Bridge on June 14, a get-to-

gether designed to connect women o all

ages in a un, relaxed venue. The Bridge

will be Thursday, June 14 rom 6:30-8:30

p.m. Contact [email protected]

or details.

Jne 14

Potluck and Lunch & Fellowship

Potluck and Lunch & Fellowship

The Bridge The Bridge

6:30–8:30 p.m. $8 for dinner

7/31/2019 Chatter, June 2012


THIS MONTH

Chatter | 14

BIBLE COMMUNITIESGroups on Sunday

There’s always something new

going on in Bible Communities!Here’s a taste of what’s happeningthis month:

Synergy — 9 a.m.Middle School oomCouples in their 40s & 50sJoin us as we dive into scripture anddeepen our faith.

The Tree9 a.m. — West D20s & 30s, married andyoung familiesPlease join us as we grow togetherin faith and in our marriages.

Crossroads — 10:45 a.m.High School oom20s & 30s, MarriedJoin us for group discussion andcommunity.

Journey — 10:45 a.m.Middle School oomAll WelcomeThis summer we will be studying thebook “Twelve People of Influence inGod’s Kingdom.”

On Track — 10:45 — West CSingle ParentsJoin us as we sit together at the9 a.m. service (the lower right handside of the worship center) and thenmeet to discuss the sermon.

enew — 10:45 a.m.Training CenterDiverse, All Ages & Stages

Join us as we explore what it lookslike to be empowered by theHoly Spirit.

Thrive — 10:45 a.m. — West DSingles in their 30s & 40sJoin us as we study spiritual disci-plines through Ruth Haley Barton’s

“Sacred Rhythms.”

Legacy Builders — 6:45 p.m. West A — All WelcomeJoin us we enjoy fellowship, prayer,and in-depth Bible teaching.

Please visit page 20 for more Sunday Bible Communities.

CHILDENInfants Through 5th Grade

BS: SKY Will be June 18-21. Register onlinetoday at vbs.irvingbible.org. See adpg. 17.

espite CareEvery fourth SaturdayFor families that have children with

special needs. For info, contactShannon at [email protected].

MyZone — Wednesdays,6:30–8:30 p.m. — Zone/Zone Jr.

Will be talking a break for the sum-mer until September 5. ContactBeth at [email protected].

Zone 6:30Will be talking a break for the sum-

mer until September 11. ContactBeth at [email protected].

ESPAñOLBilingual Ministry

Traducción del servicio dominicalSerá suspendida temporalmente.Checa Chatter para futuros detalles.

Sunday Service Translations

Will take a temporary hiatus. WatchChatter for details.

FAITH & BELIEFEvents and Resources

Bible eading and eflectionSaturday, June 238 a.m.–12 p.m. — West DSee article pg. 11. Contact Kym [email protected] for more

information.

HOPE & HEALINGCommunity Care

ecovery at IBCThursdays, 6–8:30 p.m. West Wing Youth LoungeDo you deal with perfectionism,pride, overeating, inappropriateanger or control? Recovery is confi-

dential and all are welcome. Join usfor a light meal at 6 p.m. for just $4.

NAMI ClassMondays, 6:30–9:30 p.m.

West BPlease join us starting May 26 forour Family to Family class. ContactJoey at (972) 672-5896 or [email protected].

Mental Health SupportEvery other Monday6:30 p.m. — West A and CFamily Grace Group is for familymembers, friends, and caregivers of those with serious mental disorders.Contact Buzz Moody at [email protected].

The Living Grace GroupFor those who suffer with mentalillness. Contact Melissa Clark [email protected].

Stephen Ministry at IBCA one-to-one caregiving ministry forpeople going through hard timeson life’s journey. Stephen Ministers

provide a listening ear and a caringpresence for IBCers going throughemotionally difficult times such asthe loss of a loved one, loss of a job,illness, injury, divorce or other lifeevents. If you or someone you know

could benefit from the care of aStephen Minister, contact [email protected].

