This post was written by a single Mom from last week on the day of the big snowfall. The writing of it is superb. The theology profound, and the content stirs the soul. Check it out. (copied with permission.)


Dear Mark,

As I write this and reflect, the falling snow has hushed our busyness. Even the roads are quiet. The captivating white displays the expected Christmas attire associated with this holiday season. Yet as lovely and nostalgic as the winter wonderland is, it has little relevance to my Christmas contemplation. For on Sunday, the first Sunday of Advent - and the birthday of my middle son - Christmas came.

Just as Love became flesh and dwelt among us, so Love was amazingly demonstrated through the unconditional generosity of those who responded to your alternate "message" at the 9a Access this past Sunday. As one of the overwhelmed single moms who participated as a recipient, it seemed that the world's adaptation of Christmas - malls, obligatory lists, Santa, and anxiety - became remote and obscure as worshippers came forward to give: giving warm embraces, encouraging words, and money, expecting only that we receive their love. Teenagers came up simply to hug me; a woman walked directly to me and told me I was so beautiful, as if she knew I had struggled significantly this past year to recapture my true beauty in Christ. The year also shared financial strain, and as each person pressed money into my hand, God again was telling me to trust Him as the intimate Husband, Lover, Friend and Counselor He had become to me. Indeed, Sunday - in part - represented a culmination of my year's spiritual journey, affirmed in love by the body of CCC. For me, Sunday was a mysterious miracle, much like the first Christmas. Angels and dreams and a pregnant virgin. Gentile wise men kneeling before a Jewish child. An elderly couple having a baby, and lowly shepherds exalted before a King. And love being poured upon a handful of single mothers in Access. My awe and gratitude as I stood in tears in front of the service is easily likened to the wonderment I experience as I ponder the birth of Jesus.

When we arrived home, I called my sons into my bedroom, and re retold the story of what had occurred. As I dumped the money out on my bed, their eyes became moon pies of astonishment. It then struck me that the intended theme of your message - leaving a legacy - had been more powerfully conveyed to my family than perhaps your original script would have accomplished. Sunday provided my sons with a new legacy: I told them that today we celebrate Christmas, that today we would memorialize what happened at CCC - Love came down to us. I explained that we would retell this story on the first Sunday of Advent every year, and that they would tell their children the story of how a very real and present God demonstrated His love through His children, in whom resides the true meaning of Christmas.

The snow outside continues sketching a Christmas card illustration. But the memory of the 12/6/09 Access has painted an authentic and life-changing portrayal of what Christmas truly is. And I whisper in quiet gratitude with Mary:

"And my soul exalts the Lord. And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. For He has had regard for the humble state of his bondslave. For behold, from this time on, the generations of my sons will see His blessing (the legacy!). For the might one has done great things for me. Holy is His name...He has filled the hungry with good things. He has given help to His servant".

Gratefully,

Lisa Curry

Labels: CCC, events, Sermon

Dear Mark,

First I want to apologize for not writing and sending this sooner. But to be honest, I have been thinking a lot about what you did for the single mothers at church last Sunday and I just couldn't figure out the right words to tell you how much I appreciate and admire what you did. I was one of the single moms who went up to the front. The things that you said to us were so thoughtful and true. We all have a story and while our stories are different, they are also similar. But one thing is for sure, our focus is and always will be our children. I heard one of the single moms who was standing by me say that she had just prayed the night before about how she was going to be able to provide gifts for her children at Christmas. What you did was amazing and a "Thank you" isn't enough and that is why I have been struggling with the words to show you what an impression you made on everyone in church that day.

My boys and I are new to Christ Community. We started coming to CCC in May 2009. On our very first visit, it felt like "home". It was awesome how quick I knew that we were in the right place. I completed the PreMembership class and met several people from CCC who I continue to be good friends with. I was then invited to participate in the Point of Hope group for single moms. That has been such a wonderful experience. I can't say enough about the family I feel apart of at CCC. I am excited about how much I have grown spiritually in the last 7 months.

While I would like to give you a lot of credit for last Sunday, I cannot close this without mentioning the members of the audience that morning. The generosity that they showed is overwhelming. I made it a point to hug each and every person that came to support me. I hugged them and told them "Thank You" and I hope they know how much they changed my life.

I wanted to send you a picture of my boys so that you had a face to put with your message that day.

Please feel free to post this email and/or the pictures where ever you would like. And again, Thank you!

Kelly Randels

Labels: CCC, events, Sermon

This was a cool Sunday. People went out caroling to Seniors at retirement villages. The choir is preparing for a great outreach. The Lee Strobel event was announced. People asked tough questions at gathering. The connections service brought in massive amounts of gifts for Compass. The Access services saw lots of single moms have their financial prayers answered. This is the church. This is what we should be doing.

If you weren't in Access, God prompted me to suspend the message...and invite single moms to come to the front. We prayed for them and then I invited people to come forward to just give them money...cash...no organization, just give some dough to whomever God leads you to. And a few checks came as well. The women faced the crowd and tears welled up in their eyes. You could tell that they needed it and felt a touch from God through the body of Christ.

The givers were blessed too. Lots of tears throughout the gym. God was at work!

