Service & Worship

On Saturday, April 28th, CF is participating in CareFest with three other Wheaton churches. This is an opportunity to be the hands and feet of Jesus to our community. Wheather you have specific skills such as painting or just a willing spirit, you can volunteer to give your time to help an individual or a non-profit organization for one day or even half a day. Please contact Renee Pollino - rlpollino@yahoo.com to volunteer or inquire. Or double your fun by volunteering with a friend.

Beginning Saturday, June 9th, CF will be offering a new 3rd worship service designed and targeted for college students and young adults. This interactive service will be held in the CF lobby at 5:00 - 6:30 p.m on Saturdays. The staff, elders and myself are very excited about this new ministry. Will you partner with us in prayer for the planning and implementation of this new 3rd service? Kevin Sampson and Pastor Dave will be the primary teachers with Mitchel Lee leading the music.

The spring semester is more than half over. Continue to be diligent and persistant in your studies. All your hard work will pay off. Remember to keep your relationship with God a priority. He is our Hope and our Purpose.
Blessings,
Diane

missions opportunity

Are you looking for a missions opportunity for this summer? CF is returning to the Czech Republic July 8 -26, 2007. We are looking for some college students to join the team of high school upper classmen that will be going.
Perhaps you went on a missions trip when you were in high school. Do you remember the impact it had on you? Did you see God's hand at work on your behalf as He provided the funding and support for you to go? Were you aware of God working in you and through you as you served in His name? Of course, God can and does do all these things for us every day right where we are, but for some reason when we are in a new situation we find ourselves depending on Him even more. That was my experience when I served at Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota. I learned a lot about the Native American culture and about myself.
Have you got a missions experience story to share with us? There is a link for the Czech trip application. If you are interested, let me know ASAP. The deadline for high school student apps is tomorrow, but college students have a few more weeks. BTW, I am going to the Czech!

A Devastating Truth

I received this article in a World Vision newsletter. So sad... Check it out. What does it make you feel?



An's Story

new study

The book of Acts will be our focus as we consider the topics of
Relationships, Community, and Cultural Impact.
We will be meeting on Wednesday evenings at 7 p.m. starting this week, Jan. 31st through March 7th at Jess Hollingsworth's home, 1107 Shady Lane, in Wheaton.
I look forward to seeing you at Jess'. Come with a friend.

Directions: From the corner of Geneva Rd. and President Street in Wheaton. Go south on President. Turn left onto Prairie, then right onto Stoddard and right onto Shady Lane.

Do you need a ride?

Please also pray for this ministry as we pray and think ahead to this summer and service opportunities.

The Power of Media

Hey everyone,

I'm thinking through some ways to expose our church and students to the plight of the world's poor and sick. What better way than through movies?

Can you help me compile a list of "must-see" movies that increase our awareness and move our hearts? They don't necessarily have to be social justice movies, nor do they need to be documentaries. I'm looking for movies that expand our perspective on the world.

Here's what I've put down:

• Blood Diamond - great movie about diamond trafficking, human enslavement, and child soldiers
• Hotel Rwanda - movie about fighting between tribes in Rwanda
• Born into Brothels - documentary about children in prostitution district of India
• Tears of the Sun - action movie about genocide in Africa

Anything else that anyone can add?

URBANA Reflections...

Well, I've had a whole day and a half to reflect on Urbana, and I wanted to give you a glimpse of this life-changing event.

I had the privilege and honor (THANK YOU, CF Mission team) to join 10 other people from CF and 22,000 other college-aged, missions-minded, people from 144 nations! We sang in English, Spanish, French, Korean, and even Haitian creole. Most of the mornings were spent studying the book of Ephesians together, and our guys happened into a morning Bible study on the theme of urban poverty and slums.

To make a long story short, I don't know how I can go back to status quo ministry. I've been waiting, praying, and seeking the Lord for a vision for our college ministry. I wanted our fellowship to be more than just a bunch of students coming together and reliving their youth ministry experiences or just being a meat-market to meet some people. I was stuck for a while as I thought about what the Lord has specifically for CF college students. And now, I believe that the Lord is beginning to reveal the unique opportunity we have before us.

I can't go back to ministry about t-shirts and thoughtful Bible studies intended to increase our head knowledge - not when there is a world out there dying of AIDS, living on nothing, living for nothing. I don't think I could live with ministry that just seeks to help college students avoid having sex; not party; get a good job; and make the most of the American dream.

I believe more than ever that God has specially positioned this generation of college students and particularly this generation of CF college students to make a mark on the world by fighting for justice, amplifying the voices of the oppressed, and living out faith in compassion and mercy. I truly believe what I have always said: "True COMPASSION for people can only flow from PASSION for God."

