Kenny Hibbard

My wife told me a funny story the other day about our three-year-old son. She said that they were riding in the van with another little boy (also three)that she watches a few hours during the day. The other little boy started talking out of the blue….to Brady and Kelly and said very articulately “I like to watch Dora The Explorer. She speaks in Espanol …that means she speaks in Spanish.” Brady had no idea what the boy was talking about but must have realized that it would be good to say something profound too and “keep-up” with the presentation that was just made. At that moment, Brady said with confidence….”let’s go Gators….let’s go Gators” while making the chomping motion with his arms. My wife said she had a nervous laugh about what our kids are learning to value in our home. HA HA HA

As I said on Sunday…..values in the home are more caught than taught. I have never once sat down and taught Brady to say that or showed him how to do the “chomp”. He sees, he watches and he knows what is cheered on and what is…..well…..valued. When he felt pushed, squeezed and threatened…..he responded with a value that has been “caught” by living in our home. In the early days of our kids maturation process….they are walking and talking mirrors of what they see, hear and know to be accepted values in the home. In later teen years they will begin to asses for themselves if the values caught in the home are ones they will revolve their lives around.

Let me remind you again to let us help you instill God honoring values into your kids by getting them involved in our Kids and Student ministries.

Today’s Bible Reading (new bookmarks available this Sunday!) Luke 16

I just heard from one of our members who works for Wachovia. He said that after more debate the stockholders held out for a better deal and Wells Fargo is going to buy them now instead of Citigroup. This story of the “shrewd” money manager reminds me of this new deal. However, the verse to take with you today is found in verse 10.

“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.” This is true in business and in God’s business.

I know that it is only October 2nd. I know that Halloween and Thanksgiving have yet to be here…..but I wanted you to know that our message series plan for the entire month of December and then concluding on Christmas Eve is going to be incredible.

We spent much of the day yesterday finalizing the overall idea. I don’t want to blow the surprise but I can tell you that the stage will have an incredible and huge canvas/wall that stretches the length of the stage. On this wall we will have “live” painting as a mural develops before your eyes during the course of each service. The mural starts to take form on Sunday, December 7th and will be concluded on Christmas Eve. Professional painters from our church will create a Christmas mural while we worship, sing Christmas songs and even while I am speaking. It will be “live” right in front of you!

If you have never been to one of our Christmas series or our Christmas Eve Service…you are in for a treat…..and this year will be our most creative yet! Please plan your Christmas Eve schedule NOW around attending one of the three services we will have that day. You can join us at 2:30,4:00 or 5:30pm. Begin thinking now who you can invite to this incredible month of services.

As we were planning these services….I was once again amazed by the level of talented volunteers we have at our church. As you know…. every Sunday our band, creative arts team, media/tech people each produce phenomenal experiences for us. Our value is that we want every Sunday to be an meaningful experience for everyone. We know that to do that….we must engage all your senses. The great part is that except for KC and Brad (who oversee the majority of this ministry) everyone is a volunteer.

They may be professional at what they do…but they serve our church as a volunteer in this matter. Many churches today feel as though they must pay band members, media and tech people to get them to actually want to practice and perform at a high level. This is not the case at our church. We value a Team Church approach to ministry. We have incredible volunteers who serve with kids, with students, clean the bathrooms, play in the band, run the video camera, serve coffee, park cars, lead Home Teams, lead our public school ministry, lead our sports ministry, serve with the Matthews Help Center and the list goes on………as a Team we excel as a Biblically functioning church.

Today’s Bible Reading Luke 15

Have you ever lost something of value? Ever lost your wallet on vacation when you knew it was full of “fun” money and credit cards? What feeling do you have once you know it is lost? Got that sick to your stomach feeling in your mind?

Now what feeling comes over you when you stick your hand down in the crack of the rental car to get the “passy” and you feel your wallet…..that moment you know it is not lost but found! Got that great relief feeling in your mind?

Guess what..take those feelings and multiple by millions…..and that is how God feels when he knows you are lost and rejecting his love and then when you accept his love and come to Him.

No matter what happens today in your life….celebrate that you are loved and cared for by God!

Almost two years ago we did a series called Sex Crazy. It was clear and very helpful to many. At the end of that series we gave out magnets with 10 things to do…to help keep ourselves out of sexual trouble. I stated then, that it seemed drastic….but we needed a new Sexual Revolution of boundaries if we were to keep our families from having to deal with the many issues that are recking so many homes. I thought as we lead up to our new series that the hundreds of new people since January of 2007 may find these thought provoking and helpful. Here are 10 things we should all commit to if we want to stay away from sexual temptations:

I will have an Internet Filter on all my computers! (all means all)

I will share my personal & work cell phone records with my spouse every month!
(Close friend if single)

I will share the monthly T.V. bills with my spouse.
(Close friend if single)

I will not allow my kids to view sexually graphic or suggestive movies.

I will not allow any type of pornographic literature/videos in my house.

I will dress attractively but not to attract a sexual response from others.

I will talk openly and regularly with my kids about dating, modesty and their sexuality.

I will talk openly and regularly with my spouse (boy/girl friend) about my sexual desires, struggles and boundaries.

I will guard myself from going to places that cause me to “slip” into desires that I know are harmful for me.

I will monitor what I personally watch and read so that it does not lead to sexual desire that are not appropriate for me.

Always remember that Church is the right place to talk about such things. These next three weeks will be very helpful to all of us who find ourselves caught in a world the has made sex an insensible pursuit that leaves us feeling lonely, hurt, depressed, confused and never satisfied.

Today’s Bible Reading Luke 14 (new bookmarks coming this Sunday!)

Jesus knows how to tell it like it is…..He nails the people who thought they were “entitled to sit in the best place” at any large gathering of people. He teaches them that we should always choose to honor other people by letting them have the best places and it is better for us to assume the more humble manner…until someone actually ask you to “move-up.” This is such a great principle to live by……why do we always assume we are entitled to have the best or worse yet actually put down others by our actions so that they can’t have or do something.

Offering your seat on the bus, letting someone pull in front of you in traffic, waiting patiently at the gas station, holding a door for someone as you enter the store….just flat out being gracious and courteous to others is a lost art in our world. Instead we have an “I have to get mine” type of attitude.