Connection Winter 2010

winter 2010/2011 VOLUME 12 NUMBER 5

connection volume 12 • number 5

A quarterly publication, © 2010 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 the communications department at 469-252-5200 or by e-mail to Communications@Stonebriar.org.

WINTER 2010/2011

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finding renewal in our thoughts, tongue & time........................................................................ 1 stonebriar goes green. ....................................................... 2

senior pastor

Chuck Swindoll

senior director of resource ministries Carol Spencer director of communications creative director

Jennifer Brown Kenny Courtenay

communications coordinator

Lynn Wilson

writer/designer

Susan Jacobson

volunteer editors and writers

Mary Garner Andie Goodrich Shelly King Bob Vestal

stand in faith, go in love— scc missions. ................................................................................ 2

4

As you move into the new year, what do you see in the rearview mirror of this past year? Do you see lessons to be learned? Regrets you hope never to repeat? Decisions you want to build upon? How can you better prepare yourself for the 12-month road that lies ahead?

people to pursue joyous relationship with Jesus Christ

providing clothing for 375 students.............3

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marriage . . . covenant or contract?.............4 spring women’s bible study..........................5 christmas at stonebriar.................................5 winter events calendar................ back cover

www.stonebriar.org

“The life which is unexamined is not worth living.” Every New Year, I remind myself of these words from Plato. The idea is really a biblical concept. In 1 Corinthians 11:28, the apostle Paul wrote, “But let a man examine himself.” We could just as easily say, “Let a woman examine herself. Let a teen look at himself or herself. Stop! Look! Listen! Pay attention!” It’s a biblical command.

encouraging all a lifelong,

by chuck swindoll, senior pastor

more stories at www.stonebriar.org

I want to offer three words that I hope will stay with you throughout the year. These three words will help focus your attention on three critical categories of your life— thoughts, tongue, and time.

—Thoughts— Remember the old computer adage, “Garbage in, garbage out”? These words are just as true in our thought life as they are on our laptop. Feed your mind purity, and you will not produce garbage. Feed your mind truth, and you will not deliver deception. Purity in, purity out. Truth in, truth out. Discipline in, discipline out. In his letter to the Philippians, Paul says it best: “Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best,

not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse” (Philippians 4:8, The Message). As you examine yourself, take a look at what is happening in your thoughts. Then as you progress into the new year, be aware of what you are feeding your mind. Today’s mental planning represents tomorrow’s harvest.

—Tongue— The tongue can bring good, or it can bring ill. Without the tongue, we would not receive good counsel or needed reproofs. Without the tongue, we would never hear beautiful singing. The tongue is merely a vehicle. Like a bucket, it carries what is in our hearts, splashing it out all over the people around us. Some might ask, “The tongue is so little and the body is so big, how can the tongue control the body?” James, knowing we would think of that, offers a vivid illustration of how something small controls something big: “Now if we put the bits into the horses’ mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their entire body as well” (James 3:3). Truth be told, you may have used your tongue in evil ways during the past year. You may have fallen into the habit of gossip, or you may have become less tactful in the way you say things. Thankfully, we can be forgiven for our verbal errors and harsh words, but it is almost impossible to remove the damaging impact.

—Time— How has your time with God been? If you say, “Fine, consistent, and marked by a deep devotion—I’m a changed person because of it,” then I say, “That is great!” On the other hand, you may confess, “Much of my time has been spent on virtually everything but God.” If that is the truth, I admire your honesty. Let me offer a remedy. But this remedy will turn things around only if you are consistent. Commit to give God ten minutes a day—not less, not necessarily more; just ten minutes . . . 600 seconds a day, every day throughout 2011. Take at least five of those ten minutes and spend them with God in prayer. This can be a time where you unload your anxiety and unclutter your mind. Even a few minutes in prayer can result in better priorities and greater emotional stability. Make the commitment, stay at it, and you’ll be amazed at the difference it will make. As you take time to reflect on your thoughts, your tongue, and your time, remember God has a purpose for those who love Him. And that purpose is for our good and His glory. Remember, He is working full time in every circumstance to bring about His plan for your well-being. Amazing isn’t it? Transcendent though He is, our God takes delight in us—even the smallest details of our lives. That includes what we think, what we say, and what we pray. So, will the new year really be any different? Time will tell.

