SUMMER VOLUME 15 NUMBER 3
connection volume 15 • number 3
A quarterly publication, © 2013 Stonebriar Community Church, Frisco, Texas. The material within this publication may not be disseminated without permission. All inquiries, comments, suggestions, and story ideas should be directed to our Communications Department by e-mail to communications@stonebriar.org.
ask the pastor
SUMMER 2013
by don mcminn, pastor of worship and music
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Oscar Wilde once said, “Memory is the diary we all carry about with us.” I maintain a large “diary” of meaningful memories from trips to Israel I’ve taken with Insight for Living.
senior pastor chuck swindoll
Highlights from my time there include observing communion near Jesus’ empty tomb and hearing Chuck preach on the Southern Steps of Solomon’s Temple. I remember singing songs of praise in a boat on the Sea of Galilee and floating in the Dead Sea. I pressed a printed prayer request into the Wailing Wall and heard Steve Green sing “I Walked Today Where Jesus Walked,” where Jesus actually walked. Crouching in the cave where David cut Saul’s robe and weeping in the Holocaust Museum were especially memorable—not to mention forging lasting friendships along the way.
senior director of resource ministries carol spencer communications director sandi garrett creative director kenny courtenay writer townsend keller editor olga ball designer sarah scherdt communications coordinator amy hyles volunteer photographer phil bruce
Photo courtesy of Marathon Foto.TM
Visit www.insightforliving.org/events for more information about Insight for Living’s Israel trips.
ask the pastor .................................................................................... 1
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volunteer editor shelly king
running the good race ................................................................ 2
encouraging all travel games ....................................................................................... 4
people to pursue a lifelong, joyous relationship with Jesus Christ
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suggested summer reading .................................................... 5 don’t feed the geek ........................................................................ 5
5 www.stonebriar.org
summer events calendar .................................... back cover cover illustration by kenny courtenay
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by townsend keller, staff writer Vacations can be stressful affairs. We forget what a blessing it is to be able to spend time with our families, and how it is not possible for many families to vacation, especially those with special needs children. Luke Malone’s story of accomplishment is also a story of provision for 22 of those children.
was really taking more ownership in it,” said Meaghan. “He was really trying to step up and become a true servant for these kids. You can tell whenever you see him on Sunday mornings, he’s not just there to fill a time slot while his parents are in church, but he’s really there to invest in those kids.”
Luke Malone, a 14-year-old member of our church who will be entering ninth grade in the fall, has been serving in our Special Needs Ministry for three years. He attributes his initial desire to serve to his grandfather. Working with a local Lions Club chapter, his grandfather helps raise money for a charter bus to transport special needs kids to a camp in Kerrville, Texas each summer.
Luke’s other love is distance running, and he has completed four half marathons. After he ran in the Dallas Marathon, he decided his next run would be for a cause close to his heart: he would raise funds to send one special needs child to summer camp.
“Seeing my grandfather and how much joy he had in it, that’s basically the reason I wanted to join,” Luke said. Luke also points to his own experience of feeling like an outsider in school. “I was always treated differently, and I don’t want these kids to feel like they’re anything less.” Meaghan Wall, pastoral leader of special needs, said Luke’s commitment to the ministry grew remarkably in a short time. “It was really neat to see the difference between his first year of serving and his second year of serving. You could tell he
A photographer captured the exact moment Luke glanced at the name of one of the special needs kids for whom he was running.
Photo courtesy of Marathon Foto.TM
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He began by knocking on doors and asking his neighbors to contribute $13, one dollar for every mile. He quickly reached his goal of providing for one child and, feeling the Holy Spirit nudge him, decided to let God lead him to reach higher. He went from knocking on neighbors’ doors to approaching his parents’ Adult Fellowship to contribute.