MAIAGEGrowing Together

Marriage at IBC — Sundaynights, 6:45 p.m. — West C/DA small group-based marriageseries designed to help couplesreconnect in the context of commu-nity. Visit marriage.irvingbible.orgto register. KidZone is available, butyou must register your child. Seearticle pg. 16.

MENMinistry to Men

First Watch Summer Series June 29 at 6:30 a.m.Come hear Mario Flores, presidentof Top Notch Coaching. Breakfastprovided. See ad pg. 17.

First Watch XtraMeets Wednesdays at 6:30 a.m. in

the Training Center.

Visit men.irvingbible.org for more info.

MISSIONSLocal and Global

Laundry Love — first Saturdayof the month, 9 a.m.–12 p.m.Located at Amigo Laundromat,

3349 Country Club Dr. in Irving(just down from Sam HoustonMiddle School). Please join us as weprovide free laundry cycles and de-tergent, strike up conversations andbuild relationships. For more infovisit http://llpirving.org or [email protected].

PAENTINGEvents and Resources

Save The Date: Shop TalkSeptember 9Creating and Maintaining WiseBoundaries. For parents of kids of all ages.

SENIOSFor Folks Ages 55+

Dinner and a ShowThursday, June 146:30 p.m.: Dinner at SouthernRecipe, located on Story Rd andWalnut Hill. Please come to dinnereven if you can’t make the show.

8 p.m.: ICT Mainstage presents “AFew Good Men.” For tickets call theBox Office at (972) 252-2787.

Potluck Lunch and FellowshipJune potluck cancelled due to

Father’s Day.Please contact bgroezinger@ verizon.net.

SINGLE PAENTSCommunity and Resources

olunteers needed!To mentor children from singleparent families. Contact Marsha at

[email protected] with us on Sunday!Several single-parent families enjoyworshiping together in the 9 a.m.service. Come and join us in thelowest right-hand section, Rows 5 &6, facing the stage.

SMALL GOUPSCommunity at IBC

Groups are on break until August.Contact Ryan Sanders with ques-tions at [email protected].

STUDENTSMiddle/High School and College

egister Now: Beach CampHigh School, July 13–17Middle School, July 17–20.

See ad pg. 16.Middle School SundaysMERGE AM — Meets in the Alcove,10:45 a.m.–12:05 p.m.

June 6 — Middle School cookout.

Middle School WednesdaysThe “W” — Meets in the StudentMinistry area, 6:30–8 p.m.

High School SundaysTable Discussions — Meets in theStudent Ministry area, 6:45–8 p.m.

Topic: What I wish I would’ve knownin high school.

High School WednesdaysSWAG (Students Worshipand Gathering) — Meets inthe Alcove, 6:30-8 p.m.SWAG will be off June 18.

IBC College Ministry MeetsSundays at 6:45–8 p.m.Meets in the MO.IBC serves a delicious meal eachWednesday and Sunday nightfor $3.

Contact [email protected].

7/31/2019 Chatter, June 2012


Chatter | 15

WOMENMinistry to Women

Save the Date — Summer

Women’s Bible Study — July 10This 5-week study will explore howto pray God’s way, according to h isword. See ad. pg. 12.

Sign up today at women.irvingbible.org.

Visit women.irvingbible.org.

YOUNG ADULTS20s and Early 30s

The GatheringWill be taking a break for the sum-mer until August 9.

Check out these Young Adultsummer events in June:

Family Dinner — Thursday, June 7 — Betsy’s HouseCome celebrate the end of ourspring season and hear what’scoming in the fall.

Man Party — Friday, June 8Email [email protected] more info.

The Bridge — Thursday, June 14See ad pg 13.

Softball Game Saturday, June 16Come watch or play the ThriveBible Community with us.

