Download - Chatter, January 2016
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 120
JANUARY 2016
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 220
WHY ARE WE HEREIBC is a community that exists
because we believe Jesus Christ
transforms lives We want to be fully
alive as followers of Jesus and we
hope yoursquoll join us on this journey
HOW DO WE DO THIS
GROWING IN CHRIST At the
heart of our journey is the gospel of
Jesus We trust Christ as our Savior
and find ourselves becoming morelike him as we deepen our relation-
ship with him
CONNECTING IN COMMUNITY
The way of following Jesus is not a
path we walk alone The gospel story
draws us into a community of people
whose lives are being transformed
by Jesus
JOINING THE MISSION Followers
of Jesus arenrsquot just saved they rsquore also
sent Believers become witnesses to
the grace of God as they take part in
his mission to rescue and redeem the
lost and broken
For more about growing in Christ
connecting in community and join-
ing the mission at IBC please contact
infoirvingbibleorg
CONT ACT I BC
983090983092983091983093 Kinwest Pkwy
Irving TX 983095983093983088983094983091
(983097983095983090) 983093983094983088-983092983094983088983088
WEB irvingbibleorg
FACEBOOK irvingbible
TWITTER ibcvoice
ELETTER irvingbibleorgeletter
New to IBC Turn to page 983089983096
REJOICE
Women at IBC celebrated the
Christmas season at Rejoice a
special event benefiting women
in Congo The evening featured
beautiful decor desserts inter-
active stations and a Christ-
mas concert with Jenny Sim-
mons Rejoice raised 983076983092983088983088983088 tosend Congolese women to the
Womenrsquos Leadership Train-
ing Institute sponsored by
IBC Partner ALARM (African
Leadership And Reconciliation
Ministries)
We had such a wonderful time visiting doingthe crafts and enjoying the entertainment anddesserts Thank you all for a lovely evening
ndashLynn
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 320
Chatter | 3
LIFE
SEVEN YEARS AGO I HAD A TODDLER WHO WASNrsquoT THE LEAST BIT INTERESTED IN
POTTY TRAINING I also had a body that wasnrsquot the least bit interested in having energy or looking good
in jeans plus a house that wasnrsquot interested in keeping itself flea-free a mind that wasnrsquot interested in
being calm cool and collected and an emotional state that wasnrsquot interested in being predictable or safeI had also very inconveniently rediscovered a deep love for performing on the stage This of course was
hopeless I thought it extremely cruel of God to introduce such frustration into my experience Why oh
why would this awful demeaning and terribly embarrassing desire come upon me just when I had the
white picket fence
So I decided to write Naturally I had much to
process And it was cheaper than counseling and
it could be done during Drewrsquos naptime while ly-
ing on my back in sweatpants while eating I had
been following my motherrsquos advice to make myself
do things I never thought Irsquod need the motivation
to do like putting on mascara And so my two daily
mandates became mdash aside from sustaining the
physical life of my son mdash to apply mascara and to
write for an hour a day I called it stealing hours
because thatrsquos what it felt like snatching moments
away from real things like laundry in order to delve
into realer things like color laughter food mdash what-
ever my fingers found underfoot so to speak I also
wrote theater reviews And soon I began to dis-
cover that real things like laundry could be realerthan I ever imagined
All this was like rice and beans and cheese for my
soul I asked God for more More to write Yes
please Amen More to see mdash really see My boy
The sky The specific color of green grass in the
speckled shade And by a series of fortunate events
I became the editor of Chatter in 983090983088983088983097
I want to thank you for this indulgence because I
think it was a net that swept me up out of the water
with a great catch of fish besides Now my little
toddler is in second grade and lately has been re-
questing things like ldquoprivacyrdquo I also now have a girl
who used to kick the warm computer in utero as it
rested on my belly wh ile I clacked away Shersquos cur-
rently preparing her remarks for the UN Astound-
ingly Irsquove also had a three-year string of continu-
ous professional theater gigs which is be ginning to
seem less like a fluke and more like an actual like
THING Like something I could do with more ofme Life flows weirdly and wonderfully at times
This issue will be my last official one as Editor or
as our Director of Art Design and Goodness Josh
Wiese calls me mdash J-Ed And therersquos so much more
goodness in store Our ever-vigilant plucky in-
trepid and talented communications guru Victoria
Andrews will be squashing my shoes with some
very big shoes of her own And Chatter itself will
become more Chatter-y with dense content and
flow like yoursquove never seen Just you wait Wersquoll ldquogo
darkrdquo next month in February and in March wersquoll
resume with more fun and ferocity I hope yoursquore
excited
And Irsquoll be writing still for Chatter for the IBC
web site for special projects and the occasional
snark-ism here and there Irsquoll still be snatchingthose hours Maybe you wonrsquot mind too much and
maybe we can all still be friends
In the meantime I hope you find what you come
looking for mdash in these pages in your life in the
God who gives every good gift Desires are terribly
inconvenient especially the very deep and pulsing
ones the ones that seemed to have been born right
along with you Irsquom glad God doesnrsquot find them mdash or
us mdash inconvenient That he hems us in behind
and before prepares a table in the presence of our
enemies and holds our times in his hands mdash to the
point of bottling our tears and counting the hairs of
our head Maybe even the fleas in our carpet Who
knows He wastes not and we want not
Irsquom just so grateful for Him And for you
Love
a letter fromChatterEditorJulie Rhodes
Art Direction Design amp GoodnessJosh Wiese Lindsey Sobolik JD Lemming
Editor Soon-to-be Victoria Andrews
Pastor to HashtagsScott McClellan Communications Pastor
Photography Patty Thompson (Photo Update)
WritersDebbie Lucien (Long Walk)Suzie Robinson (Water is Basic)Jason Fox (Idle Chatter)
Editorial AssistanceProofingSummer Alexander Annie Stone
Thoughts comments ideas Contact Chatter at chatterirvingbibleorg
Need Chatter Digitally Chatter is on the web atirvingbibleorgchatter
Are you a media socialite Like Chatter on Facebook Itrsquos so likeable
Most beloved and indispensableChatter Volunteer
Most beloved and indispensable
IBC staff memberelder
Under ideal conditions a fleacan live up to a year and a half
HISTORY
SCIENCE
TEXAS
TOMFOOLERY
LANGUAGE
GENERAL
FOOD
CULTURE
CHATTER FACT ICON KEY
Chatter ishellip
GEOGRAPHY
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 420Chatter | 4
GIVE OR TAKE A KILOMETER OR TWO OUR FAMILY TRAVERSED
8157 MILES for the chance to see with our own eyes a well drilled by the
Water is Basic team What we saw will c hange us forever
Honestly the well (983094 created on June 983089983091 983090983088983089983093) looked like most of the ones
wersquove all seen on the WIB website in an email or on a Facebook post over the
years You know several villagers gathered around the pump a dozen or so
yellow jerry cans contrasting the wet orange dirt and precious little ones
awestruck by the gushing water Donrsquot get me wrong this is a beautiful picture
(so keep lsquoem coming) and a constant reminder of why each of us mdash you me
donors around the world mdash stay in the game Only now for our family the pic-
tures were real We could see hear smell and feel the reality they represent
The SUV was at maximum capacity with seven Americans plus the South
Sudanese translator Akeem as we bumped bobbled zigged and zagged our
way down the orange dirt ldquoroadsrdquo for more than an hour into the bush As we
entered the Ayakaka ldquoBomardquo (community) we were warmly greeted with smil-
ing faces The eldest man guided us to a shady place to park
After the introductions we learned that while our visit was indeed a surprise
the family considered it an honor to have us come to the ir village Patrubas
the well committee chairman Lino the vice chairman and two women on the
committee mdash Charity and Alfreda mdash were very eager to show us their new well
The women and children gathered around as we each got a turn to pump the
water mdash a sight I can only imagine made them chuckle on the inside
Next we asked what impact the new well was having compared to using a
water hole a few hundred yards behind their mud huts (You know besides
the obvious mdash close access to clean drinking water less time collecting water
and more time for school or farming better health and so much more) Char-
ity rubbed her right hand up and down over the top of her left arm and said
ldquoMy skin The clean water helps my skinrdquo Apparently they develop severe
rashes and often infections from open wounds exposed to filthy disease-
ridden water Imagine that for a moment you need to bathe to keep clean but
the only water you have to wash is actually causing great harm to the very skin
yoursquore trying to protect
We were curious about the water source they had used for drinking and bath-
ing as recently as six weeks before the well was installed Being the polite hosts
they agreed to walk us down but only after they presented us with a gift A gift
For us From a family who is lucky to eat one meal a day to a group of Ameri-
cans who could eat five or six meals a day if we wanted But they insisted and
our hearts began to break
Patrubas sent a young girl into the tall grass with a long piece of rope and apol-
ogized they did not have time to prepare a meal this late in the day (Yes how
discourteous of them not to predict an SUV full of Americans would drop by
their village unannounced that day) She returned with a black and white malegoat lassoed by the rope presenting it to Dee a fellow IBCer and long-time
supporter of Water is Basic with whom we had the privilege of traveling Steve
Roese WIB President observed our gut-wrenched faces yet was intimately
familiar with their culture and customs For our sake he gently attempted to
decline their unfathomable generosity They politely stood their ground and
the goat was prepped to travel with us
We walked behind some mud huts to see the water hole they had used before
the well was drilled As I stepped closer to get a better look at the cesspool (the
only word remotely close to what was at my feet) I literally shuddered at the
thought of touching it How DID they not only touch it but bathe with it and
drink it I immediately lifted a prayer of thanksgiving for clean water
When we returned to the well Patrubasrsquo wife Rejoice (one of six women on
the well committee) had returned from a meeting We visited with them both
and realized it was past lunchtime Wersquod probably disrupted enough of their
day we thought As we loaded up and said goodbye to our newfound friends
we made sure our gift was as comfortable as possible in the narrow space be-
hind the third row of seats And just in case we forgot about the extra passen-
Suzie attempts to look like pumping a well issomething she does all the time back home
TA K I N G T H E R O A D L E S S T R AV E L E D
Juba
SOUTH SUDAN
SUDAN
DEMOCRAT IC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
ETHIOPIA
KENYA UGANDA
CENTRAL AFRICANREPUBLIC
Yei Lainya
According to The Water Project 783 millionpeople do not have access to clean andsafe water and 37 of those people live inSub-Saharan Africa
Robert Frost sold hisfirst poem for $15
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 520Chatter | 5
ger for a few minutes the hearty bleats reminded us each time we hit a pothole
What a ride
Wersquove been home for a few days now and each of us has contemplated all wehave to be thankful for mdash peace clean water air conditioning three meals a
day schools hospitals grocery stores our health family friends and paved
roads And wersquore thankful for you IBC family
You enable the Water is Basic crew to go into remote villages and bring life-
saving life-changing clean water to people like Patrubas and his community
The water team navigates treacherous paths rainy seasons petrol shortages
extreme drought and the numerous uncertainties of war They can do this
because you care
From our family to yours thank you for empowering the people of South Su-
dan in the fight for clean water Because dear brothers and sisters they need to
be reminded that we care about them mdash especially those living beyond the road
less traveled
Suzie Robinson now knows the true meaning of ldquogetting someonersquos goatrdquo
Susie encourages you to visit waterisbasicorg to learn more about clean water in South Sudan
Original water source forPatrubas and his family
Water Well Committee 12 members 6 are men and 6 are women (left to right)Chairman Patrubas wife Rejoice Vice Chairman Lino Charity and Alfreda
Dee is presented with a goat the gift fromPatrubas and his family for their new well
The Ayakaka Boma well supports 24households and visitors of the local market
According to Waterorg there aremore people around the world witha mobile phone than with a toilet
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 620
Chatter | 6
Dallas is the hometown of Meat Loaf Vanilla Ice and Barney the Dinosaur
Early Childhood Jill Bjurlin
What a joy it is to watch our youngest IBCers learn about Godrsquos love
and grow in their faith Each week the infants are hearing that
God loves them mdash whether theyrsquore being given a bottle or riding
in a buggy with a caring volunteer The preschoolers are learning through in-
tentionally planned activities creative play story time and a c raft All children
learn in different ways but each child is learning three foundational truths
God loves me God made me and Jesus wants to be my friend forever
Itrsquos our desire to come alongside you as you guide your small child on their
spiritual journey Irsquom excited to share some new ways to connect what your
child is learning at church to what they are hearing at home First of all bewatching for a monthly take home sheet called Parent CUE (and make sure
and purchase the Parent CUE app to go along with it) These tools provide
activities to use throughout your day to reinforce the weekly Bible story and
verse Also do you ever wonder what your child is experiencing while you are
in Big Church You are invited to join your ch ild on January 983090983092 during all three
services to experience the fun Please come worship with us hear the Bible
story and meet the leaders in your childrsquos area Be watching for more details
to follow
It is a privilege to be on the journey with you and Irsquom looking forward to each
child experiencing Godrsquos love this year
Elementary Adrienne Siefers
Our dream for elementary students is for them to discover they can
have a relationship with Jesus C hrist Itrsquos our privilege to come along-
side to help them make this discovery and help them grow in their
faith This coming year we have several new things to help kids on that path
Our first is a challenge of sorts mdash wersquore calling it ldquoRocksrdquo mdash where kids can
earn ldquorocksrdquo each Sunday by exhibiting growth in their faith For example kids
can earn rocks by bringing their Bible using it in small group bringing a friend
to church and many other ways Each service hour will be collectively ldquobuild-
ingrdquo a ldquorock wallrdquo once it reaches a certain height all the kids in that service
will win various prizes and incentives Our hope is that kids will discover they
are able to be proactive in a living breathing faith journey
For the Lenten season we are going to follow what is taught in the adult wor-
ship service on Sundays This will help kids to connect better with the season
and provide some great unity as a church as we all learn about the same pas-
sage June will be an exciting month for elementary kids with VBS and a new
summer camp Sabine Creek Ranch We are excited for this camp because it
will allow relationships to grow even deeper between kids and their Sunday
small group leaders in a traditional camp experience The year 983090983088983089983094 is going to
be exciting in elementary ministry
W ha trsquos Ne x t
i n Ne x t Ge n
There are a lo t o f e xci ting ne w de velopmen ts la tel y
wi th IBCrsquos Ne x t Gen minis tr y in 2016 Wan t the scoop
Here i t is s traigh t from the Blue Bell car ton
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 720
Chatter | 7
Raccoons are consideredyoung adults at one yearof age
Middle SchoolKristina McCartney
IBC Middle School Ministry is where friend-
ships are established the Gospel is taught
and life change holiness and maturity are
fostered I would say this is our ldquomission state-
mentrdquo without offi cially calling it that As a new
pastor on staff Irsquom especially excited about whatrsquos
coming this year In January we will be launc hing
our brand new midweek program called RadiusRadius will exist to provide a midweek time for
students to connect with one another build re-
lationships discuss biblical teaching and have a
place to serve at IBC and the surrounding com-
munity Wersquoll also be continuing with our Life On
Life small groups the lifeline in our Middle School
Ministry mdash where discipleship really takes place
Our new associate Middle Sch ool director Moses
Uvere and I are looking forward to a new year of
life change and growth for our middle schoolers
High SchoolMatt Hamilton
The High School Ministry at IBC has
and still is going through a big change
Previously we were meeting at IBC on
Wednesday nights but now we have moved into
three different homes across our area We call it
The Midweek Table Our ministry was full of high
school students who loved Jesus and were growing
in him but we needed a change to move us into anew place of living our lives on mission The Mid-
week Table has provided the jumpstart we needed
to go out and spread the Gospel This new format
has produced some incredible stories of hope
redemption and curiosity We also serve dinner
and do our best to create an environment that is
stress-free and conducive for chilling
Although we have experienced some change there
is still one key consistency The High School min-
istry at IBC believes strongly in community We
also have incredible adult leaders who love Jesus
and share their lives with high school students
Therefore LifeGroups will remain the ldquobread and
butterrdquo of our high school ministry We meet on
Sunday nights after the 983093 pm service where we
dive into life together mdash the way it should be lived
LifeGroups are where we see the most transfor-
mation in our students If yoursquore looking for a safe
place to grow in Christ come check it out
20|30s Jon Jones
When we look at 983090983088|983091983088s ministry in
983090983088983089983094 there is great hope It feels like
those precious few seconds right be-
fore sunrise when the sky begins to glow and possi-
bility looms large We have spent the last c ouple of
months interviewing IBCers in their 983090983088s and 983091983088s
and crafting a vision of what is to come In Janu-
ary that vision becomes a reality 983090983088|983091983088s ministry
is going to be heavily focused on relational con-nection and experiential theology intellectually
engaging with room for doubt The goal is to equip
983090983088|983091983088s to live sacrificially and bless others just like
Jesus did both in Dallas and throughout the world
This will happen through multiple avenues First
Thursday theology TED talks and discussions
Dinner Clubs Happy Hour Takeovers Service En-
gagements and a Haiti Mission Trip We canrsquot say
it enough the future of 983090983088|983091983088s ministry is bright
in 983090983088983089983094
Itrsquos a new day for young adults at IBC
Come see whatrsquos in store for
JANUARY PM THE COMMONS
s
Check out page 8 for all the need-to-know info for Middle School and HighSchool ministry this winter and spring
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 820
Chatter | 8
HIGH SCHOOL
Life Groups Get involved
If your student hasnrsquot been involved in a Life Group this is the time to start
This is not just another program not just another event Life Groups are
central to your studentrsquos faith journey Our small groups (ldquoLife Groupsrdquo)
are made up of 983096-983089983088 students led by adults who love to pour into students
and guide them as they explore spiritual matters Students get to hang out
make new friends laugh a lot and explore the truths of the Bible We meeteach Sunday in the Student Ministries Area of IBC
Winter Retreat Sign up today
High School Winter Retreat is February 983089983090-983089983092 at Sky Ranch This is a great
getaway for your high schooler a time of rest and relationship-building
(What student doesnrsquot need that) Wersquoll welcome special speaker Kevin
Libick Middle School Pastor at Christ Chapel in Fort Worth
Beach Camp Mark your calendarItrsquos not just summer vacation Itrsquos a time for life transformation This is our
983095th year to go away together to the lovely beaches of Gulf Shores Alabama
and you wonrsquot want your student to miss it Whorsquos invited All current High
School students plus current 983096th graders Dates are July 983089983092ndashJuly 983089983096
Mission Trip Pray
If you and your student feel he or she is ready for a summer mission trip
this year now is the time to pray about which might be the best fit Packets
are due January 983089983088 Trips Albuquerque June 983089983088-983089983094 Honduras (Intergen-erational trip) July 983090983094-Aug 983089
MIDDLE SCHOOL
LOL (Life On Life) Get involved
Middle School Students need community more than anybody it seems
Thatrsquos why we have Life on Life a weekly small group gathering where kids
connect over Scripture and engaging conversation mdash all while having a great
time Life On Life meets weekly on Sundays in the Commons at 983089983088983091983088 am
Radius (Wednesday Nights at IBC) Get excited
At IBC we want to cultivate an atmosphere where students are excited to
bring their friends who may not have a church home Radius is a Wednesday
night experience for IBC middle schoolers and their friends that will include
teaching discussion groups worship and quarterly service projects
Planet Wisdom Mark your calendar
This is a canrsquot-miss conference for 983094th-983089983090th grade students The theme
this year is QUEST Discovering Myself in the Light of Christ IBC middle
school students will be attending the conference here at IBC on Feb 983090983094-983090983095
Beach Camp Make note of change (and get ready)
Middle School is NOT attending Beach Camp this summer This is new
this year Middle Schoolers will be attending Summer Camp closer to home
near Weatherford at Texas Star Ranch and Retreat Dates are June 983090983095ndash
July 983089 Camp will again be led by well-trained high schoolers
Mission Trips Sign up today
Your Middle Schooler wonrsquot want to miss this summerrsquos local mission trips
around DFW and San Antonio These are great opportunities for kids
to discover they can serve the less fortunate in their own backyards San
Antonio June 983094-983089983089 DFW area July 983090983094-983090983097
Students at IBC Cheat Sheet WE GET IT PARENTS You donrsquot have time to curl up on the couch with a good book Sometimes you need a sticky note a
Red Bull and a stopwatch mdash especially if yoursquove got teenagers So get fired up your iCal and settle in This wonrsquot take long You
might just earn an A in SpringSummer 983090983088983089983094
For more info about or to sign up for any of these upcoming events
visit irvingbibleorghighschool
For more info about or to sign up for any of these upcoming events
visit irvingbibleorgmiddleschool
Alabamarsquos coast is home toa massive monarch butterflymigration
Between Mars and Jupiter isa dwarf planet known as Ceresdiscovered in 1801
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 920
Chatter | 9
HEART BOX SUNDAY IS FEBRUARY 14 AT IBCOne of the core values of IBC is loving like Jesus This means tangiblyproviding for the needs of others including our partners For the secondyear in a row we have chosen to show this love around Valentinersquos Day byproviding for our local partners in practical ways
HEART BOXES will only be available in Town Square on Sunday February 983089983092
If you are unable to make the service that day they will be in our donation areafor a few days after
And if you get a chance say a big lsquothank yoursquo to Stacie Dugasrsquo Girl Scouts fordecorating our boxes so beautifully
Questions Contact Tricia at tkinsmanirvingbibleorg
FAMILY PROMISEtowels
THE MAIN PLACE boysmenrsquos
athletic shoes
MERCY STREETcopy paper
LAUNDRY LOVE laundry detergent
SCHOOL WORKSelementary boys
or girls tennisshoes and socks
THE GATEHOUSE womenrsquos and
childrenrsquos socksor slippers
MERCY HOUSEdiapers
NEW FRIENDSNEW LIFE
household cleanersand paper goods
BBMOI CRISISMINISTRIEScanned food
SENIOR CAREmenrsquos or womenrsquos
slippers
Join us by bringing one of the following new items to church onValentinersquos day February 983089983092 and depositing it in the appropriatebox in Town Square
In Victorian times it wasconsidered bad luck to sign a Valentinersquos Day card
According to BBC Science it cantake between 90 seconds and 4minutes to decide if we fancysomeone
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1020
Chatter | 10
IBC partner Debbie Lucien tells of a
boy on the verge of his future
In the summer months of 2001 a five-year-
old boy named Enel Previl was brought by
his family to a local church His parents had
been told that by doing so the boyrsquos photo wouldbe taken and perhaps with the help of some
foreign friends the school could pay its teachers
for the coming year His parents thought this was
a good thing When they later heard that some
people picked their sonrsquos photo for ongoing spon-
sorship they thought ldquoGod has opened a door for
him to go to schoolrdquo
With his brother and two sisters Enel start-
ed preschool walking through sunny andrainy days to begin learning about letters
The first person reputed to have walkedaround the world is George MatthewSchilling (USA) from 1897 to 1904
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1120
Chatter | 11
accept Christ and began discipling him Since
becoming a believer Enel has been active in the
choir and enjoys helping to lead worship at his
local church
While itrsquos taken a long time for him to complete
his studies Enel finally finished secondary
school at College de la Grace after 983089983095 years of
steady investment At the age of 983090983090 he now has
the equivalent of an Associatersquos Degree At the
recent graduation I recognized his name from
one of the first groups of children ever helped
through sponsorship He agreed to pose tall and
proud in his graduation robes with the school
founder (and my husband) Caleb Lucien I asked
Enel if he would stop by and talk to me the next
day about his future dreams and what he would
like to say to his sponsors
The next day a Saturday he greeted me e agerly
and told me he was so grateful for the help hissponsors had given him and his family They had
been faithful for 983089983095 years though hersquos never had
a chance to meet them And the fruit of their
generosity is evident Enel is the first member of
his family ever to finish high school He dreams
of becoming a doctor or an engineer but knows
it will take many years to accomplish such a goal
and he has no means other than his familyrsquos farm
But he is now fluent in two languages Creole and
French and has a firm opening into ldquosocietyrdquo as
we say here in Haiti He now looks me in the eyewhen we talk and speaks clearly about his faith
and his sense of responsibility he feels for the fu-
ture of his family Enel understands what a great
privilege he has received
He told me hersquos now waiting on the Lord to
see what doors will open for the future In the
meantime he would like to help area students
with their studies asking families to pay him
only what they can afford I encouraged him bysharing several stories of how we have seen God
work in the lives of other young people and how
often they have also had to wait for their next
steps to be made clear Finally we talked about
his sponsors Enel knew exactly what he would
say to them ldquoIrsquod like to tell them THANKS Irsquove
never had the chance to meet them but theyrsquove
helped me so muchrdquo I told him Irsquod be sharing his
graduation picture with them and would let them
know how theyrsquove blessed his life
Enel headed off that day back to his small home
where he lives with his mother and some un-
married siblings He walks tall and straight and
proudly knowing the God who took him this far
is able to help him arrive exactly where he needs
to be
Debbie Lucien has now lived longer in Haiti than
any other country shersquos inhabited Haiti 983090983090 years
US 983090983089 years Japan 983092 years Germany 983092 yearsYes she is as old as dirt
Born and raised overseas as the daughter of a military pilot
Debbie thought she knew the world But when she visited Haiti
at the age of 25 she realized that God was a lot bigger than she
thought After being courtedrecruited by Caleb she moved to
Haiti in 1993 and never escaped the adventure Follow her on
twitter at MadameCaleb
numbers and colors Each night upon returning
to his home of mud and sticks he would sleep
close to his five family members after doing
lessons or repeating his schoolwork back to
his parents
School continued with the help of donors who
kept his school open In fact it grew to house over
983093983088983088 students Initially meeting just under sticks
and thatch roof with no walls the students were
excited to see a 983093983088983088 square-foot cement block
building go up after a few years Now when it
was muddy outside the classrooms could still
stay clean Enel progressed slowly but surely
sometimes having to share the school supplies he
received through sponsorship with his b rothers
and sisters
In 983090983088983088983097 Enel was thrilled to be able to start
secondary school His sponsor had continued to
be faithful Enel had to walk a little further but
proudly wore the peach and tan uniform of the
upper division school of College de la Grace The
next year however was very hard for his family
Enelrsquos father who had long suffered with cardio-
vascular problems finally passed away leaving
the family with even fewer resources Enel says
that if it wasnrsquot for the financial help he received
through sponsorship he definitely would have
had to quit school as an 983096th grader But since he
had support his family saw clearly that God
had kept the door open for him to continue
his education
Two years later while discussing life with one
of his classmates and hearing many speakers
at church and school Enel decided to become
a Christian Enelrsquos friend Nesly mdash also a spon-sored student at the school mdash prayed with him to
HOSEAN INTERNATIONAL MINISTRIESIBC Partner HIM is a ministry by Haitians for Haitians HIM began in 983089983097983096983092 by Haitian National
Caleb Lucien with one purpose in mind transform lives by pointing people to Jesus Christ
through education life skills training and e conomic growth If you are interested in sponsoring
the education of a child like Enel visit hoseanorg
Enelrsquos firstsponsorship photo
Enel with Caleb Lucien
at Enelrsquos graduation
According to The World Bank morethan 200000 children in Haiti remainout of school
According to World Vision Haitiis currently the poorest country inthe Western Hemisphere
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1220
Chatter | 12
Small Groups at IBC have always been about cultivating deep
relationships that advance the kingdom of God in dark places
Sounds heroic but most of the time it looks simple mdash like a mug of
something hot a good talk about real things and a place to take off
your shoes Small Groups should always feel like home
Starting this month wersquoll officially start calling Small Groups at
IBC ldquoHome Groupsrdquo Most of our groups meet in homes anyway
and well home is what theyrsquore really all about mdash a place to be real
and a place to belong mdash even as the kingdom advances
Registration for winter Home Groups closes Feb 28 Groups begin
meeting March 20 Register today at irvingbibleorgsmallgroups
Come on in
Motel 6rsquos tagline ldquoWersquollleave the light on for yourdquois 50 years old
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1320
Chatter | 13
Mary Flo RidleyldquoParents we need to find our voicerdquo
Shersquos an internationallyknown speaker a featured
guest on numerous radio programs (including Focuson the Family) and writesregularly for ldquoDallas Child
Magazinerdquo Her topic Talk-ing to kids about sex As inYOU talking to YOUR kidsabout sex Yep Itrsquos a thing
Before IBC welcomes Mary Flo Ridley this month as a featured Shop Talk speaker
(January 983090983092) Chatter want-ed to catch up with her for a quick chat abouthellip wellhellipthe thing thatrsquos just so dang hard to chat ABOUThellip
CHATTER As parents wersquore really apprehensive about talking
openly with our kids about th is topic Whatrsquos at the heart of
that fear
MARY FLO RIDLEY Some parents fear speaking to their chil-
dren about sex because they were never taught by their own
parents They donrsquot know what this should look like or whatto say to a child Other parents are fearful that at some point
in these conversations they will reveal their own brokenness
in this area of their life and they feel vulnerable All parents
need encouragement when it comes to talking to their chil-
dren about sex and we as the church should equip the saints
for this task Pointing our children (and ourselves) to the
beauty of Godrsquos design can be seen as a privilege of parenting
CHATYoursquove been teaching on this topic for a long time Tell
us about what first motivated you to develop this training
MFR When I was growing up I was blessed with wonder-
ful parents but they never talked to me about sex When
Dave and I were new parents we decided we wanted to do
something a little bit differently and it led to the research and
strategy that I teach parents today
CHAT Mary Flo wersquore sure there are a lot of families at IBC
who would benefit from hearing your wisdom but some
might think itrsquos too late Maybe their kids are older or already
have particular knowledge or opinions about sex Would they
still benefit
MFR Itrsquos never too late Our children need and want to hear
our voices on this topic and they will be willing to set aside
some of the things that they have picked up from the culture
in order to listen to their parents They may roll their eyes but
they WANT to know not only the facts of biology but also why
this part of their life matters to God They need your wisdom
and they long to hear your thoughts As parents we need to
find our voice and speak to them
Does Talkingabout sex withyour kids feel
like facinga monsterMary Flo Ridley can help with
the horn fangs and halitosis
Shop Talk How to Talk about Sex with
your Children with Mary Flo Ridley
January 983090983092 983089983088983092983093 am in the West Wing
Weaving humor and personal stories throughout Mary
Flo Ridley helps parents shape the message they want to
convey to their children about sex Mary Flo guides par-
ents through the process of shaping their childrenrsquos sexual
education from an early age and brings helpful wisdom for
how to become the loving authority on all sexual matters
More info at irvingbibleorgparenting
The term ldquovocal cordsrdquo was coined in1741 by the French anatomist AntoineFerrein who compared them to thestrings of a violin Tregraves bien
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1420
Chatter | 14
UPCOMING
January
JANUARY 6
Radius Kickoff Join Middle School at IBC for their Wednesday night
program More info irvingbibleorgmiddleschool
Elementary Midweek Kickoff 630 pmA place for kids to connect with friends explore
Godrsquos word and have fun More info irvingbible
orgchildren
Midweek TableJoin high schoolers at local houses for dinner and
conversation More info irvingbibleorghighschool
JANUARY 9
Writerrsquos Workshop mdash 10 amJoin a community of people honing their writing
skills Contact doreillyirvingbibleorg
JANUARY 11
NAMI Family-to-Family ClassA course to educate familiescaregivers of those
with serious mental illness Contact joeynetbreeze-
inccom or eurmooreyahoocom
MHGA Family Grace GroupSupport group for familycaregivers of those with
serious mental illness More info irvingbibleorg
hopeandhealing
MHGA Living Grace GroupSupport group for those who suffer with mental ill-
ness More info irvingbibleorghopeandhealing
JANUARY 13
FPU BeginsSee ad pg 17
JANUARY 14
20|30s Kickoff
See ad pg 7
DivorceCare BeginsA group for those walking through the difficulty of
divorce More info irvingbibleorghopeandhealing
JANUARY 15
Mentoring Service Project mdash 9 amFor children (and parents) from single-parent fami-
lies We will be serving the elderly in our community
More info mtribbettirvingbibleorg
JANUARY 17
Marriage at IBC Kickoff See ad pg16
Honduras trip InformationSee ad pg 16
JANUARY 21
Newcomer Gatheringsee ad pg 17
JANUARY 24
Early Childhood Open HouseAll three servicesJoin us for the first 30 minutes of our Sunday
services for Children Experience worship hear the
Bible story and meet leaders More info jbjurlin
irvingbibleorg
Shop TalkMary Flo Ridley will join us to share ldquoHow to Talk
about Sex with your Childrenrdquo More info mcon-
norirvingbibleorg
JANUARY 31
The SummitAnnual Meeting1230 pmJoin us in West A for the Annual Meeting and enjoy
a complimentary lunch Register at irvingbibleorg
annualmeeting
FEBRUARY 6
Valentinersquos Dinner for Single-Parent Families mdash 6ndash9 pmEnjoy dinner dancing horse amp carriage rides
Register at irvingbibleorgsingleparents or withmtribbettirvingbibleorg
FEBRUARY 7
BaptismsTo register visit irvingbibleorgbaptism Mandatory
orientation held January 10 More info doreilly
irvingbibleorg
The Table beginsSee ad pg16
Propel BeginsGet connected at IBC through this four week course
More info at irvingbibleorgpropel
FEBRUARY 14
Child DedicationRegistration opens January 29 at irvingbibleorg
childdedication
Heart Box SundaySee ad pg 9
FEBRUARY 18GriefShare BeginsA caring group of people to walk alongside you
through one of lifersquos most difficult experiences More
info irvingbibleorghopeandhealing
February
by Jodie Niznik
Jesus has set you free Yet many of us donrsquot feel
free We feel bound by guilt and shame mdash certainour mishaps and mistakes discredit us before God
But if Jesus died on the cross for our sins didnrsquothe die for those things too Join us as we dig intoGalatians to discover what it really means to be set
free by Jesus
Date January ndashApril (not meeting March and due to spring break)
Time - am or - pm
Location e Commons IBC
Cost (includes workbook)
For more information and to register visit
irvingbibleorgwomen
KidZone registration is also available Registration
closes on January at noon or earlier if full
SPRING BIBLE STUDY
ONGOING MEALS
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1520
SUNDAYCOMMUNITY MEALS
6 pm mdash Town SquareMeals are $3 per person or $10maxfamily
13 No Meal Happy New Year
110 Beef fajitas chips and salsasalad bar
117 All American burgers andbrats salad bar
124 Giant baked potatoes withall the fixinrsquos salad bar
131 Chicken tenders mashed
potatoes and gravysalad bar
If yoursquod like to serve on a Sundaynight meal team contact PatOrsquoReilly at (214) 289-6176 or sun-daynightmealirvingbibleorg
WEDNESDAYMIDWEEK MEALS
5ndash620 PM
Cost is $3meal or $10 max family PBampJ sandwiches arealso available
16 Lasagna salad dessertHosted by Mike Gwartneyrsquosteam
113 Ham scalloped potatoesdessert Hosted by BobDowneyrsquos team
120 Enchiladas tacos chips andsalsa Hosted by BarbaraWittersquos team
127 Chicken quarters friesdessert Hosted by BobDowneyrsquos team
Changes to the menu may be madedepending on food cost availabilityand Bob Downeyrsquos whim
If yoursquod like to serve on a Wednes-day night meal team please emailbdowneyirvingbibleorg
CUPPA HOURS
MonndashFri 9 amndash8 pm
Saturday 11 amndash5 pm
Sunday 7 amndash7 pm
BIBLE COMMUNITIESGroups on Sunday
Synergy
9 am mdash The AlcoveAll Welcome
The Tree9 am mdash West D20s amp 30s married amp young families
Crossroads1045 am mdash West CCouples amp Families late 20s to 40s
Journey1045 am mdash The AlcoveAll Welcome
On Track1045 am mdash Conference RoomSingle Parents
Thrive1045 am mdash West DSingles in their 30s amp 40s
Renew1045 am mdash Training CenterAll Welcome
Legacy Builders645 pm mdash West A mdash All Welcome
CHILDRENInfants Through 5th Grade
Childrenrsquos Sunday Services9 am 1045 am 5 pm
Elementary MidweekBegins January 6 630ndash830 pmKids connect with friends andexplore Godrsquos word through smallgroups food fun Visit irvingbibleorgelementarymidweek
HOPE amp HEALINGCommunity Care
Abortion Recovery CounselingContact Kym at (972) 560-4632 orkyeichnerirvingbibleorg
GriefShare630 pm mdash West CContact shararringtonverizonnet
Recovery at IBCThursdays 630ndash830 pmWest Wing Youth LoungeA group for hurts habits andhangups irvingbibleorgrecovery
The Living Grace GroupFor those with mental illness ContactHeath at heathmurryyahoocom
Family Grace GroupFor familiescaregivers of those withmental illness Contact Buzz Moodyat myrabuzzgmailcom
NAMI Family-to-Family ClassContact Joey at joeynetbreezeinccomor Debra at eumooreyahoocom
Stephen Ministry at IBCOne-on-one ministry for hurtingpeople Contact stephenministryirvingbibleorg or call (972) 560-4636
Spousal Abuse RecoveryContact kyeichnerirvingbibleorg
MARRIAGEGrowing Together
Marriage at IBCContact marriageirvingbibleorg
Pre-Marriage Mentoring Visit irvingbibleorgmarriage
MENCommunity and Resources
First WatchFridays 622 am mdash The CommonsContact Nat at npughirvingbibleorg
First Watch ReplayTuesdays 630 pmTraining CenterContact brianarrington1yahoocom
First Watch XtraWednesday 630 amTraining CenterContact bcopehuntoilcom
Visit irvingbibleorgmen
MISSIONLocal and Global
Prayer Meeting
2nd and 4th Wednesdays645-8 pm mdash The Chapel
Laundry LoveFirst Saturday of the month9 amndash12 pmContact laundryloveirvingbibleorg
New Friends New LifeServe dinner to women healingfrom sexual exploitation every thirdWednesday Contact Christine atnewfriendsnewlifeirvingbibleorg
SINGLE PARENTCommunity and Resources
Sit with us on Sunday9 am service lowest right-handsection Rows 5 amp 6 facing the stage
Visit irvingbibleorgsingleparents
SPECIAL NEEDS
Community amp Care
Small Group for MomsSundays 9ndash1015 am
In His Image Bible StudySundays 630ndash745 pm
Small Group for ParentsWednesdays 630ndash8 pm
SonShine Pals and RoomCare during Sunday ministry
Contact specialneedsirvingbibleorg
STUDENTSMiddleHigh School and College
Middle School SundaysSundays mdash 1030 amndash1220 pmStudent Ministries area
High School SundaysSundays 645ndash8 pm
Student Ministries areaIBC College MinistrySundays 330 pmThe Commons AnnexContact collegeirvingbibleorg
High School MidweekWednesdaysJoin us for food and communitySee Facebook page for locations
Middle SchoolWednesdays 630 pmJoin us for a time of friendships
and teaching
WOMENCommunity and Resources
Womenrsquos Spring Bible StudyBeginning January 12Tuesdays 930 am or 630 pmThe CommonsJoin us as we study Proverbs Visitirvingbibleorgwomen
2435 KINWESTWednesday Nights at IBC
IBC ChoirWednesdays 7ndash830 pmIBC Worship CenterContact Crystal atcelwellirvingbibleorg
ESL English as a Second LanguageWednesdays 630ndash830 pm
Haven B C D
Citizenship ClassWednesdays 630ndash830 pmIBC Conference Room
IBC Career Transition MinistryWednesdays 630ndash830 pm
Microsoft Computer SkillsWednesdays 630ndash830 pmThe Training Center
Visit 2435kinwestorg
ONGOING MEALS
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1620
The Table is a place where skeptics and Christians alike can
pull up a chair around a table to explore God the Christian
faith and the hard questions of life It is a place where
questions are invited and welcomed and where people can
voice their doubts
Questions Contact jsteinirvingbibleorg
To register visit irvingbibleorgthetable
When am on February ndashMarch
Where The Living Room (formerly the MenrsquosConference Room)
Whether your marriage is sinking coastingalong or going full-throttle every marriageneeds some TLC
Marriage at IBC is a fun 983089983088-week course that focuses on the
big picture of marriage as well as practical application in the
everyday-life struggles of marriage While we cover important
topics like communication and conflict in-laws finances andsex we donrsquot go through a single class without laughing and hav-
ing a great time The class format is a speaker for a weekly topic
followed by small group time
Marriage at IBC Begins January 983089983095 983097 am The Commons
Register at irvingbibleorgmarriage
Already in an IBC small group Any existing IBC small groups are
welcome and able to participate and will receive all of the Marriage
at IBC resources and any level of support they desire
Questions Contact marriageirvingbibleorg
Join Mission at IBC for an informational about
our summer trip to Honduras We are looking
for medical professionals and teachers to work
with IBC partne r Workers Together With
God This will be an intergenerational trip with
IBCrsquos High School ministry
For more info please contact Lauren at
lmouossairvingbibleorg
HONDURASM I S S I O N T R I PInformational MeetingJANUARY 17
1230ndash2 pm in West D
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1720
HOW DO I GIVE HOW DO I GET
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1820
Chatter | 18
The name ldquoJanuaryrdquo comes from theLatin word for door (ianua) sinceJanuary is the door to the year
My Time Talents amp Skills
Facility Department VolunteersDo you enjoy swinging a hammer or helping doinstalls The IBC Facility Department could use yourhelp There are many projects where an extra set of
hands is needed So if you have experience work-ing in building electrical plumbing etc pleasecontact Rod Myers at rmyersirvingbibleorg
Meal Team VolunteersIBC makes meals available both Sunday andWednesday nights These fun teams could usesome additional volunteers to serve together ForSundays contact sundaynightmealirvingbibleorgFor Wednesdays contact bdowneyirvingbibleorg
Medical Professionals NeededOur weekly medical clinic needs professional healthcare providers (MD PA FNP) to provide treatment
for our patients Volunteers serve on a rotatingbasis and do not need to serve every week ContactCharles at cpierce2435clinicorg
Mentor Kids in Single-Parent FamiliesMen and women are needed for gender-specificmentoring of children from single-parent familiesContact Marsha at mtribbettirvingbibleorg
New Friends New LifeServe dinner to women healing from sexual exploita-tion (every third Wednesday) Contact Christine atnewfriendsnewlifeirvingbibleorg
Safety Team
Do you have a desire to serve and protect oth-ers Contact Christopher Watkins at cwatkinsirvingbibleorg Please include any credentials andrelevant experience
Visitor Follow-Up Team(Rex Greenstreet Ministry)We are looking for a volunteer to make calls orsend welcome emails (or both) to new vi sitors fromIBC Training and coaching will be providedContact Sherri at ssharpirvingbibleorg
Volunteer with Senior CareSenior Care at IBC has some needs Villages on
MacArthur needs Bible Study leaders as well asSaturday services leaders MacArthur Hills needsmusicianssingers and leaders for a spiritual serviceAshford Hall needs one-on-one visitors and Biblestudy leaders and gameactivities volunteers Con-tact Mike at Seniorcareirvingbibleorg
My ResourcesOnline Giving OptionIf you would find it more convenient to donate tothe ministries of Irving Bible Church online visitirvingbibleorggive FIND A PLACE TO SERVE
Yoursquove come a long way since that first breath mint Yoursquovebeen busy worshipping learning relating and committing
And itrsquos at this point that you might start looking around
at all the people who help create those events mdash ushers
greeters meal team members table hosts small group
leaders and the like Your next step now is to join them
Consider your passions talents and spiritual gifts and then
ask about a place to serve Visit irvingbibleorgserve
JOIN IN WORSHIPSo you found the address a place to park and a breath
mint on the way in Good work If yoursquore reading this
yoursquove probably already taken the first step mdash attending a
worship service This is the first and most important place
to start so keep coming Become a regular Make sure to
fill out a Newcomer Card Tell us a little about yourself and
let us know how we can engage with you Somebody will
reach out to you this week Visit irvingbibleorgconnect
Wersquore glad you asked Here are the steps to take for
having your questions answered figuring out the IBC story and if yoursquore feeling ready plugging in
CHECK OUT THE NEWCOMER GATHERINGSo yoursquore kicking the IBC tires Good Wersquore so glad yoursquore
here The Newcomer Gathering is a great opportunity to
meet church leadership learn what IBC is all about andconnect with other newbies in a fun relaxed environment
Next Newcomer Gathering January 21
SIGN UP FOR PROPELAll right Yoursquore feeling the IBC vibe and want to see
where you might get involved Propel is a 4-week class that
explores the IBC calling and culture and how your unique
personality and passions fit in Meet many of our pastors and
directors of ministries at IBC Next Propel February 7ndash28
JOIN A COMMUNITY Yoursquore firing on all cylinders but something is missing And
that something is a someone or a group of someones
Enter sermon-based Small Groups Womenrsquos Bible Study
First Watch and more We encourage you to find a group
and connect authentically with others
Visit irvingbibleorgadults
Start
HOW DO I GETCONNECTED AT IBC
FOR MORE INFO VISIT IRVINGBIBLEORGCONNECT OR LOOK
FOR THE NEWCOMER GUIDES AT THE INFORMATION DESK
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1920
Chatter | 19
If you are not seated please sit down If you are seated buckle up If you
are buckled up you may want to stop reading now if yoursquore prone to
carsickness Settled in Okay then The haphazard collection of words
currently assaulting your senses mdash both sight and common mdash is my 983095983091rd
and likely final column for Chatter I know I know Yoursquore probably in the
drive-thru at Chick-fil-A just now remembering that itrsquos Sunday and then this
happens So you are not only left wondering where you can satisfy your Bible-
blessed chicken jones but also from whence yoursquoll be able to scratch your itch
for elliptical sentence structures chock-a-block with obtuse wordification and
the occasional monthly reference to pastiness You need a hug
Sadly the Chatter editorial board enforces a strict no-touching (even emotion-
ally) policy on contributors of dubious complexion (therersquos your final pasty
reference) so wersquoll have to make do with a psychic fist bump But before I leave
you with Tim Hawkins as your lone source of Christian comedy (What do you
mean he already was) Irsquod like to take a few hundred words and ramble semi-
coherently about what the past 983094983097 ldquoIdle Chatterrdquo columns and 983092 ldquoInterview
with a Dead Guyrdquo exposeacutes have taught me If anything Hmmm
First Irsquove learned that itrsquos much easier to keep a position when the job is es-
sentially that of a volunteer Assuming you donrsquot count the few times I had to
slip an Old Navy coupon code to the editor (Julie now of the emeritus variety)
to get her to put down the metaphorical red pen (The literal red pen is the
Track Changes feature in Microsoft Word which I despise even more so than a
patchouli-soaked hippie Also I never could figure out which online emporium
discounts would convince her to let me discuss smiting hippies so wersquoll see if
the new ed lets that previous sentence fly) Anyway I assume my long tenure
was also aided by my ability to meet a deadline no matter how many times I
moved it and my penchant for mentioning my kids who are totes adorbs at
least in print
Irsquove learned that most fellow believers can take a joke In nearly seven years
of poking fun (And is poking ever really fun I think not) at some of the more
absurdist aspects of evangelical life mdash along with giving Moses the Twitter
handle MoHeston mdash I never received one letter email Tweet Snapchat
Vine video Facebook rant or gospel tract-based expression of displeasure
Sure only about three of you actually know who I am And my family attended
church in Frisco but farther north (as in past the Ikea) than most Irvingites
dare to drive Also we moved to Omaha three years ago Nonetheless I appre-
ciate your collective sense of humor andor Juliersquos restraint in forwarding me
complaints from the elders
Irsquod like to tell you I learned many deep life-changing Biblical truths over the
last 983094983095 of a decade but come on I think we can all agree that I either made up
most of my doctrinal claims or have since forgotten the ones that are true due
to my advancing fortysomethingness Which reminds me I never did base a
column on the Book of Lamentations Woe is me
Lastly Irsquove learned that I can spit out 983097983088983088 words on just about anything with-
out saying much of anything of value Case in point duly noted
And now since I still have about 983091983088983088 words to torture Irsquoll take a question Yesyou in the back with the pre-Etsy WWJD bracelet from 983089983097983097983095 My favorite col-
umns Well I could say thatrsquos like trying to choose your favorite child (the dog)
if having 983095983091 kids wouldnrsquot get me investigated by the Guinness World Records
folks (bunch of narcs) Instead Irsquoll go with my two poems Ballad for a High
School Youth Group Hayride (October 983090983088983089983092) and The Graven (October 983090983088983089983093)
my unearthing of Noahrsquos Twitter feed GopherWoodBoy (October 983090983088983088983097) my
ruminations on Pentecost Economy Sizing the Holy Spirit (May 983090983088983089983088) and my
homage to my dad on the occasion of his 983094983093th birthday Cool On the Inside (July
983090983088983089983088) There might be others I actually like more but I donrsquot have the patience
of a Job Billy Duggar to read them all Also you can find most of these at Scribd
comIrvingBibleChurch or JasonFoxnetIdleChatter
So This is the end For now at least Perhaps Irsquo ll pop up or in or over from
time to time to ruminate on weighty matters like why our Christmas tree top-
per looks like Celine Dion But for now I think itrsquos time to try something a little
different After so many attempts at we aving a little truth into the funny
I believe Irsquoll give weaving a little funny into the truth a go (Thatrsquos what I get for
actually studying my beliefs I guess) I doubt Irsquoll become this millenniumrsquos C S
Lewis but perhaps something of eternal value will emerge from it Hopefully
not damnation
But until we meet in the sweet by-and-by on that beautiful shore (look for my
totally boss conversion van customized by St Doober) I will simply thank you
for reading and leave you with one last bit of suspect theological advice Every
argument especially those on the internet can be won with the phrase ldquoWell
thatrsquos what it says in Habakkukrdquo Because it does
Jason Fox will miss you all except that creepy guy who cuts his fingernails
during the sermon and is proud his last column hit 983097983088983088 words exactly
Jason writes from Omaha Nebraska (well he used to) and can be harassed forevermore on
Twitter at jason_fox
ONCE MORE
WITH FEELING
Celine Dion is theyoungest of 14 children
In 2013 alone 200 millionlemons were squeezed to makeChick-fil-Arsquos fresh lemonade
Shhhh Donrsquot poke itNext month in February Chatter will be hibernating Itrsquos winter after all Plus it buys us some timeto come back in March with more Chatterish goodness than ever before Because more of a good
thing ishellipwell gooder than good grammar (Like we said we need some sleep)
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 2020
Chatterhellipyou CAN take it with you Send us
your Chatter photos on location and you may
see yourself in an upcoming issue Email us
at chatterirvingbibleorg
Chatter tags along as the Mechsner family weathers the ridiculouswinds on Mt Wellington in Hobart Tasmania We understand thatseconds after this shot Chatter decided to dispel the widely heldbelief that turkeys canrsquot fly Be free little guy Be free
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 220
WHY ARE WE HEREIBC is a community that exists
because we believe Jesus Christ
transforms lives We want to be fully
alive as followers of Jesus and we
hope yoursquoll join us on this journey
HOW DO WE DO THIS
GROWING IN CHRIST At the
heart of our journey is the gospel of
Jesus We trust Christ as our Savior
and find ourselves becoming morelike him as we deepen our relation-
ship with him
CONNECTING IN COMMUNITY
The way of following Jesus is not a
path we walk alone The gospel story
draws us into a community of people
whose lives are being transformed
by Jesus
JOINING THE MISSION Followers
of Jesus arenrsquot just saved they rsquore also
sent Believers become witnesses to
the grace of God as they take part in
his mission to rescue and redeem the
lost and broken
For more about growing in Christ
connecting in community and join-
ing the mission at IBC please contact
infoirvingbibleorg
CONT ACT I BC
983090983092983091983093 Kinwest Pkwy
Irving TX 983095983093983088983094983091
(983097983095983090) 983093983094983088-983092983094983088983088
WEB irvingbibleorg
FACEBOOK irvingbible
TWITTER ibcvoice
ELETTER irvingbibleorgeletter
New to IBC Turn to page 983089983096
REJOICE
Women at IBC celebrated the
Christmas season at Rejoice a
special event benefiting women
in Congo The evening featured
beautiful decor desserts inter-
active stations and a Christ-
mas concert with Jenny Sim-
mons Rejoice raised 983076983092983088983088983088 tosend Congolese women to the
Womenrsquos Leadership Train-
ing Institute sponsored by
IBC Partner ALARM (African
Leadership And Reconciliation
Ministries)
We had such a wonderful time visiting doingthe crafts and enjoying the entertainment anddesserts Thank you all for a lovely evening
ndashLynn
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 320
Chatter | 3
LIFE
SEVEN YEARS AGO I HAD A TODDLER WHO WASNrsquoT THE LEAST BIT INTERESTED IN
POTTY TRAINING I also had a body that wasnrsquot the least bit interested in having energy or looking good
in jeans plus a house that wasnrsquot interested in keeping itself flea-free a mind that wasnrsquot interested in
being calm cool and collected and an emotional state that wasnrsquot interested in being predictable or safeI had also very inconveniently rediscovered a deep love for performing on the stage This of course was
hopeless I thought it extremely cruel of God to introduce such frustration into my experience Why oh
why would this awful demeaning and terribly embarrassing desire come upon me just when I had the
white picket fence
So I decided to write Naturally I had much to
process And it was cheaper than counseling and
it could be done during Drewrsquos naptime while ly-
ing on my back in sweatpants while eating I had
been following my motherrsquos advice to make myself
do things I never thought Irsquod need the motivation
to do like putting on mascara And so my two daily
mandates became mdash aside from sustaining the
physical life of my son mdash to apply mascara and to
write for an hour a day I called it stealing hours
because thatrsquos what it felt like snatching moments
away from real things like laundry in order to delve
into realer things like color laughter food mdash what-
ever my fingers found underfoot so to speak I also
wrote theater reviews And soon I began to dis-
cover that real things like laundry could be realerthan I ever imagined
All this was like rice and beans and cheese for my
soul I asked God for more More to write Yes
please Amen More to see mdash really see My boy
The sky The specific color of green grass in the
speckled shade And by a series of fortunate events
I became the editor of Chatter in 983090983088983088983097
I want to thank you for this indulgence because I
think it was a net that swept me up out of the water
with a great catch of fish besides Now my little
toddler is in second grade and lately has been re-
questing things like ldquoprivacyrdquo I also now have a girl
who used to kick the warm computer in utero as it
rested on my belly wh ile I clacked away Shersquos cur-
rently preparing her remarks for the UN Astound-
ingly Irsquove also had a three-year string of continu-
ous professional theater gigs which is be ginning to
seem less like a fluke and more like an actual like
THING Like something I could do with more ofme Life flows weirdly and wonderfully at times
This issue will be my last official one as Editor or
as our Director of Art Design and Goodness Josh
Wiese calls me mdash J-Ed And therersquos so much more
goodness in store Our ever-vigilant plucky in-
trepid and talented communications guru Victoria
Andrews will be squashing my shoes with some
very big shoes of her own And Chatter itself will
become more Chatter-y with dense content and
flow like yoursquove never seen Just you wait Wersquoll ldquogo
darkrdquo next month in February and in March wersquoll
resume with more fun and ferocity I hope yoursquore
excited
And Irsquoll be writing still for Chatter for the IBC
web site for special projects and the occasional
snark-ism here and there Irsquoll still be snatchingthose hours Maybe you wonrsquot mind too much and
maybe we can all still be friends
In the meantime I hope you find what you come
looking for mdash in these pages in your life in the
God who gives every good gift Desires are terribly
inconvenient especially the very deep and pulsing
ones the ones that seemed to have been born right
along with you Irsquom glad God doesnrsquot find them mdash or
us mdash inconvenient That he hems us in behind
and before prepares a table in the presence of our
enemies and holds our times in his hands mdash to the
point of bottling our tears and counting the hairs of
our head Maybe even the fleas in our carpet Who
knows He wastes not and we want not
Irsquom just so grateful for Him And for you
Love
a letter fromChatterEditorJulie Rhodes
Art Direction Design amp GoodnessJosh Wiese Lindsey Sobolik JD Lemming
Editor Soon-to-be Victoria Andrews
Pastor to HashtagsScott McClellan Communications Pastor
Photography Patty Thompson (Photo Update)
WritersDebbie Lucien (Long Walk)Suzie Robinson (Water is Basic)Jason Fox (Idle Chatter)
Editorial AssistanceProofingSummer Alexander Annie Stone
Thoughts comments ideas Contact Chatter at chatterirvingbibleorg
Need Chatter Digitally Chatter is on the web atirvingbibleorgchatter
Are you a media socialite Like Chatter on Facebook Itrsquos so likeable
Most beloved and indispensableChatter Volunteer
Most beloved and indispensable
IBC staff memberelder
Under ideal conditions a fleacan live up to a year and a half
HISTORY
SCIENCE
TEXAS
TOMFOOLERY
LANGUAGE
GENERAL
FOOD
CULTURE
CHATTER FACT ICON KEY
Chatter ishellip
GEOGRAPHY
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 420Chatter | 4
GIVE OR TAKE A KILOMETER OR TWO OUR FAMILY TRAVERSED
8157 MILES for the chance to see with our own eyes a well drilled by the
Water is Basic team What we saw will c hange us forever
Honestly the well (983094 created on June 983089983091 983090983088983089983093) looked like most of the ones
wersquove all seen on the WIB website in an email or on a Facebook post over the
years You know several villagers gathered around the pump a dozen or so
yellow jerry cans contrasting the wet orange dirt and precious little ones
awestruck by the gushing water Donrsquot get me wrong this is a beautiful picture
(so keep lsquoem coming) and a constant reminder of why each of us mdash you me
donors around the world mdash stay in the game Only now for our family the pic-
tures were real We could see hear smell and feel the reality they represent
The SUV was at maximum capacity with seven Americans plus the South
Sudanese translator Akeem as we bumped bobbled zigged and zagged our
way down the orange dirt ldquoroadsrdquo for more than an hour into the bush As we
entered the Ayakaka ldquoBomardquo (community) we were warmly greeted with smil-
ing faces The eldest man guided us to a shady place to park
After the introductions we learned that while our visit was indeed a surprise
the family considered it an honor to have us come to the ir village Patrubas
the well committee chairman Lino the vice chairman and two women on the
committee mdash Charity and Alfreda mdash were very eager to show us their new well
The women and children gathered around as we each got a turn to pump the
water mdash a sight I can only imagine made them chuckle on the inside
Next we asked what impact the new well was having compared to using a
water hole a few hundred yards behind their mud huts (You know besides
the obvious mdash close access to clean drinking water less time collecting water
and more time for school or farming better health and so much more) Char-
ity rubbed her right hand up and down over the top of her left arm and said
ldquoMy skin The clean water helps my skinrdquo Apparently they develop severe
rashes and often infections from open wounds exposed to filthy disease-
ridden water Imagine that for a moment you need to bathe to keep clean but
the only water you have to wash is actually causing great harm to the very skin
yoursquore trying to protect
We were curious about the water source they had used for drinking and bath-
ing as recently as six weeks before the well was installed Being the polite hosts
they agreed to walk us down but only after they presented us with a gift A gift
For us From a family who is lucky to eat one meal a day to a group of Ameri-
cans who could eat five or six meals a day if we wanted But they insisted and
our hearts began to break
Patrubas sent a young girl into the tall grass with a long piece of rope and apol-
ogized they did not have time to prepare a meal this late in the day (Yes how
discourteous of them not to predict an SUV full of Americans would drop by
their village unannounced that day) She returned with a black and white malegoat lassoed by the rope presenting it to Dee a fellow IBCer and long-time
supporter of Water is Basic with whom we had the privilege of traveling Steve
Roese WIB President observed our gut-wrenched faces yet was intimately
familiar with their culture and customs For our sake he gently attempted to
decline their unfathomable generosity They politely stood their ground and
the goat was prepped to travel with us
We walked behind some mud huts to see the water hole they had used before
the well was drilled As I stepped closer to get a better look at the cesspool (the
only word remotely close to what was at my feet) I literally shuddered at the
thought of touching it How DID they not only touch it but bathe with it and
drink it I immediately lifted a prayer of thanksgiving for clean water
When we returned to the well Patrubasrsquo wife Rejoice (one of six women on
the well committee) had returned from a meeting We visited with them both
and realized it was past lunchtime Wersquod probably disrupted enough of their
day we thought As we loaded up and said goodbye to our newfound friends
we made sure our gift was as comfortable as possible in the narrow space be-
hind the third row of seats And just in case we forgot about the extra passen-
Suzie attempts to look like pumping a well issomething she does all the time back home
TA K I N G T H E R O A D L E S S T R AV E L E D
Juba
SOUTH SUDAN
SUDAN
DEMOCRAT IC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
ETHIOPIA
KENYA UGANDA
CENTRAL AFRICANREPUBLIC
Yei Lainya
According to The Water Project 783 millionpeople do not have access to clean andsafe water and 37 of those people live inSub-Saharan Africa
Robert Frost sold hisfirst poem for $15
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 520Chatter | 5
ger for a few minutes the hearty bleats reminded us each time we hit a pothole
What a ride
Wersquove been home for a few days now and each of us has contemplated all wehave to be thankful for mdash peace clean water air conditioning three meals a
day schools hospitals grocery stores our health family friends and paved
roads And wersquore thankful for you IBC family
You enable the Water is Basic crew to go into remote villages and bring life-
saving life-changing clean water to people like Patrubas and his community
The water team navigates treacherous paths rainy seasons petrol shortages
extreme drought and the numerous uncertainties of war They can do this
because you care
From our family to yours thank you for empowering the people of South Su-
dan in the fight for clean water Because dear brothers and sisters they need to
be reminded that we care about them mdash especially those living beyond the road
less traveled
Suzie Robinson now knows the true meaning of ldquogetting someonersquos goatrdquo
Susie encourages you to visit waterisbasicorg to learn more about clean water in South Sudan
Original water source forPatrubas and his family
Water Well Committee 12 members 6 are men and 6 are women (left to right)Chairman Patrubas wife Rejoice Vice Chairman Lino Charity and Alfreda
Dee is presented with a goat the gift fromPatrubas and his family for their new well
The Ayakaka Boma well supports 24households and visitors of the local market
According to Waterorg there aremore people around the world witha mobile phone than with a toilet
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 620
Chatter | 6
Dallas is the hometown of Meat Loaf Vanilla Ice and Barney the Dinosaur
Early Childhood Jill Bjurlin
What a joy it is to watch our youngest IBCers learn about Godrsquos love
and grow in their faith Each week the infants are hearing that
God loves them mdash whether theyrsquore being given a bottle or riding
in a buggy with a caring volunteer The preschoolers are learning through in-
tentionally planned activities creative play story time and a c raft All children
learn in different ways but each child is learning three foundational truths
God loves me God made me and Jesus wants to be my friend forever
Itrsquos our desire to come alongside you as you guide your small child on their
spiritual journey Irsquom excited to share some new ways to connect what your
child is learning at church to what they are hearing at home First of all bewatching for a monthly take home sheet called Parent CUE (and make sure
and purchase the Parent CUE app to go along with it) These tools provide
activities to use throughout your day to reinforce the weekly Bible story and
verse Also do you ever wonder what your child is experiencing while you are
in Big Church You are invited to join your ch ild on January 983090983092 during all three
services to experience the fun Please come worship with us hear the Bible
story and meet the leaders in your childrsquos area Be watching for more details
to follow
It is a privilege to be on the journey with you and Irsquom looking forward to each
child experiencing Godrsquos love this year
Elementary Adrienne Siefers
Our dream for elementary students is for them to discover they can
have a relationship with Jesus C hrist Itrsquos our privilege to come along-
side to help them make this discovery and help them grow in their
faith This coming year we have several new things to help kids on that path
Our first is a challenge of sorts mdash wersquore calling it ldquoRocksrdquo mdash where kids can
earn ldquorocksrdquo each Sunday by exhibiting growth in their faith For example kids
can earn rocks by bringing their Bible using it in small group bringing a friend
to church and many other ways Each service hour will be collectively ldquobuild-
ingrdquo a ldquorock wallrdquo once it reaches a certain height all the kids in that service
will win various prizes and incentives Our hope is that kids will discover they
are able to be proactive in a living breathing faith journey
For the Lenten season we are going to follow what is taught in the adult wor-
ship service on Sundays This will help kids to connect better with the season
and provide some great unity as a church as we all learn about the same pas-
sage June will be an exciting month for elementary kids with VBS and a new
summer camp Sabine Creek Ranch We are excited for this camp because it
will allow relationships to grow even deeper between kids and their Sunday
small group leaders in a traditional camp experience The year 983090983088983089983094 is going to
be exciting in elementary ministry
W ha trsquos Ne x t
i n Ne x t Ge n
There are a lo t o f e xci ting ne w de velopmen ts la tel y
wi th IBCrsquos Ne x t Gen minis tr y in 2016 Wan t the scoop
Here i t is s traigh t from the Blue Bell car ton
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 720
Chatter | 7
Raccoons are consideredyoung adults at one yearof age
Middle SchoolKristina McCartney
IBC Middle School Ministry is where friend-
ships are established the Gospel is taught
and life change holiness and maturity are
fostered I would say this is our ldquomission state-
mentrdquo without offi cially calling it that As a new
pastor on staff Irsquom especially excited about whatrsquos
coming this year In January we will be launc hing
our brand new midweek program called RadiusRadius will exist to provide a midweek time for
students to connect with one another build re-
lationships discuss biblical teaching and have a
place to serve at IBC and the surrounding com-
munity Wersquoll also be continuing with our Life On
Life small groups the lifeline in our Middle School
Ministry mdash where discipleship really takes place
Our new associate Middle Sch ool director Moses
Uvere and I are looking forward to a new year of
life change and growth for our middle schoolers
High SchoolMatt Hamilton
The High School Ministry at IBC has
and still is going through a big change
Previously we were meeting at IBC on
Wednesday nights but now we have moved into
three different homes across our area We call it
The Midweek Table Our ministry was full of high
school students who loved Jesus and were growing
in him but we needed a change to move us into anew place of living our lives on mission The Mid-
week Table has provided the jumpstart we needed
to go out and spread the Gospel This new format
has produced some incredible stories of hope
redemption and curiosity We also serve dinner
and do our best to create an environment that is
stress-free and conducive for chilling
Although we have experienced some change there
is still one key consistency The High School min-
istry at IBC believes strongly in community We
also have incredible adult leaders who love Jesus
and share their lives with high school students
Therefore LifeGroups will remain the ldquobread and
butterrdquo of our high school ministry We meet on
Sunday nights after the 983093 pm service where we
dive into life together mdash the way it should be lived
LifeGroups are where we see the most transfor-
mation in our students If yoursquore looking for a safe
place to grow in Christ come check it out
20|30s Jon Jones
When we look at 983090983088|983091983088s ministry in
983090983088983089983094 there is great hope It feels like
those precious few seconds right be-
fore sunrise when the sky begins to glow and possi-
bility looms large We have spent the last c ouple of
months interviewing IBCers in their 983090983088s and 983091983088s
and crafting a vision of what is to come In Janu-
ary that vision becomes a reality 983090983088|983091983088s ministry