Despite less-than-ideal conditions, Luke achieved a personal record, running 13 miles with a time of 1:47:29. He placed fifth in his age division and was among the top 10 percent overall of over 10,000 runners. It was an impressive performance fueled by his passion. Before the race, Luke wrote 13 names of special needs children on his arm to help him push through each mile. Each name had a specific meaning to Luke. For his first mile, he wrote the name of a kid he had to chase down many times while volunteering. For the ninth mile, when he typically “hits the wall” in a race, he wrote the name of a child in a walker who may never be able to walk by himself. He dedicated his last mile to a child in the class who is exceptionally strong so Luke would have the strength to finish the race.
“It was interesting because all I wanted to do was get one kid,” Luke said. “I talked to my parents about going to my parents’ class and talk to them. I got the okay from one of the leaders of the class. I was like ’okay maybe I could possibly get another kid.’” But God had bigger plans.
Luke assists Christopher Sallade with a drawing while serving in the Tweeners class.
He originally set out to provide the money for one child to go to summer camp. He raised enough to send 22 children to Camp Allen, a special needs retreat run by the international organization, Joni and Friends. The camps are tailored to special needs kids while also providing parents with a greatly needed week of respite, encouragement, and biblical teaching.
Luke’s mother, Paige, wrote in a letter to our church, “Luke’s running ministry is not about Luke, it’s about living your faith and trusting in God to provide. It’s about stepping outside your comfort zone and following the Holy Spirit’s lead.” Luke, who does not mention his own accomplishments once, points to God as the source of his success in helping those he cares about deeply. “I learned that God is bigger than anything,” he said. Whatever you think may be small, God can change that and turn it into something humongous.”
March 24, the day of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Dallas Half Marathon, was cold with 40 mph winds. Luke (far left) with his family, who supported him during his fundraising efforts.
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by kenny courtenay, creative director Across: 1. Salvation is a free_____. 6. Jesus died on the _____.
Down: 2. The Israelites wandered in the desert for _____ years.
crossword puzzle
summer reading We hope you’ll enjoy reading these books recommended by our staff
by townsend keller, staff writer
3. ____ authored the book of Revelation. 8. David killed _______ with a sling and 4. When you trust in Christ, your sins are a stone. ________. 9. For all have sinned and fall short of the 5. ___ separates us from God. _____ of God. 7. But God demonstrates his own love for 10. For God so loved the world, that He us in this: While we were still______, gave His only begotten Son, that Christ died for us. whoever _______ in Him shall not 9. For by _____ you have been saved perish, but have eternal life. through faith, and not of yourselves . . . 12. There are 66 books in the _____. 11. _______ was the wisest king of Israel. 13. The _______ tempted Eve to eat the 12. forbidden fruit. burning ____. 15. For the wages of sin is _____. 14. Which of Jesus’ disciples walked 17. ____ killed his brother Abel. on water?
A Walk in the Woods, by Bill Bryson
Saying It Well, by Charles R. Swindoll
Mark Johnson recommends this book, which discusses the history, ecology, and people of the Appalachian Trail.
In this 288-page book recommended by Abbi Vance, Pastor Chuck shares his secrets on how to talk in a manner that will cause people to listen.
Dealing with Dawkins, by John Blanchard This easy-to-read, short book suggested by Les Fleetwood is essential for those interested in understanding and rebutting the claims of New Atheism.
Finding Common Ground, by Tim Downs
18. . . . it is the gift of God; not as result 16. Saul of Tarsus became the of _____, so that no one may boast. Apostle____.
Focus on the center of a wheel and watch the others turn.
help friskie find his master
This book, recommended by Greg Luttrell, promotes ways for Christians to develop relationships in our communities and heal our culture.
Leading With a Limp, by Dan Allender Learn to get the most from your weakness by using your flaws to your advantage in this book selected by Tony Cammarota.
Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption, by Laura Hillenbrand Lynne Laminack recommends this true story of a man whose faith helped him recover from catastrophe.
Abide in Christ, by Andrew Murray Francey Kelso suggests this book, which simplifies the teachings of Jesus. If you want to live a holy life, but do not know how to start, this is the book for you.