www.stonebriar.org | 1

2011

short term missions Branson, MO India spring 2011

Guatemala Poland China Mexico

by chris whitson, director of building management From funny-shaped electric cars to an advertisement campaign sponsored by your lawn, we are inundated with the message of “Go Green.” No matter what your personal stance is toward the green program, everyone can appreciate the cost savings. At Stonebriar our Building Management Team works behind the scenes to help ensure the church is being the best steward of the resources God has entrusted to us. During the past several months, SCC’s Building Management Team has developed a long-term plan to minimize utility costs in the future. This plan started by working with CoServe to ensure that the church is paying the best possible price for energy consumption. For maximum benefit, SCC is upgrading the electric meter serving the original building to match the two new buildings. This new meter will help us monitor church energy usage more closely. In addition, we are using a monthly preventive maintenance program on all HVAC equipment to ensure optimal performance. One large aspect of our long-term plan is taking advantage of a rebate offered by Coserve to commercial customers who retrofit their lighting systems. Stonebriar’s Atrium has already undergone a complete LED lighting retrofit. The new LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) use less than half the energy of a compact fluorescent bulb of equal light output. Though LEDs are significantly more expensive to purchase, the energy savings over the current incandescent lamps will pay for the cost in less than eight months. The LEDs also last more than nine years, significantly reducing the yearly labor and equipment rental costs that are incurred with incandescent bulb replacements. We are currently retrofitting the Guest Center and Education Building lobby, and will soon change the lighting in the MultiPurpose Room.

2 | connection

summer 2011

Ireland

fall 2011 for more information: www.stonebriar.org [Keyword: ShortTerm Trips]

by tom hayes, pastor of missions & community impact It is clear in SCC’s 12 years of existence that God’s hand has been on our church. From the earliest meetings at Stonebriar Country Club, to the white chairs at Collin County Community College, to the beautiful building on our current campus, God has been guiding our church. However, our growth has not been limited to the North Dallas area. God has used our church to build His kingdom in many places around the world. The list of countries includes Russia, Lebanon, Guatemala, China, India, Ireland, Poland, and Syria, as well as many others. On January 30, 2011, we will celebrate the global impact of

Stonebriar during our annual Missions Sunday. Each year our people are amazed at all the ways that God has used Stonebriar. You will hear more about opportunities for your involvement and support of the missions work of Stonebriar. On Missions Sunday, we will introduce a new missions theme based on 1 Corinthians 16:13–14. The principle of our ministry will be to stand firm in our faith, and the practice of our ministry will be to love in all things. Our desire is to be involved in ministries that love people where they are; however, we do not want to give up on the foundations of our faith in the process. On Missions Sunday 2011, we will share our vision and highlight how we plan to minister in new ways in the areas where we are currently serving. We hope you will follow along with us as we walk through the doors God is opening for Stonebriar throughout the world.

February 18–19 Stonebriar will team up with Feed My Starving Children to provide 100,000 meals to children around the world. During the MobilePack event, volunteers hand pack meals formulated specifically for starving children. Approximately 500 volunteers are needed to pack food during this two-day service project.

providing clothing for 375 students by andie goodrich, contributing writer This past October, 145 Stonebriar volunteers spent two Saturday mornings serving alongside people from 20 different churches in the Frisco area as they helped families shop for needed school clothes. The Clothe a Child program partners with area churches and organizations, Frisco and Little Elm ISDs, and Kohl’s Department Stores to provide clothing to economically disadvantaged children in kindergarten through eighth grade. Each child is given a voucher for $100. Families are then matched with volunteers who assist them with shopping. In the fall of 2009, Stonebriar launched a churchwide initiative that helped clothe 224 children and provided 167 volunteers. This fall, due to God’s incredible provision, Stonebriar was able to provide clothes for 375 of the 1,600 children invited to participate in Clothe a Child. This was my fifth year to be involved in Clothe a Child. At first, my involvement was only through giving. Two years ago, I decided to volunteer for the first time. As I shopped with the families, I could not believe how overwhelmingly blessed I felt. A friend later told me, “You don’t know what God’s blessings are until you get into the work of God.” I could not agree more and quickly signed up for this year’s opportunity. In looking back to this year’s Clothe a Child, I love remembering the joy on the faces of the families who shopped beside me. However, I am often reminded that these families only represent 32 percent of the 5,000 eligible children. The needs in our community are great, and Clothe a Child addresses just one of them. Find out how Stonebriar is impacting our community— join us for Beyond These Walls the second Sunday of every month from 12:15 to 1:30 p.m. in A211/213.