is going to be heavily focused on relational con-nection and experiential theology intellectually
engaging with room for doubt The goal is to equip
983090983088|983091983088s to live sacrificially and bless others just like
Jesus did both in Dallas and throughout the world
This will happen through multiple avenues First
Thursday theology TED talks and discussions
Dinner Clubs Happy Hour Takeovers Service En-
gagements and a Haiti Mission Trip We canrsquot say
it enough the future of 983090983088|983091983088s ministry is bright
in 983090983088983089983094
Itrsquos a new day for young adults at IBC
Come see whatrsquos in store for
JANUARY PM THE COMMONS
s
Check out page 8 for all the need-to-know info for Middle School and HighSchool ministry this winter and spring
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 820
Chatter | 8
HIGH SCHOOL
Life Groups Get involved
If your student hasnrsquot been involved in a Life Group this is the time to start
This is not just another program not just another event Life Groups are
central to your studentrsquos faith journey Our small groups (ldquoLife Groupsrdquo)
are made up of 983096-983089983088 students led by adults who love to pour into students
and guide them as they explore spiritual matters Students get to hang out
make new friends laugh a lot and explore the truths of the Bible We meeteach Sunday in the Student Ministries Area of IBC
Winter Retreat Sign up today
High School Winter Retreat is February 983089983090-983089983092 at Sky Ranch This is a great
getaway for your high schooler a time of rest and relationship-building
(What student doesnrsquot need that) Wersquoll welcome special speaker Kevin
Libick Middle School Pastor at Christ Chapel in Fort Worth
Beach Camp Mark your calendarItrsquos not just summer vacation Itrsquos a time for life transformation This is our
983095th year to go away together to the lovely beaches of Gulf Shores Alabama
and you wonrsquot want your student to miss it Whorsquos invited All current High
School students plus current 983096th graders Dates are July 983089983092ndashJuly 983089983096
Mission Trip Pray
If you and your student feel he or she is ready for a summer mission trip
this year now is the time to pray about which might be the best fit Packets
are due January 983089983088 Trips Albuquerque June 983089983088-983089983094 Honduras (Intergen-erational trip) July 983090983094-Aug 983089
MIDDLE SCHOOL
LOL (Life On Life) Get involved
Middle School Students need community more than anybody it seems
Thatrsquos why we have Life on Life a weekly small group gathering where kids
connect over Scripture and engaging conversation mdash all while having a great
time Life On Life meets weekly on Sundays in the Commons at 983089983088983091983088 am
Radius (Wednesday Nights at IBC) Get excited
At IBC we want to cultivate an atmosphere where students are excited to
bring their friends who may not have a church home Radius is a Wednesday
night experience for IBC middle schoolers and their friends that will include
teaching discussion groups worship and quarterly service projects
Planet Wisdom Mark your calendar
This is a canrsquot-miss conference for 983094th-983089983090th grade students The theme
this year is QUEST Discovering Myself in the Light of Christ IBC middle
school students will be attending the conference here at IBC on Feb 983090983094-983090983095
Beach Camp Make note of change (and get ready)
Middle School is NOT attending Beach Camp this summer This is new
this year Middle Schoolers will be attending Summer Camp closer to home
near Weatherford at Texas Star Ranch and Retreat Dates are June 983090983095ndash
July 983089 Camp will again be led by well-trained high schoolers
Mission Trips Sign up today
Your Middle Schooler wonrsquot want to miss this summerrsquos local mission trips
around DFW and San Antonio These are great opportunities for kids
to discover they can serve the less fortunate in their own backyards San
Antonio June 983094-983089983089 DFW area July 983090983094-983090983097
Students at IBC Cheat Sheet WE GET IT PARENTS You donrsquot have time to curl up on the couch with a good book Sometimes you need a sticky note a
Red Bull and a stopwatch mdash especially if yoursquove got teenagers So get fired up your iCal and settle in This wonrsquot take long You
might just earn an A in SpringSummer 983090983088983089983094
For more info about or to sign up for any of these upcoming events
visit irvingbibleorghighschool
For more info about or to sign up for any of these upcoming events
visit irvingbibleorgmiddleschool
Alabamarsquos coast is home toa massive monarch butterflymigration
Between Mars and Jupiter isa dwarf planet known as Ceresdiscovered in 1801
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 920
Chatter | 9
HEART BOX SUNDAY IS FEBRUARY 14 AT IBCOne of the core values of IBC is loving like Jesus This means tangiblyproviding for the needs of others including our partners For the secondyear in a row we have chosen to show this love around Valentinersquos Day byproviding for our local partners in practical ways
HEART BOXES will only be available in Town Square on Sunday February 983089983092
If you are unable to make the service that day they will be in our donation areafor a few days after
And if you get a chance say a big lsquothank yoursquo to Stacie Dugasrsquo Girl Scouts fordecorating our boxes so beautifully
Questions Contact Tricia at tkinsmanirvingbibleorg
FAMILY PROMISEtowels
THE MAIN PLACE boysmenrsquos
athletic shoes
MERCY STREETcopy paper
LAUNDRY LOVE laundry detergent
SCHOOL WORKSelementary boys
or girls tennisshoes and socks
THE GATEHOUSE womenrsquos and
childrenrsquos socksor slippers
MERCY HOUSEdiapers
NEW FRIENDSNEW LIFE
household cleanersand paper goods
BBMOI CRISISMINISTRIEScanned food
SENIOR CAREmenrsquos or womenrsquos
slippers
Join us by bringing one of the following new items to church onValentinersquos day February 983089983092 and depositing it in the appropriatebox in Town Square
In Victorian times it wasconsidered bad luck to sign a Valentinersquos Day card
According to BBC Science it cantake between 90 seconds and 4minutes to decide if we fancysomeone
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1020
Chatter | 10
IBC partner Debbie Lucien tells of a
boy on the verge of his future
In the summer months of 2001 a five-year-
old boy named Enel Previl was brought by
his family to a local church His parents had
been told that by doing so the boyrsquos photo wouldbe taken and perhaps with the help of some
foreign friends the school could pay its teachers
for the coming year His parents thought this was
a good thing When they later heard that some
people picked their sonrsquos photo for ongoing spon-
sorship they thought ldquoGod has opened a door for
him to go to schoolrdquo
With his brother and two sisters Enel start-
ed preschool walking through sunny andrainy days to begin learning about letters
The first person reputed to have walkedaround the world is George MatthewSchilling (USA) from 1897 to 1904
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1120
Chatter | 11
accept Christ and began discipling him Since
becoming a believer Enel has been active in the
choir and enjoys helping to lead worship at his
local church
While itrsquos taken a long time for him to complete
his studies Enel finally finished secondary
school at College de la Grace after 983089983095 years of
steady investment At the age of 983090983090 he now has
the equivalent of an Associatersquos Degree At the
recent graduation I recognized his name from
one of the first groups of children ever helped
through sponsorship He agreed to pose tall and
proud in his graduation robes with the school
founder (and my husband) Caleb Lucien I asked
Enel if he would stop by and talk to me the next
day about his future dreams and what he would
like to say to his sponsors
The next day a Saturday he greeted me e agerly
and told me he was so grateful for the help hissponsors had given him and his family They had
been faithful for 983089983095 years though hersquos never had
a chance to meet them And the fruit of their
generosity is evident Enel is the first member of
his family ever to finish high school He dreams
of becoming a doctor or an engineer but knows
it will take many years to accomplish such a goal
and he has no means other than his familyrsquos farm
But he is now fluent in two languages Creole and
French and has a firm opening into ldquosocietyrdquo as
we say here in Haiti He now looks me in the eyewhen we talk and speaks clearly about his faith
and his sense of responsibility he feels for the fu-
ture of his family Enel understands what a great
privilege he has received
He told me hersquos now waiting on the Lord to
see what doors will open for the future In the
meantime he would like to help area students
with their studies asking families to pay him
only what they can afford I encouraged him bysharing several stories of how we have seen God
work in the lives of other young people and how
often they have also had to wait for their next
steps to be made clear Finally we talked about
his sponsors Enel knew exactly what he would
say to them ldquoIrsquod like to tell them THANKS Irsquove
never had the chance to meet them but theyrsquove
helped me so muchrdquo I told him Irsquod be sharing his
graduation picture with them and would let them
know how theyrsquove blessed his life
Enel headed off that day back to his small home
where he lives with his mother and some un-
married siblings He walks tall and straight and
proudly knowing the God who took him this far
is able to help him arrive exactly where he needs
to be
Debbie Lucien has now lived longer in Haiti than
any other country shersquos inhabited Haiti 983090983090 years
US 983090983089 years Japan 983092 years Germany 983092 yearsYes she is as old as dirt
Born and raised overseas as the daughter of a military pilot
Debbie thought she knew the world But when she visited Haiti
at the age of 25 she realized that God was a lot bigger than she
thought After being courtedrecruited by Caleb she moved to
Haiti in 1993 and never escaped the adventure Follow her on
twitter at MadameCaleb
numbers and colors Each night upon returning
to his home of mud and sticks he would sleep
close to his five family members after doing
lessons or repeating his schoolwork back to
his parents
School continued with the help of donors who
kept his school open In fact it grew to house over
983093983088983088 students Initially meeting just under sticks
and thatch roof with no walls the students were
excited to see a 983093983088983088 square-foot cement block
building go up after a few years Now when it
was muddy outside the classrooms could still
stay clean Enel progressed slowly but surely
sometimes having to share the school supplies he
received through sponsorship with his b rothers
and sisters
In 983090983088983088983097 Enel was thrilled to be able to start
secondary school His sponsor had continued to
be faithful Enel had to walk a little further but
proudly wore the peach and tan uniform of the
upper division school of College de la Grace The
next year however was very hard for his family
Enelrsquos father who had long suffered with cardio-
vascular problems finally passed away leaving
the family with even fewer resources Enel says
that if it wasnrsquot for the financial help he received
through sponsorship he definitely would have
had to quit school as an 983096th grader But since he
had support his family saw clearly that God
had kept the door open for him to continue
his education
Two years later while discussing life with one
of his classmates and hearing many speakers
at church and school Enel decided to become
a Christian Enelrsquos friend Nesly mdash also a spon-sored student at the school mdash prayed with him to
HOSEAN INTERNATIONAL MINISTRIESIBC Partner HIM is a ministry by Haitians for Haitians HIM began in 983089983097983096983092 by Haitian National
Caleb Lucien with one purpose in mind transform lives by pointing people to Jesus Christ
through education life skills training and e conomic growth If you are interested in sponsoring
the education of a child like Enel visit hoseanorg
Enelrsquos firstsponsorship photo
Enel with Caleb Lucien
at Enelrsquos graduation
According to The World Bank morethan 200000 children in Haiti remainout of school
According to World Vision Haitiis currently the poorest country inthe Western Hemisphere
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1220
Chatter | 12
Small Groups at IBC have always been about cultivating deep
relationships that advance the kingdom of God in dark places
Sounds heroic but most of the time it looks simple mdash like a mug of
something hot a good talk about real things and a place to take off
your shoes Small Groups should always feel like home
Starting this month wersquoll officially start calling Small Groups at
IBC ldquoHome Groupsrdquo Most of our groups meet in homes anyway
and well home is what theyrsquore really all about mdash a place to be real
and a place to belong mdash even as the kingdom advances
Registration for winter Home Groups closes Feb 28 Groups begin
meeting March 20 Register today at irvingbibleorgsmallgroups
Come on in
Motel 6rsquos tagline ldquoWersquollleave the light on for yourdquois 50 years old
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1320
Chatter | 13
Mary Flo RidleyldquoParents we need to find our voicerdquo
Shersquos an internationallyknown speaker a featured
guest on numerous radio programs (including Focuson the Family) and writesregularly for ldquoDallas Child
Magazinerdquo Her topic Talk-ing to kids about sex As inYOU talking to YOUR kidsabout sex Yep Itrsquos a thing
Before IBC welcomes Mary Flo Ridley this month as a featured Shop Talk speaker
(January 983090983092) Chatter want-ed to catch up with her for a quick chat abouthellip wellhellipthe thing thatrsquos just so dang hard to chat ABOUThellip
CHATTER As parents wersquore really apprehensive about talking
openly with our kids about th is topic Whatrsquos at the heart of
that fear
MARY FLO RIDLEY Some parents fear speaking to their chil-
dren about sex because they were never taught by their own
parents They donrsquot know what this should look like or whatto say to a child Other parents are fearful that at some point
in these conversations they will reveal their own brokenness
in this area of their life and they feel vulnerable All parents
need encouragement when it comes to talking to their chil-
dren about sex and we as the church should equip the saints
for this task Pointing our children (and ourselves) to the
beauty of Godrsquos design can be seen as a privilege of parenting
CHATYoursquove been teaching on this topic for a long time Tell
us about what first motivated you to develop this training
MFR When I was growing up I was blessed with wonder-
ful parents but they never talked to me about sex When
Dave and I were new parents we decided we wanted to do
something a little bit differently and it led to the research and
strategy that I teach parents today
CHAT Mary Flo wersquore sure there are a lot of families at IBC
who would benefit from hearing your wisdom but some
might think itrsquos too late Maybe their kids are older or already
have particular knowledge or opinions about sex Would they
still benefit
MFR Itrsquos never too late Our children need and want to hear
our voices on this topic and they will be willing to set aside
some of the things that they have picked up from the culture
in order to listen to their parents They may roll their eyes but
they WANT to know not only the facts of biology but also why
this part of their life matters to God They need your wisdom
and they long to hear your thoughts As parents we need to
find our voice and speak to them
Does Talkingabout sex withyour kids feel
like facinga monsterMary Flo Ridley can help with
the horn fangs and halitosis
Shop Talk How to Talk about Sex with
your Children with Mary Flo Ridley
January 983090983092 983089983088983092983093 am in the West Wing
Weaving humor and personal stories throughout Mary
Flo Ridley helps parents shape the message they want to
convey to their children about sex Mary Flo guides par-
ents through the process of shaping their childrenrsquos sexual
education from an early age and brings helpful wisdom for
how to become the loving authority on all sexual matters
More info at irvingbibleorgparenting
The term ldquovocal cordsrdquo was coined in1741 by the French anatomist AntoineFerrein who compared them to thestrings of a violin Tregraves bien
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1420
Chatter | 14
UPCOMING
January
JANUARY 6
Radius Kickoff Join Middle School at IBC for their Wednesday night
program More info irvingbibleorgmiddleschool
Elementary Midweek Kickoff 630 pmA place for kids to connect with friends explore
Godrsquos word and have fun More info irvingbible
orgchildren
Midweek TableJoin high schoolers at local houses for dinner and
conversation More info irvingbibleorghighschool
JANUARY 9
Writerrsquos Workshop mdash 10 amJoin a community of people honing their writing
skills Contact doreillyirvingbibleorg
JANUARY 11
NAMI Family-to-Family ClassA course to educate familiescaregivers of those
with serious mental illness Contact joeynetbreeze-
inccom or eurmooreyahoocom
MHGA Family Grace GroupSupport group for familycaregivers of those with
serious mental illness More info irvingbibleorg
hopeandhealing
MHGA Living Grace GroupSupport group for those who suffer with mental ill-
ness More info irvingbibleorghopeandhealing
JANUARY 13
FPU BeginsSee ad pg 17
JANUARY 14
20|30s Kickoff
See ad pg 7
DivorceCare BeginsA group for those walking through the difficulty of
divorce More info irvingbibleorghopeandhealing
JANUARY 15
Mentoring Service Project mdash 9 amFor children (and parents) from single-parent fami-
lies We will be serving the elderly in our community
More info mtribbettirvingbibleorg
JANUARY 17
Marriage at IBC Kickoff See ad pg16
Honduras trip InformationSee ad pg 16
JANUARY 21
Newcomer Gatheringsee ad pg 17
JANUARY 24
Early Childhood Open HouseAll three servicesJoin us for the first 30 minutes of our Sunday
services for Children Experience worship hear the
Bible story and meet leaders More info jbjurlin
irvingbibleorg
Shop TalkMary Flo Ridley will join us to share ldquoHow to Talk
about Sex with your Childrenrdquo More info mcon-
norirvingbibleorg
JANUARY 31
The SummitAnnual Meeting1230 pmJoin us in West A for the Annual Meeting and enjoy
a complimentary lunch Register at irvingbibleorg
annualmeeting
FEBRUARY 6
Valentinersquos Dinner for Single-Parent Families mdash 6ndash9 pmEnjoy dinner dancing horse amp carriage rides
Register at irvingbibleorgsingleparents or withmtribbettirvingbibleorg
FEBRUARY 7
BaptismsTo register visit irvingbibleorgbaptism Mandatory
orientation held January 10 More info doreilly
irvingbibleorg
The Table beginsSee ad pg16
Propel BeginsGet connected at IBC through this four week course
More info at irvingbibleorgpropel
FEBRUARY 14
Child DedicationRegistration opens January 29 at irvingbibleorg
childdedication
Heart Box SundaySee ad pg 9
FEBRUARY 18GriefShare BeginsA caring group of people to walk alongside you
through one of lifersquos most difficult experiences More
info irvingbibleorghopeandhealing
February
by Jodie Niznik
Jesus has set you free Yet many of us donrsquot feel
free We feel bound by guilt and shame mdash certainour mishaps and mistakes discredit us before God
But if Jesus died on the cross for our sins didnrsquothe die for those things too Join us as we dig intoGalatians to discover what it really means to be set
free by Jesus
Date January ndashApril (not meeting March and due to spring break)
Time - am or - pm
Location e Commons IBC
Cost (includes workbook)
For more information and to register visit
irvingbibleorgwomen
KidZone registration is also available Registration
closes on January at noon or earlier if full
SPRING BIBLE STUDY
ONGOING MEALS
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1520
SUNDAYCOMMUNITY MEALS
6 pm mdash Town SquareMeals are $3 per person or $10maxfamily
13 No Meal Happy New Year
110 Beef fajitas chips and salsasalad bar
117 All American burgers andbrats salad bar
124 Giant baked potatoes withall the fixinrsquos salad bar
131 Chicken tenders mashed
potatoes and gravysalad bar
If yoursquod like to serve on a Sundaynight meal team contact PatOrsquoReilly at (214) 289-6176 or sun-daynightmealirvingbibleorg
WEDNESDAYMIDWEEK MEALS
5ndash620 PM
Cost is $3meal or $10 max family PBampJ sandwiches arealso available
16 Lasagna salad dessertHosted by Mike Gwartneyrsquosteam
113 Ham scalloped potatoesdessert Hosted by BobDowneyrsquos team
120 Enchiladas tacos chips andsalsa Hosted by BarbaraWittersquos team
127 Chicken quarters friesdessert Hosted by BobDowneyrsquos team
Changes to the menu may be madedepending on food cost availabilityand Bob Downeyrsquos whim
If yoursquod like to serve on a Wednes-day night meal team please emailbdowneyirvingbibleorg
CUPPA HOURS
MonndashFri 9 amndash8 pm
Saturday 11 amndash5 pm
Sunday 7 amndash7 pm
BIBLE COMMUNITIESGroups on Sunday
Synergy
9 am mdash The AlcoveAll Welcome
The Tree9 am mdash West D20s amp 30s married amp young families
Crossroads1045 am mdash West CCouples amp Families late 20s to 40s
Journey1045 am mdash The AlcoveAll Welcome
On Track1045 am mdash Conference RoomSingle Parents
Thrive1045 am mdash West DSingles in their 30s amp 40s
Renew1045 am mdash Training CenterAll Welcome
Legacy Builders645 pm mdash West A mdash All Welcome
CHILDRENInfants Through 5th Grade
Childrenrsquos Sunday Services9 am 1045 am 5 pm
Elementary MidweekBegins January 6 630ndash830 pmKids connect with friends andexplore Godrsquos word through smallgroups food fun Visit irvingbibleorgelementarymidweek
HOPE amp HEALINGCommunity Care
Abortion Recovery CounselingContact Kym at (972) 560-4632 orkyeichnerirvingbibleorg
GriefShare630 pm mdash West CContact shararringtonverizonnet
Recovery at IBCThursdays 630ndash830 pmWest Wing Youth LoungeA group for hurts habits andhangups irvingbibleorgrecovery
The Living Grace GroupFor those with mental illness ContactHeath at heathmurryyahoocom
Family Grace GroupFor familiescaregivers of those withmental illness Contact Buzz Moodyat myrabuzzgmailcom
NAMI Family-to-Family ClassContact Joey at joeynetbreezeinccomor Debra at eumooreyahoocom
Stephen Ministry at IBCOne-on-one ministry for hurtingpeople Contact stephenministryirvingbibleorg or call (972) 560-4636
Spousal Abuse RecoveryContact kyeichnerirvingbibleorg
MARRIAGEGrowing Together
Marriage at IBCContact marriageirvingbibleorg
Pre-Marriage Mentoring Visit irvingbibleorgmarriage
MENCommunity and Resources
First WatchFridays 622 am mdash The CommonsContact Nat at npughirvingbibleorg
First Watch ReplayTuesdays 630 pmTraining CenterContact brianarrington1yahoocom
First Watch XtraWednesday 630 amTraining CenterContact bcopehuntoilcom
Visit irvingbibleorgmen
MISSIONLocal and Global
Prayer Meeting
2nd and 4th Wednesdays645-8 pm mdash The Chapel
Laundry LoveFirst Saturday of the month9 amndash12 pmContact laundryloveirvingbibleorg
New Friends New LifeServe dinner to women healingfrom sexual exploitation every thirdWednesday Contact Christine atnewfriendsnewlifeirvingbibleorg
SINGLE PARENTCommunity and Resources
Sit with us on Sunday9 am service lowest right-handsection Rows 5 amp 6 facing the stage
Visit irvingbibleorgsingleparents
SPECIAL NEEDS
Community amp Care
Small Group for MomsSundays 9ndash1015 am
In His Image Bible StudySundays 630ndash745 pm
Small Group for ParentsWednesdays 630ndash8 pm
SonShine Pals and RoomCare during Sunday ministry
Contact specialneedsirvingbibleorg
STUDENTSMiddleHigh School and College
Middle School SundaysSundays mdash 1030 amndash1220 pmStudent Ministries area
High School SundaysSundays 645ndash8 pm
Student Ministries areaIBC College MinistrySundays 330 pmThe Commons AnnexContact collegeirvingbibleorg
High School MidweekWednesdaysJoin us for food and communitySee Facebook page for locations
Middle SchoolWednesdays 630 pmJoin us for a time of friendships
and teaching
WOMENCommunity and Resources
Womenrsquos Spring Bible StudyBeginning January 12Tuesdays 930 am or 630 pmThe CommonsJoin us as we study Proverbs Visitirvingbibleorgwomen
2435 KINWESTWednesday Nights at IBC
IBC ChoirWednesdays 7ndash830 pmIBC Worship CenterContact Crystal atcelwellirvingbibleorg
ESL English as a Second LanguageWednesdays 630ndash830 pm
Haven B C D
Citizenship ClassWednesdays 630ndash830 pmIBC Conference Room
IBC Career Transition MinistryWednesdays 630ndash830 pm
Microsoft Computer SkillsWednesdays 630ndash830 pmThe Training Center
Visit 2435kinwestorg
ONGOING MEALS
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1620
The Table is a place where skeptics and Christians alike can
pull up a chair around a table to explore God the Christian
faith and the hard questions of life It is a place where
questions are invited and welcomed and where people can
voice their doubts
Questions Contact jsteinirvingbibleorg
To register visit irvingbibleorgthetable
When am on February ndashMarch
Where The Living Room (formerly the MenrsquosConference Room)
Whether your marriage is sinking coastingalong or going full-throttle every marriageneeds some TLC
Marriage at IBC is a fun 983089983088-week course that focuses on the
big picture of marriage as well as practical application in the
everyday-life struggles of marriage While we cover important
topics like communication and conflict in-laws finances andsex we donrsquot go through a single class without laughing and hav-
ing a great time The class format is a speaker for a weekly topic
followed by small group time
Marriage at IBC Begins January 983089983095 983097 am The Commons
Register at irvingbibleorgmarriage
Already in an IBC small group Any existing IBC small groups are
welcome and able to participate and will receive all of the Marriage
at IBC resources and any level of support they desire
Questions Contact marriageirvingbibleorg
Join Mission at IBC for an informational about
our summer trip to Honduras We are looking
for medical professionals and teachers to work
with IBC partne r Workers Together With
God This will be an intergenerational trip with
IBCrsquos High School ministry
For more info please contact Lauren at
lmouossairvingbibleorg
HONDURASM I S S I O N T R I PInformational MeetingJANUARY 17
1230ndash2 pm in West D
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1720
HOW DO I GIVE HOW DO I GET
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1820
Chatter | 18
The name ldquoJanuaryrdquo comes from theLatin word for door (ianua) sinceJanuary is the door to the year
My Time Talents amp Skills
Facility Department VolunteersDo you enjoy swinging a hammer or helping doinstalls The IBC Facility Department could use yourhelp There are many projects where an extra set of
hands is needed So if you have experience work-ing in building electrical plumbing etc pleasecontact Rod Myers at rmyersirvingbibleorg
Meal Team VolunteersIBC makes meals available both Sunday andWednesday nights These fun teams could usesome additional volunteers to serve together ForSundays contact sundaynightmealirvingbibleorgFor Wednesdays contact bdowneyirvingbibleorg
Medical Professionals NeededOur weekly medical clinic needs professional healthcare providers (MD PA FNP) to provide treatment
for our patients Volunteers serve on a rotatingbasis and do not need to serve every week ContactCharles at cpierce2435clinicorg
Mentor Kids in Single-Parent FamiliesMen and women are needed for gender-specificmentoring of children from single-parent familiesContact Marsha at mtribbettirvingbibleorg
New Friends New LifeServe dinner to women healing from sexual exploita-tion (every third Wednesday) Contact Christine atnewfriendsnewlifeirvingbibleorg
Safety Team
Do you have a desire to serve and protect oth-ers Contact Christopher Watkins at cwatkinsirvingbibleorg Please include any credentials andrelevant experience
Visitor Follow-Up Team(Rex Greenstreet Ministry)We are looking for a volunteer to make calls orsend welcome emails (or both) to new vi sitors fromIBC Training and coaching will be providedContact Sherri at ssharpirvingbibleorg
Volunteer with Senior CareSenior Care at IBC has some needs Villages on
MacArthur needs Bible Study leaders as well asSaturday services leaders MacArthur Hills needsmusicianssingers and leaders for a spiritual serviceAshford Hall needs one-on-one visitors and Biblestudy leaders and gameactivities volunteers Con-tact Mike at Seniorcareirvingbibleorg
My ResourcesOnline Giving OptionIf you would find it more convenient to donate tothe ministries of Irving Bible Church online visitirvingbibleorggive FIND A PLACE TO SERVE
Yoursquove come a long way since that first breath mint Yoursquovebeen busy worshipping learning relating and committing
And itrsquos at this point that you might start looking around
at all the people who help create those events mdash ushers
greeters meal team members table hosts small group
leaders and the like Your next step now is to join them
Consider your passions talents and spiritual gifts and then
ask about a place to serve Visit irvingbibleorgserve
JOIN IN WORSHIPSo you found the address a place to park and a breath
mint on the way in Good work If yoursquore reading this
yoursquove probably already taken the first step mdash attending a
worship service This is the first and most important place
to start so keep coming Become a regular Make sure to
fill out a Newcomer Card Tell us a little about yourself and
let us know how we can engage with you Somebody will
reach out to you this week Visit irvingbibleorgconnect
Wersquore glad you asked Here are the steps to take for
having your questions answered figuring out the IBC story and if yoursquore feeling ready plugging in
CHECK OUT THE NEWCOMER GATHERINGSo yoursquore kicking the IBC tires Good Wersquore so glad yoursquore
here The Newcomer Gathering is a great opportunity to
meet church leadership learn what IBC is all about andconnect with other newbies in a fun relaxed environment
Next Newcomer Gathering January 21
SIGN UP FOR PROPELAll right Yoursquore feeling the IBC vibe and want to see
where you might get involved Propel is a 4-week class that
explores the IBC calling and culture and how your unique
personality and passions fit in Meet many of our pastors and
directors of ministries at IBC Next Propel February 7ndash28
JOIN A COMMUNITY Yoursquore firing on all cylinders but something is missing And
that something is a someone or a group of someones
Enter sermon-based Small Groups Womenrsquos Bible Study
First Watch and more We encourage you to find a group
and connect authentically with others
Visit irvingbibleorgadults
Start
HOW DO I GETCONNECTED AT IBC
FOR MORE INFO VISIT IRVINGBIBLEORGCONNECT OR LOOK
FOR THE NEWCOMER GUIDES AT THE INFORMATION DESK
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1920
Chatter | 19
If you are not seated please sit down If you are seated buckle up If you
are buckled up you may want to stop reading now if yoursquore prone to
carsickness Settled in Okay then The haphazard collection of words
currently assaulting your senses mdash both sight and common mdash is my 983095983091rd
and likely final column for Chatter I know I know Yoursquore probably in the
drive-thru at Chick-fil-A just now remembering that itrsquos Sunday and then this
happens So you are not only left wondering where you can satisfy your Bible-
blessed chicken jones but also from whence yoursquoll be able to scratch your itch
for elliptical sentence structures chock-a-block with obtuse wordification and
the occasional monthly reference to pastiness You need a hug
Sadly the Chatter editorial board enforces a strict no-touching (even emotion-
ally) policy on contributors of dubious complexion (therersquos your final pasty
reference) so wersquoll have to make do with a psychic fist bump But before I leave
you with Tim Hawkins as your lone source of Christian comedy (What do you
mean he already was) Irsquod like to take a few hundred words and ramble semi-
coherently about what the past 983094983097 ldquoIdle Chatterrdquo columns and 983092 ldquoInterview
with a Dead Guyrdquo exposeacutes have taught me If anything Hmmm
First Irsquove learned that itrsquos much easier to keep a position when the job is es-
sentially that of a volunteer Assuming you donrsquot count the few times I had to
slip an Old Navy coupon code to the editor (Julie now of the emeritus variety)
to get her to put down the metaphorical red pen (The literal red pen is the
Track Changes feature in Microsoft Word which I despise even more so than a
patchouli-soaked hippie Also I never could figure out which online emporium
discounts would convince her to let me discuss smiting hippies so wersquoll see if
the new ed lets that previous sentence fly) Anyway I assume my long tenure
was also aided by my ability to meet a deadline no matter how many times I
moved it and my penchant for mentioning my kids who are totes adorbs at
least in print
Irsquove learned that most fellow believers can take a joke In nearly seven years
of poking fun (And is poking ever really fun I think not) at some of the more
absurdist aspects of evangelical life mdash along with giving Moses the Twitter
handle MoHeston mdash I never received one letter email Tweet Snapchat
Vine video Facebook rant or gospel tract-based expression of displeasure
Sure only about three of you actually know who I am And my family attended
church in Frisco but farther north (as in past the Ikea) than most Irvingites
dare to drive Also we moved to Omaha three years ago Nonetheless I appre-
ciate your collective sense of humor andor Juliersquos restraint in forwarding me
complaints from the elders
Irsquod like to tell you I learned many deep life-changing Biblical truths over the
last 983094983095 of a decade but come on I think we can all agree that I either made up
most of my doctrinal claims or have since forgotten the ones that are true due
to my advancing fortysomethingness Which reminds me I never did base a
column on the Book of Lamentations Woe is me
Lastly Irsquove learned that I can spit out 983097983088983088 words on just about anything with-
out saying much of anything of value Case in point duly noted
And now since I still have about 983091983088983088 words to torture Irsquoll take a question Yesyou in the back with the pre-Etsy WWJD bracelet from 983089983097983097983095 My favorite col-
umns Well I could say thatrsquos like trying to choose your favorite child (the dog)
if having 983095983091 kids wouldnrsquot get me investigated by the Guinness World Records
folks (bunch of narcs) Instead Irsquoll go with my two poems Ballad for a High
School Youth Group Hayride (October 983090983088983089983092) and The Graven (October 983090983088983089983093)
my unearthing of Noahrsquos Twitter feed GopherWoodBoy (October 983090983088983088983097) my
ruminations on Pentecost Economy Sizing the Holy Spirit (May 983090983088983089983088) and my
homage to my dad on the occasion of his 983094983093th birthday Cool On the Inside (July
983090983088983089983088) There might be others I actually like more but I donrsquot have the patience
of a Job Billy Duggar to read them all Also you can find most of these at Scribd
comIrvingBibleChurch or JasonFoxnetIdleChatter
So This is the end For now at least Perhaps Irsquo ll pop up or in or over from
time to time to ruminate on weighty matters like why our Christmas tree top-
per looks like Celine Dion But for now I think itrsquos time to try something a little
different After so many attempts at we aving a little truth into the funny
I believe Irsquoll give weaving a little funny into the truth a go (Thatrsquos what I get for
actually studying my beliefs I guess) I doubt Irsquoll become this millenniumrsquos C S
Lewis but perhaps something of eternal value will emerge from it Hopefully
not damnation
But until we meet in the sweet by-and-by on that beautiful shore (look for my
totally boss conversion van customized by St Doober) I will simply thank you
for reading and leave you with one last bit of suspect theological advice Every
argument especially those on the internet can be won with the phrase ldquoWell
thatrsquos what it says in Habakkukrdquo Because it does
Jason Fox will miss you all except that creepy guy who cuts his fingernails
during the sermon and is proud his last column hit 983097983088983088 words exactly
Jason writes from Omaha Nebraska (well he used to) and can be harassed forevermore on
Twitter at jason_fox
ONCE MORE
WITH FEELING
Celine Dion is theyoungest of 14 children
In 2013 alone 200 millionlemons were squeezed to makeChick-fil-Arsquos fresh lemonade
Shhhh Donrsquot poke itNext month in February Chatter will be hibernating Itrsquos winter after all Plus it buys us some timeto come back in March with more Chatterish goodness than ever before Because more of a good
thing ishellipwell gooder than good grammar (Like we said we need some sleep)
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 2020
Chatterhellipyou CAN take it with you Send us
your Chatter photos on location and you may
see yourself in an upcoming issue Email us
at chatterirvingbibleorg
Chatter tags along as the Mechsner family weathers the ridiculouswinds on Mt Wellington in Hobart Tasmania We understand thatseconds after this shot Chatter decided to dispel the widely heldbelief that turkeys canrsquot fly Be free little guy Be free
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 320
Chatter | 3
LIFE
SEVEN YEARS AGO I HAD A TODDLER WHO WASNrsquoT THE LEAST BIT INTERESTED IN
POTTY TRAINING I also had a body that wasnrsquot the least bit interested in having energy or looking good
in jeans plus a house that wasnrsquot interested in keeping itself flea-free a mind that wasnrsquot interested in
being calm cool and collected and an emotional state that wasnrsquot interested in being predictable or safeI had also very inconveniently rediscovered a deep love for performing on the stage This of course was
hopeless I thought it extremely cruel of God to introduce such frustration into my experience Why oh
why would this awful demeaning and terribly embarrassing desire come upon me just when I had the
white picket fence
So I decided to write Naturally I had much to
process And it was cheaper than counseling and
it could be done during Drewrsquos naptime while ly-
ing on my back in sweatpants while eating I had
been following my motherrsquos advice to make myself
do things I never thought Irsquod need the motivation
to do like putting on mascara And so my two daily
mandates became mdash aside from sustaining the
physical life of my son mdash to apply mascara and to
write for an hour a day I called it stealing hours
because thatrsquos what it felt like snatching moments
away from real things like laundry in order to delve
into realer things like color laughter food mdash what-
ever my fingers found underfoot so to speak I also
wrote theater reviews And soon I began to dis-
cover that real things like laundry could be realerthan I ever imagined
All this was like rice and beans and cheese for my
soul I asked God for more More to write Yes
please Amen More to see mdash really see My boy
The sky The specific color of green grass in the
speckled shade And by a series of fortunate events
I became the editor of Chatter in 983090983088983088983097
I want to thank you for this indulgence because I
think it was a net that swept me up out of the water
with a great catch of fish besides Now my little
toddler is in second grade and lately has been re-
questing things like ldquoprivacyrdquo I also now have a girl
who used to kick the warm computer in utero as it
rested on my belly wh ile I clacked away Shersquos cur-
rently preparing her remarks for the UN Astound-
ingly Irsquove also had a three-year string of continu-
ous professional theater gigs which is be ginning to
seem less like a fluke and more like an actual like
THING Like something I could do with more ofme Life flows weirdly and wonderfully at times
This issue will be my last official one as Editor or
as our Director of Art Design and Goodness Josh
Wiese calls me mdash J-Ed And therersquos so much more
goodness in store Our ever-vigilant plucky in-
trepid and talented communications guru Victoria
Andrews will be squashing my shoes with some
very big shoes of her own And Chatter itself will
become more Chatter-y with dense content and
flow like yoursquove never seen Just you wait Wersquoll ldquogo
darkrdquo next month in February and in March wersquoll
resume with more fun and ferocity I hope yoursquore
excited
And Irsquoll be writing still for Chatter for the IBC
web site for special projects and the occasional
snark-ism here and there Irsquoll still be snatchingthose hours Maybe you wonrsquot mind too much and
maybe we can all still be friends
In the meantime I hope you find what you come
looking for mdash in these pages in your life in the
God who gives every good gift Desires are terribly
inconvenient especially the very deep and pulsing
ones the ones that seemed to have been born right
along with you Irsquom glad God doesnrsquot find them mdash or
us mdash inconvenient That he hems us in behind
and before prepares a table in the presence of our
enemies and holds our times in his hands mdash to the
point of bottling our tears and counting the hairs of
our head Maybe even the fleas in our carpet Who
knows He wastes not and we want not
Irsquom just so grateful for Him And for you
Love
a letter fromChatterEditorJulie Rhodes
Art Direction Design amp GoodnessJosh Wiese Lindsey Sobolik JD Lemming
Editor Soon-to-be Victoria Andrews
Pastor to HashtagsScott McClellan Communications Pastor
Photography Patty Thompson (Photo Update)
WritersDebbie Lucien (Long Walk)Suzie Robinson (Water is Basic)Jason Fox (Idle Chatter)
Editorial AssistanceProofingSummer Alexander Annie Stone
Thoughts comments ideas Contact Chatter at chatterirvingbibleorg
Need Chatter Digitally Chatter is on the web atirvingbibleorgchatter
Are you a media socialite Like Chatter on Facebook Itrsquos so likeable
Most beloved and indispensableChatter Volunteer
Most beloved and indispensable
IBC staff memberelder
Under ideal conditions a fleacan live up to a year and a half
HISTORY
SCIENCE
TEXAS
TOMFOOLERY
LANGUAGE
GENERAL
FOOD
CULTURE
CHATTER FACT ICON KEY
Chatter ishellip
GEOGRAPHY
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 420Chatter | 4
GIVE OR TAKE A KILOMETER OR TWO OUR FAMILY TRAVERSED
8157 MILES for the chance to see with our own eyes a well drilled by the
Water is Basic team What we saw will c hange us forever
Honestly the well (983094 created on June 983089983091 983090983088983089983093) looked like most of the ones
wersquove all seen on the WIB website in an email or on a Facebook post over the
years You know several villagers gathered around the pump a dozen or so
yellow jerry cans contrasting the wet orange dirt and precious little ones
awestruck by the gushing water Donrsquot get me wrong this is a beautiful picture
(so keep lsquoem coming) and a constant reminder of why each of us mdash you me
donors around the world mdash stay in the game Only now for our family the pic-
tures were real We could see hear smell and feel the reality they represent
The SUV was at maximum capacity with seven Americans plus the South
Sudanese translator Akeem as we bumped bobbled zigged and zagged our
way down the orange dirt ldquoroadsrdquo for more than an hour into the bush As we
entered the Ayakaka ldquoBomardquo (community) we were warmly greeted with smil-
ing faces The eldest man guided us to a shady place to park
After the introductions we learned that while our visit was indeed a surprise
the family considered it an honor to have us come to the ir village Patrubas
the well committee chairman Lino the vice chairman and two women on the
committee mdash Charity and Alfreda mdash were very eager to show us their new well
The women and children gathered around as we each got a turn to pump the
water mdash a sight I can only imagine made them chuckle on the inside
Next we asked what impact the new well was having compared to using a
water hole a few hundred yards behind their mud huts (You know besides
the obvious mdash close access to clean drinking water less time collecting water
and more time for school or farming better health and so much more) Char-
ity rubbed her right hand up and down over the top of her left arm and said
ldquoMy skin The clean water helps my skinrdquo Apparently they develop severe
rashes and often infections from open wounds exposed to filthy disease-
ridden water Imagine that for a moment you need to bathe to keep clean but
the only water you have to wash is actually causing great harm to the very skin
yoursquore trying to protect
We were curious about the water source they had used for drinking and bath-
ing as recently as six weeks before the well was installed Being the polite hosts
they agreed to walk us down but only after they presented us with a gift A gift
For us From a family who is lucky to eat one meal a day to a group of Ameri-
cans who could eat five or six meals a day if we wanted But they insisted and
our hearts began to break
Patrubas sent a young girl into the tall grass with a long piece of rope and apol-
ogized they did not have time to prepare a meal this late in the day (Yes how
discourteous of them not to predict an SUV full of Americans would drop by
their village unannounced that day) She returned with a black and white malegoat lassoed by the rope presenting it to Dee a fellow IBCer and long-time
supporter of Water is Basic with whom we had the privilege of traveling Steve
Roese WIB President observed our gut-wrenched faces yet was intimately
familiar with their culture and customs For our sake he gently attempted to
decline their unfathomable generosity They politely stood their ground and
the goat was prepped to travel with us
We walked behind some mud huts to see the water hole they had used before
the well was drilled As I stepped closer to get a better look at the cesspool (the
only word remotely close to what was at my feet) I literally shuddered at the
thought of touching it How DID they not only touch it but bathe with it and
drink it I immediately lifted a prayer of thanksgiving for clean water
When we returned to the well Patrubasrsquo wife Rejoice (one of six women on
the well committee) had returned from a meeting We visited with them both
and realized it was past lunchtime Wersquod probably disrupted enough of their
day we thought As we loaded up and said goodbye to our newfound friends
we made sure our gift was as comfortable as possible in the narrow space be-
hind the third row of seats And just in case we forgot about the extra passen-
Suzie attempts to look like pumping a well issomething she does all the time back home
TA K I N G T H E R O A D L E S S T R AV E L E D
Juba
SOUTH SUDAN
SUDAN
DEMOCRAT IC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
ETHIOPIA
KENYA UGANDA
CENTRAL AFRICANREPUBLIC
Yei Lainya
According to The Water Project 783 millionpeople do not have access to clean andsafe water and 37 of those people live inSub-Saharan Africa
Robert Frost sold hisfirst poem for $15
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 520Chatter | 5
ger for a few minutes the hearty bleats reminded us each time we hit a pothole
What a ride
Wersquove been home for a few days now and each of us has contemplated all wehave to be thankful for mdash peace clean water air conditioning three meals a
day schools hospitals grocery stores our health family friends and paved
roads And wersquore thankful for you IBC family
You enable the Water is Basic crew to go into remote villages and bring life-
saving life-changing clean water to people like Patrubas and his community
The water team navigates treacherous paths rainy seasons petrol shortages
extreme drought and the numerous uncertainties of war They can do this
because you care
From our family to yours thank you for empowering the people of South Su-
dan in the fight for clean water Because dear brothers and sisters they need to
be reminded that we care about them mdash especially those living beyond the road
less traveled
Suzie Robinson now knows the true meaning of ldquogetting someonersquos goatrdquo
Susie encourages you to visit waterisbasicorg to learn more about clean water in South Sudan
Original water source forPatrubas and his family
Water Well Committee 12 members 6 are men and 6 are women (left to right)Chairman Patrubas wife Rejoice Vice Chairman Lino Charity and Alfreda
Dee is presented with a goat the gift fromPatrubas and his family for their new well
The Ayakaka Boma well supports 24households and visitors of the local market
According to Waterorg there aremore people around the world witha mobile phone than with a toilet
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 620
Chatter | 6
Dallas is the hometown of Meat Loaf Vanilla Ice and Barney the Dinosaur
Early Childhood Jill Bjurlin
What a joy it is to watch our youngest IBCers learn about Godrsquos love
and grow in their faith Each week the infants are hearing that
God loves them mdash whether theyrsquore being given a bottle or riding
in a buggy with a caring volunteer The preschoolers are learning through in-
tentionally planned activities creative play story time and a c raft All children
learn in different ways but each child is learning three foundational truths
God loves me God made me and Jesus wants to be my friend forever
Itrsquos our desire to come alongside you as you guide your small child on their
spiritual journey Irsquom excited to share some new ways to connect what your
child is learning at church to what they are hearing at home First of all bewatching for a monthly take home sheet called Parent CUE (and make sure
and purchase the Parent CUE app to go along with it) These tools provide
activities to use throughout your day to reinforce the weekly Bible story and
verse Also do you ever wonder what your child is experiencing while you are
in Big Church You are invited to join your ch ild on January 983090983092 during all three
services to experience the fun Please come worship with us hear the Bible
story and meet the leaders in your childrsquos area Be watching for more details
to follow
It is a privilege to be on the journey with you and Irsquom looking forward to each
child experiencing Godrsquos love this year
Elementary Adrienne Siefers
Our dream for elementary students is for them to discover they can
have a relationship with Jesus C hrist Itrsquos our privilege to come along-
side to help them make this discovery and help them grow in their
faith This coming year we have several new things to help kids on that path
Our first is a challenge of sorts mdash wersquore calling it ldquoRocksrdquo mdash where kids can
earn ldquorocksrdquo each Sunday by exhibiting growth in their faith For example kids
can earn rocks by bringing their Bible using it in small group bringing a friend
to church and many other ways Each service hour will be collectively ldquobuild-
ingrdquo a ldquorock wallrdquo once it reaches a certain height all the kids in that service
will win various prizes and incentives Our hope is that kids will discover they
are able to be proactive in a living breathing faith journey
For the Lenten season we are going to follow what is taught in the adult wor-
ship service on Sundays This will help kids to connect better with the season
and provide some great unity as a church as we all learn about the same pas-
sage June will be an exciting month for elementary kids with VBS and a new
summer camp Sabine Creek Ranch We are excited for this camp because it
will allow relationships to grow even deeper between kids and their Sunday
small group leaders in a traditional camp experience The year 983090983088983089983094 is going to
be exciting in elementary ministry
W ha trsquos Ne x t
i n Ne x t Ge n
There are a lo t o f e xci ting ne w de velopmen ts la tel y
wi th IBCrsquos Ne x t Gen minis tr y in 2016 Wan t the scoop
Here i t is s traigh t from the Blue Bell car ton
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 720
Chatter | 7
Raccoons are consideredyoung adults at one yearof age
Middle SchoolKristina McCartney
IBC Middle School Ministry is where friend-
ships are established the Gospel is taught
and life change holiness and maturity are
fostered I would say this is our ldquomission state-
mentrdquo without offi cially calling it that As a new
pastor on staff Irsquom especially excited about whatrsquos
coming this year In January we will be launc hing
our brand new midweek program called RadiusRadius will exist to provide a midweek time for
students to connect with one another build re-
lationships discuss biblical teaching and have a
place to serve at IBC and the surrounding com-
munity Wersquoll also be continuing with our Life On
Life small groups the lifeline in our Middle School
Ministry mdash where discipleship really takes place
Our new associate Middle Sch ool director Moses
Uvere and I are looking forward to a new year of
life change and growth for our middle schoolers
High SchoolMatt Hamilton
The High School Ministry at IBC has
and still is going through a big change
Previously we were meeting at IBC on
Wednesday nights but now we have moved into
three different homes across our area We call it
The Midweek Table Our ministry was full of high
school students who loved Jesus and were growing
in him but we needed a change to move us into anew place of living our lives on mission The Mid-
week Table has provided the jumpstart we needed
to go out and spread the Gospel This new format
has produced some incredible stories of hope
redemption and curiosity We also serve dinner
and do our best to create an environment that is
stress-free and conducive for chilling
Although we have experienced some change there
is still one key consistency The High School min-
istry at IBC believes strongly in community We
also have incredible adult leaders who love Jesus
and share their lives with high school students
Therefore LifeGroups will remain the ldquobread and
butterrdquo of our high school ministry We meet on
Sunday nights after the 983093 pm service where we
dive into life together mdash the way it should be lived
LifeGroups are where we see the most transfor-
mation in our students If yoursquore looking for a safe
place to grow in Christ come check it out
20|30s Jon Jones
When we look at 983090983088|983091983088s ministry in
983090983088983089983094 there is great hope It feels like
those precious few seconds right be-
fore sunrise when the sky begins to glow and possi-
bility looms large We have spent the last c ouple of
months interviewing IBCers in their 983090983088s and 983091983088s
and crafting a vision of what is to come In Janu-
ary that vision becomes a reality 983090983088|983091983088s ministry
is going to be heavily focused on relational con-nection and experiential theology intellectually
engaging with room for doubt The goal is to equip
983090983088|983091983088s to live sacrificially and bless others just like
Jesus did both in Dallas and throughout the world
This will happen through multiple avenues First
Thursday theology TED talks and discussions
Dinner Clubs Happy Hour Takeovers Service En-
gagements and a Haiti Mission Trip We canrsquot say
it enough the future of 983090983088|983091983088s ministry is bright
in 983090983088983089983094
Itrsquos a new day for young adults at IBC
Come see whatrsquos in store for
JANUARY PM THE COMMONS
s
Check out page 8 for all the need-to-know info for Middle School and HighSchool ministry this winter and spring
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 820
Chatter | 8
HIGH SCHOOL
Life Groups Get involved
If your student hasnrsquot been involved in a Life Group this is the time to start
This is not just another program not just another event Life Groups are
central to your studentrsquos faith journey Our small groups (ldquoLife Groupsrdquo)
are made up of 983096-983089983088 students led by adults who love to pour into students
and guide them as they explore spiritual matters Students get to hang out
make new friends laugh a lot and explore the truths of the Bible We meeteach Sunday in the Student Ministries Area of IBC
Winter Retreat Sign up today
High School Winter Retreat is February 983089983090-983089983092 at Sky Ranch This is a great
getaway for your high schooler a time of rest and relationship-building
(What student doesnrsquot need that) Wersquoll welcome special speaker Kevin
Libick Middle School Pastor at Christ Chapel in Fort Worth
Beach Camp Mark your calendarItrsquos not just summer vacation Itrsquos a time for life transformation This is our
983095th year to go away together to the lovely beaches of Gulf Shores Alabama
and you wonrsquot want your student to miss it Whorsquos invited All current High
School students plus current 983096th graders Dates are July 983089983092ndashJuly 983089983096
Mission Trip Pray
If you and your student feel he or she is ready for a summer mission trip
this year now is the time to pray about which might be the best fit Packets
are due January 983089983088 Trips Albuquerque June 983089983088-983089983094 Honduras (Intergen-erational trip) July 983090983094-Aug 983089
MIDDLE SCHOOL
LOL (Life On Life) Get involved
Middle School Students need community more than anybody it seems
Thatrsquos why we have Life on Life a weekly small group gathering where kids
connect over Scripture and engaging conversation mdash all while having a great
time Life On Life meets weekly on Sundays in the Commons at 983089983088983091983088 am
Radius (Wednesday Nights at IBC) Get excited
At IBC we want to cultivate an atmosphere where students are excited to
bring their friends who may not have a church home Radius is a Wednesday
night experience for IBC middle schoolers and their friends that will include
teaching discussion groups worship and quarterly service projects
Planet Wisdom Mark your calendar
This is a canrsquot-miss conference for 983094th-983089983090th grade students The theme
this year is QUEST Discovering Myself in the Light of Christ IBC middle
school students will be attending the conference here at IBC on Feb 983090983094-983090983095
Beach Camp Make note of change (and get ready)
Middle School is NOT attending Beach Camp this summer This is new
this year Middle Schoolers will be attending Summer Camp closer to home
near Weatherford at Texas Star Ranch and Retreat Dates are June 983090983095ndash
July 983089 Camp will again be led by well-trained high schoolers
Mission Trips Sign up today
Your Middle Schooler wonrsquot want to miss this summerrsquos local mission trips
around DFW and San Antonio These are great opportunities for kids
to discover they can serve the less fortunate in their own backyards San
Antonio June 983094-983089983089 DFW area July 983090983094-983090983097
Students at IBC Cheat Sheet WE GET IT PARENTS You donrsquot have time to curl up on the couch with a good book Sometimes you need a sticky note a
Red Bull and a stopwatch mdash especially if yoursquove got teenagers So get fired up your iCal and settle in This wonrsquot take long You
might just earn an A in SpringSummer 983090983088983089983094
For more info about or to sign up for any of these upcoming events
visit irvingbibleorghighschool
For more info about or to sign up for any of these upcoming events
visit irvingbibleorgmiddleschool
Alabamarsquos coast is home toa massive monarch butterflymigration
Between Mars and Jupiter isa dwarf planet known as Ceresdiscovered in 1801
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 920
Chatter | 9
HEART BOX SUNDAY IS FEBRUARY 14 AT IBCOne of the core values of IBC is loving like Jesus This means tangiblyproviding for the needs of others including our partners For the secondyear in a row we have chosen to show this love around Valentinersquos Day byproviding for our local partners in practical ways
HEART BOXES will only be available in Town Square on Sunday February 983089983092
If you are unable to make the service that day they will be in our donation areafor a few days after
And if you get a chance say a big lsquothank yoursquo to Stacie Dugasrsquo Girl Scouts fordecorating our boxes so beautifully
Questions Contact Tricia at tkinsmanirvingbibleorg
FAMILY PROMISEtowels
THE MAIN PLACE boysmenrsquos
athletic shoes
MERCY STREETcopy paper
LAUNDRY LOVE laundry detergent
SCHOOL WORKSelementary boys
or girls tennisshoes and socks
THE GATEHOUSE womenrsquos and
childrenrsquos socksor slippers
MERCY HOUSEdiapers
NEW FRIENDSNEW LIFE
household cleanersand paper goods
BBMOI CRISISMINISTRIEScanned food
SENIOR CAREmenrsquos or womenrsquos
slippers
Join us by bringing one of the following new items to church onValentinersquos day February 983089983092 and depositing it in the appropriatebox in Town Square
In Victorian times it wasconsidered bad luck to sign a Valentinersquos Day card
According to BBC Science it cantake between 90 seconds and 4minutes to decide if we fancysomeone
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1020
Chatter | 10
IBC partner Debbie Lucien tells of a
boy on the verge of his future
In the summer months of 2001 a five-year-
old boy named Enel Previl was brought by
his family to a local church His parents had
been told that by doing so the boyrsquos photo wouldbe taken and perhaps with the help of some
foreign friends the school could pay its teachers
for the coming year His parents thought this was
a good thing When they later heard that some
people picked their sonrsquos photo for ongoing spon-
sorship they thought ldquoGod has opened a door for
him to go to schoolrdquo
With his brother and two sisters Enel start-
ed preschool walking through sunny andrainy days to begin learning about letters
The first person reputed to have walkedaround the world is George MatthewSchilling (USA) from 1897 to 1904
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1120
Chatter | 11
accept Christ and began discipling him Since
becoming a believer Enel has been active in the
choir and enjoys helping to lead worship at his
local church
While itrsquos taken a long time for him to complete
his studies Enel finally finished secondary
school at College de la Grace after 983089983095 years of
steady investment At the age of 983090983090 he now has
the equivalent of an Associatersquos Degree At the
recent graduation I recognized his name from
one of the first groups of children ever helped
through sponsorship He agreed to pose tall and
proud in his graduation robes with the school
founder (and my husband) Caleb Lucien I asked
Enel if he would stop by and talk to me the next
day about his future dreams and what he would
like to say to his sponsors
The next day a Saturday he greeted me e agerly
and told me he was so grateful for the help hissponsors had given him and his family They had
been faithful for 983089983095 years though hersquos never had
a chance to meet them And the fruit of their
generosity is evident Enel is the first member of
his family ever to finish high school He dreams
of becoming a doctor or an engineer but knows
it will take many years to accomplish such a goal
and he has no means other than his familyrsquos farm
But he is now fluent in two languages Creole and
French and has a firm opening into ldquosocietyrdquo as
we say here in Haiti He now looks me in the eyewhen we talk and speaks clearly about his faith
and his sense of responsibility he feels for the fu-
ture of his family Enel understands what a great
privilege he has received
He told me hersquos now waiting on the Lord to
see what doors will open for the future In the
meantime he would like to help area students
with their studies asking families to pay him
only what they can afford I encouraged him bysharing several stories of how we have seen God
work in the lives of other young people and how
often they have also had to wait for their next
steps to be made clear Finally we talked about
his sponsors Enel knew exactly what he would
say to them ldquoIrsquod like to tell them THANKS Irsquove
never had the chance to meet them but theyrsquove
helped me so muchrdquo I told him Irsquod be sharing his
graduation picture with them and would let them
know how theyrsquove blessed his life
Enel headed off that day back to his small home
where he lives with his mother and some un-
married siblings He walks tall and straight and
proudly knowing the God who took him this far
is able to help him arrive exactly where he needs
to be
Debbie Lucien has now lived longer in Haiti than
any other country shersquos inhabited Haiti 983090983090 years
US 983090983089 years Japan 983092 years Germany 983092 yearsYes she is as old as dirt
Born and raised overseas as the daughter of a military pilot
Debbie thought she knew the world But when she visited Haiti
at the age of 25 she realized that God was a lot bigger than she
thought After being courtedrecruited by Caleb she moved to
Haiti in 1993 and never escaped the adventure Follow her on
twitter at MadameCaleb
numbers and colors Each night upon returning
to his home of mud and sticks he would sleep
close to his five family members after doing
lessons or repeating his schoolwork back to
his parents
School continued with the help of donors who
kept his school open In fact it grew to house over
983093983088983088 students Initially meeting just under sticks
and thatch roof with no walls the students were
excited to see a 983093983088983088 square-foot cement block
building go up after a few years Now when it
was muddy outside the classrooms could still
stay clean Enel progressed slowly but surely
sometimes having to share the school supplies he
received through sponsorship with his b rothers
and sisters
In 983090983088983088983097 Enel was thrilled to be able to start
secondary school His sponsor had continued to
be faithful Enel had to walk a little further but
proudly wore the peach and tan uniform of the
upper division school of College de la Grace The
next year however was very hard for his family
Enelrsquos father who had long suffered with cardio-
vascular problems finally passed away leaving
the family with even fewer resources Enel says
that if it wasnrsquot for the financial help he received
through sponsorship he definitely would have
had to quit school as an 983096th grader But since he
had support his family saw clearly that God
had kept the door open for him to continue
his education
Two years later while discussing life with one
of his classmates and hearing many speakers
at church and school Enel decided to become
a Christian Enelrsquos friend Nesly mdash also a spon-sored student at the school mdash prayed with him to
HOSEAN INTERNATIONAL MINISTRIESIBC Partner HIM is a ministry by Haitians for Haitians HIM began in 983089983097983096983092 by Haitian National
Caleb Lucien with one purpose in mind transform lives by pointing people to Jesus Christ
through education life skills training and e conomic growth If you are interested in sponsoring
the education of a child like Enel visit hoseanorg
Enelrsquos firstsponsorship photo
Enel with Caleb Lucien
at Enelrsquos graduation
According to The World Bank morethan 200000 children in Haiti remainout of school
According to World Vision Haitiis currently the poorest country inthe Western Hemisphere
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1220
Chatter | 12
Small Groups at IBC have always been about cultivating deep
relationships that advance the kingdom of God in dark places
Sounds heroic but most of the time it looks simple mdash like a mug of
something hot a good talk about real things and a place to take off
your shoes Small Groups should always feel like home
Starting this month wersquoll officially start calling Small Groups at
IBC ldquoHome Groupsrdquo Most of our groups meet in homes anyway
and well home is what theyrsquore really all about mdash a place to be real
and a place to belong mdash even as the kingdom advances
Registration for winter Home Groups closes Feb 28 Groups begin
meeting March 20 Register today at irvingbibleorgsmallgroups
Come on in
Motel 6rsquos tagline ldquoWersquollleave the light on for yourdquois 50 years old
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1320
Chatter | 13
Mary Flo RidleyldquoParents we need to find our voicerdquo
Shersquos an internationallyknown speaker a featured
guest on numerous radio programs (including Focuson the Family) and writesregularly for ldquoDallas Child
Magazinerdquo Her topic Talk-ing to kids about sex As inYOU talking to YOUR kidsabout sex Yep Itrsquos a thing
Before IBC welcomes Mary Flo Ridley this month as a featured Shop Talk speaker
(January 983090983092) Chatter want-ed to catch up with her for a quick chat abouthellip wellhellipthe thing thatrsquos just so dang hard to chat ABOUThellip
CHATTER As parents wersquore really apprehensive about talking
openly with our kids about th is topic Whatrsquos at the heart of
that fear
MARY FLO RIDLEY Some parents fear speaking to their chil-
dren about sex because they were never taught by their own
parents They donrsquot know what this should look like or whatto say to a child Other parents are fearful that at some point
in these conversations they will reveal their own brokenness
in this area of their life and they feel vulnerable All parents
need encouragement when it comes to talking to their chil-
dren about sex and we as the church should equip the saints
for this task Pointing our children (and ourselves) to the
beauty of Godrsquos design can be seen as a privilege of parenting
CHATYoursquove been teaching on this topic for a long time Tell
us about what first motivated you to develop this training
MFR When I was growing up I was blessed with wonder-
ful parents but they never talked to me about sex When
Dave and I were new parents we decided we wanted to do
something a little bit differently and it led to the research and
strategy that I teach parents today
CHAT Mary Flo wersquore sure there are a lot of families at IBC
who would benefit from hearing your wisdom but some
might think itrsquos too late Maybe their kids are older or already
have particular knowledge or opinions about sex Would they
still benefit
MFR Itrsquos never too late Our children need and want to hear
our voices on this topic and they will be willing to set aside
some of the things that they have picked up from the culture
in order to listen to their parents They may roll their eyes but
they WANT to know not only the facts of biology but also why
this part of their life matters to God They need your wisdom
and they long to hear your thoughts As parents we need to
find our voice and speak to them
Does Talkingabout sex withyour kids feel
like facinga monsterMary Flo Ridley can help with
the horn fangs and halitosis
Shop Talk How to Talk about Sex with
your Children with Mary Flo Ridley
January 983090983092 983089983088983092983093 am in the West Wing
Weaving humor and personal stories throughout Mary
Flo Ridley helps parents shape the message they want to
convey to their children about sex Mary Flo guides par-
ents through the process of shaping their childrenrsquos sexual
education from an early age and brings helpful wisdom for
how to become the loving authority on all sexual matters
More info at irvingbibleorgparenting
The term ldquovocal cordsrdquo was coined in1741 by the French anatomist AntoineFerrein who compared them to thestrings of a violin Tregraves bien
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1420
Chatter | 14
UPCOMING
January
JANUARY 6
Radius Kickoff Join Middle School at IBC for their Wednesday night
program More info irvingbibleorgmiddleschool
Elementary Midweek Kickoff 630 pmA place for kids to connect with friends explore
Godrsquos word and have fun More info irvingbible
orgchildren
Midweek TableJoin high schoolers at local houses for dinner and
conversation More info irvingbibleorghighschool
JANUARY 9
Writerrsquos Workshop mdash 10 amJoin a community of people honing their writing
skills Contact doreillyirvingbibleorg
JANUARY 11
NAMI Family-to-Family ClassA course to educate familiescaregivers of those
with serious mental illness Contact joeynetbreeze-
inccom or eurmooreyahoocom
MHGA Family Grace GroupSupport group for familycaregivers of those with
serious mental illness More info irvingbibleorg
hopeandhealing
MHGA Living Grace GroupSupport group for those who suffer with mental ill-
ness More info irvingbibleorghopeandhealing
JANUARY 13
FPU BeginsSee ad pg 17
JANUARY 14
20|30s Kickoff
See ad pg 7
DivorceCare BeginsA group for those walking through the difficulty of
divorce More info irvingbibleorghopeandhealing
JANUARY 15
Mentoring Service Project mdash 9 amFor children (and parents) from single-parent fami-
lies We will be serving the elderly in our community
More info mtribbettirvingbibleorg
JANUARY 17
Marriage at IBC Kickoff See ad pg16
Honduras trip InformationSee ad pg 16
JANUARY 21
Newcomer Gatheringsee ad pg 17
JANUARY 24
Early Childhood Open HouseAll three servicesJoin us for the first 30 minutes of our Sunday
services for Children Experience worship hear the
Bible story and meet leaders More info jbjurlin
irvingbibleorg
Shop TalkMary Flo Ridley will join us to share ldquoHow to Talk
about Sex with your Childrenrdquo More info mcon-
norirvingbibleorg
JANUARY 31
The SummitAnnual Meeting1230 pmJoin us in West A for the Annual Meeting and enjoy
a complimentary lunch Register at irvingbibleorg
annualmeeting
FEBRUARY 6
Valentinersquos Dinner for Single-Parent Families mdash 6ndash9 pmEnjoy dinner dancing horse amp carriage rides
Register at irvingbibleorgsingleparents or withmtribbettirvingbibleorg
FEBRUARY 7
BaptismsTo register visit irvingbibleorgbaptism Mandatory
orientation held January 10 More info doreilly
irvingbibleorg
The Table beginsSee ad pg16
Propel BeginsGet connected at IBC through this four week course
More info at irvingbibleorgpropel
FEBRUARY 14
Child DedicationRegistration opens January 29 at irvingbibleorg
childdedication
Heart Box SundaySee ad pg 9
FEBRUARY 18GriefShare BeginsA caring group of people to walk alongside you
through one of lifersquos most difficult experiences More
info irvingbibleorghopeandhealing
February
by Jodie Niznik
Jesus has set you free Yet many of us donrsquot feel
free We feel bound by guilt and shame mdash certainour mishaps and mistakes discredit us before God
But if Jesus died on the cross for our sins didnrsquothe die for those things too Join us as we dig intoGalatians to discover what it really means to be set
free by Jesus
Date January ndashApril (not meeting March and due to spring break)
Time - am or - pm
Location e Commons IBC
Cost (includes workbook)
For more information and to register visit
irvingbibleorgwomen
KidZone registration is also available Registration
closes on January at noon or earlier if full
SPRING BIBLE STUDY
ONGOING MEALS
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1520
SUNDAYCOMMUNITY MEALS
6 pm mdash Town SquareMeals are $3 per person or $10maxfamily
13 No Meal Happy New Year
110 Beef fajitas chips and salsasalad bar
117 All American burgers andbrats salad bar
124 Giant baked potatoes withall the fixinrsquos salad bar
131 Chicken tenders mashed
potatoes and gravysalad bar
If yoursquod like to serve on a Sundaynight meal team contact PatOrsquoReilly at (214) 289-6176 or sun-daynightmealirvingbibleorg
WEDNESDAYMIDWEEK MEALS
5ndash620 PM
Cost is $3meal or $10 max family PBampJ sandwiches arealso available
16 Lasagna salad dessertHosted by Mike Gwartneyrsquosteam
113 Ham scalloped potatoesdessert Hosted by BobDowneyrsquos team
120 Enchiladas tacos chips andsalsa Hosted by BarbaraWittersquos team
127 Chicken quarters friesdessert Hosted by BobDowneyrsquos team
Changes to the menu may be madedepending on food cost availabilityand Bob Downeyrsquos whim
If yoursquod like to serve on a Wednes-day night meal team please emailbdowneyirvingbibleorg
CUPPA HOURS
MonndashFri 9 amndash8 pm
Saturday 11 amndash5 pm
Sunday 7 amndash7 pm
BIBLE COMMUNITIESGroups on Sunday
