It's amazing to think how fast time passes these days as we have come to a conclusion to the 2008 season in softball. Congratulations are in order for each division champion, and each division Most Inspiration Player. What has begun in the beginning of June closes ironically on the same day that the Olympics closed out in Beijing. It was a tough fought season for every team participating which each team securing at least 1 victory, all in all it was a very successful time of fellowship and people getting to know each other better. I know for myself at the very least, I had tons of fun being able to meet new people from different churches from different divisions and just being able to chat sports with them. Seeing so many people at the year of the end BBQ really brought a smile to my face. Being able the be the Emcee and just seeing the joy of people coming together to share a meal together.
Special props goes out to Danny Yee of Cornerstone Trinity Baptist church for leading prayer, and to our guest speaker Jerry Mann from Sunset Ministries for leading an amazing message. On behalf of the CCU Softball Committee, we thank each and every one of you for making this league so wonderful and successful. It is you that makes this league run smoothly, we're just here for logistical reasons. I hope to see each and every one of you back on the field in 2009! With so many different churchs, so many different individuals, this is the only league I can think of that has such unity. No matter what sport, may it be Softball, Basketball, Volleyball, or Golf, we all come together in one family.
As 2008 rapidly comes to a close, I have a word of encouragement. Remember to Live it Loud where ever you are. For most of us it's time to get back into reality with the bitter truth that there wont be any softball for a year. It's time to get back to our 9-5 jobs trying to make a living. For others, it may be time to go back to school, to gain knowledge in acquiring a good education. So take this chance to go out and make new friends, spread the gospel. wear those amazing CCU shirts and sweaters with pride. Be outgoing and friendly, who knows maybe you'll have the chance to share Christ with someone and making new friends along the way. Until next year, this is your webmaster signing off...
(Check back for monthly updates on CCU Softball and other encouraging notes!)
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Friday, August 8, 2008
Fellowship Guide 11
Live It Loud - August 10, 2008
Reaching Out
Ice Breaking:
1. Name & Occupation/Major.
2. Favorite group activity besides softball.
Discussion:
1. In a group setting, do you tend to stay within the center of attention or do you tend to put forth effort to include those who are left out? Briefly describe your personality which motivates you toward your tendencies.
Scripture 1:
9As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector's booth. "Follow me," he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.
10While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew's house, many tax collectors and "sinners" came and ate with him and his disciples. 11When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and 'sinners'?"
12On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 13But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.'[a] For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."
In the days of Jesus, tax collectors were hated by everyone because they were those who represented the government to collect taxes, but they would collect more than what was required of them, and then pocket the difference. Matthew was a tax collector. But Jesus had a meal with him.
Jesus sets many examples for us to Live It Loud by showing others that He plays the role of a doctor to heal the sick. He was a righteous man, and an honorable teacher, yet he chose to sit and socialize with tax collectors and "sinners” because he cared for them. He knew they needed guidance and therefore reached out to them.
Scripture 2:
12"What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? 13And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. 14In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost.
When you thought about those who might be left out in your social circle, or those who might have wandered off like the single sheep, will you stay behind with the 98 sheep? Or will you Live It Loud by following Jesus' examples to care for them and reach out to them? Let's pray.
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Fellowship Guide 10
FELLOWSHIP 10
Jars of Clay
2 Corinthians 4:7-10
“7But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.”
Opening
Break off into groups and have groups share about any major injuries they’ve experienced and the extent of it. Then bring it together by having volunteers share from their groups.
Applying the Word
Share verse 7. Ask why the Bible would compare our bodies to being like jars of clay. (weak, temporary, constantly being molded through life)
Relate physical injuries to things we’ve been through emotionally, spiritually and discuss how often these internal injuries are worse than getting injured physically. Share your own major trial or difficulty you have experienced in life.
Go through the rest of this passage, verses 7-10. Relate the words in passage - hard pressed, perplexed, persecuted to experiences we’ve gone through in describing our feelings during big trials in life. Emphasize contrasting statements in passage (pressed but not crushed, etc.) to relate things we’ve gone through to things we haven’t.
Lead up to the main point in the lesson of why we’re pressed but not crushed - power of God within us.
Briefly remind group of how Jesus came down from Heaven to be a sacrifice on the cross for our sins. He wasn’t guilty of anything but the weight of our sins was put on Him. When he died and was buried, did he stay dead? No! He proved He is God Himself because He rose from the dead! Not a sealed tomb or any soldiers or the power of death could contain His power and might. That same power and might exists in all people who believe in the Lord and have allowed Him to be King of their lives. That same resurrection power that raises the dead to life, that heals all sorts of diseases, that has the ability to forgive sins exists in all believers. Draw upon that power at all times, not just through hard times, and will witness glorious things only God is capable of.
Closing
Close with reminder of the Israelites and the Red Sea. In the Bible, it tells the history of the Israelites and how God delivered them from Egypt. As the Egyptians are chasing the Israelites down, the Israelites come to the Red Sea. On one side are mountains, in front of them is the Red Sea, behind them is the Egyptian army. From the looks of things the Israelites are as good as dead. But with the hand of God on their side, He goes and splits the Red Sea to allow His people to go across and then allows the sea to come down upon the Egyptians. Some of us may be going through things where we feel like we’re as good as dead and we look around to see our enemies coming behind us and we feel trapped. Remember that when God Almighty is on your side, He always will always be there.
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