tuckerhibbs.com

2008-05-24T20:14:00.000-07:00

From now on my blog is moving to tuckerhibbs.com

Go there!

From now on my blog is moving to tuckerhibbs.com

Go there!

From now on my blog is moving to tuckerhibbs.com

Go there!

From now on my blog is moving to tuckerhibbs.com

Go there!

From now on my blog is moving to tuckerhibbs.com

Go there!

From now on my blog is moving to tuckerhibbs.com

Go there!

From now on my blog is moving to tuckerhibbs.com

Go there!

Finally...

2008-05-22T04:06:00.000-07:00

Ok maybe not for you, but for me this project has been an intense 2 weeks of learning html coding. While I do feel more educated, at the conception of this project I underestimated the work required to get it up and running. But now it's done.

I'm launching my own podcast. It's called The Little Big Church Podcast. I have 2 goals: (1) To create a dialoge amoung small churches of under 500 about how to implement big church ideas in a small church. Because let's face it, the overwhelming majority of concepts that are broadcast for the church in general are from a large, if not mega, church. And (2) I want to try to create a forum for the small church to get their ideas out there into the national and global church community. The small church has had a small voice do to a lack of technology and awareness of avenues to broadcast their ideas.

So there it is. You can subscribe to it with the link on the right or go to littlbigchurchpodcast.com. I know the website's lame. I'll prbably use this blog as the primary website. I submitted it to iTunes and Zune, but I'm still waiting for approval.

There are two episodes up and I'm hoping to make some connections today at Whiteboard with some potential interviews.

Here's my promotional plea: If you have a blog and are reading this and can buy into the philosophy of The Little Big Church Podcast, I'd be happy for you to promote it like the free stuff that it is. And if you're part of a small church - in leadership or not - chime in. Critique the podcast. Let me know. You can email me at tuckerhibbs@gmail.com.

Thanks for listening!

Wisdom

2008-05-18T03:11:00.000-07:00

I've been going through Proverbs and here are the things I highlighted in chapter 11...

vs. 2 - When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.

Can't get more straightforward than that. Humility and wisdom come together.

vs. 9 - With his mouth the godless destroys his neighbor, but through knowledge the righteous escape.

For me, a reminder that growth, in knowledge, is never attainable. It's constant and continued.

vs. 13 - A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret.

Here's a great definition of gossip, as it's so often skewed. Is trustworthy one of my tombstone words?

vs. 14 - Without wise leadership, a nation falls; there is safety in having many advisers.

I love John Maxwell's theory of true leadership - that good leaders raise up and lead leaders, not followers. The idea of leadership is more than just getting people to follow you, and it's riddled with pride.

vs. 20 - The Lord detests people with crooked hearts, but he delights in those with integrity.

I heard recently that the wealthiest people alive all have one thing in common - integrity. If you're on autopilot, integrity will flounder. Integrity necessitates devoted effort.

vs. 22 - A beautiful woman who lacks discretion is like a gold ring in a pig’s snout.

Sometimes I just highlight verses that are popular so that they're easier to find when I'm looking for them. This is one of those. But none the less, beauty is not everything, obviously. But how quickly do we dismiss a degree of foolishness at the sake of appearances?

vs. 24 - 25 - Give freely and become more wealthy; be stingy and lose everything. The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.

It's refreshing to be reminded that God's been revealing about his purposes for generous giving thousands of years ago. I also love the NLT's translation of refreshing others and being refreshed. Finances can feel so muddy - they get you to slow down think of all the mistakes and failures. I'll stand by this principle financially for the rest of my life because I've constantly seen it at work - if your finances are in the toilette, give more of it away. Keep in mind, it's just a principle. You can foolishly give against God's plan.

Hopefully I'll get this project I've been working on squared away by tomorrow so I can role it out here. It's something that I've been overtaken by passion for.

The Twins

2008-05-17T16:41:00.000-07:00

What do you see? 2 black circles. That's 2 BABIES!

Among all of the new things we're finding out about, like saying "when the KIDS get here" and the phenomenon of increasing our kidage by 100%, we learned that when you have twins they name one A and one B. So here they are.