Donations are also needed to help cover the cost of these meals. Each meal costs 19 cents to produce. (In relating it to specialty coffee drinks, giving up one $4 beverage could provide approximately 22 meals.) Stonebriar has committed to sponsoring 100,000 meals. Consider sponsoring a meal as an individual, class, or small group. For questions about this event contact Missions@Stonebriar.org. Learn more and register online [Keyword: MobilePack].

www.stonebriar.org | 3

2011

short term missions Branson, MO India spring 2011

Guatemala Poland China Mexico

by chris whitson, director of building management From funny-shaped electric cars to an advertisement campaign sponsored by your lawn, we are inundated with the message of “Go Green.” No matter what your personal stance is toward the green program, everyone can appreciate the cost savings. At Stonebriar our Building Management Team works behind the scenes to help ensure the church is being the best steward of the resources God has entrusted to us. During the past several months, SCC’s Building Management Team has developed a long-term plan to minimize utility costs in the future. This plan started by working with CoServe to ensure that the church is paying the best possible price for energy consumption. For maximum benefit, SCC is upgrading the electric meter serving the original building to match the two new buildings. This new meter will help us monitor church energy usage more closely. In addition, we are using a monthly preventive maintenance program on all HVAC equipment to ensure optimal performance. One large aspect of our long-term plan is taking advantage of a rebate offered by Coserve to commercial customers who retrofit their lighting systems. Stonebriar’s Atrium has already undergone a complete LED lighting retrofit. The new LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) use less than half the energy of a compact fluorescent bulb of equal light output. Though LEDs are significantly more expensive to purchase, the energy savings over the current incandescent lamps will pay for the cost in less than eight months. The LEDs also last more than nine years, significantly reducing the yearly labor and equipment rental costs that are incurred with incandescent bulb replacements. We are currently retrofitting the Guest Center and Education Building lobby, and will soon change the lighting in the MultiPurpose Room.

2 | connection

summer 2011

Ireland

fall 2011 for more information: www.stonebriar.org [Keyword: ShortTerm Trips]

by tom hayes, pastor of missions & community impact It is clear in SCC’s 12 years of existence that God’s hand has been on our church. From the earliest meetings at Stonebriar Country Club, to the white chairs at Collin County Community College, to the beautiful building on our current campus, God has been guiding our church. However, our growth has not been limited to the North Dallas area. God has used our church to build His kingdom in many places around the world. The list of countries includes Russia, Lebanon, Guatemala, China, India, Ireland, Poland, and Syria, as well as many others. On January 30, 2011, we will celebrate the global impact of

Stonebriar during our annual Missions Sunday. Each year our people are amazed at all the ways that God has used Stonebriar. You will hear more about opportunities for your involvement and support of the missions work of Stonebriar. On Missions Sunday, we will introduce a new missions theme based on 1 Corinthians 16:13–14. The principle of our ministry will be to stand firm in our faith, and the practice of our ministry will be to love in all things. Our desire is to be involved in ministries that love people where they are; however, we do not want to give up on the foundations of our faith in the process. On Missions Sunday 2011, we will share our vision and highlight how we plan to minister in new ways in the areas where we are currently serving. We hope you will follow along with us as we walk through the doors God is opening for Stonebriar throughout the world.

February 18–19 Stonebriar will team up with Feed My Starving Children to provide 100,000 meals to children around the world. During the MobilePack event, volunteers hand pack meals formulated specifically for starving children. Approximately 500 volunteers are needed to pack food during this two-day service project.

providing clothing for 375 students by andie goodrich, contributing writer This past October, 145 Stonebriar volunteers spent two Saturday mornings serving alongside people from 20 different churches in the Frisco area as they helped families shop for needed school clothes. The Clothe a Child program partners with area churches and organizations, Frisco and Little Elm ISDs, and Kohl’s Department Stores to provide clothing to economically disadvantaged children in kindergarten through eighth grade. Each child is given a voucher for $100. Families are then matched with volunteers who assist them with shopping. In the fall of 2009, Stonebriar launched a churchwide initiative that helped clothe 224 children and provided 167 volunteers. This fall, due to God’s incredible provision, Stonebriar was able to provide clothes for 375 of the 1,600 children invited to participate in Clothe a Child. This was my fifth year to be involved in Clothe a Child. At first, my involvement was only through giving. Two years ago, I decided to volunteer for the first time. As I shopped with the families, I could not believe how overwhelmingly blessed I felt. A friend later told me, “You don’t know what God’s blessings are until you get into the work of God.” I could not agree more and quickly signed up for this year’s opportunity. In looking back to this year’s Clothe a Child, I love remembering the joy on the faces of the families who shopped beside me. However, I am often reminded that these families only represent 32 percent of the 5,000 eligible children. The needs in our community are great, and Clothe a Child addresses just one of them. Find out how Stonebriar is impacting our community— join us for Beyond These Walls the second Sunday of every month from 12:15 to 1:30 p.m. in A211/213.

