More than listening

TONIGHT CCF returns to MOORE for  the conclusion of our “Good Copy, Bad Copy” series. We will conclude this series as we discuss what Jesus has to say about forgiving others. I really believe this message will be one of the best of the fall as we look to the cross as pinnacle of forgiveness. Do EVERYTHING you can to invite your friends. See you tonight at MOORE

Our CCF beach trip is this weekend (sept 30- oct 2). This weekend we are seeing record numbers sign up (almost 150!!). Though the numbers get bigger and bigger every year we still think each individual is very important and that God desires to do something in the life of each student. One of the most important ways to be  a part of this moving of God is through prayer. It is quite simple. All you do is fill out the form below. After filling out the form you will receive an email with the names of 5-10 students to pray for over the weekend and what to pray for them. Thanks so much for being a part of the weekend through prayer

SIGN UPS ARE NOW CLOSED. THANKS TO ALL WHO SIGNED UP. EVEN IF YOU DID NOT SIGN UP HERE ARE SOME DETAILS OF WHAT TO PRAY FOR:

This retreat’s we are talking all about what it means to deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Christ.
Below is your list of students to be praying for. Please pray for the following:

• That God would move in hearts students
• That every student “would lose their life” and find Christ
• That they would feel welcomed into a community that is there for them
• That the Word would take root and grow in their hearts
• Pray students would give their lives to Christ and see the gain they have in following Him
• Pray Christ would become the treasure of each student’s heart
• Overall, please pray for Christ to be the focus and reason for the weekend.

Thanks!!

~MM

So the CCF Beach trip is literally 2 days away… Yes TWO days!! Pretty exciting stuff.  We are looking at some incredible numbers of people like record numbers.. The numbers are great and all but we are not satisfied with the numbers. We are not satisfied for two reasons: 1) Most importantly we really believe God is going to move in some amazing ways in the life of each person that makes up such a large number. 2)We also know that the Gospel IS the power to save, and lets just say the Gospel will be very very clearly preached over and over through sermons, songs and conversations in groups.  All that being said we want as many people there as possible to be there to hear the Gospel for the first or thousandth time and to go back to campus reminded of the sinless life, innocent death and victorious resurrection of Jesus. Now,  I totally understand there are lots of great excuses to not come. But to help you out with your excuses  I wanted to help prove them a little silly.. dare I say “stupid.”

1. “I don’t know how to sign up” Well this one is easy.. really easy. All you gotta do is click HERE… yes HERE and just fill out the info
2. “I don’t have the money” This one is pretty easy too. There are people that literally give money to make it possible for you to go.. We want YOU more than your money. To sign up for a full scholarship simply email nathan@fsuccf.com . If you can’t take a free scholarship email nathan@fsuccf.com about partial scholarships. If you can’t handle the thought of not paying and going don’t listen to the pride. Take the FREE GIFT.. Someone wants to give so you can go. ENJOY THE GIFT!! Email nathan@fsuccf.com
3. “I can’t leave at 3 on friday” We have you covered there are late cars leaving at all sorts of times! On the form simply check off that you can’t leave at 3. HERE is the form
4. “I don’t like the beach”  I gotta admit this is a pretty good one. I don’t like the beach either… I hate the beach and am going! I get it, I get it! I hate the sand and the sunscreen and the salty water filled with fish poop. The good news is you can stay inside all weekend at the retreat center if you want. Plus there are basketball courts and a volleyball net plus  a pool with (hopefully) no poop in it and no salty water to enjoy all weekend.
5. “I don’t know any one” This is the PERFECT weekend for YOU!! A huge portion of the weekend is spent just hanging out and getting to know each other. If you feel like you don’t know anyone I promise you by the end of the weekend you will be adding all sorts of friends on facebook.
6. “I’m not a christian” Totally totally understand. Yes there will be preaching and (GREAT QUALITY) music (with Dan Cole) but don’t worry just like every other CCF event we understand you may just be “checking things out.” You are always welcome around CCF and don’t have to believe in something before you can be a CCFer.  So… SIGN UP HERE
7. “I have too much school work!!”  WAHHHH!!! I admit I don’t understand this one.. Give me a break I was a communications major! Now lets be honest there are literally two of you that actually would study this weekend before Sunday night. But for those two of you I do know that you can bring your homework with you! There is a 5 hour block for you to work on stuff if need be. AND you can start studying extra RIGHT NOW to get ahead before the weekend (CRAZY I KNOW). Also we will be back by 5 on Sunday if you want to work on everything sunday night. PLUS there is NO MONDAY NIGHT CCF to give you some time to rest and catch up on your work. Thats right NO MONDAY NIGHT. We think its that important you go that we have cancelled our weekly gathering.  SO SIGN UP HERE

  I am so excited to announce that TOMORROW CCF will be at the CCF HOUSE ( 524 W. College Ave. Halfway between westcott fountain and Pots). It is a rare chance we get to come together and worship at the CCF house but this week the weather is looking great and its time to party it up in the back parking lot. Not only is it a special night because we are back at the house but also because we will have a guest preacher, Dean Inserra from City Church. We will be wrapping up the “good copy, bad copy” series and are expecting an incredible night, PLUS!! We will have a video testimony from a CCFer who put her faith in Christ last spring semester. Dang this night is gonna be stacked!