Here are some of the cool stories:
* A thirteen year old girl had recieved $100 from grandparents to spend on Christmas presents. At 10:45 she decided to pull it out and give it all to a single mom.
* A mom came up to me after the services with her three daughters. One of the daughters spouted out "one guy gave my mom a check for $1000!
* One single mom was facing legal challenges and immigration issues as well as normal single mom issues. God had provided for her a car and housing already this week and she was praying for $ for legal fees. God took care of her Sunday morning!

Do you have any other stories of praise to share? Feel free to post them anonymously (like the ones I wrote above) in response to this blog!

Labels: CCC, events

Here is the bio of Lee Strobel for those who may not be as familiar with him...copied from his website www.leestrobel.com. One point below is not quite true, though. Just a few weeks ago, Lee and Leslie moved from So. California to a suburb of Colorado Springs.

Atheist-turned-Christian Lee Strobel, the former award-winning legal editor of The Chicago Tribune, is a New York Times best-selling author of nearly twenty books and has been interviewed on numerous national television programs, including ABC’s 20/20, Fox News, and CNN.

Described by the Washington Post as “one of the evangelical community’s most popular apologists,” Lee shared the prestigious Charles “Kip” Jordon Christian Book of the Year award in 2005 for a curriculum he co-authored about the movie The Passion of the Christ. He also has won awards for his books The Case for Christ, The Case for Faith, The Case for a Creator, and Inside the Mind of Unchurched Harry and Mary.

Lee was educated at the University of Missouri (Bachelor of Journalism degree, 1974) and Yale Law School (Master of Studies in Law degree, 1979). He was a professional journalist for 14 years at The Chicago Tribune and other newspapers, winning Illinois’ top honors for investigative reporting (which he shared with a team he led) and public service journalism from United Press International.

After a nearly two-year investigation of the evidence for Jesus, Lee received Christ as his forgiver and leader in 1981. He joined the staff of Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, IL, in 1987, and later became a teaching pastor there. He joined Saddleback Valley Community Church in Lake Forest, CA, as a teaching pastor in 2000. He left Saddleback’s staff in mid-2002 to focus on writing. He is also a contributing editor and columnist for Outreach magazine.

Lee’s other books include God’s Outrageous Claims, The Case for Christmas, The Case for Easter, What Jesus Would Say, Exploring the Da Vinci Code (co-authored with Garry Poole) and Surviving a Spiritual Mismatch in Marriage, which he wrote with his wife, Leslie. For two seasons, Lee was executive producer and host of the weekly national network television program Faith Under Fire.

Lee is also co-author of the Becoming a Contagious Christian training curriculum, which is used around the world, and his articles have been published in a variety of magazines, including Discipleship Journal, Marriage Partnership, The Christian Research Journal, Guideposts, and Decision. He has appeared on such national radio programs as The Bible Answer Man and Focus on the Family. In addition, he has taught First Amendment law at Roosevelt University.

Lee and Leslie have been married for 33 years and live in Southern California. Their daughter, Alison, is novelist whose second book will be published in 2006 by WaterBrook Press, a division of Random House. Their son, Kyle, is currently earning his third master’s degree at the Talbot School of Theology; his first book is forthcoming from Baker Books.
liar with him...

Labels: CCC, events

I always looked forward to hearing Lee. During my seven years at Willow, there was a great lineup of outstanding speakers from around the nation, but I always looked forward to hearing the home-grown, hilarious, intelligent insider - Lee Strobel.

Since his time in the early 80's as an atheist, a skeptic, and the Legal Affairs editor for the Chicago Tribune, Lee has come a long way. First, a communications staff at Willow Creek. Then a teaching pastor. Now a world-renown author, researcher, and teacher. He is among the most sought-after speakers on the planet....and he is coming to Christ Community Church.

I want to plan to be here at Old Mill for a special service on Saturday, December 12, at 6pm or Sunday December 13 at 9 and 10:45. (Sarpy will be on the SAME Sunday schedule as Old Mill that week.)

But when you come, don't come alone. Come with a skeptical/seeking friend.

The bonus of this event is that Lee will be available for Q and A after second service at our 'Gathering' venue - 12:30 in the CCC student center. Bring your tough questions! Nothing out of bounds!

The other day, I was in the locker room at our fitness club and struck up a conversation with a guy I did not know and a guy from CCC. When conversation turned to spiritual things, we invited him to hear Lee Strobel. He said "I know that name...did he write a book?...did he write this book?" and he pulled out a copy of "The Case for Christ" from his gym bag. I don't totally know where he is spiritually, but I know he's coming to hear Lee Strobel on the 13th!

This is an opportunity that does not come around often. Lee's reputation makes invites easy. You can count on the message being excellent. Make the invitation! Lee will be speaking about Jesus in a message entitled "The Case for Christmas." You can pick up invitation cards at the church, or send an evite from our website.

Labels: CCC, events

Freshly redeemed lives. It makes my day. It makes my month. It makes my year.

I love seeing lives change. I love when someone moves from chains to freedom, from rebellion to worship. I love when someone discovers the awesome power of Jesus to make them new.

Nothing symbolizes this better than baptism. Baptism on the green happens on Sunday, June 28. It is my favorite event of the year because it is all about freshly redeemed lives. The party is at 5 on our soccer field, baptisms start at 6. Hamburgers, jazz band, and lots of freshly redeemed lives!

Whom have you invited to experience freedom and joy in Jesus lately?

Labels: Baptism, CCC, events