This is big

Here is this month CCFA Newsletter. Letter from Rick Geswell, CCFA President & CEO Rick Geswell, CCFA President and CEO Great news – we have an incredible $90,000 match challenge! Thanks to the generosity of Mark and Lisa Schneider, whose children both have IBD, every donation made by 9/15 will be doubled up to $90,000. This match opportunity is in honor of all the kids out there who are currently struggling with IBD. Together with the Schneiders, we can raise a total of $180,000 towards critical research for treatments and cures. Help us meet our $90,000 match and improve the lives of everyone living with IBD – make a gift today. Going Inside the Gut Microbiome video Did you know that approximately 90% of the cells on and in your body aren't you? They are the trillions of microscopic bacteria and viruses that make up the human microbiome. The gut's microbiome has an incredibly complex mix of bacteria, viruses and fungi, and CCFA's innovative research has identified a link between these gut bacteria and certain genes in IBD patients. But there's more to be done. Watch the video. IBD and College If you or a family member is headed off to college, you may be concerned about IBD management while at school. We recommend developing a 504 plan with the school's disability office. Though these plans do not require the college to establish guidelines accommodating the student, the regulations prohibit discriminations in admissions and require academic adjustments to be made in order to eliminate or prevent discrimination. Many colleges are willing to establish plans to help students – look into it! Work Up a Sweat for IBD Microbiome video Do you want to win entry into the pinnacle of endurance events with Team Challenge at the 2015 IRONMAN World Championships in Kona, HI? Enter your bid today! AUGUST 2014 ISSUE The Difference between IBD and IBS IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Disease) and IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) both affect the gastrointestinal tract, but they are not the same. IBD is a group of chronic, long-term inflammatory diseases in which the body's own immune system attacks the digestive system. Approximately 1.4 million Americans have IBD. IBS, which affects over 40 million people, is a condition that disturbs the movement of the intestine's muscle lining, causing uncomfortable symptoms. Remember, IBD patients can also suffer from IBS. Learn more. Double Your Support Donate by 9/15 and your gift will be matched, dollar for dollar, up to $90,000. Don't miss your chance to double your support for IBD treatments and cures – make a gift today! Team Challenge Participants Treatments Webcast Archive Now Available! If you missed our live educational webcast last month titled What's Best for Me? Treatment Options in IBD, you can now watch the archived recording of the program at your convenience. Learn more about various IBD treatment options and the information you'll need to make the choice that's best for you. Watch now. Will You Take Steps this Fall? Take Steps is gearing up for our fall season with over 45 walks scheduled across the country. Become a team captain, recruit your friends, family and co-workers and walk for IBD treatments and cures with the people who matter most to you. Please register today! IBD Clinical Trials & Other Studies CCFA provides a comprehensive database of studies, clinical trials and other research on Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. One recently added study is: • A Phase III Randomized, Double Blind, Placebo-controlled, Multicenter, Parallel Group Study to Assess the Efficacy and Safety of Fixed-dose Combination RHB-104 in subjects with moderately to severely active Crohn's disease conducted by RedHill Biopharma Deciding whether to participate in a clinical trial is an important personal decision, best made with a full understanding of the drug development process and a participant's role. doctors

Believing In Advance

Here we go the New week begins let's go through this week with strong optimism with these words. Surely I am coming quickly. —Revelation 22:20 In a German prison camp in World War II, undiscovered by the guards, some Americans built a homemade radio. One day news came that the German high command had surrendered, ending the war. Because of a communications breakdown, however, the guards did not yet know this. As word spread among the prisoners, a loud celebration broke out. For 3 days, they sang, waved at guards, and shared jokes over meals. On the fourth day, they awoke to find that all the Germans had fled. Their waiting had come to an end. A number of Bible stories center on waiting: Abraham waiting for a child (Gen. 12–21). The Israelites waiting for deliverance from Egypt. Prophets waiting for the fulfillment of their own predictions. The disciples waiting for Jesus to act like the powerful Messiah they anticipated. Jesus’ final words at the end of Revelation are “I am coming quickly,” followed by an urgent, echoing prayer, “Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!” (22:20). For this, we still wait. Here’s the question I ask myself: As we wait, why are we so often fearful and anxious? We can, like the Allied prisoners, act on the good news we say we believe. What is faith in God, after all, but believing in advance what will only make sense in reverse? —Philip Yancey Faith looks beyond the shadow Of dread and doubt and fear And finds the Savior waiting And always standing near. —French Waiting tries our faith and so we wait in hope. Bible in a year: Psalms 100-102; 1 Corinthians 1 Insight After writing of the events that will precede Jesus’ second coming (Rev. 4–22), John assured his readers of the certainty and nearness of Jesus’ return by quoting Him two times: “I am coming quickly” (vv.12,20). John then adds a personal plea, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus!” (v.20).