Serve with us — Thursday, June 21IBCWe will be partnering with VBS andFamily Promise to serve dinner and

spend time with the families stayingat IBC.

olleyball NightSunday, July 1, 6:30 p.m.

Yucatan Beach ClubJoin us for a night of volleyball andcommunity!

Save The Date — The GatheringKick-Off — August 9

Weekly GroupsMany young adults (marrieds,singles and mixed) meet in smallergroups during the week and Sundayevenings to connect in commu-nity and grow in Christ. If you areinterested in learning more, [email protected].

The Breakfast Club — Sundays,10 a.m. — The Mosiac CaféJoin us for some conversation and

light breakfast before the 10:45 a.m.service.

Be sure to join our Facebookgroup (IBC Young Adults) or sub-scribe to our eLetter (by [email protected]) tolearn about fun summer get-togeth-ers in July.

Email [email protected] more info.

2435 KINWESTWednesday Nights at IBC

ox Humana Choir Wednesdays, 6:30–8:10 p.m.IBC Worship CenterThe choral community of IBC isalways looking for new singers of alllevels — beginner or pro. Everyoneis welcome and you can join at anytime! No auditions necessary. Con-tact Crystal at celwell@irvingbible.

org.ESL: English as a Second Language

Wednesdays, 6:30–8:30 p.m.

AZ14 & 15Do you want to learn English? Im-prove your English? Come practiceall four skills: speaking, listening,reading and writing. For more info,contact Corey at 2435esl@irving-

bible.org.FEE Citizenship Class

Wednesdays, 6:30–8 p.m. — IBCFor those at least 18 years old whohave been issued a Permanent Resi-dent Card. We’ll guide you throughthe N-400 paperwork and prepareyou for the main components of the new citizenship test. ContactMichael at [email protected].

IBC Career Transition Ministry Wednesdays, 6:30–8 p.m.

Want to find a job? Come learn howto craft a rock-solid resume, use theInternet and LinkedIn to network,and ace the interview. For moreinfo, contact Anna Heil at [email protected].

Visit 2435kinwest.org.

MISCELLANEOUSA Little Bit of Everything

In His Image Bible Study Wednesdays, 6:30–7:45 p.m.AZ15A small group for adults (18+)with special needs. If you know of someone who would benefit fromthis group, please contact ShannonMiller at [email protected].

NICHE (North Irving ChristianHome Educators)The Board of Directors is busily

preparing for the 2012-2013 schoolyear. Mark your calendar for theKick-Off Meeting on Monday, Aug.27, 2012. For more info, contact

[email protected] or checkwww.texasniche.com.

Stitches of FaithTuesdays, 6:30–8:30 p.m.The Haven

Join us as we crochet and knit. Weare working on 12x12 squares forthe VA Hospital, and baby booties/caps. For more info, contact Myrna Vick at [email protected].

IBC Crop Night — Friday, June 1Commons Annex Bring your pictures, albums, andtools and let’s crop. Paper craftersand digital scrappers also welcome.For more information please con-tact Nikki at [email protected].

IBC spring softball,

Men’s and Coed.We like to form teams in the cityleagues of Lewisville, Euless andCarrollton on Monday, Tuesday,Wednesday and Friday nights.Contact Kurt Heinemann at [email protected] or (972) 765-9912.

Thrive Missions DinnerSaturday, June 23, 6–10 p.m.IBC CommonsDinner and auction supportingThrive summer missions. For moreinfo visit ibcthrive.wordpress.com/missions-dinner.

Hearing AssistanceHearing Assistance is available dur-ing all three worship services. Stopby the Journey Lounge for instruc-tions.

New ArrivalsCongratulations to the follow-ing families on the births of theirchildren:

Amber and Chad Bearden andtheir son Elijah John, born April13, at 8 lbs, 1 oz, and 20.5 inches.

The Gospel of MarkSunday Worship at IBC

Becoming a Christian means embracing a Savior who

loves us and calls us to follow him. We call this “disciple-

ship”, and at its core is learning how to live like Jesus

lived, love like Jesus loved, and serve like Jesus served.

