CCC blog

CCC Hiring Web Manager

cccomaha — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 17:08:54 +0000

Christ Community Church is looking for a creative and detail-oriented Web Manager to manage the cccomaha.org website, develop microsites, provide ministry tools and work in a variety of back-end systems. All interested applicants should be willing to attend Christ Community Church.

For more detailed information, visit cccomaha.org/webmanager.

CCC gifts to the Mali hospital making a difference

Craig Walter — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 15:51:18 +0000

This past March many of you donated money to CCC’s hospital in the city of Koutiala, Mali through our Mission’s Catalog. Those gifts are life-giving for the women and children served at the hospital. Here are some of there stories as told by Dr. Brett MacLean, the leading Pediatrician at the hospital.

First is Abdoulaye who has what we refer to as “wasting illness” which he was infected with years ago while receiving a blood transfusion in Ivory Coast. You can see his remarkable improvement once we were able to diagnose him and start treatment. Donations from CCC are helping children such as Abdoulaye by purchasing the medicines he needs but cannot otherwise afford.

Next is Alou who has a severe kidney illness that did not respond to any initial therapy. Due to the lack of function of his kidneys his body was so swollen with fluid that he could no longer see. He also had a stroke due to this illness. Thankfully we were able to start him on medicine that saved his kidneys and now allowed him to fully recover and lead a normal life while continuing to take his daily medication.

After his stroke, he limped for about 6 months but little by little regained full function of his left side. You can see from his current picture how well he is doing and how happy his father is with his treatment. While in a coma for over a week, we had told Alou’s father that it was not likely that he would survive. What a difference now!

Fatoumata came to us 3 years ago having wasted away and barely conscious. She was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes and improved rapidly once she started her daily insulin shots. She decided to become a follower of Christ during her stay with us in the hospital and asked that we call her Elizabeth now. Having never attended 1 day of school in her life, we were able to help send her to a Christian school for teenage girls to learn how to read and write and follow the Lord. She now can read her Bible every day and better understands what it means to follow Christ. She has grown into a young woman before our eyes.

The medicines provided by CCC recently are helping other young girls and boys by providing the money for insulin shots.

Each month we provide formula to 25 – 30 babies whose mothers have died after their birth. In addition there are always a few more whose mothers can’t produce breast milk or who have a medical condition preventing breastfeeding. Madou is a great example here of a child whose mother passed away during childbirth and who would have certainly joined his mother in the grave if not for the formula we were able to provide. It is so sad to look at how many women continue to die in Mali during childbirth due to delivering at home or at unequipped health centers, but we are thankful to make an impact on the child left behind and bring joy to the grieving family.

CCC’s children’s ministry recently raised money to provide formula for babies such as Madou. Truly a life-giving donation!

Ruthie is one of our over 100 patients with sickle cell disease. In the United States we fail to realize that in Africa sickle cell disease is usually fatal before the age of 5 years. Ruthie has the more severe form of sickle cell and her parents have lost 3 of her older siblings to the illness prior to the opening of our pediatric sickle cell center. Without the current medication that we are able to provide for Ruthie she would not be able to survive either but as you can see from her photo she is doing terrifically well.

Thank you to each and every one of you that has given and prayed for our work at the Koutiala Hospital and for this special donation which remembers these children with chronic, usually lifelong, needs. We are encouraged as well to know that these little ones are not being forgotten and the Christ is receiving the glory for all that is done.

Your fellow servants,

Brett and Sheri MacLean

God, I Have a Question / Jesus is with you in your pain {Video}

Staff — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 21:38:24 +0000

Lead Pastor Mark shares what the simple verse “Jesus wept.” (John 11:35) means for us today.

Watch God, I Have a Question services live at the Online Campus. Sundays at 9 & 10:45 AM CST, and Wednesdays at 6:30 PM CST.

God, I Have a Question / God is not the author of evil and pain {Video}

Staff — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 21:27:43 +0000

Lead Pastor Mark explains the reasons that bad things happen and what it reveals about our world.

Watch God, I Have a Question services live at the Online Campus. Sundays at 9 & 10:45 AM CST, and Wednesdays at 6:30 PM CST.

How’d we get here?