Donations are also needed to help cover the cost of these meals. Each meal costs 19 cents to produce. (In relating it to specialty coffee drinks, giving up one $4 beverage could provide approximately 22 meals.) Stonebriar has committed to sponsoring 100,000 meals. Consider sponsoring a meal as an individual, class, or small group. For questions about this event contact Missions@Stonebriar.org. Learn more and register online [Keyword: MobilePack].

www.stonebriar.org | 3

marriage...

covenant or contract?

by steve fischer, pastor of care ministries I was asked recently what the most significant difference is between a Christian marriage and a secular marriage. I vacillated between an obvious, simple, and accurate response—”Christ,” and an equally accurate response that included words like sanctification, regeneration, and redemption. Fortunately (for them), I committed to brevity. Yet, why do so many Christian marriages look eerily similar to those that do not claim Christ? What separates marriages that claim Christ and thrive from those that claim Christ and struggle? Through my experience as a pastor, two words best capture the distinction: contract and covenant. A contract is a civil agreement made between two people. It is a conditional understanding with a quid pro quo foundation. Because of our fallen nature, it is only a matter of time before one of the two parties chooses to act in such

a way that renders the previous agreement null and void. Thus, a never-ending cycle of negotiating terms begins, often with a lack of communication and understanding between parties. A covenant is dramatically different. In a covenantal agreement, the two parties vow, “No matter what, I will do this,” whereas a contract states, “If you do this, then I will do that.” A contract is made between two people. However, a covenant is a sacred bond between a man and a woman, instituted by and publicly entered into before God and with God. Sadly, most Christian marriages begin with a covenantal blessing, but over time devolve into the contractual. The heartache lies in the truth that “My people have committed two sins; they have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water” (Jeremiah 2:13, niv).

If your marriage has moved from the vitality of a covenantal promise to one that merely exists under the most minimal contractual conditions, it is time to change. Your marriage does not have to reach a broken contract before you get help. One function of the church is to provide a community of truth and grace, and SCC’S ReEngage ministry is such a community for marriages. Perhaps it is time for you and your spouse to return to a Christ-centered, covenantal way of living. No matter where you are, what has happened, or what might be about to happen in your marriage, the truth of living and loving according to our Lord’s plan is worth it.

Three opportunities we pray you consider: ReEngage We meet every Tuesday evening from 6:30 to 8:15 in B241-242. No registration is necessary, and you can start at any time. Free childcare is available.

Marriage Live! Conference Friday, January 21, at 7 p.m. featuring Chuck and Cynthia Swindoll.

Serve as a facilitator couple in the ReEngage ministry. To learn more about SCC’s marriage ministry, visit our website [Keyword: ReEngage], or call 469-252-5218.

spring 2011 women’s wednesday bible study Faith to Finish: Hebrews 6–13 Are you running on empty? Do you need an infusion of hope, faith, and perseverance? Paul’s letter to the Hebrews provides that and more as the incomparable riches we have in Christ are explained. Join us this spring, for the second part of our study of the book of Hebrews, chapters 6–13. Written to a group of weary, persecuted, Jewish Christians, this practical book paints a beautiful portrait of the excellence and sufficiency of Christ in our everyday lives. This epistle to the Hebrews explains in more detail than any other letter the relationship between the Old Testament and Jesus Christ. Hebrews is filled with practical applications for our lives today and provides a fresh infusion of hope, faith, and perseverance. Learn more or sign up online [Keyword: Women].

Christmas is a special time at Stonebriar. Beginning the first of December, our church campus transforms into a Christmas wonderland filled with decorations, trees, lights, and nativity scenes that remind us all of the reason we celebrate. The sights and sounds of Christmas will truly surround us as we host several special events during the month of December.

December 5 at 6 p.m.

O Come, Let Us Adore Him

Join us for a special Christmas presentation by Stonebriar’s Children’s Choirs. The highlight of this evening will be hearing hundreds of children declare the story of Christ’s birth through classic Christmas songs. In addition, members of our kindergarten choir will reenact the nativity scene.

December 8 at 7 p.m.

Sweet Celebration

This is a wonderful night for women to get away from the busyness of the season and enjoy an evening of sweet treats, sweet tunes, and sweet stories by special guest Patsy Clairmont.

December 10, at 7 p.m.

Celebrate Christmas with Stonebriar en Español

Celebremos juntos el nacimiento de Jesús con una cena especial de Navidad. Viernes 10 de Diciembre

December 11 at 4 p.m.

A Holy Night

This afternoon will be filled with memorable and worshipful Christmas music presented by Stonebriar’s Sanctuary Choir and Orchestra. Invite friends and family to this free concert.

December 24, 6 p.m.

Christmas Eve Service

SCC’s Christmas Eve service is an intimate time of worship when our church celebrates Christ’s birth. Invite family and friends to celebrate the true reason for the season during this special service.

December 26 and January 2

9 & 10:45 a.m. Sunday Morning Services 4 | connection

www.stonebriar.org | 5