Discipleship is what the Gospel of Mark is all about. As

we follow along with Mark’s story, we will experience

what Jesus really means when he says,“Come follow

me.” Join us Sundays at 9 a.m., 10:45 a.m. or 5 p.m.

June 3: Images of the Kingdom

June 10: Nature’s King

June 17: Authority over Evil

June 24: Hope for the Hopeless

Visit media.irvingbible.org to

listen to recent Sunday sermons.

7/31/2019 Chatter, June 2012


HIgH SCHooL

SummEr Camp

J 13–17

Middle SchoolSuMMer caMpJuly 17–20

Join us as we head to GulfShores, Alabama for a week ofgreat teaching and worship. Thetheme is Fully Human (Romans12) with speaker David McNeely.Cost is $345. Register now!

Contact [email protected]

for more info.

We’re packing our bags and heading for GulfShores, Alabama. Speaker Steve Fitzhugh willteach us how to Get Over Yourself (Romans12). Cost is $320.

For more info, contact

[email protected].

June 18–21 9 ..–12 p.. at IBC

t VBS this summer, your child will learn that God is totally trustworthy.

Imagine the joy, reedom, and thrill o knowing that with God, all things

are ossible! SKY will be a un-flled week or kids to connect with their

riends, grow in Christ — or begin their aith journey or the very frst

time — and reach out to their neighbors and riends.

VBS is for children entering K-5th grade.

Cost

$20 er child (beore June 1)

$30 er child (ater June 1)

$50 max er amilyScholarshis are available.

Register: vbs.irvingbible.org. Online registration closes June 13. Walk in

registation will be available onday morining, June 18.

VBS2012

7/31/2019 Chatter, June 2012


Marriageat IBC is a collectionof couples small groups working

in community to strengthen their

marriages and move towards one-

ness. Whether your marriage needs

to be reignited or resurrected, Mar-

riageat IBC is a safe place for you

to reconnect with one another

among friends.

Marriage at IBC kicks off September 9.

WatchChatter for details.

Married?If you had to rate your marriage

on a scale of one to ten, wherewould it rate?

Seriously.Think about it for a second.

Fst Watch

Summer

SerieSJUN 29, 6:30 A.M.Mario Flores

July 27, 6:30 a.m.

Everson Walls,

former Dallas Cowboy,

“Serious Generosity”August 28, 6:30 p.m.

First Watch Kick-o BBQ

Dinner

Sujo John,

I Am Second,

“Buried but not ost at

Ground Zero”

First Watch

Resumes in September

For more info, contact

Kym at [email protected].

For more info contact: Kym at [email protected].

*There is no charge for breakfast but all proceeds from donations benetNew Friends New ife.

President of Top Notch Coaching“The Heart-Centered Mind”

Meets in The Commons. Breakfast is provided.*

I you’re looking or a un way to serve and would love a frst glimpse

o Chatter every month, get your knickers on and box-step over to

[email protected].

Reams o Chatter a little too hety or you? Not built like The Fighter?

No sweat. Literally. You can still support communications at IBC by

helping to update bathroom signage every month — which is deeply

rewarding and very, very spiritual.

So go on. Be the Dark Knight o buzz.

Wa bcha Ba?

You remember, rom “Newsies.” Maybe

you don’t have the Brooklyn accent. No

problem. Maybe you’re emale. Do we

look worried? No. Chatter is here or

you. Yes, it’s here…in boxes, resh o

the press every month, just waiting to

be set out by a paper-phile like yoursel.

SUNDAY SCHEDULE HOW DO I GIE?