Tim Perry — Sun, 07 Apr 2013 13:03:12 +0000

Take a minute and read the following statements. If you’re like me, you’ll be puzzled to notice the trajectory of the Bible’s theology of men and women and how far afield our second century Church father was with his message:

So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. Gen 1:27

- Moses, ca 1440 BC

Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace. Mark 5:34

- Jesus, ca 28 AD

There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Gal 3:28

- Paul, ca 50 AD

You are the devil’s gateway. You are she who destroyed so easily God’s image, man. On account of you the Son of God had to die.

- Tertullian, 197 AD On the Apparel of Women

It would be one thing if Tertullian were some heretic preaching his own radical brand of misogyny, but this is Tertullian! Tertullian, formulator of the doctrine of the Trinity! And while very few people inside the church (or out for that matter) could tell you anything significant about Tertullian, his theology of gender has ripped through church history shaping contemporary evangelicalism far more than we’d want to admit.

This Friday at Gathering, Cheryl and I will be dealing with the tough question of women and Christianity. It’s a question that you don’t have to pry very hard around to rouse a lot of strong feelings – from women and men. How could a faith that is in it’s theology so pro-female, have such the opposite reputation in the modern world?

Come join in the discussion as we open this potentially dangerous can of worms at Gathering. Check out the details on the newsfeed or hit on this link to the Gathering info page on our website.

Check us out on Facebook as well!

Easter / Baggage {Video}

Staff — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 15:48:34 +0000

Lead Pastor Mark shares how Jesus broke the rule of having to carry your own baggage on Easter.

Watch Nexus services live at the Online Campus. Sundays at 9 & 10:45 AM CST, and Wednesdays at 6:30 PM CST.

Easter / Sum of Your DNA and Experiences {Video}

Staff — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 15:46:49 +0000

Lead Pastor Mark shares how Jesus broke the rule that your are the sum of your DNA and experiences on Easter.

Watch services live at the Online Campus. Sundays at 9 & 10:45 AM CST, and Wednesdays at 6:30 PM CST.

Easter / YOLO {Video}

Staff — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 15:44:18 +0000

Lead Pastor Mark shares how Jesus broke the “YOLO” rule on Easter.

Watch services live at the Online Campus. Sundays at 9 & 10:45 AM CST, and Wednesdays at 6:30 PM CST.

Nexus / Non-violent Resistance {Video}

Staff — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 17:22:16 +0000

In this clip, Lead Pastor Mark shares how Leo Tolstoy’s book “Resurrection” helped shape the course of human history by way of non-violent resistance.

Join CCC for Easter live at the Online Campus. For more information on Easter at CCC, visit our Easter page.

Nexus / Artwork {Video}

Staff — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 14:52:31 +0000

In this clip, Lead Pastor Mark explains the influence the cross has had on artwork throughout history.

Join CCC for Easter live at the Online Campus. For more information on Easter at CCC, visit our Easter page.

Fellow cancer patient led me to Christ.

Tim Perry — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 20:56:00 +0000

I met Deannie, a lover of Jesus and Christ Community Church worshiper, at my first chemo session November of 2008. Both of us had been diagnosed with breast cancer in September and both of us were patients of the same Oncologist. Chemo sessions are long and we soon discovered several common aspects of our lives. During one session, Deannie boldly asked me if I had faith and I said “not yet” without realizing what I had just said. We know now that our meeting was divinely arranged.

On May 12, 2009, sitting in Deannie’s kitchen, I asked Jesus into my life. Deannie led the prayer to God that has changed my life. I feel truly blessed, at peace and I feel that he is constantly watching over me. I continually study His Word and was baptized last June; my journey to grow deeper in Christ continues….

- Carol

White Bible with my name in gold letters.

Tim Perry — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 20:52:56 +0000

I became a Christian one summer at Bible school. I was in 6th grade. I prayed with my teacher and accepted Jesus as my Savior. My parents gave me a white Bible with my name in gold letters on it. I started going to Bible Study on Wednesday nights. Many years passed and I’m going to a Bible study every Monday night. It is a very good study and teaches daily Bible study and prayer.