Is There Hope?

FRIDAY is in the House. Yes we have made it to the end of the week here is some words to reflect on as we head into the weekend. “He is not here; for He is risen, as He said.” —Matthew 28:6 I sat quietly at the graveside of my father, waiting for the private family burial of my mother to begin. The funeral director carried the urn that held her ashes. My heart felt numb and my head was in a fog. How can I handle losing them both within just 3 months? In my grief I felt loss and loneliness and a little hopeless facing a future without them. Then the pastor read about another graveside. On the first day of the week, early in the morning, women went to Jesus’ tomb, carrying spices for His body (Matt. 28:1; Luke 24:1). There they were startled to find an open and empty tomb—and an angel. “Do not be afraid,” he said to them (Matt. 28:5). They didn’t need to be afraid of the empty tomb or of the angel, because he had good news for them. Hope stirred when I heard the next words: “He is not here; for He is risen, as He said” (v.6). Because Jesus had come back to life, death had been conquered! Jesus reminded His followers just a few days before His death: “Because I live, you will live also” (John 14:19). Even though we grieve at the loss of our loved ones, we find hope through the resurrection of Jesus and His promise that there is life after death. —Anne Cetas Thank You, Lord, for comfort and hope. What would we do without You? Your death and resurrection provide all we need for this life and the next. Because He lives, we live. Bible in a year: Psalms 91-93; Romans 15:1-13 Insight The “other Mary” (Matt. 28:1) in today’s account is apparently the same woman described as “Mary the wife of Clopas” who was at the cross and burial of Jesus (27:61; John 19:25). It appears she was the mother of James “the Less” and Joses (Mark 15:40), and despite sharing the same name, she was a sister of Mary, Jesus’ mother (John 19:25).

Power Of Simplicity

Starting off the New Week with.Then one of the scribes came, and . . . asked Him, “Which is the first commandment of all?” —Mark 12:28 Few people take time to study the US Internal Revenue Service income tax regulations—and for good reason. According to Forbes magazine, in 2013 tax codes surpassed the four million-word mark. In fact, the tax laws have become so complex that even the experts have a hard time processing all the regulations. It’s burdensome in its complexity. The religious leaders in ancient Israel did the same thing in their relationship with God. They made it too complex with laws. The growing burden of religious regulations had increased to the point where even an expert in Moses’ law struggled to understand its core. When one such leader asked Jesus what mattered most in the Commandments, Jesus responded, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these” (Mark 12:30-31). The law of Moses was burdensome, but faith in Christ is simple and His “burden is light” (Matt. 11:30). It’s light because God was willing to forgive us and love us. Now He enables us to love Him and our neighbor. —Bill Crowder I love Thee because Thou hast first loved me, And purchased my pardon on Calvary’s tree; I love Thee for wearing the thorns on Thy brow; If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now. —Featherstone God’s love in our heart gives us a heart for Him and others. Bible in a year: Psalms 81-83; Romans 11:19-36 Insight In Christ’s answer to the scribe in Mark 12:29, He quotes the “Shema” from Deuteronomy 6:4 which states, “Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.” The title “shema” is from the Hebrew word for hear. One source says this statement of the oneness of God is recited twice each day by observant Jews and is the most important part of Judaism’s prayer services.