7/31/2019 Chatter, June 2012


Chatter | 18

First Worship Service: 9 a.m.Children’s Classes (all ages)The Tree (young marrieds and families), West DSynergy (40s and 50s couples),

Middle School Room

Second Worship Service: 10:45 a.m.Children’s Classes (all ages)Crossroads (mid 20s-30s couples),

High School RoomOn Track (single parents), West CJourney (all welcome), Middle School RoomRenew (multi-generational), Training CenterThrive (30s & 40s singles), West D

Third Worship Service: 5 p.m.Children’s Classes (all ages)

Community Dinner: 6 p.m.

Community Events: 6:45 p.m.Legacy Builders (all welcome), West AMiddle School, The Commons

High School, Student Ministries Area

SUNDAY COMMUNITY MEALS

Each Sunday in the Town Square at 6 p.m. Cost is$3/meal or $10 max./family.

6/3 Spaghetti with meatballs, salad bar.

6/10 Fajita Madness, salad bar.

6/17 Burgers and brats, salad bar.

6/24 Baked potatoes, salad bar.

If you’d like to serve on a Sunday night meal team,contact Pat at [email protected].

WEDNESDAY MIDWEEK MEALS

Each Wednesday night from 5–6:20 p.m. in TheCommons. Cost is $3/meal or $10 max./family.

6/6 Loaded baked potatoes, salad, dessert.

6/13 Burgers, tater tots, baked beans,salad, dessert.

6/20 Lasagna, salad, bread sticks, dessert.

6/27 Sloppy Joes, cole slaw, pickles, dessert.All June meals are hosted by Mike Gwartney’s Team.

Changes to the menu may be made depending oncost and availability and Bob Downey’s whim.

If you’d like to serve on a Wednesday night meal team, please email [email protected].

THE MOSAIC CAFé (THE MO)

HoursMonday: 8 a.m.–5 p.m.

Tuesday–Thursday: 8 a.m.–7 p.m.Friday: 8 a.m.–12 p.m.Sunday: 8 a.m.–12:30 p.m. & 4–7 p.m.

Phone: (972) 443-3323

June drink special: Nutella Frappe

SUNDAY SCHEDULEMy tm, ta & skRespite Care VolunteersBy giving a few hours of your time to do crafts, playgames, and spend time with special needs children,you give their parents a few hours for themselves. Everyfourth Saturday evening.

SonShine Volunteers

A SonShine Pal helps a child with higher-functioningspecial needs to participate in ministry with their peers.Commitment: weekly or bi-weekly, all services available.Our SonShine rooms are available during the 10:45 a.m.service for children who need more individual attention.Commitment: anywhere from once a month to weekly.

For any of the above opportunities, contact Shannon [email protected].

Middle School/High School Summer Mission TripsMiddle School students will be working on projects inNew Orleans, LA and Dallas. The High School studentswill be going to Honduras and the Navajo Indian Reser-vation in Apache, Arizona. Contact Mary Ann at [email protected] to nd out how you can supportthem through prayer or nancially.

Meals for New Friends, New LifeIBC has the privilege of providing a meal once a monthto the women and children of NFNL. Contact Christine [email protected].

Laundry Love Volunteers Volunteers needed to provide free laundry cycles and

detergent, strike up conversations and build relationshipsat Amigo Laundromat in Irving. For more info, [email protected].

Mentor Kids in Single-Parent FamiliesMen mentor a boy, and women mentor a girl from asingle-parent family. All it takes is a little time and a bigheart. Contact Marsha at [email protected].

Kids’ Night Out VolunteerKids’ Night Out, a ministry for single parent families, is de-signed to give parents a much needed evening to them-selves. Contact Jennifer at [email protected].

My rLaundry Soap and Dryer SheetsLaundry Love is collecting laundry soap and dryer sheetsfor their monthly events in Irving. Please bring theseto the Laundry Love box in the donation area by theTraining Center. For more info vi sit http://llpirving.org orcontact [email protected].

Cars for Missionary FamiliesDo you have an extra car to loan a missionary family onfurlough? Contact Missions at [email protected].

