Really excited about our new series, “Thrive” and hoping that you’ll invite someone to join you for these next 3 Sundays:

• February 10 - now that we’ve established who we are (stewards or managers), I’ll teach how to be a GOOD manager.  You can also sign-up for the “I was broke. Now I’m not!” group study on February 24 at 5pm.
• February 17 is our “Generosity Sunday” when we’ll not only look at the blessing of generosity in Scripture, but we’ll demonstrate generosity at the close of service with a giant giveaway (as we did last year) – house payments, car payments, notebook computers and more will be given away to bless people in each service!
• February 24 we’ll close the series with a look at “A Financial Miracle” and our guest will be Joe Sangl, author of “I was broke. Now I’m not!” at all 3 services.  Believe me, Joe will inspire your faith to believe God for your financial miracle!
• February 24 at 5pm Joe will lead the IWBNIN group study to give you the practical tools and help you need to get out of debt & begin THRIVEing in your finances!  You can register here now.

WHO should you invite?  Your invitation could change their life, both now & for eternity!  More changed lives!

The parties are over; the football bowl games have come & gone; ready or not, we’re into a New Year.

As much as we say we want to lose weight, get back in the gym, eat right, etc., etc., the reality is that most of us stay the way we are.

And there’s a clear reason for that.  In fact, even when we truly want to change, we often fall back into the same habits and patterns of behavior that keep us in the ‘same ole, same ole’.

But there IS a way to change, and I’m excited to share it with you each Sunday in January as we dive into our ‘Treatment’ series.

Invite a friend.  It might change their life, too.

I posted here about our plan for this Christmas, but I’m excited today to bring you some more specifics:

• one of our members (Gail Matson) who works for Chicago Public Schools informed me that she has about 50 preschoolers who need winter coats.  (She says many of them come to school with several layers of sweaters to try to keep warm.)  So here’s our plan: if you have gently used coats to fit preschoolers, you can bring them to any service at CLC between now & Sunday, December 9.  We will also receive an offering on December 9 specifically to help with this need, and Gail will distribute the coats that week, fulfilling Matt. 25:34-40 for 50 shivering preschoolers in Chicago!
• We also know that our local food pantries are stretched to the max at this time of year, you can also bring your staple food donations (non-perishable items only, please) to any CLC service between now & Sunday, December 16 and we’ll get them to hungry families in need.

I’m excited about the church being the Church!

You’ve probably noticed that we don’t talk politics at CLC.  I’m not interested in dividing the church family over political issues, or get our focus off of what God has called us to do.

But I do have some concerns for our nation and how we treat each other – whether we’re rejoicing over President Obama’s reelection or we’re mourning Governor Romney’s defeat. I think Pastor Rick Warren expressed that concern as well as I possibly could, so let me post his comments here:

“The coarsening of our culture and the loss of civility in our civilization is one of the things that concerns me most about our nation. We don’t know how to disagree without being disagreeable. The fact is, you can — you can walk hand-in-hand without seeing eye-to-eye. And what we need in our country is unity, not uniformity. There are major differences, politically, religiously, economically in our nation. We have many different streams in our nation . . . What is solvable is how we treat each other with our differences . . . In fact, the Bible tells me in I Peter, show respect to everyone, even people I totally disagree with. So I’m coming from that viewpoint in that we must return civility to our civilization in order to get on. But the reason I do that is because of the deeper reason, there’s a spiritual root to my reason for civility.”

CLC, let’s walk out the Word as we go forward from here.  Let’s treat each other with love & respect as believers.  Let’s keep our focus on fulfilling the Great Commission by reaching others with the gospel, both around the corner & around the world.

And Let’s PRAY for our President, regardless of your political views, knowing that ultimately God promotes according to His plan (Psa. 75:7).  Pray that he would be surrounded by godly counsel, and that the Lord would give him wisdom to lead this nation. The words of Jeremiah 29:7 may have been given to Israel while captive in Babylon, but the principle remains the same: as we seek God’s blessings on our nation, we are blessed!

Yesterday at CLC my wife received a prophetic ‘word’ through some traffic signs enroute to service, and I thought it was profound, so I decided to share it with you today:

• “No passing zone” – some of us have/are growing impatient with how things are, and our impatience & frustration has us considering ways that we could move ahead by just going around whatever is it causing us the frustration.  But God sees further down the road than we do, and it’s just not safe for us to take matters into our own hands and try to speed up the process.  No passing!
• “Bump” – seems a little strange to see a sign announcing a bump, when the reality is that we only slow down for a moment and then keep going.  Sometimes we think that this situation is a major crisis and that it’s going to cost us so much loss and perhaps even prevent us from getting where we want to go – but God wants us to know that in reality it’s just a ‘bump’….it’s no big deal.  You’ll have to slow down for a moment, but then you’ll be able to accelerate again and proceed to your destination – and the bump isn’t going to make any difference at all in the long run!  It’s just a bump!
• “Weight Limit on Bridge” - we can’t carry some weight where God is trying to take us, so it’s time to let go of the past, release the hurts, and discard all the things that have/are weighing us down.  Sometimes the baggage from our past gets so heavy and we put it down for a while, only to pick it back up again later.  But we can’t get over to our destiny with these weights, so LET GO!