Now it’s 2011 and I’m still studying my Bible, but I’m so tired [depressed] and don’t get up to go to church anymore. My husband still goes every Sunday. Finally I begin to go again. My husband suggests that we should go to a Journey Group.We did that and now are eager to get to church and meet with our friends to worship our LORD. Every day I walk with Jesus! My devotional is Jesus Calling and it helps me stay close to Jesus.

- Velma

My church taught nothing about a relationship with Jesus.

Tim Perry — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 20:49:15 +0000

All of my life I attended church, taught Sunday School, but always felt

empty. In 1992 I was listening to Charles Stanley and realized what was

missing was Jesus. I accepted Him into my life as Lord & Savior &

immediately felt changed. My church taught nothing about a relationship

with Jesus, so I floated along. Some time later this restless feeling came

over me and would not leave. Finally I asked God what was wrong

with me. He let me know I was to leave that church and He showed me the

church where He wanted me to be. Ever since, my relationship with Jesus

has become the most important part of my life, not because of the “church”

but because of the teaching. 4 years ago I moved to Omaha and attend CCC.

I am truly blessed.

- Judy

Alcoholic Dad, Domineering Mom

Tim Perry — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 20:16:20 +0000

I grew up in a very traditional Catholic Italian/ German family. My dad was an alcoholic and my mom was very domineering. We were a very religious family. My sister was a nun and my uncle a priest. Every morning before school began, our class would start our day going to mass. As I looked around, I often thought and felt how dead these people were and this place was. I felt very alone, depressed and empty. I began to question.

On the weekends we would go to our cabin in the country. It was there that I think I first encountered God. I would go up on a hill back some distance behind the cabin where I would lay in the tall grass and look up in the sky and marvel at the clouds. I often wondered who this God was that made this vast sky. I would spend what seemed like forever looking and wondering. I didn’t want to come back down from my “mountain experience”. There was such a peace and serenity that I felt. Life continued on and I was a freshman at UNO.

In biology class as a student at UNO, a girl I had never seen before came up to me and asked me if I would like to study with her. I agreed. About three months into our friendship she began to share about Jesus. At that time on the weekends we would go to a coffee house called the “Eklesia” where college aged kids would meet together to play music, sing and listen to the gospel message. I knew something was missing in my life and I continued to wonder and think about things.

One weekend a group of us went to a christian concert up in Blair, NE. After the gospel message an invitation was given. I prayer along in prayer asking to receive Christ. I wasn’t certain if anything really had happened but when I returned home everything seemed different. As time went on it seemed that I couldn’t get enough of the bible. All I wanted to do was read the word. The teachings became alive to me and I was understanding the truths of scripture and identifying with them. All I wanted to do was be with others who knew the Jesus I knew and to talk about him. Jesus was my all in all. When you meet Jesus you are never the same. I knew that my life had changed forever.

- Janet

Came across a letter from my grandpa!

Tim Perry — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 20:13:13 +0000

I grew up in a Christian home in a small town, but never really understood grace. I was baptized as a teenager out of obedience but I didn’t really understand what it meant to follow Jesus.

My grandpa wrote me a letter before he passed away, part of it was about making the Bible a daily part of my life – I read it at the time and said “that sounds like grandpa!” and forgot about it. A few years later I came across the letter and decided to give it a shot – all of a sudden the Jesus I heard about as a kid and read about in the scriptures was REAL! I had a friend at work that would speak the Good News to me everyday, and soon I got on my knees and sincerely gave my life to the true King.

I discovered life wasn’t about me!

Tim Perry — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 20:04:39 +0000

At a young age I accepted Jesus into my heart at an altar call in my home church. In my teen years life was full of fun & everything seemed to be good. That is, everything was fine as long as it had to do with me. It wasn’t until later on in life I finally discovered that it wasn’t about me. I started drawing myself closer to the Lord. Thanks to much needed prayer, I found that I couldn’t do it on my own & very much sought out Jesus to take control of everything. My relationship with him is growing at a rapid pace each day. I live day by day in reference to Proverbs 3: 5&6

-Roger

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. (Pro 3:5-6 NIV)

Lost Daughter

Tim Perry — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 19:50:59 +0000

My family was considered the “perfect family” at church. I deeply loved Jesus. However, I cannot say I had a relationship with Jesus. As I grew older I still loved God, but I became selfish and made some bad choices. Just like the Lost Son, I wanted to do things my way. It all culminated with me becoming a single mom in 2008. After her birth, I started church shopping and found CCC. I learned about a relationship with Jesus, and His love and forgiveness. I obeyed him, and was baptized as a believer in December 2011.