James says it best, "Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world."

To that end, I'd like to suggest we alter the purpose of this blog. I'd like you to post via comments your ideas, your passions, your dreams, your prayers. How can we as a fellowship of college-minded Christians humbly work to raise awareness in the generation above us (our parents), and the generation already coming behind us (junior highers, senior highers)?

How can we mobilize ourselves and our generation to respond!? What are the opportunities we have right herein Chicagoland? What have you seen on your campuses? Report in and let's actively pray and see what God brings to our eyes.

So let the new chapter begin...

News

Our I Peter study is continuing on Wednesday evenings at 7 p.m. through Nov. 15th
The Hollingsworths are wonderful hosts. You are welcome.

Dec. 9th The Formal Christmas Progressive Dinner.
Here is how it works. You sign up. Dress up.(Formalish wear) Everyone meets at the church.
We will divide into groups of 7. As a group you drive to your 1st stop - An appetizer, then you drive to stop #2 - a soup or salad, drive to stop #3 - the main course, drive back to the church where all groups will meet for dessert and fun. All of the stops will be at homes of CF families.
You also need to bring a "white elephant" for the gift exchange.
Everyone must sign up with Diane by Dec. 3rd.

We had 17 students at our Oct. 21st Dodgeball and Dinner event. We will do this again.

Adoption: We have connected 2 students with CF families. More families have indicated an interest in the program. Are there more students who would be interested in a little extra prayer and care?

Blessings,
Diane

I Peter

Announcing a 4 week Bible study on I Peter.
Beginning this Wednesday, Oct. 25th, 7 - 8:30 p.m.
At 1107 Shady Lane, Wheaton (this is less than 1 mile from Fischer Dorm)

Reflect on this:
1. What might God want to teach me through this study?
2. Who might God want me to meet at this study?
3. Who might God want me to encourage at this study?
4. How might God challenge me through this study?

Directions: From the corner of President St. and College Ave
go north on President, go to the 2nd street past Harrison.
Turn right onto E. Prairie, turn right onto Stoddard, turn right again
onto Shady Lane. 1107 is straight ahead at the end of the cul-de-sac.
The Hollingsworth home is a brown and white English Tudor.

CF College Ministry

CF College Ministry
Hello Students,
Just want to inform you of some stuff we are planning.

1. Dodgeball and Dinner this Saturday, Oct. 21st
6 - 8:30 p.m. at the CF gym

2. A 4 week Bible study on Wednesday evenings, Oct. 25th - Nov. 15th

3. Urbana06 - a student missions convention in St.Louis, Mo Dec. 27 -31

Here are some other events we hope to do:
1. A formal Progressive Dinner on Dec. 2
2. A weekend winter retreat in late Jan.
3. A Superbowl party
4. Another Dodgeball & Dinner in Feb or March

We would like to hear your opinion on these events.

Diane

Where my ladies at???

Thank you to all who made last night such a meaningful time of sharing and insight. Piper's Book brought us to discuss the notion that TO RISK ONE'S LIFE & LOSE IT is BETTER THAN TO WASTE IT.

We talked about risking our lives for the sake of Christ and what God could be calling us to risk in. It's important that we distinguish this idea from just our fears and uncertainties. Life is full of them no doubt, but to risk one's life is to know that God is calling us to something that will cost us and could perhaps cause us to suffer, be rejected, be faced with discomfort, etc. In the words of Queen Esther, it is the attitude that "If I perish, I perish."

But what would cause such an attitude to arise? Scripture teaches us (especially in Matthew 13) that it is nothing less than a complete valuing and cherishing of Christ and the kingdom of God. It is to say with the Psalmist, "Your love is better than life." You must see the kingdom as worthy of your life if you're going to risk something for it. Just like you must find that girl of your dreams so completely worth it that you're willing to risk anything to be with her.

I suppose we all know what it means to risk when we find something that is truly worth taking the risk over. It's sad that for many of us we don't even entertain the notion of risk when it comes to the cause of making Christ known.

I wonder how many of us have ever uttered words similar to David Brainerd.

When I really enjoy God, I feel my desires of Him the more insatiable, and my thirstings after holiness the more unquenchable...Oh for holiness! Oh, for more of God in my soul! Oh this pleasing pain! It makes my soul press after God...Oh, that I may feel this continual hunger, and not be retarded, but rather animated by every "cluster from Canaan" - to reach forward in the narrow way, for the full enjoyment and possession of the heavenly inheritance. Oh that I might never loiter in my heavenly journey!