I know I’m biased because I love her so much, but whether you even know my wife or not, I think you’ll be able to see that any one of these ‘signs’ could be a ‘word’ for you!

What did we take away from yesterday’s message that we can use today?

Here it is, for me: this week when I’m faced with decisions & choices, instead of saying “What if….?”

I’m gonna say, “Why not?”

How ’bout you?

Well, as frustrated & angry as I was this morning about the comedy of errors (that wasn’t funny at all), I am pleased to report that everything has been straightened out with the radio station and we should now be on track for next week. (If you weren’t aware, not only did they not air the correct broadcast via radio, but their web stream wasn’t even from their station, so instead of airing an incorrect CLC broadcast, web listeners were hearing a talk show about Obamacare!)

Nonetheless, I’m hoping you have already marked your calendar for Sunday, July 8 when Mark Batterson will be speaking at CLC in all 3 morning services.

But to whet your appetite a little further, on Monday, July 2 from 10:30-11:00 a.m., I’ll be interviewing Mark about his newest book, Circle Maker, on AM 1160 during my regular radio broadcast.

If you don’t have a radio available at that time of day, you can download the WYLL app here and listen to the broadcast anywhere that you have internet access!

The interview went so well, we actually had enough material for another broadcast next Tuesday (July 3) as well – so mark your calendar and listen to both days.

AND we’ll be giving away 4 copies of Circle Maker (2 each broadcast) to some blessed callers, which is another reason for you to tune in.  (Of course, if you don’t win, you can purchase a copy at the Welcome Center this Sunday for just $12 – so you can’t lose)

Let’s try it again!

After Tuesday’s planning session with my favorite team of pastors, I gotta tell you, I’M EXCITED ABOUT THIS SUNDAY at CLC!

Whether you are male or female, you face daily temptations in our not-so-godly world. Even Jesus said we were being sent forth as lambs in the midst of wolves (Luke 10:3). Not a pretty picture, is it?

But the Bible gives us practical answers, and I can’t wait to share some with you – hope you’ll INVITE a friend to join you as we take another look at the unique needs of both men & women who want to please HIM in these strange times!

Speaking of unique needs – PLEASE mark your calendar for May 6, when we’ll host a guest ministry that is tackling an issue being ignored by many churches, while both male & female believers are falling victim to it daily! You won’t want to miss this no-holds-barred, but hope-and-life-giving weekend!

Did that get your attention?

I’m not surprised.  Money seems to be always on our mind.  Even Scripture says that “money answers everything”.

We recently spent 4 weeks at CLC trying to motivate & inspire you to be led out of the bondage of debt into prosperity (Psa 68:6), and saw how important it is that you picture it and plan it and persevere for it.  But talking about it for 4 weeks really only helped us picture it – now we need to make specific plans to make it happen.

That’s why I’m excited about an opportunity this Saturday to host the Dave Ramsey “Total Money Makeover” simulcast.  You can register here now and then join us Saturday from 11:45am to 5pm.

It just might be your first step toward financial freedom and you won’t regret it!

You’ve heard the term before, probably in regards to a negotiation strategy, to insure that both parties come away feeling they ‘won’ something.

But I’ve been thinking lately about how it truly is a win-win in the Kingdom of God, whenever God asks us to do something.  For example: when we tithe, God is honored (Prov 3:9-10), so He wins.  Then He blesses us for our obedience (Mal 3:10), and we win!

I’ve been hearing how true that was this past Sunday when we closed our “This Little Piggy Had None” series with the big giveaway.  In fact, when you include the other campuses, we gave away over $10,000 on Sunday.  (When we planned this service, we didn’t know if God would bless it; we just felt it was something He was asking us to do in faith, that as we blessed His people, He would bless us as a ministry.)

Guess I shouldn’t have been surprised then when our Finance Director informed me that our church family gave more than $35,000 above the normal total for a Sunday!  In other words, you can’t outgive God!  We blessed about 50 people (counting all the campuses), and we got blessed in return.