Synergy
9 am mdash The AlcoveAll Welcome
The Tree9 am mdash West D20s amp 30s married amp young families
Crossroads1045 am mdash West CCouples amp Families late 20s to 40s
Journey1045 am mdash The AlcoveAll Welcome
On Track1045 am mdash Conference RoomSingle Parents
Thrive1045 am mdash West DSingles in their 30s amp 40s
Renew1045 am mdash Training CenterAll Welcome
Legacy Builders645 pm mdash West A mdash All Welcome
CHILDRENInfants Through 5th Grade
Childrenrsquos Sunday Services9 am 1045 am 5 pm
Elementary MidweekBegins January 6 630ndash830 pmKids connect with friends andexplore Godrsquos word through smallgroups food fun Visit irvingbibleorgelementarymidweek
HOPE amp HEALINGCommunity Care
Abortion Recovery CounselingContact Kym at (972) 560-4632 orkyeichnerirvingbibleorg
GriefShare630 pm mdash West CContact shararringtonverizonnet
Recovery at IBCThursdays 630ndash830 pmWest Wing Youth LoungeA group for hurts habits andhangups irvingbibleorgrecovery
The Living Grace GroupFor those with mental illness ContactHeath at heathmurryyahoocom
Family Grace GroupFor familiescaregivers of those withmental illness Contact Buzz Moodyat myrabuzzgmailcom
NAMI Family-to-Family ClassContact Joey at joeynetbreezeinccomor Debra at eumooreyahoocom
Stephen Ministry at IBCOne-on-one ministry for hurtingpeople Contact stephenministryirvingbibleorg or call (972) 560-4636
Spousal Abuse RecoveryContact kyeichnerirvingbibleorg
MARRIAGEGrowing Together
Marriage at IBCContact marriageirvingbibleorg
Pre-Marriage Mentoring Visit irvingbibleorgmarriage
MENCommunity and Resources
First WatchFridays 622 am mdash The CommonsContact Nat at npughirvingbibleorg
First Watch ReplayTuesdays 630 pmTraining CenterContact brianarrington1yahoocom
First Watch XtraWednesday 630 amTraining CenterContact bcopehuntoilcom
Visit irvingbibleorgmen
MISSIONLocal and Global
Prayer Meeting
2nd and 4th Wednesdays645-8 pm mdash The Chapel
Laundry LoveFirst Saturday of the month9 amndash12 pmContact laundryloveirvingbibleorg
New Friends New LifeServe dinner to women healingfrom sexual exploitation every thirdWednesday Contact Christine atnewfriendsnewlifeirvingbibleorg
SINGLE PARENTCommunity and Resources
Sit with us on Sunday9 am service lowest right-handsection Rows 5 amp 6 facing the stage
Visit irvingbibleorgsingleparents
SPECIAL NEEDS
Community amp Care
Small Group for MomsSundays 9ndash1015 am
In His Image Bible StudySundays 630ndash745 pm
Small Group for ParentsWednesdays 630ndash8 pm
SonShine Pals and RoomCare during Sunday ministry
Contact specialneedsirvingbibleorg
STUDENTSMiddleHigh School and College
Middle School SundaysSundays mdash 1030 amndash1220 pmStudent Ministries area
High School SundaysSundays 645ndash8 pm
Student Ministries areaIBC College MinistrySundays 330 pmThe Commons AnnexContact collegeirvingbibleorg
High School MidweekWednesdaysJoin us for food and communitySee Facebook page for locations
Middle SchoolWednesdays 630 pmJoin us for a time of friendships
and teaching
WOMENCommunity and Resources
Womenrsquos Spring Bible StudyBeginning January 12Tuesdays 930 am or 630 pmThe CommonsJoin us as we study Proverbs Visitirvingbibleorgwomen
2435 KINWESTWednesday Nights at IBC
IBC ChoirWednesdays 7ndash830 pmIBC Worship CenterContact Crystal atcelwellirvingbibleorg
ESL English as a Second LanguageWednesdays 630ndash830 pm
Haven B C D
Citizenship ClassWednesdays 630ndash830 pmIBC Conference Room
IBC Career Transition MinistryWednesdays 630ndash830 pm
Microsoft Computer SkillsWednesdays 630ndash830 pmThe Training Center
Visit 2435kinwestorg
ONGOING MEALS
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1620
The Table is a place where skeptics and Christians alike can
pull up a chair around a table to explore God the Christian
faith and the hard questions of life It is a place where
questions are invited and welcomed and where people can
voice their doubts
Questions Contact jsteinirvingbibleorg
To register visit irvingbibleorgthetable
When am on February ndashMarch
Where The Living Room (formerly the MenrsquosConference Room)
Whether your marriage is sinking coastingalong or going full-throttle every marriageneeds some TLC
Marriage at IBC is a fun 983089983088-week course that focuses on the
big picture of marriage as well as practical application in the
everyday-life struggles of marriage While we cover important
topics like communication and conflict in-laws finances andsex we donrsquot go through a single class without laughing and hav-
ing a great time The class format is a speaker for a weekly topic
followed by small group time
Marriage at IBC Begins January 983089983095 983097 am The Commons
Register at irvingbibleorgmarriage
Already in an IBC small group Any existing IBC small groups are
welcome and able to participate and will receive all of the Marriage
at IBC resources and any level of support they desire
Questions Contact marriageirvingbibleorg
Join Mission at IBC for an informational about
our summer trip to Honduras We are looking
for medical professionals and teachers to work
with IBC partne r Workers Together With
God This will be an intergenerational trip with
IBCrsquos High School ministry
For more info please contact Lauren at
lmouossairvingbibleorg
HONDURASM I S S I O N T R I PInformational MeetingJANUARY 17
1230ndash2 pm in West D
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1720
HOW DO I GIVE HOW DO I GET
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1820
Chatter | 18
The name ldquoJanuaryrdquo comes from theLatin word for door (ianua) sinceJanuary is the door to the year
My Time Talents amp Skills
Facility Department VolunteersDo you enjoy swinging a hammer or helping doinstalls The IBC Facility Department could use yourhelp There are many projects where an extra set of
hands is needed So if you have experience work-ing in building electrical plumbing etc pleasecontact Rod Myers at rmyersirvingbibleorg
Meal Team VolunteersIBC makes meals available both Sunday andWednesday nights These fun teams could usesome additional volunteers to serve together ForSundays contact sundaynightmealirvingbibleorgFor Wednesdays contact bdowneyirvingbibleorg
Medical Professionals NeededOur weekly medical clinic needs professional healthcare providers (MD PA FNP) to provide treatment
for our patients Volunteers serve on a rotatingbasis and do not need to serve every week ContactCharles at cpierce2435clinicorg
Mentor Kids in Single-Parent FamiliesMen and women are needed for gender-specificmentoring of children from single-parent familiesContact Marsha at mtribbettirvingbibleorg
New Friends New LifeServe dinner to women healing from sexual exploita-tion (every third Wednesday) Contact Christine atnewfriendsnewlifeirvingbibleorg
Safety Team
Do you have a desire to serve and protect oth-ers Contact Christopher Watkins at cwatkinsirvingbibleorg Please include any credentials andrelevant experience
Visitor Follow-Up Team(Rex Greenstreet Ministry)We are looking for a volunteer to make calls orsend welcome emails (or both) to new vi sitors fromIBC Training and coaching will be providedContact Sherri at ssharpirvingbibleorg
Volunteer with Senior CareSenior Care at IBC has some needs Villages on
MacArthur needs Bible Study leaders as well asSaturday services leaders MacArthur Hills needsmusicianssingers and leaders for a spiritual serviceAshford Hall needs one-on-one visitors and Biblestudy leaders and gameactivities volunteers Con-tact Mike at Seniorcareirvingbibleorg
My ResourcesOnline Giving OptionIf you would find it more convenient to donate tothe ministries of Irving Bible Church online visitirvingbibleorggive FIND A PLACE TO SERVE
Yoursquove come a long way since that first breath mint Yoursquovebeen busy worshipping learning relating and committing
And itrsquos at this point that you might start looking around
at all the people who help create those events mdash ushers
greeters meal team members table hosts small group
leaders and the like Your next step now is to join them
Consider your passions talents and spiritual gifts and then
ask about a place to serve Visit irvingbibleorgserve
JOIN IN WORSHIPSo you found the address a place to park and a breath
mint on the way in Good work If yoursquore reading this
yoursquove probably already taken the first step mdash attending a
worship service This is the first and most important place
to start so keep coming Become a regular Make sure to
fill out a Newcomer Card Tell us a little about yourself and
let us know how we can engage with you Somebody will
reach out to you this week Visit irvingbibleorgconnect
Wersquore glad you asked Here are the steps to take for
having your questions answered figuring out the IBC story and if yoursquore feeling ready plugging in
CHECK OUT THE NEWCOMER GATHERINGSo yoursquore kicking the IBC tires Good Wersquore so glad yoursquore
here The Newcomer Gathering is a great opportunity to
meet church leadership learn what IBC is all about andconnect with other newbies in a fun relaxed environment
Next Newcomer Gathering January 21
SIGN UP FOR PROPELAll right Yoursquore feeling the IBC vibe and want to see
where you might get involved Propel is a 4-week class that
explores the IBC calling and culture and how your unique
personality and passions fit in Meet many of our pastors and
directors of ministries at IBC Next Propel February 7ndash28
JOIN A COMMUNITY Yoursquore firing on all cylinders but something is missing And
that something is a someone or a group of someones
Enter sermon-based Small Groups Womenrsquos Bible Study
First Watch and more We encourage you to find a group
and connect authentically with others
Visit irvingbibleorgadults
Start
HOW DO I GETCONNECTED AT IBC
FOR MORE INFO VISIT IRVINGBIBLEORGCONNECT OR LOOK
FOR THE NEWCOMER GUIDES AT THE INFORMATION DESK
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1920
Chatter | 19
If you are not seated please sit down If you are seated buckle up If you
are buckled up you may want to stop reading now if yoursquore prone to
carsickness Settled in Okay then The haphazard collection of words
currently assaulting your senses mdash both sight and common mdash is my 983095983091rd
and likely final column for Chatter I know I know Yoursquore probably in the
drive-thru at Chick-fil-A just now remembering that itrsquos Sunday and then this
happens So you are not only left wondering where you can satisfy your Bible-
blessed chicken jones but also from whence yoursquoll be able to scratch your itch
for elliptical sentence structures chock-a-block with obtuse wordification and
the occasional monthly reference to pastiness You need a hug
Sadly the Chatter editorial board enforces a strict no-touching (even emotion-
ally) policy on contributors of dubious complexion (therersquos your final pasty
reference) so wersquoll have to make do with a psychic fist bump But before I leave
you with Tim Hawkins as your lone source of Christian comedy (What do you
mean he already was) Irsquod like to take a few hundred words and ramble semi-
coherently about what the past 983094983097 ldquoIdle Chatterrdquo columns and 983092 ldquoInterview
with a Dead Guyrdquo exposeacutes have taught me If anything Hmmm
First Irsquove learned that itrsquos much easier to keep a position when the job is es-
sentially that of a volunteer Assuming you donrsquot count the few times I had to
slip an Old Navy coupon code to the editor (Julie now of the emeritus variety)
to get her to put down the metaphorical red pen (The literal red pen is the
Track Changes feature in Microsoft Word which I despise even more so than a
patchouli-soaked hippie Also I never could figure out which online emporium
discounts would convince her to let me discuss smiting hippies so wersquoll see if
the new ed lets that previous sentence fly) Anyway I assume my long tenure
was also aided by my ability to meet a deadline no matter how many times I
moved it and my penchant for mentioning my kids who are totes adorbs at
least in print
Irsquove learned that most fellow believers can take a joke In nearly seven years
of poking fun (And is poking ever really fun I think not) at some of the more
absurdist aspects of evangelical life mdash along with giving Moses the Twitter
handle MoHeston mdash I never received one letter email Tweet Snapchat
Vine video Facebook rant or gospel tract-based expression of displeasure
Sure only about three of you actually know who I am And my family attended
church in Frisco but farther north (as in past the Ikea) than most Irvingites
dare to drive Also we moved to Omaha three years ago Nonetheless I appre-
ciate your collective sense of humor andor Juliersquos restraint in forwarding me
complaints from the elders
Irsquod like to tell you I learned many deep life-changing Biblical truths over the
last 983094983095 of a decade but come on I think we can all agree that I either made up
most of my doctrinal claims or have since forgotten the ones that are true due
to my advancing fortysomethingness Which reminds me I never did base a
column on the Book of Lamentations Woe is me
Lastly Irsquove learned that I can spit out 983097983088983088 words on just about anything with-
out saying much of anything of value Case in point duly noted
And now since I still have about 983091983088983088 words to torture Irsquoll take a question Yesyou in the back with the pre-Etsy WWJD bracelet from 983089983097983097983095 My favorite col-
umns Well I could say thatrsquos like trying to choose your favorite child (the dog)
if having 983095983091 kids wouldnrsquot get me investigated by the Guinness World Records
folks (bunch of narcs) Instead Irsquoll go with my two poems Ballad for a High
School Youth Group Hayride (October 983090983088983089983092) and The Graven (October 983090983088983089983093)
my unearthing of Noahrsquos Twitter feed GopherWoodBoy (October 983090983088983088983097) my
ruminations on Pentecost Economy Sizing the Holy Spirit (May 983090983088983089983088) and my
homage to my dad on the occasion of his 983094983093th birthday Cool On the Inside (July
983090983088983089983088) There might be others I actually like more but I donrsquot have the patience
of a Job Billy Duggar to read them all Also you can find most of these at Scribd
comIrvingBibleChurch or JasonFoxnetIdleChatter
So This is the end For now at least Perhaps Irsquo ll pop up or in or over from
time to time to ruminate on weighty matters like why our Christmas tree top-
per looks like Celine Dion But for now I think itrsquos time to try something a little
different After so many attempts at we aving a little truth into the funny
I believe Irsquoll give weaving a little funny into the truth a go (Thatrsquos what I get for
actually studying my beliefs I guess) I doubt Irsquoll become this millenniumrsquos C S
Lewis but perhaps something of eternal value will emerge from it Hopefully
not damnation
But until we meet in the sweet by-and-by on that beautiful shore (look for my
totally boss conversion van customized by St Doober) I will simply thank you
for reading and leave you with one last bit of suspect theological advice Every
argument especially those on the internet can be won with the phrase ldquoWell
thatrsquos what it says in Habakkukrdquo Because it does
Jason Fox will miss you all except that creepy guy who cuts his fingernails
during the sermon and is proud his last column hit 983097983088983088 words exactly
Jason writes from Omaha Nebraska (well he used to) and can be harassed forevermore on
Twitter at jason_fox
ONCE MORE
WITH FEELING
Celine Dion is theyoungest of 14 children
In 2013 alone 200 millionlemons were squeezed to makeChick-fil-Arsquos fresh lemonade
Shhhh Donrsquot poke itNext month in February Chatter will be hibernating Itrsquos winter after all Plus it buys us some timeto come back in March with more Chatterish goodness than ever before Because more of a good
thing ishellipwell gooder than good grammar (Like we said we need some sleep)
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 2020
Chatterhellipyou CAN take it with you Send us
your Chatter photos on location and you may
see yourself in an upcoming issue Email us
at chatterirvingbibleorg
Chatter tags along as the Mechsner family weathers the ridiculouswinds on Mt Wellington in Hobart Tasmania We understand thatseconds after this shot Chatter decided to dispel the widely heldbelief that turkeys canrsquot fly Be free little guy Be free
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 420Chatter | 4
GIVE OR TAKE A KILOMETER OR TWO OUR FAMILY TRAVERSED
8157 MILES for the chance to see with our own eyes a well drilled by the
Water is Basic team What we saw will c hange us forever
Honestly the well (983094 created on June 983089983091 983090983088983089983093) looked like most of the ones
wersquove all seen on the WIB website in an email or on a Facebook post over the
years You know several villagers gathered around the pump a dozen or so
yellow jerry cans contrasting the wet orange dirt and precious little ones
awestruck by the gushing water Donrsquot get me wrong this is a beautiful picture
(so keep lsquoem coming) and a constant reminder of why each of us mdash you me
donors around the world mdash stay in the game Only now for our family the pic-
tures were real We could see hear smell and feel the reality they represent
The SUV was at maximum capacity with seven Americans plus the South
Sudanese translator Akeem as we bumped bobbled zigged and zagged our
way down the orange dirt ldquoroadsrdquo for more than an hour into the bush As we
entered the Ayakaka ldquoBomardquo (community) we were warmly greeted with smil-
ing faces The eldest man guided us to a shady place to park
After the introductions we learned that while our visit was indeed a surprise
the family considered it an honor to have us come to the ir village Patrubas
the well committee chairman Lino the vice chairman and two women on the
committee mdash Charity and Alfreda mdash were very eager to show us their new well
The women and children gathered around as we each got a turn to pump the
water mdash a sight I can only imagine made them chuckle on the inside
Next we asked what impact the new well was having compared to using a
water hole a few hundred yards behind their mud huts (You know besides
the obvious mdash close access to clean drinking water less time collecting water
and more time for school or farming better health and so much more) Char-
ity rubbed her right hand up and down over the top of her left arm and said
ldquoMy skin The clean water helps my skinrdquo Apparently they develop severe
rashes and often infections from open wounds exposed to filthy disease-
ridden water Imagine that for a moment you need to bathe to keep clean but
the only water you have to wash is actually causing great harm to the very skin
yoursquore trying to protect
We were curious about the water source they had used for drinking and bath-
ing as recently as six weeks before the well was installed Being the polite hosts
they agreed to walk us down but only after they presented us with a gift A gift
For us From a family who is lucky to eat one meal a day to a group of Ameri-
cans who could eat five or six meals a day if we wanted But they insisted and
our hearts began to break
Patrubas sent a young girl into the tall grass with a long piece of rope and apol-
ogized they did not have time to prepare a meal this late in the day (Yes how
discourteous of them not to predict an SUV full of Americans would drop by
their village unannounced that day) She returned with a black and white malegoat lassoed by the rope presenting it to Dee a fellow IBCer and long-time
supporter of Water is Basic with whom we had the privilege of traveling Steve
Roese WIB President observed our gut-wrenched faces yet was intimately
familiar with their culture and customs For our sake he gently attempted to
decline their unfathomable generosity They politely stood their ground and
the goat was prepped to travel with us
We walked behind some mud huts to see the water hole they had used before
the well was drilled As I stepped closer to get a better look at the cesspool (the
only word remotely close to what was at my feet) I literally shuddered at the
thought of touching it How DID they not only touch it but bathe with it and
drink it I immediately lifted a prayer of thanksgiving for clean water
When we returned to the well Patrubasrsquo wife Rejoice (one of six women on
the well committee) had returned from a meeting We visited with them both
and realized it was past lunchtime Wersquod probably disrupted enough of their
day we thought As we loaded up and said goodbye to our newfound friends
we made sure our gift was as comfortable as possible in the narrow space be-
hind the third row of seats And just in case we forgot about the extra passen-
Suzie attempts to look like pumping a well issomething she does all the time back home
TA K I N G T H E R O A D L E S S T R AV E L E D
Juba
SOUTH SUDAN
SUDAN
DEMOCRAT IC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
ETHIOPIA
KENYA UGANDA
CENTRAL AFRICANREPUBLIC
Yei Lainya
According to The Water Project 783 millionpeople do not have access to clean andsafe water and 37 of those people live inSub-Saharan Africa
Robert Frost sold hisfirst poem for $15
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 520Chatter | 5
ger for a few minutes the hearty bleats reminded us each time we hit a pothole
What a ride
Wersquove been home for a few days now and each of us has contemplated all wehave to be thankful for mdash peace clean water air conditioning three meals a
day schools hospitals grocery stores our health family friends and paved
roads And wersquore thankful for you IBC family
You enable the Water is Basic crew to go into remote villages and bring life-
saving life-changing clean water to people like Patrubas and his community
The water team navigates treacherous paths rainy seasons petrol shortages
extreme drought and the numerous uncertainties of war They can do this
because you care
From our family to yours thank you for empowering the people of South Su-
dan in the fight for clean water Because dear brothers and sisters they need to
be reminded that we care about them mdash especially those living beyond the road
less traveled
Suzie Robinson now knows the true meaning of ldquogetting someonersquos goatrdquo
Susie encourages you to visit waterisbasicorg to learn more about clean water in South Sudan
Original water source forPatrubas and his family
Water Well Committee 12 members 6 are men and 6 are women (left to right)Chairman Patrubas wife Rejoice Vice Chairman Lino Charity and Alfreda
Dee is presented with a goat the gift fromPatrubas and his family for their new well
The Ayakaka Boma well supports 24households and visitors of the local market
According to Waterorg there aremore people around the world witha mobile phone than with a toilet
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 620
Chatter | 6
Dallas is the hometown of Meat Loaf Vanilla Ice and Barney the Dinosaur
Early Childhood Jill Bjurlin
What a joy it is to watch our youngest IBCers learn about Godrsquos love
and grow in their faith Each week the infants are hearing that
God loves them mdash whether theyrsquore being given a bottle or riding
in a buggy with a caring volunteer The preschoolers are learning through in-
tentionally planned activities creative play story time and a c raft All children
learn in different ways but each child is learning three foundational truths
God loves me God made me and Jesus wants to be my friend forever
Itrsquos our desire to come alongside you as you guide your small child on their
spiritual journey Irsquom excited to share some new ways to connect what your
child is learning at church to what they are hearing at home First of all bewatching for a monthly take home sheet called Parent CUE (and make sure
and purchase the Parent CUE app to go along with it) These tools provide
activities to use throughout your day to reinforce the weekly Bible story and
verse Also do you ever wonder what your child is experiencing while you are
in Big Church You are invited to join your ch ild on January 983090983092 during all three
services to experience the fun Please come worship with us hear the Bible
story and meet the leaders in your childrsquos area Be watching for more details
to follow
It is a privilege to be on the journey with you and Irsquom looking forward to each
child experiencing Godrsquos love this year
Elementary Adrienne Siefers
Our dream for elementary students is for them to discover they can
have a relationship with Jesus C hrist Itrsquos our privilege to come along-
side to help them make this discovery and help them grow in their
faith This coming year we have several new things to help kids on that path
Our first is a challenge of sorts mdash wersquore calling it ldquoRocksrdquo mdash where kids can
earn ldquorocksrdquo each Sunday by exhibiting growth in their faith For example kids
can earn rocks by bringing their Bible using it in small group bringing a friend
to church and many other ways Each service hour will be collectively ldquobuild-
ingrdquo a ldquorock wallrdquo once it reaches a certain height all the kids in that service
will win various prizes and incentives Our hope is that kids will discover they
are able to be proactive in a living breathing faith journey
For the Lenten season we are going to follow what is taught in the adult wor-
ship service on Sundays This will help kids to connect better with the season
and provide some great unity as a church as we all learn about the same pas-
sage June will be an exciting month for elementary kids with VBS and a new
summer camp Sabine Creek Ranch We are excited for this camp because it
will allow relationships to grow even deeper between kids and their Sunday
small group leaders in a traditional camp experience The year 983090983088983089983094 is going to
be exciting in elementary ministry
W ha trsquos Ne x t
i n Ne x t Ge n
There are a lo t o f e xci ting ne w de velopmen ts la tel y
wi th IBCrsquos Ne x t Gen minis tr y in 2016 Wan t the scoop
Here i t is s traigh t from the Blue Bell car ton
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 720
Chatter | 7
Raccoons are consideredyoung adults at one yearof age
Middle SchoolKristina McCartney
IBC Middle School Ministry is where friend-
ships are established the Gospel is taught
and life change holiness and maturity are
fostered I would say this is our ldquomission state-
mentrdquo without offi cially calling it that As a new
pastor on staff Irsquom especially excited about whatrsquos
coming this year In January we will be launc hing
our brand new midweek program called RadiusRadius will exist to provide a midweek time for
students to connect with one another build re-
lationships discuss biblical teaching and have a
place to serve at IBC and the surrounding com-
munity Wersquoll also be continuing with our Life On
Life small groups the lifeline in our Middle School
Ministry mdash where discipleship really takes place
Our new associate Middle Sch ool director Moses
Uvere and I are looking forward to a new year of
life change and growth for our middle schoolers
High SchoolMatt Hamilton
The High School Ministry at IBC has
and still is going through a big change
Previously we were meeting at IBC on
Wednesday nights but now we have moved into
three different homes across our area We call it
The Midweek Table Our ministry was full of high
school students who loved Jesus and were growing
in him but we needed a change to move us into anew place of living our lives on mission The Mid-
week Table has provided the jumpstart we needed
to go out and spread the Gospel This new format
has produced some incredible stories of hope
redemption and curiosity We also serve dinner
and do our best to create an environment that is
stress-free and conducive for chilling
Although we have experienced some change there
is still one key consistency The High School min-
istry at IBC believes strongly in community We
also have incredible adult leaders who love Jesus
and share their lives with high school students
Therefore LifeGroups will remain the ldquobread and
butterrdquo of our high school ministry We meet on
Sunday nights after the 983093 pm service where we
dive into life together mdash the way it should be lived
LifeGroups are where we see the most transfor-
mation in our students If yoursquore looking for a safe
place to grow in Christ come check it out
20|30s Jon Jones
When we look at 983090983088|983091983088s ministry in
983090983088983089983094 there is great hope It feels like
those precious few seconds right be-
fore sunrise when the sky begins to glow and possi-
bility looms large We have spent the last c ouple of
months interviewing IBCers in their 983090983088s and 983091983088s
and crafting a vision of what is to come In Janu-
ary that vision becomes a reality 983090983088|983091983088s ministry
is going to be heavily focused on relational con-nection and experiential theology intellectually
engaging with room for doubt The goal is to equip
983090983088|983091983088s to live sacrificially and bless others just like
Jesus did both in Dallas and throughout the world
This will happen through multiple avenues First
Thursday theology TED talks and discussions
Dinner Clubs Happy Hour Takeovers Service En-
gagements and a Haiti Mission Trip We canrsquot say
it enough the future of 983090983088|983091983088s ministry is bright
in 983090983088983089983094
Itrsquos a new day for young adults at IBC
Come see whatrsquos in store for
JANUARY PM THE COMMONS
s
Check out page 8 for all the need-to-know info for Middle School and HighSchool ministry this winter and spring
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 820
Chatter | 8
HIGH SCHOOL
Life Groups Get involved
If your student hasnrsquot been involved in a Life Group this is the time to start
This is not just another program not just another event Life Groups are
central to your studentrsquos faith journey Our small groups (ldquoLife Groupsrdquo)
are made up of 983096-983089983088 students led by adults who love to pour into students
and guide them as they explore spiritual matters Students get to hang out
make new friends laugh a lot and explore the truths of the Bible We meeteach Sunday in the Student Ministries Area of IBC
Winter Retreat Sign up today
High School Winter Retreat is February 983089983090-983089983092 at Sky Ranch This is a great
getaway for your high schooler a time of rest and relationship-building
(What student doesnrsquot need that) Wersquoll welcome special speaker Kevin
Libick Middle School Pastor at Christ Chapel in Fort Worth
Beach Camp Mark your calendarItrsquos not just summer vacation Itrsquos a time for life transformation This is our
983095th year to go away together to the lovely beaches of Gulf Shores Alabama
and you wonrsquot want your student to miss it Whorsquos invited All current High
School students plus current 983096th graders Dates are July 983089983092ndashJuly 983089983096
Mission Trip Pray
If you and your student feel he or she is ready for a summer mission trip
this year now is the time to pray about which might be the best fit Packets
are due January 983089983088 Trips Albuquerque June 983089983088-983089983094 Honduras (Intergen-erational trip) July 983090983094-Aug 983089
MIDDLE SCHOOL
LOL (Life On Life) Get involved
Middle School Students need community more than anybody it seems
Thatrsquos why we have Life on Life a weekly small group gathering where kids
connect over Scripture and engaging conversation mdash all while having a great
time Life On Life meets weekly on Sundays in the Commons at 983089983088983091983088 am
Radius (Wednesday Nights at IBC) Get excited
At IBC we want to cultivate an atmosphere where students are excited to
bring their friends who may not have a church home Radius is a Wednesday
night experience for IBC middle schoolers and their friends that will include
teaching discussion groups worship and quarterly service projects
Planet Wisdom Mark your calendar
This is a canrsquot-miss conference for 983094th-983089983090th grade students The theme
this year is QUEST Discovering Myself in the Light of Christ IBC middle
school students will be attending the conference here at IBC on Feb 983090983094-983090983095
Beach Camp Make note of change (and get ready)
Middle School is NOT attending Beach Camp this summer This is new
this year Middle Schoolers will be attending Summer Camp closer to home
near Weatherford at Texas Star Ranch and Retreat Dates are June 983090983095ndash
July 983089 Camp will again be led by well-trained high schoolers
Mission Trips Sign up today
Your Middle Schooler wonrsquot want to miss this summerrsquos local mission trips
around DFW and San Antonio These are great opportunities for kids
to discover they can serve the less fortunate in their own backyards San
Antonio June 983094-983089983089 DFW area July 983090983094-983090983097
Students at IBC Cheat Sheet WE GET IT PARENTS You donrsquot have time to curl up on the couch with a good book Sometimes you need a sticky note a
Red Bull and a stopwatch mdash especially if yoursquove got teenagers So get fired up your iCal and settle in This wonrsquot take long You
might just earn an A in SpringSummer 983090983088983089983094
For more info about or to sign up for any of these upcoming events
visit irvingbibleorghighschool
For more info about or to sign up for any of these upcoming events
visit irvingbibleorgmiddleschool
Alabamarsquos coast is home toa massive monarch butterflymigration
Between Mars and Jupiter isa dwarf planet known as Ceresdiscovered in 1801
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 920
Chatter | 9
HEART BOX SUNDAY IS FEBRUARY 14 AT IBCOne of the core values of IBC is loving like Jesus This means tangiblyproviding for the needs of others including our partners For the secondyear in a row we have chosen to show this love around Valentinersquos Day byproviding for our local partners in practical ways
HEART BOXES will only be available in Town Square on Sunday February 983089983092
If you are unable to make the service that day they will be in our donation areafor a few days after
And if you get a chance say a big lsquothank yoursquo to Stacie Dugasrsquo Girl Scouts fordecorating our boxes so beautifully
Questions Contact Tricia at tkinsmanirvingbibleorg
FAMILY PROMISEtowels
THE MAIN PLACE boysmenrsquos
athletic shoes
MERCY STREETcopy paper
LAUNDRY LOVE laundry detergent
SCHOOL WORKSelementary boys
or girls tennisshoes and socks
THE GATEHOUSE womenrsquos and
childrenrsquos socksor slippers
MERCY HOUSEdiapers
NEW FRIENDSNEW LIFE
household cleanersand paper goods
BBMOI CRISISMINISTRIEScanned food
SENIOR CAREmenrsquos or womenrsquos
slippers
Join us by bringing one of the following new items to church onValentinersquos day February 983089983092 and depositing it in the appropriatebox in Town Square
In Victorian times it wasconsidered bad luck to sign a Valentinersquos Day card
According to BBC Science it cantake between 90 seconds and 4minutes to decide if we fancysomeone
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1020
Chatter | 10
IBC partner Debbie Lucien tells of a
boy on the verge of his future
In the summer months of 2001 a five-year-
old boy named Enel Previl was brought by
his family to a local church His parents had
been told that by doing so the boyrsquos photo wouldbe taken and perhaps with the help of some
foreign friends the school could pay its teachers
for the coming year His parents thought this was
a good thing When they later heard that some
people picked their sonrsquos photo for ongoing spon-
sorship they thought ldquoGod has opened a door for
him to go to schoolrdquo
With his brother and two sisters Enel start-
ed preschool walking through sunny andrainy days to begin learning about letters
The first person reputed to have walkedaround the world is George MatthewSchilling (USA) from 1897 to 1904
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1120
Chatter | 11
accept Christ and began discipling him Since
becoming a believer Enel has been active in the
choir and enjoys helping to lead worship at his
local church
While itrsquos taken a long time for him to complete
his studies Enel finally finished secondary
school at College de la Grace after 983089983095 years of
steady investment At the age of 983090983090 he now has
the equivalent of an Associatersquos Degree At the
recent graduation I recognized his name from
one of the first groups of children ever helped
through sponsorship He agreed to pose tall and
proud in his graduation robes with the school
founder (and my husband) Caleb Lucien I asked
Enel if he would stop by and talk to me the next
day about his future dreams and what he would
like to say to his sponsors
The next day a Saturday he greeted me e agerly
and told me he was so grateful for the help hissponsors had given him and his family They had
been faithful for 983089983095 years though hersquos never had
a chance to meet them And the fruit of their
generosity is evident Enel is the first member of
his family ever to finish high school He dreams
of becoming a doctor or an engineer but knows
it will take many years to accomplish such a goal
and he has no means other than his familyrsquos farm
But he is now fluent in two languages Creole and
French and has a firm opening into ldquosocietyrdquo as
we say here in Haiti He now looks me in the eyewhen we talk and speaks clearly about his faith
and his sense of responsibility he feels for the fu-
ture of his family Enel understands what a great
privilege he has received
He told me hersquos now waiting on the Lord to
see what doors will open for the future In the
meantime he would like to help area students
with their studies asking families to pay him
only what they can afford I encouraged him bysharing several stories of how we have seen God
work in the lives of other young people and how
often they have also had to wait for their next
steps to be made clear Finally we talked about
his sponsors Enel knew exactly what he would
say to them ldquoIrsquod like to tell them THANKS Irsquove
never had the chance to meet them but theyrsquove
helped me so muchrdquo I told him Irsquod be sharing his
graduation picture with them and would let them
know how theyrsquove blessed his life
Enel headed off that day back to his small home
where he lives with his mother and some un-
married siblings He walks tall and straight and
proudly knowing the God who took him this far
is able to help him arrive exactly where he needs
to be
Debbie Lucien has now lived longer in Haiti than
any other country shersquos inhabited Haiti 983090983090 years
US 983090983089 years Japan 983092 years Germany 983092 yearsYes she is as old as dirt
Born and raised overseas as the daughter of a military pilot
Debbie thought she knew the world But when she visited Haiti
at the age of 25 she realized that God was a lot bigger than she
thought After being courtedrecruited by Caleb she moved to
Haiti in 1993 and never escaped the adventure Follow her on
twitter at MadameCaleb
numbers and colors Each night upon returning
to his home of mud and sticks he would sleep
close to his five family members after doing
lessons or repeating his schoolwork back to
his parents
School continued with the help of donors who
kept his school open In fact it grew to house over
983093983088983088 students Initially meeting just under sticks
and thatch roof with no walls the students were
excited to see a 983093983088983088 square-foot cement block
building go up after a few years Now when it
was muddy outside the classrooms could still
stay clean Enel progressed slowly but surely
sometimes having to share the school supplies he
received through sponsorship with his b rothers
and sisters
In 983090983088983088983097 Enel was thrilled to be able to start
secondary school His sponsor had continued to
be faithful Enel had to walk a little further but
proudly wore the peach and tan uniform of the
upper division school of College de la Grace The
next year however was very hard for his family
Enelrsquos father who had long suffered with cardio-
vascular problems finally passed away leaving
the family with even fewer resources Enel says
that if it wasnrsquot for the financial help he received
through sponsorship he definitely would have
had to quit school as an 983096th grader But since he
had support his family saw clearly that God
had kept the door open for him to continue
his education
Two years later while discussing life with one
of his classmates and hearing many speakers
at church and school Enel decided to become
a Christian Enelrsquos friend Nesly mdash also a spon-sored student at the school mdash prayed with him to
HOSEAN INTERNATIONAL MINISTRIESIBC Partner HIM is a ministry by Haitians for Haitians HIM began in 983089983097983096983092 by Haitian National
Caleb Lucien with one purpose in mind transform lives by pointing people to Jesus Christ
through education life skills training and e conomic growth If you are interested in sponsoring
the education of a child like Enel visit hoseanorg
Enelrsquos firstsponsorship photo
Enel with Caleb Lucien
at Enelrsquos graduation
According to The World Bank morethan 200000 children in Haiti remainout of school
According to World Vision Haitiis currently the poorest country inthe Western Hemisphere
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1220
Chatter | 12
Small Groups at IBC have always been about cultivating deep
relationships that advance the kingdom of God in dark places
Sounds heroic but most of the time it looks simple mdash like a mug of
something hot a good talk about real things and a place to take off
your shoes Small Groups should always feel like home
Starting this month wersquoll officially start calling Small Groups at
IBC ldquoHome Groupsrdquo Most of our groups meet in homes anyway
and well home is what theyrsquore really all about mdash a place to be real
and a place to belong mdash even as the kingdom advances
Registration for winter Home Groups closes Feb 28 Groups begin
meeting March 20 Register today at irvingbibleorgsmallgroups
Come on in
Motel 6rsquos tagline ldquoWersquollleave the light on for yourdquois 50 years old
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1320
Chatter | 13
Mary Flo RidleyldquoParents we need to find our voicerdquo
Shersquos an internationallyknown speaker a featured
guest on numerous radio programs (including Focuson the Family) and writesregularly for ldquoDallas Child
Magazinerdquo Her topic Talk-ing to kids about sex As inYOU talking to YOUR kidsabout sex Yep Itrsquos a thing
Before IBC welcomes Mary Flo Ridley this month as a featured Shop Talk speaker
(January 983090983092) Chatter want-ed to catch up with her for a quick chat abouthellip wellhellipthe thing thatrsquos just so dang hard to chat ABOUThellip
CHATTER As parents wersquore really apprehensive about talking
openly with our kids about th is topic Whatrsquos at the heart of
that fear
MARY FLO RIDLEY Some parents fear speaking to their chil-
dren about sex because they were never taught by their own
parents They donrsquot know what this should look like or whatto say to a child Other parents are fearful that at some point
in these conversations they will reveal their own brokenness
in this area of their life and they feel vulnerable All parents
need encouragement when it comes to talking to their chil-
dren about sex and we as the church should equip the saints
for this task Pointing our children (and ourselves) to the
beauty of Godrsquos design can be seen as a privilege of parenting
CHATYoursquove been teaching on this topic for a long time Tell
us about what first motivated you to develop this training
MFR When I was growing up I was blessed with wonder-
ful parents but they never talked to me about sex When
Dave and I were new parents we decided we wanted to do
something a little bit differently and it led to the research and
strategy that I teach parents today
CHAT Mary Flo wersquore sure there are a lot of families at IBC
who would benefit from hearing your wisdom but some
might think itrsquos too late Maybe their kids are older or already
have particular knowledge or opinions about sex Would they
still benefit
MFR Itrsquos never too late Our children need and want to hear
our voices on this topic and they will be willing to set aside
some of the things that they have picked up from the culture
in order to listen to their parents They may roll their eyes but
they WANT to know not only the facts of biology but also why
this part of their life matters to God They need your wisdom
and they long to hear your thoughts As parents we need to
find our voice and speak to them
Does Talkingabout sex withyour kids feel
like facinga monsterMary Flo Ridley can help with
the horn fangs and halitosis
Shop Talk How to Talk about Sex with
your Children with Mary Flo Ridley
January 983090983092 983089983088983092983093 am in the West Wing
Weaving humor and personal stories throughout Mary
Flo Ridley helps parents shape the message they want to
convey to their children about sex Mary Flo guides par-
ents through the process of shaping their childrenrsquos sexual
education from an early age and brings helpful wisdom for
how to become the loving authority on all sexual matters
More info at irvingbibleorgparenting
The term ldquovocal cordsrdquo was coined in1741 by the French anatomist AntoineFerrein who compared them to thestrings of a violin Tregraves bien
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1420
Chatter | 14
UPCOMING
January
JANUARY 6
Radius Kickoff Join Middle School at IBC for their Wednesday night
program More info irvingbibleorgmiddleschool
Elementary Midweek Kickoff 630 pmA place for kids to connect with friends explore
Godrsquos word and have fun More info irvingbible
orgchildren
Midweek TableJoin high schoolers at local houses for dinner and
conversation More info irvingbibleorghighschool
JANUARY 9
Writerrsquos Workshop mdash 10 amJoin a community of people honing their writing
skills Contact doreillyirvingbibleorg
JANUARY 11
NAMI Family-to-Family ClassA course to educate familiescaregivers of those
with serious mental illness Contact joeynetbreeze-
inccom or eurmooreyahoocom
MHGA Family Grace GroupSupport group for familycaregivers of those with
serious mental illness More info irvingbibleorg
hopeandhealing
MHGA Living Grace GroupSupport group for those who suffer with mental ill-
ness More info irvingbibleorghopeandhealing
JANUARY 13
FPU BeginsSee ad pg 17
JANUARY 14
20|30s Kickoff
See ad pg 7
DivorceCare BeginsA group for those walking through the difficulty of
divorce More info irvingbibleorghopeandhealing
JANUARY 15
Mentoring Service Project mdash 9 amFor children (and parents) from single-parent fami-
lies We will be serving the elderly in our community
More info mtribbettirvingbibleorg
JANUARY 17
Marriage at IBC Kickoff See ad pg16
Honduras trip InformationSee ad pg 16
JANUARY 21
Newcomer Gatheringsee ad pg 17
JANUARY 24
Early Childhood Open HouseAll three servicesJoin us for the first 30 minutes of our Sunday
services for Children Experience worship hear the
Bible story and meet leaders More info jbjurlin
irvingbibleorg
Shop TalkMary Flo Ridley will join us to share ldquoHow to Talk
about Sex with your Childrenrdquo More info mcon-
norirvingbibleorg
JANUARY 31
The SummitAnnual Meeting1230 pmJoin us in West A for the Annual Meeting and enjoy
a complimentary lunch Register at irvingbibleorg
annualmeeting
FEBRUARY 6
Valentinersquos Dinner for Single-Parent Families mdash 6ndash9 pmEnjoy dinner dancing horse amp carriage rides
Register at irvingbibleorgsingleparents or withmtribbettirvingbibleorg
FEBRUARY 7
BaptismsTo register visit irvingbibleorgbaptism Mandatory
orientation held January 10 More info doreilly
irvingbibleorg
The Table beginsSee ad pg16
Propel BeginsGet connected at IBC through this four week course
More info at irvingbibleorgpropel
FEBRUARY 14
Child DedicationRegistration opens January 29 at irvingbibleorg
childdedication
Heart Box SundaySee ad pg 9
FEBRUARY 18GriefShare BeginsA caring group of people to walk alongside you
through one of lifersquos most difficult experiences More
info irvingbibleorghopeandhealing
February
by Jodie Niznik
Jesus has set you free Yet many of us donrsquot feel
free We feel bound by guilt and shame mdash certainour mishaps and mistakes discredit us before God
But if Jesus died on the cross for our sins didnrsquothe die for those things too Join us as we dig intoGalatians to discover what it really means to be set
free by Jesus
Date January ndashApril (not meeting March and due to spring break)
Time - am or - pm
Location e Commons IBC
Cost (includes workbook)
For more information and to register visit
irvingbibleorgwomen
KidZone registration is also available Registration
closes on January at noon or earlier if full
SPRING BIBLE STUDY
ONGOING MEALS
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1520
SUNDAYCOMMUNITY MEALS
6 pm mdash Town SquareMeals are $3 per person or $10maxfamily
13 No Meal Happy New Year
110 Beef fajitas chips and salsasalad bar
117 All American burgers andbrats salad bar
124 Giant baked potatoes withall the fixinrsquos salad bar
131 Chicken tenders mashed
potatoes and gravysalad bar
If yoursquod like to serve on a Sundaynight meal team contact PatOrsquoReilly at (214) 289-6176 or sun-daynightmealirvingbibleorg
WEDNESDAYMIDWEEK MEALS
5ndash620 PM
Cost is $3meal or $10 max family PBampJ sandwiches arealso available
16 Lasagna salad dessertHosted by Mike Gwartneyrsquosteam
113 Ham scalloped potatoesdessert Hosted by BobDowneyrsquos team
120 Enchiladas tacos chips andsalsa Hosted by BarbaraWittersquos team
127 Chicken quarters friesdessert Hosted by BobDowneyrsquos team
Changes to the menu may be madedepending on food cost availabilityand Bob Downeyrsquos whim
If yoursquod like to serve on a Wednes-day night meal team please emailbdowneyirvingbibleorg
CUPPA HOURS
MonndashFri 9 amndash8 pm
Saturday 11 amndash5 pm
Sunday 7 amndash7 pm
BIBLE COMMUNITIESGroups on Sunday
Synergy
9 am mdash The AlcoveAll Welcome
The Tree9 am mdash West D20s amp 30s married amp young families
Crossroads1045 am mdash West CCouples amp Families late 20s to 40s
Journey1045 am mdash The AlcoveAll Welcome
On Track1045 am mdash Conference RoomSingle Parents
Thrive1045 am mdash West DSingles in their 30s amp 40s
Renew1045 am mdash Training CenterAll Welcome
Legacy Builders645 pm mdash West A mdash All Welcome
CHILDRENInfants Through 5th Grade
Childrenrsquos Sunday Services9 am 1045 am 5 pm
Elementary MidweekBegins January 6 630ndash830 pmKids connect with friends andexplore Godrsquos word through smallgroups food fun Visit irvingbibleorgelementarymidweek
HOPE amp HEALINGCommunity Care
Abortion Recovery CounselingContact Kym at (972) 560-4632 orkyeichnerirvingbibleorg
GriefShare630 pm mdash West CContact shararringtonverizonnet
Recovery at IBCThursdays 630ndash830 pmWest Wing Youth LoungeA group for hurts habits andhangups irvingbibleorgrecovery
The Living Grace GroupFor those with mental illness ContactHeath at heathmurryyahoocom
Family Grace GroupFor familiescaregivers of those withmental illness Contact Buzz Moodyat myrabuzzgmailcom
NAMI Family-to-Family ClassContact Joey at joeynetbreezeinccomor Debra at eumooreyahoocom
Stephen Ministry at IBCOne-on-one ministry for hurtingpeople Contact stephenministryirvingbibleorg or call (972) 560-4636
Spousal Abuse RecoveryContact kyeichnerirvingbibleorg
MARRIAGEGrowing Together
Marriage at IBCContact marriageirvingbibleorg
Pre-Marriage Mentoring Visit irvingbibleorgmarriage
MENCommunity and Resources
First WatchFridays 622 am mdash The CommonsContact Nat at npughirvingbibleorg
First Watch ReplayTuesdays 630 pmTraining CenterContact brianarrington1yahoocom
First Watch XtraWednesday 630 amTraining CenterContact bcopehuntoilcom
Visit irvingbibleorgmen
MISSIONLocal and Global
Prayer Meeting
2nd and 4th Wednesdays645-8 pm mdash The Chapel
Laundry LoveFirst Saturday of the month9 amndash12 pmContact laundryloveirvingbibleorg
New Friends New LifeServe dinner to women healingfrom sexual exploitation every thirdWednesday Contact Christine atnewfriendsnewlifeirvingbibleorg
SINGLE PARENTCommunity and Resources
Sit with us on Sunday9 am service lowest right-handsection Rows 5 amp 6 facing the stage
Visit irvingbibleorgsingleparents
SPECIAL NEEDS
Community amp Care
Small Group for MomsSundays 9ndash1015 am
In His Image Bible StudySundays 630ndash745 pm
Small Group for ParentsWednesdays 630ndash8 pm
SonShine Pals and RoomCare during Sunday ministry
Contact specialneedsirvingbibleorg
STUDENTSMiddleHigh School and College
Middle School SundaysSundays mdash 1030 amndash1220 pmStudent Ministries area
High School SundaysSundays 645ndash8 pm
Student Ministries areaIBC College MinistrySundays 330 pmThe Commons AnnexContact collegeirvingbibleorg
High School MidweekWednesdaysJoin us for food and communitySee Facebook page for locations
Middle SchoolWednesdays 630 pmJoin us for a time of friendships
and teaching
WOMENCommunity and Resources
Womenrsquos Spring Bible StudyBeginning January 12Tuesdays 930 am or 630 pmThe CommonsJoin us as we study Proverbs Visitirvingbibleorgwomen
2435 KINWESTWednesday Nights at IBC
IBC ChoirWednesdays 7ndash830 pmIBC Worship CenterContact Crystal atcelwellirvingbibleorg
ESL English as a Second LanguageWednesdays 630ndash830 pm
Haven B C D
Citizenship ClassWednesdays 630ndash830 pmIBC Conference Room
IBC Career Transition MinistryWednesdays 630ndash830 pm
Microsoft Computer SkillsWednesdays 630ndash830 pmThe Training Center
Visit 2435kinwestorg
ONGOING MEALS
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1620
The Table is a place where skeptics and Christians alike can
pull up a chair around a table to explore God the Christian
faith and the hard questions of life It is a place where
questions are invited and welcomed and where people can
voice their doubts
Questions Contact jsteinirvingbibleorg
To register visit irvingbibleorgthetable
When am on February ndashMarch
Where The Living Room (formerly the MenrsquosConference Room)
Whether your marriage is sinking coastingalong or going full-throttle every marriageneeds some TLC
Marriage at IBC is a fun 983089983088-week course that focuses on the
big picture of marriage as well as practical application in the
everyday-life struggles of marriage While we cover important
topics like communication and conflict in-laws finances andsex we donrsquot go through a single class without laughing and hav-
ing a great time The class format is a speaker for a weekly topic
followed by small group time
Marriage at IBC Begins January 983089983095 983097 am The Commons
Register at irvingbibleorgmarriage
Already in an IBC small group Any existing IBC small groups are
welcome and able to participate and will receive all of the Marriage
at IBC resources and any level of support they desire
Questions Contact marriageirvingbibleorg
Join Mission at IBC for an informational about
our summer trip to Honduras We are looking
for medical professionals and teachers to work
with IBC partne r Workers Together With
God This will be an intergenerational trip with
IBCrsquos High School ministry
For more info please contact Lauren at
lmouossairvingbibleorg
HONDURASM I S S I O N T R I PInformational MeetingJANUARY 17
1230ndash2 pm in West D
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1720
HOW DO I GIVE HOW DO I GET
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1820
Chatter | 18
The name ldquoJanuaryrdquo comes from theLatin word for door (ianua) sinceJanuary is the door to the year
My Time Talents amp Skills
Facility Department VolunteersDo you enjoy swinging a hammer or helping doinstalls The IBC Facility Department could use yourhelp There are many projects where an extra set of
hands is needed So if you have experience work-ing in building electrical plumbing etc pleasecontact Rod Myers at rmyersirvingbibleorg
Meal Team VolunteersIBC makes meals available both Sunday andWednesday nights These fun teams could usesome additional volunteers to serve together ForSundays contact sundaynightmealirvingbibleorgFor Wednesdays contact bdowneyirvingbibleorg
Medical Professionals NeededOur weekly medical clinic needs professional healthcare providers (MD PA FNP) to provide treatment
for our patients Volunteers serve on a rotatingbasis and do not need to serve every week ContactCharles at cpierce2435clinicorg
Mentor Kids in Single-Parent FamiliesMen and women are needed for gender-specificmentoring of children from single-parent familiesContact Marsha at mtribbettirvingbibleorg
New Friends New LifeServe dinner to women healing from sexual exploita-tion (every third Wednesday) Contact Christine atnewfriendsnewlifeirvingbibleorg
Safety Team
Do you have a desire to serve and protect oth-ers Contact Christopher Watkins at cwatkinsirvingbibleorg Please include any credentials andrelevant experience
Visitor Follow-Up Team(Rex Greenstreet Ministry)We are looking for a volunteer to make calls orsend welcome emails (or both) to new vi sitors fromIBC Training and coaching will be providedContact Sherri at ssharpirvingbibleorg
Volunteer with Senior CareSenior Care at IBC has some needs Villages on
MacArthur needs Bible Study leaders as well asSaturday services leaders MacArthur Hills needsmusicianssingers and leaders for a spiritual serviceAshford Hall needs one-on-one visitors and Biblestudy leaders and gameactivities volunteers Con-tact Mike at Seniorcareirvingbibleorg
My ResourcesOnline Giving OptionIf you would find it more convenient to donate tothe ministries of Irving Bible Church online visitirvingbibleorggive FIND A PLACE TO SERVE
Yoursquove come a long way since that first breath mint Yoursquovebeen busy worshipping learning relating and committing
And itrsquos at this point that you might start looking around
at all the people who help create those events mdash ushers
greeters meal team members table hosts small group
leaders and the like Your next step now is to join them
Consider your passions talents and spiritual gifts and then
ask about a place to serve Visit irvingbibleorgserve
JOIN IN WORSHIPSo you found the address a place to park and a breath
mint on the way in Good work If yoursquore reading this
yoursquove probably already taken the first step mdash attending a
worship service This is the first and most important place
to start so keep coming Become a regular Make sure to
fill out a Newcomer Card Tell us a little about yourself and
let us know how we can engage with you Somebody will
reach out to you this week Visit irvingbibleorgconnect
Wersquore glad you asked Here are the steps to take for
having your questions answered figuring out the IBC story and if yoursquore feeling ready plugging in
CHECK OUT THE NEWCOMER GATHERINGSo yoursquore kicking the IBC tires Good Wersquore so glad yoursquore
here The Newcomer Gathering is a great opportunity to
meet church leadership learn what IBC is all about andconnect with other newbies in a fun relaxed environment
Next Newcomer Gathering January 21
SIGN UP FOR PROPELAll right Yoursquore feeling the IBC vibe and want to see
where you might get involved Propel is a 4-week class that
explores the IBC calling and culture and how your unique
personality and passions fit in Meet many of our pastors and
directors of ministries at IBC Next Propel February 7ndash28
JOIN A COMMUNITY Yoursquore firing on all cylinders but something is missing And
that something is a someone or a group of someones
Enter sermon-based Small Groups Womenrsquos Bible Study
First Watch and more We encourage you to find a group
and connect authentically with others
Visit irvingbibleorgadults
Start
HOW DO I GETCONNECTED AT IBC
FOR MORE INFO VISIT IRVINGBIBLEORGCONNECT OR LOOK
FOR THE NEWCOMER GUIDES AT THE INFORMATION DESK
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1920
Chatter | 19
If you are not seated please sit down If you are seated buckle up If you
are buckled up you may want to stop reading now if yoursquore prone to
carsickness Settled in Okay then The haphazard collection of words
currently assaulting your senses mdash both sight and common mdash is my 983095983091rd
and likely final column for Chatter I know I know Yoursquore probably in the
drive-thru at Chick-fil-A just now remembering that itrsquos Sunday and then this
happens So you are not only left wondering where you can satisfy your Bible-
blessed chicken jones but also from whence yoursquoll be able to scratch your itch
for elliptical sentence structures chock-a-block with obtuse wordification and
the occasional monthly reference to pastiness You need a hug
Sadly the Chatter editorial board enforces a strict no-touching (even emotion-
ally) policy on contributors of dubious complexion (therersquos your final pasty
reference) so wersquoll have to make do with a psychic fist bump But before I leave
you with Tim Hawkins as your lone source of Christian comedy (What do you
mean he already was) Irsquod like to take a few hundred words and ramble semi-
coherently about what the past 983094983097 ldquoIdle Chatterrdquo columns and 983092 ldquoInterview
with a Dead Guyrdquo exposeacutes have taught me If anything Hmmm
First Irsquove learned that itrsquos much easier to keep a position when the job is es-
sentially that of a volunteer Assuming you donrsquot count the few times I had to
slip an Old Navy coupon code to the editor (Julie now of the emeritus variety)
to get her to put down the metaphorical red pen (The literal red pen is the
Track Changes feature in Microsoft Word which I despise even more so than a
patchouli-soaked hippie Also I never could figure out which online emporium
discounts would convince her to let me discuss smiting hippies so wersquoll see if
the new ed lets that previous sentence fly) Anyway I assume my long tenure
was also aided by my ability to meet a deadline no matter how many times I
moved it and my penchant for mentioning my kids who are totes adorbs at
least in print
Irsquove learned that most fellow believers can take a joke In nearly seven years
of poking fun (And is poking ever really fun I think not) at some of the more
absurdist aspects of evangelical life mdash along with giving Moses the Twitter
handle MoHeston mdash I never received one letter email Tweet Snapchat
Vine video Facebook rant or gospel tract-based expression of displeasure
Sure only about three of you actually know who I am And my family attended
church in Frisco but farther north (as in past the Ikea) than most Irvingites
dare to drive Also we moved to Omaha three years ago Nonetheless I appre-
ciate your collective sense of humor andor Juliersquos restraint in forwarding me
complaints from the elders
Irsquod like to tell you I learned many deep life-changing Biblical truths over the
last 983094983095 of a decade but come on I think we can all agree that I either made up
most of my doctrinal claims or have since forgotten the ones that are true due
to my advancing fortysomethingness Which reminds me I never did base a
column on the Book of Lamentations Woe is me
Lastly Irsquove learned that I can spit out 983097983088983088 words on just about anything with-
out saying much of anything of value Case in point duly noted
And now since I still have about 983091983088983088 words to torture Irsquoll take a question Yesyou in the back with the pre-Etsy WWJD bracelet from 983089983097983097983095 My favorite col-
umns Well I could say thatrsquos like trying to choose your favorite child (the dog)
if having 983095983091 kids wouldnrsquot get me investigated by the Guinness World Records
folks (bunch of narcs) Instead Irsquoll go with my two poems Ballad for a High
School Youth Group Hayride (October 983090983088983089983092) and The Graven (October 983090983088983089983093)
my unearthing of Noahrsquos Twitter feed GopherWoodBoy (October 983090983088983088983097) my
ruminations on Pentecost Economy Sizing the Holy Spirit (May 983090983088983089983088) and my
homage to my dad on the occasion of his 983094983093th birthday Cool On the Inside (July
983090983088983089983088) There might be others I actually like more but I donrsquot have the patience
of a Job Billy Duggar to read them all Also you can find most of these at Scribd
comIrvingBibleChurch or JasonFoxnetIdleChatter
So This is the end For now at least Perhaps Irsquo ll pop up or in or over from
time to time to ruminate on weighty matters like why our Christmas tree top-
per looks like Celine Dion But for now I think itrsquos time to try something a little
different After so many attempts at we aving a little truth into the funny
I believe Irsquoll give weaving a little funny into the truth a go (Thatrsquos what I get for
actually studying my beliefs I guess) I doubt Irsquoll become this millenniumrsquos C S
Lewis but perhaps something of eternal value will emerge from it Hopefully
not damnation
But until we meet in the sweet by-and-by on that beautiful shore (look for my
totally boss conversion van customized by St Doober) I will simply thank you
for reading and leave you with one last bit of suspect theological advice Every
argument especially those on the internet can be won with the phrase ldquoWell
thatrsquos what it says in Habakkukrdquo Because it does
Jason Fox will miss you all except that creepy guy who cuts his fingernails
during the sermon and is proud his last column hit 983097983088983088 words exactly
Jason writes from Omaha Nebraska (well he used to) and can be harassed forevermore on
Twitter at jason_fox
ONCE MORE
WITH FEELING
Celine Dion is theyoungest of 14 children
In 2013 alone 200 millionlemons were squeezed to makeChick-fil-Arsquos fresh lemonade
Shhhh Donrsquot poke itNext month in February Chatter will be hibernating Itrsquos winter after all Plus it buys us some timeto come back in March with more Chatterish goodness than ever before Because more of a good
thing ishellipwell gooder than good grammar (Like we said we need some sleep)
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 2020
Chatterhellipyou CAN take it with you Send us
your Chatter photos on location and you may
see yourself in an upcoming issue Email us
at chatterirvingbibleorg
Chatter tags along as the Mechsner family weathers the ridiculouswinds on Mt Wellington in Hobart Tasmania We understand thatseconds after this shot Chatter decided to dispel the widely heldbelief that turkeys canrsquot fly Be free little guy Be free
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 520Chatter | 5
ger for a few minutes the hearty bleats reminded us each time we hit a pothole
What a ride
Wersquove been home for a few days now and each of us has contemplated all wehave to be thankful for mdash peace clean water air conditioning three meals a
day schools hospitals grocery stores our health family friends and paved
roads And wersquore thankful for you IBC family
You enable the Water is Basic crew to go into remote villages and bring life-
saving life-changing clean water to people like Patrubas and his community
The water team navigates treacherous paths rainy seasons petrol shortages
extreme drought and the numerous uncertainties of war They can do this
because you care
From our family to yours thank you for empowering the people of South Su-
dan in the fight for clean water Because dear brothers and sisters they need to
be reminded that we care about them mdash especially those living beyond the road
less traveled
Suzie Robinson now knows the true meaning of ldquogetting someonersquos goatrdquo
Susie encourages you to visit waterisbasicorg to learn more about clean water in South Sudan
Original water source forPatrubas and his family
Water Well Committee 12 members 6 are men and 6 are women (left to right)Chairman Patrubas wife Rejoice Vice Chairman Lino Charity and Alfreda
Dee is presented with a goat the gift fromPatrubas and his family for their new well
The Ayakaka Boma well supports 24households and visitors of the local market
According to Waterorg there aremore people around the world witha mobile phone than with a toilet
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 620
Chatter | 6
Dallas is the hometown of Meat Loaf Vanilla Ice and Barney the Dinosaur
Early Childhood Jill Bjurlin
What a joy it is to watch our youngest IBCers learn about Godrsquos love
and grow in their faith Each week the infants are hearing that
God loves them mdash whether theyrsquore being given a bottle or riding
in a buggy with a caring volunteer The preschoolers are learning through in-
tentionally planned activities creative play story time and a c raft All children
learn in different ways but each child is learning three foundational truths
God loves me God made me and Jesus wants to be my friend forever
Itrsquos our desire to come alongside you as you guide your small child on their
spiritual journey Irsquom excited to share some new ways to connect what your
child is learning at church to what they are hearing at home First of all bewatching for a monthly take home sheet called Parent CUE (and make sure
and purchase the Parent CUE app to go along with it) These tools provide
activities to use throughout your day to reinforce the weekly Bible story and
verse Also do you ever wonder what your child is experiencing while you are
in Big Church You are invited to join your ch ild on January 983090983092 during all three
services to experience the fun Please come worship with us hear the Bible
story and meet the leaders in your childrsquos area Be watching for more details
to follow
It is a privilege to be on the journey with you and Irsquom looking forward to each
child experiencing Godrsquos love this year
Elementary Adrienne Siefers
Our dream for elementary students is for them to discover they can
have a relationship with Jesus C hrist Itrsquos our privilege to come along-
side to help them make this discovery and help them grow in their
faith This coming year we have several new things to help kids on that path
Our first is a challenge of sorts mdash wersquore calling it ldquoRocksrdquo mdash where kids can
earn ldquorocksrdquo each Sunday by exhibiting growth in their faith For example kids
can earn rocks by bringing their Bible using it in small group bringing a friend
to church and many other ways Each service hour will be collectively ldquobuild-
ingrdquo a ldquorock wallrdquo once it reaches a certain height all the kids in that service
will win various prizes and incentives Our hope is that kids will discover they
are able to be proactive in a living breathing faith journey
For the Lenten season we are going to follow what is taught in the adult wor-
ship service on Sundays This will help kids to connect better with the season
and provide some great unity as a church as we all learn about the same pas-
sage June will be an exciting month for elementary kids with VBS and a new
summer camp Sabine Creek Ranch We are excited for this camp because it
will allow relationships to grow even deeper between kids and their Sunday
small group leaders in a traditional camp experience The year 983090983088983089983094 is going to
be exciting in elementary ministry
W ha trsquos Ne x t
i n Ne x t Ge n
There are a lo t o f e xci ting ne w de velopmen ts la tel y
wi th IBCrsquos Ne x t Gen minis tr y in 2016 Wan t the scoop
Here i t is s traigh t from the Blue Bell car ton
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 720
Chatter | 7
Raccoons are consideredyoung adults at one yearof age
Middle SchoolKristina McCartney
IBC Middle School Ministry is where friend-
ships are established the Gospel is taught
and life change holiness and maturity are
fostered I would say this is our ldquomission state-
mentrdquo without offi cially calling it that As a new
pastor on staff Irsquom especially excited about whatrsquos
coming this year In January we will be launc hing
our brand new midweek program called RadiusRadius will exist to provide a midweek time for
students to connect with one another build re-
lationships discuss biblical teaching and have a
place to serve at IBC and the surrounding com-
munity Wersquoll also be continuing with our Life On
Life small groups the lifeline in our Middle School
Ministry mdash where discipleship really takes place
Our new associate Middle Sch ool director Moses
Uvere and I are looking forward to a new year of
life change and growth for our middle schoolers
High SchoolMatt Hamilton
The High School Ministry at IBC has
and still is going through a big change
Previously we were meeting at IBC on
Wednesday nights but now we have moved into
three different homes across our area We call it
The Midweek Table Our ministry was full of high
school students who loved Jesus and were growing
in him but we needed a change to move us into anew place of living our lives on mission The Mid-
week Table has provided the jumpstart we needed
to go out and spread the Gospel This new format
has produced some incredible stories of hope
redemption and curiosity We also serve dinner
and do our best to create an environment that is
stress-free and conducive for chilling
Although we have experienced some change there
is still one key consistency The High School min-
istry at IBC believes strongly in community We
also have incredible adult leaders who love Jesus
and share their lives with high school students
Therefore LifeGroups will remain the ldquobread and
butterrdquo of our high school ministry We meet on
Sunday nights after the 983093 pm service where we
dive into life together mdash the way it should be lived
LifeGroups are where we see the most transfor-
mation in our students If yoursquore looking for a safe
place to grow in Christ come check it out
20|30s Jon Jones
When we look at 983090983088|983091983088s ministry in
983090983088983089983094 there is great hope It feels like
those precious few seconds right be-
fore sunrise when the sky begins to glow and possi-
bility looms large We have spent the last c ouple of
months interviewing IBCers in their 983090983088s and 983091983088s
and crafting a vision of what is to come In Janu-
ary that vision becomes a reality 983090983088|983091983088s ministry
is going to be heavily focused on relational con-nection and experiential theology intellectually
engaging with room for doubt The goal is to equip
983090983088|983091983088s to live sacrificially and bless others just like
Jesus did both in Dallas and throughout the world
This will happen through multiple avenues First
Thursday theology TED talks and discussions
Dinner Clubs Happy Hour Takeovers Service En-
gagements and a Haiti Mission Trip We canrsquot say
it enough the future of 983090983088|983091983088s ministry is bright
in 983090983088983089983094
Itrsquos a new day for young adults at IBC
Come see whatrsquos in store for
JANUARY PM THE COMMONS
s
Check out page 8 for all the need-to-know info for Middle School and HighSchool ministry this winter and spring
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 820
Chatter | 8
HIGH SCHOOL
Life Groups Get involved
If your student hasnrsquot been involved in a Life Group this is the time to start
This is not just another program not just another event Life Groups are
central to your studentrsquos faith journey Our small groups (ldquoLife Groupsrdquo)
are made up of 983096-983089983088 students led by adults who love to pour into students
and guide them as they explore spiritual matters Students get to hang out
make new friends laugh a lot and explore the truths of the Bible We meeteach Sunday in the Student Ministries Area of IBC
Winter Retreat Sign up today
High School Winter Retreat is February 983089983090-983089983092 at Sky Ranch This is a great
getaway for your high schooler a time of rest and relationship-building
(What student doesnrsquot need that) Wersquoll welcome special speaker Kevin
Libick Middle School Pastor at Christ Chapel in Fort Worth
Beach Camp Mark your calendarItrsquos not just summer vacation Itrsquos a time for life transformation This is our
983095th year to go away together to the lovely beaches of Gulf Shores Alabama
and you wonrsquot want your student to miss it Whorsquos invited All current High
