obligatory CCF entry

When I first sat down to write this entry, I intended to jump on the bandwagon and critique CCF. But as I began to write, it just felt wrong. We don't need another entry about how CCF is broken; or rather, that the people are broken. We don't need another rant about how it's so clique-y and divided. Besides, many of the problems with CCF are only semi-problematic or only partially true.  And while I've ranted to one of my friends more than a few times about CCF and why this is might be my last semester attending, and he's told me I need to be transparent about it, I think all the disparaging comments can be saved for another day. Besides, most of them are things that I'm sure many people can identify.

So why blog if not to rant? Because one of my spiritual gifts is exhortation and to not use it would be to waste what God has given me.

Even with all my discontent with CCF, there are still parts that I'll miss, should I actually decide to stop going next semester. One of the main things is the people in CCF. Sure, they're broken and they're clique-y. But so am I and so is pretty much everyone else on the face of the earth. Nevertheless, there are more than a couple individuals in CCF that I really look up to spiritually and genuinely enjoy having a rare conversation with.

One of the things I admire most in them is their joy. I'm sure life is stressful and there are times when they're on the brink of emotional breakdown, but that's rarely evident in their daily disposition. It's always uplifting to see these individuals, even just in passing, because their joy is so undeniable. This is big to me because I have an (un)natural tendency to be sad.

Another characteristic that I really admire in them is their heart for God, whether through fervent prayer or evangelism. (This probably should have come first, but we all know I'm terrible at organizing.) To me they are the picture of what it means to lay down your life for the Gospel's sake and to take up your cross. I love seeing people always wanting to do more for God, not by trying to perform by Him, but by allowing themselves to be filled to overflowing with his grace and love. I love how they fight against complacency and strive to be better Christ followers. 

It's important to identify the problems and to talk about them, but it is equally important to acknowledge the parts that are working and are good. Thank you to those of you that have been an encouragement through your lives.