Online Giving OptionIf you would nd it more convenient to donate to theministries of Irving Bible Church online, visit give.irving-bible.org.

HOW DO I GIE?

We’re so glad you’re here. Sometimes it ’s hard to know

where to begin, but we want to make the process o con-

necting and eeling at home as easy as possible. Here are

some ways to start.

The Inormation Center is a great place to get your ques-

tions answered, fnd help and encouragement or your per-

sonal journey, or just have a cup o coee and settle in. Our

team o volunteers would be happy to help you, and our

goal is to make you eel at home. The Inormation Center

is open every Sunday ater all three worship services.

The Newcomer Gathering is an inormal get-together

or those new to IBC and/or those wanting to learn more

about who we are, what we believe and how to get plugged

in. Meet other newcomers, ministry leaders and elders.

Can’t seem to fgure out what IBC is all about or how

you ft into the larger picture? Want ree breakast every

Sunday or our weeks? Propel is designed to help you

fgure out how to best plug in to IBC’s culture and calling.

We’ll talk about what it means to grow in Christ, connect

in community and join the mission — and what that might

look like or you. You’ll also learn more about membership

at IBC.

Small groups exist to cultivate deep relationships thatadvance the kingdom o God in dark places — dark places

in our world, in our relationships and in our hearts. We

do this in the context o sermon-based Bible studies that

meet in homes. Groups comprise 12 people or ewer and

are ormed by leaders who have completed small group

leader training. To sign up or a group or get more ino,

contact Ryan Sanders at [email protected].

nw iBc?

Information Center Have questions? We’re here to help.

information.irvingbible.org

Small GroupsConnect with others on the journey.

smallgroups.irvingbible.org

PropelReady to get plugged in?

propel.irvingbible.org

Newcomer GatheringLearn more about IBC

and meet others like you.

newcomergathering.irvingbible.org

Interested in learning more about IBC’s budget or 2012 or otherfnancial nuts and bolts? Visit budgetino.irvingbible.org.

7/31/2019 Chatter, June 2012


Chatter | 19

Fear the

Mayansquitos

According to famed ethnographerand one-legged ski champion John

“Lane Myer” Cusack, the world will endon either December 30 or 31, 2012, or

January 1, 2013, depending on which side

o the International Date Line you’re

straddling. JLMC, however, will escape

the apocalypse in a 747 equipped with a

ux capacitor, hope and change. But only

three hours o jet uel. Still, the Mayans

will have more or less been proven right in their prediction, even i said predic-

tion is only the result o running out o “Far Side” comics or their Page-a-Days

and not some great oreknowledge o things henceorth to come.

Still, i Hollywood and Lloyd Dob ler have taught us anything, it’s that vampires

and werewolves rarely need to work out or attend acting lessons. Also, they’re

super-hunky. Double also, the end o the world is always close at hand — be it

in the orm o Dr. No, Dr. Evil or an Aerosmith-loving asteroid that unked evil

medical school. Unortunately, the Let Coasters have a poor record o tell-

ing us the signs o our impending doom, preerring to lay the responsibility at

ignored scientists like Pierce Brosnan. For shame.

Fortunately (or not, depending on the timing), the Bible is literally spilling over

with tips and tricks or deciphering the encroaching end o days. Sure, no one

knows the exact time o Christ’s coming, but that doesn’t mean we should be

caught totally unawares (rom the Greek or “in our undertogas”). In act, the

books o Isaiah, Daniel, Ezekiel and Revelation are so ull o eschatological

goodness, Kirk Cameron will have to live to be 139 to make movies about it all.

Nonetheless, or the purposes o comedy, let’s wander away rom the wars and

rumors o wars and into the realm o lesser-known prophetic omenology.