School students plus current 983096th graders Dates are July 983089983092ndashJuly 983089983096
Mission Trip Pray
If you and your student feel he or she is ready for a summer mission trip
this year now is the time to pray about which might be the best fit Packets
are due January 983089983088 Trips Albuquerque June 983089983088-983089983094 Honduras (Intergen-erational trip) July 983090983094-Aug 983089
MIDDLE SCHOOL
LOL (Life On Life) Get involved
Middle School Students need community more than anybody it seems
Thatrsquos why we have Life on Life a weekly small group gathering where kids
connect over Scripture and engaging conversation mdash all while having a great
time Life On Life meets weekly on Sundays in the Commons at 983089983088983091983088 am
Radius (Wednesday Nights at IBC) Get excited
At IBC we want to cultivate an atmosphere where students are excited to
bring their friends who may not have a church home Radius is a Wednesday
night experience for IBC middle schoolers and their friends that will include
teaching discussion groups worship and quarterly service projects
Planet Wisdom Mark your calendar
This is a canrsquot-miss conference for 983094th-983089983090th grade students The theme
this year is QUEST Discovering Myself in the Light of Christ IBC middle
school students will be attending the conference here at IBC on Feb 983090983094-983090983095
Beach Camp Make note of change (and get ready)
Middle School is NOT attending Beach Camp this summer This is new
this year Middle Schoolers will be attending Summer Camp closer to home
near Weatherford at Texas Star Ranch and Retreat Dates are June 983090983095ndash
July 983089 Camp will again be led by well-trained high schoolers
Mission Trips Sign up today
Your Middle Schooler wonrsquot want to miss this summerrsquos local mission trips
around DFW and San Antonio These are great opportunities for kids
to discover they can serve the less fortunate in their own backyards San
Antonio June 983094-983089983089 DFW area July 983090983094-983090983097
Students at IBC Cheat Sheet WE GET IT PARENTS You donrsquot have time to curl up on the couch with a good book Sometimes you need a sticky note a
Red Bull and a stopwatch mdash especially if yoursquove got teenagers So get fired up your iCal and settle in This wonrsquot take long You
might just earn an A in SpringSummer 983090983088983089983094
For more info about or to sign up for any of these upcoming events
visit irvingbibleorghighschool
For more info about or to sign up for any of these upcoming events
visit irvingbibleorgmiddleschool
Alabamarsquos coast is home toa massive monarch butterflymigration
Between Mars and Jupiter isa dwarf planet known as Ceresdiscovered in 1801
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 920
Chatter | 9
HEART BOX SUNDAY IS FEBRUARY 14 AT IBCOne of the core values of IBC is loving like Jesus This means tangiblyproviding for the needs of others including our partners For the secondyear in a row we have chosen to show this love around Valentinersquos Day byproviding for our local partners in practical ways
HEART BOXES will only be available in Town Square on Sunday February 983089983092
If you are unable to make the service that day they will be in our donation areafor a few days after
And if you get a chance say a big lsquothank yoursquo to Stacie Dugasrsquo Girl Scouts fordecorating our boxes so beautifully
Questions Contact Tricia at tkinsmanirvingbibleorg
FAMILY PROMISEtowels
THE MAIN PLACE boysmenrsquos
athletic shoes
MERCY STREETcopy paper
LAUNDRY LOVE laundry detergent
SCHOOL WORKSelementary boys
or girls tennisshoes and socks
THE GATEHOUSE womenrsquos and
childrenrsquos socksor slippers
MERCY HOUSEdiapers
NEW FRIENDSNEW LIFE
household cleanersand paper goods
BBMOI CRISISMINISTRIEScanned food
SENIOR CAREmenrsquos or womenrsquos
slippers
Join us by bringing one of the following new items to church onValentinersquos day February 983089983092 and depositing it in the appropriatebox in Town Square
In Victorian times it wasconsidered bad luck to sign a Valentinersquos Day card
According to BBC Science it cantake between 90 seconds and 4minutes to decide if we fancysomeone
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1020
Chatter | 10
IBC partner Debbie Lucien tells of a
boy on the verge of his future
In the summer months of 2001 a five-year-
old boy named Enel Previl was brought by
his family to a local church His parents had
been told that by doing so the boyrsquos photo wouldbe taken and perhaps with the help of some
foreign friends the school could pay its teachers
for the coming year His parents thought this was
a good thing When they later heard that some
people picked their sonrsquos photo for ongoing spon-
sorship they thought ldquoGod has opened a door for
him to go to schoolrdquo
With his brother and two sisters Enel start-
ed preschool walking through sunny andrainy days to begin learning about letters
The first person reputed to have walkedaround the world is George MatthewSchilling (USA) from 1897 to 1904
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1120
Chatter | 11
accept Christ and began discipling him Since
becoming a believer Enel has been active in the
choir and enjoys helping to lead worship at his
local church
While itrsquos taken a long time for him to complete
his studies Enel finally finished secondary
school at College de la Grace after 983089983095 years of
steady investment At the age of 983090983090 he now has
the equivalent of an Associatersquos Degree At the
recent graduation I recognized his name from
one of the first groups of children ever helped
through sponsorship He agreed to pose tall and
proud in his graduation robes with the school
founder (and my husband) Caleb Lucien I asked
Enel if he would stop by and talk to me the next
day about his future dreams and what he would
like to say to his sponsors
The next day a Saturday he greeted me e agerly
and told me he was so grateful for the help hissponsors had given him and his family They had
been faithful for 983089983095 years though hersquos never had
a chance to meet them And the fruit of their
generosity is evident Enel is the first member of
his family ever to finish high school He dreams
of becoming a doctor or an engineer but knows
it will take many years to accomplish such a goal
and he has no means other than his familyrsquos farm
But he is now fluent in two languages Creole and
French and has a firm opening into ldquosocietyrdquo as
we say here in Haiti He now looks me in the eyewhen we talk and speaks clearly about his faith
and his sense of responsibility he feels for the fu-
ture of his family Enel understands what a great
privilege he has received
He told me hersquos now waiting on the Lord to
see what doors will open for the future In the
meantime he would like to help area students
with their studies asking families to pay him
only what they can afford I encouraged him bysharing several stories of how we have seen God
work in the lives of other young people and how
often they have also had to wait for their next
steps to be made clear Finally we talked about
his sponsors Enel knew exactly what he would
say to them ldquoIrsquod like to tell them THANKS Irsquove
never had the chance to meet them but theyrsquove
helped me so muchrdquo I told him Irsquod be sharing his
graduation picture with them and would let them
know how theyrsquove blessed his life
Enel headed off that day back to his small home
where he lives with his mother and some un-
married siblings He walks tall and straight and
proudly knowing the God who took him this far
is able to help him arrive exactly where he needs
to be
Debbie Lucien has now lived longer in Haiti than
any other country shersquos inhabited Haiti 983090983090 years
US 983090983089 years Japan 983092 years Germany 983092 yearsYes she is as old as dirt
Born and raised overseas as the daughter of a military pilot
Debbie thought she knew the world But when she visited Haiti
at the age of 25 she realized that God was a lot bigger than she
thought After being courtedrecruited by Caleb she moved to
Haiti in 1993 and never escaped the adventure Follow her on
twitter at MadameCaleb
numbers and colors Each night upon returning
to his home of mud and sticks he would sleep
close to his five family members after doing
lessons or repeating his schoolwork back to
his parents
School continued with the help of donors who
kept his school open In fact it grew to house over
983093983088983088 students Initially meeting just under sticks
and thatch roof with no walls the students were
excited to see a 983093983088983088 square-foot cement block
building go up after a few years Now when it
was muddy outside the classrooms could still
stay clean Enel progressed slowly but surely
sometimes having to share the school supplies he
received through sponsorship with his b rothers
and sisters
In 983090983088983088983097 Enel was thrilled to be able to start
secondary school His sponsor had continued to
be faithful Enel had to walk a little further but
proudly wore the peach and tan uniform of the
upper division school of College de la Grace The
next year however was very hard for his family
Enelrsquos father who had long suffered with cardio-
vascular problems finally passed away leaving
the family with even fewer resources Enel says
that if it wasnrsquot for the financial help he received
through sponsorship he definitely would have
had to quit school as an 983096th grader But since he
had support his family saw clearly that God
had kept the door open for him to continue
his education
Two years later while discussing life with one
of his classmates and hearing many speakers
at church and school Enel decided to become
a Christian Enelrsquos friend Nesly mdash also a spon-sored student at the school mdash prayed with him to
HOSEAN INTERNATIONAL MINISTRIESIBC Partner HIM is a ministry by Haitians for Haitians HIM began in 983089983097983096983092 by Haitian National
Caleb Lucien with one purpose in mind transform lives by pointing people to Jesus Christ
through education life skills training and e conomic growth If you are interested in sponsoring
the education of a child like Enel visit hoseanorg
Enelrsquos firstsponsorship photo
Enel with Caleb Lucien
at Enelrsquos graduation
According to The World Bank morethan 200000 children in Haiti remainout of school
According to World Vision Haitiis currently the poorest country inthe Western Hemisphere
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1220
Chatter | 12
Small Groups at IBC have always been about cultivating deep
relationships that advance the kingdom of God in dark places
Sounds heroic but most of the time it looks simple mdash like a mug of
something hot a good talk about real things and a place to take off
your shoes Small Groups should always feel like home
Starting this month wersquoll officially start calling Small Groups at
IBC ldquoHome Groupsrdquo Most of our groups meet in homes anyway
and well home is what theyrsquore really all about mdash a place to be real
and a place to belong mdash even as the kingdom advances
Registration for winter Home Groups closes Feb 28 Groups begin
meeting March 20 Register today at irvingbibleorgsmallgroups
Come on in
Motel 6rsquos tagline ldquoWersquollleave the light on for yourdquois 50 years old
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1320
Chatter | 13
Mary Flo RidleyldquoParents we need to find our voicerdquo
Shersquos an internationallyknown speaker a featured
guest on numerous radio programs (including Focuson the Family) and writesregularly for ldquoDallas Child
Magazinerdquo Her topic Talk-ing to kids about sex As inYOU talking to YOUR kidsabout sex Yep Itrsquos a thing
Before IBC welcomes Mary Flo Ridley this month as a featured Shop Talk speaker
(January 983090983092) Chatter want-ed to catch up with her for a quick chat abouthellip wellhellipthe thing thatrsquos just so dang hard to chat ABOUThellip
CHATTER As parents wersquore really apprehensive about talking
openly with our kids about th is topic Whatrsquos at the heart of
that fear
MARY FLO RIDLEY Some parents fear speaking to their chil-
dren about sex because they were never taught by their own
parents They donrsquot know what this should look like or whatto say to a child Other parents are fearful that at some point
in these conversations they will reveal their own brokenness
in this area of their life and they feel vulnerable All parents
need encouragement when it comes to talking to their chil-
dren about sex and we as the church should equip the saints
for this task Pointing our children (and ourselves) to the
beauty of Godrsquos design can be seen as a privilege of parenting
CHATYoursquove been teaching on this topic for a long time Tell
us about what first motivated you to develop this training
MFR When I was growing up I was blessed with wonder-
ful parents but they never talked to me about sex When
Dave and I were new parents we decided we wanted to do
something a little bit differently and it led to the research and
strategy that I teach parents today
CHAT Mary Flo wersquore sure there are a lot of families at IBC
who would benefit from hearing your wisdom but some
might think itrsquos too late Maybe their kids are older or already
have particular knowledge or opinions about sex Would they
still benefit
MFR Itrsquos never too late Our children need and want to hear
our voices on this topic and they will be willing to set aside
some of the things that they have picked up from the culture
in order to listen to their parents They may roll their eyes but
they WANT to know not only the facts of biology but also why
this part of their life matters to God They need your wisdom
and they long to hear your thoughts As parents we need to
find our voice and speak to them
Does Talkingabout sex withyour kids feel
like facinga monsterMary Flo Ridley can help with
the horn fangs and halitosis
Shop Talk How to Talk about Sex with
your Children with Mary Flo Ridley
January 983090983092 983089983088983092983093 am in the West Wing
Weaving humor and personal stories throughout Mary
Flo Ridley helps parents shape the message they want to
convey to their children about sex Mary Flo guides par-
ents through the process of shaping their childrenrsquos sexual
education from an early age and brings helpful wisdom for
how to become the loving authority on all sexual matters
More info at irvingbibleorgparenting
The term ldquovocal cordsrdquo was coined in1741 by the French anatomist AntoineFerrein who compared them to thestrings of a violin Tregraves bien
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1420
Chatter | 14
UPCOMING
January
JANUARY 6
Radius Kickoff Join Middle School at IBC for their Wednesday night
program More info irvingbibleorgmiddleschool
Elementary Midweek Kickoff 630 pmA place for kids to connect with friends explore
Godrsquos word and have fun More info irvingbible
orgchildren
Midweek TableJoin high schoolers at local houses for dinner and
conversation More info irvingbibleorghighschool
JANUARY 9
Writerrsquos Workshop mdash 10 amJoin a community of people honing their writing
skills Contact doreillyirvingbibleorg
JANUARY 11
NAMI Family-to-Family ClassA course to educate familiescaregivers of those
with serious mental illness Contact joeynetbreeze-
inccom or eurmooreyahoocom
MHGA Family Grace GroupSupport group for familycaregivers of those with
serious mental illness More info irvingbibleorg
hopeandhealing
MHGA Living Grace GroupSupport group for those who suffer with mental ill-
ness More info irvingbibleorghopeandhealing
JANUARY 13
FPU BeginsSee ad pg 17
JANUARY 14
20|30s Kickoff
See ad pg 7
DivorceCare BeginsA group for those walking through the difficulty of
divorce More info irvingbibleorghopeandhealing
JANUARY 15
Mentoring Service Project mdash 9 amFor children (and parents) from single-parent fami-
lies We will be serving the elderly in our community
More info mtribbettirvingbibleorg
JANUARY 17
Marriage at IBC Kickoff See ad pg16
Honduras trip InformationSee ad pg 16
JANUARY 21
Newcomer Gatheringsee ad pg 17
JANUARY 24
Early Childhood Open HouseAll three servicesJoin us for the first 30 minutes of our Sunday
services for Children Experience worship hear the
Bible story and meet leaders More info jbjurlin
irvingbibleorg
Shop TalkMary Flo Ridley will join us to share ldquoHow to Talk
about Sex with your Childrenrdquo More info mcon-
norirvingbibleorg
JANUARY 31
The SummitAnnual Meeting1230 pmJoin us in West A for the Annual Meeting and enjoy
a complimentary lunch Register at irvingbibleorg
annualmeeting
FEBRUARY 6
Valentinersquos Dinner for Single-Parent Families mdash 6ndash9 pmEnjoy dinner dancing horse amp carriage rides
Register at irvingbibleorgsingleparents or withmtribbettirvingbibleorg
FEBRUARY 7
BaptismsTo register visit irvingbibleorgbaptism Mandatory
orientation held January 10 More info doreilly
irvingbibleorg
The Table beginsSee ad pg16
Propel BeginsGet connected at IBC through this four week course
More info at irvingbibleorgpropel
FEBRUARY 14
Child DedicationRegistration opens January 29 at irvingbibleorg
childdedication
Heart Box SundaySee ad pg 9
FEBRUARY 18GriefShare BeginsA caring group of people to walk alongside you
through one of lifersquos most difficult experiences More
info irvingbibleorghopeandhealing
February
by Jodie Niznik
Jesus has set you free Yet many of us donrsquot feel
free We feel bound by guilt and shame mdash certainour mishaps and mistakes discredit us before God
But if Jesus died on the cross for our sins didnrsquothe die for those things too Join us as we dig intoGalatians to discover what it really means to be set
free by Jesus
Date January ndashApril (not meeting March and due to spring break)
Time - am or - pm
Location e Commons IBC
Cost (includes workbook)
For more information and to register visit
irvingbibleorgwomen
KidZone registration is also available Registration
closes on January at noon or earlier if full
SPRING BIBLE STUDY
ONGOING MEALS
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1520
SUNDAYCOMMUNITY MEALS
6 pm mdash Town SquareMeals are $3 per person or $10maxfamily
13 No Meal Happy New Year
110 Beef fajitas chips and salsasalad bar
117 All American burgers andbrats salad bar
124 Giant baked potatoes withall the fixinrsquos salad bar
131 Chicken tenders mashed
potatoes and gravysalad bar
If yoursquod like to serve on a Sundaynight meal team contact PatOrsquoReilly at (214) 289-6176 or sun-daynightmealirvingbibleorg
WEDNESDAYMIDWEEK MEALS
5ndash620 PM
Cost is $3meal or $10 max family PBampJ sandwiches arealso available
16 Lasagna salad dessertHosted by Mike Gwartneyrsquosteam
113 Ham scalloped potatoesdessert Hosted by BobDowneyrsquos team
120 Enchiladas tacos chips andsalsa Hosted by BarbaraWittersquos team
127 Chicken quarters friesdessert Hosted by BobDowneyrsquos team
Changes to the menu may be madedepending on food cost availabilityand Bob Downeyrsquos whim
If yoursquod like to serve on a Wednes-day night meal team please emailbdowneyirvingbibleorg
CUPPA HOURS
MonndashFri 9 amndash8 pm
Saturday 11 amndash5 pm
Sunday 7 amndash7 pm
BIBLE COMMUNITIESGroups on Sunday
Synergy
9 am mdash The AlcoveAll Welcome
The Tree9 am mdash West D20s amp 30s married amp young families
Crossroads1045 am mdash West CCouples amp Families late 20s to 40s
Journey1045 am mdash The AlcoveAll Welcome
On Track1045 am mdash Conference RoomSingle Parents
Thrive1045 am mdash West DSingles in their 30s amp 40s
Renew1045 am mdash Training CenterAll Welcome
Legacy Builders645 pm mdash West A mdash All Welcome
CHILDRENInfants Through 5th Grade
Childrenrsquos Sunday Services9 am 1045 am 5 pm
Elementary MidweekBegins January 6 630ndash830 pmKids connect with friends andexplore Godrsquos word through smallgroups food fun Visit irvingbibleorgelementarymidweek
HOPE amp HEALINGCommunity Care
Abortion Recovery CounselingContact Kym at (972) 560-4632 orkyeichnerirvingbibleorg
GriefShare630 pm mdash West CContact shararringtonverizonnet
Recovery at IBCThursdays 630ndash830 pmWest Wing Youth LoungeA group for hurts habits andhangups irvingbibleorgrecovery
The Living Grace GroupFor those with mental illness ContactHeath at heathmurryyahoocom
Family Grace GroupFor familiescaregivers of those withmental illness Contact Buzz Moodyat myrabuzzgmailcom
NAMI Family-to-Family ClassContact Joey at joeynetbreezeinccomor Debra at eumooreyahoocom
Stephen Ministry at IBCOne-on-one ministry for hurtingpeople Contact stephenministryirvingbibleorg or call (972) 560-4636
Spousal Abuse RecoveryContact kyeichnerirvingbibleorg
MARRIAGEGrowing Together
Marriage at IBCContact marriageirvingbibleorg
Pre-Marriage Mentoring Visit irvingbibleorgmarriage
MENCommunity and Resources
First WatchFridays 622 am mdash The CommonsContact Nat at npughirvingbibleorg
First Watch ReplayTuesdays 630 pmTraining CenterContact brianarrington1yahoocom
First Watch XtraWednesday 630 amTraining CenterContact bcopehuntoilcom
Visit irvingbibleorgmen
MISSIONLocal and Global
Prayer Meeting
2nd and 4th Wednesdays645-8 pm mdash The Chapel
Laundry LoveFirst Saturday of the month9 amndash12 pmContact laundryloveirvingbibleorg
New Friends New LifeServe dinner to women healingfrom sexual exploitation every thirdWednesday Contact Christine atnewfriendsnewlifeirvingbibleorg
SINGLE PARENTCommunity and Resources
Sit with us on Sunday9 am service lowest right-handsection Rows 5 amp 6 facing the stage
Visit irvingbibleorgsingleparents
SPECIAL NEEDS
Community amp Care
Small Group for MomsSundays 9ndash1015 am
In His Image Bible StudySundays 630ndash745 pm
Small Group for ParentsWednesdays 630ndash8 pm
SonShine Pals and RoomCare during Sunday ministry
Contact specialneedsirvingbibleorg
STUDENTSMiddleHigh School and College
Middle School SundaysSundays mdash 1030 amndash1220 pmStudent Ministries area
High School SundaysSundays 645ndash8 pm
Student Ministries areaIBC College MinistrySundays 330 pmThe Commons AnnexContact collegeirvingbibleorg
High School MidweekWednesdaysJoin us for food and communitySee Facebook page for locations
Middle SchoolWednesdays 630 pmJoin us for a time of friendships
and teaching
WOMENCommunity and Resources
Womenrsquos Spring Bible StudyBeginning January 12Tuesdays 930 am or 630 pmThe CommonsJoin us as we study Proverbs Visitirvingbibleorgwomen
2435 KINWESTWednesday Nights at IBC
IBC ChoirWednesdays 7ndash830 pmIBC Worship CenterContact Crystal atcelwellirvingbibleorg
ESL English as a Second LanguageWednesdays 630ndash830 pm
Haven B C D
Citizenship ClassWednesdays 630ndash830 pmIBC Conference Room
IBC Career Transition MinistryWednesdays 630ndash830 pm
Microsoft Computer SkillsWednesdays 630ndash830 pmThe Training Center
Visit 2435kinwestorg
ONGOING MEALS
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1620
The Table is a place where skeptics and Christians alike can
pull up a chair around a table to explore God the Christian
faith and the hard questions of life It is a place where
questions are invited and welcomed and where people can
voice their doubts
Questions Contact jsteinirvingbibleorg
To register visit irvingbibleorgthetable
When am on February ndashMarch
Where The Living Room (formerly the MenrsquosConference Room)
Whether your marriage is sinking coastingalong or going full-throttle every marriageneeds some TLC
Marriage at IBC is a fun 983089983088-week course that focuses on the
big picture of marriage as well as practical application in the
everyday-life struggles of marriage While we cover important
topics like communication and conflict in-laws finances andsex we donrsquot go through a single class without laughing and hav-
ing a great time The class format is a speaker for a weekly topic
followed by small group time
Marriage at IBC Begins January 983089983095 983097 am The Commons
Register at irvingbibleorgmarriage
Already in an IBC small group Any existing IBC small groups are
welcome and able to participate and will receive all of the Marriage
at IBC resources and any level of support they desire
Questions Contact marriageirvingbibleorg
Join Mission at IBC for an informational about
our summer trip to Honduras We are looking
for medical professionals and teachers to work
with IBC partne r Workers Together With
God This will be an intergenerational trip with
IBCrsquos High School ministry
For more info please contact Lauren at
lmouossairvingbibleorg
HONDURASM I S S I O N T R I PInformational MeetingJANUARY 17
1230ndash2 pm in West D
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1720
HOW DO I GIVE HOW DO I GET
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1820
Chatter | 18
The name ldquoJanuaryrdquo comes from theLatin word for door (ianua) sinceJanuary is the door to the year
My Time Talents amp Skills
Facility Department VolunteersDo you enjoy swinging a hammer or helping doinstalls The IBC Facility Department could use yourhelp There are many projects where an extra set of
hands is needed So if you have experience work-ing in building electrical plumbing etc pleasecontact Rod Myers at rmyersirvingbibleorg
Meal Team VolunteersIBC makes meals available both Sunday andWednesday nights These fun teams could usesome additional volunteers to serve together ForSundays contact sundaynightmealirvingbibleorgFor Wednesdays contact bdowneyirvingbibleorg
Medical Professionals NeededOur weekly medical clinic needs professional healthcare providers (MD PA FNP) to provide treatment
for our patients Volunteers serve on a rotatingbasis and do not need to serve every week ContactCharles at cpierce2435clinicorg
Mentor Kids in Single-Parent FamiliesMen and women are needed for gender-specificmentoring of children from single-parent familiesContact Marsha at mtribbettirvingbibleorg
New Friends New LifeServe dinner to women healing from sexual exploita-tion (every third Wednesday) Contact Christine atnewfriendsnewlifeirvingbibleorg
Safety Team
Do you have a desire to serve and protect oth-ers Contact Christopher Watkins at cwatkinsirvingbibleorg Please include any credentials andrelevant experience
Visitor Follow-Up Team(Rex Greenstreet Ministry)We are looking for a volunteer to make calls orsend welcome emails (or both) to new vi sitors fromIBC Training and coaching will be providedContact Sherri at ssharpirvingbibleorg
Volunteer with Senior CareSenior Care at IBC has some needs Villages on
MacArthur needs Bible Study leaders as well asSaturday services leaders MacArthur Hills needsmusicianssingers and leaders for a spiritual serviceAshford Hall needs one-on-one visitors and Biblestudy leaders and gameactivities volunteers Con-tact Mike at Seniorcareirvingbibleorg
My ResourcesOnline Giving OptionIf you would find it more convenient to donate tothe ministries of Irving Bible Church online visitirvingbibleorggive FIND A PLACE TO SERVE
Yoursquove come a long way since that first breath mint Yoursquovebeen busy worshipping learning relating and committing
And itrsquos at this point that you might start looking around
at all the people who help create those events mdash ushers
greeters meal team members table hosts small group
leaders and the like Your next step now is to join them
Consider your passions talents and spiritual gifts and then
ask about a place to serve Visit irvingbibleorgserve
JOIN IN WORSHIPSo you found the address a place to park and a breath
mint on the way in Good work If yoursquore reading this
yoursquove probably already taken the first step mdash attending a
worship service This is the first and most important place
to start so keep coming Become a regular Make sure to
fill out a Newcomer Card Tell us a little about yourself and
let us know how we can engage with you Somebody will
reach out to you this week Visit irvingbibleorgconnect
Wersquore glad you asked Here are the steps to take for
having your questions answered figuring out the IBC story and if yoursquore feeling ready plugging in
CHECK OUT THE NEWCOMER GATHERINGSo yoursquore kicking the IBC tires Good Wersquore so glad yoursquore
here The Newcomer Gathering is a great opportunity to
meet church leadership learn what IBC is all about andconnect with other newbies in a fun relaxed environment
Next Newcomer Gathering January 21
SIGN UP FOR PROPELAll right Yoursquore feeling the IBC vibe and want to see
where you might get involved Propel is a 4-week class that
explores the IBC calling and culture and how your unique
personality and passions fit in Meet many of our pastors and
directors of ministries at IBC Next Propel February 7ndash28
JOIN A COMMUNITY Yoursquore firing on all cylinders but something is missing And
that something is a someone or a group of someones
Enter sermon-based Small Groups Womenrsquos Bible Study
First Watch and more We encourage you to find a group
and connect authentically with others
Visit irvingbibleorgadults
Start
HOW DO I GETCONNECTED AT IBC
FOR MORE INFO VISIT IRVINGBIBLEORGCONNECT OR LOOK
FOR THE NEWCOMER GUIDES AT THE INFORMATION DESK
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1920
Chatter | 19
If you are not seated please sit down If you are seated buckle up If you
are buckled up you may want to stop reading now if yoursquore prone to
carsickness Settled in Okay then The haphazard collection of words
currently assaulting your senses mdash both sight and common mdash is my 983095983091rd
and likely final column for Chatter I know I know Yoursquore probably in the
drive-thru at Chick-fil-A just now remembering that itrsquos Sunday and then this
happens So you are not only left wondering where you can satisfy your Bible-
blessed chicken jones but also from whence yoursquoll be able to scratch your itch
for elliptical sentence structures chock-a-block with obtuse wordification and
the occasional monthly reference to pastiness You need a hug
Sadly the Chatter editorial board enforces a strict no-touching (even emotion-
ally) policy on contributors of dubious complexion (therersquos your final pasty
reference) so wersquoll have to make do with a psychic fist bump But before I leave
you with Tim Hawkins as your lone source of Christian comedy (What do you
mean he already was) Irsquod like to take a few hundred words and ramble semi-
coherently about what the past 983094983097 ldquoIdle Chatterrdquo columns and 983092 ldquoInterview
with a Dead Guyrdquo exposeacutes have taught me If anything Hmmm
First Irsquove learned that itrsquos much easier to keep a position when the job is es-
sentially that of a volunteer Assuming you donrsquot count the few times I had to
slip an Old Navy coupon code to the editor (Julie now of the emeritus variety)
to get her to put down the metaphorical red pen (The literal red pen is the
Track Changes feature in Microsoft Word which I despise even more so than a
patchouli-soaked hippie Also I never could figure out which online emporium
discounts would convince her to let me discuss smiting hippies so wersquoll see if
the new ed lets that previous sentence fly) Anyway I assume my long tenure
was also aided by my ability to meet a deadline no matter how many times I
moved it and my penchant for mentioning my kids who are totes adorbs at
least in print
Irsquove learned that most fellow believers can take a joke In nearly seven years
of poking fun (And is poking ever really fun I think not) at some of the more
absurdist aspects of evangelical life mdash along with giving Moses the Twitter
handle MoHeston mdash I never received one letter email Tweet Snapchat
Vine video Facebook rant or gospel tract-based expression of displeasure
Sure only about three of you actually know who I am And my family attended
church in Frisco but farther north (as in past the Ikea) than most Irvingites
dare to drive Also we moved to Omaha three years ago Nonetheless I appre-
ciate your collective sense of humor andor Juliersquos restraint in forwarding me
complaints from the elders
Irsquod like to tell you I learned many deep life-changing Biblical truths over the
last 983094983095 of a decade but come on I think we can all agree that I either made up
most of my doctrinal claims or have since forgotten the ones that are true due
to my advancing fortysomethingness Which reminds me I never did base a
column on the Book of Lamentations Woe is me
Lastly Irsquove learned that I can spit out 983097983088983088 words on just about anything with-
out saying much of anything of value Case in point duly noted
And now since I still have about 983091983088983088 words to torture Irsquoll take a question Yesyou in the back with the pre-Etsy WWJD bracelet from 983089983097983097983095 My favorite col-
umns Well I could say thatrsquos like trying to choose your favorite child (the dog)
if having 983095983091 kids wouldnrsquot get me investigated by the Guinness World Records
folks (bunch of narcs) Instead Irsquoll go with my two poems Ballad for a High
School Youth Group Hayride (October 983090983088983089983092) and The Graven (October 983090983088983089983093)
my unearthing of Noahrsquos Twitter feed GopherWoodBoy (October 983090983088983088983097) my
ruminations on Pentecost Economy Sizing the Holy Spirit (May 983090983088983089983088) and my
homage to my dad on the occasion of his 983094983093th birthday Cool On the Inside (July
983090983088983089983088) There might be others I actually like more but I donrsquot have the patience
of a Job Billy Duggar to read them all Also you can find most of these at Scribd
comIrvingBibleChurch or JasonFoxnetIdleChatter
So This is the end For now at least Perhaps Irsquo ll pop up or in or over from
time to time to ruminate on weighty matters like why our Christmas tree top-
per looks like Celine Dion But for now I think itrsquos time to try something a little
different After so many attempts at we aving a little truth into the funny
I believe Irsquoll give weaving a little funny into the truth a go (Thatrsquos what I get for
actually studying my beliefs I guess) I doubt Irsquoll become this millenniumrsquos C S
Lewis but perhaps something of eternal value will emerge from it Hopefully
not damnation
But until we meet in the sweet by-and-by on that beautiful shore (look for my
totally boss conversion van customized by St Doober) I will simply thank you
for reading and leave you with one last bit of suspect theological advice Every
argument especially those on the internet can be won with the phrase ldquoWell
thatrsquos what it says in Habakkukrdquo Because it does
Jason Fox will miss you all except that creepy guy who cuts his fingernails
during the sermon and is proud his last column hit 983097983088983088 words exactly
Jason writes from Omaha Nebraska (well he used to) and can be harassed forevermore on
Twitter at jason_fox
ONCE MORE
WITH FEELING
Celine Dion is theyoungest of 14 children
In 2013 alone 200 millionlemons were squeezed to makeChick-fil-Arsquos fresh lemonade
Shhhh Donrsquot poke itNext month in February Chatter will be hibernating Itrsquos winter after all Plus it buys us some timeto come back in March with more Chatterish goodness than ever before Because more of a good
thing ishellipwell gooder than good grammar (Like we said we need some sleep)
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 2020
Chatterhellipyou CAN take it with you Send us
your Chatter photos on location and you may
see yourself in an upcoming issue Email us
at chatterirvingbibleorg
Chatter tags along as the Mechsner family weathers the ridiculouswinds on Mt Wellington in Hobart Tasmania We understand thatseconds after this shot Chatter decided to dispel the widely heldbelief that turkeys canrsquot fly Be free little guy Be free
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 620
Chatter | 6
Dallas is the hometown of Meat Loaf Vanilla Ice and Barney the Dinosaur
Early Childhood Jill Bjurlin
What a joy it is to watch our youngest IBCers learn about Godrsquos love
and grow in their faith Each week the infants are hearing that
God loves them mdash whether theyrsquore being given a bottle or riding
in a buggy with a caring volunteer The preschoolers are learning through in-
tentionally planned activities creative play story time and a c raft All children
learn in different ways but each child is learning three foundational truths
God loves me God made me and Jesus wants to be my friend forever
Itrsquos our desire to come alongside you as you guide your small child on their
spiritual journey Irsquom excited to share some new ways to connect what your
child is learning at church to what they are hearing at home First of all bewatching for a monthly take home sheet called Parent CUE (and make sure
and purchase the Parent CUE app to go along with it) These tools provide
activities to use throughout your day to reinforce the weekly Bible story and
verse Also do you ever wonder what your child is experiencing while you are
in Big Church You are invited to join your ch ild on January 983090983092 during all three
services to experience the fun Please come worship with us hear the Bible
story and meet the leaders in your childrsquos area Be watching for more details
to follow
It is a privilege to be on the journey with you and Irsquom looking forward to each
child experiencing Godrsquos love this year
Elementary Adrienne Siefers
Our dream for elementary students is for them to discover they can
have a relationship with Jesus C hrist Itrsquos our privilege to come along-
side to help them make this discovery and help them grow in their
faith This coming year we have several new things to help kids on that path
Our first is a challenge of sorts mdash wersquore calling it ldquoRocksrdquo mdash where kids can
earn ldquorocksrdquo each Sunday by exhibiting growth in their faith For example kids
can earn rocks by bringing their Bible using it in small group bringing a friend
to church and many other ways Each service hour will be collectively ldquobuild-
ingrdquo a ldquorock wallrdquo once it reaches a certain height all the kids in that service
will win various prizes and incentives Our hope is that kids will discover they
are able to be proactive in a living breathing faith journey
For the Lenten season we are going to follow what is taught in the adult wor-
ship service on Sundays This will help kids to connect better with the season
and provide some great unity as a church as we all learn about the same pas-
sage June will be an exciting month for elementary kids with VBS and a new
summer camp Sabine Creek Ranch We are excited for this camp because it
will allow relationships to grow even deeper between kids and their Sunday
small group leaders in a traditional camp experience The year 983090983088983089983094 is going to
be exciting in elementary ministry
W ha trsquos Ne x t
i n Ne x t Ge n
There are a lo t o f e xci ting ne w de velopmen ts la tel y
wi th IBCrsquos Ne x t Gen minis tr y in 2016 Wan t the scoop
Here i t is s traigh t from the Blue Bell car ton
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 720
Chatter | 7
Raccoons are consideredyoung adults at one yearof age
Middle SchoolKristina McCartney
IBC Middle School Ministry is where friend-
ships are established the Gospel is taught
and life change holiness and maturity are
fostered I would say this is our ldquomission state-
mentrdquo without offi cially calling it that As a new
pastor on staff Irsquom especially excited about whatrsquos
coming this year In January we will be launc hing
our brand new midweek program called RadiusRadius will exist to provide a midweek time for
students to connect with one another build re-
lationships discuss biblical teaching and have a
place to serve at IBC and the surrounding com-
munity Wersquoll also be continuing with our Life On
Life small groups the lifeline in our Middle School
Ministry mdash where discipleship really takes place
Our new associate Middle Sch ool director Moses
Uvere and I are looking forward to a new year of
life change and growth for our middle schoolers
High SchoolMatt Hamilton
The High School Ministry at IBC has
and still is going through a big change
Previously we were meeting at IBC on
Wednesday nights but now we have moved into
three different homes across our area We call it
The Midweek Table Our ministry was full of high
school students who loved Jesus and were growing
in him but we needed a change to move us into anew place of living our lives on mission The Mid-
week Table has provided the jumpstart we needed
to go out and spread the Gospel This new format
has produced some incredible stories of hope
redemption and curiosity We also serve dinner
and do our best to create an environment that is
stress-free and conducive for chilling
Although we have experienced some change there
is still one key consistency The High School min-
istry at IBC believes strongly in community We
also have incredible adult leaders who love Jesus
and share their lives with high school students
Therefore LifeGroups will remain the ldquobread and
butterrdquo of our high school ministry We meet on
Sunday nights after the 983093 pm service where we
dive into life together mdash the way it should be lived
LifeGroups are where we see the most transfor-
mation in our students If yoursquore looking for a safe
place to grow in Christ come check it out
20|30s Jon Jones
When we look at 983090983088|983091983088s ministry in
983090983088983089983094 there is great hope It feels like
those precious few seconds right be-
fore sunrise when the sky begins to glow and possi-
bility looms large We have spent the last c ouple of
months interviewing IBCers in their 983090983088s and 983091983088s
and crafting a vision of what is to come In Janu-
ary that vision becomes a reality 983090983088|983091983088s ministry
is going to be heavily focused on relational con-nection and experiential theology intellectually
engaging with room for doubt The goal is to equip
983090983088|983091983088s to live sacrificially and bless others just like
Jesus did both in Dallas and throughout the world
This will happen through multiple avenues First
Thursday theology TED talks and discussions
Dinner Clubs Happy Hour Takeovers Service En-
gagements and a Haiti Mission Trip We canrsquot say
it enough the future of 983090983088|983091983088s ministry is bright
in 983090983088983089983094
Itrsquos a new day for young adults at IBC
Come see whatrsquos in store for
JANUARY PM THE COMMONS
s
Check out page 8 for all the need-to-know info for Middle School and HighSchool ministry this winter and spring
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 820
Chatter | 8
HIGH SCHOOL
Life Groups Get involved
If your student hasnrsquot been involved in a Life Group this is the time to start
This is not just another program not just another event Life Groups are
central to your studentrsquos faith journey Our small groups (ldquoLife Groupsrdquo)
are made up of 983096-983089983088 students led by adults who love to pour into students
and guide them as they explore spiritual matters Students get to hang out
make new friends laugh a lot and explore the truths of the Bible We meeteach Sunday in the Student Ministries Area of IBC
Winter Retreat Sign up today
High School Winter Retreat is February 983089983090-983089983092 at Sky Ranch This is a great
getaway for your high schooler a time of rest and relationship-building
(What student doesnrsquot need that) Wersquoll welcome special speaker Kevin
Libick Middle School Pastor at Christ Chapel in Fort Worth
Beach Camp Mark your calendarItrsquos not just summer vacation Itrsquos a time for life transformation This is our
983095th year to go away together to the lovely beaches of Gulf Shores Alabama
and you wonrsquot want your student to miss it Whorsquos invited All current High
School students plus current 983096th graders Dates are July 983089983092ndashJuly 983089983096
Mission Trip Pray
If you and your student feel he or she is ready for a summer mission trip
this year now is the time to pray about which might be the best fit Packets
are due January 983089983088 Trips Albuquerque June 983089983088-983089983094 Honduras (Intergen-erational trip) July 983090983094-Aug 983089
MIDDLE SCHOOL
LOL (Life On Life) Get involved
Middle School Students need community more than anybody it seems
Thatrsquos why we have Life on Life a weekly small group gathering where kids
connect over Scripture and engaging conversation mdash all while having a great
time Life On Life meets weekly on Sundays in the Commons at 983089983088983091983088 am
Radius (Wednesday Nights at IBC) Get excited
At IBC we want to cultivate an atmosphere where students are excited to
bring their friends who may not have a church home Radius is a Wednesday
night experience for IBC middle schoolers and their friends that will include
teaching discussion groups worship and quarterly service projects
Planet Wisdom Mark your calendar
This is a canrsquot-miss conference for 983094th-983089983090th grade students The theme
this year is QUEST Discovering Myself in the Light of Christ IBC middle
school students will be attending the conference here at IBC on Feb 983090983094-983090983095
Beach Camp Make note of change (and get ready)
Middle School is NOT attending Beach Camp this summer This is new
this year Middle Schoolers will be attending Summer Camp closer to home
near Weatherford at Texas Star Ranch and Retreat Dates are June 983090983095ndash
July 983089 Camp will again be led by well-trained high schoolers
Mission Trips Sign up today
Your Middle Schooler wonrsquot want to miss this summerrsquos local mission trips
around DFW and San Antonio These are great opportunities for kids
to discover they can serve the less fortunate in their own backyards San
Antonio June 983094-983089983089 DFW area July 983090983094-983090983097
Students at IBC Cheat Sheet WE GET IT PARENTS You donrsquot have time to curl up on the couch with a good book Sometimes you need a sticky note a
Red Bull and a stopwatch mdash especially if yoursquove got teenagers So get fired up your iCal and settle in This wonrsquot take long You
might just earn an A in SpringSummer 983090983088983089983094
For more info about or to sign up for any of these upcoming events
visit irvingbibleorghighschool
For more info about or to sign up for any of these upcoming events
visit irvingbibleorgmiddleschool
Alabamarsquos coast is home toa massive monarch butterflymigration
Between Mars and Jupiter isa dwarf planet known as Ceresdiscovered in 1801
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 920
Chatter | 9
HEART BOX SUNDAY IS FEBRUARY 14 AT IBCOne of the core values of IBC is loving like Jesus This means tangiblyproviding for the needs of others including our partners For the secondyear in a row we have chosen to show this love around Valentinersquos Day byproviding for our local partners in practical ways
HEART BOXES will only be available in Town Square on Sunday February 983089983092
If you are unable to make the service that day they will be in our donation areafor a few days after
And if you get a chance say a big lsquothank yoursquo to Stacie Dugasrsquo Girl Scouts fordecorating our boxes so beautifully
Questions Contact Tricia at tkinsmanirvingbibleorg
FAMILY PROMISEtowels
THE MAIN PLACE boysmenrsquos
athletic shoes
MERCY STREETcopy paper
LAUNDRY LOVE laundry detergent
SCHOOL WORKSelementary boys
or girls tennisshoes and socks
THE GATEHOUSE womenrsquos and
childrenrsquos socksor slippers
MERCY HOUSEdiapers
NEW FRIENDSNEW LIFE
household cleanersand paper goods
BBMOI CRISISMINISTRIEScanned food
SENIOR CAREmenrsquos or womenrsquos
slippers
Join us by bringing one of the following new items to church onValentinersquos day February 983089983092 and depositing it in the appropriatebox in Town Square
In Victorian times it wasconsidered bad luck to sign a Valentinersquos Day card
According to BBC Science it cantake between 90 seconds and 4minutes to decide if we fancysomeone
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1020
Chatter | 10
IBC partner Debbie Lucien tells of a
boy on the verge of his future
In the summer months of 2001 a five-year-
old boy named Enel Previl was brought by
his family to a local church His parents had
been told that by doing so the boyrsquos photo wouldbe taken and perhaps with the help of some
foreign friends the school could pay its teachers
for the coming year His parents thought this was
a good thing When they later heard that some
people picked their sonrsquos photo for ongoing spon-
sorship they thought ldquoGod has opened a door for
him to go to schoolrdquo
With his brother and two sisters Enel start-
ed preschool walking through sunny andrainy days to begin learning about letters
The first person reputed to have walkedaround the world is George MatthewSchilling (USA) from 1897 to 1904
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1120
Chatter | 11
accept Christ and began discipling him Since
becoming a believer Enel has been active in the
choir and enjoys helping to lead worship at his
local church
While itrsquos taken a long time for him to complete
his studies Enel finally finished secondary
school at College de la Grace after 983089983095 years of
steady investment At the age of 983090983090 he now has
the equivalent of an Associatersquos Degree At the
recent graduation I recognized his name from
one of the first groups of children ever helped
through sponsorship He agreed to pose tall and
proud in his graduation robes with the school
founder (and my husband) Caleb Lucien I asked
Enel if he would stop by and talk to me the next
day about his future dreams and what he would
like to say to his sponsors
The next day a Saturday he greeted me e agerly
and told me he was so grateful for the help hissponsors had given him and his family They had
been faithful for 983089983095 years though hersquos never had
a chance to meet them And the fruit of their
generosity is evident Enel is the first member of
his family ever to finish high school He dreams
of becoming a doctor or an engineer but knows
it will take many years to accomplish such a goal
and he has no means other than his familyrsquos farm
But he is now fluent in two languages Creole and
French and has a firm opening into ldquosocietyrdquo as
we say here in Haiti He now looks me in the eyewhen we talk and speaks clearly about his faith
and his sense of responsibility he feels for the fu-
ture of his family Enel understands what a great
privilege he has received
He told me hersquos now waiting on the Lord to
see what doors will open for the future In the
meantime he would like to help area students
with their studies asking families to pay him
only what they can afford I encouraged him bysharing several stories of how we have seen God
work in the lives of other young people and how
often they have also had to wait for their next
steps to be made clear Finally we talked about
his sponsors Enel knew exactly what he would
say to them ldquoIrsquod like to tell them THANKS Irsquove
never had the chance to meet them but theyrsquove
helped me so muchrdquo I told him Irsquod be sharing his
graduation picture with them and would let them
know how theyrsquove blessed his life
Enel headed off that day back to his small home
where he lives with his mother and some un-
married siblings He walks tall and straight and
proudly knowing the God who took him this far
is able to help him arrive exactly where he needs
to be
Debbie Lucien has now lived longer in Haiti than
any other country shersquos inhabited Haiti 983090983090 years
US 983090983089 years Japan 983092 years Germany 983092 yearsYes she is as old as dirt
Born and raised overseas as the daughter of a military pilot
Debbie thought she knew the world But when she visited Haiti
at the age of 25 she realized that God was a lot bigger than she
thought After being courtedrecruited by Caleb she moved to
Haiti in 1993 and never escaped the adventure Follow her on
twitter at MadameCaleb
numbers and colors Each night upon returning
to his home of mud and sticks he would sleep
close to his five family members after doing
lessons or repeating his schoolwork back to
his parents
School continued with the help of donors who
kept his school open In fact it grew to house over
983093983088983088 students Initially meeting just under sticks
and thatch roof with no walls the students were
excited to see a 983093983088983088 square-foot cement block
building go up after a few years Now when it
was muddy outside the classrooms could still
stay clean Enel progressed slowly but surely
sometimes having to share the school supplies he
received through sponsorship with his b rothers
and sisters
In 983090983088983088983097 Enel was thrilled to be able to start
secondary school His sponsor had continued to
be faithful Enel had to walk a little further but
proudly wore the peach and tan uniform of the
upper division school of College de la Grace The
next year however was very hard for his family
Enelrsquos father who had long suffered with cardio-
vascular problems finally passed away leaving
the family with even fewer resources Enel says
that if it wasnrsquot for the financial help he received
through sponsorship he definitely would have
had to quit school as an 983096th grader But since he
had support his family saw clearly that God
had kept the door open for him to continue
his education
Two years later while discussing life with one
of his classmates and hearing many speakers
at church and school Enel decided to become
a Christian Enelrsquos friend Nesly mdash also a spon-sored student at the school mdash prayed with him to
HOSEAN INTERNATIONAL MINISTRIESIBC Partner HIM is a ministry by Haitians for Haitians HIM began in 983089983097983096983092 by Haitian National
Caleb Lucien with one purpose in mind transform lives by pointing people to Jesus Christ
through education life skills training and e conomic growth If you are interested in sponsoring
the education of a child like Enel visit hoseanorg
Enelrsquos firstsponsorship photo
Enel with Caleb Lucien
at Enelrsquos graduation
According to The World Bank morethan 200000 children in Haiti remainout of school
According to World Vision Haitiis currently the poorest country inthe Western Hemisphere
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1220
Chatter | 12
Small Groups at IBC have always been about cultivating deep
relationships that advance the kingdom of God in dark places
Sounds heroic but most of the time it looks simple mdash like a mug of
something hot a good talk about real things and a place to take off
your shoes Small Groups should always feel like home
Starting this month wersquoll officially start calling Small Groups at
IBC ldquoHome Groupsrdquo Most of our groups meet in homes anyway
and well home is what theyrsquore really all about mdash a place to be real
and a place to belong mdash even as the kingdom advances
Registration for winter Home Groups closes Feb 28 Groups begin
meeting March 20 Register today at irvingbibleorgsmallgroups
Come on in
Motel 6rsquos tagline ldquoWersquollleave the light on for yourdquois 50 years old
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1320
Chatter | 13
Mary Flo RidleyldquoParents we need to find our voicerdquo
Shersquos an internationallyknown speaker a featured
guest on numerous radio programs (including Focuson the Family) and writesregularly for ldquoDallas Child
Magazinerdquo Her topic Talk-ing to kids about sex As inYOU talking to YOUR kidsabout sex Yep Itrsquos a thing
Before IBC welcomes Mary Flo Ridley this month as a featured Shop Talk speaker
(January 983090983092) Chatter want-ed to catch up with her for a quick chat abouthellip wellhellipthe thing thatrsquos just so dang hard to chat ABOUThellip
CHATTER As parents wersquore really apprehensive about talking
openly with our kids about th is topic Whatrsquos at the heart of
that fear
MARY FLO RIDLEY Some parents fear speaking to their chil-
dren about sex because they were never taught by their own
parents They donrsquot know what this should look like or whatto say to a child Other parents are fearful that at some point
in these conversations they will reveal their own brokenness
in this area of their life and they feel vulnerable All parents
need encouragement when it comes to talking to their chil-
dren about sex and we as the church should equip the saints
for this task Pointing our children (and ourselves) to the
beauty of Godrsquos design can be seen as a privilege of parenting
CHATYoursquove been teaching on this topic for a long time Tell
us about what first motivated you to develop this training
MFR When I was growing up I was blessed with wonder-
ful parents but they never talked to me about sex When
Dave and I were new parents we decided we wanted to do
something a little bit differently and it led to the research and
strategy that I teach parents today
CHAT Mary Flo wersquore sure there are a lot of families at IBC
who would benefit from hearing your wisdom but some
might think itrsquos too late Maybe their kids are older or already
have particular knowledge or opinions about sex Would they
still benefit
MFR Itrsquos never too late Our children need and want to hear
our voices on this topic and they will be willing to set aside
some of the things that they have picked up from the culture
in order to listen to their parents They may roll their eyes but
they WANT to know not only the facts of biology but also why
this part of their life matters to God They need your wisdom
and they long to hear your thoughts As parents we need to
find our voice and speak to them
Does Talkingabout sex withyour kids feel
like facinga monsterMary Flo Ridley can help with
the horn fangs and halitosis
Shop Talk How to Talk about Sex with
your Children with Mary Flo Ridley
January 983090983092 983089983088983092983093 am in the West Wing
Weaving humor and personal stories throughout Mary
Flo Ridley helps parents shape the message they want to
convey to their children about sex Mary Flo guides par-
ents through the process of shaping their childrenrsquos sexual
education from an early age and brings helpful wisdom for
how to become the loving authority on all sexual matters
More info at irvingbibleorgparenting
The term ldquovocal cordsrdquo was coined in1741 by the French anatomist AntoineFerrein who compared them to thestrings of a violin Tregraves bien
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1420
Chatter | 14
UPCOMING
January
JANUARY 6
Radius Kickoff Join Middle School at IBC for their Wednesday night
program More info irvingbibleorgmiddleschool
Elementary Midweek Kickoff 630 pmA place for kids to connect with friends explore
Godrsquos word and have fun More info irvingbible
orgchildren
Midweek TableJoin high schoolers at local houses for dinner and
conversation More info irvingbibleorghighschool
JANUARY 9
Writerrsquos Workshop mdash 10 amJoin a community of people honing their writing
skills Contact doreillyirvingbibleorg
JANUARY 11
NAMI Family-to-Family ClassA course to educate familiescaregivers of those
with serious mental illness Contact joeynetbreeze-
inccom or eurmooreyahoocom
MHGA Family Grace GroupSupport group for familycaregivers of those with
serious mental illness More info irvingbibleorg
hopeandhealing
MHGA Living Grace GroupSupport group for those who suffer with mental ill-
ness More info irvingbibleorghopeandhealing
JANUARY 13
FPU BeginsSee ad pg 17
JANUARY 14
20|30s Kickoff
See ad pg 7
DivorceCare BeginsA group for those walking through the difficulty of
divorce More info irvingbibleorghopeandhealing
JANUARY 15
Mentoring Service Project mdash 9 amFor children (and parents) from single-parent fami-
lies We will be serving the elderly in our community
More info mtribbettirvingbibleorg
JANUARY 17
Marriage at IBC Kickoff See ad pg16
Honduras trip InformationSee ad pg 16
JANUARY 21
Newcomer Gatheringsee ad pg 17
JANUARY 24
Early Childhood Open HouseAll three servicesJoin us for the first 30 minutes of our Sunday
services for Children Experience worship hear the
Bible story and meet leaders More info jbjurlin
irvingbibleorg
Shop TalkMary Flo Ridley will join us to share ldquoHow to Talk
about Sex with your Childrenrdquo More info mcon-
norirvingbibleorg
JANUARY 31
The SummitAnnual Meeting1230 pmJoin us in West A for the Annual Meeting and enjoy
a complimentary lunch Register at irvingbibleorg
annualmeeting
FEBRUARY 6
Valentinersquos Dinner for Single-Parent Families mdash 6ndash9 pmEnjoy dinner dancing horse amp carriage rides
Register at irvingbibleorgsingleparents or withmtribbettirvingbibleorg
FEBRUARY 7
BaptismsTo register visit irvingbibleorgbaptism Mandatory
orientation held January 10 More info doreilly
irvingbibleorg
The Table beginsSee ad pg16
Propel BeginsGet connected at IBC through this four week course
More info at irvingbibleorgpropel
FEBRUARY 14
Child DedicationRegistration opens January 29 at irvingbibleorg
childdedication
Heart Box SundaySee ad pg 9
FEBRUARY 18GriefShare BeginsA caring group of people to walk alongside you
through one of lifersquos most difficult experiences More
info irvingbibleorghopeandhealing
February
by Jodie Niznik
Jesus has set you free Yet many of us donrsquot feel
free We feel bound by guilt and shame mdash certainour mishaps and mistakes discredit us before God
But if Jesus died on the cross for our sins didnrsquothe die for those things too Join us as we dig intoGalatians to discover what it really means to be set
free by Jesus
Date January ndashApril (not meeting March and due to spring break)
Time - am or - pm
Location e Commons IBC
Cost (includes workbook)
For more information and to register visit
irvingbibleorgwomen
KidZone registration is also available Registration
closes on January at noon or earlier if full
SPRING BIBLE STUDY
ONGOING MEALS
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1520
SUNDAYCOMMUNITY MEALS
6 pm mdash Town SquareMeals are $3 per person or $10maxfamily
13 No Meal Happy New Year
110 Beef fajitas chips and salsasalad bar
117 All American burgers andbrats salad bar
124 Giant baked potatoes withall the fixinrsquos salad bar
131 Chicken tenders mashed
potatoes and gravysalad bar
If yoursquod like to serve on a Sundaynight meal team contact PatOrsquoReilly at (214) 289-6176 or sun-daynightmealirvingbibleorg
WEDNESDAYMIDWEEK MEALS
5ndash620 PM
Cost is $3meal or $10 max family PBampJ sandwiches arealso available
16 Lasagna salad dessertHosted by Mike Gwartneyrsquosteam
113 Ham scalloped potatoesdessert Hosted by BobDowneyrsquos team
120 Enchiladas tacos chips andsalsa Hosted by BarbaraWittersquos team
127 Chicken quarters friesdessert Hosted by BobDowneyrsquos team
Changes to the menu may be madedepending on food cost availabilityand Bob Downeyrsquos whim
If yoursquod like to serve on a Wednes-day night meal team please emailbdowneyirvingbibleorg
CUPPA HOURS
MonndashFri 9 amndash8 pm
Saturday 11 amndash5 pm
Sunday 7 amndash7 pm
BIBLE COMMUNITIESGroups on Sunday
Synergy
9 am mdash The AlcoveAll Welcome
The Tree9 am mdash West D20s amp 30s married amp young families
Crossroads1045 am mdash West CCouples amp Families late 20s to 40s
Journey1045 am mdash The AlcoveAll Welcome
On Track1045 am mdash Conference RoomSingle Parents
Thrive1045 am mdash West DSingles in their 30s amp 40s
Renew1045 am mdash Training CenterAll Welcome
Legacy Builders645 pm mdash West A mdash All Welcome
CHILDRENInfants Through 5th Grade
Childrenrsquos Sunday Services9 am 1045 am 5 pm
Elementary MidweekBegins January 6 630ndash830 pmKids connect with friends andexplore Godrsquos word through smallgroups food fun Visit irvingbibleorgelementarymidweek
HOPE amp HEALINGCommunity Care
Abortion Recovery CounselingContact Kym at (972) 560-4632 orkyeichnerirvingbibleorg
GriefShare630 pm mdash West CContact shararringtonverizonnet
Recovery at IBCThursdays 630ndash830 pmWest Wing Youth LoungeA group for hurts habits andhangups irvingbibleorgrecovery
The Living Grace GroupFor those with mental illness ContactHeath at heathmurryyahoocom
Family Grace GroupFor familiescaregivers of those withmental illness Contact Buzz Moodyat myrabuzzgmailcom
NAMI Family-to-Family ClassContact Joey at joeynetbreezeinccomor Debra at eumooreyahoocom
Stephen Ministry at IBCOne-on-one ministry for hurtingpeople Contact stephenministryirvingbibleorg or call (972) 560-4636
Spousal Abuse RecoveryContact kyeichnerirvingbibleorg
MARRIAGEGrowing Together
Marriage at IBCContact marriageirvingbibleorg
Pre-Marriage Mentoring Visit irvingbibleorgmarriage
MENCommunity and Resources
First WatchFridays 622 am mdash The CommonsContact Nat at npughirvingbibleorg
First Watch ReplayTuesdays 630 pmTraining CenterContact brianarrington1yahoocom
First Watch XtraWednesday 630 amTraining CenterContact bcopehuntoilcom
Visit irvingbibleorgmen
MISSIONLocal and Global
Prayer Meeting
2nd and 4th Wednesdays645-8 pm mdash The Chapel
Laundry LoveFirst Saturday of the month9 amndash12 pmContact laundryloveirvingbibleorg
New Friends New LifeServe dinner to women healingfrom sexual exploitation every thirdWednesday Contact Christine atnewfriendsnewlifeirvingbibleorg
SINGLE PARENTCommunity and Resources
Sit with us on Sunday9 am service lowest right-handsection Rows 5 amp 6 facing the stage
Visit irvingbibleorgsingleparents
SPECIAL NEEDS
Community amp Care
Small Group for MomsSundays 9ndash1015 am
In His Image Bible StudySundays 630ndash745 pm
Small Group for ParentsWednesdays 630ndash8 pm
SonShine Pals and RoomCare during Sunday ministry
Contact specialneedsirvingbibleorg
STUDENTSMiddleHigh School and College
Middle School SundaysSundays mdash 1030 amndash1220 pmStudent Ministries area
High School SundaysSundays 645ndash8 pm
Student Ministries areaIBC College MinistrySundays 330 pmThe Commons AnnexContact collegeirvingbibleorg
High School MidweekWednesdaysJoin us for food and communitySee Facebook page for locations
Middle SchoolWednesdays 630 pmJoin us for a time of friendships
and teaching
WOMENCommunity and Resources
Womenrsquos Spring Bible StudyBeginning January 12Tuesdays 930 am or 630 pmThe CommonsJoin us as we study Proverbs Visitirvingbibleorgwomen
2435 KINWESTWednesday Nights at IBC
IBC ChoirWednesdays 7ndash830 pmIBC Worship CenterContact Crystal atcelwellirvingbibleorg
ESL English as a Second LanguageWednesdays 630ndash830 pm
Haven B C D
Citizenship ClassWednesdays 630ndash830 pmIBC Conference Room
IBC Career Transition MinistryWednesdays 630ndash830 pm
Microsoft Computer SkillsWednesdays 630ndash830 pmThe Training Center
Visit 2435kinwestorg
ONGOING MEALS
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1620
The Table is a place where skeptics and Christians alike can
pull up a chair around a table to explore God the Christian
faith and the hard questions of life It is a place where
questions are invited and welcomed and where people can
voice their doubts
Questions Contact jsteinirvingbibleorg
To register visit irvingbibleorgthetable
When am on February ndashMarch
Where The Living Room (formerly the MenrsquosConference Room)
Whether your marriage is sinking coastingalong or going full-throttle every marriageneeds some TLC
Marriage at IBC is a fun 983089983088-week course that focuses on the
big picture of marriage as well as practical application in the
everyday-life struggles of marriage While we cover important
topics like communication and conflict in-laws finances andsex we donrsquot go through a single class without laughing and hav-
ing a great time The class format is a speaker for a weekly topic
followed by small group time
Marriage at IBC Begins January 983089983095 983097 am The Commons
Register at irvingbibleorgmarriage
Already in an IBC small group Any existing IBC small groups are
welcome and able to participate and will receive all of the Marriage
at IBC resources and any level of support they desire
Questions Contact marriageirvingbibleorg
Join Mission at IBC for an informational about
our summer trip to Honduras We are looking
for medical professionals and teachers to work
with IBC partne r Workers Together With
God This will be an intergenerational trip with
IBCrsquos High School ministry
For more info please contact Lauren at
lmouossairvingbibleorg
HONDURASM I S S I O N T R I PInformational MeetingJANUARY 17
1230ndash2 pm in West D
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1720
HOW DO I GIVE HOW DO I GET
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1820
Chatter | 18
The name ldquoJanuaryrdquo comes from theLatin word for door (ianua) sinceJanuary is the door to the year
My Time Talents amp Skills
Facility Department VolunteersDo you enjoy swinging a hammer or helping doinstalls The IBC Facility Department could use yourhelp There are many projects where an extra set of
hands is needed So if you have experience work-ing in building electrical plumbing etc pleasecontact Rod Myers at rmyersirvingbibleorg
Meal Team VolunteersIBC makes meals available both Sunday andWednesday nights These fun teams could usesome additional volunteers to serve together ForSundays contact sundaynightmealirvingbibleorgFor Wednesdays contact bdowneyirvingbibleorg
Medical Professionals NeededOur weekly medical clinic needs professional healthcare providers (MD PA FNP) to provide treatment
for our patients Volunteers serve on a rotatingbasis and do not need to serve every week ContactCharles at cpierce2435clinicorg
Mentor Kids in Single-Parent FamiliesMen and women are needed for gender-specificmentoring of children from single-parent familiesContact Marsha at mtribbettirvingbibleorg
New Friends New LifeServe dinner to women healing from sexual exploita-tion (every third Wednesday) Contact Christine atnewfriendsnewlifeirvingbibleorg
Safety Team
Do you have a desire to serve and protect oth-ers Contact Christopher Watkins at cwatkinsirvingbibleorg Please include any credentials andrelevant experience
Visitor Follow-Up Team(Rex Greenstreet Ministry)We are looking for a volunteer to make calls orsend welcome emails (or both) to new vi sitors fromIBC Training and coaching will be providedContact Sherri at ssharpirvingbibleorg
Volunteer with Senior CareSenior Care at IBC has some needs Villages on
MacArthur needs Bible Study leaders as well asSaturday services leaders MacArthur Hills needsmusicianssingers and leaders for a spiritual serviceAshford Hall needs one-on-one visitors and Biblestudy leaders and gameactivities volunteers Con-tact Mike at Seniorcareirvingbibleorg
My ResourcesOnline Giving OptionIf you would find it more convenient to donate tothe ministries of Irving Bible Church online visitirvingbibleorggive FIND A PLACE TO SERVE
Yoursquove come a long way since that first breath mint Yoursquovebeen busy worshipping learning relating and committing
And itrsquos at this point that you might start looking around
at all the people who help create those events mdash ushers
greeters meal team members table hosts small group
leaders and the like Your next step now is to join them
Consider your passions talents and spiritual gifts and then
ask about a place to serve Visit irvingbibleorgserve
JOIN IN WORSHIPSo you found the address a place to park and a breath
mint on the way in Good work If yoursquore reading this
yoursquove probably already taken the first step mdash attending a
worship service This is the first and most important place
to start so keep coming Become a regular Make sure to
fill out a Newcomer Card Tell us a little about yourself and
let us know how we can engage with you Somebody will
reach out to you this week Visit irvingbibleorgconnect
Wersquore glad you asked Here are the steps to take for
having your questions answered figuring out the IBC story and if yoursquore feeling ready plugging in
CHECK OUT THE NEWCOMER GATHERINGSo yoursquore kicking the IBC tires Good Wersquore so glad yoursquore
here The Newcomer Gathering is a great opportunity to
meet church leadership learn what IBC is all about andconnect with other newbies in a fun relaxed environment
Next Newcomer Gathering January 21
SIGN UP FOR PROPELAll right Yoursquore feeling the IBC vibe and want to see
where you might get involved Propel is a 4-week class that
explores the IBC calling and culture and how your unique
personality and passions fit in Meet many of our pastors and
directors of ministries at IBC Next Propel February 7ndash28
JOIN A COMMUNITY Yoursquore firing on all cylinders but something is missing And
that something is a someone or a group of someones
Enter sermon-based Small Groups Womenrsquos Bible Study
First Watch and more We encourage you to find a group
and connect authentically with others
Visit irvingbibleorgadults
Start
HOW DO I GETCONNECTED AT IBC
FOR MORE INFO VISIT IRVINGBIBLEORGCONNECT OR LOOK
FOR THE NEWCOMER GUIDES AT THE INFORMATION DESK
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1920
Chatter | 19
If you are not seated please sit down If you are seated buckle up If you
are buckled up you may want to stop reading now if yoursquore prone to
carsickness Settled in Okay then The haphazard collection of words
currently assaulting your senses mdash both sight and common mdash is my 983095983091rd
and likely final column for Chatter I know I know Yoursquore probably in the
drive-thru at Chick-fil-A just now remembering that itrsquos Sunday and then this
happens So you are not only left wondering where you can satisfy your Bible-
blessed chicken jones but also from whence yoursquoll be able to scratch your itch
for elliptical sentence structures chock-a-block with obtuse wordification and
the occasional monthly reference to pastiness You need a hug
Sadly the Chatter editorial board enforces a strict no-touching (even emotion-
ally) policy on contributors of dubious complexion (therersquos your final pasty
reference) so wersquoll have to make do with a psychic fist bump But before I leave
you with Tim Hawkins as your lone source of Christian comedy (What do you
mean he already was) Irsquod like to take a few hundred words and ramble semi-
coherently about what the past 983094983097 ldquoIdle Chatterrdquo columns and 983092 ldquoInterview
with a Dead Guyrdquo exposeacutes have taught me If anything Hmmm
First Irsquove learned that itrsquos much easier to keep a position when the job is es-
sentially that of a volunteer Assuming you donrsquot count the few times I had to
slip an Old Navy coupon code to the editor (Julie now of the emeritus variety)
to get her to put down the metaphorical red pen (The literal red pen is the
Track Changes feature in Microsoft Word which I despise even more so than a
patchouli-soaked hippie Also I never could figure out which online emporium
discounts would convince her to let me discuss smiting hippies so wersquoll see if
the new ed lets that previous sentence fly) Anyway I assume my long tenure
was also aided by my ability to meet a deadline no matter how many times I
moved it and my penchant for mentioning my kids who are totes adorbs at
least in print
Irsquove learned that most fellow believers can take a joke In nearly seven years
of poking fun (And is poking ever really fun I think not) at some of the more
absurdist aspects of evangelical life mdash along with giving Moses the Twitter
handle MoHeston mdash I never received one letter email Tweet Snapchat
Vine video Facebook rant or gospel tract-based expression of displeasure
Sure only about three of you actually know who I am And my family attended
church in Frisco but farther north (as in past the Ikea) than most Irvingites
dare to drive Also we moved to Omaha three years ago Nonetheless I appre-
ciate your collective sense of humor andor Juliersquos restraint in forwarding me
complaints from the elders
Irsquod like to tell you I learned many deep life-changing Biblical truths over the
last 983094983095 of a decade but come on I think we can all agree that I either made up
most of my doctrinal claims or have since forgotten the ones that are true due
to my advancing fortysomethingness Which reminds me I never did base a
column on the Book of Lamentations Woe is me
Lastly Irsquove learned that I can spit out 983097983088983088 words on just about anything with-
out saying much of anything of value Case in point duly noted
And now since I still have about 983091983088983088 words to torture Irsquoll take a question Yesyou in the back with the pre-Etsy WWJD bracelet from 983089983097983097983095 My favorite col-