Correction

2008-05-17T04:54:00.000-07:00

Apparently a few months ago I provided some false information (it's all I had at the time). My wife Cherie is NOT pregnant... with one baby. We're having twins. Just found out yesterday morning.

I had a really big post I wanted to put up this week about a project that I've been working on, but this trumps everything I've been thinking about.

We're double our kid account this year from 2 to 4 - yeah tax break (just looking at the bright side)! I'll post the ultrasound pics later today.

Vision - pt. 2

2008-05-13T07:55:00.001-07:00

I was about to talk about how over used the term "vision" was and it auto-popped in the title bar of my blog - that means I already blogged a post called vision. So even I over use it. That's why it's part 2.

Here's the thought though... I've been digging through Nehemiah at Ben's suggestion and something has become evident. Nehemiah had a great vision. It was huge - to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem after it's destruction - but it went even further. It was not the wall that he saw being rebuilt, but the people's correct and honest relationship with God - see chapters 8 and 9. That's not what really hit me though. I have great vision similar to his - not just accomplishments, or walls, but continual growth in relationships with God and people. However with Nehemiah... well it wasn't simply organization and administration for the vision (chapters 10 and on), it was the specific walking out of the vision.

I'm a big-picture thinker. That's what I've shouted from the rooftops. I don't pay attention to the details. It's not my gifting. Not part of my A.D.D.D.D.D.D.D. skill set. But the problem with that is I don't think that God says "Use your gifts only and nothing else. If it's not comfortable, it's not your gift so stay away from it". It's uncomfortable for me to think small steps because, honestly, I'm afraid I'll screw them up and we won't hit my big picture. I'd rather delegate (sometimes a disguise for copping out). I avoid the grunt work which, for others with admin gifts, wouldn't be grunt work, but for me takes extra care and attention - discomfort. It's not natural for me like preaching has become.

For all the preaching and teaching I do and will do about continued growth and overcoming fears, I need this reminder about learning new things, even though they may seem like old unconquerables (not in the dictionary). That's why I got the tattoo on my arm.

With vision, we need to remember the steps in between here and the accomplishment are as important as the goal. It might reduce the use of the term. It has already for me just in expressing these thoughts.

Flexibility

2008-04-28T06:19:00.000-07:00

I've seen it through all my ministry experience - from the student missions trips to leading a team of musicians - to work with people you must be flexible.

We are tattered selfish people - all of us - prone to selfishness. Whether in ministry or not, working with people requires you to be able to change and adapt to that selfishness within the world and fight running from discomfort. Those who cannot - well everyone can - those who will not will be disillusioned with society, leaders, even God himself. This is a world of continuous transitional change and we are the people living in it causing it to change. To think that what worked before will work now is dangerously cautious. To think that people will always do it this way is a cop out on relationship investing.

The cool thing is that once a culture is built to see the transition and change as the norm, from the big decisions to the little tweaks, they thrive within it. Alan J. Roxburgh wrote a book about this phenomenon of change and we as leaders leading through it that's been just beating with my heart - it's called "The Sky is Falling".

I watched a great example of the culture built to change this week with our worship team. We ended up, through some miscommunication, without a drummer at rehearsal. As we had only found out about our percussion-free team at rehearsal, we had to change quickly and still produce a quality project for our family service this weekend. The team transitioned smoothly and quickly into an "unplugged" format. We got out of practice on time and received a lot of positive feedback from the congregation about the music.

Change is not good. Change is normal. Change and transition is reality.

Getting dirty - Balancing Delegation and Investment

2008-04-22T08:22:00.000-07:00

Nehemiah 3:1 - Then Eliashib the high priest and the other priests started to rebuild at the Sheep Gate. They dedicated it and set up its doors, building the wall as far as the Tower of the Hundred, which they dedicated, and the Tower of Hananel.

How easy would it have been for HIGH PRIEST to just delegate the task of rebuilding the wall? That position was... well... high. For me, delegation comes naturally - too naturally. It's not because I don't like to work, I just know that the task requires more than just my skill so others must participate. The problem I stumble over a lot is not putting the right people on the right tasks. The downfall of this logic is a lack of getting my hands dirty. If I work side by side with all of us that are trying to complete the task, I'll see the weaknesses and holes and be able to fill them. But that's uncomfortable - that's admitting that we're on the same level. It's comfortable to be the boss - the delegaTOR.