Brainerd died at the age of 29 from tuberculosis. But how he absolutely longed for the things of God. He risked everything and gained everything. May the worth of Christ shine brilliantly in our hearts today.

On another note, thanks to all the ladies who continue to come out faithfully and despite the length of time between gatherings, truly make an effort to engage, fellowship, and participate in each other's lives. As we concluded last night in prayer, it was particularly meaningful to me to hear us praying for one another sincerely. And not only for those who were present, but those who were absent as well. Even though Howard and I were the only guys, I counted it a privilege to be in the company of godly women who love the Lord and are commited to His cause. You ladies put us to shame, and I would have it no other way! You rock!

It's all about...?

My wife, Matt B, and I spent last week working with middle school and high school students at a golf camp. The theme was, "For the Glory". It was an interesting experience because it forced me to contemplate God's glory while at the same time being constantly exposed to that thing that most competes for God's glory in my life. No, not golf, but everything that golf represents.

You see, for me golf represents comfort, luxury, money, pride, everything that could keep me tied down to this life (and this place) in an unhealthy manner. I'm not saying that golf is inherently sinful, but rather that it is a symbol of the fight that I must wage against the various messages thrown in my direction.

In his book, The Odyssey, Homer describes one particular challenge that Odysseus and his men faced - the Sirens. In his book, the goddess Circe warns the hero of the peril of these creatures.

First you will come to the Sirens
who enchant all who come near them. If any one unwarily draws in too
close and hears the singing of the Sirens, his wife and children
will never welcome him home again, for they sit in a green field and
warble him to death with the sweetness of their song. There is a great
heap of dead men's bones lying all around, with the flesh still
rotting off them. Therefore pass these Sirens by, and stop your
men's ears with wax that none of them may hear; but if you like you
can listen yourself, for you may get the men to bind you as you
stand upright on a cross-piece half way up the mast, and they must
lash the rope's ends to the mast itself, that you may have the
pleasure of listening. If you beg and pray the men to unloose you,
then they must bind you faster.

It seems that Homer has a great illustration for the Christian life. We are all on our way to eternity. Either everlasting beauty or eternal destruction as C.S. Lewis puts it. The dangerous thing is that the Sirens of our day sing their songs, and I buy into it with reckless abandon. Much to my peril, I miss out on what is truly precious and lasting only to exchange it for Hollister, Titleist, XBOX, sex, BMW, ___________________ (Fill in the blank).

As we continue to reflect upon what it means to not waste a life, may we recognize the Siren songs that entice us, and may we be bound to the Rock of Ages by the ropes of His unending grace.

CF College Ministry

CF College Ministry

For those of you just checking out our blog, our next meetings are on July 6, July 20, and August 3 at Diane Sergeant's house. Directions:

Here are directions to my house via parking at Pleasant Hill Community Church (PHCC). PHCC is located on Geneva Road between County Farm Rd. and Pleasant Hill Rd.

The church is on the south side of the street. Park at the rear of their parking lot and walk across the grass to the second yard (swing set and green yard shed). Enter through the screen porch. We have official permission to park here and walk across the pastor's yard.

If you wish to drive around to the front of our house and park in our driveway or on the street, turn south on Pleasant Hill and go to the first street. Turn right on Marion and stay on it as it wiggles and then turns a sharp left curve and up a hill. We are at the top of the hill on the right. The PHCC parsonage is on the curve and we are next. Our address is 0N748 Peter Rd. Marion becomes Peter at the curve.

We meet from 7-9 pm. If you have any questions, contact Diane at 665.0495

Apples to Apples...

The adjective: "GLORIOUS"

The nouns: "MY JOY" "GOD'S EXCELLENCE" "SATISFACTION"

What do the nouns have in common with the adjective? We learned last night that God is most fully glorified in me when I set my fullest satisfaction in Him. God does EVERYTHING for His glory. His love for me is centered on the desire to glorify Himself through and in me.

How does this work? We were created to glorify God, and when we do the thing we were created to do, we find the fullest satisfaction. God receives the most glory in me when I am fully satisfied by all that He is.

The thought came to me last night as I was driving home that no matter how beautiful and glorious creation might seem, it does not compare to God's glory in the person and work of Jesus Christ. God's glory doesn't get any more glorious than in Jesus. In fact, through Him, for Him, and by Him, all things were created!!! Jesus is the climax of God's glory, the fullest manifestation of everything that is glorious about our God is in Him. He's more than just the sacrificial lamb - the knowledge of the glory of God is in its fullness in the face of Jesus Christ. Try saying that five times fast!

The question that impacted me the most last night was "What makes God glorious?" This is the question that I want to devote my entire life to answering not just intellectually, but also experientially. So how about them apples?

- Mitchel