umns Well I could say thatrsquos like trying to choose your favorite child (the dog)
if having 983095983091 kids wouldnrsquot get me investigated by the Guinness World Records
folks (bunch of narcs) Instead Irsquoll go with my two poems Ballad for a High
School Youth Group Hayride (October 983090983088983089983092) and The Graven (October 983090983088983089983093)
my unearthing of Noahrsquos Twitter feed GopherWoodBoy (October 983090983088983088983097) my
ruminations on Pentecost Economy Sizing the Holy Spirit (May 983090983088983089983088) and my
homage to my dad on the occasion of his 983094983093th birthday Cool On the Inside (July
983090983088983089983088) There might be others I actually like more but I donrsquot have the patience
of a Job Billy Duggar to read them all Also you can find most of these at Scribd
comIrvingBibleChurch or JasonFoxnetIdleChatter
So This is the end For now at least Perhaps Irsquo ll pop up or in or over from
time to time to ruminate on weighty matters like why our Christmas tree top-
per looks like Celine Dion But for now I think itrsquos time to try something a little
different After so many attempts at we aving a little truth into the funny
I believe Irsquoll give weaving a little funny into the truth a go (Thatrsquos what I get for
actually studying my beliefs I guess) I doubt Irsquoll become this millenniumrsquos C S
Lewis but perhaps something of eternal value will emerge from it Hopefully
not damnation
But until we meet in the sweet by-and-by on that beautiful shore (look for my
totally boss conversion van customized by St Doober) I will simply thank you
for reading and leave you with one last bit of suspect theological advice Every
argument especially those on the internet can be won with the phrase ldquoWell
thatrsquos what it says in Habakkukrdquo Because it does
Jason Fox will miss you all except that creepy guy who cuts his fingernails
during the sermon and is proud his last column hit 983097983088983088 words exactly
Jason writes from Omaha Nebraska (well he used to) and can be harassed forevermore on
Twitter at jason_fox
ONCE MORE
WITH FEELING
Celine Dion is theyoungest of 14 children
In 2013 alone 200 millionlemons were squeezed to makeChick-fil-Arsquos fresh lemonade
Shhhh Donrsquot poke itNext month in February Chatter will be hibernating Itrsquos winter after all Plus it buys us some timeto come back in March with more Chatterish goodness than ever before Because more of a good
thing ishellipwell gooder than good grammar (Like we said we need some sleep)
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 2020
Chatterhellipyou CAN take it with you Send us
your Chatter photos on location and you may
see yourself in an upcoming issue Email us
at chatterirvingbibleorg
Chatter tags along as the Mechsner family weathers the ridiculouswinds on Mt Wellington in Hobart Tasmania We understand thatseconds after this shot Chatter decided to dispel the widely heldbelief that turkeys canrsquot fly Be free little guy Be free
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 720
Chatter | 7
Raccoons are consideredyoung adults at one yearof age
Middle SchoolKristina McCartney
IBC Middle School Ministry is where friend-
ships are established the Gospel is taught
and life change holiness and maturity are
fostered I would say this is our ldquomission state-
mentrdquo without offi cially calling it that As a new
pastor on staff Irsquom especially excited about whatrsquos
coming this year In January we will be launc hing
our brand new midweek program called RadiusRadius will exist to provide a midweek time for
students to connect with one another build re-
lationships discuss biblical teaching and have a
place to serve at IBC and the surrounding com-
munity Wersquoll also be continuing with our Life On
Life small groups the lifeline in our Middle School
Ministry mdash where discipleship really takes place
Our new associate Middle Sch ool director Moses
Uvere and I are looking forward to a new year of
life change and growth for our middle schoolers
High SchoolMatt Hamilton
The High School Ministry at IBC has
and still is going through a big change
Previously we were meeting at IBC on
Wednesday nights but now we have moved into
three different homes across our area We call it
The Midweek Table Our ministry was full of high
school students who loved Jesus and were growing
in him but we needed a change to move us into anew place of living our lives on mission The Mid-
week Table has provided the jumpstart we needed
to go out and spread the Gospel This new format
has produced some incredible stories of hope
redemption and curiosity We also serve dinner
and do our best to create an environment that is
stress-free and conducive for chilling
Although we have experienced some change there
is still one key consistency The High School min-
istry at IBC believes strongly in community We
also have incredible adult leaders who love Jesus
and share their lives with high school students
Therefore LifeGroups will remain the ldquobread and
butterrdquo of our high school ministry We meet on
Sunday nights after the 983093 pm service where we
dive into life together mdash the way it should be lived
LifeGroups are where we see the most transfor-
mation in our students If yoursquore looking for a safe
place to grow in Christ come check it out
20|30s Jon Jones
When we look at 983090983088|983091983088s ministry in
983090983088983089983094 there is great hope It feels like
those precious few seconds right be-
fore sunrise when the sky begins to glow and possi-
bility looms large We have spent the last c ouple of
months interviewing IBCers in their 983090983088s and 983091983088s
and crafting a vision of what is to come In Janu-
ary that vision becomes a reality 983090983088|983091983088s ministry
is going to be heavily focused on relational con-nection and experiential theology intellectually
engaging with room for doubt The goal is to equip
983090983088|983091983088s to live sacrificially and bless others just like
Jesus did both in Dallas and throughout the world
This will happen through multiple avenues First
Thursday theology TED talks and discussions
Dinner Clubs Happy Hour Takeovers Service En-
gagements and a Haiti Mission Trip We canrsquot say
it enough the future of 983090983088|983091983088s ministry is bright
in 983090983088983089983094
Itrsquos a new day for young adults at IBC
Come see whatrsquos in store for
JANUARY PM THE COMMONS
s
Check out page 8 for all the need-to-know info for Middle School and HighSchool ministry this winter and spring
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 820
Chatter | 8
HIGH SCHOOL
Life Groups Get involved
If your student hasnrsquot been involved in a Life Group this is the time to start
This is not just another program not just another event Life Groups are
central to your studentrsquos faith journey Our small groups (ldquoLife Groupsrdquo)
are made up of 983096-983089983088 students led by adults who love to pour into students
and guide them as they explore spiritual matters Students get to hang out
make new friends laugh a lot and explore the truths of the Bible We meeteach Sunday in the Student Ministries Area of IBC
Winter Retreat Sign up today
High School Winter Retreat is February 983089983090-983089983092 at Sky Ranch This is a great
getaway for your high schooler a time of rest and relationship-building
(What student doesnrsquot need that) Wersquoll welcome special speaker Kevin
Libick Middle School Pastor at Christ Chapel in Fort Worth
Beach Camp Mark your calendarItrsquos not just summer vacation Itrsquos a time for life transformation This is our
983095th year to go away together to the lovely beaches of Gulf Shores Alabama
and you wonrsquot want your student to miss it Whorsquos invited All current High
School students plus current 983096th graders Dates are July 983089983092ndashJuly 983089983096
Mission Trip Pray
If you and your student feel he or she is ready for a summer mission trip
this year now is the time to pray about which might be the best fit Packets
are due January 983089983088 Trips Albuquerque June 983089983088-983089983094 Honduras (Intergen-erational trip) July 983090983094-Aug 983089
MIDDLE SCHOOL
LOL (Life On Life) Get involved
Middle School Students need community more than anybody it seems
Thatrsquos why we have Life on Life a weekly small group gathering where kids
connect over Scripture and engaging conversation mdash all while having a great
time Life On Life meets weekly on Sundays in the Commons at 983089983088983091983088 am
Radius (Wednesday Nights at IBC) Get excited
At IBC we want to cultivate an atmosphere where students are excited to
bring their friends who may not have a church home Radius is a Wednesday
night experience for IBC middle schoolers and their friends that will include
teaching discussion groups worship and quarterly service projects
Planet Wisdom Mark your calendar
This is a canrsquot-miss conference for 983094th-983089983090th grade students The theme
this year is QUEST Discovering Myself in the Light of Christ IBC middle
school students will be attending the conference here at IBC on Feb 983090983094-983090983095
Beach Camp Make note of change (and get ready)
Middle School is NOT attending Beach Camp this summer This is new
this year Middle Schoolers will be attending Summer Camp closer to home
near Weatherford at Texas Star Ranch and Retreat Dates are June 983090983095ndash
July 983089 Camp will again be led by well-trained high schoolers
Mission Trips Sign up today
Your Middle Schooler wonrsquot want to miss this summerrsquos local mission trips
around DFW and San Antonio These are great opportunities for kids
to discover they can serve the less fortunate in their own backyards San
Antonio June 983094-983089983089 DFW area July 983090983094-983090983097
Students at IBC Cheat Sheet WE GET IT PARENTS You donrsquot have time to curl up on the couch with a good book Sometimes you need a sticky note a
Red Bull and a stopwatch mdash especially if yoursquove got teenagers So get fired up your iCal and settle in This wonrsquot take long You
might just earn an A in SpringSummer 983090983088983089983094
For more info about or to sign up for any of these upcoming events
visit irvingbibleorghighschool
For more info about or to sign up for any of these upcoming events
visit irvingbibleorgmiddleschool
Alabamarsquos coast is home toa massive monarch butterflymigration
Between Mars and Jupiter isa dwarf planet known as Ceresdiscovered in 1801
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 920
Chatter | 9
HEART BOX SUNDAY IS FEBRUARY 14 AT IBCOne of the core values of IBC is loving like Jesus This means tangiblyproviding for the needs of others including our partners For the secondyear in a row we have chosen to show this love around Valentinersquos Day byproviding for our local partners in practical ways
HEART BOXES will only be available in Town Square on Sunday February 983089983092
If you are unable to make the service that day they will be in our donation areafor a few days after
And if you get a chance say a big lsquothank yoursquo to Stacie Dugasrsquo Girl Scouts fordecorating our boxes so beautifully
Questions Contact Tricia at tkinsmanirvingbibleorg
FAMILY PROMISEtowels
THE MAIN PLACE boysmenrsquos
athletic shoes
MERCY STREETcopy paper
LAUNDRY LOVE laundry detergent
SCHOOL WORKSelementary boys
or girls tennisshoes and socks
THE GATEHOUSE womenrsquos and
childrenrsquos socksor slippers
MERCY HOUSEdiapers
NEW FRIENDSNEW LIFE
household cleanersand paper goods
BBMOI CRISISMINISTRIEScanned food
SENIOR CAREmenrsquos or womenrsquos
slippers
Join us by bringing one of the following new items to church onValentinersquos day February 983089983092 and depositing it in the appropriatebox in Town Square
In Victorian times it wasconsidered bad luck to sign a Valentinersquos Day card
According to BBC Science it cantake between 90 seconds and 4minutes to decide if we fancysomeone
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1020
Chatter | 10
IBC partner Debbie Lucien tells of a
boy on the verge of his future
In the summer months of 2001 a five-year-
old boy named Enel Previl was brought by
his family to a local church His parents had
been told that by doing so the boyrsquos photo wouldbe taken and perhaps with the help of some
foreign friends the school could pay its teachers
for the coming year His parents thought this was
a good thing When they later heard that some
people picked their sonrsquos photo for ongoing spon-
sorship they thought ldquoGod has opened a door for
him to go to schoolrdquo
With his brother and two sisters Enel start-
ed preschool walking through sunny andrainy days to begin learning about letters
The first person reputed to have walkedaround the world is George MatthewSchilling (USA) from 1897 to 1904
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1120
Chatter | 11
accept Christ and began discipling him Since
becoming a believer Enel has been active in the
choir and enjoys helping to lead worship at his
local church
While itrsquos taken a long time for him to complete
his studies Enel finally finished secondary
school at College de la Grace after 983089983095 years of
steady investment At the age of 983090983090 he now has
the equivalent of an Associatersquos Degree At the
recent graduation I recognized his name from
one of the first groups of children ever helped
through sponsorship He agreed to pose tall and
proud in his graduation robes with the school
founder (and my husband) Caleb Lucien I asked
Enel if he would stop by and talk to me the next
day about his future dreams and what he would
like to say to his sponsors
The next day a Saturday he greeted me e agerly
and told me he was so grateful for the help hissponsors had given him and his family They had
been faithful for 983089983095 years though hersquos never had
a chance to meet them And the fruit of their
generosity is evident Enel is the first member of
his family ever to finish high school He dreams
of becoming a doctor or an engineer but knows
it will take many years to accomplish such a goal
and he has no means other than his familyrsquos farm
But he is now fluent in two languages Creole and
French and has a firm opening into ldquosocietyrdquo as
we say here in Haiti He now looks me in the eyewhen we talk and speaks clearly about his faith
and his sense of responsibility he feels for the fu-
ture of his family Enel understands what a great
privilege he has received
He told me hersquos now waiting on the Lord to
see what doors will open for the future In the
meantime he would like to help area students
with their studies asking families to pay him
only what they can afford I encouraged him bysharing several stories of how we have seen God
work in the lives of other young people and how
often they have also had to wait for their next
steps to be made clear Finally we talked about
his sponsors Enel knew exactly what he would
say to them ldquoIrsquod like to tell them THANKS Irsquove
never had the chance to meet them but theyrsquove
helped me so muchrdquo I told him Irsquod be sharing his
graduation picture with them and would let them
know how theyrsquove blessed his life
Enel headed off that day back to his small home
where he lives with his mother and some un-
married siblings He walks tall and straight and
proudly knowing the God who took him this far
is able to help him arrive exactly where he needs
to be
Debbie Lucien has now lived longer in Haiti than
any other country shersquos inhabited Haiti 983090983090 years
US 983090983089 years Japan 983092 years Germany 983092 yearsYes she is as old as dirt
Born and raised overseas as the daughter of a military pilot
Debbie thought she knew the world But when she visited Haiti
at the age of 25 she realized that God was a lot bigger than she
thought After being courtedrecruited by Caleb she moved to
Haiti in 1993 and never escaped the adventure Follow her on
twitter at MadameCaleb
numbers and colors Each night upon returning
to his home of mud and sticks he would sleep
close to his five family members after doing
lessons or repeating his schoolwork back to
his parents
School continued with the help of donors who
kept his school open In fact it grew to house over
983093983088983088 students Initially meeting just under sticks
and thatch roof with no walls the students were
excited to see a 983093983088983088 square-foot cement block
building go up after a few years Now when it
was muddy outside the classrooms could still
stay clean Enel progressed slowly but surely
sometimes having to share the school supplies he
received through sponsorship with his b rothers
and sisters
In 983090983088983088983097 Enel was thrilled to be able to start
secondary school His sponsor had continued to
be faithful Enel had to walk a little further but
proudly wore the peach and tan uniform of the
upper division school of College de la Grace The
next year however was very hard for his family
Enelrsquos father who had long suffered with cardio-
vascular problems finally passed away leaving
the family with even fewer resources Enel says
that if it wasnrsquot for the financial help he received
through sponsorship he definitely would have
had to quit school as an 983096th grader But since he
had support his family saw clearly that God
had kept the door open for him to continue
his education
Two years later while discussing life with one
of his classmates and hearing many speakers
at church and school Enel decided to become
a Christian Enelrsquos friend Nesly mdash also a spon-sored student at the school mdash prayed with him to
HOSEAN INTERNATIONAL MINISTRIESIBC Partner HIM is a ministry by Haitians for Haitians HIM began in 983089983097983096983092 by Haitian National
Caleb Lucien with one purpose in mind transform lives by pointing people to Jesus Christ
through education life skills training and e conomic growth If you are interested in sponsoring
the education of a child like Enel visit hoseanorg
Enelrsquos firstsponsorship photo
Enel with Caleb Lucien
at Enelrsquos graduation
According to The World Bank morethan 200000 children in Haiti remainout of school
According to World Vision Haitiis currently the poorest country inthe Western Hemisphere
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1220
Chatter | 12
Small Groups at IBC have always been about cultivating deep
relationships that advance the kingdom of God in dark places
Sounds heroic but most of the time it looks simple mdash like a mug of
something hot a good talk about real things and a place to take off
your shoes Small Groups should always feel like home
Starting this month wersquoll officially start calling Small Groups at
IBC ldquoHome Groupsrdquo Most of our groups meet in homes anyway
and well home is what theyrsquore really all about mdash a place to be real
and a place to belong mdash even as the kingdom advances
Registration for winter Home Groups closes Feb 28 Groups begin
meeting March 20 Register today at irvingbibleorgsmallgroups
Come on in
Motel 6rsquos tagline ldquoWersquollleave the light on for yourdquois 50 years old
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1320
Chatter | 13
Mary Flo RidleyldquoParents we need to find our voicerdquo
Shersquos an internationallyknown speaker a featured
guest on numerous radio programs (including Focuson the Family) and writesregularly for ldquoDallas Child
Magazinerdquo Her topic Talk-ing to kids about sex As inYOU talking to YOUR kidsabout sex Yep Itrsquos a thing
Before IBC welcomes Mary Flo Ridley this month as a featured Shop Talk speaker
(January 983090983092) Chatter want-ed to catch up with her for a quick chat abouthellip wellhellipthe thing thatrsquos just so dang hard to chat ABOUThellip
CHATTER As parents wersquore really apprehensive about talking
openly with our kids about th is topic Whatrsquos at the heart of
that fear
MARY FLO RIDLEY Some parents fear speaking to their chil-
dren about sex because they were never taught by their own
parents They donrsquot know what this should look like or whatto say to a child Other parents are fearful that at some point
in these conversations they will reveal their own brokenness
in this area of their life and they feel vulnerable All parents
need encouragement when it comes to talking to their chil-
dren about sex and we as the church should equip the saints
for this task Pointing our children (and ourselves) to the
beauty of Godrsquos design can be seen as a privilege of parenting
CHATYoursquove been teaching on this topic for a long time Tell
us about what first motivated you to develop this training
MFR When I was growing up I was blessed with wonder-
ful parents but they never talked to me about sex When
Dave and I were new parents we decided we wanted to do
something a little bit differently and it led to the research and
strategy that I teach parents today
CHAT Mary Flo wersquore sure there are a lot of families at IBC
who would benefit from hearing your wisdom but some
might think itrsquos too late Maybe their kids are older or already
have particular knowledge or opinions about sex Would they
still benefit
MFR Itrsquos never too late Our children need and want to hear
our voices on this topic and they will be willing to set aside
some of the things that they have picked up from the culture
in order to listen to their parents They may roll their eyes but
they WANT to know not only the facts of biology but also why
this part of their life matters to God They need your wisdom
and they long to hear your thoughts As parents we need to
find our voice and speak to them
Does Talkingabout sex withyour kids feel
like facinga monsterMary Flo Ridley can help with
the horn fangs and halitosis
Shop Talk How to Talk about Sex with
your Children with Mary Flo Ridley
January 983090983092 983089983088983092983093 am in the West Wing
Weaving humor and personal stories throughout Mary
Flo Ridley helps parents shape the message they want to
convey to their children about sex Mary Flo guides par-
ents through the process of shaping their childrenrsquos sexual
education from an early age and brings helpful wisdom for
how to become the loving authority on all sexual matters
More info at irvingbibleorgparenting
The term ldquovocal cordsrdquo was coined in1741 by the French anatomist AntoineFerrein who compared them to thestrings of a violin Tregraves bien
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1420
Chatter | 14
UPCOMING
January
JANUARY 6
Radius Kickoff Join Middle School at IBC for their Wednesday night
program More info irvingbibleorgmiddleschool
Elementary Midweek Kickoff 630 pmA place for kids to connect with friends explore
Godrsquos word and have fun More info irvingbible
orgchildren
Midweek TableJoin high schoolers at local houses for dinner and
conversation More info irvingbibleorghighschool
JANUARY 9
Writerrsquos Workshop mdash 10 amJoin a community of people honing their writing
skills Contact doreillyirvingbibleorg
JANUARY 11
NAMI Family-to-Family ClassA course to educate familiescaregivers of those
with serious mental illness Contact joeynetbreeze-
inccom or eurmooreyahoocom
MHGA Family Grace GroupSupport group for familycaregivers of those with
serious mental illness More info irvingbibleorg
hopeandhealing
MHGA Living Grace GroupSupport group for those who suffer with mental ill-
ness More info irvingbibleorghopeandhealing
JANUARY 13
FPU BeginsSee ad pg 17
JANUARY 14
20|30s Kickoff
See ad pg 7
DivorceCare BeginsA group for those walking through the difficulty of
divorce More info irvingbibleorghopeandhealing
JANUARY 15
Mentoring Service Project mdash 9 amFor children (and parents) from single-parent fami-
lies We will be serving the elderly in our community
More info mtribbettirvingbibleorg
JANUARY 17
Marriage at IBC Kickoff See ad pg16
Honduras trip InformationSee ad pg 16
JANUARY 21
Newcomer Gatheringsee ad pg 17
JANUARY 24
Early Childhood Open HouseAll three servicesJoin us for the first 30 minutes of our Sunday
services for Children Experience worship hear the
Bible story and meet leaders More info jbjurlin
irvingbibleorg
Shop TalkMary Flo Ridley will join us to share ldquoHow to Talk
about Sex with your Childrenrdquo More info mcon-
norirvingbibleorg
JANUARY 31
The SummitAnnual Meeting1230 pmJoin us in West A for the Annual Meeting and enjoy
a complimentary lunch Register at irvingbibleorg
annualmeeting
FEBRUARY 6
Valentinersquos Dinner for Single-Parent Families mdash 6ndash9 pmEnjoy dinner dancing horse amp carriage rides
Register at irvingbibleorgsingleparents or withmtribbettirvingbibleorg
FEBRUARY 7
BaptismsTo register visit irvingbibleorgbaptism Mandatory
orientation held January 10 More info doreilly
irvingbibleorg
The Table beginsSee ad pg16
Propel BeginsGet connected at IBC through this four week course
More info at irvingbibleorgpropel
FEBRUARY 14
Child DedicationRegistration opens January 29 at irvingbibleorg
childdedication
Heart Box SundaySee ad pg 9
FEBRUARY 18GriefShare BeginsA caring group of people to walk alongside you
through one of lifersquos most difficult experiences More
info irvingbibleorghopeandhealing
February
by Jodie Niznik
Jesus has set you free Yet many of us donrsquot feel
free We feel bound by guilt and shame mdash certainour mishaps and mistakes discredit us before God
But if Jesus died on the cross for our sins didnrsquothe die for those things too Join us as we dig intoGalatians to discover what it really means to be set
free by Jesus
Date January ndashApril (not meeting March and due to spring break)
Time - am or - pm
Location e Commons IBC
Cost (includes workbook)
For more information and to register visit
irvingbibleorgwomen
KidZone registration is also available Registration
closes on January at noon or earlier if full
SPRING BIBLE STUDY
ONGOING MEALS
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1520
SUNDAYCOMMUNITY MEALS
6 pm mdash Town SquareMeals are $3 per person or $10maxfamily
13 No Meal Happy New Year
110 Beef fajitas chips and salsasalad bar
117 All American burgers andbrats salad bar
124 Giant baked potatoes withall the fixinrsquos salad bar
131 Chicken tenders mashed
potatoes and gravysalad bar
If yoursquod like to serve on a Sundaynight meal team contact PatOrsquoReilly at (214) 289-6176 or sun-daynightmealirvingbibleorg
WEDNESDAYMIDWEEK MEALS
5ndash620 PM
Cost is $3meal or $10 max family PBampJ sandwiches arealso available
16 Lasagna salad dessertHosted by Mike Gwartneyrsquosteam
113 Ham scalloped potatoesdessert Hosted by BobDowneyrsquos team
120 Enchiladas tacos chips andsalsa Hosted by BarbaraWittersquos team
127 Chicken quarters friesdessert Hosted by BobDowneyrsquos team
Changes to the menu may be madedepending on food cost availabilityand Bob Downeyrsquos whim
If yoursquod like to serve on a Wednes-day night meal team please emailbdowneyirvingbibleorg
CUPPA HOURS
MonndashFri 9 amndash8 pm
Saturday 11 amndash5 pm
Sunday 7 amndash7 pm
BIBLE COMMUNITIESGroups on Sunday
Synergy
9 am mdash The AlcoveAll Welcome
The Tree9 am mdash West D20s amp 30s married amp young families
Crossroads1045 am mdash West CCouples amp Families late 20s to 40s
Journey1045 am mdash The AlcoveAll Welcome
On Track1045 am mdash Conference RoomSingle Parents
Thrive1045 am mdash West DSingles in their 30s amp 40s
Renew1045 am mdash Training CenterAll Welcome
Legacy Builders645 pm mdash West A mdash All Welcome
CHILDRENInfants Through 5th Grade
Childrenrsquos Sunday Services9 am 1045 am 5 pm
Elementary MidweekBegins January 6 630ndash830 pmKids connect with friends andexplore Godrsquos word through smallgroups food fun Visit irvingbibleorgelementarymidweek
HOPE amp HEALINGCommunity Care
Abortion Recovery CounselingContact Kym at (972) 560-4632 orkyeichnerirvingbibleorg
GriefShare630 pm mdash West CContact shararringtonverizonnet
Recovery at IBCThursdays 630ndash830 pmWest Wing Youth LoungeA group for hurts habits andhangups irvingbibleorgrecovery
The Living Grace GroupFor those with mental illness ContactHeath at heathmurryyahoocom
Family Grace GroupFor familiescaregivers of those withmental illness Contact Buzz Moodyat myrabuzzgmailcom
NAMI Family-to-Family ClassContact Joey at joeynetbreezeinccomor Debra at eumooreyahoocom
Stephen Ministry at IBCOne-on-one ministry for hurtingpeople Contact stephenministryirvingbibleorg or call (972) 560-4636
Spousal Abuse RecoveryContact kyeichnerirvingbibleorg
MARRIAGEGrowing Together
Marriage at IBCContact marriageirvingbibleorg
Pre-Marriage Mentoring Visit irvingbibleorgmarriage
MENCommunity and Resources
First WatchFridays 622 am mdash The CommonsContact Nat at npughirvingbibleorg
First Watch ReplayTuesdays 630 pmTraining CenterContact brianarrington1yahoocom
First Watch XtraWednesday 630 amTraining CenterContact bcopehuntoilcom
Visit irvingbibleorgmen
MISSIONLocal and Global
Prayer Meeting
2nd and 4th Wednesdays645-8 pm mdash The Chapel
Laundry LoveFirst Saturday of the month9 amndash12 pmContact laundryloveirvingbibleorg
New Friends New LifeServe dinner to women healingfrom sexual exploitation every thirdWednesday Contact Christine atnewfriendsnewlifeirvingbibleorg
SINGLE PARENTCommunity and Resources
Sit with us on Sunday9 am service lowest right-handsection Rows 5 amp 6 facing the stage
Visit irvingbibleorgsingleparents
SPECIAL NEEDS
Community amp Care
Small Group for MomsSundays 9ndash1015 am
In His Image Bible StudySundays 630ndash745 pm
Small Group for ParentsWednesdays 630ndash8 pm
SonShine Pals and RoomCare during Sunday ministry
Contact specialneedsirvingbibleorg
STUDENTSMiddleHigh School and College
Middle School SundaysSundays mdash 1030 amndash1220 pmStudent Ministries area
High School SundaysSundays 645ndash8 pm
Student Ministries areaIBC College MinistrySundays 330 pmThe Commons AnnexContact collegeirvingbibleorg
High School MidweekWednesdaysJoin us for food and communitySee Facebook page for locations
Middle SchoolWednesdays 630 pmJoin us for a time of friendships
and teaching
WOMENCommunity and Resources
Womenrsquos Spring Bible StudyBeginning January 12Tuesdays 930 am or 630 pmThe CommonsJoin us as we study Proverbs Visitirvingbibleorgwomen
2435 KINWESTWednesday Nights at IBC
IBC ChoirWednesdays 7ndash830 pmIBC Worship CenterContact Crystal atcelwellirvingbibleorg
ESL English as a Second LanguageWednesdays 630ndash830 pm
Haven B C D
Citizenship ClassWednesdays 630ndash830 pmIBC Conference Room
IBC Career Transition MinistryWednesdays 630ndash830 pm
Microsoft Computer SkillsWednesdays 630ndash830 pmThe Training Center
Visit 2435kinwestorg
ONGOING MEALS
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1620
The Table is a place where skeptics and Christians alike can
pull up a chair around a table to explore God the Christian
faith and the hard questions of life It is a place where
questions are invited and welcomed and where people can
voice their doubts
Questions Contact jsteinirvingbibleorg
To register visit irvingbibleorgthetable
When am on February ndashMarch
Where The Living Room (formerly the MenrsquosConference Room)
Whether your marriage is sinking coastingalong or going full-throttle every marriageneeds some TLC
Marriage at IBC is a fun 983089983088-week course that focuses on the
big picture of marriage as well as practical application in the
everyday-life struggles of marriage While we cover important
topics like communication and conflict in-laws finances andsex we donrsquot go through a single class without laughing and hav-
ing a great time The class format is a speaker for a weekly topic
followed by small group time
Marriage at IBC Begins January 983089983095 983097 am The Commons
Register at irvingbibleorgmarriage
Already in an IBC small group Any existing IBC small groups are
welcome and able to participate and will receive all of the Marriage
at IBC resources and any level of support they desire
Questions Contact marriageirvingbibleorg
Join Mission at IBC for an informational about
our summer trip to Honduras We are looking
for medical professionals and teachers to work
with IBC partne r Workers Together With
God This will be an intergenerational trip with
IBCrsquos High School ministry
For more info please contact Lauren at
lmouossairvingbibleorg
HONDURASM I S S I O N T R I PInformational MeetingJANUARY 17
1230ndash2 pm in West D
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1720
HOW DO I GIVE HOW DO I GET
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1820
Chatter | 18
The name ldquoJanuaryrdquo comes from theLatin word for door (ianua) sinceJanuary is the door to the year
My Time Talents amp Skills
Facility Department VolunteersDo you enjoy swinging a hammer or helping doinstalls The IBC Facility Department could use yourhelp There are many projects where an extra set of
hands is needed So if you have experience work-ing in building electrical plumbing etc pleasecontact Rod Myers at rmyersirvingbibleorg
Meal Team VolunteersIBC makes meals available both Sunday andWednesday nights These fun teams could usesome additional volunteers to serve together ForSundays contact sundaynightmealirvingbibleorgFor Wednesdays contact bdowneyirvingbibleorg
Medical Professionals NeededOur weekly medical clinic needs professional healthcare providers (MD PA FNP) to provide treatment
for our patients Volunteers serve on a rotatingbasis and do not need to serve every week ContactCharles at cpierce2435clinicorg
Mentor Kids in Single-Parent FamiliesMen and women are needed for gender-specificmentoring of children from single-parent familiesContact Marsha at mtribbettirvingbibleorg
New Friends New LifeServe dinner to women healing from sexual exploita-tion (every third Wednesday) Contact Christine atnewfriendsnewlifeirvingbibleorg
Safety Team
Do you have a desire to serve and protect oth-ers Contact Christopher Watkins at cwatkinsirvingbibleorg Please include any credentials andrelevant experience
Visitor Follow-Up Team(Rex Greenstreet Ministry)We are looking for a volunteer to make calls orsend welcome emails (or both) to new vi sitors fromIBC Training and coaching will be providedContact Sherri at ssharpirvingbibleorg
Volunteer with Senior CareSenior Care at IBC has some needs Villages on
MacArthur needs Bible Study leaders as well asSaturday services leaders MacArthur Hills needsmusicianssingers and leaders for a spiritual serviceAshford Hall needs one-on-one visitors and Biblestudy leaders and gameactivities volunteers Con-tact Mike at Seniorcareirvingbibleorg
My ResourcesOnline Giving OptionIf you would find it more convenient to donate tothe ministries of Irving Bible Church online visitirvingbibleorggive FIND A PLACE TO SERVE
Yoursquove come a long way since that first breath mint Yoursquovebeen busy worshipping learning relating and committing
And itrsquos at this point that you might start looking around
at all the people who help create those events mdash ushers
greeters meal team members table hosts small group
leaders and the like Your next step now is to join them
Consider your passions talents and spiritual gifts and then
ask about a place to serve Visit irvingbibleorgserve
JOIN IN WORSHIPSo you found the address a place to park and a breath
mint on the way in Good work If yoursquore reading this
yoursquove probably already taken the first step mdash attending a
worship service This is the first and most important place
to start so keep coming Become a regular Make sure to
fill out a Newcomer Card Tell us a little about yourself and
let us know how we can engage with you Somebody will
reach out to you this week Visit irvingbibleorgconnect
Wersquore glad you asked Here are the steps to take for
having your questions answered figuring out the IBC story and if yoursquore feeling ready plugging in
CHECK OUT THE NEWCOMER GATHERINGSo yoursquore kicking the IBC tires Good Wersquore so glad yoursquore
here The Newcomer Gathering is a great opportunity to
meet church leadership learn what IBC is all about andconnect with other newbies in a fun relaxed environment
Next Newcomer Gathering January 21
SIGN UP FOR PROPELAll right Yoursquore feeling the IBC vibe and want to see
where you might get involved Propel is a 4-week class that
explores the IBC calling and culture and how your unique
personality and passions fit in Meet many of our pastors and
directors of ministries at IBC Next Propel February 7ndash28
JOIN A COMMUNITY Yoursquore firing on all cylinders but something is missing And
that something is a someone or a group of someones
Enter sermon-based Small Groups Womenrsquos Bible Study
First Watch and more We encourage you to find a group
and connect authentically with others
Visit irvingbibleorgadults
Start
HOW DO I GETCONNECTED AT IBC
FOR MORE INFO VISIT IRVINGBIBLEORGCONNECT OR LOOK
FOR THE NEWCOMER GUIDES AT THE INFORMATION DESK
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1920
Chatter | 19
If you are not seated please sit down If you are seated buckle up If you
are buckled up you may want to stop reading now if yoursquore prone to
carsickness Settled in Okay then The haphazard collection of words
currently assaulting your senses mdash both sight and common mdash is my 983095983091rd
and likely final column for Chatter I know I know Yoursquore probably in the
drive-thru at Chick-fil-A just now remembering that itrsquos Sunday and then this
happens So you are not only left wondering where you can satisfy your Bible-
blessed chicken jones but also from whence yoursquoll be able to scratch your itch
for elliptical sentence structures chock-a-block with obtuse wordification and
the occasional monthly reference to pastiness You need a hug
Sadly the Chatter editorial board enforces a strict no-touching (even emotion-
ally) policy on contributors of dubious complexion (therersquos your final pasty
reference) so wersquoll have to make do with a psychic fist bump But before I leave
you with Tim Hawkins as your lone source of Christian comedy (What do you
mean he already was) Irsquod like to take a few hundred words and ramble semi-
coherently about what the past 983094983097 ldquoIdle Chatterrdquo columns and 983092 ldquoInterview
with a Dead Guyrdquo exposeacutes have taught me If anything Hmmm
First Irsquove learned that itrsquos much easier to keep a position when the job is es-
sentially that of a volunteer Assuming you donrsquot count the few times I had to
slip an Old Navy coupon code to the editor (Julie now of the emeritus variety)
to get her to put down the metaphorical red pen (The literal red pen is the
Track Changes feature in Microsoft Word which I despise even more so than a
patchouli-soaked hippie Also I never could figure out which online emporium
discounts would convince her to let me discuss smiting hippies so wersquoll see if
the new ed lets that previous sentence fly) Anyway I assume my long tenure
was also aided by my ability to meet a deadline no matter how many times I
moved it and my penchant for mentioning my kids who are totes adorbs at
least in print
Irsquove learned that most fellow believers can take a joke In nearly seven years
of poking fun (And is poking ever really fun I think not) at some of the more
absurdist aspects of evangelical life mdash along with giving Moses the Twitter
handle MoHeston mdash I never received one letter email Tweet Snapchat
Vine video Facebook rant or gospel tract-based expression of displeasure
Sure only about three of you actually know who I am And my family attended
church in Frisco but farther north (as in past the Ikea) than most Irvingites
dare to drive Also we moved to Omaha three years ago Nonetheless I appre-
ciate your collective sense of humor andor Juliersquos restraint in forwarding me
complaints from the elders
Irsquod like to tell you I learned many deep life-changing Biblical truths over the
last 983094983095 of a decade but come on I think we can all agree that I either made up
most of my doctrinal claims or have since forgotten the ones that are true due
to my advancing fortysomethingness Which reminds me I never did base a
column on the Book of Lamentations Woe is me
Lastly Irsquove learned that I can spit out 983097983088983088 words on just about anything with-
out saying much of anything of value Case in point duly noted
And now since I still have about 983091983088983088 words to torture Irsquoll take a question Yesyou in the back with the pre-Etsy WWJD bracelet from 983089983097983097983095 My favorite col-
umns Well I could say thatrsquos like trying to choose your favorite child (the dog)
if having 983095983091 kids wouldnrsquot get me investigated by the Guinness World Records
folks (bunch of narcs) Instead Irsquoll go with my two poems Ballad for a High
School Youth Group Hayride (October 983090983088983089983092) and The Graven (October 983090983088983089983093)
my unearthing of Noahrsquos Twitter feed GopherWoodBoy (October 983090983088983088983097) my
ruminations on Pentecost Economy Sizing the Holy Spirit (May 983090983088983089983088) and my
homage to my dad on the occasion of his 983094983093th birthday Cool On the Inside (July
983090983088983089983088) There might be others I actually like more but I donrsquot have the patience
of a Job Billy Duggar to read them all Also you can find most of these at Scribd
comIrvingBibleChurch or JasonFoxnetIdleChatter
So This is the end For now at least Perhaps Irsquo ll pop up or in or over from
time to time to ruminate on weighty matters like why our Christmas tree top-
per looks like Celine Dion But for now I think itrsquos time to try something a little
different After so many attempts at we aving a little truth into the funny
I believe Irsquoll give weaving a little funny into the truth a go (Thatrsquos what I get for
actually studying my beliefs I guess) I doubt Irsquoll become this millenniumrsquos C S
Lewis but perhaps something of eternal value will emerge from it Hopefully
not damnation
But until we meet in the sweet by-and-by on that beautiful shore (look for my
totally boss conversion van customized by St Doober) I will simply thank you
for reading and leave you with one last bit of suspect theological advice Every
argument especially those on the internet can be won with the phrase ldquoWell
thatrsquos what it says in Habakkukrdquo Because it does
Jason Fox will miss you all except that creepy guy who cuts his fingernails
during the sermon and is proud his last column hit 983097983088983088 words exactly
Jason writes from Omaha Nebraska (well he used to) and can be harassed forevermore on
Twitter at jason_fox
ONCE MORE
WITH FEELING
Celine Dion is theyoungest of 14 children
In 2013 alone 200 millionlemons were squeezed to makeChick-fil-Arsquos fresh lemonade
Shhhh Donrsquot poke itNext month in February Chatter will be hibernating Itrsquos winter after all Plus it buys us some timeto come back in March with more Chatterish goodness than ever before Because more of a good
thing ishellipwell gooder than good grammar (Like we said we need some sleep)
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 2020
Chatterhellipyou CAN take it with you Send us
your Chatter photos on location and you may
see yourself in an upcoming issue Email us
at chatterirvingbibleorg
Chatter tags along as the Mechsner family weathers the ridiculouswinds on Mt Wellington in Hobart Tasmania We understand thatseconds after this shot Chatter decided to dispel the widely heldbelief that turkeys canrsquot fly Be free little guy Be free
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 820
Chatter | 8
HIGH SCHOOL
Life Groups Get involved
If your student hasnrsquot been involved in a Life Group this is the time to start
This is not just another program not just another event Life Groups are
central to your studentrsquos faith journey Our small groups (ldquoLife Groupsrdquo)
are made up of 983096-983089983088 students led by adults who love to pour into students
and guide them as they explore spiritual matters Students get to hang out
make new friends laugh a lot and explore the truths of the Bible We meeteach Sunday in the Student Ministries Area of IBC
Winter Retreat Sign up today
High School Winter Retreat is February 983089983090-983089983092 at Sky Ranch This is a great
getaway for your high schooler a time of rest and relationship-building
(What student doesnrsquot need that) Wersquoll welcome special speaker Kevin
Libick Middle School Pastor at Christ Chapel in Fort Worth
Beach Camp Mark your calendarItrsquos not just summer vacation Itrsquos a time for life transformation This is our
983095th year to go away together to the lovely beaches of Gulf Shores Alabama
and you wonrsquot want your student to miss it Whorsquos invited All current High
School students plus current 983096th graders Dates are July 983089983092ndashJuly 983089983096
Mission Trip Pray
If you and your student feel he or she is ready for a summer mission trip
this year now is the time to pray about which might be the best fit Packets
are due January 983089983088 Trips Albuquerque June 983089983088-983089983094 Honduras (Intergen-erational trip) July 983090983094-Aug 983089
MIDDLE SCHOOL
LOL (Life On Life) Get involved
Middle School Students need community more than anybody it seems
Thatrsquos why we have Life on Life a weekly small group gathering where kids
connect over Scripture and engaging conversation mdash all while having a great
time Life On Life meets weekly on Sundays in the Commons at 983089983088983091983088 am
Radius (Wednesday Nights at IBC) Get excited
At IBC we want to cultivate an atmosphere where students are excited to
bring their friends who may not have a church home Radius is a Wednesday
night experience for IBC middle schoolers and their friends that will include
teaching discussion groups worship and quarterly service projects
Planet Wisdom Mark your calendar
This is a canrsquot-miss conference for 983094th-983089983090th grade students The theme
this year is QUEST Discovering Myself in the Light of Christ IBC middle
school students will be attending the conference here at IBC on Feb 983090983094-983090983095
Beach Camp Make note of change (and get ready)
Middle School is NOT attending Beach Camp this summer This is new
this year Middle Schoolers will be attending Summer Camp closer to home
near Weatherford at Texas Star Ranch and Retreat Dates are June 983090983095ndash
July 983089 Camp will again be led by well-trained high schoolers
Mission Trips Sign up today
Your Middle Schooler wonrsquot want to miss this summerrsquos local mission trips
around DFW and San Antonio These are great opportunities for kids
to discover they can serve the less fortunate in their own backyards San
Antonio June 983094-983089983089 DFW area July 983090983094-983090983097
Students at IBC Cheat Sheet WE GET IT PARENTS You donrsquot have time to curl up on the couch with a good book Sometimes you need a sticky note a
Red Bull and a stopwatch mdash especially if yoursquove got teenagers So get fired up your iCal and settle in This wonrsquot take long You
might just earn an A in SpringSummer 983090983088983089983094
For more info about or to sign up for any of these upcoming events
visit irvingbibleorghighschool
For more info about or to sign up for any of these upcoming events
visit irvingbibleorgmiddleschool
Alabamarsquos coast is home toa massive monarch butterflymigration
Between Mars and Jupiter isa dwarf planet known as Ceresdiscovered in 1801
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 920
Chatter | 9
HEART BOX SUNDAY IS FEBRUARY 14 AT IBCOne of the core values of IBC is loving like Jesus This means tangiblyproviding for the needs of others including our partners For the secondyear in a row we have chosen to show this love around Valentinersquos Day byproviding for our local partners in practical ways
HEART BOXES will only be available in Town Square on Sunday February 983089983092
If you are unable to make the service that day they will be in our donation areafor a few days after
And if you get a chance say a big lsquothank yoursquo to Stacie Dugasrsquo Girl Scouts fordecorating our boxes so beautifully
Questions Contact Tricia at tkinsmanirvingbibleorg
FAMILY PROMISEtowels
THE MAIN PLACE boysmenrsquos
athletic shoes
MERCY STREETcopy paper
LAUNDRY LOVE laundry detergent
SCHOOL WORKSelementary boys
or girls tennisshoes and socks
THE GATEHOUSE womenrsquos and
childrenrsquos socksor slippers
MERCY HOUSEdiapers
NEW FRIENDSNEW LIFE
household cleanersand paper goods
BBMOI CRISISMINISTRIEScanned food
SENIOR CAREmenrsquos or womenrsquos
slippers
Join us by bringing one of the following new items to church onValentinersquos day February 983089983092 and depositing it in the appropriatebox in Town Square
In Victorian times it wasconsidered bad luck to sign a Valentinersquos Day card
According to BBC Science it cantake between 90 seconds and 4minutes to decide if we fancysomeone
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1020
Chatter | 10
IBC partner Debbie Lucien tells of a
boy on the verge of his future
In the summer months of 2001 a five-year-
old boy named Enel Previl was brought by
his family to a local church His parents had
been told that by doing so the boyrsquos photo wouldbe taken and perhaps with the help of some
foreign friends the school could pay its teachers
for the coming year His parents thought this was
a good thing When they later heard that some
people picked their sonrsquos photo for ongoing spon-
sorship they thought ldquoGod has opened a door for
him to go to schoolrdquo
With his brother and two sisters Enel start-
ed preschool walking through sunny andrainy days to begin learning about letters
The first person reputed to have walkedaround the world is George MatthewSchilling (USA) from 1897 to 1904
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1120
Chatter | 11
accept Christ and began discipling him Since
becoming a believer Enel has been active in the
choir and enjoys helping to lead worship at his
local church
While itrsquos taken a long time for him to complete
his studies Enel finally finished secondary
school at College de la Grace after 983089983095 years of
steady investment At the age of 983090983090 he now has
the equivalent of an Associatersquos Degree At the
recent graduation I recognized his name from
one of the first groups of children ever helped
through sponsorship He agreed to pose tall and
proud in his graduation robes with the school
founder (and my husband) Caleb Lucien I asked
Enel if he would stop by and talk to me the next
day about his future dreams and what he would
like to say to his sponsors
The next day a Saturday he greeted me e agerly
and told me he was so grateful for the help hissponsors had given him and his family They had
been faithful for 983089983095 years though hersquos never had
a chance to meet them And the fruit of their
generosity is evident Enel is the first member of
his family ever to finish high school He dreams
of becoming a doctor or an engineer but knows
it will take many years to accomplish such a goal
and he has no means other than his familyrsquos farm
But he is now fluent in two languages Creole and
French and has a firm opening into ldquosocietyrdquo as
we say here in Haiti He now looks me in the eyewhen we talk and speaks clearly about his faith
and his sense of responsibility he feels for the fu-
ture of his family Enel understands what a great
privilege he has received
He told me hersquos now waiting on the Lord to
see what doors will open for the future In the
meantime he would like to help area students
with their studies asking families to pay him
only what they can afford I encouraged him bysharing several stories of how we have seen God
work in the lives of other young people and how
often they have also had to wait for their next
steps to be made clear Finally we talked about
his sponsors Enel knew exactly what he would
say to them ldquoIrsquod like to tell them THANKS Irsquove
never had the chance to meet them but theyrsquove
helped me so muchrdquo I told him Irsquod be sharing his
graduation picture with them and would let them
know how theyrsquove blessed his life
Enel headed off that day back to his small home
where he lives with his mother and some un-
married siblings He walks tall and straight and
proudly knowing the God who took him this far
is able to help him arrive exactly where he needs
to be
Debbie Lucien has now lived longer in Haiti than
any other country shersquos inhabited Haiti 983090983090 years
US 983090983089 years Japan 983092 years Germany 983092 yearsYes she is as old as dirt
Born and raised overseas as the daughter of a military pilot
Debbie thought she knew the world But when she visited Haiti
at the age of 25 she realized that God was a lot bigger than she
thought After being courtedrecruited by Caleb she moved to
Haiti in 1993 and never escaped the adventure Follow her on
twitter at MadameCaleb
numbers and colors Each night upon returning
to his home of mud and sticks he would sleep
close to his five family members after doing
lessons or repeating his schoolwork back to
his parents
School continued with the help of donors who
kept his school open In fact it grew to house over
983093983088983088 students Initially meeting just under sticks
and thatch roof with no walls the students were
excited to see a 983093983088983088 square-foot cement block
building go up after a few years Now when it
was muddy outside the classrooms could still
stay clean Enel progressed slowly but surely
sometimes having to share the school supplies he
received through sponsorship with his b rothers
and sisters
In 983090983088983088983097 Enel was thrilled to be able to start
secondary school His sponsor had continued to
be faithful Enel had to walk a little further but
proudly wore the peach and tan uniform of the
upper division school of College de la Grace The
next year however was very hard for his family
Enelrsquos father who had long suffered with cardio-
vascular problems finally passed away leaving
the family with even fewer resources Enel says
that if it wasnrsquot for the financial help he received
through sponsorship he definitely would have
had to quit school as an 983096th grader But since he
had support his family saw clearly that God
had kept the door open for him to continue
his education
Two years later while discussing life with one
of his classmates and hearing many speakers
at church and school Enel decided to become
a Christian Enelrsquos friend Nesly mdash also a spon-sored student at the school mdash prayed with him to
HOSEAN INTERNATIONAL MINISTRIESIBC Partner HIM is a ministry by Haitians for Haitians HIM began in 983089983097983096983092 by Haitian National
Caleb Lucien with one purpose in mind transform lives by pointing people to Jesus Christ
through education life skills training and e conomic growth If you are interested in sponsoring
the education of a child like Enel visit hoseanorg
Enelrsquos firstsponsorship photo
Enel with Caleb Lucien
at Enelrsquos graduation
According to The World Bank morethan 200000 children in Haiti remainout of school
According to World Vision Haitiis currently the poorest country inthe Western Hemisphere
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1220
Chatter | 12
Small Groups at IBC have always been about cultivating deep
relationships that advance the kingdom of God in dark places
Sounds heroic but most of the time it looks simple mdash like a mug of
something hot a good talk about real things and a place to take off
your shoes Small Groups should always feel like home
Starting this month wersquoll officially start calling Small Groups at
IBC ldquoHome Groupsrdquo Most of our groups meet in homes anyway
and well home is what theyrsquore really all about mdash a place to be real
and a place to belong mdash even as the kingdom advances
Registration for winter Home Groups closes Feb 28 Groups begin
meeting March 20 Register today at irvingbibleorgsmallgroups
Come on in
Motel 6rsquos tagline ldquoWersquollleave the light on for yourdquois 50 years old
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1320
Chatter | 13
Mary Flo RidleyldquoParents we need to find our voicerdquo
Shersquos an internationallyknown speaker a featured
guest on numerous radio programs (including Focuson the Family) and writesregularly for ldquoDallas Child
Magazinerdquo Her topic Talk-ing to kids about sex As inYOU talking to YOUR kidsabout sex Yep Itrsquos a thing
Before IBC welcomes Mary Flo Ridley this month as a featured Shop Talk speaker
(January 983090983092) Chatter want-ed to catch up with her for a quick chat abouthellip wellhellipthe thing thatrsquos just so dang hard to chat ABOUThellip
CHATTER As parents wersquore really apprehensive about talking
openly with our kids about th is topic Whatrsquos at the heart of
that fear
MARY FLO RIDLEY Some parents fear speaking to their chil-
dren about sex because they were never taught by their own
parents They donrsquot know what this should look like or whatto say to a child Other parents are fearful that at some point
in these conversations they will reveal their own brokenness
in this area of their life and they feel vulnerable All parents
need encouragement when it comes to talking to their chil-
dren about sex and we as the church should equip the saints
for this task Pointing our children (and ourselves) to the
beauty of Godrsquos design can be seen as a privilege of parenting
CHATYoursquove been teaching on this topic for a long time Tell
us about what first motivated you to develop this training
MFR When I was growing up I was blessed with wonder-
ful parents but they never talked to me about sex When
Dave and I were new parents we decided we wanted to do
something a little bit differently and it led to the research and
strategy that I teach parents today
CHAT Mary Flo wersquore sure there are a lot of families at IBC
who would benefit from hearing your wisdom but some
might think itrsquos too late Maybe their kids are older or already
have particular knowledge or opinions about sex Would they
still benefit
MFR Itrsquos never too late Our children need and want to hear
our voices on this topic and they will be willing to set aside
some of the things that they have picked up from the culture
in order to listen to their parents They may roll their eyes but
they WANT to know not only the facts of biology but also why
this part of their life matters to God They need your wisdom
and they long to hear your thoughts As parents we need to
find our voice and speak to them
Does Talkingabout sex withyour kids feel
like facinga monsterMary Flo Ridley can help with
the horn fangs and halitosis
Shop Talk How to Talk about Sex with
your Children with Mary Flo Ridley
January 983090983092 983089983088983092983093 am in the West Wing
Weaving humor and personal stories throughout Mary
Flo Ridley helps parents shape the message they want to
convey to their children about sex Mary Flo guides par-
ents through the process of shaping their childrenrsquos sexual
education from an early age and brings helpful wisdom for
how to become the loving authority on all sexual matters
More info at irvingbibleorgparenting
The term ldquovocal cordsrdquo was coined in1741 by the French anatomist AntoineFerrein who compared them to thestrings of a violin Tregraves bien
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1420
Chatter | 14
UPCOMING
January
JANUARY 6
Radius Kickoff Join Middle School at IBC for their Wednesday night
program More info irvingbibleorgmiddleschool
Elementary Midweek Kickoff 630 pmA place for kids to connect with friends explore
Godrsquos word and have fun More info irvingbible
orgchildren
Midweek TableJoin high schoolers at local houses for dinner and
conversation More info irvingbibleorghighschool
JANUARY 9
Writerrsquos Workshop mdash 10 amJoin a community of people honing their writing
skills Contact doreillyirvingbibleorg
JANUARY 11
NAMI Family-to-Family ClassA course to educate familiescaregivers of those
with serious mental illness Contact joeynetbreeze-
inccom or eurmooreyahoocom
MHGA Family Grace GroupSupport group for familycaregivers of those with
serious mental illness More info irvingbibleorg
hopeandhealing
MHGA Living Grace GroupSupport group for those who suffer with mental ill-
ness More info irvingbibleorghopeandhealing
JANUARY 13
FPU BeginsSee ad pg 17
JANUARY 14
20|30s Kickoff
See ad pg 7
DivorceCare BeginsA group for those walking through the difficulty of
divorce More info irvingbibleorghopeandhealing
JANUARY 15
Mentoring Service Project mdash 9 amFor children (and parents) from single-parent fami-
lies We will be serving the elderly in our community
More info mtribbettirvingbibleorg
JANUARY 17
Marriage at IBC Kickoff See ad pg16
Honduras trip InformationSee ad pg 16
JANUARY 21
Newcomer Gatheringsee ad pg 17
JANUARY 24
Early Childhood Open HouseAll three servicesJoin us for the first 30 minutes of our Sunday
services for Children Experience worship hear the
Bible story and meet leaders More info jbjurlin
irvingbibleorg
Shop TalkMary Flo Ridley will join us to share ldquoHow to Talk
about Sex with your Childrenrdquo More info mcon-
norirvingbibleorg
JANUARY 31
The SummitAnnual Meeting1230 pmJoin us in West A for the Annual Meeting and enjoy
a complimentary lunch Register at irvingbibleorg
annualmeeting
FEBRUARY 6
Valentinersquos Dinner for Single-Parent Families mdash 6ndash9 pmEnjoy dinner dancing horse amp carriage rides
Register at irvingbibleorgsingleparents or withmtribbettirvingbibleorg
FEBRUARY 7
BaptismsTo register visit irvingbibleorgbaptism Mandatory
orientation held January 10 More info doreilly
irvingbibleorg
The Table beginsSee ad pg16
Propel BeginsGet connected at IBC through this four week course
More info at irvingbibleorgpropel
FEBRUARY 14
Child DedicationRegistration opens January 29 at irvingbibleorg
childdedication
Heart Box SundaySee ad pg 9
FEBRUARY 18GriefShare BeginsA caring group of people to walk alongside you
through one of lifersquos most difficult experiences More
info irvingbibleorghopeandhealing
February
by Jodie Niznik
Jesus has set you free Yet many of us donrsquot feel
free We feel bound by guilt and shame mdash certainour mishaps and mistakes discredit us before God
But if Jesus died on the cross for our sins didnrsquothe die for those things too Join us as we dig intoGalatians to discover what it really means to be set
free by Jesus
Date January ndashApril (not meeting March and due to spring break)
Time - am or - pm
Location e Commons IBC
Cost (includes workbook)
For more information and to register visit
irvingbibleorgwomen
KidZone registration is also available Registration
closes on January at noon or earlier if full
SPRING BIBLE STUDY
ONGOING MEALS
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1520
SUNDAYCOMMUNITY MEALS
6 pm mdash Town SquareMeals are $3 per person or $10maxfamily
13 No Meal Happy New Year
110 Beef fajitas chips and salsasalad bar
117 All American burgers andbrats salad bar
124 Giant baked potatoes withall the fixinrsquos salad bar
131 Chicken tenders mashed
potatoes and gravysalad bar
If yoursquod like to serve on a Sundaynight meal team contact PatOrsquoReilly at (214) 289-6176 or sun-daynightmealirvingbibleorg
WEDNESDAYMIDWEEK MEALS
5ndash620 PM
Cost is $3meal or $10 max family PBampJ sandwiches arealso available
16 Lasagna salad dessertHosted by Mike Gwartneyrsquosteam
113 Ham scalloped potatoesdessert Hosted by BobDowneyrsquos team
120 Enchiladas tacos chips andsalsa Hosted by BarbaraWittersquos team
127 Chicken quarters friesdessert Hosted by BobDowneyrsquos team
Changes to the menu may be madedepending on food cost availabilityand Bob Downeyrsquos whim
If yoursquod like to serve on a Wednes-day night meal team please emailbdowneyirvingbibleorg
CUPPA HOURS
MonndashFri 9 amndash8 pm
Saturday 11 amndash5 pm
Sunday 7 amndash7 pm
BIBLE COMMUNITIESGroups on Sunday
Synergy
9 am mdash The AlcoveAll Welcome
The Tree9 am mdash West D20s amp 30s married amp young families
Crossroads1045 am mdash West CCouples amp Families late 20s to 40s
Journey1045 am mdash The AlcoveAll Welcome
On Track1045 am mdash Conference RoomSingle Parents
Thrive1045 am mdash West DSingles in their 30s amp 40s
Renew1045 am mdash Training CenterAll Welcome
Legacy Builders645 pm mdash West A mdash All Welcome
CHILDRENInfants Through 5th Grade
Childrenrsquos Sunday Services9 am 1045 am 5 pm
Elementary MidweekBegins January 6 630ndash830 pmKids connect with friends andexplore Godrsquos word through smallgroups food fun Visit irvingbibleorgelementarymidweek
HOPE amp HEALINGCommunity Care
Abortion Recovery CounselingContact Kym at (972) 560-4632 orkyeichnerirvingbibleorg
GriefShare630 pm mdash West CContact shararringtonverizonnet
Recovery at IBCThursdays 630ndash830 pmWest Wing Youth LoungeA group for hurts habits andhangups irvingbibleorgrecovery
The Living Grace GroupFor those with mental illness ContactHeath at heathmurryyahoocom
Family Grace GroupFor familiescaregivers of those withmental illness Contact Buzz Moodyat myrabuzzgmailcom
NAMI Family-to-Family ClassContact Joey at joeynetbreezeinccomor Debra at eumooreyahoocom
Stephen Ministry at IBCOne-on-one ministry for hurtingpeople Contact stephenministryirvingbibleorg or call (972) 560-4636
Spousal Abuse RecoveryContact kyeichnerirvingbibleorg
MARRIAGEGrowing Together
Marriage at IBCContact marriageirvingbibleorg
Pre-Marriage Mentoring Visit irvingbibleorgmarriage
MENCommunity and Resources
First WatchFridays 622 am mdash The CommonsContact Nat at npughirvingbibleorg
First Watch ReplayTuesdays 630 pmTraining CenterContact brianarrington1yahoocom
First Watch XtraWednesday 630 amTraining CenterContact bcopehuntoilcom
Visit irvingbibleorgmen
MISSIONLocal and Global
Prayer Meeting
2nd and 4th Wednesdays645-8 pm mdash The Chapel
Laundry LoveFirst Saturday of the month9 amndash12 pmContact laundryloveirvingbibleorg
New Friends New LifeServe dinner to women healingfrom sexual exploitation every thirdWednesday Contact Christine atnewfriendsnewlifeirvingbibleorg
SINGLE PARENTCommunity and Resources
Sit with us on Sunday9 am service lowest right-handsection Rows 5 amp 6 facing the stage
Visit irvingbibleorgsingleparents
SPECIAL NEEDS
Community amp Care
Small Group for MomsSundays 9ndash1015 am
In His Image Bible StudySundays 630ndash745 pm
Small Group for ParentsWednesdays 630ndash8 pm
SonShine Pals and RoomCare during Sunday ministry
Contact specialneedsirvingbibleorg
STUDENTSMiddleHigh School and College
Middle School SundaysSundays mdash 1030 amndash1220 pmStudent Ministries area
High School SundaysSundays 645ndash8 pm
Student Ministries areaIBC College MinistrySundays 330 pmThe Commons AnnexContact collegeirvingbibleorg
High School MidweekWednesdaysJoin us for food and communitySee Facebook page for locations
Middle SchoolWednesdays 630 pmJoin us for a time of friendships
and teaching
WOMENCommunity and Resources
Womenrsquos Spring Bible StudyBeginning January 12Tuesdays 930 am or 630 pmThe CommonsJoin us as we study Proverbs Visitirvingbibleorgwomen
2435 KINWESTWednesday Nights at IBC
IBC ChoirWednesdays 7ndash830 pmIBC Worship CenterContact Crystal atcelwellirvingbibleorg
ESL English as a Second LanguageWednesdays 630ndash830 pm
Haven B C D
Citizenship ClassWednesdays 630ndash830 pmIBC Conference Room
IBC Career Transition MinistryWednesdays 630ndash830 pm
Microsoft Computer SkillsWednesdays 630ndash830 pmThe Training Center
Visit 2435kinwestorg
ONGOING MEALS
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1620
The Table is a place where skeptics and Christians alike can
pull up a chair around a table to explore God the Christian
faith and the hard questions of life It is a place where
questions are invited and welcomed and where people can
voice their doubts
Questions Contact jsteinirvingbibleorg
To register visit irvingbibleorgthetable
When am on February ndashMarch
Where The Living Room (formerly the MenrsquosConference Room)
Whether your marriage is sinking coastingalong or going full-throttle every marriageneeds some TLC
Marriage at IBC is a fun 983089983088-week course that focuses on the
big picture of marriage as well as practical application in the
everyday-life struggles of marriage While we cover important
topics like communication and conflict in-laws finances andsex we donrsquot go through a single class without laughing and hav-
ing a great time The class format is a speaker for a weekly topic
followed by small group time
Marriage at IBC Begins January 983089983095 983097 am The Commons
Register at irvingbibleorgmarriage
Already in an IBC small group Any existing IBC small groups are
welcome and able to participate and will receive all of the Marriage
at IBC resources and any level of support they desire
Questions Contact marriageirvingbibleorg
Join Mission at IBC for an informational about
our summer trip to Honduras We are looking
for medical professionals and teachers to work
with IBC partne r Workers Together With
God This will be an intergenerational trip with
IBCrsquos High School ministry
For more info please contact Lauren at
lmouossairvingbibleorg
HONDURASM I S S I O N T R I PInformational MeetingJANUARY 17
1230ndash2 pm in West D
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1720
HOW DO I GIVE HOW DO I GET
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1820
Chatter | 18
The name ldquoJanuaryrdquo comes from theLatin word for door (ianua) sinceJanuary is the door to the year
My Time Talents amp Skills
Facility Department VolunteersDo you enjoy swinging a hammer or helping doinstalls The IBC Facility Department could use yourhelp There are many projects where an extra set of
hands is needed So if you have experience work-ing in building electrical plumbing etc pleasecontact Rod Myers at rmyersirvingbibleorg
Meal Team VolunteersIBC makes meals available both Sunday andWednesday nights These fun teams could usesome additional volunteers to serve together ForSundays contact sundaynightmealirvingbibleorgFor Wednesdays contact bdowneyirvingbibleorg
Medical Professionals NeededOur weekly medical clinic needs professional healthcare providers (MD PA FNP) to provide treatment
for our patients Volunteers serve on a rotatingbasis and do not need to serve every week ContactCharles at cpierce2435clinicorg
Mentor Kids in Single-Parent FamiliesMen and women are needed for gender-specificmentoring of children from single-parent familiesContact Marsha at mtribbettirvingbibleorg
New Friends New LifeServe dinner to women healing from sexual exploita-tion (every third Wednesday) Contact Christine atnewfriendsnewlifeirvingbibleorg
Safety Team
Do you have a desire to serve and protect oth-ers Contact Christopher Watkins at cwatkinsirvingbibleorg Please include any credentials andrelevant experience
Visitor Follow-Up Team(Rex Greenstreet Ministry)We are looking for a volunteer to make calls orsend welcome emails (or both) to new vi sitors fromIBC Training and coaching will be providedContact Sherri at ssharpirvingbibleorg
Volunteer with Senior CareSenior Care at IBC has some needs Villages on
MacArthur needs Bible Study leaders as well asSaturday services leaders MacArthur Hills needsmusicianssingers and leaders for a spiritual serviceAshford Hall needs one-on-one visitors and Biblestudy leaders and gameactivities volunteers Con-tact Mike at Seniorcareirvingbibleorg
My ResourcesOnline Giving OptionIf you would find it more convenient to donate tothe ministries of Irving Bible Church online visitirvingbibleorggive FIND A PLACE TO SERVE
Yoursquove come a long way since that first breath mint Yoursquovebeen busy worshipping learning relating and committing
And itrsquos at this point that you might start looking around
at all the people who help create those events mdash ushers
greeters meal team members table hosts small group
leaders and the like Your next step now is to join them
Consider your passions talents and spiritual gifts and then
ask about a place to serve Visit irvingbibleorgserve
JOIN IN WORSHIPSo you found the address a place to park and a breath
mint on the way in Good work If yoursquore reading this
yoursquove probably already taken the first step mdash attending a
worship service This is the first and most important place
to start so keep coming Become a regular Make sure to
fill out a Newcomer Card Tell us a little about yourself and
let us know how we can engage with you Somebody will
reach out to you this week Visit irvingbibleorgconnect
Wersquore glad you asked Here are the steps to take for
having your questions answered figuring out the IBC story and if yoursquore feeling ready plugging in
CHECK OUT THE NEWCOMER GATHERINGSo yoursquore kicking the IBC tires Good Wersquore so glad yoursquore
here The Newcomer Gathering is a great opportunity to
meet church leadership learn what IBC is all about andconnect with other newbies in a fun relaxed environment
Next Newcomer Gathering January 21
SIGN UP FOR PROPELAll right Yoursquore feeling the IBC vibe and want to see
where you might get involved Propel is a 4-week class that
explores the IBC calling and culture and how your unique
personality and passions fit in Meet many of our pastors and
directors of ministries at IBC Next Propel February 7ndash28
JOIN A COMMUNITY Yoursquore firing on all cylinders but something is missing And
that something is a someone or a group of someones
Enter sermon-based Small Groups Womenrsquos Bible Study
First Watch and more We encourage you to find a group
and connect authentically with others
Visit irvingbibleorgadults
Start
HOW DO I GETCONNECTED AT IBC
FOR MORE INFO VISIT IRVINGBIBLEORGCONNECT OR LOOK
FOR THE NEWCOMER GUIDES AT THE INFORMATION DESK
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1920
Chatter | 19
If you are not seated please sit down If you are seated buckle up If you
are buckled up you may want to stop reading now if yoursquore prone to
carsickness Settled in Okay then The haphazard collection of words
currently assaulting your senses mdash both sight and common mdash is my 983095983091rd
and likely final column for Chatter I know I know Yoursquore probably in the
drive-thru at Chick-fil-A just now remembering that itrsquos Sunday and then this
happens So you are not only left wondering where you can satisfy your Bible-
blessed chicken jones but also from whence yoursquoll be able to scratch your itch
for elliptical sentence structures chock-a-block with obtuse wordification and
the occasional monthly reference to pastiness You need a hug
Sadly the Chatter editorial board enforces a strict no-touching (even emotion-
ally) policy on contributors of dubious complexion (therersquos your final pasty
reference) so wersquoll have to make do with a psychic fist bump But before I leave
you with Tim Hawkins as your lone source of Christian comedy (What do you
mean he already was) Irsquod like to take a few hundred words and ramble semi-
coherently about what the past 983094983097 ldquoIdle Chatterrdquo columns and 983092 ldquoInterview
with a Dead Guyrdquo exposeacutes have taught me If anything Hmmm
First Irsquove learned that itrsquos much easier to keep a position when the job is es-
sentially that of a volunteer Assuming you donrsquot count the few times I had to
slip an Old Navy coupon code to the editor (Julie now of the emeritus variety)
to get her to put down the metaphorical red pen (The literal red pen is the
Track Changes feature in Microsoft Word which I despise even more so than a
patchouli-soaked hippie Also I never could figure out which online emporium
discounts would convince her to let me discuss smiting hippies so wersquoll see if
the new ed lets that previous sentence fly) Anyway I assume my long tenure
was also aided by my ability to meet a deadline no matter how many times I
moved it and my penchant for mentioning my kids who are totes adorbs at
least in print
Irsquove learned that most fellow believers can take a joke In nearly seven years
of poking fun (And is poking ever really fun I think not) at some of the more
absurdist aspects of evangelical life mdash along with giving Moses the Twitter
handle MoHeston mdash I never received one letter email Tweet Snapchat
Vine video Facebook rant or gospel tract-based expression of displeasure
Sure only about three of you actually know who I am And my family attended
