CCC Gainesville | Blog
If you’ve only read this verse in the context of eye black and football, you need to read this:
http://thecripplegate.com/i-can-do-all-things/
“Out of context, Philippians 4:13 is used as a blank-check promise for whatever is desired. But in context, it is a verse is about contentment. It’s not about your dreams coming true or your goals being met. Rather it’s about being joyful, satisfied, and steadfast even when life is hard and your circumstances seem impossible.”
If I could be so bold to also add, the verse is about not just being joyful and satisfied when life is hard, but also when life is easy, when everything is going your way. Paul says he’s learned the secret of being content in “plenty and want.” If we try to find meaning and happiness apart from God, we’re fighting a losing battle. It’s extraordinarily traumatic to accomplish all your goals and then realize you’re still not content. The ancient Greek historian Herodotus gets it right when he says, “Some say the bitterest sorrow a man can know is to aspire to do much and to do little. Not so. The bitterest sorrow a man can know is to aspire to do much, to do it, and then to discover it was not worth doing.” What can fill that void? Paul has a secret to tell you.
1. Middle School Laser Tag is Friday, November 11th from 6 to 8 PM at Splitz. The cost is $10 per person for laser tag. Extra $ is recommended to be sent with because the kids like to play arcade games as they wait for the next round of laser tag. There’s a snack bar also, so that’s up to parents if they want to send with $ for that as well.
2. High School Coast to Coast is Saturday, November 19th. We’re gonna meet at the church at 4:45 AM, pack into a van(s), drive to the east coast of Florida and watch the sunrise. After that we’ll have some fun, secret stops along the way as we make our way the whole way across the state to watch the sunset on the west coast of Florida. We’ll be back to Gville by 9 PM. The cost of this fun event is $25 per person to help cover the cost of transportation and food. Breakfast and dinner will be provided, but youth would need to bring a sandwich for lunch. The deadline to sign-up for this is Tuesday, November 15th.
Hey, Middle Schoolers! This Saturday, October 22nd is the Great Pumpkin Race. It’s from 3 to 7 PM. We’ll meet at the church, split you into teams, load into vehicles, and take off on a treasure hunt full of mystery, adventure, and challenges. Do you think you have what it takes to win?
Invite a friend. After finishing the race, we’ll celebrate with pizza.
1st stop – Moe’s for a drink, chips, and queso
2nd stop – Subway for a 6 inch sub
3rd stop – Dairy Queen for ice cream
“5 ways to make your kids hate church” – read it here
Here’s a sneak peek:
1. Make sure your faith is only something you live out in public
2. Pray only in front of people
3. Focus on your morals
4. Give financially as long as it doesn’t impede your needs
5. Make church community a priority… as long as there is nothing else you want to do.
Next article to read – “Why Youth Stay in Church When They Grow Up” – read it here
Here’s a sneak peek:
1. They are converted.
2. They have been equipped, not entertained.
3. Their parents preach the gospel to them.
“This is not a formula! Kids from wonderful gospel-centered homes leave the church; people from messed-up family backgrounds find eternal life in Jesus and have beautiful marriages and families. But it’s also not a crap-shoot. In general, children who are led in their faith during their growing-up years by parents who love Jesus vibrantly, serve their church actively, and saturate their home with the gospel completely, grow up to love Jesus and the church. The words of Proverbs 22:6 do not constitute a formula that is true 100 percent of the time, but they do provide us with a principle that comes from the gracious plan of God, the God who delights to see his gracious Word passed from generation to generation: “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.”
“Youth pastors, pray with all your might for true conversion; that is God’s work. Equip the saints for the work of the ministry; that is your work. Parents, preach the gospel and live the gospel for your children; our work depends on you.”