It really comes down to investment - am I willing to invest in people? The task then is the source of the issue - too often we make the task "winning" people, when it should be investing in them no matter what their spiritual decision may be at the end of the service on Sunday. Winning the lost is short-sited. Continuous life change was Jesus' goal and should be ours.

Adiction

2008-04-21T06:40:00.000-07:00

I have this addiction...

It's T-shirts

I bought this one as soon as I saw it on Ben's blog.

And no... I will not be that guy that wears the event T-shirt to the event.

Time Chart

2008-04-21T06:19:00.000-07:00

We decided as a leadership team that I would begin to track my hours. I knew in the back of my mind the kind of results this would yield, but it still is really challenging. I'm finding I'm not focused. At least not as focused as I should be. I jump from one task to the next without full completion. The result is mediocre fruition.

So I'm starting this week differently. I'm listing the tasks for the week and prioritizing them. Then I'm going to stick to it.

This feels so basic and even immature. But growth, I've found, mostly feels this way. That's why it's so easy not to grow. The challenges are not exciting exhilarating mountains. They are many times mundane minute by minute changes that we've spent a lot of time allowing to stew and set. I'm convinced though that without these mundane changes, we will not be adequately prepared for the big exhilarating mountains when they come.

Ben Arment challenged me to read through Nehemiah in a phone conversation last week and Nehemiah sets a great example of patient change without too many words and speeches, marketing and hoopla. It's the life that happens when we're not paying close enough attention that will change the future.

Big Bed

2008-04-16T09:30:00.000-07:00

I moved Tate's crib out of his room this morning and replaced it with his Big Bed. He is not old enough to understand the implications or the huge growth step that has just transpired. He has entered a new chapter. He is about to have to learn a whole new set of rules.

It reminds me of my journey with God. We had a great discussion time last night within our high school small group and that always makes me wish that I would've known then what I know now. But I wouldn't... unless I'd done what I've done since then. Most of the time I didn't know that I was about to grow significantly - be forced to choose growth or digression. But looking back over the years since I was a teenager, I'm a different person.

It just gives me a renewed sense of determination in any season.

Dad

2008-04-15T09:47:00.001-07:00

This is my dad and me. He died on June 3rd, 2004. I like remembering him. He was a pastor too. In fact someone on my dad's side of the family has been a pastor for 4 generations.

We've been through a lot of death over the past few years as a family. We've learned how to deal with it though experiencing it. It doesn't derail us any more, and that's not sad, it's reality.

Big Announcement...

2008-04-09T09:13:00.000-07:00

Click the picture to hear our big announcement...

DC

2008-04-09T06:29:00.000-07:00

Went to Washington DC this weekend... with the flu. My West Coast friend, Thomas, was in town on a business trip and I took the chance to hang out with him for the weekend.

I love DC as a city, but what I was really excited about was visiting National Community Church. Mark Batterson is a nationally known pastor and writer and the church met just a block from where Thomas and I stayed. Their service was great, but two things really stood out:

1. Their Media. They had a custom video countdown that rocked and that went into a promo video about the church itself - the different campuses, their vision, that sort of thing. The movie theater created a small church environment, but their lighting (which they had permanently installed all their pars and source-4s in the theater), their banners, and the videos were top notch - way above anything we've ever produced.

2. Mark's Vocabulary. Don't get me wrong, he was easily understood, but I was challenged and moved forward quicker than in a typical sermon (even one of my own). It was like great humor that wasn't dumbed down, but held just at your level where you could grasp it, but only if you stood up and listened.

Getting to meet Mark and Chat for a few minutes was a privilege. This was the In a Pit guy!!

Unfortunately, I had to cut my trip short. I wasn't going to come home 'til Monday but I took off Sunday after the NCC service. Which meant that I had to cancel dinner with Ben Arment. That killed me. I was really looking forward to chatting with him about leadership. Have to wait 'til Whiteboard now.