church in Frisco but farther north (as in past the Ikea) than most Irvingites
dare to drive Also we moved to Omaha three years ago Nonetheless I appre-
ciate your collective sense of humor andor Juliersquos restraint in forwarding me
complaints from the elders
Irsquod like to tell you I learned many deep life-changing Biblical truths over the
last 983094983095 of a decade but come on I think we can all agree that I either made up
most of my doctrinal claims or have since forgotten the ones that are true due
to my advancing fortysomethingness Which reminds me I never did base a
column on the Book of Lamentations Woe is me
Lastly Irsquove learned that I can spit out 983097983088983088 words on just about anything with-
out saying much of anything of value Case in point duly noted
And now since I still have about 983091983088983088 words to torture Irsquoll take a question Yesyou in the back with the pre-Etsy WWJD bracelet from 983089983097983097983095 My favorite col-
umns Well I could say thatrsquos like trying to choose your favorite child (the dog)
if having 983095983091 kids wouldnrsquot get me investigated by the Guinness World Records
folks (bunch of narcs) Instead Irsquoll go with my two poems Ballad for a High
School Youth Group Hayride (October 983090983088983089983092) and The Graven (October 983090983088983089983093)
my unearthing of Noahrsquos Twitter feed GopherWoodBoy (October 983090983088983088983097) my
ruminations on Pentecost Economy Sizing the Holy Spirit (May 983090983088983089983088) and my
homage to my dad on the occasion of his 983094983093th birthday Cool On the Inside (July
983090983088983089983088) There might be others I actually like more but I donrsquot have the patience
of a Job Billy Duggar to read them all Also you can find most of these at Scribd
comIrvingBibleChurch or JasonFoxnetIdleChatter
So This is the end For now at least Perhaps Irsquo ll pop up or in or over from
time to time to ruminate on weighty matters like why our Christmas tree top-
per looks like Celine Dion But for now I think itrsquos time to try something a little
different After so many attempts at we aving a little truth into the funny
I believe Irsquoll give weaving a little funny into the truth a go (Thatrsquos what I get for
actually studying my beliefs I guess) I doubt Irsquoll become this millenniumrsquos C S
Lewis but perhaps something of eternal value will emerge from it Hopefully
not damnation
But until we meet in the sweet by-and-by on that beautiful shore (look for my
totally boss conversion van customized by St Doober) I will simply thank you
for reading and leave you with one last bit of suspect theological advice Every
argument especially those on the internet can be won with the phrase ldquoWell
thatrsquos what it says in Habakkukrdquo Because it does
Jason Fox will miss you all except that creepy guy who cuts his fingernails
during the sermon and is proud his last column hit 983097983088983088 words exactly
Jason writes from Omaha Nebraska (well he used to) and can be harassed forevermore on
Twitter at jason_fox
ONCE MORE
WITH FEELING
Celine Dion is theyoungest of 14 children
In 2013 alone 200 millionlemons were squeezed to makeChick-fil-Arsquos fresh lemonade
Shhhh Donrsquot poke itNext month in February Chatter will be hibernating Itrsquos winter after all Plus it buys us some timeto come back in March with more Chatterish goodness than ever before Because more of a good
thing ishellipwell gooder than good grammar (Like we said we need some sleep)
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 2020
Chatterhellipyou CAN take it with you Send us
your Chatter photos on location and you may
see yourself in an upcoming issue Email us
at chatterirvingbibleorg
Chatter tags along as the Mechsner family weathers the ridiculouswinds on Mt Wellington in Hobart Tasmania We understand thatseconds after this shot Chatter decided to dispel the widely heldbelief that turkeys canrsquot fly Be free little guy Be free
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 920
Chatter | 9
HEART BOX SUNDAY IS FEBRUARY 14 AT IBCOne of the core values of IBC is loving like Jesus This means tangiblyproviding for the needs of others including our partners For the secondyear in a row we have chosen to show this love around Valentinersquos Day byproviding for our local partners in practical ways
HEART BOXES will only be available in Town Square on Sunday February 983089983092
If you are unable to make the service that day they will be in our donation areafor a few days after
And if you get a chance say a big lsquothank yoursquo to Stacie Dugasrsquo Girl Scouts fordecorating our boxes so beautifully
Questions Contact Tricia at tkinsmanirvingbibleorg
FAMILY PROMISEtowels
THE MAIN PLACE boysmenrsquos
athletic shoes
MERCY STREETcopy paper
LAUNDRY LOVE laundry detergent
SCHOOL WORKSelementary boys
or girls tennisshoes and socks
THE GATEHOUSE womenrsquos and
childrenrsquos socksor slippers
MERCY HOUSEdiapers
NEW FRIENDSNEW LIFE
household cleanersand paper goods
BBMOI CRISISMINISTRIEScanned food
SENIOR CAREmenrsquos or womenrsquos
slippers
Join us by bringing one of the following new items to church onValentinersquos day February 983089983092 and depositing it in the appropriatebox in Town Square
In Victorian times it wasconsidered bad luck to sign a Valentinersquos Day card
According to BBC Science it cantake between 90 seconds and 4minutes to decide if we fancysomeone
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1020
Chatter | 10
IBC partner Debbie Lucien tells of a
boy on the verge of his future
In the summer months of 2001 a five-year-
old boy named Enel Previl was brought by
his family to a local church His parents had
been told that by doing so the boyrsquos photo wouldbe taken and perhaps with the help of some
foreign friends the school could pay its teachers
for the coming year His parents thought this was
a good thing When they later heard that some
people picked their sonrsquos photo for ongoing spon-
sorship they thought ldquoGod has opened a door for
him to go to schoolrdquo
With his brother and two sisters Enel start-
ed preschool walking through sunny andrainy days to begin learning about letters
The first person reputed to have walkedaround the world is George MatthewSchilling (USA) from 1897 to 1904
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1120
Chatter | 11
accept Christ and began discipling him Since
becoming a believer Enel has been active in the
choir and enjoys helping to lead worship at his
local church
While itrsquos taken a long time for him to complete
his studies Enel finally finished secondary
school at College de la Grace after 983089983095 years of
steady investment At the age of 983090983090 he now has
the equivalent of an Associatersquos Degree At the
recent graduation I recognized his name from
one of the first groups of children ever helped
through sponsorship He agreed to pose tall and
proud in his graduation robes with the school
founder (and my husband) Caleb Lucien I asked
Enel if he would stop by and talk to me the next
day about his future dreams and what he would
like to say to his sponsors
The next day a Saturday he greeted me e agerly
and told me he was so grateful for the help hissponsors had given him and his family They had
been faithful for 983089983095 years though hersquos never had
a chance to meet them And the fruit of their
generosity is evident Enel is the first member of
his family ever to finish high school He dreams
of becoming a doctor or an engineer but knows
it will take many years to accomplish such a goal
and he has no means other than his familyrsquos farm
But he is now fluent in two languages Creole and
French and has a firm opening into ldquosocietyrdquo as
we say here in Haiti He now looks me in the eyewhen we talk and speaks clearly about his faith
and his sense of responsibility he feels for the fu-
ture of his family Enel understands what a great
privilege he has received
He told me hersquos now waiting on the Lord to
see what doors will open for the future In the
meantime he would like to help area students
with their studies asking families to pay him
only what they can afford I encouraged him bysharing several stories of how we have seen God
work in the lives of other young people and how
often they have also had to wait for their next
steps to be made clear Finally we talked about
his sponsors Enel knew exactly what he would
say to them ldquoIrsquod like to tell them THANKS Irsquove
never had the chance to meet them but theyrsquove
helped me so muchrdquo I told him Irsquod be sharing his
graduation picture with them and would let them
know how theyrsquove blessed his life
Enel headed off that day back to his small home
where he lives with his mother and some un-
married siblings He walks tall and straight and
proudly knowing the God who took him this far
is able to help him arrive exactly where he needs
to be
Debbie Lucien has now lived longer in Haiti than
any other country shersquos inhabited Haiti 983090983090 years
US 983090983089 years Japan 983092 years Germany 983092 yearsYes she is as old as dirt
Born and raised overseas as the daughter of a military pilot
Debbie thought she knew the world But when she visited Haiti
at the age of 25 she realized that God was a lot bigger than she
thought After being courtedrecruited by Caleb she moved to
Haiti in 1993 and never escaped the adventure Follow her on
twitter at MadameCaleb
numbers and colors Each night upon returning
to his home of mud and sticks he would sleep
close to his five family members after doing
lessons or repeating his schoolwork back to
his parents
School continued with the help of donors who
kept his school open In fact it grew to house over
983093983088983088 students Initially meeting just under sticks
and thatch roof with no walls the students were
excited to see a 983093983088983088 square-foot cement block
building go up after a few years Now when it
was muddy outside the classrooms could still
stay clean Enel progressed slowly but surely
sometimes having to share the school supplies he
received through sponsorship with his b rothers
and sisters
In 983090983088983088983097 Enel was thrilled to be able to start
secondary school His sponsor had continued to
be faithful Enel had to walk a little further but
proudly wore the peach and tan uniform of the
upper division school of College de la Grace The
next year however was very hard for his family
Enelrsquos father who had long suffered with cardio-
vascular problems finally passed away leaving
the family with even fewer resources Enel says
that if it wasnrsquot for the financial help he received
through sponsorship he definitely would have
had to quit school as an 983096th grader But since he
had support his family saw clearly that God
had kept the door open for him to continue
his education
Two years later while discussing life with one
of his classmates and hearing many speakers
at church and school Enel decided to become
a Christian Enelrsquos friend Nesly mdash also a spon-sored student at the school mdash prayed with him to
HOSEAN INTERNATIONAL MINISTRIESIBC Partner HIM is a ministry by Haitians for Haitians HIM began in 983089983097983096983092 by Haitian National
Caleb Lucien with one purpose in mind transform lives by pointing people to Jesus Christ
through education life skills training and e conomic growth If you are interested in sponsoring
the education of a child like Enel visit hoseanorg
Enelrsquos firstsponsorship photo
Enel with Caleb Lucien
at Enelrsquos graduation
According to The World Bank morethan 200000 children in Haiti remainout of school
According to World Vision Haitiis currently the poorest country inthe Western Hemisphere
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1220
Chatter | 12
Small Groups at IBC have always been about cultivating deep
relationships that advance the kingdom of God in dark places
Sounds heroic but most of the time it looks simple mdash like a mug of
something hot a good talk about real things and a place to take off
your shoes Small Groups should always feel like home
Starting this month wersquoll officially start calling Small Groups at
IBC ldquoHome Groupsrdquo Most of our groups meet in homes anyway
and well home is what theyrsquore really all about mdash a place to be real
and a place to belong mdash even as the kingdom advances
Registration for winter Home Groups closes Feb 28 Groups begin
meeting March 20 Register today at irvingbibleorgsmallgroups
Come on in
Motel 6rsquos tagline ldquoWersquollleave the light on for yourdquois 50 years old
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1320
Chatter | 13
Mary Flo RidleyldquoParents we need to find our voicerdquo
Shersquos an internationallyknown speaker a featured
guest on numerous radio programs (including Focuson the Family) and writesregularly for ldquoDallas Child
Magazinerdquo Her topic Talk-ing to kids about sex As inYOU talking to YOUR kidsabout sex Yep Itrsquos a thing
Before IBC welcomes Mary Flo Ridley this month as a featured Shop Talk speaker
(January 983090983092) Chatter want-ed to catch up with her for a quick chat abouthellip wellhellipthe thing thatrsquos just so dang hard to chat ABOUThellip
CHATTER As parents wersquore really apprehensive about talking
openly with our kids about th is topic Whatrsquos at the heart of
that fear
MARY FLO RIDLEY Some parents fear speaking to their chil-
dren about sex because they were never taught by their own
parents They donrsquot know what this should look like or whatto say to a child Other parents are fearful that at some point
in these conversations they will reveal their own brokenness
in this area of their life and they feel vulnerable All parents
need encouragement when it comes to talking to their chil-
dren about sex and we as the church should equip the saints
for this task Pointing our children (and ourselves) to the
beauty of Godrsquos design can be seen as a privilege of parenting
CHATYoursquove been teaching on this topic for a long time Tell
us about what first motivated you to develop this training
MFR When I was growing up I was blessed with wonder-
ful parents but they never talked to me about sex When
Dave and I were new parents we decided we wanted to do
something a little bit differently and it led to the research and
strategy that I teach parents today
CHAT Mary Flo wersquore sure there are a lot of families at IBC
who would benefit from hearing your wisdom but some
might think itrsquos too late Maybe their kids are older or already
have particular knowledge or opinions about sex Would they
still benefit
MFR Itrsquos never too late Our children need and want to hear
our voices on this topic and they will be willing to set aside
some of the things that they have picked up from the culture
in order to listen to their parents They may roll their eyes but
they WANT to know not only the facts of biology but also why
this part of their life matters to God They need your wisdom
and they long to hear your thoughts As parents we need to
find our voice and speak to them
Does Talkingabout sex withyour kids feel
like facinga monsterMary Flo Ridley can help with
the horn fangs and halitosis
Shop Talk How to Talk about Sex with
your Children with Mary Flo Ridley
January 983090983092 983089983088983092983093 am in the West Wing
Weaving humor and personal stories throughout Mary
Flo Ridley helps parents shape the message they want to
convey to their children about sex Mary Flo guides par-
ents through the process of shaping their childrenrsquos sexual
education from an early age and brings helpful wisdom for
how to become the loving authority on all sexual matters
More info at irvingbibleorgparenting
The term ldquovocal cordsrdquo was coined in1741 by the French anatomist AntoineFerrein who compared them to thestrings of a violin Tregraves bien
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1420
Chatter | 14
UPCOMING
January
JANUARY 6
Radius Kickoff Join Middle School at IBC for their Wednesday night
program More info irvingbibleorgmiddleschool
Elementary Midweek Kickoff 630 pmA place for kids to connect with friends explore
Godrsquos word and have fun More info irvingbible
orgchildren
Midweek TableJoin high schoolers at local houses for dinner and
conversation More info irvingbibleorghighschool
JANUARY 9
Writerrsquos Workshop mdash 10 amJoin a community of people honing their writing
skills Contact doreillyirvingbibleorg
JANUARY 11
NAMI Family-to-Family ClassA course to educate familiescaregivers of those
with serious mental illness Contact joeynetbreeze-
inccom or eurmooreyahoocom
MHGA Family Grace GroupSupport group for familycaregivers of those with
serious mental illness More info irvingbibleorg
hopeandhealing
MHGA Living Grace GroupSupport group for those who suffer with mental ill-
ness More info irvingbibleorghopeandhealing
JANUARY 13
FPU BeginsSee ad pg 17
JANUARY 14
20|30s Kickoff
See ad pg 7
DivorceCare BeginsA group for those walking through the difficulty of
divorce More info irvingbibleorghopeandhealing
JANUARY 15
Mentoring Service Project mdash 9 amFor children (and parents) from single-parent fami-
lies We will be serving the elderly in our community
More info mtribbettirvingbibleorg
JANUARY 17
Marriage at IBC Kickoff See ad pg16
Honduras trip InformationSee ad pg 16
JANUARY 21
Newcomer Gatheringsee ad pg 17
JANUARY 24
Early Childhood Open HouseAll three servicesJoin us for the first 30 minutes of our Sunday
services for Children Experience worship hear the
Bible story and meet leaders More info jbjurlin
irvingbibleorg
Shop TalkMary Flo Ridley will join us to share ldquoHow to Talk
about Sex with your Childrenrdquo More info mcon-
norirvingbibleorg
JANUARY 31
The SummitAnnual Meeting1230 pmJoin us in West A for the Annual Meeting and enjoy
a complimentary lunch Register at irvingbibleorg
annualmeeting
FEBRUARY 6
Valentinersquos Dinner for Single-Parent Families mdash 6ndash9 pmEnjoy dinner dancing horse amp carriage rides
Register at irvingbibleorgsingleparents or withmtribbettirvingbibleorg
FEBRUARY 7
BaptismsTo register visit irvingbibleorgbaptism Mandatory
orientation held January 10 More info doreilly
irvingbibleorg
The Table beginsSee ad pg16
Propel BeginsGet connected at IBC through this four week course
More info at irvingbibleorgpropel
FEBRUARY 14
Child DedicationRegistration opens January 29 at irvingbibleorg
childdedication
Heart Box SundaySee ad pg 9
FEBRUARY 18GriefShare BeginsA caring group of people to walk alongside you
through one of lifersquos most difficult experiences More
info irvingbibleorghopeandhealing
February
by Jodie Niznik
Jesus has set you free Yet many of us donrsquot feel
free We feel bound by guilt and shame mdash certainour mishaps and mistakes discredit us before God
But if Jesus died on the cross for our sins didnrsquothe die for those things too Join us as we dig intoGalatians to discover what it really means to be set
free by Jesus
Date January ndashApril (not meeting March and due to spring break)
Time - am or - pm
Location e Commons IBC
Cost (includes workbook)
For more information and to register visit
irvingbibleorgwomen
KidZone registration is also available Registration
closes on January at noon or earlier if full
SPRING BIBLE STUDY
ONGOING MEALS
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1520
SUNDAYCOMMUNITY MEALS
6 pm mdash Town SquareMeals are $3 per person or $10maxfamily
13 No Meal Happy New Year
110 Beef fajitas chips and salsasalad bar
117 All American burgers andbrats salad bar
124 Giant baked potatoes withall the fixinrsquos salad bar
131 Chicken tenders mashed
potatoes and gravysalad bar
If yoursquod like to serve on a Sundaynight meal team contact PatOrsquoReilly at (214) 289-6176 or sun-daynightmealirvingbibleorg
WEDNESDAYMIDWEEK MEALS
5ndash620 PM
Cost is $3meal or $10 max family PBampJ sandwiches arealso available
16 Lasagna salad dessertHosted by Mike Gwartneyrsquosteam
113 Ham scalloped potatoesdessert Hosted by BobDowneyrsquos team
120 Enchiladas tacos chips andsalsa Hosted by BarbaraWittersquos team
127 Chicken quarters friesdessert Hosted by BobDowneyrsquos team
Changes to the menu may be madedepending on food cost availabilityand Bob Downeyrsquos whim
If yoursquod like to serve on a Wednes-day night meal team please emailbdowneyirvingbibleorg
CUPPA HOURS
MonndashFri 9 amndash8 pm
Saturday 11 amndash5 pm
Sunday 7 amndash7 pm
BIBLE COMMUNITIESGroups on Sunday
Synergy
9 am mdash The AlcoveAll Welcome
The Tree9 am mdash West D20s amp 30s married amp young families
Crossroads1045 am mdash West CCouples amp Families late 20s to 40s
Journey1045 am mdash The AlcoveAll Welcome
On Track1045 am mdash Conference RoomSingle Parents
Thrive1045 am mdash West DSingles in their 30s amp 40s
Renew1045 am mdash Training CenterAll Welcome
Legacy Builders645 pm mdash West A mdash All Welcome
CHILDRENInfants Through 5th Grade
Childrenrsquos Sunday Services9 am 1045 am 5 pm
Elementary MidweekBegins January 6 630ndash830 pmKids connect with friends andexplore Godrsquos word through smallgroups food fun Visit irvingbibleorgelementarymidweek
HOPE amp HEALINGCommunity Care
Abortion Recovery CounselingContact Kym at (972) 560-4632 orkyeichnerirvingbibleorg
GriefShare630 pm mdash West CContact shararringtonverizonnet
Recovery at IBCThursdays 630ndash830 pmWest Wing Youth LoungeA group for hurts habits andhangups irvingbibleorgrecovery
The Living Grace GroupFor those with mental illness ContactHeath at heathmurryyahoocom
Family Grace GroupFor familiescaregivers of those withmental illness Contact Buzz Moodyat myrabuzzgmailcom
NAMI Family-to-Family ClassContact Joey at joeynetbreezeinccomor Debra at eumooreyahoocom
Stephen Ministry at IBCOne-on-one ministry for hurtingpeople Contact stephenministryirvingbibleorg or call (972) 560-4636
Spousal Abuse RecoveryContact kyeichnerirvingbibleorg
MARRIAGEGrowing Together
Marriage at IBCContact marriageirvingbibleorg
Pre-Marriage Mentoring Visit irvingbibleorgmarriage
MENCommunity and Resources
First WatchFridays 622 am mdash The CommonsContact Nat at npughirvingbibleorg
First Watch ReplayTuesdays 630 pmTraining CenterContact brianarrington1yahoocom
First Watch XtraWednesday 630 amTraining CenterContact bcopehuntoilcom
Visit irvingbibleorgmen
MISSIONLocal and Global
Prayer Meeting
2nd and 4th Wednesdays645-8 pm mdash The Chapel
Laundry LoveFirst Saturday of the month9 amndash12 pmContact laundryloveirvingbibleorg
New Friends New LifeServe dinner to women healingfrom sexual exploitation every thirdWednesday Contact Christine atnewfriendsnewlifeirvingbibleorg
SINGLE PARENTCommunity and Resources
Sit with us on Sunday9 am service lowest right-handsection Rows 5 amp 6 facing the stage
Visit irvingbibleorgsingleparents
SPECIAL NEEDS
Community amp Care
Small Group for MomsSundays 9ndash1015 am
In His Image Bible StudySundays 630ndash745 pm
Small Group for ParentsWednesdays 630ndash8 pm
SonShine Pals and RoomCare during Sunday ministry
Contact specialneedsirvingbibleorg
STUDENTSMiddleHigh School and College
Middle School SundaysSundays mdash 1030 amndash1220 pmStudent Ministries area
High School SundaysSundays 645ndash8 pm
Student Ministries areaIBC College MinistrySundays 330 pmThe Commons AnnexContact collegeirvingbibleorg
High School MidweekWednesdaysJoin us for food and communitySee Facebook page for locations
Middle SchoolWednesdays 630 pmJoin us for a time of friendships
and teaching
WOMENCommunity and Resources
Womenrsquos Spring Bible StudyBeginning January 12Tuesdays 930 am or 630 pmThe CommonsJoin us as we study Proverbs Visitirvingbibleorgwomen
2435 KINWESTWednesday Nights at IBC
IBC ChoirWednesdays 7ndash830 pmIBC Worship CenterContact Crystal atcelwellirvingbibleorg
ESL English as a Second LanguageWednesdays 630ndash830 pm
Haven B C D
Citizenship ClassWednesdays 630ndash830 pmIBC Conference Room
IBC Career Transition MinistryWednesdays 630ndash830 pm
Microsoft Computer SkillsWednesdays 630ndash830 pmThe Training Center
Visit 2435kinwestorg
ONGOING MEALS
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1620
The Table is a place where skeptics and Christians alike can
pull up a chair around a table to explore God the Christian
faith and the hard questions of life It is a place where
questions are invited and welcomed and where people can
voice their doubts
Questions Contact jsteinirvingbibleorg
To register visit irvingbibleorgthetable
When am on February ndashMarch
Where The Living Room (formerly the MenrsquosConference Room)
Whether your marriage is sinking coastingalong or going full-throttle every marriageneeds some TLC
Marriage at IBC is a fun 983089983088-week course that focuses on the
big picture of marriage as well as practical application in the
everyday-life struggles of marriage While we cover important
topics like communication and conflict in-laws finances andsex we donrsquot go through a single class without laughing and hav-
ing a great time The class format is a speaker for a weekly topic
followed by small group time
Marriage at IBC Begins January 983089983095 983097 am The Commons
Register at irvingbibleorgmarriage
Already in an IBC small group Any existing IBC small groups are
welcome and able to participate and will receive all of the Marriage
at IBC resources and any level of support they desire
Questions Contact marriageirvingbibleorg
Join Mission at IBC for an informational about
our summer trip to Honduras We are looking
for medical professionals and teachers to work
with IBC partne r Workers Together With
God This will be an intergenerational trip with
IBCrsquos High School ministry
For more info please contact Lauren at
lmouossairvingbibleorg
HONDURASM I S S I O N T R I PInformational MeetingJANUARY 17
1230ndash2 pm in West D
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1720
HOW DO I GIVE HOW DO I GET
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1820
Chatter | 18
The name ldquoJanuaryrdquo comes from theLatin word for door (ianua) sinceJanuary is the door to the year
My Time Talents amp Skills
Facility Department VolunteersDo you enjoy swinging a hammer or helping doinstalls The IBC Facility Department could use yourhelp There are many projects where an extra set of
hands is needed So if you have experience work-ing in building electrical plumbing etc pleasecontact Rod Myers at rmyersirvingbibleorg
Meal Team VolunteersIBC makes meals available both Sunday andWednesday nights These fun teams could usesome additional volunteers to serve together ForSundays contact sundaynightmealirvingbibleorgFor Wednesdays contact bdowneyirvingbibleorg
Medical Professionals NeededOur weekly medical clinic needs professional healthcare providers (MD PA FNP) to provide treatment
for our patients Volunteers serve on a rotatingbasis and do not need to serve every week ContactCharles at cpierce2435clinicorg
Mentor Kids in Single-Parent FamiliesMen and women are needed for gender-specificmentoring of children from single-parent familiesContact Marsha at mtribbettirvingbibleorg
New Friends New LifeServe dinner to women healing from sexual exploita-tion (every third Wednesday) Contact Christine atnewfriendsnewlifeirvingbibleorg
Safety Team
Do you have a desire to serve and protect oth-ers Contact Christopher Watkins at cwatkinsirvingbibleorg Please include any credentials andrelevant experience
Visitor Follow-Up Team(Rex Greenstreet Ministry)We are looking for a volunteer to make calls orsend welcome emails (or both) to new vi sitors fromIBC Training and coaching will be providedContact Sherri at ssharpirvingbibleorg
Volunteer with Senior CareSenior Care at IBC has some needs Villages on
MacArthur needs Bible Study leaders as well asSaturday services leaders MacArthur Hills needsmusicianssingers and leaders for a spiritual serviceAshford Hall needs one-on-one visitors and Biblestudy leaders and gameactivities volunteers Con-tact Mike at Seniorcareirvingbibleorg
My ResourcesOnline Giving OptionIf you would find it more convenient to donate tothe ministries of Irving Bible Church online visitirvingbibleorggive FIND A PLACE TO SERVE
Yoursquove come a long way since that first breath mint Yoursquovebeen busy worshipping learning relating and committing
And itrsquos at this point that you might start looking around
at all the people who help create those events mdash ushers
greeters meal team members table hosts small group
leaders and the like Your next step now is to join them
Consider your passions talents and spiritual gifts and then
ask about a place to serve Visit irvingbibleorgserve
JOIN IN WORSHIPSo you found the address a place to park and a breath
mint on the way in Good work If yoursquore reading this
yoursquove probably already taken the first step mdash attending a
worship service This is the first and most important place
to start so keep coming Become a regular Make sure to
fill out a Newcomer Card Tell us a little about yourself and
let us know how we can engage with you Somebody will
reach out to you this week Visit irvingbibleorgconnect
Wersquore glad you asked Here are the steps to take for
having your questions answered figuring out the IBC story and if yoursquore feeling ready plugging in
CHECK OUT THE NEWCOMER GATHERINGSo yoursquore kicking the IBC tires Good Wersquore so glad yoursquore
here The Newcomer Gathering is a great opportunity to
meet church leadership learn what IBC is all about andconnect with other newbies in a fun relaxed environment
Next Newcomer Gathering January 21
SIGN UP FOR PROPELAll right Yoursquore feeling the IBC vibe and want to see
where you might get involved Propel is a 4-week class that
explores the IBC calling and culture and how your unique
personality and passions fit in Meet many of our pastors and
directors of ministries at IBC Next Propel February 7ndash28
JOIN A COMMUNITY Yoursquore firing on all cylinders but something is missing And
that something is a someone or a group of someones
Enter sermon-based Small Groups Womenrsquos Bible Study
First Watch and more We encourage you to find a group
and connect authentically with others
Visit irvingbibleorgadults
Start
HOW DO I GETCONNECTED AT IBC
FOR MORE INFO VISIT IRVINGBIBLEORGCONNECT OR LOOK
FOR THE NEWCOMER GUIDES AT THE INFORMATION DESK
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1920
Chatter | 19
If you are not seated please sit down If you are seated buckle up If you
are buckled up you may want to stop reading now if yoursquore prone to
carsickness Settled in Okay then The haphazard collection of words
currently assaulting your senses mdash both sight and common mdash is my 983095983091rd
and likely final column for Chatter I know I know Yoursquore probably in the
drive-thru at Chick-fil-A just now remembering that itrsquos Sunday and then this
happens So you are not only left wondering where you can satisfy your Bible-
blessed chicken jones but also from whence yoursquoll be able to scratch your itch
for elliptical sentence structures chock-a-block with obtuse wordification and
the occasional monthly reference to pastiness You need a hug
Sadly the Chatter editorial board enforces a strict no-touching (even emotion-
ally) policy on contributors of dubious complexion (therersquos your final pasty
reference) so wersquoll have to make do with a psychic fist bump But before I leave
you with Tim Hawkins as your lone source of Christian comedy (What do you
mean he already was) Irsquod like to take a few hundred words and ramble semi-
coherently about what the past 983094983097 ldquoIdle Chatterrdquo columns and 983092 ldquoInterview
with a Dead Guyrdquo exposeacutes have taught me If anything Hmmm
First Irsquove learned that itrsquos much easier to keep a position when the job is es-
sentially that of a volunteer Assuming you donrsquot count the few times I had to
slip an Old Navy coupon code to the editor (Julie now of the emeritus variety)
to get her to put down the metaphorical red pen (The literal red pen is the
Track Changes feature in Microsoft Word which I despise even more so than a
patchouli-soaked hippie Also I never could figure out which online emporium
discounts would convince her to let me discuss smiting hippies so wersquoll see if
the new ed lets that previous sentence fly) Anyway I assume my long tenure
was also aided by my ability to meet a deadline no matter how many times I
moved it and my penchant for mentioning my kids who are totes adorbs at
least in print
Irsquove learned that most fellow believers can take a joke In nearly seven years
of poking fun (And is poking ever really fun I think not) at some of the more
absurdist aspects of evangelical life mdash along with giving Moses the Twitter
handle MoHeston mdash I never received one letter email Tweet Snapchat
Vine video Facebook rant or gospel tract-based expression of displeasure
Sure only about three of you actually know who I am And my family attended
church in Frisco but farther north (as in past the Ikea) than most Irvingites
dare to drive Also we moved to Omaha three years ago Nonetheless I appre-
ciate your collective sense of humor andor Juliersquos restraint in forwarding me
complaints from the elders
Irsquod like to tell you I learned many deep life-changing Biblical truths over the
last 983094983095 of a decade but come on I think we can all agree that I either made up
most of my doctrinal claims or have since forgotten the ones that are true due
to my advancing fortysomethingness Which reminds me I never did base a
column on the Book of Lamentations Woe is me
Lastly Irsquove learned that I can spit out 983097983088983088 words on just about anything with-
out saying much of anything of value Case in point duly noted
And now since I still have about 983091983088983088 words to torture Irsquoll take a question Yesyou in the back with the pre-Etsy WWJD bracelet from 983089983097983097983095 My favorite col-
umns Well I could say thatrsquos like trying to choose your favorite child (the dog)
if having 983095983091 kids wouldnrsquot get me investigated by the Guinness World Records
folks (bunch of narcs) Instead Irsquoll go with my two poems Ballad for a High
School Youth Group Hayride (October 983090983088983089983092) and The Graven (October 983090983088983089983093)
my unearthing of Noahrsquos Twitter feed GopherWoodBoy (October 983090983088983088983097) my
ruminations on Pentecost Economy Sizing the Holy Spirit (May 983090983088983089983088) and my
homage to my dad on the occasion of his 983094983093th birthday Cool On the Inside (July
983090983088983089983088) There might be others I actually like more but I donrsquot have the patience
of a Job Billy Duggar to read them all Also you can find most of these at Scribd
comIrvingBibleChurch or JasonFoxnetIdleChatter
So This is the end For now at least Perhaps Irsquo ll pop up or in or over from
time to time to ruminate on weighty matters like why our Christmas tree top-
per looks like Celine Dion But for now I think itrsquos time to try something a little
different After so many attempts at we aving a little truth into the funny
I believe Irsquoll give weaving a little funny into the truth a go (Thatrsquos what I get for
actually studying my beliefs I guess) I doubt Irsquoll become this millenniumrsquos C S
Lewis but perhaps something of eternal value will emerge from it Hopefully
not damnation
But until we meet in the sweet by-and-by on that beautiful shore (look for my
totally boss conversion van customized by St Doober) I will simply thank you
for reading and leave you with one last bit of suspect theological advice Every
argument especially those on the internet can be won with the phrase ldquoWell
thatrsquos what it says in Habakkukrdquo Because it does
Jason Fox will miss you all except that creepy guy who cuts his fingernails
during the sermon and is proud his last column hit 983097983088983088 words exactly
Jason writes from Omaha Nebraska (well he used to) and can be harassed forevermore on
Twitter at jason_fox
ONCE MORE
WITH FEELING
Celine Dion is theyoungest of 14 children
In 2013 alone 200 millionlemons were squeezed to makeChick-fil-Arsquos fresh lemonade
Shhhh Donrsquot poke itNext month in February Chatter will be hibernating Itrsquos winter after all Plus it buys us some timeto come back in March with more Chatterish goodness than ever before Because more of a good
thing ishellipwell gooder than good grammar (Like we said we need some sleep)
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 2020
Chatterhellipyou CAN take it with you Send us
your Chatter photos on location and you may
see yourself in an upcoming issue Email us
at chatterirvingbibleorg
Chatter tags along as the Mechsner family weathers the ridiculouswinds on Mt Wellington in Hobart Tasmania We understand thatseconds after this shot Chatter decided to dispel the widely heldbelief that turkeys canrsquot fly Be free little guy Be free
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1020
Chatter | 10
IBC partner Debbie Lucien tells of a
boy on the verge of his future
In the summer months of 2001 a five-year-
old boy named Enel Previl was brought by
his family to a local church His parents had
been told that by doing so the boyrsquos photo wouldbe taken and perhaps with the help of some
foreign friends the school could pay its teachers
for the coming year His parents thought this was
a good thing When they later heard that some
people picked their sonrsquos photo for ongoing spon-
sorship they thought ldquoGod has opened a door for
him to go to schoolrdquo
With his brother and two sisters Enel start-
ed preschool walking through sunny andrainy days to begin learning about letters
The first person reputed to have walkedaround the world is George MatthewSchilling (USA) from 1897 to 1904
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1120
Chatter | 11
accept Christ and began discipling him Since
becoming a believer Enel has been active in the
choir and enjoys helping to lead worship at his
local church
While itrsquos taken a long time for him to complete
his studies Enel finally finished secondary
school at College de la Grace after 983089983095 years of
steady investment At the age of 983090983090 he now has
the equivalent of an Associatersquos Degree At the
recent graduation I recognized his name from
one of the first groups of children ever helped
through sponsorship He agreed to pose tall and
proud in his graduation robes with the school
founder (and my husband) Caleb Lucien I asked
Enel if he would stop by and talk to me the next
day about his future dreams and what he would
like to say to his sponsors
The next day a Saturday he greeted me e agerly
and told me he was so grateful for the help hissponsors had given him and his family They had
been faithful for 983089983095 years though hersquos never had
a chance to meet them And the fruit of their
generosity is evident Enel is the first member of
his family ever to finish high school He dreams
of becoming a doctor or an engineer but knows
it will take many years to accomplish such a goal
and he has no means other than his familyrsquos farm
But he is now fluent in two languages Creole and
French and has a firm opening into ldquosocietyrdquo as
we say here in Haiti He now looks me in the eyewhen we talk and speaks clearly about his faith
and his sense of responsibility he feels for the fu-
ture of his family Enel understands what a great
privilege he has received
He told me hersquos now waiting on the Lord to
see what doors will open for the future In the
meantime he would like to help area students
with their studies asking families to pay him
only what they can afford I encouraged him bysharing several stories of how we have seen God
work in the lives of other young people and how
often they have also had to wait for their next
steps to be made clear Finally we talked about
his sponsors Enel knew exactly what he would
say to them ldquoIrsquod like to tell them THANKS Irsquove
never had the chance to meet them but theyrsquove
helped me so muchrdquo I told him Irsquod be sharing his
graduation picture with them and would let them
know how theyrsquove blessed his life
Enel headed off that day back to his small home
where he lives with his mother and some un-
married siblings He walks tall and straight and
proudly knowing the God who took him this far
is able to help him arrive exactly where he needs
to be
Debbie Lucien has now lived longer in Haiti than
any other country shersquos inhabited Haiti 983090983090 years
US 983090983089 years Japan 983092 years Germany 983092 yearsYes she is as old as dirt
Born and raised overseas as the daughter of a military pilot
Debbie thought she knew the world But when she visited Haiti
at the age of 25 she realized that God was a lot bigger than she
thought After being courtedrecruited by Caleb she moved to
Haiti in 1993 and never escaped the adventure Follow her on
twitter at MadameCaleb
numbers and colors Each night upon returning
to his home of mud and sticks he would sleep
close to his five family members after doing
lessons or repeating his schoolwork back to
his parents
School continued with the help of donors who
kept his school open In fact it grew to house over
983093983088983088 students Initially meeting just under sticks
and thatch roof with no walls the students were
excited to see a 983093983088983088 square-foot cement block
building go up after a few years Now when it
was muddy outside the classrooms could still
stay clean Enel progressed slowly but surely
sometimes having to share the school supplies he
received through sponsorship with his b rothers
and sisters
In 983090983088983088983097 Enel was thrilled to be able to start
secondary school His sponsor had continued to
be faithful Enel had to walk a little further but
proudly wore the peach and tan uniform of the
upper division school of College de la Grace The
next year however was very hard for his family
Enelrsquos father who had long suffered with cardio-
vascular problems finally passed away leaving
the family with even fewer resources Enel says
that if it wasnrsquot for the financial help he received
through sponsorship he definitely would have
had to quit school as an 983096th grader But since he
had support his family saw clearly that God
had kept the door open for him to continue
his education
Two years later while discussing life with one
of his classmates and hearing many speakers
at church and school Enel decided to become
a Christian Enelrsquos friend Nesly mdash also a spon-sored student at the school mdash prayed with him to
HOSEAN INTERNATIONAL MINISTRIESIBC Partner HIM is a ministry by Haitians for Haitians HIM began in 983089983097983096983092 by Haitian National
Caleb Lucien with one purpose in mind transform lives by pointing people to Jesus Christ
through education life skills training and e conomic growth If you are interested in sponsoring
the education of a child like Enel visit hoseanorg
Enelrsquos firstsponsorship photo
Enel with Caleb Lucien
at Enelrsquos graduation
According to The World Bank morethan 200000 children in Haiti remainout of school
According to World Vision Haitiis currently the poorest country inthe Western Hemisphere
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1220
Chatter | 12
Small Groups at IBC have always been about cultivating deep
relationships that advance the kingdom of God in dark places
Sounds heroic but most of the time it looks simple mdash like a mug of
something hot a good talk about real things and a place to take off
your shoes Small Groups should always feel like home
Starting this month wersquoll officially start calling Small Groups at
IBC ldquoHome Groupsrdquo Most of our groups meet in homes anyway
and well home is what theyrsquore really all about mdash a place to be real
and a place to belong mdash even as the kingdom advances
Registration for winter Home Groups closes Feb 28 Groups begin
meeting March 20 Register today at irvingbibleorgsmallgroups
Come on in
Motel 6rsquos tagline ldquoWersquollleave the light on for yourdquois 50 years old
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1320
Chatter | 13
Mary Flo RidleyldquoParents we need to find our voicerdquo
Shersquos an internationallyknown speaker a featured
guest on numerous radio programs (including Focuson the Family) and writesregularly for ldquoDallas Child
Magazinerdquo Her topic Talk-ing to kids about sex As inYOU talking to YOUR kidsabout sex Yep Itrsquos a thing
Before IBC welcomes Mary Flo Ridley this month as a featured Shop Talk speaker
(January 983090983092) Chatter want-ed to catch up with her for a quick chat abouthellip wellhellipthe thing thatrsquos just so dang hard to chat ABOUThellip
CHATTER As parents wersquore really apprehensive about talking
openly with our kids about th is topic Whatrsquos at the heart of
that fear
MARY FLO RIDLEY Some parents fear speaking to their chil-
dren about sex because they were never taught by their own
parents They donrsquot know what this should look like or whatto say to a child Other parents are fearful that at some point
in these conversations they will reveal their own brokenness
in this area of their life and they feel vulnerable All parents
need encouragement when it comes to talking to their chil-
dren about sex and we as the church should equip the saints
for this task Pointing our children (and ourselves) to the
beauty of Godrsquos design can be seen as a privilege of parenting
CHATYoursquove been teaching on this topic for a long time Tell
us about what first motivated you to develop this training
MFR When I was growing up I was blessed with wonder-
ful parents but they never talked to me about sex When
Dave and I were new parents we decided we wanted to do
something a little bit differently and it led to the research and
strategy that I teach parents today
CHAT Mary Flo wersquore sure there are a lot of families at IBC
who would benefit from hearing your wisdom but some
might think itrsquos too late Maybe their kids are older or already
have particular knowledge or opinions about sex Would they
still benefit
MFR Itrsquos never too late Our children need and want to hear
our voices on this topic and they will be willing to set aside
some of the things that they have picked up from the culture
in order to listen to their parents They may roll their eyes but
they WANT to know not only the facts of biology but also why
this part of their life matters to God They need your wisdom
and they long to hear your thoughts As parents we need to
find our voice and speak to them
Does Talkingabout sex withyour kids feel
like facinga monsterMary Flo Ridley can help with
the horn fangs and halitosis
Shop Talk How to Talk about Sex with
your Children with Mary Flo Ridley
January 983090983092 983089983088983092983093 am in the West Wing
Weaving humor and personal stories throughout Mary
Flo Ridley helps parents shape the message they want to
convey to their children about sex Mary Flo guides par-
ents through the process of shaping their childrenrsquos sexual
education from an early age and brings helpful wisdom for
how to become the loving authority on all sexual matters
More info at irvingbibleorgparenting
The term ldquovocal cordsrdquo was coined in1741 by the French anatomist AntoineFerrein who compared them to thestrings of a violin Tregraves bien
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1420
Chatter | 14
UPCOMING
January
JANUARY 6
Radius Kickoff Join Middle School at IBC for their Wednesday night
program More info irvingbibleorgmiddleschool
Elementary Midweek Kickoff 630 pmA place for kids to connect with friends explore
Godrsquos word and have fun More info irvingbible
orgchildren
Midweek TableJoin high schoolers at local houses for dinner and
conversation More info irvingbibleorghighschool
JANUARY 9
Writerrsquos Workshop mdash 10 amJoin a community of people honing their writing
skills Contact doreillyirvingbibleorg
JANUARY 11
NAMI Family-to-Family ClassA course to educate familiescaregivers of those
with serious mental illness Contact joeynetbreeze-
inccom or eurmooreyahoocom
MHGA Family Grace GroupSupport group for familycaregivers of those with
serious mental illness More info irvingbibleorg
hopeandhealing
MHGA Living Grace GroupSupport group for those who suffer with mental ill-
ness More info irvingbibleorghopeandhealing
JANUARY 13
FPU BeginsSee ad pg 17
JANUARY 14
20|30s Kickoff
See ad pg 7
DivorceCare BeginsA group for those walking through the difficulty of
divorce More info irvingbibleorghopeandhealing
JANUARY 15
Mentoring Service Project mdash 9 amFor children (and parents) from single-parent fami-
lies We will be serving the elderly in our community
More info mtribbettirvingbibleorg
JANUARY 17
Marriage at IBC Kickoff See ad pg16
Honduras trip InformationSee ad pg 16
JANUARY 21
Newcomer Gatheringsee ad pg 17
JANUARY 24
Early Childhood Open HouseAll three servicesJoin us for the first 30 minutes of our Sunday
services for Children Experience worship hear the
Bible story and meet leaders More info jbjurlin
irvingbibleorg
Shop TalkMary Flo Ridley will join us to share ldquoHow to Talk
about Sex with your Childrenrdquo More info mcon-
norirvingbibleorg
JANUARY 31
The SummitAnnual Meeting1230 pmJoin us in West A for the Annual Meeting and enjoy
a complimentary lunch Register at irvingbibleorg
annualmeeting
FEBRUARY 6
Valentinersquos Dinner for Single-Parent Families mdash 6ndash9 pmEnjoy dinner dancing horse amp carriage rides
Register at irvingbibleorgsingleparents or withmtribbettirvingbibleorg
FEBRUARY 7
BaptismsTo register visit irvingbibleorgbaptism Mandatory
orientation held January 10 More info doreilly
irvingbibleorg
The Table beginsSee ad pg16
Propel BeginsGet connected at IBC through this four week course
More info at irvingbibleorgpropel
FEBRUARY 14
Child DedicationRegistration opens January 29 at irvingbibleorg
childdedication
Heart Box SundaySee ad pg 9
FEBRUARY 18GriefShare BeginsA caring group of people to walk alongside you
through one of lifersquos most difficult experiences More
info irvingbibleorghopeandhealing
February
by Jodie Niznik
Jesus has set you free Yet many of us donrsquot feel
free We feel bound by guilt and shame mdash certainour mishaps and mistakes discredit us before God
But if Jesus died on the cross for our sins didnrsquothe die for those things too Join us as we dig intoGalatians to discover what it really means to be set
free by Jesus
Date January ndashApril (not meeting March and due to spring break)
Time - am or - pm
Location e Commons IBC
Cost (includes workbook)
For more information and to register visit
irvingbibleorgwomen
KidZone registration is also available Registration
closes on January at noon or earlier if full
SPRING BIBLE STUDY
ONGOING MEALS
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1520
SUNDAYCOMMUNITY MEALS
6 pm mdash Town SquareMeals are $3 per person or $10maxfamily
13 No Meal Happy New Year
110 Beef fajitas chips and salsasalad bar
117 All American burgers andbrats salad bar
124 Giant baked potatoes withall the fixinrsquos salad bar
131 Chicken tenders mashed
potatoes and gravysalad bar
If yoursquod like to serve on a Sundaynight meal team contact PatOrsquoReilly at (214) 289-6176 or sun-daynightmealirvingbibleorg
WEDNESDAYMIDWEEK MEALS
5ndash620 PM
Cost is $3meal or $10 max family PBampJ sandwiches arealso available
16 Lasagna salad dessertHosted by Mike Gwartneyrsquosteam
113 Ham scalloped potatoesdessert Hosted by BobDowneyrsquos team
120 Enchiladas tacos chips andsalsa Hosted by BarbaraWittersquos team
127 Chicken quarters friesdessert Hosted by BobDowneyrsquos team
Changes to the menu may be madedepending on food cost availabilityand Bob Downeyrsquos whim
If yoursquod like to serve on a Wednes-day night meal team please emailbdowneyirvingbibleorg
CUPPA HOURS
MonndashFri 9 amndash8 pm
Saturday 11 amndash5 pm
Sunday 7 amndash7 pm
BIBLE COMMUNITIESGroups on Sunday
Synergy
9 am mdash The AlcoveAll Welcome
The Tree9 am mdash West D20s amp 30s married amp young families
Crossroads1045 am mdash West CCouples amp Families late 20s to 40s
Journey1045 am mdash The AlcoveAll Welcome
On Track1045 am mdash Conference RoomSingle Parents
Thrive1045 am mdash West DSingles in their 30s amp 40s
Renew1045 am mdash Training CenterAll Welcome
Legacy Builders645 pm mdash West A mdash All Welcome
CHILDRENInfants Through 5th Grade
Childrenrsquos Sunday Services9 am 1045 am 5 pm
Elementary MidweekBegins January 6 630ndash830 pmKids connect with friends andexplore Godrsquos word through smallgroups food fun Visit irvingbibleorgelementarymidweek
HOPE amp HEALINGCommunity Care
Abortion Recovery CounselingContact Kym at (972) 560-4632 orkyeichnerirvingbibleorg
GriefShare630 pm mdash West CContact shararringtonverizonnet
Recovery at IBCThursdays 630ndash830 pmWest Wing Youth LoungeA group for hurts habits andhangups irvingbibleorgrecovery
The Living Grace GroupFor those with mental illness ContactHeath at heathmurryyahoocom
Family Grace GroupFor familiescaregivers of those withmental illness Contact Buzz Moodyat myrabuzzgmailcom
NAMI Family-to-Family ClassContact Joey at joeynetbreezeinccomor Debra at eumooreyahoocom
Stephen Ministry at IBCOne-on-one ministry for hurtingpeople Contact stephenministryirvingbibleorg or call (972) 560-4636
Spousal Abuse RecoveryContact kyeichnerirvingbibleorg
MARRIAGEGrowing Together
Marriage at IBCContact marriageirvingbibleorg
Pre-Marriage Mentoring Visit irvingbibleorgmarriage
MENCommunity and Resources
First WatchFridays 622 am mdash The CommonsContact Nat at npughirvingbibleorg
First Watch ReplayTuesdays 630 pmTraining CenterContact brianarrington1yahoocom
First Watch XtraWednesday 630 amTraining CenterContact bcopehuntoilcom
Visit irvingbibleorgmen
MISSIONLocal and Global
Prayer Meeting
2nd and 4th Wednesdays645-8 pm mdash The Chapel
Laundry LoveFirst Saturday of the month9 amndash12 pmContact laundryloveirvingbibleorg
New Friends New LifeServe dinner to women healingfrom sexual exploitation every thirdWednesday Contact Christine atnewfriendsnewlifeirvingbibleorg
SINGLE PARENTCommunity and Resources
Sit with us on Sunday9 am service lowest right-handsection Rows 5 amp 6 facing the stage
Visit irvingbibleorgsingleparents
SPECIAL NEEDS
Community amp Care
Small Group for MomsSundays 9ndash1015 am
In His Image Bible StudySundays 630ndash745 pm
Small Group for ParentsWednesdays 630ndash8 pm
SonShine Pals and RoomCare during Sunday ministry
Contact specialneedsirvingbibleorg
STUDENTSMiddleHigh School and College
Middle School SundaysSundays mdash 1030 amndash1220 pmStudent Ministries area
High School SundaysSundays 645ndash8 pm
Student Ministries areaIBC College MinistrySundays 330 pmThe Commons AnnexContact collegeirvingbibleorg
High School MidweekWednesdaysJoin us for food and communitySee Facebook page for locations
Middle SchoolWednesdays 630 pmJoin us for a time of friendships
and teaching
WOMENCommunity and Resources
Womenrsquos Spring Bible StudyBeginning January 12Tuesdays 930 am or 630 pmThe CommonsJoin us as we study Proverbs Visitirvingbibleorgwomen
2435 KINWESTWednesday Nights at IBC
IBC ChoirWednesdays 7ndash830 pmIBC Worship CenterContact Crystal atcelwellirvingbibleorg
ESL English as a Second LanguageWednesdays 630ndash830 pm
Haven B C D
Citizenship ClassWednesdays 630ndash830 pmIBC Conference Room
IBC Career Transition MinistryWednesdays 630ndash830 pm
Microsoft Computer SkillsWednesdays 630ndash830 pmThe Training Center
Visit 2435kinwestorg
ONGOING MEALS
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1620
The Table is a place where skeptics and Christians alike can
pull up a chair around a table to explore God the Christian
faith and the hard questions of life It is a place where
questions are invited and welcomed and where people can
voice their doubts
Questions Contact jsteinirvingbibleorg
To register visit irvingbibleorgthetable
When am on February ndashMarch
Where The Living Room (formerly the MenrsquosConference Room)
Whether your marriage is sinking coastingalong or going full-throttle every marriageneeds some TLC
Marriage at IBC is a fun 983089983088-week course that focuses on the
big picture of marriage as well as practical application in the
everyday-life struggles of marriage While we cover important
topics like communication and conflict in-laws finances andsex we donrsquot go through a single class without laughing and hav-
ing a great time The class format is a speaker for a weekly topic
followed by small group time
Marriage at IBC Begins January 983089983095 983097 am The Commons
Register at irvingbibleorgmarriage
Already in an IBC small group Any existing IBC small groups are
welcome and able to participate and will receive all of the Marriage
at IBC resources and any level of support they desire
Questions Contact marriageirvingbibleorg
Join Mission at IBC for an informational about
our summer trip to Honduras We are looking
for medical professionals and teachers to work
with IBC partne r Workers Together With
God This will be an intergenerational trip with
IBCrsquos High School ministry
For more info please contact Lauren at
lmouossairvingbibleorg
HONDURASM I S S I O N T R I PInformational MeetingJANUARY 17
1230ndash2 pm in West D
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1720
HOW DO I GIVE HOW DO I GET
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1820
Chatter | 18
The name ldquoJanuaryrdquo comes from theLatin word for door (ianua) sinceJanuary is the door to the year
My Time Talents amp Skills
Facility Department VolunteersDo you enjoy swinging a hammer or helping doinstalls The IBC Facility Department could use yourhelp There are many projects where an extra set of
hands is needed So if you have experience work-ing in building electrical plumbing etc pleasecontact Rod Myers at rmyersirvingbibleorg
Meal Team VolunteersIBC makes meals available both Sunday andWednesday nights These fun teams could usesome additional volunteers to serve together ForSundays contact sundaynightmealirvingbibleorgFor Wednesdays contact bdowneyirvingbibleorg
Medical Professionals NeededOur weekly medical clinic needs professional healthcare providers (MD PA FNP) to provide treatment
for our patients Volunteers serve on a rotatingbasis and do not need to serve every week ContactCharles at cpierce2435clinicorg
Mentor Kids in Single-Parent FamiliesMen and women are needed for gender-specificmentoring of children from single-parent familiesContact Marsha at mtribbettirvingbibleorg
New Friends New LifeServe dinner to women healing from sexual exploita-tion (every third Wednesday) Contact Christine atnewfriendsnewlifeirvingbibleorg
Safety Team
Do you have a desire to serve and protect oth-ers Contact Christopher Watkins at cwatkinsirvingbibleorg Please include any credentials andrelevant experience
Visitor Follow-Up Team(Rex Greenstreet Ministry)We are looking for a volunteer to make calls orsend welcome emails (or both) to new vi sitors fromIBC Training and coaching will be providedContact Sherri at ssharpirvingbibleorg
Volunteer with Senior CareSenior Care at IBC has some needs Villages on
MacArthur needs Bible Study leaders as well asSaturday services leaders MacArthur Hills needsmusicianssingers and leaders for a spiritual serviceAshford Hall needs one-on-one visitors and Biblestudy leaders and gameactivities volunteers Con-tact Mike at Seniorcareirvingbibleorg
My ResourcesOnline Giving OptionIf you would find it more convenient to donate tothe ministries of Irving Bible Church online visitirvingbibleorggive FIND A PLACE TO SERVE
Yoursquove come a long way since that first breath mint Yoursquovebeen busy worshipping learning relating and committing
And itrsquos at this point that you might start looking around
at all the people who help create those events mdash ushers
greeters meal team members table hosts small group
leaders and the like Your next step now is to join them
Consider your passions talents and spiritual gifts and then
ask about a place to serve Visit irvingbibleorgserve
JOIN IN WORSHIPSo you found the address a place to park and a breath
mint on the way in Good work If yoursquore reading this
yoursquove probably already taken the first step mdash attending a
worship service This is the first and most important place
to start so keep coming Become a regular Make sure to
fill out a Newcomer Card Tell us a little about yourself and
let us know how we can engage with you Somebody will
reach out to you this week Visit irvingbibleorgconnect
Wersquore glad you asked Here are the steps to take for
having your questions answered figuring out the IBC story and if yoursquore feeling ready plugging in
CHECK OUT THE NEWCOMER GATHERINGSo yoursquore kicking the IBC tires Good Wersquore so glad yoursquore
here The Newcomer Gathering is a great opportunity to
meet church leadership learn what IBC is all about andconnect with other newbies in a fun relaxed environment
Next Newcomer Gathering January 21
SIGN UP FOR PROPELAll right Yoursquore feeling the IBC vibe and want to see
where you might get involved Propel is a 4-week class that
explores the IBC calling and culture and how your unique
personality and passions fit in Meet many of our pastors and
directors of ministries at IBC Next Propel February 7ndash28
JOIN A COMMUNITY Yoursquore firing on all cylinders but something is missing And
that something is a someone or a group of someones
Enter sermon-based Small Groups Womenrsquos Bible Study
First Watch and more We encourage you to find a group
and connect authentically with others
Visit irvingbibleorgadults
Start
HOW DO I GETCONNECTED AT IBC
FOR MORE INFO VISIT IRVINGBIBLEORGCONNECT OR LOOK
FOR THE NEWCOMER GUIDES AT THE INFORMATION DESK
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1920
Chatter | 19
If you are not seated please sit down If you are seated buckle up If you
are buckled up you may want to stop reading now if yoursquore prone to
carsickness Settled in Okay then The haphazard collection of words
currently assaulting your senses mdash both sight and common mdash is my 983095983091rd
and likely final column for Chatter I know I know Yoursquore probably in the
drive-thru at Chick-fil-A just now remembering that itrsquos Sunday and then this
happens So you are not only left wondering where you can satisfy your Bible-
blessed chicken jones but also from whence yoursquoll be able to scratch your itch
for elliptical sentence structures chock-a-block with obtuse wordification and
the occasional monthly reference to pastiness You need a hug
Sadly the Chatter editorial board enforces a strict no-touching (even emotion-
ally) policy on contributors of dubious complexion (therersquos your final pasty
reference) so wersquoll have to make do with a psychic fist bump But before I leave
you with Tim Hawkins as your lone source of Christian comedy (What do you
mean he already was) Irsquod like to take a few hundred words and ramble semi-
coherently about what the past 983094983097 ldquoIdle Chatterrdquo columns and 983092 ldquoInterview
with a Dead Guyrdquo exposeacutes have taught me If anything Hmmm
First Irsquove learned that itrsquos much easier to keep a position when the job is es-
sentially that of a volunteer Assuming you donrsquot count the few times I had to
slip an Old Navy coupon code to the editor (Julie now of the emeritus variety)
to get her to put down the metaphorical red pen (The literal red pen is the
Track Changes feature in Microsoft Word which I despise even more so than a
patchouli-soaked hippie Also I never could figure out which online emporium
discounts would convince her to let me discuss smiting hippies so wersquoll see if
the new ed lets that previous sentence fly) Anyway I assume my long tenure
was also aided by my ability to meet a deadline no matter how many times I
moved it and my penchant for mentioning my kids who are totes adorbs at
least in print
Irsquove learned that most fellow believers can take a joke In nearly seven years
of poking fun (And is poking ever really fun I think not) at some of the more
absurdist aspects of evangelical life mdash along with giving Moses the Twitter
handle MoHeston mdash I never received one letter email Tweet Snapchat
Vine video Facebook rant or gospel tract-based expression of displeasure
Sure only about three of you actually know who I am And my family attended
church in Frisco but farther north (as in past the Ikea) than most Irvingites
dare to drive Also we moved to Omaha three years ago Nonetheless I appre-
ciate your collective sense of humor andor Juliersquos restraint in forwarding me
complaints from the elders
Irsquod like to tell you I learned many deep life-changing Biblical truths over the
last 983094983095 of a decade but come on I think we can all agree that I either made up
most of my doctrinal claims or have since forgotten the ones that are true due
to my advancing fortysomethingness Which reminds me I never did base a
column on the Book of Lamentations Woe is me
Lastly Irsquove learned that I can spit out 983097983088983088 words on just about anything with-
out saying much of anything of value Case in point duly noted
And now since I still have about 983091983088983088 words to torture Irsquoll take a question Yesyou in the back with the pre-Etsy WWJD bracelet from 983089983097983097983095 My favorite col-
umns Well I could say thatrsquos like trying to choose your favorite child (the dog)
if having 983095983091 kids wouldnrsquot get me investigated by the Guinness World Records
folks (bunch of narcs) Instead Irsquoll go with my two poems Ballad for a High
School Youth Group Hayride (October 983090983088983089983092) and The Graven (October 983090983088983089983093)
my unearthing of Noahrsquos Twitter feed GopherWoodBoy (October 983090983088983088983097) my
ruminations on Pentecost Economy Sizing the Holy Spirit (May 983090983088983089983088) and my
homage to my dad on the occasion of his 983094983093th birthday Cool On the Inside (July
983090983088983089983088) There might be others I actually like more but I donrsquot have the patience
of a Job Billy Duggar to read them all Also you can find most of these at Scribd
comIrvingBibleChurch or JasonFoxnetIdleChatter
So This is the end For now at least Perhaps Irsquo ll pop up or in or over from
time to time to ruminate on weighty matters like why our Christmas tree top-
per looks like Celine Dion But for now I think itrsquos time to try something a little
different After so many attempts at we aving a little truth into the funny
I believe Irsquoll give weaving a little funny into the truth a go (Thatrsquos what I get for
actually studying my beliefs I guess) I doubt Irsquoll become this millenniumrsquos C S
Lewis but perhaps something of eternal value will emerge from it Hopefully
not damnation
But until we meet in the sweet by-and-by on that beautiful shore (look for my
totally boss conversion van customized by St Doober) I will simply thank you
for reading and leave you with one last bit of suspect theological advice Every
argument especially those on the internet can be won with the phrase ldquoWell
thatrsquos what it says in Habakkukrdquo Because it does
Jason Fox will miss you all except that creepy guy who cuts his fingernails
during the sermon and is proud his last column hit 983097983088983088 words exactly
Jason writes from Omaha Nebraska (well he used to) and can be harassed forevermore on
Twitter at jason_fox
ONCE MORE
WITH FEELING
Celine Dion is theyoungest of 14 children
In 2013 alone 200 millionlemons were squeezed to makeChick-fil-Arsquos fresh lemonade
Shhhh Donrsquot poke itNext month in February Chatter will be hibernating Itrsquos winter after all Plus it buys us some timeto come back in March with more Chatterish goodness than ever before Because more of a good
thing ishellipwell gooder than good grammar (Like we said we need some sleep)
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 2020
Chatterhellipyou CAN take it with you Send us
your Chatter photos on location and you may
see yourself in an upcoming issue Email us
at chatterirvingbibleorg
Chatter tags along as the Mechsner family weathers the ridiculouswinds on Mt Wellington in Hobart Tasmania We understand thatseconds after this shot Chatter decided to dispel the widely heldbelief that turkeys canrsquot fly Be free little guy Be free
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1120
Chatter | 11
accept Christ and began discipling him Since
becoming a believer Enel has been active in the
choir and enjoys helping to lead worship at his
local church
While itrsquos taken a long time for him to complete
his studies Enel finally finished secondary
school at College de la Grace after 983089983095 years of
steady investment At the age of 983090983090 he now has
the equivalent of an Associatersquos Degree At the
recent graduation I recognized his name from
one of the first groups of children ever helped
through sponsorship He agreed to pose tall and
proud in his graduation robes with the school
founder (and my husband) Caleb Lucien I asked
Enel if he would stop by and talk to me the next
day about his future dreams and what he would
like to say to his sponsors
The next day a Saturday he greeted me e agerly
and told me he was so grateful for the help hissponsors had given him and his family They had
been faithful for 983089983095 years though hersquos never had
a chance to meet them And the fruit of their
generosity is evident Enel is the first member of
his family ever to finish high school He dreams
of becoming a doctor or an engineer but knows
it will take many years to accomplish such a goal
and he has no means other than his familyrsquos farm
But he is now fluent in two languages Creole and
French and has a firm opening into ldquosocietyrdquo as
we say here in Haiti He now looks me in the eyewhen we talk and speaks clearly about his faith
and his sense of responsibility he feels for the fu-
ture of his family Enel understands what a great
privilege he has received
He told me hersquos now waiting on the Lord to
see what doors will open for the future In the
meantime he would like to help area students
with their studies asking families to pay him
only what they can afford I encouraged him bysharing several stories of how we have seen God
work in the lives of other young people and how
often they have also had to wait for their next
steps to be made clear Finally we talked about
his sponsors Enel knew exactly what he would
say to them ldquoIrsquod like to tell them THANKS Irsquove
never had the chance to meet them but theyrsquove
helped me so muchrdquo I told him Irsquod be sharing his
graduation picture with them and would let them
know how theyrsquove blessed his life
Enel headed off that day back to his small home
where he lives with his mother and some un-
married siblings He walks tall and straight and
proudly knowing the God who took him this far
is able to help him arrive exactly where he needs
to be
Debbie Lucien has now lived longer in Haiti than
any other country shersquos inhabited Haiti 983090983090 years
US 983090983089 years Japan 983092 years Germany 983092 yearsYes she is as old as dirt
Born and raised overseas as the daughter of a military pilot
Debbie thought she knew the world But when she visited Haiti
at the age of 25 she realized that God was a lot bigger than she
thought After being courtedrecruited by Caleb she moved to
Haiti in 1993 and never escaped the adventure Follow her on
twitter at MadameCaleb
numbers and colors Each night upon returning
to his home of mud and sticks he would sleep
close to his five family members after doing
lessons or repeating his schoolwork back to
his parents
School continued with the help of donors who
kept his school open In fact it grew to house over
983093983088983088 students Initially meeting just under sticks
and thatch roof with no walls the students were
excited to see a 983093983088983088 square-foot cement block
building go up after a few years Now when it
was muddy outside the classrooms could still
stay clean Enel progressed slowly but surely
sometimes having to share the school supplies he
received through sponsorship with his b rothers
and sisters
In 983090983088983088983097 Enel was thrilled to be able to start
secondary school His sponsor had continued to
be faithful Enel had to walk a little further but
proudly wore the peach and tan uniform of the
upper division school of College de la Grace The
next year however was very hard for his family
Enelrsquos father who had long suffered with cardio-
vascular problems finally passed away leaving
the family with even fewer resources Enel says
that if it wasnrsquot for the financial help he received
through sponsorship he definitely would have
had to quit school as an 983096th grader But since he
had support his family saw clearly that God
had kept the door open for him to continue
his education
Two years later while discussing life with one
of his classmates and hearing many speakers
at church and school Enel decided to become
a Christian Enelrsquos friend Nesly mdash also a spon-sored student at the school mdash prayed with him to
HOSEAN INTERNATIONAL MINISTRIESIBC Partner HIM is a ministry by Haitians for Haitians HIM began in 983089983097983096983092 by Haitian National
Caleb Lucien with one purpose in mind transform lives by pointing people to Jesus Christ
through education life skills training and e conomic growth If you are interested in sponsoring
the education of a child like Enel visit hoseanorg
Enelrsquos firstsponsorship photo
Enel with Caleb Lucien
at Enelrsquos graduation
According to The World Bank morethan 200000 children in Haiti remainout of school
According to World Vision Haitiis currently the poorest country inthe Western Hemisphere
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1220
Chatter | 12
Small Groups at IBC have always been about cultivating deep
relationships that advance the kingdom of God in dark places
Sounds heroic but most of the time it looks simple mdash like a mug of
something hot a good talk about real things and a place to take off
your shoes Small Groups should always feel like home
Starting this month wersquoll officially start calling Small Groups at
IBC ldquoHome Groupsrdquo Most of our groups meet in homes anyway
and well home is what theyrsquore really all about mdash a place to be real
and a place to belong mdash even as the kingdom advances
Registration for winter Home Groups closes Feb 28 Groups begin
meeting March 20 Register today at irvingbibleorgsmallgroups
Come on in
Motel 6rsquos tagline ldquoWersquollleave the light on for yourdquois 50 years old
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1320
Chatter | 13
Mary Flo RidleyldquoParents we need to find our voicerdquo
Shersquos an internationallyknown speaker a featured
guest on numerous radio programs (including Focuson the Family) and writesregularly for ldquoDallas Child
Magazinerdquo Her topic Talk-ing to kids about sex As inYOU talking to YOUR kidsabout sex Yep Itrsquos a thing
Before IBC welcomes Mary Flo Ridley this month as a featured Shop Talk speaker
(January 983090983092) Chatter want-ed to catch up with her for a quick chat abouthellip wellhellipthe thing thatrsquos just so dang hard to chat ABOUThellip
CHATTER As parents wersquore really apprehensive about talking
openly with our kids about th is topic Whatrsquos at the heart of
that fear
MARY FLO RIDLEY Some parents fear speaking to their chil-
dren about sex because they were never taught by their own
parents They donrsquot know what this should look like or whatto say to a child Other parents are fearful that at some point
in these conversations they will reveal their own brokenness
in this area of their life and they feel vulnerable All parents
need encouragement when it comes to talking to their chil-
dren about sex and we as the church should equip the saints
for this task Pointing our children (and ourselves) to the
beauty of Godrsquos design can be seen as a privilege of parenting
CHATYoursquove been teaching on this topic for a long time Tell
us about what first motivated you to develop this training
MFR When I was growing up I was blessed with wonder-
ful parents but they never talked to me about sex When
Dave and I were new parents we decided we wanted to do
something a little bit differently and it led to the research and