The Upright Thumb

We have come to the end of the week it's FRIDAY YES! I am so EXCITED about embarking on the weekend but before we do let's take a moment to reflect on this week with this. Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. —Genesis 6:8 According to an African fable, four fingers and a thumb lived together on a hand. They were inseparable friends. One day, they noticed a gold ring lying next to them and conspired to take it. The thumb said it would be wrong to steal the ring, but the four fingers called him a self-righteous coward and refused to be his friend. That was just fine with the thumb; he wanted nothing to do with their mischief. This is why, the legend goes, the thumb still stands separate from the other fingers. This tale reminds me that at times we may feel we’re standing alone when wrongdoing surrounds us. In Noah’s day, the earth was filled with violence; every thought in every heart was “evil continually” (Gen. 6:5,11). Yet “Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord” (v.8). Fully devoted to God, Noah obeyed Him and built the ark. The Lord, in His grace, spared him and his family. We too have been shown God’s grace through His Son Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. We have every reason to bring Him honor and stand strong for Him in our daily lives. He is always near, even abiding in us, so we never really stand alone. His “ears are open to [our] cry” (Ps. 34:15). —Jennifer Benson Schuldt They show their colors when they stand For what is true and right; And those who venture all on God Are pleasing in His sight. —D. DeHaan It’s easy to stand with a crowd; it takes courage to stand alone. Bible in a year: Psalms 74-76; Romans 9:16-33

All We Need To Know

As we are starting our New Week let's start it off with words of encouragement to help support us through this week. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells. —Romans 7:18 In a Fernando Ortega rendition of “Just As I Am,” Billy Graham’s voice can be heard faintly in the background. Dr. Graham is reminiscing about an illness during which he believed he was dying. As he mused on his past, he realized what a great sinner he was and how much he continues to need God’s daily forgiveness. Billy Graham was putting an end to the notion that apart from God we’re okay. We can feel good about ourselves, but that confidence must come from the knowledge that we’re greatly loved children of God (John 3:16), not that we’re very good children (Rom. 7:18). The first step in becoming a truly “good” person as a follower of Christ is to stop pretending that we’re good on our own and to ask God to make us as good as we can be. We will fail many times, but He will keep growing us and changing us. God is faithful and—in His time and in His way—He’ll do it. In his final years, the writer of “Amazing Grace,” John Newton, suffered from dementia and lamented the loss of his memory. Yet he confided, “I do remember two things: I am a great sinner, and Jesus is a great Savior.” When it comes to faith, those are the only things anyone needs to know. —David Roper The Lord has promised good to me, His word my hope secures; He will my shield and portion be As long as life endures. —Newton God’s grace accepted is God’s peace experienced. Bible in a year: Psalms 66-67; Romans 7 Insight The Christian life is one of struggle with sin and growth in holiness. On this side of heaven, we will not be totally freed from this struggle (James 3:2; 1 John 1:8–2:1). In today’s text, the apostle Paul writes of the war between good and evil that wages within him. Elsewhere Paul explains, “For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want” (Gal. 5:17 niv). Yet we can take comfort in the fact that Jesus delivers us from this “body of death” (Rom. 7:24).

City Of Refuge

We have come to the end of our week so let's take a moment and say to are selves just how Grateful we are to God for watching over us and protecting us from any hurt, harm, or danger throughout this week. I will sing of Your power; yes, I will sing aloud of Your mercy in the morning; for You have been my defense and refuge in the day of my trouble. —Psalm 59:16 As we entered a town in Australia, we were greeted by a sign that declared: “We welcome all who are seeking refuge and asylum.” This kind of welcome seems to resonate with the Old Testament concept of the cities of refuge. In the Old Testament era, cities of refuge (Num. 35:6) were established to be a safe haven for people who had accidentally killed someone and were needing protection. God had the people establish such cities to provide that refuge. This concept, however, was not intended to be simply a practice for ancient Israel. More than that, cities of refuge reflected the heart of God for all people. He Himself longs to be our safe haven and our city of refuge in the failures, heartaches, and losses of life. We read in Psalm 59:16-17, “I will sing of Your power; yes, I will sing aloud of Your mercy in the morning; for You have been my defense and refuge in the day of my trouble. To You, O my Strength, I will sing praises; for God is my defense, my God of mercy.” For the hurting heart of every generation, our “city of refuge” is not a place. Our city of refuge is a Person—the God who loves us with an everlasting love. May we find our refuge and rest in Him. —Bill Crowder How oft in the conflict, when pressed by the foe, I have fled to my Refuge and breathed out my woe; How often, when trials like sea billows roll, Have I hidden in Thee, O Thou Rock of my soul. —Cushing Refuge can be found in the Rock of Ages. Bible in a year: Psalms 57-59; Romans 4 Insight According to the superscription at the beginning of Psalm 59, this psalm was written to the tune of “Do Not Destroy,” which is also the tune of Psalms 57, 58, and 75. David wrote this psalm when Saul had sent assassins to watch David’s house (1 Sam. 19:11). David’s wife Michal (Saul’s daughter) helped him escape (v.12).