Book Review: The 5 Dysfunctions of a Team

2008-04-09T06:15:00.000-07:00

So tomorrow has come a bit later than I thought (thanks Sarah). Here's the low down on this amazing book:

The majority of the book is written it what it calls a "fable". The story illustrates the principles in the book and puts faces on people. The result is walking away from it saying "Oh I'm definitely him and that's you!" It makes it more... feelable for the team to identify the dysfunctions and the parts that they each play in proliferating them.

The dysfunctions are:
Studying this book has begun a process in our team. We are now heading for a tighter team - better leadership - less gaps in responsibility - and ultimately better communication. Anyone on any team should read this book. It's an easy read - even for me. But be warned fellow A.D.D.ers - the first chunk of the book is interesting and motivating. However the last 2 chapters or so, where the story ends and the author (check out his website) goes into detail and exercises, will take you as long as the first 20.

The 5 Dysfunctions of a Team

2008-03-31T11:58:00.001-07:00

ROCKS.

More on that tomorrow.

Diary of fasting - day 3

2008-03-31T11:49:00.000-07:00

I'm just amazed that I haven't lost the nerve yet. It's... easier. I stopped quickly doing the things that are tempting and it's that simple. I'm not this good though. This is answered prayer at it's best.

It's an easy schedule today, which is good, because yesterday was difficult. But still not as hard as I thought it would be.

If I have learned one thing it's that God is reliable. If He can provide for me in such a basic area as sustenance, He deserve more of my effort and devotion. I'm hearing Him clearer than before. I have to do this again... and again. The clarity is amazing. Now that I know I can, or that God can - really - I'm excited to fast more.

But now I'm thinking about th 5 Alarm burger that I will consume at Red Robin tonight (saliva).

It was delicious, but really, a let-down compared to the last 3 days.

Diary of fasting - day 2

2008-03-26T11:55:00.000-07:00

It's just going to be a long day - pouring five yards of concrete and then heading to church to do an hour and a half of music for a benefit concert. Not my wisest decision when it came to scheduling this fast.

I almost passed out while I was screeting off the concrete this afternoon. I'm tired, but no more than usually. The greatest effect that I'm noticing is my mental sharpness... again. I'm praying that God will help me to remember the words tonight.

Later...
The concert went really well. Got to listen to some poetry, which I've never done. It was awesome! God gave me supernatural endurance today. I know there are people praying - I know my own limits and we passed them a while ago.

There's a clarity in this state of self-denial. It's very clear what's good and what's not. I think that's what God desires for us in life - if we are in tune with the spirit, life should be clear. As I look back, it is those times that I have been ignoring God that have been the most confusing.

Diary of fasting

2008-03-24T06:31:00.001-07:00

Last Wednesday night the elders of Carpenter's challenged those who were at a prayer event to fast with us until Saturday evening. It was a sort of last minute thing, but I've been amazed at the response. On top of that, none of the elders have ever fasted for this long. It will be a total of about 65 hours. Here's my story of those hours.

Day 1
I was ok 'til lunch. I was just in the office today, but there's a lot of freedom here that I usually indulge in for food. Still the hunger is a constant reminder to pray for the church.

At home, I've never realized how much food just lays around. Seriously, we have cabinets. I think all of the food is slowly creeping towards me when I turn my back.

3 pm - Cher's stopping. I'm glad and grateful that she made it this far with me. But the smell of that chicken chili that she's re-heating from last night is the devil.

We had a 3-hour worship practice tonight gearing up for the Good Friday Benefit concert. Vitamin water has been very sustaining. No, prayer has been sustaining, the Vitamin water and all it's juiciness and fun label stories have been simply godly. Tomorrow I work with Josh pouring 5 yards of concrete and then doing this concert. I'm doubting the my wisdom, or lack of it. But I feel ok. Just hungry. I talked to the other elders and tried to encourage them. Jake says coffee is working for him, but his dad's having a hard time.

I noticed the greatest effect thus far at worship practice - my mental sharpness. Ok not that it was particularly razor before, but I'm forgetting words more than usual.

Ominous

2008-03-20T05:04:00.000-07:00

It means threatening, warning, worrying, or gloomy.