strategy that I teach parents today
CHAT Mary Flo wersquore sure there are a lot of families at IBC
who would benefit from hearing your wisdom but some
might think itrsquos too late Maybe their kids are older or already
have particular knowledge or opinions about sex Would they
still benefit
MFR Itrsquos never too late Our children need and want to hear
our voices on this topic and they will be willing to set aside
some of the things that they have picked up from the culture
in order to listen to their parents They may roll their eyes but
they WANT to know not only the facts of biology but also why
this part of their life matters to God They need your wisdom
and they long to hear your thoughts As parents we need to
find our voice and speak to them
Does Talkingabout sex withyour kids feel
like facinga monsterMary Flo Ridley can help with
the horn fangs and halitosis
Shop Talk How to Talk about Sex with
your Children with Mary Flo Ridley
January 983090983092 983089983088983092983093 am in the West Wing
Weaving humor and personal stories throughout Mary
Flo Ridley helps parents shape the message they want to
convey to their children about sex Mary Flo guides par-
ents through the process of shaping their childrenrsquos sexual
education from an early age and brings helpful wisdom for
how to become the loving authority on all sexual matters
More info at irvingbibleorgparenting
The term ldquovocal cordsrdquo was coined in1741 by the French anatomist AntoineFerrein who compared them to thestrings of a violin Tregraves bien
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1420
Chatter | 14
UPCOMING
January
JANUARY 6
Radius Kickoff Join Middle School at IBC for their Wednesday night
program More info irvingbibleorgmiddleschool
Elementary Midweek Kickoff 630 pmA place for kids to connect with friends explore
Godrsquos word and have fun More info irvingbible
orgchildren
Midweek TableJoin high schoolers at local houses for dinner and
conversation More info irvingbibleorghighschool
JANUARY 9
Writerrsquos Workshop mdash 10 amJoin a community of people honing their writing
skills Contact doreillyirvingbibleorg
JANUARY 11
NAMI Family-to-Family ClassA course to educate familiescaregivers of those
with serious mental illness Contact joeynetbreeze-
inccom or eurmooreyahoocom
MHGA Family Grace GroupSupport group for familycaregivers of those with
serious mental illness More info irvingbibleorg
hopeandhealing
MHGA Living Grace GroupSupport group for those who suffer with mental ill-
ness More info irvingbibleorghopeandhealing
JANUARY 13
FPU BeginsSee ad pg 17
JANUARY 14
20|30s Kickoff
See ad pg 7
DivorceCare BeginsA group for those walking through the difficulty of
divorce More info irvingbibleorghopeandhealing
JANUARY 15
Mentoring Service Project mdash 9 amFor children (and parents) from single-parent fami-
lies We will be serving the elderly in our community
More info mtribbettirvingbibleorg
JANUARY 17
Marriage at IBC Kickoff See ad pg16
Honduras trip InformationSee ad pg 16
JANUARY 21
Newcomer Gatheringsee ad pg 17
JANUARY 24
Early Childhood Open HouseAll three servicesJoin us for the first 30 minutes of our Sunday
services for Children Experience worship hear the
Bible story and meet leaders More info jbjurlin
irvingbibleorg
Shop TalkMary Flo Ridley will join us to share ldquoHow to Talk
about Sex with your Childrenrdquo More info mcon-
norirvingbibleorg
JANUARY 31
The SummitAnnual Meeting1230 pmJoin us in West A for the Annual Meeting and enjoy
a complimentary lunch Register at irvingbibleorg
annualmeeting
FEBRUARY 6
Valentinersquos Dinner for Single-Parent Families mdash 6ndash9 pmEnjoy dinner dancing horse amp carriage rides
Register at irvingbibleorgsingleparents or withmtribbettirvingbibleorg
FEBRUARY 7
BaptismsTo register visit irvingbibleorgbaptism Mandatory
orientation held January 10 More info doreilly
irvingbibleorg
The Table beginsSee ad pg16
Propel BeginsGet connected at IBC through this four week course
More info at irvingbibleorgpropel
FEBRUARY 14
Child DedicationRegistration opens January 29 at irvingbibleorg
childdedication
Heart Box SundaySee ad pg 9
FEBRUARY 18GriefShare BeginsA caring group of people to walk alongside you
through one of lifersquos most difficult experiences More
info irvingbibleorghopeandhealing
February
by Jodie Niznik
Jesus has set you free Yet many of us donrsquot feel
free We feel bound by guilt and shame mdash certainour mishaps and mistakes discredit us before God
But if Jesus died on the cross for our sins didnrsquothe die for those things too Join us as we dig intoGalatians to discover what it really means to be set
free by Jesus
Date January ndashApril (not meeting March and due to spring break)
Time - am or - pm
Location e Commons IBC
Cost (includes workbook)
For more information and to register visit
irvingbibleorgwomen
KidZone registration is also available Registration
closes on January at noon or earlier if full
SPRING BIBLE STUDY
ONGOING MEALS
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1520
SUNDAYCOMMUNITY MEALS
6 pm mdash Town SquareMeals are $3 per person or $10maxfamily
13 No Meal Happy New Year
110 Beef fajitas chips and salsasalad bar
117 All American burgers andbrats salad bar
124 Giant baked potatoes withall the fixinrsquos salad bar
131 Chicken tenders mashed
potatoes and gravysalad bar
If yoursquod like to serve on a Sundaynight meal team contact PatOrsquoReilly at (214) 289-6176 or sun-daynightmealirvingbibleorg
WEDNESDAYMIDWEEK MEALS
5ndash620 PM
Cost is $3meal or $10 max family PBampJ sandwiches arealso available
16 Lasagna salad dessertHosted by Mike Gwartneyrsquosteam
113 Ham scalloped potatoesdessert Hosted by BobDowneyrsquos team
120 Enchiladas tacos chips andsalsa Hosted by BarbaraWittersquos team
127 Chicken quarters friesdessert Hosted by BobDowneyrsquos team
Changes to the menu may be madedepending on food cost availabilityand Bob Downeyrsquos whim
If yoursquod like to serve on a Wednes-day night meal team please emailbdowneyirvingbibleorg
CUPPA HOURS
MonndashFri 9 amndash8 pm
Saturday 11 amndash5 pm
Sunday 7 amndash7 pm
BIBLE COMMUNITIESGroups on Sunday
Synergy
9 am mdash The AlcoveAll Welcome
The Tree9 am mdash West D20s amp 30s married amp young families
Crossroads1045 am mdash West CCouples amp Families late 20s to 40s
Journey1045 am mdash The AlcoveAll Welcome
On Track1045 am mdash Conference RoomSingle Parents
Thrive1045 am mdash West DSingles in their 30s amp 40s
Renew1045 am mdash Training CenterAll Welcome
Legacy Builders645 pm mdash West A mdash All Welcome
CHILDRENInfants Through 5th Grade
Childrenrsquos Sunday Services9 am 1045 am 5 pm
Elementary MidweekBegins January 6 630ndash830 pmKids connect with friends andexplore Godrsquos word through smallgroups food fun Visit irvingbibleorgelementarymidweek
HOPE amp HEALINGCommunity Care
Abortion Recovery CounselingContact Kym at (972) 560-4632 orkyeichnerirvingbibleorg
GriefShare630 pm mdash West CContact shararringtonverizonnet
Recovery at IBCThursdays 630ndash830 pmWest Wing Youth LoungeA group for hurts habits andhangups irvingbibleorgrecovery
The Living Grace GroupFor those with mental illness ContactHeath at heathmurryyahoocom
Family Grace GroupFor familiescaregivers of those withmental illness Contact Buzz Moodyat myrabuzzgmailcom
NAMI Family-to-Family ClassContact Joey at joeynetbreezeinccomor Debra at eumooreyahoocom
Stephen Ministry at IBCOne-on-one ministry for hurtingpeople Contact stephenministryirvingbibleorg or call (972) 560-4636
Spousal Abuse RecoveryContact kyeichnerirvingbibleorg
MARRIAGEGrowing Together
Marriage at IBCContact marriageirvingbibleorg
Pre-Marriage Mentoring Visit irvingbibleorgmarriage
MENCommunity and Resources
First WatchFridays 622 am mdash The CommonsContact Nat at npughirvingbibleorg
First Watch ReplayTuesdays 630 pmTraining CenterContact brianarrington1yahoocom
First Watch XtraWednesday 630 amTraining CenterContact bcopehuntoilcom
Visit irvingbibleorgmen
MISSIONLocal and Global
Prayer Meeting
2nd and 4th Wednesdays645-8 pm mdash The Chapel
Laundry LoveFirst Saturday of the month9 amndash12 pmContact laundryloveirvingbibleorg
New Friends New LifeServe dinner to women healingfrom sexual exploitation every thirdWednesday Contact Christine atnewfriendsnewlifeirvingbibleorg
SINGLE PARENTCommunity and Resources
Sit with us on Sunday9 am service lowest right-handsection Rows 5 amp 6 facing the stage
Visit irvingbibleorgsingleparents
SPECIAL NEEDS
Community amp Care
Small Group for MomsSundays 9ndash1015 am
In His Image Bible StudySundays 630ndash745 pm
Small Group for ParentsWednesdays 630ndash8 pm
SonShine Pals and RoomCare during Sunday ministry
Contact specialneedsirvingbibleorg
STUDENTSMiddleHigh School and College
Middle School SundaysSundays mdash 1030 amndash1220 pmStudent Ministries area
High School SundaysSundays 645ndash8 pm
Student Ministries areaIBC College MinistrySundays 330 pmThe Commons AnnexContact collegeirvingbibleorg
High School MidweekWednesdaysJoin us for food and communitySee Facebook page for locations
Middle SchoolWednesdays 630 pmJoin us for a time of friendships
and teaching
WOMENCommunity and Resources
Womenrsquos Spring Bible StudyBeginning January 12Tuesdays 930 am or 630 pmThe CommonsJoin us as we study Proverbs Visitirvingbibleorgwomen
2435 KINWESTWednesday Nights at IBC
IBC ChoirWednesdays 7ndash830 pmIBC Worship CenterContact Crystal atcelwellirvingbibleorg
ESL English as a Second LanguageWednesdays 630ndash830 pm
Haven B C D
Citizenship ClassWednesdays 630ndash830 pmIBC Conference Room
IBC Career Transition MinistryWednesdays 630ndash830 pm
Microsoft Computer SkillsWednesdays 630ndash830 pmThe Training Center
Visit 2435kinwestorg
ONGOING MEALS
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1620
The Table is a place where skeptics and Christians alike can
pull up a chair around a table to explore God the Christian
faith and the hard questions of life It is a place where
questions are invited and welcomed and where people can
voice their doubts
Questions Contact jsteinirvingbibleorg
To register visit irvingbibleorgthetable
When am on February ndashMarch
Where The Living Room (formerly the MenrsquosConference Room)
Whether your marriage is sinking coastingalong or going full-throttle every marriageneeds some TLC
Marriage at IBC is a fun 983089983088-week course that focuses on the
big picture of marriage as well as practical application in the
everyday-life struggles of marriage While we cover important
topics like communication and conflict in-laws finances andsex we donrsquot go through a single class without laughing and hav-
ing a great time The class format is a speaker for a weekly topic
followed by small group time
Marriage at IBC Begins January 983089983095 983097 am The Commons
Register at irvingbibleorgmarriage
Already in an IBC small group Any existing IBC small groups are
welcome and able to participate and will receive all of the Marriage
at IBC resources and any level of support they desire
Questions Contact marriageirvingbibleorg
Join Mission at IBC for an informational about
our summer trip to Honduras We are looking
for medical professionals and teachers to work
with IBC partne r Workers Together With
God This will be an intergenerational trip with
IBCrsquos High School ministry
For more info please contact Lauren at
lmouossairvingbibleorg
HONDURASM I S S I O N T R I PInformational MeetingJANUARY 17
1230ndash2 pm in West D
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1720
HOW DO I GIVE HOW DO I GET
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1820
Chatter | 18
The name ldquoJanuaryrdquo comes from theLatin word for door (ianua) sinceJanuary is the door to the year
My Time Talents amp Skills
Facility Department VolunteersDo you enjoy swinging a hammer or helping doinstalls The IBC Facility Department could use yourhelp There are many projects where an extra set of
hands is needed So if you have experience work-ing in building electrical plumbing etc pleasecontact Rod Myers at rmyersirvingbibleorg
Meal Team VolunteersIBC makes meals available both Sunday andWednesday nights These fun teams could usesome additional volunteers to serve together ForSundays contact sundaynightmealirvingbibleorgFor Wednesdays contact bdowneyirvingbibleorg
Medical Professionals NeededOur weekly medical clinic needs professional healthcare providers (MD PA FNP) to provide treatment
for our patients Volunteers serve on a rotatingbasis and do not need to serve every week ContactCharles at cpierce2435clinicorg
Mentor Kids in Single-Parent FamiliesMen and women are needed for gender-specificmentoring of children from single-parent familiesContact Marsha at mtribbettirvingbibleorg
New Friends New LifeServe dinner to women healing from sexual exploita-tion (every third Wednesday) Contact Christine atnewfriendsnewlifeirvingbibleorg
Safety Team
Do you have a desire to serve and protect oth-ers Contact Christopher Watkins at cwatkinsirvingbibleorg Please include any credentials andrelevant experience
Visitor Follow-Up Team(Rex Greenstreet Ministry)We are looking for a volunteer to make calls orsend welcome emails (or both) to new vi sitors fromIBC Training and coaching will be providedContact Sherri at ssharpirvingbibleorg
Volunteer with Senior CareSenior Care at IBC has some needs Villages on
MacArthur needs Bible Study leaders as well asSaturday services leaders MacArthur Hills needsmusicianssingers and leaders for a spiritual serviceAshford Hall needs one-on-one visitors and Biblestudy leaders and gameactivities volunteers Con-tact Mike at Seniorcareirvingbibleorg
My ResourcesOnline Giving OptionIf you would find it more convenient to donate tothe ministries of Irving Bible Church online visitirvingbibleorggive FIND A PLACE TO SERVE
Yoursquove come a long way since that first breath mint Yoursquovebeen busy worshipping learning relating and committing
And itrsquos at this point that you might start looking around
at all the people who help create those events mdash ushers
greeters meal team members table hosts small group
leaders and the like Your next step now is to join them
Consider your passions talents and spiritual gifts and then
ask about a place to serve Visit irvingbibleorgserve
JOIN IN WORSHIPSo you found the address a place to park and a breath
mint on the way in Good work If yoursquore reading this
yoursquove probably already taken the first step mdash attending a
worship service This is the first and most important place
to start so keep coming Become a regular Make sure to
fill out a Newcomer Card Tell us a little about yourself and
let us know how we can engage with you Somebody will
reach out to you this week Visit irvingbibleorgconnect
Wersquore glad you asked Here are the steps to take for
having your questions answered figuring out the IBC story and if yoursquore feeling ready plugging in
CHECK OUT THE NEWCOMER GATHERINGSo yoursquore kicking the IBC tires Good Wersquore so glad yoursquore
here The Newcomer Gathering is a great opportunity to
meet church leadership learn what IBC is all about andconnect with other newbies in a fun relaxed environment
Next Newcomer Gathering January 21
SIGN UP FOR PROPELAll right Yoursquore feeling the IBC vibe and want to see
where you might get involved Propel is a 4-week class that
explores the IBC calling and culture and how your unique
personality and passions fit in Meet many of our pastors and
directors of ministries at IBC Next Propel February 7ndash28
JOIN A COMMUNITY Yoursquore firing on all cylinders but something is missing And
that something is a someone or a group of someones
Enter sermon-based Small Groups Womenrsquos Bible Study
First Watch and more We encourage you to find a group
and connect authentically with others
Visit irvingbibleorgadults
Start
HOW DO I GETCONNECTED AT IBC
FOR MORE INFO VISIT IRVINGBIBLEORGCONNECT OR LOOK
FOR THE NEWCOMER GUIDES AT THE INFORMATION DESK
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1920
Chatter | 19
If you are not seated please sit down If you are seated buckle up If you
are buckled up you may want to stop reading now if yoursquore prone to
carsickness Settled in Okay then The haphazard collection of words
currently assaulting your senses mdash both sight and common mdash is my 983095983091rd
and likely final column for Chatter I know I know Yoursquore probably in the
drive-thru at Chick-fil-A just now remembering that itrsquos Sunday and then this
happens So you are not only left wondering where you can satisfy your Bible-
blessed chicken jones but also from whence yoursquoll be able to scratch your itch
for elliptical sentence structures chock-a-block with obtuse wordification and
the occasional monthly reference to pastiness You need a hug
Sadly the Chatter editorial board enforces a strict no-touching (even emotion-
ally) policy on contributors of dubious complexion (therersquos your final pasty
reference) so wersquoll have to make do with a psychic fist bump But before I leave
you with Tim Hawkins as your lone source of Christian comedy (What do you
mean he already was) Irsquod like to take a few hundred words and ramble semi-
coherently about what the past 983094983097 ldquoIdle Chatterrdquo columns and 983092 ldquoInterview
with a Dead Guyrdquo exposeacutes have taught me If anything Hmmm
First Irsquove learned that itrsquos much easier to keep a position when the job is es-
sentially that of a volunteer Assuming you donrsquot count the few times I had to
slip an Old Navy coupon code to the editor (Julie now of the emeritus variety)
to get her to put down the metaphorical red pen (The literal red pen is the
Track Changes feature in Microsoft Word which I despise even more so than a
patchouli-soaked hippie Also I never could figure out which online emporium
discounts would convince her to let me discuss smiting hippies so wersquoll see if
the new ed lets that previous sentence fly) Anyway I assume my long tenure
was also aided by my ability to meet a deadline no matter how many times I
moved it and my penchant for mentioning my kids who are totes adorbs at
least in print
Irsquove learned that most fellow believers can take a joke In nearly seven years
of poking fun (And is poking ever really fun I think not) at some of the more
absurdist aspects of evangelical life mdash along with giving Moses the Twitter
handle MoHeston mdash I never received one letter email Tweet Snapchat
Vine video Facebook rant or gospel tract-based expression of displeasure
Sure only about three of you actually know who I am And my family attended
church in Frisco but farther north (as in past the Ikea) than most Irvingites
dare to drive Also we moved to Omaha three years ago Nonetheless I appre-
ciate your collective sense of humor andor Juliersquos restraint in forwarding me
complaints from the elders
Irsquod like to tell you I learned many deep life-changing Biblical truths over the
last 983094983095 of a decade but come on I think we can all agree that I either made up
most of my doctrinal claims or have since forgotten the ones that are true due
to my advancing fortysomethingness Which reminds me I never did base a
column on the Book of Lamentations Woe is me
Lastly Irsquove learned that I can spit out 983097983088983088 words on just about anything with-
out saying much of anything of value Case in point duly noted
And now since I still have about 983091983088983088 words to torture Irsquoll take a question Yesyou in the back with the pre-Etsy WWJD bracelet from 983089983097983097983095 My favorite col-
umns Well I could say thatrsquos like trying to choose your favorite child (the dog)
if having 983095983091 kids wouldnrsquot get me investigated by the Guinness World Records
folks (bunch of narcs) Instead Irsquoll go with my two poems Ballad for a High
School Youth Group Hayride (October 983090983088983089983092) and The Graven (October 983090983088983089983093)
my unearthing of Noahrsquos Twitter feed GopherWoodBoy (October 983090983088983088983097) my
ruminations on Pentecost Economy Sizing the Holy Spirit (May 983090983088983089983088) and my
homage to my dad on the occasion of his 983094983093th birthday Cool On the Inside (July
983090983088983089983088) There might be others I actually like more but I donrsquot have the patience
of a Job Billy Duggar to read them all Also you can find most of these at Scribd
comIrvingBibleChurch or JasonFoxnetIdleChatter
So This is the end For now at least Perhaps Irsquo ll pop up or in or over from
time to time to ruminate on weighty matters like why our Christmas tree top-
per looks like Celine Dion But for now I think itrsquos time to try something a little
different After so many attempts at we aving a little truth into the funny
I believe Irsquoll give weaving a little funny into the truth a go (Thatrsquos what I get for
actually studying my beliefs I guess) I doubt Irsquoll become this millenniumrsquos C S
Lewis but perhaps something of eternal value will emerge from it Hopefully
not damnation
But until we meet in the sweet by-and-by on that beautiful shore (look for my
totally boss conversion van customized by St Doober) I will simply thank you
for reading and leave you with one last bit of suspect theological advice Every
argument especially those on the internet can be won with the phrase ldquoWell
thatrsquos what it says in Habakkukrdquo Because it does
Jason Fox will miss you all except that creepy guy who cuts his fingernails
during the sermon and is proud his last column hit 983097983088983088 words exactly
Jason writes from Omaha Nebraska (well he used to) and can be harassed forevermore on
Twitter at jason_fox
ONCE MORE
WITH FEELING
Celine Dion is theyoungest of 14 children
In 2013 alone 200 millionlemons were squeezed to makeChick-fil-Arsquos fresh lemonade
Shhhh Donrsquot poke itNext month in February Chatter will be hibernating Itrsquos winter after all Plus it buys us some timeto come back in March with more Chatterish goodness than ever before Because more of a good
thing ishellipwell gooder than good grammar (Like we said we need some sleep)
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 2020
Chatterhellipyou CAN take it with you Send us
your Chatter photos on location and you may
see yourself in an upcoming issue Email us
at chatterirvingbibleorg
Chatter tags along as the Mechsner family weathers the ridiculouswinds on Mt Wellington in Hobart Tasmania We understand thatseconds after this shot Chatter decided to dispel the widely heldbelief that turkeys canrsquot fly Be free little guy Be free
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1220
Chatter | 12
Small Groups at IBC have always been about cultivating deep
relationships that advance the kingdom of God in dark places
Sounds heroic but most of the time it looks simple mdash like a mug of
something hot a good talk about real things and a place to take off
your shoes Small Groups should always feel like home
Starting this month wersquoll officially start calling Small Groups at
IBC ldquoHome Groupsrdquo Most of our groups meet in homes anyway
and well home is what theyrsquore really all about mdash a place to be real
and a place to belong mdash even as the kingdom advances
Registration for winter Home Groups closes Feb 28 Groups begin
meeting March 20 Register today at irvingbibleorgsmallgroups
Come on in
Motel 6rsquos tagline ldquoWersquollleave the light on for yourdquois 50 years old
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1320
Chatter | 13
Mary Flo RidleyldquoParents we need to find our voicerdquo
Shersquos an internationallyknown speaker a featured
guest on numerous radio programs (including Focuson the Family) and writesregularly for ldquoDallas Child
Magazinerdquo Her topic Talk-ing to kids about sex As inYOU talking to YOUR kidsabout sex Yep Itrsquos a thing
Before IBC welcomes Mary Flo Ridley this month as a featured Shop Talk speaker
(January 983090983092) Chatter want-ed to catch up with her for a quick chat abouthellip wellhellipthe thing thatrsquos just so dang hard to chat ABOUThellip
CHATTER As parents wersquore really apprehensive about talking
openly with our kids about th is topic Whatrsquos at the heart of
that fear
MARY FLO RIDLEY Some parents fear speaking to their chil-
dren about sex because they were never taught by their own
parents They donrsquot know what this should look like or whatto say to a child Other parents are fearful that at some point
in these conversations they will reveal their own brokenness
in this area of their life and they feel vulnerable All parents
need encouragement when it comes to talking to their chil-
dren about sex and we as the church should equip the saints
for this task Pointing our children (and ourselves) to the
beauty of Godrsquos design can be seen as a privilege of parenting
CHATYoursquove been teaching on this topic for a long time Tell
us about what first motivated you to develop this training
MFR When I was growing up I was blessed with wonder-
ful parents but they never talked to me about sex When
Dave and I were new parents we decided we wanted to do
something a little bit differently and it led to the research and
strategy that I teach parents today
CHAT Mary Flo wersquore sure there are a lot of families at IBC
who would benefit from hearing your wisdom but some
might think itrsquos too late Maybe their kids are older or already
have particular knowledge or opinions about sex Would they
still benefit
MFR Itrsquos never too late Our children need and want to hear
our voices on this topic and they will be willing to set aside
some of the things that they have picked up from the culture
in order to listen to their parents They may roll their eyes but
they WANT to know not only the facts of biology but also why
this part of their life matters to God They need your wisdom
and they long to hear your thoughts As parents we need to
find our voice and speak to them
Does Talkingabout sex withyour kids feel
like facinga monsterMary Flo Ridley can help with
the horn fangs and halitosis
Shop Talk How to Talk about Sex with
your Children with Mary Flo Ridley
January 983090983092 983089983088983092983093 am in the West Wing
Weaving humor and personal stories throughout Mary
Flo Ridley helps parents shape the message they want to
convey to their children about sex Mary Flo guides par-
ents through the process of shaping their childrenrsquos sexual
education from an early age and brings helpful wisdom for
how to become the loving authority on all sexual matters
More info at irvingbibleorgparenting
The term ldquovocal cordsrdquo was coined in1741 by the French anatomist AntoineFerrein who compared them to thestrings of a violin Tregraves bien
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1420
Chatter | 14
UPCOMING
January
JANUARY 6
Radius Kickoff Join Middle School at IBC for their Wednesday night
program More info irvingbibleorgmiddleschool
Elementary Midweek Kickoff 630 pmA place for kids to connect with friends explore
Godrsquos word and have fun More info irvingbible
orgchildren
Midweek TableJoin high schoolers at local houses for dinner and
conversation More info irvingbibleorghighschool
JANUARY 9
Writerrsquos Workshop mdash 10 amJoin a community of people honing their writing
skills Contact doreillyirvingbibleorg
JANUARY 11
NAMI Family-to-Family ClassA course to educate familiescaregivers of those
with serious mental illness Contact joeynetbreeze-
inccom or eurmooreyahoocom
MHGA Family Grace GroupSupport group for familycaregivers of those with
serious mental illness More info irvingbibleorg
hopeandhealing
MHGA Living Grace GroupSupport group for those who suffer with mental ill-
ness More info irvingbibleorghopeandhealing
JANUARY 13
FPU BeginsSee ad pg 17
JANUARY 14
20|30s Kickoff
See ad pg 7
DivorceCare BeginsA group for those walking through the difficulty of
divorce More info irvingbibleorghopeandhealing
JANUARY 15
Mentoring Service Project mdash 9 amFor children (and parents) from single-parent fami-
lies We will be serving the elderly in our community
More info mtribbettirvingbibleorg
JANUARY 17
Marriage at IBC Kickoff See ad pg16
Honduras trip InformationSee ad pg 16
JANUARY 21
Newcomer Gatheringsee ad pg 17
JANUARY 24
Early Childhood Open HouseAll three servicesJoin us for the first 30 minutes of our Sunday
services for Children Experience worship hear the
Bible story and meet leaders More info jbjurlin
irvingbibleorg
Shop TalkMary Flo Ridley will join us to share ldquoHow to Talk
about Sex with your Childrenrdquo More info mcon-
norirvingbibleorg
JANUARY 31
The SummitAnnual Meeting1230 pmJoin us in West A for the Annual Meeting and enjoy
a complimentary lunch Register at irvingbibleorg
annualmeeting
FEBRUARY 6
Valentinersquos Dinner for Single-Parent Families mdash 6ndash9 pmEnjoy dinner dancing horse amp carriage rides
Register at irvingbibleorgsingleparents or withmtribbettirvingbibleorg
FEBRUARY 7
BaptismsTo register visit irvingbibleorgbaptism Mandatory
orientation held January 10 More info doreilly
irvingbibleorg
The Table beginsSee ad pg16
Propel BeginsGet connected at IBC through this four week course
More info at irvingbibleorgpropel
FEBRUARY 14
Child DedicationRegistration opens January 29 at irvingbibleorg
childdedication
Heart Box SundaySee ad pg 9
FEBRUARY 18GriefShare BeginsA caring group of people to walk alongside you
through one of lifersquos most difficult experiences More
info irvingbibleorghopeandhealing
February
by Jodie Niznik
Jesus has set you free Yet many of us donrsquot feel
free We feel bound by guilt and shame mdash certainour mishaps and mistakes discredit us before God
But if Jesus died on the cross for our sins didnrsquothe die for those things too Join us as we dig intoGalatians to discover what it really means to be set
free by Jesus
Date January ndashApril (not meeting March and due to spring break)
Time - am or - pm
Location e Commons IBC
Cost (includes workbook)
For more information and to register visit
irvingbibleorgwomen
KidZone registration is also available Registration
closes on January at noon or earlier if full
SPRING BIBLE STUDY
ONGOING MEALS
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1520
SUNDAYCOMMUNITY MEALS
6 pm mdash Town SquareMeals are $3 per person or $10maxfamily
13 No Meal Happy New Year
110 Beef fajitas chips and salsasalad bar
117 All American burgers andbrats salad bar
124 Giant baked potatoes withall the fixinrsquos salad bar
131 Chicken tenders mashed
potatoes and gravysalad bar
If yoursquod like to serve on a Sundaynight meal team contact PatOrsquoReilly at (214) 289-6176 or sun-daynightmealirvingbibleorg
WEDNESDAYMIDWEEK MEALS
5ndash620 PM
Cost is $3meal or $10 max family PBampJ sandwiches arealso available
16 Lasagna salad dessertHosted by Mike Gwartneyrsquosteam
113 Ham scalloped potatoesdessert Hosted by BobDowneyrsquos team
120 Enchiladas tacos chips andsalsa Hosted by BarbaraWittersquos team
127 Chicken quarters friesdessert Hosted by BobDowneyrsquos team
Changes to the menu may be madedepending on food cost availabilityand Bob Downeyrsquos whim
If yoursquod like to serve on a Wednes-day night meal team please emailbdowneyirvingbibleorg
CUPPA HOURS
MonndashFri 9 amndash8 pm
Saturday 11 amndash5 pm
Sunday 7 amndash7 pm
BIBLE COMMUNITIESGroups on Sunday
Synergy
9 am mdash The AlcoveAll Welcome
The Tree9 am mdash West D20s amp 30s married amp young families
Crossroads1045 am mdash West CCouples amp Families late 20s to 40s
Journey1045 am mdash The AlcoveAll Welcome
On Track1045 am mdash Conference RoomSingle Parents
Thrive1045 am mdash West DSingles in their 30s amp 40s
Renew1045 am mdash Training CenterAll Welcome
Legacy Builders645 pm mdash West A mdash All Welcome
CHILDRENInfants Through 5th Grade
Childrenrsquos Sunday Services9 am 1045 am 5 pm
Elementary MidweekBegins January 6 630ndash830 pmKids connect with friends andexplore Godrsquos word through smallgroups food fun Visit irvingbibleorgelementarymidweek
HOPE amp HEALINGCommunity Care
Abortion Recovery CounselingContact Kym at (972) 560-4632 orkyeichnerirvingbibleorg
GriefShare630 pm mdash West CContact shararringtonverizonnet
Recovery at IBCThursdays 630ndash830 pmWest Wing Youth LoungeA group for hurts habits andhangups irvingbibleorgrecovery
The Living Grace GroupFor those with mental illness ContactHeath at heathmurryyahoocom
Family Grace GroupFor familiescaregivers of those withmental illness Contact Buzz Moodyat myrabuzzgmailcom
NAMI Family-to-Family ClassContact Joey at joeynetbreezeinccomor Debra at eumooreyahoocom
Stephen Ministry at IBCOne-on-one ministry for hurtingpeople Contact stephenministryirvingbibleorg or call (972) 560-4636
Spousal Abuse RecoveryContact kyeichnerirvingbibleorg
MARRIAGEGrowing Together
Marriage at IBCContact marriageirvingbibleorg
Pre-Marriage Mentoring Visit irvingbibleorgmarriage
MENCommunity and Resources
First WatchFridays 622 am mdash The CommonsContact Nat at npughirvingbibleorg
First Watch ReplayTuesdays 630 pmTraining CenterContact brianarrington1yahoocom
First Watch XtraWednesday 630 amTraining CenterContact bcopehuntoilcom
Visit irvingbibleorgmen
MISSIONLocal and Global
Prayer Meeting
2nd and 4th Wednesdays645-8 pm mdash The Chapel
Laundry LoveFirst Saturday of the month9 amndash12 pmContact laundryloveirvingbibleorg
New Friends New LifeServe dinner to women healingfrom sexual exploitation every thirdWednesday Contact Christine atnewfriendsnewlifeirvingbibleorg
SINGLE PARENTCommunity and Resources
Sit with us on Sunday9 am service lowest right-handsection Rows 5 amp 6 facing the stage
Visit irvingbibleorgsingleparents
SPECIAL NEEDS
Community amp Care
Small Group for MomsSundays 9ndash1015 am
In His Image Bible StudySundays 630ndash745 pm
Small Group for ParentsWednesdays 630ndash8 pm
SonShine Pals and RoomCare during Sunday ministry
Contact specialneedsirvingbibleorg
STUDENTSMiddleHigh School and College
Middle School SundaysSundays mdash 1030 amndash1220 pmStudent Ministries area
High School SundaysSundays 645ndash8 pm
Student Ministries areaIBC College MinistrySundays 330 pmThe Commons AnnexContact collegeirvingbibleorg
High School MidweekWednesdaysJoin us for food and communitySee Facebook page for locations
Middle SchoolWednesdays 630 pmJoin us for a time of friendships
and teaching
WOMENCommunity and Resources
Womenrsquos Spring Bible StudyBeginning January 12Tuesdays 930 am or 630 pmThe CommonsJoin us as we study Proverbs Visitirvingbibleorgwomen
2435 KINWESTWednesday Nights at IBC
IBC ChoirWednesdays 7ndash830 pmIBC Worship CenterContact Crystal atcelwellirvingbibleorg
ESL English as a Second LanguageWednesdays 630ndash830 pm
Haven B C D
Citizenship ClassWednesdays 630ndash830 pmIBC Conference Room
IBC Career Transition MinistryWednesdays 630ndash830 pm
Microsoft Computer SkillsWednesdays 630ndash830 pmThe Training Center
Visit 2435kinwestorg
ONGOING MEALS
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1620
The Table is a place where skeptics and Christians alike can
pull up a chair around a table to explore God the Christian
faith and the hard questions of life It is a place where
questions are invited and welcomed and where people can
voice their doubts
Questions Contact jsteinirvingbibleorg
To register visit irvingbibleorgthetable
When am on February ndashMarch
Where The Living Room (formerly the MenrsquosConference Room)
Whether your marriage is sinking coastingalong or going full-throttle every marriageneeds some TLC
Marriage at IBC is a fun 983089983088-week course that focuses on the
big picture of marriage as well as practical application in the
everyday-life struggles of marriage While we cover important
topics like communication and conflict in-laws finances andsex we donrsquot go through a single class without laughing and hav-
ing a great time The class format is a speaker for a weekly topic
followed by small group time
Marriage at IBC Begins January 983089983095 983097 am The Commons
Register at irvingbibleorgmarriage
Already in an IBC small group Any existing IBC small groups are
welcome and able to participate and will receive all of the Marriage
at IBC resources and any level of support they desire
Questions Contact marriageirvingbibleorg
Join Mission at IBC for an informational about
our summer trip to Honduras We are looking
for medical professionals and teachers to work
with IBC partne r Workers Together With
God This will be an intergenerational trip with
IBCrsquos High School ministry
For more info please contact Lauren at
lmouossairvingbibleorg
HONDURASM I S S I O N T R I PInformational MeetingJANUARY 17
1230ndash2 pm in West D
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1720
HOW DO I GIVE HOW DO I GET
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1820
Chatter | 18
The name ldquoJanuaryrdquo comes from theLatin word for door (ianua) sinceJanuary is the door to the year
My Time Talents amp Skills
Facility Department VolunteersDo you enjoy swinging a hammer or helping doinstalls The IBC Facility Department could use yourhelp There are many projects where an extra set of
hands is needed So if you have experience work-ing in building electrical plumbing etc pleasecontact Rod Myers at rmyersirvingbibleorg
Meal Team VolunteersIBC makes meals available both Sunday andWednesday nights These fun teams could usesome additional volunteers to serve together ForSundays contact sundaynightmealirvingbibleorgFor Wednesdays contact bdowneyirvingbibleorg
Medical Professionals NeededOur weekly medical clinic needs professional healthcare providers (MD PA FNP) to provide treatment
for our patients Volunteers serve on a rotatingbasis and do not need to serve every week ContactCharles at cpierce2435clinicorg
Mentor Kids in Single-Parent FamiliesMen and women are needed for gender-specificmentoring of children from single-parent familiesContact Marsha at mtribbettirvingbibleorg
New Friends New LifeServe dinner to women healing from sexual exploita-tion (every third Wednesday) Contact Christine atnewfriendsnewlifeirvingbibleorg
Safety Team
Do you have a desire to serve and protect oth-ers Contact Christopher Watkins at cwatkinsirvingbibleorg Please include any credentials andrelevant experience
Visitor Follow-Up Team(Rex Greenstreet Ministry)We are looking for a volunteer to make calls orsend welcome emails (or both) to new vi sitors fromIBC Training and coaching will be providedContact Sherri at ssharpirvingbibleorg
Volunteer with Senior CareSenior Care at IBC has some needs Villages on
MacArthur needs Bible Study leaders as well asSaturday services leaders MacArthur Hills needsmusicianssingers and leaders for a spiritual serviceAshford Hall needs one-on-one visitors and Biblestudy leaders and gameactivities volunteers Con-tact Mike at Seniorcareirvingbibleorg
My ResourcesOnline Giving OptionIf you would find it more convenient to donate tothe ministries of Irving Bible Church online visitirvingbibleorggive FIND A PLACE TO SERVE
Yoursquove come a long way since that first breath mint Yoursquovebeen busy worshipping learning relating and committing
And itrsquos at this point that you might start looking around
at all the people who help create those events mdash ushers
greeters meal team members table hosts small group
leaders and the like Your next step now is to join them
Consider your passions talents and spiritual gifts and then
ask about a place to serve Visit irvingbibleorgserve
JOIN IN WORSHIPSo you found the address a place to park and a breath
mint on the way in Good work If yoursquore reading this
yoursquove probably already taken the first step mdash attending a
worship service This is the first and most important place
to start so keep coming Become a regular Make sure to
fill out a Newcomer Card Tell us a little about yourself and
let us know how we can engage with you Somebody will
reach out to you this week Visit irvingbibleorgconnect
Wersquore glad you asked Here are the steps to take for
having your questions answered figuring out the IBC story and if yoursquore feeling ready plugging in
CHECK OUT THE NEWCOMER GATHERINGSo yoursquore kicking the IBC tires Good Wersquore so glad yoursquore
here The Newcomer Gathering is a great opportunity to
meet church leadership learn what IBC is all about andconnect with other newbies in a fun relaxed environment
Next Newcomer Gathering January 21
SIGN UP FOR PROPELAll right Yoursquore feeling the IBC vibe and want to see
where you might get involved Propel is a 4-week class that
explores the IBC calling and culture and how your unique
personality and passions fit in Meet many of our pastors and
directors of ministries at IBC Next Propel February 7ndash28
JOIN A COMMUNITY Yoursquore firing on all cylinders but something is missing And
that something is a someone or a group of someones
Enter sermon-based Small Groups Womenrsquos Bible Study
First Watch and more We encourage you to find a group
and connect authentically with others
Visit irvingbibleorgadults
Start
HOW DO I GETCONNECTED AT IBC
FOR MORE INFO VISIT IRVINGBIBLEORGCONNECT OR LOOK
FOR THE NEWCOMER GUIDES AT THE INFORMATION DESK
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1920
Chatter | 19
If you are not seated please sit down If you are seated buckle up If you
are buckled up you may want to stop reading now if yoursquore prone to
carsickness Settled in Okay then The haphazard collection of words
currently assaulting your senses mdash both sight and common mdash is my 983095983091rd
and likely final column for Chatter I know I know Yoursquore probably in the
drive-thru at Chick-fil-A just now remembering that itrsquos Sunday and then this
happens So you are not only left wondering where you can satisfy your Bible-
blessed chicken jones but also from whence yoursquoll be able to scratch your itch
for elliptical sentence structures chock-a-block with obtuse wordification and
the occasional monthly reference to pastiness You need a hug
Sadly the Chatter editorial board enforces a strict no-touching (even emotion-
ally) policy on contributors of dubious complexion (therersquos your final pasty
reference) so wersquoll have to make do with a psychic fist bump But before I leave
you with Tim Hawkins as your lone source of Christian comedy (What do you
mean he already was) Irsquod like to take a few hundred words and ramble semi-
coherently about what the past 983094983097 ldquoIdle Chatterrdquo columns and 983092 ldquoInterview
with a Dead Guyrdquo exposeacutes have taught me If anything Hmmm
First Irsquove learned that itrsquos much easier to keep a position when the job is es-
sentially that of a volunteer Assuming you donrsquot count the few times I had to
slip an Old Navy coupon code to the editor (Julie now of the emeritus variety)
to get her to put down the metaphorical red pen (The literal red pen is the
Track Changes feature in Microsoft Word which I despise even more so than a
patchouli-soaked hippie Also I never could figure out which online emporium
discounts would convince her to let me discuss smiting hippies so wersquoll see if
the new ed lets that previous sentence fly) Anyway I assume my long tenure
was also aided by my ability to meet a deadline no matter how many times I
moved it and my penchant for mentioning my kids who are totes adorbs at
least in print
Irsquove learned that most fellow believers can take a joke In nearly seven years
of poking fun (And is poking ever really fun I think not) at some of the more
absurdist aspects of evangelical life mdash along with giving Moses the Twitter
handle MoHeston mdash I never received one letter email Tweet Snapchat
Vine video Facebook rant or gospel tract-based expression of displeasure
Sure only about three of you actually know who I am And my family attended
church in Frisco but farther north (as in past the Ikea) than most Irvingites
dare to drive Also we moved to Omaha three years ago Nonetheless I appre-
ciate your collective sense of humor andor Juliersquos restraint in forwarding me
complaints from the elders
Irsquod like to tell you I learned many deep life-changing Biblical truths over the
last 983094983095 of a decade but come on I think we can all agree that I either made up
most of my doctrinal claims or have since forgotten the ones that are true due
to my advancing fortysomethingness Which reminds me I never did base a
column on the Book of Lamentations Woe is me
Lastly Irsquove learned that I can spit out 983097983088983088 words on just about anything with-
out saying much of anything of value Case in point duly noted
And now since I still have about 983091983088983088 words to torture Irsquoll take a question Yesyou in the back with the pre-Etsy WWJD bracelet from 983089983097983097983095 My favorite col-
umns Well I could say thatrsquos like trying to choose your favorite child (the dog)
if having 983095983091 kids wouldnrsquot get me investigated by the Guinness World Records
folks (bunch of narcs) Instead Irsquoll go with my two poems Ballad for a High
School Youth Group Hayride (October 983090983088983089983092) and The Graven (October 983090983088983089983093)
my unearthing of Noahrsquos Twitter feed GopherWoodBoy (October 983090983088983088983097) my
ruminations on Pentecost Economy Sizing the Holy Spirit (May 983090983088983089983088) and my
homage to my dad on the occasion of his 983094983093th birthday Cool On the Inside (July
983090983088983089983088) There might be others I actually like more but I donrsquot have the patience
of a Job Billy Duggar to read them all Also you can find most of these at Scribd
comIrvingBibleChurch or JasonFoxnetIdleChatter
So This is the end For now at least Perhaps Irsquo ll pop up or in or over from
time to time to ruminate on weighty matters like why our Christmas tree top-
per looks like Celine Dion But for now I think itrsquos time to try something a little
different After so many attempts at we aving a little truth into the funny
I believe Irsquoll give weaving a little funny into the truth a go (Thatrsquos what I get for
actually studying my beliefs I guess) I doubt Irsquoll become this millenniumrsquos C S
Lewis but perhaps something of eternal value will emerge from it Hopefully
not damnation
But until we meet in the sweet by-and-by on that beautiful shore (look for my
totally boss conversion van customized by St Doober) I will simply thank you
for reading and leave you with one last bit of suspect theological advice Every
argument especially those on the internet can be won with the phrase ldquoWell
thatrsquos what it says in Habakkukrdquo Because it does
Jason Fox will miss you all except that creepy guy who cuts his fingernails
during the sermon and is proud his last column hit 983097983088983088 words exactly
Jason writes from Omaha Nebraska (well he used to) and can be harassed forevermore on
Twitter at jason_fox
ONCE MORE
WITH FEELING
Celine Dion is theyoungest of 14 children
In 2013 alone 200 millionlemons were squeezed to makeChick-fil-Arsquos fresh lemonade
Shhhh Donrsquot poke itNext month in February Chatter will be hibernating Itrsquos winter after all Plus it buys us some timeto come back in March with more Chatterish goodness than ever before Because more of a good
thing ishellipwell gooder than good grammar (Like we said we need some sleep)
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 2020
Chatterhellipyou CAN take it with you Send us
your Chatter photos on location and you may
see yourself in an upcoming issue Email us
at chatterirvingbibleorg
Chatter tags along as the Mechsner family weathers the ridiculouswinds on Mt Wellington in Hobart Tasmania We understand thatseconds after this shot Chatter decided to dispel the widely heldbelief that turkeys canrsquot fly Be free little guy Be free
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1320
Chatter | 13
Mary Flo RidleyldquoParents we need to find our voicerdquo
Shersquos an internationallyknown speaker a featured
guest on numerous radio programs (including Focuson the Family) and writesregularly for ldquoDallas Child
Magazinerdquo Her topic Talk-ing to kids about sex As inYOU talking to YOUR kidsabout sex Yep Itrsquos a thing
Before IBC welcomes Mary Flo Ridley this month as a featured Shop Talk speaker
(January 983090983092) Chatter want-ed to catch up with her for a quick chat abouthellip wellhellipthe thing thatrsquos just so dang hard to chat ABOUThellip
CHATTER As parents wersquore really apprehensive about talking
openly with our kids about th is topic Whatrsquos at the heart of
that fear
MARY FLO RIDLEY Some parents fear speaking to their chil-
dren about sex because they were never taught by their own
parents They donrsquot know what this should look like or whatto say to a child Other parents are fearful that at some point
in these conversations they will reveal their own brokenness
in this area of their life and they feel vulnerable All parents
need encouragement when it comes to talking to their chil-
dren about sex and we as the church should equip the saints
for this task Pointing our children (and ourselves) to the
beauty of Godrsquos design can be seen as a privilege of parenting
CHATYoursquove been teaching on this topic for a long time Tell
us about what first motivated you to develop this training
MFR When I was growing up I was blessed with wonder-
ful parents but they never talked to me about sex When
Dave and I were new parents we decided we wanted to do
something a little bit differently and it led to the research and
strategy that I teach parents today
CHAT Mary Flo wersquore sure there are a lot of families at IBC
who would benefit from hearing your wisdom but some
might think itrsquos too late Maybe their kids are older or already
have particular knowledge or opinions about sex Would they
still benefit
MFR Itrsquos never too late Our children need and want to hear
our voices on this topic and they will be willing to set aside
some of the things that they have picked up from the culture
in order to listen to their parents They may roll their eyes but
they WANT to know not only the facts of biology but also why
this part of their life matters to God They need your wisdom
and they long to hear your thoughts As parents we need to
find our voice and speak to them
Does Talkingabout sex withyour kids feel
like facinga monsterMary Flo Ridley can help with
the horn fangs and halitosis
Shop Talk How to Talk about Sex with
your Children with Mary Flo Ridley
January 983090983092 983089983088983092983093 am in the West Wing
Weaving humor and personal stories throughout Mary
Flo Ridley helps parents shape the message they want to
convey to their children about sex Mary Flo guides par-
ents through the process of shaping their childrenrsquos sexual
education from an early age and brings helpful wisdom for
how to become the loving authority on all sexual matters
More info at irvingbibleorgparenting
The term ldquovocal cordsrdquo was coined in1741 by the French anatomist AntoineFerrein who compared them to thestrings of a violin Tregraves bien
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1420
Chatter | 14
UPCOMING
January
JANUARY 6
Radius Kickoff Join Middle School at IBC for their Wednesday night
program More info irvingbibleorgmiddleschool
Elementary Midweek Kickoff 630 pmA place for kids to connect with friends explore
Godrsquos word and have fun More info irvingbible
orgchildren
Midweek TableJoin high schoolers at local houses for dinner and
conversation More info irvingbibleorghighschool
JANUARY 9
Writerrsquos Workshop mdash 10 amJoin a community of people honing their writing
skills Contact doreillyirvingbibleorg
JANUARY 11
NAMI Family-to-Family ClassA course to educate familiescaregivers of those
with serious mental illness Contact joeynetbreeze-
inccom or eurmooreyahoocom
MHGA Family Grace GroupSupport group for familycaregivers of those with
serious mental illness More info irvingbibleorg
hopeandhealing
MHGA Living Grace GroupSupport group for those who suffer with mental ill-
ness More info irvingbibleorghopeandhealing
JANUARY 13
FPU BeginsSee ad pg 17
JANUARY 14
20|30s Kickoff
See ad pg 7
DivorceCare BeginsA group for those walking through the difficulty of
divorce More info irvingbibleorghopeandhealing
JANUARY 15
Mentoring Service Project mdash 9 amFor children (and parents) from single-parent fami-
lies We will be serving the elderly in our community
More info mtribbettirvingbibleorg
JANUARY 17
Marriage at IBC Kickoff See ad pg16
Honduras trip InformationSee ad pg 16
JANUARY 21
Newcomer Gatheringsee ad pg 17
JANUARY 24
Early Childhood Open HouseAll three servicesJoin us for the first 30 minutes of our Sunday
services for Children Experience worship hear the
Bible story and meet leaders More info jbjurlin
irvingbibleorg
Shop TalkMary Flo Ridley will join us to share ldquoHow to Talk
about Sex with your Childrenrdquo More info mcon-
norirvingbibleorg
JANUARY 31
The SummitAnnual Meeting1230 pmJoin us in West A for the Annual Meeting and enjoy
a complimentary lunch Register at irvingbibleorg
annualmeeting
FEBRUARY 6
Valentinersquos Dinner for Single-Parent Families mdash 6ndash9 pmEnjoy dinner dancing horse amp carriage rides
Register at irvingbibleorgsingleparents or withmtribbettirvingbibleorg
FEBRUARY 7
BaptismsTo register visit irvingbibleorgbaptism Mandatory
orientation held January 10 More info doreilly
irvingbibleorg
The Table beginsSee ad pg16
Propel BeginsGet connected at IBC through this four week course
More info at irvingbibleorgpropel
FEBRUARY 14
Child DedicationRegistration opens January 29 at irvingbibleorg
childdedication
Heart Box SundaySee ad pg 9
FEBRUARY 18GriefShare BeginsA caring group of people to walk alongside you
through one of lifersquos most difficult experiences More
info irvingbibleorghopeandhealing
February
by Jodie Niznik
Jesus has set you free Yet many of us donrsquot feel
free We feel bound by guilt and shame mdash certainour mishaps and mistakes discredit us before God
But if Jesus died on the cross for our sins didnrsquothe die for those things too Join us as we dig intoGalatians to discover what it really means to be set
free by Jesus
Date January ndashApril (not meeting March and due to spring break)
Time - am or - pm
Location e Commons IBC
Cost (includes workbook)
For more information and to register visit
irvingbibleorgwomen
KidZone registration is also available Registration
closes on January at noon or earlier if full
SPRING BIBLE STUDY
ONGOING MEALS
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1520
SUNDAYCOMMUNITY MEALS
6 pm mdash Town SquareMeals are $3 per person or $10maxfamily
13 No Meal Happy New Year
110 Beef fajitas chips and salsasalad bar
117 All American burgers andbrats salad bar
124 Giant baked potatoes withall the fixinrsquos salad bar
131 Chicken tenders mashed
potatoes and gravysalad bar
If yoursquod like to serve on a Sundaynight meal team contact PatOrsquoReilly at (214) 289-6176 or sun-daynightmealirvingbibleorg
WEDNESDAYMIDWEEK MEALS
5ndash620 PM
Cost is $3meal or $10 max family PBampJ sandwiches arealso available
16 Lasagna salad dessertHosted by Mike Gwartneyrsquosteam
113 Ham scalloped potatoesdessert Hosted by BobDowneyrsquos team
120 Enchiladas tacos chips andsalsa Hosted by BarbaraWittersquos team
127 Chicken quarters friesdessert Hosted by BobDowneyrsquos team
Changes to the menu may be madedepending on food cost availabilityand Bob Downeyrsquos whim
If yoursquod like to serve on a Wednes-day night meal team please emailbdowneyirvingbibleorg
CUPPA HOURS
MonndashFri 9 amndash8 pm
Saturday 11 amndash5 pm
Sunday 7 amndash7 pm
BIBLE COMMUNITIESGroups on Sunday
Synergy
9 am mdash The AlcoveAll Welcome
The Tree9 am mdash West D20s amp 30s married amp young families
Crossroads1045 am mdash West CCouples amp Families late 20s to 40s
Journey1045 am mdash The AlcoveAll Welcome
On Track1045 am mdash Conference RoomSingle Parents
Thrive1045 am mdash West DSingles in their 30s amp 40s
Renew1045 am mdash Training CenterAll Welcome
Legacy Builders645 pm mdash West A mdash All Welcome
CHILDRENInfants Through 5th Grade
Childrenrsquos Sunday Services9 am 1045 am 5 pm
Elementary MidweekBegins January 6 630ndash830 pmKids connect with friends andexplore Godrsquos word through smallgroups food fun Visit irvingbibleorgelementarymidweek
HOPE amp HEALINGCommunity Care
Abortion Recovery CounselingContact Kym at (972) 560-4632 orkyeichnerirvingbibleorg
GriefShare630 pm mdash West CContact shararringtonverizonnet
Recovery at IBCThursdays 630ndash830 pmWest Wing Youth LoungeA group for hurts habits andhangups irvingbibleorgrecovery
The Living Grace GroupFor those with mental illness ContactHeath at heathmurryyahoocom
Family Grace GroupFor familiescaregivers of those withmental illness Contact Buzz Moodyat myrabuzzgmailcom
NAMI Family-to-Family ClassContact Joey at joeynetbreezeinccomor Debra at eumooreyahoocom
Stephen Ministry at IBCOne-on-one ministry for hurtingpeople Contact stephenministryirvingbibleorg or call (972) 560-4636
Spousal Abuse RecoveryContact kyeichnerirvingbibleorg
MARRIAGEGrowing Together
Marriage at IBCContact marriageirvingbibleorg
Pre-Marriage Mentoring Visit irvingbibleorgmarriage
MENCommunity and Resources
First WatchFridays 622 am mdash The CommonsContact Nat at npughirvingbibleorg
First Watch ReplayTuesdays 630 pmTraining CenterContact brianarrington1yahoocom
First Watch XtraWednesday 630 amTraining CenterContact bcopehuntoilcom
Visit irvingbibleorgmen
MISSIONLocal and Global
Prayer Meeting
2nd and 4th Wednesdays645-8 pm mdash The Chapel
Laundry LoveFirst Saturday of the month9 amndash12 pmContact laundryloveirvingbibleorg
New Friends New LifeServe dinner to women healingfrom sexual exploitation every thirdWednesday Contact Christine atnewfriendsnewlifeirvingbibleorg
SINGLE PARENTCommunity and Resources
Sit with us on Sunday9 am service lowest right-handsection Rows 5 amp 6 facing the stage
Visit irvingbibleorgsingleparents
SPECIAL NEEDS
Community amp Care
Small Group for MomsSundays 9ndash1015 am
In His Image Bible StudySundays 630ndash745 pm
Small Group for ParentsWednesdays 630ndash8 pm
SonShine Pals and RoomCare during Sunday ministry
Contact specialneedsirvingbibleorg
STUDENTSMiddleHigh School and College
Middle School SundaysSundays mdash 1030 amndash1220 pmStudent Ministries area
High School SundaysSundays 645ndash8 pm
Student Ministries areaIBC College MinistrySundays 330 pmThe Commons AnnexContact collegeirvingbibleorg
High School MidweekWednesdaysJoin us for food and communitySee Facebook page for locations
Middle SchoolWednesdays 630 pmJoin us for a time of friendships
and teaching
WOMENCommunity and Resources
Womenrsquos Spring Bible StudyBeginning January 12Tuesdays 930 am or 630 pmThe CommonsJoin us as we study Proverbs Visitirvingbibleorgwomen
2435 KINWESTWednesday Nights at IBC
IBC ChoirWednesdays 7ndash830 pmIBC Worship CenterContact Crystal atcelwellirvingbibleorg
ESL English as a Second LanguageWednesdays 630ndash830 pm
Haven B C D
Citizenship ClassWednesdays 630ndash830 pmIBC Conference Room
IBC Career Transition MinistryWednesdays 630ndash830 pm
Microsoft Computer SkillsWednesdays 630ndash830 pmThe Training Center
Visit 2435kinwestorg
ONGOING MEALS
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1620
The Table is a place where skeptics and Christians alike can
pull up a chair around a table to explore God the Christian
faith and the hard questions of life It is a place where
questions are invited and welcomed and where people can
voice their doubts
Questions Contact jsteinirvingbibleorg
To register visit irvingbibleorgthetable
When am on February ndashMarch
Where The Living Room (formerly the MenrsquosConference Room)
Whether your marriage is sinking coastingalong or going full-throttle every marriageneeds some TLC
Marriage at IBC is a fun 983089983088-week course that focuses on the
big picture of marriage as well as practical application in the
everyday-life struggles of marriage While we cover important
topics like communication and conflict in-laws finances andsex we donrsquot go through a single class without laughing and hav-
ing a great time The class format is a speaker for a weekly topic
followed by small group time
Marriage at IBC Begins January 983089983095 983097 am The Commons
Register at irvingbibleorgmarriage
Already in an IBC small group Any existing IBC small groups are
welcome and able to participate and will receive all of the Marriage
at IBC resources and any level of support they desire
Questions Contact marriageirvingbibleorg
Join Mission at IBC for an informational about
our summer trip to Honduras We are looking
for medical professionals and teachers to work
with IBC partne r Workers Together With
God This will be an intergenerational trip with
IBCrsquos High School ministry
For more info please contact Lauren at
lmouossairvingbibleorg
HONDURASM I S S I O N T R I PInformational MeetingJANUARY 17
1230ndash2 pm in West D
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1720
HOW DO I GIVE HOW DO I GET
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1820
Chatter | 18
The name ldquoJanuaryrdquo comes from theLatin word for door (ianua) sinceJanuary is the door to the year
My Time Talents amp Skills
Facility Department VolunteersDo you enjoy swinging a hammer or helping doinstalls The IBC Facility Department could use yourhelp There are many projects where an extra set of
hands is needed So if you have experience work-ing in building electrical plumbing etc pleasecontact Rod Myers at rmyersirvingbibleorg
Meal Team VolunteersIBC makes meals available both Sunday andWednesday nights These fun teams could usesome additional volunteers to serve together ForSundays contact sundaynightmealirvingbibleorgFor Wednesdays contact bdowneyirvingbibleorg
Medical Professionals NeededOur weekly medical clinic needs professional healthcare providers (MD PA FNP) to provide treatment
for our patients Volunteers serve on a rotatingbasis and do not need to serve every week ContactCharles at cpierce2435clinicorg
Mentor Kids in Single-Parent FamiliesMen and women are needed for gender-specificmentoring of children from single-parent familiesContact Marsha at mtribbettirvingbibleorg
New Friends New LifeServe dinner to women healing from sexual exploita-tion (every third Wednesday) Contact Christine atnewfriendsnewlifeirvingbibleorg
Safety Team
Do you have a desire to serve and protect oth-ers Contact Christopher Watkins at cwatkinsirvingbibleorg Please include any credentials andrelevant experience
Visitor Follow-Up Team(Rex Greenstreet Ministry)We are looking for a volunteer to make calls orsend welcome emails (or both) to new vi sitors fromIBC Training and coaching will be providedContact Sherri at ssharpirvingbibleorg
Volunteer with Senior CareSenior Care at IBC has some needs Villages on
MacArthur needs Bible Study leaders as well asSaturday services leaders MacArthur Hills needsmusicianssingers and leaders for a spiritual serviceAshford Hall needs one-on-one visitors and Biblestudy leaders and gameactivities volunteers Con-tact Mike at Seniorcareirvingbibleorg
My ResourcesOnline Giving OptionIf you would find it more convenient to donate tothe ministries of Irving Bible Church online visitirvingbibleorggive FIND A PLACE TO SERVE
Yoursquove come a long way since that first breath mint Yoursquovebeen busy worshipping learning relating and committing
And itrsquos at this point that you might start looking around
at all the people who help create those events mdash ushers
greeters meal team members table hosts small group
leaders and the like Your next step now is to join them
Consider your passions talents and spiritual gifts and then
ask about a place to serve Visit irvingbibleorgserve
JOIN IN WORSHIPSo you found the address a place to park and a breath
mint on the way in Good work If yoursquore reading this
yoursquove probably already taken the first step mdash attending a
worship service This is the first and most important place
to start so keep coming Become a regular Make sure to
fill out a Newcomer Card Tell us a little about yourself and
let us know how we can engage with you Somebody will
reach out to you this week Visit irvingbibleorgconnect
Wersquore glad you asked Here are the steps to take for
having your questions answered figuring out the IBC story and if yoursquore feeling ready plugging in
CHECK OUT THE NEWCOMER GATHERINGSo yoursquore kicking the IBC tires Good Wersquore so glad yoursquore
here The Newcomer Gathering is a great opportunity to
meet church leadership learn what IBC is all about andconnect with other newbies in a fun relaxed environment
Next Newcomer Gathering January 21
SIGN UP FOR PROPELAll right Yoursquore feeling the IBC vibe and want to see
where you might get involved Propel is a 4-week class that
explores the IBC calling and culture and how your unique
personality and passions fit in Meet many of our pastors and
directors of ministries at IBC Next Propel February 7ndash28
JOIN A COMMUNITY Yoursquore firing on all cylinders but something is missing And
that something is a someone or a group of someones
Enter sermon-based Small Groups Womenrsquos Bible Study
First Watch and more We encourage you to find a group
and connect authentically with others
Visit irvingbibleorgadults
Start
HOW DO I GETCONNECTED AT IBC
FOR MORE INFO VISIT IRVINGBIBLEORGCONNECT OR LOOK
FOR THE NEWCOMER GUIDES AT THE INFORMATION DESK
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1920
Chatter | 19
If you are not seated please sit down If you are seated buckle up If you
are buckled up you may want to stop reading now if yoursquore prone to
carsickness Settled in Okay then The haphazard collection of words
currently assaulting your senses mdash both sight and common mdash is my 983095983091rd
and likely final column for Chatter I know I know Yoursquore probably in the
drive-thru at Chick-fil-A just now remembering that itrsquos Sunday and then this
happens So you are not only left wondering where you can satisfy your Bible-
blessed chicken jones but also from whence yoursquoll be able to scratch your itch
for elliptical sentence structures chock-a-block with obtuse wordification and
the occasional monthly reference to pastiness You need a hug
Sadly the Chatter editorial board enforces a strict no-touching (even emotion-
ally) policy on contributors of dubious complexion (therersquos your final pasty
reference) so wersquoll have to make do with a psychic fist bump But before I leave
you with Tim Hawkins as your lone source of Christian comedy (What do you
mean he already was) Irsquod like to take a few hundred words and ramble semi-
coherently about what the past 983094983097 ldquoIdle Chatterrdquo columns and 983092 ldquoInterview
with a Dead Guyrdquo exposeacutes have taught me If anything Hmmm
First Irsquove learned that itrsquos much easier to keep a position when the job is es-
sentially that of a volunteer Assuming you donrsquot count the few times I had to
slip an Old Navy coupon code to the editor (Julie now of the emeritus variety)
to get her to put down the metaphorical red pen (The literal red pen is the
Track Changes feature in Microsoft Word which I despise even more so than a
patchouli-soaked hippie Also I never could figure out which online emporium
discounts would convince her to let me discuss smiting hippies so wersquoll see if
the new ed lets that previous sentence fly) Anyway I assume my long tenure
was also aided by my ability to meet a deadline no matter how many times I
moved it and my penchant for mentioning my kids who are totes adorbs at
least in print
Irsquove learned that most fellow believers can take a joke In nearly seven years
of poking fun (And is poking ever really fun I think not) at some of the more
absurdist aspects of evangelical life mdash along with giving Moses the Twitter
handle MoHeston mdash I never received one letter email Tweet Snapchat
Vine video Facebook rant or gospel tract-based expression of displeasure
Sure only about three of you actually know who I am And my family attended
church in Frisco but farther north (as in past the Ikea) than most Irvingites
dare to drive Also we moved to Omaha three years ago Nonetheless I appre-
ciate your collective sense of humor andor Juliersquos restraint in forwarding me
complaints from the elders
Irsquod like to tell you I learned many deep life-changing Biblical truths over the
last 983094983095 of a decade but come on I think we can all agree that I either made up
most of my doctrinal claims or have since forgotten the ones that are true due
to my advancing fortysomethingness Which reminds me I never did base a
column on the Book of Lamentations Woe is me
Lastly Irsquove learned that I can spit out 983097983088983088 words on just about anything with-
out saying much of anything of value Case in point duly noted
And now since I still have about 983091983088983088 words to torture Irsquoll take a question Yesyou in the back with the pre-Etsy WWJD bracelet from 983089983097983097983095 My favorite col-
umns Well I could say thatrsquos like trying to choose your favorite child (the dog)
if having 983095983091 kids wouldnrsquot get me investigated by the Guinness World Records
folks (bunch of narcs) Instead Irsquoll go with my two poems Ballad for a High
School Youth Group Hayride (October 983090983088983089983092) and The Graven (October 983090983088983089983093)
my unearthing of Noahrsquos Twitter feed GopherWoodBoy (October 983090983088983088983097) my
ruminations on Pentecost Economy Sizing the Holy Spirit (May 983090983088983089983088) and my
homage to my dad on the occasion of his 983094983093th birthday Cool On the Inside (July
983090983088983089983088) There might be others I actually like more but I donrsquot have the patience
of a Job Billy Duggar to read them all Also you can find most of these at Scribd
comIrvingBibleChurch or JasonFoxnetIdleChatter
So This is the end For now at least Perhaps Irsquo ll pop up or in or over from
time to time to ruminate on weighty matters like why our Christmas tree top-
per looks like Celine Dion But for now I think itrsquos time to try something a little
different After so many attempts at we aving a little truth into the funny
I believe Irsquoll give weaving a little funny into the truth a go (Thatrsquos what I get for
actually studying my beliefs I guess) I doubt Irsquoll become this millenniumrsquos C S
Lewis but perhaps something of eternal value will emerge from it Hopefully
not damnation
But until we meet in the sweet by-and-by on that beautiful shore (look for my
totally boss conversion van customized by St Doober) I will simply thank you
for reading and leave you with one last bit of suspect theological advice Every
argument especially those on the internet can be won with the phrase ldquoWell
thatrsquos what it says in Habakkukrdquo Because it does
Jason Fox will miss you all except that creepy guy who cuts his fingernails
during the sermon and is proud his last column hit 983097983088983088 words exactly
Jason writes from Omaha Nebraska (well he used to) and can be harassed forevermore on
Twitter at jason_fox
ONCE MORE
WITH FEELING
Celine Dion is theyoungest of 14 children
In 2013 alone 200 millionlemons were squeezed to makeChick-fil-Arsquos fresh lemonade
Shhhh Donrsquot poke itNext month in February Chatter will be hibernating Itrsquos winter after all Plus it buys us some timeto come back in March with more Chatterish goodness than ever before Because more of a good
thing ishellipwell gooder than good grammar (Like we said we need some sleep)
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 2020
Chatterhellipyou CAN take it with you Send us
your Chatter photos on location and you may
see yourself in an upcoming issue Email us
at chatterirvingbibleorg
Chatter tags along as the Mechsner family weathers the ridiculouswinds on Mt Wellington in Hobart Tasmania We understand thatseconds after this shot Chatter decided to dispel the widely heldbelief that turkeys canrsquot fly Be free little guy Be free
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1420
Chatter | 14
UPCOMING
January
JANUARY 6
Radius Kickoff Join Middle School at IBC for their Wednesday night
program More info irvingbibleorgmiddleschool
Elementary Midweek Kickoff 630 pmA place for kids to connect with friends explore
Godrsquos word and have fun More info irvingbible
orgchildren
Midweek TableJoin high schoolers at local houses for dinner and
conversation More info irvingbibleorghighschool
JANUARY 9
Writerrsquos Workshop mdash 10 amJoin a community of people honing their writing
skills Contact doreillyirvingbibleorg
JANUARY 11
NAMI Family-to-Family ClassA course to educate familiescaregivers of those
with serious mental illness Contact joeynetbreeze-
inccom or eurmooreyahoocom
MHGA Family Grace GroupSupport group for familycaregivers of those with
serious mental illness More info irvingbibleorg
hopeandhealing
MHGA Living Grace GroupSupport group for those who suffer with mental ill-
ness More info irvingbibleorghopeandhealing
JANUARY 13
FPU BeginsSee ad pg 17
JANUARY 14
20|30s Kickoff
See ad pg 7
DivorceCare BeginsA group for those walking through the difficulty of
divorce More info irvingbibleorghopeandhealing
JANUARY 15
Mentoring Service Project mdash 9 amFor children (and parents) from single-parent fami-
lies We will be serving the elderly in our community
More info mtribbettirvingbibleorg
JANUARY 17
Marriage at IBC Kickoff See ad pg16
Honduras trip InformationSee ad pg 16
JANUARY 21
Newcomer Gatheringsee ad pg 17
JANUARY 24
Early Childhood Open HouseAll three servicesJoin us for the first 30 minutes of our Sunday
services for Children Experience worship hear the
Bible story and meet leaders More info jbjurlin
irvingbibleorg
Shop TalkMary Flo Ridley will join us to share ldquoHow to Talk
about Sex with your Childrenrdquo More info mcon-
norirvingbibleorg
JANUARY 31
The SummitAnnual Meeting1230 pmJoin us in West A for the Annual Meeting and enjoy
a complimentary lunch Register at irvingbibleorg
annualmeeting
FEBRUARY 6
Valentinersquos Dinner for Single-Parent Families mdash 6ndash9 pmEnjoy dinner dancing horse amp carriage rides
Register at irvingbibleorgsingleparents or withmtribbettirvingbibleorg
FEBRUARY 7
BaptismsTo register visit irvingbibleorgbaptism Mandatory
orientation held January 10 More info doreilly
irvingbibleorg
The Table beginsSee ad pg16
Propel BeginsGet connected at IBC through this four week course
More info at irvingbibleorgpropel
FEBRUARY 14
Child DedicationRegistration opens January 29 at irvingbibleorg
childdedication
Heart Box SundaySee ad pg 9
FEBRUARY 18GriefShare BeginsA caring group of people to walk alongside you
through one of lifersquos most difficult experiences More
info irvingbibleorghopeandhealing
February
by Jodie Niznik
Jesus has set you free Yet many of us donrsquot feel
free We feel bound by guilt and shame mdash certainour mishaps and mistakes discredit us before God
But if Jesus died on the cross for our sins didnrsquothe die for those things too Join us as we dig intoGalatians to discover what it really means to be set
free by Jesus
Date January ndashApril (not meeting March and due to spring break)
Time - am or - pm
Location e Commons IBC
Cost (includes workbook)
For more information and to register visit
irvingbibleorgwomen
KidZone registration is also available Registration
closes on January at noon or earlier if full
SPRING BIBLE STUDY
ONGOING MEALS
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1520
SUNDAYCOMMUNITY MEALS
6 pm mdash Town SquareMeals are $3 per person or $10maxfamily
13 No Meal Happy New Year
110 Beef fajitas chips and salsasalad bar
117 All American burgers andbrats salad bar
124 Giant baked potatoes withall the fixinrsquos salad bar
131 Chicken tenders mashed
potatoes and gravysalad bar
If yoursquod like to serve on a Sundaynight meal team contact PatOrsquoReilly at (214) 289-6176 or sun-daynightmealirvingbibleorg
WEDNESDAYMIDWEEK MEALS
5ndash620 PM
Cost is $3meal or $10 max family PBampJ sandwiches arealso available
16 Lasagna salad dessertHosted by Mike Gwartneyrsquosteam
113 Ham scalloped potatoesdessert Hosted by BobDowneyrsquos team
120 Enchiladas tacos chips andsalsa Hosted by BarbaraWittersquos team
127 Chicken quarters friesdessert Hosted by BobDowneyrsquos team
Changes to the menu may be madedepending on food cost availabilityand Bob Downeyrsquos whim