WHAT WE NEED FROM YOU FOR A GREAT NIGHT: 

SPREAD THE WORD: With locations changing so much we really need your help to spread the word. You can post it on your facebook, change your profile picture, invite people to the facebook event, text friends and tell your classmates. Do it!… LIKE NOW

PRAY: Pray for an incredible night. Pray for logistics, the music and Dean as God brings the gospel through him

LASTLY, DRAG YOUR FRIENDS!! Seriously do.

Its easy to say that the local Church should be united. We all like to reference John 17 as the ideal. At the same I have seen on campus and in Tallahassee such an inaccurate definition of unity. I have also seen churches that are honestly anti-unity, though they may never admit it. Things like “go week” on campus are a beautiful display to students and administration of what unity truly means. A unity that is united around a common mission to strategically “divide and conquer” rather than gather and stay safe. Any ways.. was reading recently from www.pastormark.tv  and came across a great article on Rick Warren. Here is an excerpt to me that really summarized what church unity really looks like. As you read it if you are in ministry check your heart with these questions, if you are in the local church check your heart with these questions and ask your staff if they have a similar view of unity

“How about you? Do you genuinely want good for the churches and ministries in your city? When other leaders and ministries thrive are you prone toward jealousy and criticism, or joy and support? Do you see other churches, ministries, and Christian leaders as allies or competitors? Is your church generous in doing what it can to serve and encourage other ministries? “

This dude cracks me up every time. Especially when he talks about religion… I guess I should give a little language warning. If you go to bed before ten you might be offended at ONE point

Been slowly enjoying some Heidelberg Catechism with some other great people. This quote just blew me away from Kevin Deyoung in response to day 2 of the catechism

“I’ll be damned, discouraged, and dismayed if being a follower of Jesus means nothing but a new set  of things I’m supposed to do for Him.  Instead, my following Jesus should be , first of all, a declaration of all that He has done for me.”

Thoughts?

So why did James Ramsey really come back to FSU? I mean he had a great FSU season, an incredible summer in the cape cod league, and was offered a lot of cash. Well check out this video from City Church Tallahassee where James shares why he came back to tally.

We began the Go Week kickoff explaining that the title “go week” is a little deceptive. Its deceptive for two reasons. First off its only four days long.. but more importantly we don’t want a single student to think that they only “go” one week a year. Go Week was started by CCF to be a mission trip to campus to start the year off. It was meant to be a taste of what being a missionary every day on campus could really look like. So many times we go to foreign lands as missionaries but forget we are foreigners every day in our hometowns.

The last prayer I want to share with you is one that I will continue and ask you continue to pray is that this would not simply be a Go Week that we look back on and celebrate rather this would be a Go YEAR. A year where students go with brokeness and boldness daily to wherever God takes them. A year where the students continue to be missionaries every day with the relationships that started at Go Week and the new ones they will form throughout the year…

THANKS!

One of the most challenging and exciting things about Go Week is that it is not about the campus ministries putting on events. The whole week rises and falls on whether or not students make personal connections with students. There is no moment during the week that the ministries collect massive amounts of cards. This whole thing is all about the students being the missionaries. They go and serve in every way possible and are a part of every university event from movies on the green to speed friending to “green my campus.”

Throughout the week we prayed that students would be broken for campus, would serve like Christ and be bold with the opportunities God gives them.  This is seriously the deal breaker of the week.  As a staff this is really wild because the staff are primarily behind the scenes getting ready for the next part of the days and running all sorts of errands. Its always hard to tell if the students are really doing what you pray that is until you find out I began to see this was true at pancakes when I saw orange luau shirts everywhere worn by our volunteers all talking to new people. BUT On thursday night God blew my mind as we prayed out loud for the names of students we had met. Students kept going and going praying for names. It was so powerful to hear the names of souls made in the image of God that our students had met. This was by far one of my favorite moments of the entire week.

Once again God came through on this prayer and gave our students brokenness, servant hearts and boldness. I beg you please continue to pray for the 200+ that are representatives of Christ sent on mission every day to the campus of FSU. Pray that the relationships that started during go week will continue and people will come to know Christ that were met during go week.