I got this morning and it looked sunny out. I love morning. I don't necessarily like getting up, but once I'm there, I love just soaking in the morning environment. Off in the distance though, this morning, over the Bethlehem hills were some decently dark clouds. I'm watching them move towards us (the green is the hills).In church, the Holy Spirit gives us ominous feelings. Something is coming. It a warning. It's a thought that says "you are about to enter a time when you WILL NEED GOD. So take precautions." The problem is that most of the time we ignore that feeling or forget about it. I'll admit, it's easier for me to say "I'll deal with it when it gets here." To selfishly think that I have what it takes spiritually. If I did then why would I need the warning.

I love the story of Peter walking on the water in Matthew 14. The part that gets me is verse 30 - But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted. Where were the wind and the waves when He was in the boat? We're not talking cruise liner here. It's an over-sized dinghy. He didn't think about the challenge before he jumped ship. The only way I've ever heard this passage taught is that we should "get out of the boat" like Peter. No. Peter obviously did something wrong - he simply didn't honestly look at what was about to challenge him.

This is a big week for Carpenter's. Friday we're having a benefit concert for The Children's Home of Easton. Dan Deblass has taken so much weigh off my shoulders that I'm ridiculously grateful. It's for a great ministry, it's catered, there's a rocking band doing the concert... Then Sunday we start Lost. I'm excited about the lives that God's already changing through these things that haven't even happened yet. My cashier at Walmart last night asked me "How much do we pay at the door Friday" (yeah we're charging to get into church Friday night - $10 per person, $20 per family). There is potential this week for huge community change - life change. Satan's going to come at our families, our lustful temptations, and anything else that will distract us.

Heed the warning of the spirit. It's ominous for a reason. Don't go blindly into the pack of wolves.

What is church based on?

2008-03-19T06:04:00.000-07:00

Perry's post from a few days ago echoes so clearly with the philosophy of my heart that I've been striving for for years: if any part of the church is based on me (which happens when I say "yes" to everything and don't delegate, train up, and let go) it will fall apart without me. That's NOT the kind of ministry I want. You've got to read this if you lead ANYTHING!

How Irish were you?

2008-03-19T05:59:00.000-07:00

How did the Hibbs spend their St. Pattie's day? The best way they knew how - together at The Banshee. It was an hour ride and completely spontaneous - but it was the best lunch you could have on St. Pattrick's Day... at an Irish Pub.

#100!

2008-03-17T08:47:00.000-07:00

For my 100th post, here's my first video blog...

Tight!

2008-03-16T08:51:00.000-07:00

So it's 11:50 Sunday morning - Jim's preaching. I just had to brag on our worship team - Holyfire's Great kicked my butt, guitar wise, but the team has had the best performance they've ever had! They rocked. They were tight! Good job guys! Way to practice and focus! It's paying off!

Don't be disqualified

2008-03-14T04:26:00.000-07:00

1 Corinthians 9:26-27 - So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. 27 I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.

In 1 Corinthians 9 Paul's telling people why he deserves to be provided for, physically, because he preaches the gospel. He says earlier in the chapter though that "We would rather put up with anything than be an obstacle to the Good News about Christ." Then He ends with the two verse above. I see a simple stumbling point in my life as a pastor and I just wanted to take a second to encourage others in two ways:

First, purpose in every step. It's too tempting to let auto-pilot take over, especially when we're worn out. Auto-pilot is when we do and say whatever comes naturally. The problem is what we do naturally is sin. Our selfish nature is our auto-pilot. We must be aware of every step that we take, making it purposefully towards a goal. One issue that keeps this from happening is a clear goal. Without a very clear and specific goal, be it in your day to day or your business, the auto-pilot switch is that much closer.

Secondly, without discipline like making each step purposeful, Paul says that we may disqualify ourselves. In my life, I've seen this in the arena of "practicing what you preach". It's old school and redundant, but the bottom line is this: it's a lot easier for me to tell people what to do than it is to show them by example. It always will be. This is so dangerous for preachers because we are exposing the truth of life and the direction that people should go regularly. However, doing this is like endorsing a product that you would never use yourself. It removes your credibility. Those who we are to be teaching will listen less and less.

That's what I learned today. Monday will be my 100th post!! I'll be doing my first ever video blog and sharing some key points from my Ignite message last week.