If yoursquod like to serve on a Wednes-day night meal team please emailbdowneyirvingbibleorg
CUPPA HOURS
MonndashFri 9 amndash8 pm
Saturday 11 amndash5 pm
Sunday 7 amndash7 pm
BIBLE COMMUNITIESGroups on Sunday
Synergy
9 am mdash The AlcoveAll Welcome
The Tree9 am mdash West D20s amp 30s married amp young families
Crossroads1045 am mdash West CCouples amp Families late 20s to 40s
Journey1045 am mdash The AlcoveAll Welcome
On Track1045 am mdash Conference RoomSingle Parents
Thrive1045 am mdash West DSingles in their 30s amp 40s
Renew1045 am mdash Training CenterAll Welcome
Legacy Builders645 pm mdash West A mdash All Welcome
CHILDRENInfants Through 5th Grade
Childrenrsquos Sunday Services9 am 1045 am 5 pm
Elementary MidweekBegins January 6 630ndash830 pmKids connect with friends andexplore Godrsquos word through smallgroups food fun Visit irvingbibleorgelementarymidweek
HOPE amp HEALINGCommunity Care
Abortion Recovery CounselingContact Kym at (972) 560-4632 orkyeichnerirvingbibleorg
GriefShare630 pm mdash West CContact shararringtonverizonnet
Recovery at IBCThursdays 630ndash830 pmWest Wing Youth LoungeA group for hurts habits andhangups irvingbibleorgrecovery
The Living Grace GroupFor those with mental illness ContactHeath at heathmurryyahoocom
Family Grace GroupFor familiescaregivers of those withmental illness Contact Buzz Moodyat myrabuzzgmailcom
NAMI Family-to-Family ClassContact Joey at joeynetbreezeinccomor Debra at eumooreyahoocom
Stephen Ministry at IBCOne-on-one ministry for hurtingpeople Contact stephenministryirvingbibleorg or call (972) 560-4636
Spousal Abuse RecoveryContact kyeichnerirvingbibleorg
MARRIAGEGrowing Together
Marriage at IBCContact marriageirvingbibleorg
Pre-Marriage Mentoring Visit irvingbibleorgmarriage
MENCommunity and Resources
First WatchFridays 622 am mdash The CommonsContact Nat at npughirvingbibleorg
First Watch ReplayTuesdays 630 pmTraining CenterContact brianarrington1yahoocom
First Watch XtraWednesday 630 amTraining CenterContact bcopehuntoilcom
Visit irvingbibleorgmen
MISSIONLocal and Global
Prayer Meeting
2nd and 4th Wednesdays645-8 pm mdash The Chapel
Laundry LoveFirst Saturday of the month9 amndash12 pmContact laundryloveirvingbibleorg
New Friends New LifeServe dinner to women healingfrom sexual exploitation every thirdWednesday Contact Christine atnewfriendsnewlifeirvingbibleorg
SINGLE PARENTCommunity and Resources
Sit with us on Sunday9 am service lowest right-handsection Rows 5 amp 6 facing the stage
Visit irvingbibleorgsingleparents
SPECIAL NEEDS
Community amp Care
Small Group for MomsSundays 9ndash1015 am
In His Image Bible StudySundays 630ndash745 pm
Small Group for ParentsWednesdays 630ndash8 pm
SonShine Pals and RoomCare during Sunday ministry
Contact specialneedsirvingbibleorg
STUDENTSMiddleHigh School and College
Middle School SundaysSundays mdash 1030 amndash1220 pmStudent Ministries area
High School SundaysSundays 645ndash8 pm
Student Ministries areaIBC College MinistrySundays 330 pmThe Commons AnnexContact collegeirvingbibleorg
High School MidweekWednesdaysJoin us for food and communitySee Facebook page for locations
Middle SchoolWednesdays 630 pmJoin us for a time of friendships
and teaching
WOMENCommunity and Resources
Womenrsquos Spring Bible StudyBeginning January 12Tuesdays 930 am or 630 pmThe CommonsJoin us as we study Proverbs Visitirvingbibleorgwomen
2435 KINWESTWednesday Nights at IBC
IBC ChoirWednesdays 7ndash830 pmIBC Worship CenterContact Crystal atcelwellirvingbibleorg
ESL English as a Second LanguageWednesdays 630ndash830 pm
Haven B C D
Citizenship ClassWednesdays 630ndash830 pmIBC Conference Room
IBC Career Transition MinistryWednesdays 630ndash830 pm
Microsoft Computer SkillsWednesdays 630ndash830 pmThe Training Center
Visit 2435kinwestorg
ONGOING MEALS
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1620
The Table is a place where skeptics and Christians alike can
pull up a chair around a table to explore God the Christian
faith and the hard questions of life It is a place where
questions are invited and welcomed and where people can
voice their doubts
Questions Contact jsteinirvingbibleorg
To register visit irvingbibleorgthetable
When am on February ndashMarch
Where The Living Room (formerly the MenrsquosConference Room)
Whether your marriage is sinking coastingalong or going full-throttle every marriageneeds some TLC
Marriage at IBC is a fun 983089983088-week course that focuses on the
big picture of marriage as well as practical application in the
everyday-life struggles of marriage While we cover important
topics like communication and conflict in-laws finances andsex we donrsquot go through a single class without laughing and hav-
ing a great time The class format is a speaker for a weekly topic
followed by small group time
Marriage at IBC Begins January 983089983095 983097 am The Commons
Register at irvingbibleorgmarriage
Already in an IBC small group Any existing IBC small groups are
welcome and able to participate and will receive all of the Marriage
at IBC resources and any level of support they desire
Questions Contact marriageirvingbibleorg
Join Mission at IBC for an informational about
our summer trip to Honduras We are looking
for medical professionals and teachers to work
with IBC partne r Workers Together With
God This will be an intergenerational trip with
IBCrsquos High School ministry
For more info please contact Lauren at
lmouossairvingbibleorg
HONDURASM I S S I O N T R I PInformational MeetingJANUARY 17
1230ndash2 pm in West D
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1720
HOW DO I GIVE HOW DO I GET
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1820
Chatter | 18
The name ldquoJanuaryrdquo comes from theLatin word for door (ianua) sinceJanuary is the door to the year
My Time Talents amp Skills
Facility Department VolunteersDo you enjoy swinging a hammer or helping doinstalls The IBC Facility Department could use yourhelp There are many projects where an extra set of
hands is needed So if you have experience work-ing in building electrical plumbing etc pleasecontact Rod Myers at rmyersirvingbibleorg
Meal Team VolunteersIBC makes meals available both Sunday andWednesday nights These fun teams could usesome additional volunteers to serve together ForSundays contact sundaynightmealirvingbibleorgFor Wednesdays contact bdowneyirvingbibleorg
Medical Professionals NeededOur weekly medical clinic needs professional healthcare providers (MD PA FNP) to provide treatment
for our patients Volunteers serve on a rotatingbasis and do not need to serve every week ContactCharles at cpierce2435clinicorg
Mentor Kids in Single-Parent FamiliesMen and women are needed for gender-specificmentoring of children from single-parent familiesContact Marsha at mtribbettirvingbibleorg
New Friends New LifeServe dinner to women healing from sexual exploita-tion (every third Wednesday) Contact Christine atnewfriendsnewlifeirvingbibleorg
Safety Team
Do you have a desire to serve and protect oth-ers Contact Christopher Watkins at cwatkinsirvingbibleorg Please include any credentials andrelevant experience
Visitor Follow-Up Team(Rex Greenstreet Ministry)We are looking for a volunteer to make calls orsend welcome emails (or both) to new vi sitors fromIBC Training and coaching will be providedContact Sherri at ssharpirvingbibleorg
Volunteer with Senior CareSenior Care at IBC has some needs Villages on
MacArthur needs Bible Study leaders as well asSaturday services leaders MacArthur Hills needsmusicianssingers and leaders for a spiritual serviceAshford Hall needs one-on-one visitors and Biblestudy leaders and gameactivities volunteers Con-tact Mike at Seniorcareirvingbibleorg
My ResourcesOnline Giving OptionIf you would find it more convenient to donate tothe ministries of Irving Bible Church online visitirvingbibleorggive FIND A PLACE TO SERVE
Yoursquove come a long way since that first breath mint Yoursquovebeen busy worshipping learning relating and committing
And itrsquos at this point that you might start looking around
at all the people who help create those events mdash ushers
greeters meal team members table hosts small group
leaders and the like Your next step now is to join them
Consider your passions talents and spiritual gifts and then
ask about a place to serve Visit irvingbibleorgserve
JOIN IN WORSHIPSo you found the address a place to park and a breath
mint on the way in Good work If yoursquore reading this
yoursquove probably already taken the first step mdash attending a
worship service This is the first and most important place
to start so keep coming Become a regular Make sure to
fill out a Newcomer Card Tell us a little about yourself and
let us know how we can engage with you Somebody will
reach out to you this week Visit irvingbibleorgconnect
Wersquore glad you asked Here are the steps to take for
having your questions answered figuring out the IBC story and if yoursquore feeling ready plugging in
CHECK OUT THE NEWCOMER GATHERINGSo yoursquore kicking the IBC tires Good Wersquore so glad yoursquore
here The Newcomer Gathering is a great opportunity to
meet church leadership learn what IBC is all about andconnect with other newbies in a fun relaxed environment
Next Newcomer Gathering January 21
SIGN UP FOR PROPELAll right Yoursquore feeling the IBC vibe and want to see
where you might get involved Propel is a 4-week class that
explores the IBC calling and culture and how your unique
personality and passions fit in Meet many of our pastors and
directors of ministries at IBC Next Propel February 7ndash28
JOIN A COMMUNITY Yoursquore firing on all cylinders but something is missing And
that something is a someone or a group of someones
Enter sermon-based Small Groups Womenrsquos Bible Study
First Watch and more We encourage you to find a group
and connect authentically with others
Visit irvingbibleorgadults
Start
HOW DO I GETCONNECTED AT IBC
FOR MORE INFO VISIT IRVINGBIBLEORGCONNECT OR LOOK
FOR THE NEWCOMER GUIDES AT THE INFORMATION DESK
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1920
Chatter | 19
If you are not seated please sit down If you are seated buckle up If you
are buckled up you may want to stop reading now if yoursquore prone to
carsickness Settled in Okay then The haphazard collection of words
currently assaulting your senses mdash both sight and common mdash is my 983095983091rd
and likely final column for Chatter I know I know Yoursquore probably in the
drive-thru at Chick-fil-A just now remembering that itrsquos Sunday and then this
happens So you are not only left wondering where you can satisfy your Bible-
blessed chicken jones but also from whence yoursquoll be able to scratch your itch
for elliptical sentence structures chock-a-block with obtuse wordification and
the occasional monthly reference to pastiness You need a hug
Sadly the Chatter editorial board enforces a strict no-touching (even emotion-
ally) policy on contributors of dubious complexion (therersquos your final pasty
reference) so wersquoll have to make do with a psychic fist bump But before I leave
you with Tim Hawkins as your lone source of Christian comedy (What do you
mean he already was) Irsquod like to take a few hundred words and ramble semi-
coherently about what the past 983094983097 ldquoIdle Chatterrdquo columns and 983092 ldquoInterview
with a Dead Guyrdquo exposeacutes have taught me If anything Hmmm
First Irsquove learned that itrsquos much easier to keep a position when the job is es-
sentially that of a volunteer Assuming you donrsquot count the few times I had to
slip an Old Navy coupon code to the editor (Julie now of the emeritus variety)
to get her to put down the metaphorical red pen (The literal red pen is the
Track Changes feature in Microsoft Word which I despise even more so than a
patchouli-soaked hippie Also I never could figure out which online emporium
discounts would convince her to let me discuss smiting hippies so wersquoll see if
the new ed lets that previous sentence fly) Anyway I assume my long tenure
was also aided by my ability to meet a deadline no matter how many times I
moved it and my penchant for mentioning my kids who are totes adorbs at
least in print
Irsquove learned that most fellow believers can take a joke In nearly seven years
of poking fun (And is poking ever really fun I think not) at some of the more
absurdist aspects of evangelical life mdash along with giving Moses the Twitter
handle MoHeston mdash I never received one letter email Tweet Snapchat
Vine video Facebook rant or gospel tract-based expression of displeasure
Sure only about three of you actually know who I am And my family attended
church in Frisco but farther north (as in past the Ikea) than most Irvingites
dare to drive Also we moved to Omaha three years ago Nonetheless I appre-
ciate your collective sense of humor andor Juliersquos restraint in forwarding me
complaints from the elders
Irsquod like to tell you I learned many deep life-changing Biblical truths over the
last 983094983095 of a decade but come on I think we can all agree that I either made up
most of my doctrinal claims or have since forgotten the ones that are true due
to my advancing fortysomethingness Which reminds me I never did base a
column on the Book of Lamentations Woe is me
Lastly Irsquove learned that I can spit out 983097983088983088 words on just about anything with-
out saying much of anything of value Case in point duly noted
And now since I still have about 983091983088983088 words to torture Irsquoll take a question Yesyou in the back with the pre-Etsy WWJD bracelet from 983089983097983097983095 My favorite col-
umns Well I could say thatrsquos like trying to choose your favorite child (the dog)
if having 983095983091 kids wouldnrsquot get me investigated by the Guinness World Records
folks (bunch of narcs) Instead Irsquoll go with my two poems Ballad for a High
School Youth Group Hayride (October 983090983088983089983092) and The Graven (October 983090983088983089983093)
my unearthing of Noahrsquos Twitter feed GopherWoodBoy (October 983090983088983088983097) my
ruminations on Pentecost Economy Sizing the Holy Spirit (May 983090983088983089983088) and my
homage to my dad on the occasion of his 983094983093th birthday Cool On the Inside (July
983090983088983089983088) There might be others I actually like more but I donrsquot have the patience
of a Job Billy Duggar to read them all Also you can find most of these at Scribd
comIrvingBibleChurch or JasonFoxnetIdleChatter
So This is the end For now at least Perhaps Irsquo ll pop up or in or over from
time to time to ruminate on weighty matters like why our Christmas tree top-
per looks like Celine Dion But for now I think itrsquos time to try something a little
different After so many attempts at we aving a little truth into the funny
I believe Irsquoll give weaving a little funny into the truth a go (Thatrsquos what I get for
actually studying my beliefs I guess) I doubt Irsquoll become this millenniumrsquos C S
Lewis but perhaps something of eternal value will emerge from it Hopefully
not damnation
But until we meet in the sweet by-and-by on that beautiful shore (look for my
totally boss conversion van customized by St Doober) I will simply thank you
for reading and leave you with one last bit of suspect theological advice Every
argument especially those on the internet can be won with the phrase ldquoWell
thatrsquos what it says in Habakkukrdquo Because it does
Jason Fox will miss you all except that creepy guy who cuts his fingernails
during the sermon and is proud his last column hit 983097983088983088 words exactly
Jason writes from Omaha Nebraska (well he used to) and can be harassed forevermore on
Twitter at jason_fox
ONCE MORE
WITH FEELING
Celine Dion is theyoungest of 14 children
In 2013 alone 200 millionlemons were squeezed to makeChick-fil-Arsquos fresh lemonade
Shhhh Donrsquot poke itNext month in February Chatter will be hibernating Itrsquos winter after all Plus it buys us some timeto come back in March with more Chatterish goodness than ever before Because more of a good
thing ishellipwell gooder than good grammar (Like we said we need some sleep)
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 2020
Chatterhellipyou CAN take it with you Send us
your Chatter photos on location and you may
see yourself in an upcoming issue Email us
at chatterirvingbibleorg
Chatter tags along as the Mechsner family weathers the ridiculouswinds on Mt Wellington in Hobart Tasmania We understand thatseconds after this shot Chatter decided to dispel the widely heldbelief that turkeys canrsquot fly Be free little guy Be free
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1520
SUNDAYCOMMUNITY MEALS
6 pm mdash Town SquareMeals are $3 per person or $10maxfamily
13 No Meal Happy New Year
110 Beef fajitas chips and salsasalad bar
117 All American burgers andbrats salad bar
124 Giant baked potatoes withall the fixinrsquos salad bar
131 Chicken tenders mashed
potatoes and gravysalad bar
If yoursquod like to serve on a Sundaynight meal team contact PatOrsquoReilly at (214) 289-6176 or sun-daynightmealirvingbibleorg
WEDNESDAYMIDWEEK MEALS
5ndash620 PM
Cost is $3meal or $10 max family PBampJ sandwiches arealso available
16 Lasagna salad dessertHosted by Mike Gwartneyrsquosteam
113 Ham scalloped potatoesdessert Hosted by BobDowneyrsquos team
120 Enchiladas tacos chips andsalsa Hosted by BarbaraWittersquos team
127 Chicken quarters friesdessert Hosted by BobDowneyrsquos team
Changes to the menu may be madedepending on food cost availabilityand Bob Downeyrsquos whim
If yoursquod like to serve on a Wednes-day night meal team please emailbdowneyirvingbibleorg
CUPPA HOURS
MonndashFri 9 amndash8 pm
Saturday 11 amndash5 pm
Sunday 7 amndash7 pm
BIBLE COMMUNITIESGroups on Sunday
Synergy
9 am mdash The AlcoveAll Welcome
The Tree9 am mdash West D20s amp 30s married amp young families
Crossroads1045 am mdash West CCouples amp Families late 20s to 40s
Journey1045 am mdash The AlcoveAll Welcome
On Track1045 am mdash Conference RoomSingle Parents
Thrive1045 am mdash West DSingles in their 30s amp 40s
Renew1045 am mdash Training CenterAll Welcome
Legacy Builders645 pm mdash West A mdash All Welcome
CHILDRENInfants Through 5th Grade
Childrenrsquos Sunday Services9 am 1045 am 5 pm
Elementary MidweekBegins January 6 630ndash830 pmKids connect with friends andexplore Godrsquos word through smallgroups food fun Visit irvingbibleorgelementarymidweek
HOPE amp HEALINGCommunity Care
Abortion Recovery CounselingContact Kym at (972) 560-4632 orkyeichnerirvingbibleorg
GriefShare630 pm mdash West CContact shararringtonverizonnet
Recovery at IBCThursdays 630ndash830 pmWest Wing Youth LoungeA group for hurts habits andhangups irvingbibleorgrecovery
The Living Grace GroupFor those with mental illness ContactHeath at heathmurryyahoocom
Family Grace GroupFor familiescaregivers of those withmental illness Contact Buzz Moodyat myrabuzzgmailcom
NAMI Family-to-Family ClassContact Joey at joeynetbreezeinccomor Debra at eumooreyahoocom
Stephen Ministry at IBCOne-on-one ministry for hurtingpeople Contact stephenministryirvingbibleorg or call (972) 560-4636
Spousal Abuse RecoveryContact kyeichnerirvingbibleorg
MARRIAGEGrowing Together
Marriage at IBCContact marriageirvingbibleorg
Pre-Marriage Mentoring Visit irvingbibleorgmarriage
MENCommunity and Resources
First WatchFridays 622 am mdash The CommonsContact Nat at npughirvingbibleorg
First Watch ReplayTuesdays 630 pmTraining CenterContact brianarrington1yahoocom
First Watch XtraWednesday 630 amTraining CenterContact bcopehuntoilcom
Visit irvingbibleorgmen
MISSIONLocal and Global
Prayer Meeting
2nd and 4th Wednesdays645-8 pm mdash The Chapel
Laundry LoveFirst Saturday of the month9 amndash12 pmContact laundryloveirvingbibleorg
New Friends New LifeServe dinner to women healingfrom sexual exploitation every thirdWednesday Contact Christine atnewfriendsnewlifeirvingbibleorg
SINGLE PARENTCommunity and Resources
Sit with us on Sunday9 am service lowest right-handsection Rows 5 amp 6 facing the stage
Visit irvingbibleorgsingleparents
SPECIAL NEEDS
Community amp Care
Small Group for MomsSundays 9ndash1015 am
In His Image Bible StudySundays 630ndash745 pm
Small Group for ParentsWednesdays 630ndash8 pm
SonShine Pals and RoomCare during Sunday ministry
Contact specialneedsirvingbibleorg
STUDENTSMiddleHigh School and College
Middle School SundaysSundays mdash 1030 amndash1220 pmStudent Ministries area
High School SundaysSundays 645ndash8 pm
Student Ministries areaIBC College MinistrySundays 330 pmThe Commons AnnexContact collegeirvingbibleorg
High School MidweekWednesdaysJoin us for food and communitySee Facebook page for locations
Middle SchoolWednesdays 630 pmJoin us for a time of friendships
and teaching
WOMENCommunity and Resources
Womenrsquos Spring Bible StudyBeginning January 12Tuesdays 930 am or 630 pmThe CommonsJoin us as we study Proverbs Visitirvingbibleorgwomen
2435 KINWESTWednesday Nights at IBC
IBC ChoirWednesdays 7ndash830 pmIBC Worship CenterContact Crystal atcelwellirvingbibleorg
ESL English as a Second LanguageWednesdays 630ndash830 pm
Haven B C D
Citizenship ClassWednesdays 630ndash830 pmIBC Conference Room
IBC Career Transition MinistryWednesdays 630ndash830 pm
Microsoft Computer SkillsWednesdays 630ndash830 pmThe Training Center
Visit 2435kinwestorg
ONGOING MEALS
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1620
The Table is a place where skeptics and Christians alike can
pull up a chair around a table to explore God the Christian
faith and the hard questions of life It is a place where
questions are invited and welcomed and where people can
voice their doubts
Questions Contact jsteinirvingbibleorg
To register visit irvingbibleorgthetable
When am on February ndashMarch
Where The Living Room (formerly the MenrsquosConference Room)
Whether your marriage is sinking coastingalong or going full-throttle every marriageneeds some TLC
Marriage at IBC is a fun 983089983088-week course that focuses on the
big picture of marriage as well as practical application in the
everyday-life struggles of marriage While we cover important
topics like communication and conflict in-laws finances andsex we donrsquot go through a single class without laughing and hav-
ing a great time The class format is a speaker for a weekly topic
followed by small group time
Marriage at IBC Begins January 983089983095 983097 am The Commons
Register at irvingbibleorgmarriage
Already in an IBC small group Any existing IBC small groups are
welcome and able to participate and will receive all of the Marriage
at IBC resources and any level of support they desire
Questions Contact marriageirvingbibleorg
Join Mission at IBC for an informational about
our summer trip to Honduras We are looking
for medical professionals and teachers to work
with IBC partne r Workers Together With
God This will be an intergenerational trip with
IBCrsquos High School ministry
For more info please contact Lauren at
lmouossairvingbibleorg
HONDURASM I S S I O N T R I PInformational MeetingJANUARY 17
1230ndash2 pm in West D
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1720
HOW DO I GIVE HOW DO I GET
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1820
Chatter | 18
The name ldquoJanuaryrdquo comes from theLatin word for door (ianua) sinceJanuary is the door to the year
My Time Talents amp Skills
Facility Department VolunteersDo you enjoy swinging a hammer or helping doinstalls The IBC Facility Department could use yourhelp There are many projects where an extra set of
hands is needed So if you have experience work-ing in building electrical plumbing etc pleasecontact Rod Myers at rmyersirvingbibleorg
Meal Team VolunteersIBC makes meals available both Sunday andWednesday nights These fun teams could usesome additional volunteers to serve together ForSundays contact sundaynightmealirvingbibleorgFor Wednesdays contact bdowneyirvingbibleorg
Medical Professionals NeededOur weekly medical clinic needs professional healthcare providers (MD PA FNP) to provide treatment
for our patients Volunteers serve on a rotatingbasis and do not need to serve every week ContactCharles at cpierce2435clinicorg
Mentor Kids in Single-Parent FamiliesMen and women are needed for gender-specificmentoring of children from single-parent familiesContact Marsha at mtribbettirvingbibleorg
New Friends New LifeServe dinner to women healing from sexual exploita-tion (every third Wednesday) Contact Christine atnewfriendsnewlifeirvingbibleorg
Safety Team
Do you have a desire to serve and protect oth-ers Contact Christopher Watkins at cwatkinsirvingbibleorg Please include any credentials andrelevant experience
Visitor Follow-Up Team(Rex Greenstreet Ministry)We are looking for a volunteer to make calls orsend welcome emails (or both) to new vi sitors fromIBC Training and coaching will be providedContact Sherri at ssharpirvingbibleorg
Volunteer with Senior CareSenior Care at IBC has some needs Villages on
MacArthur needs Bible Study leaders as well asSaturday services leaders MacArthur Hills needsmusicianssingers and leaders for a spiritual serviceAshford Hall needs one-on-one visitors and Biblestudy leaders and gameactivities volunteers Con-tact Mike at Seniorcareirvingbibleorg
My ResourcesOnline Giving OptionIf you would find it more convenient to donate tothe ministries of Irving Bible Church online visitirvingbibleorggive FIND A PLACE TO SERVE
Yoursquove come a long way since that first breath mint Yoursquovebeen busy worshipping learning relating and committing
And itrsquos at this point that you might start looking around
at all the people who help create those events mdash ushers
greeters meal team members table hosts small group
leaders and the like Your next step now is to join them
Consider your passions talents and spiritual gifts and then
ask about a place to serve Visit irvingbibleorgserve
JOIN IN WORSHIPSo you found the address a place to park and a breath
mint on the way in Good work If yoursquore reading this
yoursquove probably already taken the first step mdash attending a
worship service This is the first and most important place
to start so keep coming Become a regular Make sure to
fill out a Newcomer Card Tell us a little about yourself and
let us know how we can engage with you Somebody will
reach out to you this week Visit irvingbibleorgconnect
Wersquore glad you asked Here are the steps to take for
having your questions answered figuring out the IBC story and if yoursquore feeling ready plugging in
CHECK OUT THE NEWCOMER GATHERINGSo yoursquore kicking the IBC tires Good Wersquore so glad yoursquore
here The Newcomer Gathering is a great opportunity to
meet church leadership learn what IBC is all about andconnect with other newbies in a fun relaxed environment
Next Newcomer Gathering January 21
SIGN UP FOR PROPELAll right Yoursquore feeling the IBC vibe and want to see
where you might get involved Propel is a 4-week class that
explores the IBC calling and culture and how your unique
personality and passions fit in Meet many of our pastors and
directors of ministries at IBC Next Propel February 7ndash28
JOIN A COMMUNITY Yoursquore firing on all cylinders but something is missing And
that something is a someone or a group of someones
Enter sermon-based Small Groups Womenrsquos Bible Study
First Watch and more We encourage you to find a group
and connect authentically with others
Visit irvingbibleorgadults
Start
HOW DO I GETCONNECTED AT IBC
FOR MORE INFO VISIT IRVINGBIBLEORGCONNECT OR LOOK
FOR THE NEWCOMER GUIDES AT THE INFORMATION DESK
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1920
Chatter | 19
If you are not seated please sit down If you are seated buckle up If you
are buckled up you may want to stop reading now if yoursquore prone to
carsickness Settled in Okay then The haphazard collection of words
currently assaulting your senses mdash both sight and common mdash is my 983095983091rd
and likely final column for Chatter I know I know Yoursquore probably in the
drive-thru at Chick-fil-A just now remembering that itrsquos Sunday and then this
happens So you are not only left wondering where you can satisfy your Bible-
blessed chicken jones but also from whence yoursquoll be able to scratch your itch
for elliptical sentence structures chock-a-block with obtuse wordification and
the occasional monthly reference to pastiness You need a hug
Sadly the Chatter editorial board enforces a strict no-touching (even emotion-
ally) policy on contributors of dubious complexion (therersquos your final pasty
reference) so wersquoll have to make do with a psychic fist bump But before I leave
you with Tim Hawkins as your lone source of Christian comedy (What do you
mean he already was) Irsquod like to take a few hundred words and ramble semi-
coherently about what the past 983094983097 ldquoIdle Chatterrdquo columns and 983092 ldquoInterview
with a Dead Guyrdquo exposeacutes have taught me If anything Hmmm
First Irsquove learned that itrsquos much easier to keep a position when the job is es-
sentially that of a volunteer Assuming you donrsquot count the few times I had to
slip an Old Navy coupon code to the editor (Julie now of the emeritus variety)
to get her to put down the metaphorical red pen (The literal red pen is the
Track Changes feature in Microsoft Word which I despise even more so than a
patchouli-soaked hippie Also I never could figure out which online emporium
discounts would convince her to let me discuss smiting hippies so wersquoll see if
the new ed lets that previous sentence fly) Anyway I assume my long tenure
was also aided by my ability to meet a deadline no matter how many times I
moved it and my penchant for mentioning my kids who are totes adorbs at
least in print
Irsquove learned that most fellow believers can take a joke In nearly seven years
of poking fun (And is poking ever really fun I think not) at some of the more
absurdist aspects of evangelical life mdash along with giving Moses the Twitter
handle MoHeston mdash I never received one letter email Tweet Snapchat
Vine video Facebook rant or gospel tract-based expression of displeasure
Sure only about three of you actually know who I am And my family attended
church in Frisco but farther north (as in past the Ikea) than most Irvingites
dare to drive Also we moved to Omaha three years ago Nonetheless I appre-
ciate your collective sense of humor andor Juliersquos restraint in forwarding me
complaints from the elders
Irsquod like to tell you I learned many deep life-changing Biblical truths over the
last 983094983095 of a decade but come on I think we can all agree that I either made up
most of my doctrinal claims or have since forgotten the ones that are true due
to my advancing fortysomethingness Which reminds me I never did base a
column on the Book of Lamentations Woe is me
Lastly Irsquove learned that I can spit out 983097983088983088 words on just about anything with-
out saying much of anything of value Case in point duly noted
And now since I still have about 983091983088983088 words to torture Irsquoll take a question Yesyou in the back with the pre-Etsy WWJD bracelet from 983089983097983097983095 My favorite col-
umns Well I could say thatrsquos like trying to choose your favorite child (the dog)
if having 983095983091 kids wouldnrsquot get me investigated by the Guinness World Records
folks (bunch of narcs) Instead Irsquoll go with my two poems Ballad for a High
School Youth Group Hayride (October 983090983088983089983092) and The Graven (October 983090983088983089983093)
my unearthing of Noahrsquos Twitter feed GopherWoodBoy (October 983090983088983088983097) my
ruminations on Pentecost Economy Sizing the Holy Spirit (May 983090983088983089983088) and my
homage to my dad on the occasion of his 983094983093th birthday Cool On the Inside (July
983090983088983089983088) There might be others I actually like more but I donrsquot have the patience
of a Job Billy Duggar to read them all Also you can find most of these at Scribd
comIrvingBibleChurch or JasonFoxnetIdleChatter
So This is the end For now at least Perhaps Irsquo ll pop up or in or over from
time to time to ruminate on weighty matters like why our Christmas tree top-
per looks like Celine Dion But for now I think itrsquos time to try something a little
different After so many attempts at we aving a little truth into the funny
I believe Irsquoll give weaving a little funny into the truth a go (Thatrsquos what I get for
actually studying my beliefs I guess) I doubt Irsquoll become this millenniumrsquos C S
Lewis but perhaps something of eternal value will emerge from it Hopefully
not damnation
But until we meet in the sweet by-and-by on that beautiful shore (look for my
totally boss conversion van customized by St Doober) I will simply thank you
for reading and leave you with one last bit of suspect theological advice Every
argument especially those on the internet can be won with the phrase ldquoWell
thatrsquos what it says in Habakkukrdquo Because it does
Jason Fox will miss you all except that creepy guy who cuts his fingernails
during the sermon and is proud his last column hit 983097983088983088 words exactly
Jason writes from Omaha Nebraska (well he used to) and can be harassed forevermore on
Twitter at jason_fox
ONCE MORE
WITH FEELING
Celine Dion is theyoungest of 14 children
In 2013 alone 200 millionlemons were squeezed to makeChick-fil-Arsquos fresh lemonade
Shhhh Donrsquot poke itNext month in February Chatter will be hibernating Itrsquos winter after all Plus it buys us some timeto come back in March with more Chatterish goodness than ever before Because more of a good
thing ishellipwell gooder than good grammar (Like we said we need some sleep)
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 2020
Chatterhellipyou CAN take it with you Send us
your Chatter photos on location and you may
see yourself in an upcoming issue Email us
at chatterirvingbibleorg
Chatter tags along as the Mechsner family weathers the ridiculouswinds on Mt Wellington in Hobart Tasmania We understand thatseconds after this shot Chatter decided to dispel the widely heldbelief that turkeys canrsquot fly Be free little guy Be free
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1620
The Table is a place where skeptics and Christians alike can
pull up a chair around a table to explore God the Christian
faith and the hard questions of life It is a place where
questions are invited and welcomed and where people can
voice their doubts
Questions Contact jsteinirvingbibleorg
To register visit irvingbibleorgthetable
When am on February ndashMarch
Where The Living Room (formerly the MenrsquosConference Room)
Whether your marriage is sinking coastingalong or going full-throttle every marriageneeds some TLC
Marriage at IBC is a fun 983089983088-week course that focuses on the
big picture of marriage as well as practical application in the
everyday-life struggles of marriage While we cover important
topics like communication and conflict in-laws finances andsex we donrsquot go through a single class without laughing and hav-
ing a great time The class format is a speaker for a weekly topic
followed by small group time
Marriage at IBC Begins January 983089983095 983097 am The Commons
Register at irvingbibleorgmarriage
Already in an IBC small group Any existing IBC small groups are
welcome and able to participate and will receive all of the Marriage
at IBC resources and any level of support they desire
Questions Contact marriageirvingbibleorg
Join Mission at IBC for an informational about
our summer trip to Honduras We are looking
for medical professionals and teachers to work
with IBC partne r Workers Together With
God This will be an intergenerational trip with
IBCrsquos High School ministry
For more info please contact Lauren at
lmouossairvingbibleorg
HONDURASM I S S I O N T R I PInformational MeetingJANUARY 17
1230ndash2 pm in West D
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1720
HOW DO I GIVE HOW DO I GET
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1820
Chatter | 18
The name ldquoJanuaryrdquo comes from theLatin word for door (ianua) sinceJanuary is the door to the year
My Time Talents amp Skills
Facility Department VolunteersDo you enjoy swinging a hammer or helping doinstalls The IBC Facility Department could use yourhelp There are many projects where an extra set of
hands is needed So if you have experience work-ing in building electrical plumbing etc pleasecontact Rod Myers at rmyersirvingbibleorg
Meal Team VolunteersIBC makes meals available both Sunday andWednesday nights These fun teams could usesome additional volunteers to serve together ForSundays contact sundaynightmealirvingbibleorgFor Wednesdays contact bdowneyirvingbibleorg
Medical Professionals NeededOur weekly medical clinic needs professional healthcare providers (MD PA FNP) to provide treatment
for our patients Volunteers serve on a rotatingbasis and do not need to serve every week ContactCharles at cpierce2435clinicorg
Mentor Kids in Single-Parent FamiliesMen and women are needed for gender-specificmentoring of children from single-parent familiesContact Marsha at mtribbettirvingbibleorg
New Friends New LifeServe dinner to women healing from sexual exploita-tion (every third Wednesday) Contact Christine atnewfriendsnewlifeirvingbibleorg
Safety Team
Do you have a desire to serve and protect oth-ers Contact Christopher Watkins at cwatkinsirvingbibleorg Please include any credentials andrelevant experience
Visitor Follow-Up Team(Rex Greenstreet Ministry)We are looking for a volunteer to make calls orsend welcome emails (or both) to new vi sitors fromIBC Training and coaching will be providedContact Sherri at ssharpirvingbibleorg
Volunteer with Senior CareSenior Care at IBC has some needs Villages on
MacArthur needs Bible Study leaders as well asSaturday services leaders MacArthur Hills needsmusicianssingers and leaders for a spiritual serviceAshford Hall needs one-on-one visitors and Biblestudy leaders and gameactivities volunteers Con-tact Mike at Seniorcareirvingbibleorg
My ResourcesOnline Giving OptionIf you would find it more convenient to donate tothe ministries of Irving Bible Church online visitirvingbibleorggive FIND A PLACE TO SERVE
Yoursquove come a long way since that first breath mint Yoursquovebeen busy worshipping learning relating and committing
And itrsquos at this point that you might start looking around
at all the people who help create those events mdash ushers
greeters meal team members table hosts small group
leaders and the like Your next step now is to join them
Consider your passions talents and spiritual gifts and then
ask about a place to serve Visit irvingbibleorgserve
JOIN IN WORSHIPSo you found the address a place to park and a breath
mint on the way in Good work If yoursquore reading this
yoursquove probably already taken the first step mdash attending a
worship service This is the first and most important place
to start so keep coming Become a regular Make sure to
fill out a Newcomer Card Tell us a little about yourself and
let us know how we can engage with you Somebody will
reach out to you this week Visit irvingbibleorgconnect
Wersquore glad you asked Here are the steps to take for
having your questions answered figuring out the IBC story and if yoursquore feeling ready plugging in
CHECK OUT THE NEWCOMER GATHERINGSo yoursquore kicking the IBC tires Good Wersquore so glad yoursquore
here The Newcomer Gathering is a great opportunity to
meet church leadership learn what IBC is all about andconnect with other newbies in a fun relaxed environment
Next Newcomer Gathering January 21
SIGN UP FOR PROPELAll right Yoursquore feeling the IBC vibe and want to see
where you might get involved Propel is a 4-week class that
explores the IBC calling and culture and how your unique
personality and passions fit in Meet many of our pastors and
directors of ministries at IBC Next Propel February 7ndash28
JOIN A COMMUNITY Yoursquore firing on all cylinders but something is missing And
that something is a someone or a group of someones
Enter sermon-based Small Groups Womenrsquos Bible Study
First Watch and more We encourage you to find a group
and connect authentically with others
Visit irvingbibleorgadults
Start
HOW DO I GETCONNECTED AT IBC
FOR MORE INFO VISIT IRVINGBIBLEORGCONNECT OR LOOK
FOR THE NEWCOMER GUIDES AT THE INFORMATION DESK
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1920
Chatter | 19
If you are not seated please sit down If you are seated buckle up If you
are buckled up you may want to stop reading now if yoursquore prone to
carsickness Settled in Okay then The haphazard collection of words
currently assaulting your senses mdash both sight and common mdash is my 983095983091rd
and likely final column for Chatter I know I know Yoursquore probably in the
drive-thru at Chick-fil-A just now remembering that itrsquos Sunday and then this
happens So you are not only left wondering where you can satisfy your Bible-
blessed chicken jones but also from whence yoursquoll be able to scratch your itch
for elliptical sentence structures chock-a-block with obtuse wordification and
the occasional monthly reference to pastiness You need a hug
Sadly the Chatter editorial board enforces a strict no-touching (even emotion-
ally) policy on contributors of dubious complexion (therersquos your final pasty
reference) so wersquoll have to make do with a psychic fist bump But before I leave
you with Tim Hawkins as your lone source of Christian comedy (What do you
mean he already was) Irsquod like to take a few hundred words and ramble semi-
coherently about what the past 983094983097 ldquoIdle Chatterrdquo columns and 983092 ldquoInterview
with a Dead Guyrdquo exposeacutes have taught me If anything Hmmm
First Irsquove learned that itrsquos much easier to keep a position when the job is es-
sentially that of a volunteer Assuming you donrsquot count the few times I had to
slip an Old Navy coupon code to the editor (Julie now of the emeritus variety)
to get her to put down the metaphorical red pen (The literal red pen is the
Track Changes feature in Microsoft Word which I despise even more so than a
patchouli-soaked hippie Also I never could figure out which online emporium
discounts would convince her to let me discuss smiting hippies so wersquoll see if
the new ed lets that previous sentence fly) Anyway I assume my long tenure
was also aided by my ability to meet a deadline no matter how many times I
moved it and my penchant for mentioning my kids who are totes adorbs at
least in print
Irsquove learned that most fellow believers can take a joke In nearly seven years
of poking fun (And is poking ever really fun I think not) at some of the more
absurdist aspects of evangelical life mdash along with giving Moses the Twitter
handle MoHeston mdash I never received one letter email Tweet Snapchat
Vine video Facebook rant or gospel tract-based expression of displeasure
Sure only about three of you actually know who I am And my family attended
church in Frisco but farther north (as in past the Ikea) than most Irvingites
dare to drive Also we moved to Omaha three years ago Nonetheless I appre-
ciate your collective sense of humor andor Juliersquos restraint in forwarding me
complaints from the elders
Irsquod like to tell you I learned many deep life-changing Biblical truths over the
last 983094983095 of a decade but come on I think we can all agree that I either made up
most of my doctrinal claims or have since forgotten the ones that are true due
to my advancing fortysomethingness Which reminds me I never did base a
column on the Book of Lamentations Woe is me
Lastly Irsquove learned that I can spit out 983097983088983088 words on just about anything with-
out saying much of anything of value Case in point duly noted
And now since I still have about 983091983088983088 words to torture Irsquoll take a question Yesyou in the back with the pre-Etsy WWJD bracelet from 983089983097983097983095 My favorite col-
umns Well I could say thatrsquos like trying to choose your favorite child (the dog)
if having 983095983091 kids wouldnrsquot get me investigated by the Guinness World Records
folks (bunch of narcs) Instead Irsquoll go with my two poems Ballad for a High
School Youth Group Hayride (October 983090983088983089983092) and The Graven (October 983090983088983089983093)
my unearthing of Noahrsquos Twitter feed GopherWoodBoy (October 983090983088983088983097) my
ruminations on Pentecost Economy Sizing the Holy Spirit (May 983090983088983089983088) and my
homage to my dad on the occasion of his 983094983093th birthday Cool On the Inside (July
983090983088983089983088) There might be others I actually like more but I donrsquot have the patience
of a Job Billy Duggar to read them all Also you can find most of these at Scribd
comIrvingBibleChurch or JasonFoxnetIdleChatter
So This is the end For now at least Perhaps Irsquo ll pop up or in or over from
time to time to ruminate on weighty matters like why our Christmas tree top-
per looks like Celine Dion But for now I think itrsquos time to try something a little
different After so many attempts at we aving a little truth into the funny
I believe Irsquoll give weaving a little funny into the truth a go (Thatrsquos what I get for
actually studying my beliefs I guess) I doubt Irsquoll become this millenniumrsquos C S
Lewis but perhaps something of eternal value will emerge from it Hopefully
not damnation
But until we meet in the sweet by-and-by on that beautiful shore (look for my
totally boss conversion van customized by St Doober) I will simply thank you
for reading and leave you with one last bit of suspect theological advice Every
argument especially those on the internet can be won with the phrase ldquoWell
thatrsquos what it says in Habakkukrdquo Because it does
Jason Fox will miss you all except that creepy guy who cuts his fingernails
during the sermon and is proud his last column hit 983097983088983088 words exactly
Jason writes from Omaha Nebraska (well he used to) and can be harassed forevermore on
Twitter at jason_fox
ONCE MORE
WITH FEELING
Celine Dion is theyoungest of 14 children
In 2013 alone 200 millionlemons were squeezed to makeChick-fil-Arsquos fresh lemonade
Shhhh Donrsquot poke itNext month in February Chatter will be hibernating Itrsquos winter after all Plus it buys us some timeto come back in March with more Chatterish goodness than ever before Because more of a good
thing ishellipwell gooder than good grammar (Like we said we need some sleep)
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 2020
Chatterhellipyou CAN take it with you Send us
your Chatter photos on location and you may
see yourself in an upcoming issue Email us
at chatterirvingbibleorg
Chatter tags along as the Mechsner family weathers the ridiculouswinds on Mt Wellington in Hobart Tasmania We understand thatseconds after this shot Chatter decided to dispel the widely heldbelief that turkeys canrsquot fly Be free little guy Be free
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1720
HOW DO I GIVE HOW DO I GET
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1820
Chatter | 18
The name ldquoJanuaryrdquo comes from theLatin word for door (ianua) sinceJanuary is the door to the year
My Time Talents amp Skills
Facility Department VolunteersDo you enjoy swinging a hammer or helping doinstalls The IBC Facility Department could use yourhelp There are many projects where an extra set of
hands is needed So if you have experience work-ing in building electrical plumbing etc pleasecontact Rod Myers at rmyersirvingbibleorg
Meal Team VolunteersIBC makes meals available both Sunday andWednesday nights These fun teams could usesome additional volunteers to serve together ForSundays contact sundaynightmealirvingbibleorgFor Wednesdays contact bdowneyirvingbibleorg
Medical Professionals NeededOur weekly medical clinic needs professional healthcare providers (MD PA FNP) to provide treatment
for our patients Volunteers serve on a rotatingbasis and do not need to serve every week ContactCharles at cpierce2435clinicorg
Mentor Kids in Single-Parent FamiliesMen and women are needed for gender-specificmentoring of children from single-parent familiesContact Marsha at mtribbettirvingbibleorg
New Friends New LifeServe dinner to women healing from sexual exploita-tion (every third Wednesday) Contact Christine atnewfriendsnewlifeirvingbibleorg
Safety Team
Do you have a desire to serve and protect oth-ers Contact Christopher Watkins at cwatkinsirvingbibleorg Please include any credentials andrelevant experience
Visitor Follow-Up Team(Rex Greenstreet Ministry)We are looking for a volunteer to make calls orsend welcome emails (or both) to new vi sitors fromIBC Training and coaching will be providedContact Sherri at ssharpirvingbibleorg
Volunteer with Senior CareSenior Care at IBC has some needs Villages on
MacArthur needs Bible Study leaders as well asSaturday services leaders MacArthur Hills needsmusicianssingers and leaders for a spiritual serviceAshford Hall needs one-on-one visitors and Biblestudy leaders and gameactivities volunteers Con-tact Mike at Seniorcareirvingbibleorg
My ResourcesOnline Giving OptionIf you would find it more convenient to donate tothe ministries of Irving Bible Church online visitirvingbibleorggive FIND A PLACE TO SERVE
Yoursquove come a long way since that first breath mint Yoursquovebeen busy worshipping learning relating and committing
And itrsquos at this point that you might start looking around
at all the people who help create those events mdash ushers
greeters meal team members table hosts small group
leaders and the like Your next step now is to join them
Consider your passions talents and spiritual gifts and then
ask about a place to serve Visit irvingbibleorgserve
JOIN IN WORSHIPSo you found the address a place to park and a breath
mint on the way in Good work If yoursquore reading this
yoursquove probably already taken the first step mdash attending a
worship service This is the first and most important place
to start so keep coming Become a regular Make sure to
fill out a Newcomer Card Tell us a little about yourself and
let us know how we can engage with you Somebody will
reach out to you this week Visit irvingbibleorgconnect
Wersquore glad you asked Here are the steps to take for
having your questions answered figuring out the IBC story and if yoursquore feeling ready plugging in
CHECK OUT THE NEWCOMER GATHERINGSo yoursquore kicking the IBC tires Good Wersquore so glad yoursquore
here The Newcomer Gathering is a great opportunity to
meet church leadership learn what IBC is all about andconnect with other newbies in a fun relaxed environment
Next Newcomer Gathering January 21
SIGN UP FOR PROPELAll right Yoursquore feeling the IBC vibe and want to see
where you might get involved Propel is a 4-week class that
explores the IBC calling and culture and how your unique
personality and passions fit in Meet many of our pastors and
directors of ministries at IBC Next Propel February 7ndash28
JOIN A COMMUNITY Yoursquore firing on all cylinders but something is missing And
that something is a someone or a group of someones
Enter sermon-based Small Groups Womenrsquos Bible Study
First Watch and more We encourage you to find a group
and connect authentically with others
Visit irvingbibleorgadults
Start
HOW DO I GETCONNECTED AT IBC
FOR MORE INFO VISIT IRVINGBIBLEORGCONNECT OR LOOK
FOR THE NEWCOMER GUIDES AT THE INFORMATION DESK
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1920
Chatter | 19
If you are not seated please sit down If you are seated buckle up If you
are buckled up you may want to stop reading now if yoursquore prone to
carsickness Settled in Okay then The haphazard collection of words
currently assaulting your senses mdash both sight and common mdash is my 983095983091rd
and likely final column for Chatter I know I know Yoursquore probably in the
drive-thru at Chick-fil-A just now remembering that itrsquos Sunday and then this
happens So you are not only left wondering where you can satisfy your Bible-
blessed chicken jones but also from whence yoursquoll be able to scratch your itch
for elliptical sentence structures chock-a-block with obtuse wordification and
the occasional monthly reference to pastiness You need a hug
Sadly the Chatter editorial board enforces a strict no-touching (even emotion-
ally) policy on contributors of dubious complexion (therersquos your final pasty
reference) so wersquoll have to make do with a psychic fist bump But before I leave
you with Tim Hawkins as your lone source of Christian comedy (What do you
mean he already was) Irsquod like to take a few hundred words and ramble semi-
coherently about what the past 983094983097 ldquoIdle Chatterrdquo columns and 983092 ldquoInterview
with a Dead Guyrdquo exposeacutes have taught me If anything Hmmm
First Irsquove learned that itrsquos much easier to keep a position when the job is es-
sentially that of a volunteer Assuming you donrsquot count the few times I had to
slip an Old Navy coupon code to the editor (Julie now of the emeritus variety)
to get her to put down the metaphorical red pen (The literal red pen is the
Track Changes feature in Microsoft Word which I despise even more so than a
patchouli-soaked hippie Also I never could figure out which online emporium
discounts would convince her to let me discuss smiting hippies so wersquoll see if
the new ed lets that previous sentence fly) Anyway I assume my long tenure
was also aided by my ability to meet a deadline no matter how many times I
moved it and my penchant for mentioning my kids who are totes adorbs at
least in print
Irsquove learned that most fellow believers can take a joke In nearly seven years
of poking fun (And is poking ever really fun I think not) at some of the more
absurdist aspects of evangelical life mdash along with giving Moses the Twitter
handle MoHeston mdash I never received one letter email Tweet Snapchat
Vine video Facebook rant or gospel tract-based expression of displeasure
Sure only about three of you actually know who I am And my family attended
church in Frisco but farther north (as in past the Ikea) than most Irvingites
dare to drive Also we moved to Omaha three years ago Nonetheless I appre-
ciate your collective sense of humor andor Juliersquos restraint in forwarding me
complaints from the elders
Irsquod like to tell you I learned many deep life-changing Biblical truths over the
last 983094983095 of a decade but come on I think we can all agree that I either made up
most of my doctrinal claims or have since forgotten the ones that are true due
to my advancing fortysomethingness Which reminds me I never did base a
column on the Book of Lamentations Woe is me
Lastly Irsquove learned that I can spit out 983097983088983088 words on just about anything with-
out saying much of anything of value Case in point duly noted
And now since I still have about 983091983088983088 words to torture Irsquoll take a question Yesyou in the back with the pre-Etsy WWJD bracelet from 983089983097983097983095 My favorite col-
umns Well I could say thatrsquos like trying to choose your favorite child (the dog)
if having 983095983091 kids wouldnrsquot get me investigated by the Guinness World Records
folks (bunch of narcs) Instead Irsquoll go with my two poems Ballad for a High
School Youth Group Hayride (October 983090983088983089983092) and The Graven (October 983090983088983089983093)
my unearthing of Noahrsquos Twitter feed GopherWoodBoy (October 983090983088983088983097) my
ruminations on Pentecost Economy Sizing the Holy Spirit (May 983090983088983089983088) and my
homage to my dad on the occasion of his 983094983093th birthday Cool On the Inside (July
983090983088983089983088) There might be others I actually like more but I donrsquot have the patience
of a Job Billy Duggar to read them all Also you can find most of these at Scribd
comIrvingBibleChurch or JasonFoxnetIdleChatter
So This is the end For now at least Perhaps Irsquo ll pop up or in or over from
time to time to ruminate on weighty matters like why our Christmas tree top-
per looks like Celine Dion But for now I think itrsquos time to try something a little
different After so many attempts at we aving a little truth into the funny
I believe Irsquoll give weaving a little funny into the truth a go (Thatrsquos what I get for
actually studying my beliefs I guess) I doubt Irsquoll become this millenniumrsquos C S
Lewis but perhaps something of eternal value will emerge from it Hopefully
not damnation
But until we meet in the sweet by-and-by on that beautiful shore (look for my
totally boss conversion van customized by St Doober) I will simply thank you
for reading and leave you with one last bit of suspect theological advice Every
argument especially those on the internet can be won with the phrase ldquoWell
thatrsquos what it says in Habakkukrdquo Because it does
Jason Fox will miss you all except that creepy guy who cuts his fingernails
during the sermon and is proud his last column hit 983097983088983088 words exactly
Jason writes from Omaha Nebraska (well he used to) and can be harassed forevermore on
Twitter at jason_fox
ONCE MORE
WITH FEELING
Celine Dion is theyoungest of 14 children
In 2013 alone 200 millionlemons were squeezed to makeChick-fil-Arsquos fresh lemonade
Shhhh Donrsquot poke itNext month in February Chatter will be hibernating Itrsquos winter after all Plus it buys us some timeto come back in March with more Chatterish goodness than ever before Because more of a good
thing ishellipwell gooder than good grammar (Like we said we need some sleep)
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 2020
Chatterhellipyou CAN take it with you Send us
your Chatter photos on location and you may
see yourself in an upcoming issue Email us
at chatterirvingbibleorg
Chatter tags along as the Mechsner family weathers the ridiculouswinds on Mt Wellington in Hobart Tasmania We understand thatseconds after this shot Chatter decided to dispel the widely heldbelief that turkeys canrsquot fly Be free little guy Be free
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1820
Chatter | 18
The name ldquoJanuaryrdquo comes from theLatin word for door (ianua) sinceJanuary is the door to the year
My Time Talents amp Skills
Facility Department VolunteersDo you enjoy swinging a hammer or helping doinstalls The IBC Facility Department could use yourhelp There are many projects where an extra set of
hands is needed So if you have experience work-ing in building electrical plumbing etc pleasecontact Rod Myers at rmyersirvingbibleorg
Meal Team VolunteersIBC makes meals available both Sunday andWednesday nights These fun teams could usesome additional volunteers to serve together ForSundays contact sundaynightmealirvingbibleorgFor Wednesdays contact bdowneyirvingbibleorg
Medical Professionals NeededOur weekly medical clinic needs professional healthcare providers (MD PA FNP) to provide treatment
for our patients Volunteers serve on a rotatingbasis and do not need to serve every week ContactCharles at cpierce2435clinicorg
Mentor Kids in Single-Parent FamiliesMen and women are needed for gender-specificmentoring of children from single-parent familiesContact Marsha at mtribbettirvingbibleorg
New Friends New LifeServe dinner to women healing from sexual exploita-tion (every third Wednesday) Contact Christine atnewfriendsnewlifeirvingbibleorg
Safety Team
Do you have a desire to serve and protect oth-ers Contact Christopher Watkins at cwatkinsirvingbibleorg Please include any credentials andrelevant experience
Visitor Follow-Up Team(Rex Greenstreet Ministry)We are looking for a volunteer to make calls orsend welcome emails (or both) to new vi sitors fromIBC Training and coaching will be providedContact Sherri at ssharpirvingbibleorg
Volunteer with Senior CareSenior Care at IBC has some needs Villages on
MacArthur needs Bible Study leaders as well asSaturday services leaders MacArthur Hills needsmusicianssingers and leaders for a spiritual serviceAshford Hall needs one-on-one visitors and Biblestudy leaders and gameactivities volunteers Con-tact Mike at Seniorcareirvingbibleorg
My ResourcesOnline Giving OptionIf you would find it more convenient to donate tothe ministries of Irving Bible Church online visitirvingbibleorggive FIND A PLACE TO SERVE
Yoursquove come a long way since that first breath mint Yoursquovebeen busy worshipping learning relating and committing
And itrsquos at this point that you might start looking around
at all the people who help create those events mdash ushers
greeters meal team members table hosts small group
leaders and the like Your next step now is to join them
Consider your passions talents and spiritual gifts and then
ask about a place to serve Visit irvingbibleorgserve
JOIN IN WORSHIPSo you found the address a place to park and a breath
mint on the way in Good work If yoursquore reading this
yoursquove probably already taken the first step mdash attending a
worship service This is the first and most important place
to start so keep coming Become a regular Make sure to
fill out a Newcomer Card Tell us a little about yourself and
let us know how we can engage with you Somebody will
reach out to you this week Visit irvingbibleorgconnect
Wersquore glad you asked Here are the steps to take for
having your questions answered figuring out the IBC story and if yoursquore feeling ready plugging in
CHECK OUT THE NEWCOMER GATHERINGSo yoursquore kicking the IBC tires Good Wersquore so glad yoursquore
here The Newcomer Gathering is a great opportunity to
meet church leadership learn what IBC is all about andconnect with other newbies in a fun relaxed environment
Next Newcomer Gathering January 21
SIGN UP FOR PROPELAll right Yoursquore feeling the IBC vibe and want to see
where you might get involved Propel is a 4-week class that
explores the IBC calling and culture and how your unique
personality and passions fit in Meet many of our pastors and
directors of ministries at IBC Next Propel February 7ndash28
JOIN A COMMUNITY Yoursquore firing on all cylinders but something is missing And
that something is a someone or a group of someones
Enter sermon-based Small Groups Womenrsquos Bible Study
First Watch and more We encourage you to find a group
and connect authentically with others
Visit irvingbibleorgadults
Start
HOW DO I GETCONNECTED AT IBC
FOR MORE INFO VISIT IRVINGBIBLEORGCONNECT OR LOOK
FOR THE NEWCOMER GUIDES AT THE INFORMATION DESK
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1920
Chatter | 19
If you are not seated please sit down If you are seated buckle up If you
are buckled up you may want to stop reading now if yoursquore prone to
carsickness Settled in Okay then The haphazard collection of words
currently assaulting your senses mdash both sight and common mdash is my 983095983091rd
and likely final column for Chatter I know I know Yoursquore probably in the
drive-thru at Chick-fil-A just now remembering that itrsquos Sunday and then this
happens So you are not only left wondering where you can satisfy your Bible-
blessed chicken jones but also from whence yoursquoll be able to scratch your itch
for elliptical sentence structures chock-a-block with obtuse wordification and
the occasional monthly reference to pastiness You need a hug
Sadly the Chatter editorial board enforces a strict no-touching (even emotion-
ally) policy on contributors of dubious complexion (therersquos your final pasty
reference) so wersquoll have to make do with a psychic fist bump But before I leave
you with Tim Hawkins as your lone source of Christian comedy (What do you
mean he already was) Irsquod like to take a few hundred words and ramble semi-
coherently about what the past 983094983097 ldquoIdle Chatterrdquo columns and 983092 ldquoInterview
with a Dead Guyrdquo exposeacutes have taught me If anything Hmmm
First Irsquove learned that itrsquos much easier to keep a position when the job is es-
sentially that of a volunteer Assuming you donrsquot count the few times I had to
slip an Old Navy coupon code to the editor (Julie now of the emeritus variety)
to get her to put down the metaphorical red pen (The literal red pen is the
Track Changes feature in Microsoft Word which I despise even more so than a
patchouli-soaked hippie Also I never could figure out which online emporium
discounts would convince her to let me discuss smiting hippies so wersquoll see if
the new ed lets that previous sentence fly) Anyway I assume my long tenure
was also aided by my ability to meet a deadline no matter how many times I
moved it and my penchant for mentioning my kids who are totes adorbs at
least in print
Irsquove learned that most fellow believers can take a joke In nearly seven years
of poking fun (And is poking ever really fun I think not) at some of the more
absurdist aspects of evangelical life mdash along with giving Moses the Twitter
handle MoHeston mdash I never received one letter email Tweet Snapchat
Vine video Facebook rant or gospel tract-based expression of displeasure
Sure only about three of you actually know who I am And my family attended
church in Frisco but farther north (as in past the Ikea) than most Irvingites
dare to drive Also we moved to Omaha three years ago Nonetheless I appre-
ciate your collective sense of humor andor Juliersquos restraint in forwarding me
complaints from the elders
Irsquod like to tell you I learned many deep life-changing Biblical truths over the
last 983094983095 of a decade but come on I think we can all agree that I either made up
most of my doctrinal claims or have since forgotten the ones that are true due
to my advancing fortysomethingness Which reminds me I never did base a
column on the Book of Lamentations Woe is me
Lastly Irsquove learned that I can spit out 983097983088983088 words on just about anything with-
out saying much of anything of value Case in point duly noted
And now since I still have about 983091983088983088 words to torture Irsquoll take a question Yesyou in the back with the pre-Etsy WWJD bracelet from 983089983097983097983095 My favorite col-
umns Well I could say thatrsquos like trying to choose your favorite child (the dog)
if having 983095983091 kids wouldnrsquot get me investigated by the Guinness World Records
folks (bunch of narcs) Instead Irsquoll go with my two poems Ballad for a High
School Youth Group Hayride (October 983090983088983089983092) and The Graven (October 983090983088983089983093)
my unearthing of Noahrsquos Twitter feed GopherWoodBoy (October 983090983088983088983097) my
ruminations on Pentecost Economy Sizing the Holy Spirit (May 983090983088983089983088) and my
homage to my dad on the occasion of his 983094983093th birthday Cool On the Inside (July
983090983088983089983088) There might be others I actually like more but I donrsquot have the patience
of a Job Billy Duggar to read them all Also you can find most of these at Scribd
comIrvingBibleChurch or JasonFoxnetIdleChatter
So This is the end For now at least Perhaps Irsquo ll pop up or in or over from
time to time to ruminate on weighty matters like why our Christmas tree top-
per looks like Celine Dion But for now I think itrsquos time to try something a little
different After so many attempts at we aving a little truth into the funny
I believe Irsquoll give weaving a little funny into the truth a go (Thatrsquos what I get for
actually studying my beliefs I guess) I doubt Irsquoll become this millenniumrsquos C S
Lewis but perhaps something of eternal value will emerge from it Hopefully
not damnation
But until we meet in the sweet by-and-by on that beautiful shore (look for my
totally boss conversion van customized by St Doober) I will simply thank you
for reading and leave you with one last bit of suspect theological advice Every
argument especially those on the internet can be won with the phrase ldquoWell
thatrsquos what it says in Habakkukrdquo Because it does
Jason Fox will miss you all except that creepy guy who cuts his fingernails
during the sermon and is proud his last column hit 983097983088983088 words exactly
Jason writes from Omaha Nebraska (well he used to) and can be harassed forevermore on
Twitter at jason_fox
ONCE MORE
WITH FEELING
Celine Dion is theyoungest of 14 children
In 2013 alone 200 millionlemons were squeezed to makeChick-fil-Arsquos fresh lemonade
Shhhh Donrsquot poke itNext month in February Chatter will be hibernating Itrsquos winter after all Plus it buys us some timeto come back in March with more Chatterish goodness than ever before Because more of a good
thing ishellipwell gooder than good grammar (Like we said we need some sleep)
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 2020
Chatterhellipyou CAN take it with you Send us
your Chatter photos on location and you may
see yourself in an upcoming issue Email us
at chatterirvingbibleorg
Chatter tags along as the Mechsner family weathers the ridiculouswinds on Mt Wellington in Hobart Tasmania We understand thatseconds after this shot Chatter decided to dispel the widely heldbelief that turkeys canrsquot fly Be free little guy Be free
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 1920
Chatter | 19
If you are not seated please sit down If you are seated buckle up If you
are buckled up you may want to stop reading now if yoursquore prone to
carsickness Settled in Okay then The haphazard collection of words
currently assaulting your senses mdash both sight and common mdash is my 983095983091rd
and likely final column for Chatter I know I know Yoursquore probably in the
drive-thru at Chick-fil-A just now remembering that itrsquos Sunday and then this
happens So you are not only left wondering where you can satisfy your Bible-
blessed chicken jones but also from whence yoursquoll be able to scratch your itch
for elliptical sentence structures chock-a-block with obtuse wordification and
the occasional monthly reference to pastiness You need a hug
Sadly the Chatter editorial board enforces a strict no-touching (even emotion-
ally) policy on contributors of dubious complexion (therersquos your final pasty
reference) so wersquoll have to make do with a psychic fist bump But before I leave
you with Tim Hawkins as your lone source of Christian comedy (What do you
mean he already was) Irsquod like to take a few hundred words and ramble semi-
coherently about what the past 983094983097 ldquoIdle Chatterrdquo columns and 983092 ldquoInterview
with a Dead Guyrdquo exposeacutes have taught me If anything Hmmm
First Irsquove learned that itrsquos much easier to keep a position when the job is es-
sentially that of a volunteer Assuming you donrsquot count the few times I had to
slip an Old Navy coupon code to the editor (Julie now of the emeritus variety)
to get her to put down the metaphorical red pen (The literal red pen is the
Track Changes feature in Microsoft Word which I despise even more so than a
patchouli-soaked hippie Also I never could figure out which online emporium
discounts would convince her to let me discuss smiting hippies so wersquoll see if
the new ed lets that previous sentence fly) Anyway I assume my long tenure
was also aided by my ability to meet a deadline no matter how many times I
moved it and my penchant for mentioning my kids who are totes adorbs at
least in print
Irsquove learned that most fellow believers can take a joke In nearly seven years
of poking fun (And is poking ever really fun I think not) at some of the more
absurdist aspects of evangelical life mdash along with giving Moses the Twitter
handle MoHeston mdash I never received one letter email Tweet Snapchat
Vine video Facebook rant or gospel tract-based expression of displeasure
Sure only about three of you actually know who I am And my family attended
church in Frisco but farther north (as in past the Ikea) than most Irvingites
dare to drive Also we moved to Omaha three years ago Nonetheless I appre-
ciate your collective sense of humor andor Juliersquos restraint in forwarding me
complaints from the elders
Irsquod like to tell you I learned many deep life-changing Biblical truths over the
last 983094983095 of a decade but come on I think we can all agree that I either made up
most of my doctrinal claims or have since forgotten the ones that are true due
to my advancing fortysomethingness Which reminds me I never did base a
column on the Book of Lamentations Woe is me
Lastly Irsquove learned that I can spit out 983097983088983088 words on just about anything with-
out saying much of anything of value Case in point duly noted
And now since I still have about 983091983088983088 words to torture Irsquoll take a question Yesyou in the back with the pre-Etsy WWJD bracelet from 983089983097983097983095 My favorite col-
umns Well I could say thatrsquos like trying to choose your favorite child (the dog)
if having 983095983091 kids wouldnrsquot get me investigated by the Guinness World Records
folks (bunch of narcs) Instead Irsquoll go with my two poems Ballad for a High
School Youth Group Hayride (October 983090983088983089983092) and The Graven (October 983090983088983089983093)
my unearthing of Noahrsquos Twitter feed GopherWoodBoy (October 983090983088983088983097) my
ruminations on Pentecost Economy Sizing the Holy Spirit (May 983090983088983089983088) and my
homage to my dad on the occasion of his 983094983093th birthday Cool On the Inside (July
983090983088983089983088) There might be others I actually like more but I donrsquot have the patience
of a Job Billy Duggar to read them all Also you can find most of these at Scribd
comIrvingBibleChurch or JasonFoxnetIdleChatter
So This is the end For now at least Perhaps Irsquo ll pop up or in or over from
time to time to ruminate on weighty matters like why our Christmas tree top-
per looks like Celine Dion But for now I think itrsquos time to try something a little
different After so many attempts at we aving a little truth into the funny
I believe Irsquoll give weaving a little funny into the truth a go (Thatrsquos what I get for
actually studying my beliefs I guess) I doubt Irsquoll become this millenniumrsquos C S
Lewis but perhaps something of eternal value will emerge from it Hopefully
not damnation
But until we meet in the sweet by-and-by on that beautiful shore (look for my
totally boss conversion van customized by St Doober) I will simply thank you
for reading and leave you with one last bit of suspect theological advice Every
argument especially those on the internet can be won with the phrase ldquoWell
thatrsquos what it says in Habakkukrdquo Because it does
Jason Fox will miss you all except that creepy guy who cuts his fingernails
during the sermon and is proud his last column hit 983097983088983088 words exactly
Jason writes from Omaha Nebraska (well he used to) and can be harassed forevermore on
Twitter at jason_fox
ONCE MORE
WITH FEELING
Celine Dion is theyoungest of 14 children
In 2013 alone 200 millionlemons were squeezed to makeChick-fil-Arsquos fresh lemonade
Shhhh Donrsquot poke itNext month in February Chatter will be hibernating Itrsquos winter after all Plus it buys us some timeto come back in March with more Chatterish goodness than ever before Because more of a good
thing ishellipwell gooder than good grammar (Like we said we need some sleep)
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 2020
Chatterhellipyou CAN take it with you Send us
your Chatter photos on location and you may
see yourself in an upcoming issue Email us
at chatterirvingbibleorg
Chatter tags along as the Mechsner family weathers the ridiculouswinds on Mt Wellington in Hobart Tasmania We understand thatseconds after this shot Chatter decided to dispel the widely heldbelief that turkeys canrsquot fly Be free little guy Be free
7212019 Chatter January 2016
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchatter-january-2016 2020
Chatterhellipyou CAN take it with you Send us
your Chatter photos on location and you may
see yourself in an upcoming issue Email us
at chatterirvingbibleorg
Chatter tags along as the Mechsner family weathers the ridiculouswinds on Mt Wellington in Hobart Tasmania We understand thatseconds after this shot Chatter decided to dispel the widely heldbelief that turkeys canrsquot fly Be free little guy Be free