“And, lo, a tide of bestingered beasties clothed in indignation and imper-

vious to DEET shall rise forth and ruin sunset dog walks and backyard

barbecues. This is the forty-fth woe.” Growing up, mosquitoes were a

nuisance. Like homework and bathing. But a ew bites never stopped anyonerom an evening lightning bug hunt or 3 1/2 minutes o tossing the glow-sotly-

in-the-dark Frisbee. Now I can’t take my young ’uns out past 6:30 or ear

they’ll be carried o to wherever mosquitoes carry things o to. Albuquerque?

And i you don’t think the size or voluminous appetites o modern skeeters is a

sign rom on high, eel ree to Google the creature God recently let loose in the

Philippines to eat these massive insect Edward Cullens: the giant ox bat.

“But before the Beast could put his mark upon mankind, a bespectacled

Buddhist shall soften their resolve with shiny things bearing ill-tem-

pered fowl.” Much has been conjectured, opined and made up concerning the

mark o the beast. And many o us wonder how the world’s population could

be convinced to have a barcode or RFID chip permanently installed on their

person. Well, maybe i said tech promises to run on 5G networks and pipe Pan-

dora straight into one’s cerebral cortex while giving a head-up display o Angry

Birds on the old optic nerve, much coaxing may not be needed. Especially i

the beast promises be tter coverage than AT&Verisprint. Besides, what made

Man all the frst time? Hint: An apple. Granted, I’m a pre- tribber, so, you know,

whatevs.

“Beware those proering a reality that is unreal, dressed in the guise of

orange skin and copious booty, especially the one whose frosted locksutter like a crest upon the sea.” Yes, grandma, Ryan Seacrest is a portent

o the Great White Throne Judgment. Think about it. The man has spent the

past decade telling us to worship idols so obviously alse (no way Taylor Hicks

beats Daughtry in an unallen world) that we hardly blink when his production

company throws the Kardashians into our Google searches even though wewere just looking or inormation on psoriasis. Also, pretty sure he ate Dunkl-

eman.

“Behold, though the Lord comes quickly, others shall scoot forth and clog

the arteries of commerce until there is weeping and gnashing of teeth

and a shortage of Little Debbies.” Whether it was Job or Isaiah or Brimley

who oresaw the advent o the Hoveround makes no matter. Nor does its use by

people who would otherwise be immobile. This bit o postscripture speaks o

those who fnd sel-ambulation simply too burdensome to bother with. Those

who take the mobile carts at the mall because the walk between Dillard’s and

Macy’s cracks the 300 yard marker. Those who, i they ell, could defnitely getback up, but would instead choose to lie prostrate, wallowing in their shame-

less shame. Like you, Mrs. Edith Crabbleton.

“In the Eastern Time Zone, a golden idol shall be bestowed upon a

descendant of Cane, née Cain, and The Oprah shall declare i t good.” Yes,

when Susan Lucci f nally wins a Daytime Emmy…what? This happened? In

1999?! Hmm. Looks like we’ve been living on borrowed time, my riends. As the

Mayans were wont to say, duck and cover.

Jason Fox really thought the 2001 Pontiac Aztek heralded the Lord’s return.

Jason is a freelance creative director, copywriter and columnist who offends the prevailing culture at jasonfox.net. His rst book, “leeclowsbeard,” (based on his popular Twitter fee of the same name), isavailable now.

Chatter hasn’t read

Twilight , but understandsthat it is very popular.

The diet of the giant fox bat

consists primarily of gs. Andother Foxes, like Jason.

Chatter has learned that December 21, 2012

isn’t actually the apocalypse, just the marking of the completion of a cycle of 13 baktuns and the

begining of a new cycle. Got that? Thought so.

Susan Lucci would like to

remind everyone that you likeher. You really like her.

7/31/2019 Chatter, June 2012


Chatter…you CAN take it with you. Send us

your Chatter photos on location, and you may

see yoursel in an upcoming issue. Email us

at [email protected].

Nancy Fennell and Chatter , across the bay from the

famous Sydney Opera House in Sydney, Australia.

Documents

Chatter, June 2012