HCCF Grad Dinner 2012!

Hey CCF!

Grad dinner is coming up!
Let's get dressed up, come together for a nice meal, and celebrate what God has done in the Grads & in CCF.

Check your emails for more details regarding registration :)

A blast from the past... Grad Dinner circa 2011:

Veritas Forum @ Mac

Website: http://www.veritas.org/mcmaster

Ways to get involved:
1. Facebook
a) Change your profile picture to the Veritas poster (above)
b) Join the facebook event
c) Invite your friends!

2. Prayer
Starting Monday, January 9, through the week leading up to Veritas and the week of Veritas, there will be two prayer slots at the Div College Chapel from 10:30 to 11:30 or from 11:30 to 12:30. Pick a time slot, and show up to pray - every day except for Wednesday.

3. Attend Veritas events (bring a friend with you!)
MON (Jan/16): "The Gospel of Luke" performance 7:30pm @ 1280. Tickets are $5 each, sold through CCF or at Compass.
TUE (Jan/17): "4 Views on freedom: What is Freedom? How does one become free?" panel discussion on Jan/17 7:30pm @ ITB 137.
THU (Jan/19): "The reality of human slavery today" presentation on Jan/19 7:30pm @ MDCL 1105.
FRI (Jan/20): "Freedom cafe" coffeehouse on Jan/20 8pm @ CIBC Hall.
(All week): "Freedom art exhibit" @ MUSC atrium

In fear and trembling we are saved

Here are two thought provoking questions:
Is it possible for those who think they are not saved to be saved?
Is it possible for those who think they are saved to not be saved?

God's word is complete regarding our faith.
In one sense, salvation by grace through faith alone is a great truth, but on the other hand, doing good works is a must in a Christian's life. If we have no works and still live as unrighteous and sinful as before, we are deceiving ourselves and have no part in the kingdom.

Interestingly, the Apostle Paul wrote as much, if not more about how a Christian ought to live and act in this life as being saved by faith alone. (you can see this if you read his letters to the Corinthians, Galatians chapter 5, Ephesians 5, Romans, even Jesus says that those who love him obeys his commandments, those who do not bear fruit will be cut off and burned, those who are wicked will be thrown into the darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth etc...)

I do not write this to scare people or make them feel guilty, but we are called to be sober minded, Brothers and sisters, do not be deceived by the teachings of this world to conform to it's patterns. Do not go after things like status in school and in work, seeking honour from men, money, pleasure, sex, competition, laziness, and youthful passions for fun and games, but pursue Christ and seek to know him, seek to become holy and virtuous people who live with honor, truth, love, kindness, gentleness, and patience(This is a lifelong process of sorrow, hardship, and much struggling with flesh and sin). For Christ is the one whom we need to believe, not theology or ideas about him. These things are dead, and there is so much more to learn in Christ than justification through faith alone, because Christ is alive and is our life.

Constantly check to see if you are still in the faith, working out our salvation with fear and trembling for it is God who works and wills within us. As Paul Washer puts it, this life is like a mine field, we cannot make it out alive unless we listen to God and obey him.

New Year's Resolutions?

If you're anything like me, you've practically given up on New Year's resolutions. You know... those goals that you absolutely convince yourself are going to happen this year: get fit, study harder, share the Gospel with that one person... And while, by God's grace, many of these things do become a reality, chances are, they don't and they just end up on next year's list.

But God put something on my heart this year and I hope it encourages all of you as well: it's ok if we fail, but we shouldn't let these failures cling on to our consciences. Why? Because Christ died to make us righteous in our Heavenly Father's eyes. Our salvation does not depend on our own efforts in improving ourselves, and praise God for that! I echo the words of Paul to the Philippian church when he said:

"Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thin I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:12-14.

Failed to get jacked this past year? It's ok, Christ died for that! Still struggling with getting the marks you wanted? Christ died for that! Didn't get a chance to talk to your friend / family member about God? Christ definitely died for that! Now don't get me wrong, I'm not suggesting you don't set goals at all. Set Christ-centered goals and rely on God's strength to get them accomplished. Pursue them, write them down and stick them somewhere visible, don't let yourself give up on them. I'll leave you with John Piper's perspective on New Year's resolutions:

"Renew the New Year’s covenant or make a new one. Write it down. Paste it on your bathroom mirror. Set a limit to it. And be sure to add this contingency clause: “If I fail, I will not mope around in despair. I will encourage my heart in God’s mercy, repent and start up again.” Future life is too precious. The possibilities of joyful service are too great to let yourself be paralyzed by the past."

Happy New Year everyone!! May God bless all of you abundantly in 2012!