My Cousin Rachel, by Daphne DuMaurier After his cousin Ambrose dies in Rome, Philip Ashley must determine if the woman he fell in love with in Italy is the person she seems in this historical fiction suggested by Marge Ditka.
by barry buchanan, director of information technologies
word finder
Find these words hidden in the puzzle to the left. Words may be spelled diagonally and/or backwards.
AGAPE, CHRIST, ETERNITY, FAITH, FATHER, HEAVEN, HOLY, HOPE, JESUS, JOY, JUSTIFIED, LOVE, PEACE, RISEN, SALVATION, SCRIPTURE, SIN, SON, SPIRIT, TRINITY
4 | connection
Scan this code with your mobile device to see puzzle solutions.
www.stonebriar.org | 5
chinese-speaking fellowship 1st & 3rd sundays, 9–10:15 a.m., A211
tiempo de oración y testimonios
6/1
celebration singers concert
7/27–31 preteen summer camp
6/2
celebration of the Lord’s supper
7/28–8/3 high school wild adventure camp
sundays, 9 a.m., multi-purpose room
9 & 10:45 a.m., worship center
vacation Bible school training
servicio en español
sundays, 10:30 a.m., multi-purpose room
stonebriar prays
1st sunday of the month 5–6:30 p.m., A129 beginning in july
cancer encouragement group 1st monday of the month 7–8:30 p.m., B192
frisco connect (employment networking) 1st & 3rd tuesdays, 9 a.m.–noon [keyword: friscoconnect]
anthem art class (special needs) tuesdays, 10 a.m., B156
marriagecore
tuesdays, 6:30 p.m., B241-242 [keyword: marriagecore]
reach up reach out job-loss encouragement
fridays, 7 a.m., B151-152 [keyword: ruro]
women’s summer Bible study
wednesdays, 9:30–11 a.m. & 7–8:30 p.m. june 26-july 31 [keyword: womensbible]
stepping up™ men’s summer Bible study wednesdays, 7 p.m. may 29–august 7 (not meeting june 19) multi-purpose room [keyword: mens summer study]
4 p.m., multi-purpose room
5 p.m., multi-purpose room
6/12
junior high roughriders game
brookhaven retreat, hawkins, tx estes park, colorado
8/1
junior high lunch & a movie
8/4
celebration of the Lord’s supper
6:30–10 p.m.
6/17-21 vacation Bible school 6–8:30 p.m.
6/17-24 junior high summer camp estes park, colorado
6/25-29 baseball/softball camp
11 a.m.–4 p.m., frisco square
9 & 10:45 a.m., worship center
8/8
high school freshman huddle
8/11
baptism
8/16
1 p.m., multi-purpose room 6–11 p.m., B181
6/26
high school dinner & bowling
8/21
junior high 8th grade muster
6/30
junior high scavenger hunt
8/25
missionary commissioning service
7/4
independence day
church offices closed
9/1, 8, 15 clothe a child
7/9–13
football camp
9/8
marriage foundations begins
7/16–19 elementary summer camp
9/11
women’s fall Bible studies begin
7/20
4–7:30 p.m. 4–10 p.m.
6 p.m., multi-purpose room
handbell concert
2:30 p.m., worship center
7/23
high school evening at the movies
6:30 p.m., worship center
9/15
child dedication
9/20
women of faith conference
7/23–27 basketball camp 7/27
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469.252.5200
9 & 10:45 a.m.
american airlines center
junior high crash course
women’s summer escape
4801 legendary drive, frisco, texas 75034
wednesdays, 9:30–11 a.m. & 7–8:30 p.m.
men’s wednesday night Bible study with steve farrar begins
7/21–8/4 school supply drive 7/22, 29, elementary new believer class 8/5 6–8 p.m., B213
noon–4 p.m., B181
7–11:30 p.m., B181
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www.stonebriar.org