- Danielle

Something was missing

Tim Perry — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 19:45:27 +0000

I always knew something was missing in my life. As a child I felt unwanted – like a failure even though I had loving parents, Grandparents and extended family.

I was introduced to the Bible at a Grandmothers funeral as a sixth grader. It was then I began to receive a David C. Cook paper and realized what I was missing. I received and cherished an I AM HIS ring. I really felt loved, even though I knew my parents and Grand parents loved me. It was a different kind of love. A deep love!

My parents were raised in the “Church” and supported the Church but did not attend. I know without a doubt, it was the prayers of Grandparents that opened the doors to Christ in my life. They were all deceased before my walk started. My parents later started attending Church. I am still praying for my brother and three of my Grandchildren, knowing those prayers will be answered.

- Carol

Loved God and prayed often…

Tim Perry — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 18:28:27 +0000

I was not raised going to church. I was however given a bible and invited to church as a child by very kind, Christian people. I loved GOD and prayed to him often as a child. As an adult I have relied on Jesus during many difficult times. My faith has gotten stronger over the years. Every time I have been in a place of pain or distress I pray to Jesus and talk with him about what is going on. I always feel comforted after these talks. I think of my life as a continuing walk with Jesus.

- Brenda

Life just hurt too much!

Tim Perry — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 18:16:00 +0000

I accepted the Lord in the mid-70′s. I had little self-worth back then, and was also going through a divorce. Life just hurt too much, so on one particularly hard night I decided to overdose on some pills. But minutes after I took the pills I realized that I really didn’t want to die …I just wanted relief from an unhappy life. So I “chickened-out”, called 911, and wound up in a hospital. It was there that I surrendered my life to God. And within a few months God had me pointed in a new direction — to new friends and a new life.

I’ve skipped over a lot of details — details that dovetail way too well to be just chance. That’s why I believe God’s hand was in this!

-Thomas

180 (degrees)

Tim Perry — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 18:09:25 +0000

I was nine. Life got painful. I tried manage on my own. Twenty years later….two decades enslaved to compulsive overeating, anorexia and nearly debilitating depression. One decade enslaved to drug use and drug dealing, repeated emotional trauma due to sexual relationships with both men & women.

I was weak, starving, cold, trapped, exposed, vulnerable, insecure, and so sad. Without hope. Alone.

Then Mom invited me to do a Bible study about Jesus. I MET Him & shockingly understood His beautiful heart open wide for me, I’ve loved Him from that moment on. With Jesus = love, peace and AWESOME JOY.

- Valerie

My best friend died in high school.

Tim Perry — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 18:05:55 +0000

As far back as I can remember Christianity has been a part of my life. I grew up in a supportive church and was blessed to have very Godly parents who were able to introduce me to Jesus at the age of 7. However, it wasn’t till the summer of my 7th grade year at a youth camp where I really felt my faith become my own. My best friend died in high school. I went through a time of really questioning my faith and what I knew about God. I attended a Christian college where the first few years I kind of struggled to find my identity. Through the whole college process I met some great Christian friends and mentors who kept me accountable and helped me grow in my faith. Since then I have had my ups and downs, but God continues to work in my life each day. I am currently just trying to discover and enjoy the plans he has in store for my life.

Aaron

Crooked path made straight

Tim Perry — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 17:57:28 +0000

I remember the day I asked Jesus into my heart like it was yesterday. It was a warm summer day and my mom led me in the prayer that would save my life. I was only 7 but I remember understanding what I had done however I did not know what to do with it. At age 35 I finally began to figure it out. I was invited to a bible study at CCC. I began a walk that would strengthen my heart, deepen my relationship with my Lord and set my path straight. I did not realize at the time that God would take the next 5 years to set my feet upon the rock so that when the rains came down I would be standing on solid ground. I am so thankful that I placed my trust in Him, I love Him so.