With much love,

Your committee

Christmastime

Merry Christmas!!
~Ricky, Chris 3, Victoria & Yvonne

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
Luke 2:9-12

Because He deserves all the glory and honour

This past friday was CCF's last meeting of the year and we had a blessed time of praise and prayer. I was very blessed by the conversations that I was able to have with a few sisters, and was also very encouraged by the sharings that some of our fellow brothers and sisters had for the night. In particular, Matt's sharing about prayer and studying was a great reminder for me about the attitude of prayer and devotions. I find that during exam times, we often like to just focus our prayers on asking God for good rest and wisdom to do well. How easy it is to just rush through prayer and spend the next 10 hours studying and forgetting everything else! However, I was really reminded that we really should be striving to get through our studying because we desire to spend more time with our Lord. We shouldn't come before Him with the mind set that perhaps if we spend more time with Him, He will help us do better in school. But we should be spending time with Him simply because He deserves all the glory and honour no matter how we do in school. May it be our prayer that as exams approach that we will continue to thirst for His word, continue to praise and worship Him simply for who He is!

Worthy is the Lamb

Praise and prayer went a little differently tonight. We still had our time of praise, and we were able to share and pray for each other - but the sharing wasn't our typical 1-on-1 sharing time. Rather, we opened up the floor to the brothers and sisters in our fellowship to share about how God has been working in their lives, and also how God has been working through CCF to touch them.

Some notes from the sharings:
1.  Don't try to get your devos over quickly, so you can study; rather, get your studying over quickly so you can do your devos ~MCY
2.  Doing your devos should not be something you do grudgingly - find joy in doing devos! ~EL
3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 1:3-7) ~CP
4. Take a moment to enjoy the sunset; Give praise to our creator ~YY
(n.b. or the sunrise, for the morning folks in our midst)
5. Challenge: learn something new about God every day ~CL
6.  The greatest commandment is to love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. Do you have a passion to seek God, to truly want to know him?~DW
7. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:3) ~RZ

What a blessing and encouragement it is to hear from our brothers and sisters! All the honour, glory and praise be to God for his work in our fellowship. Truly, he is worthy of all our praise.

Worthy is the lamb

Seated on the throne

Crown you now with many crowns

You reign victorious

High and lifted up

Jesus son of God

The darling of heaven crucified

Worthy is the lamb

Image source

Thinking about war - A reflection by Christine

When I think about war, I remember how privileged I am to be able to live in so much peace and freedom. I remember the great price that was paid for this privilege. However, these thoughts only cross my mind for a slight moment during a minute of silence. I say a short prayer in that minute thanking God for those who fought for my freedom, and then go back to my usual routine. We’re truly blessed to be a generation living in a country that is so peaceful. Sometimes I wonder what our attitude would be like if we truly realized what a BIG deal that is. I wonder how it would be like to live in places like Somalia, where civil war prevents millions of starving children from getting food. I wonder how I’d feel if my own dad was called to serve in the battle fields.

Remember

When I think about war, the image of a soldier comes to mind. He is strong and steadfast, just like Jacky Chan in “The Myth” as he fights till the very end, or Mulan’s weak dad who bravely steps forward to accept his duty when called by the king. What about King David who through faith said to Goliath, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty” (1 Samuel 17:45). Such courage, such faith!

When I think about war, I think about living in violence, fear and limited resources. It’s losing loved ones in bombings, gas attacks, gunshots, hangings, or even by poison. It’s scary to think about, so maybe that’s why we don’t often think about it. But all these things have happened. And it is still happening in many places around the world. How are you using your resources and your freedom while you still have it?

When I think about war, I think about the war within each of us. “For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want” (Galatians 5:17).  Do you realize you’re in a battle too? You’ve been assigned an important role of picking up your cross every morning.  Use this Remembrance Day to sign a peace contract. Realize you’ve already won the war. Victory is ours in Christ. Let go of whatever sin you’ve been fighting. Don’t live chained as slaves when Christ has already set us free!

And finally, this Remembrance Day, don’t neglect our brothers and sisters who are living in a spiritual battle daily all over the world. Missionaries (the coolest soldiers I’ve ever known) are fighting against a greater power who hates them – the greatest enemy ever imaginable. Pray for those who face persecution for the kingdom of God - Spiritual Warriors who fight for the ETERNAL FREEDOM of those who do not know Christ. In many ways, prayer is not asking God to prepare us for the battle, it is the battle. So be a prayer warrior for God! God hears all of our prayers!  

Love in Christ,

Christine

P.S. Remembrance Day falls on 11/11/11 this year! How cool is that!!??

Love your brothers and sisters with your knowledge

Our reading of the Bible, our study of doctrine must fuel these two things: Our love for God, and our love for our fellow men. This is how we are conformed to the image of Christ. Our way of thinking must be transformed into serve these two purposes as well.

Here's a talk by Francis Chan on thinking hard and staying humble. If you have an hour to spare, please please listen to it. This is also my prayer, that we love each other truly as God's family. May God bless you through this message.

http://www.desiringgod.org/resource-library/conference-messages/think-hard-stay-humble-the-life-of-the-mind-and-the-peril-of-pride

Beggars and bread

A Christian witness is not like a rich man who has a lot of bread which he hands out to the poor beggars who have nothing. He is rather like one beggar who tells another beggar where he has found bread. - D.T. Niles