- Julie

Sitting in a tree reading my Bible.

Tim Perry — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 17:52:53 +0000

Growing up, I knew all the Bible stories. My biggest question was whether God existed. I turned 12 and was still questioning God’s existence. Like every summer before, I went to our church camp on a beautiful river. One afternoon during quiet hour, I was sitting in a tree reading the Bible. Suddenly, all of creation…the trees, the river, the clouds, the warm sun, the birds, the gentle breeze…all shouted to me proclaiming the one true creator, the God of the Bible, and I believed. With my doubt about God gone, accepting Jesus’ salvation was an easy, joyful next step.

- Tom

I was very angry!

Tim Perry — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 17:49:04 +0000

As a child, we rarely went to church. After I married, I suddenly had an unexplained urge to attend church again. Simultaneously, God surrounded me with Christians. One in particular confronted me and told me that I needed to ask God for forgiveness. I didn’t think that any of my sins needed forgiving. I was a good person, so of course I was going to heaven. I was very angry, but that anger triggered me to join my first bible study and find out the truth for myself. Through Christ I finally found the hope and peace I was looking for. That hope has guided me through many difficult trials over the last 15 years.

-Missy

I felt like trash God was going to dispose of someday!

Tim Perry — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 21:02:08 +0000

While dating my bride I felt contemptible to her parents. I felt like trash that God would

just dispose of one day to the grave. I was so frightened of dying I would wake in the night

to panic. But instead of disdain I found love with my bride, genuine acceptance from her

parents and discovered the source of their kindness was through Jesus. Because of that

consequence I accepted the ways of Jesus and ultimately surrendered the anger in my heart

for all the injustices I felt. Today I no longer fear death but welcome it as my pathway to Paradise.

- Michael

Religion or Relationship

Tim Perry — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 14:23:05 +0000

I grew up in the church. I knew of Christ and the commandments. In the early 1980′s my family had a series of challenges. During this time we moved a couple of times. That lead to meeting new friends. One of those new friends invited me to a youth group and it was in this youth group that I learned of relationship and that it was possible to have a relationship with Jesus! I started to understand that forgiveness was more than words and that there is no way to keep the law perfectly. One Wednesday night I responded to an alter call and gave my life to Jesus. I still struggle with fear, worry, doubt and trials from time to time, but Jesus is always there just a whisper away.

-Dee

The Bottle was Empty / My Wife Knew Christ but I Didn’t

Tim Perry — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 13:58:04 +0000

I was spending a lot of time drinking and smoking and needed a change. My family continued to stand by my side through my addictions, but I couldn’t do this anymore to my body or my family and I needed a change. My wife had always had a great relationship with Christ, but I never knew him. She asked if I would be interested in seeing if he was what I needed. After coming to Christ Community, I have built a strong relationship for my Savior. I have been saved and I look forward to waking up each morning to thank the Lord first and the last when I go to bed at night. This past December, my daughter, Olivia and I, were baptized during service. It’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me and my family.

-Trevor

Got caught up in the pleasures of the world.

Tim Perry — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 13:44:27 +0000

I grew up in a Christian, church-going home, but I never really understood it all until college. I stopped going to church for a while and got caught up in the pleasures of the world. I grew very depressed and realized I needed to get back to my roots. I knew I needed to live a life for Jesus to feel complete. I started going to church because I wanted to, really studying the Bible for myself. I began to truly understand the grace of God. It grew into an all-consuming passion to know Him more each passing day, living my life for Him.

-Stacy

Enough!

Tim Perry — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 13:38:27 +0000

The time has come where enough was enough. I was in the middle of my senior year of college worrying constantly about what I thought was the most important thing in the world… baseball. Was I going to start or sit the bench. Wow! were my priorities screwed up.

I remember one night deciding not worry anymore. That night I was going to pray and let God’s will be done in the matter and enjoy the moment. When I decided to let my mind relax, and realize that He was in control, I never worried again and he blessed me with the greatest season of my career. I have been able to use that experience as a witnessing tool. Thank you Jesus for your patience and love for us shallow people!

-Seth