That’s also WHY I’m so excited about the new sermon series we begin this Sunday: “Life Support”.  We’re going to talk about the ‘Key to a Fulfilling Life’, and the reason why I can’t wait to share it is that when we do what God asks us to do, we end up being fulfilled in the process.  And, come to think of it, this ministry also gets blessed – so I guess it’s a “win-win-win” – God gets honored by obedience; we get blessed; and the Church is able to fulfill its mission!

If you will set your clock ahead one hour this Saturday night and come to church on time Sunday morning, I promise it will be a win-win!

I confess: that ought to be true of every message at CLC. 

Tools without some inspiration can be an awfully dry Sunday.

Inspiration without some practical “how-to’s” can actually be frustrating, since we’re motivated, but don’t know how.

That’s why I’m really excited about this Sunday at CLC when we continue our new series, This Little Piggy Had None.  Because we’re not only going to look at Scriptural principles about breaking the curse of debt, but we’re also providing practical tools to help you and your family to make good plans to do just that.  Inspiration from the Word; practical tools to help you figure it out at home.

(I’ll try not to yell so much this week, but no promises.)

It’s Christmas Eve!

Don’t know what’s on the agenda for you or your family today…..maybe it’s a mad dash to the Mall for some last-minute shopping…..or a visit to Grandma’s house for dinner…..or maybe even this is the day the kids get to unwrap the gifts under the tree.  Whatever your tradition is, I’m sure there’s something warm & nostalgic about it, that makes this time of your special for you & yours.

I’d just like to propose another tradition – whether this is the first time, or whether it’s already established in your household.  Why not join us at CLC for a special Christmas Eve Celebration at either 4pm or 6pm today?

We’ll sing some familiar carols (and some worship songs, too); enjoy a video or 2, and dig deeper into the Christmas story to find some uplifting truths, thru the stanzas of more “Christmas Classics” carols!  I’ve got a ‘rhema’ Word to share, and I’m convinced someone’s life will be changed for eternity!

There’s even time left to invite a friend or family member to join you!

I did a little recruiting before the “CHANGED” series began, but it’s clear now that I must have communicated poorly – so I’m scrambling now to try harder.

I’m still excited about this series, in which we want to focus on several Bible characters whose life was CHANGED by the power of God – primarily because I believe the series can be a tremendous encouragement to both members and prospects who desire a ‘change’ in their life.  But I’m also convinced that just sharing Bible stories alone won’t have near the impact of supplementing that Word from the Bible with a flesh-and-blood example of someone whose life has been changed here-and-now.

Our goal was to enlist at least 6-8 CLCers who could share their story either in person or via video this weekend, and an additional 75 or more who could share via a ‘cardboard testimony’ on November 20.  However, the response isn’t even a fraction of that.  I suspect that I wasn’t specific enough as to what we’re looking for, which caused most of you to not realize that YOU have a story to tell.  Please answer these questions:

have you ever been:

• homeless?
• in prison?
• healed of a serious illness or condition like cancer, heart trouble, etc?
• a recreational drug user?
• a drug dealer?
• bankrupt?
• foreclosed upon?
• unemployed?
• an addict?
• broken-hearted?
• addicted to porn?
• addicted to sex?
• involved in a gay lifestyle?
• a racist?
• in overwhelming debt?
• an alcoholic?
• troubled with low self-esteem?
• abused: physically, verbally or sexually?
• severely depressed?

If you answered ‘YES” to any of those conditions, your story could become God’s way of encouraging others & changing their life!  That is, if you would be willing to share.  I know the enemy would tell you that revealing your past will bring shame & embarrassment – but that’s simply not true.  The truth is, sharing your story will empower others and give them hope that what HE’s done for you, He can do for them!

I’m pleading: would you contact us today with a detailed description of how you were changed by God’s grace?

OR, if you just cannot bring yourself to share publicly, but would be willing to reduce the details to a few words on a piece of cardboard, tell us here.

I’m praising God for you already.

As I’m sure most of our congregation knows, we lost an excellent young man this week.  Shaun Thomas was one of those guys you had to like: always smiling, never-met-a-stranger, just the kind of guy you enjoy hanging out with.  He was only 33 years old and the heart attack that took him from us made his wife a young widow and left behind 4 precious children.  He served CLC well the past few years, both in our junior high and senior high Consumed Student Ministries, and as one of the leaders of our new CLC 1929 service.

As a pastor, I can tell you that this makes no sense and there are no explanations that satisfy, so you can stop looking for them.  Ever since the Fall of Man in the garden, we live in an imperfect world and death is a reality that we all must deal with.  Let me say “thanks” to all the CLCers who are praying for Shaun’s family, even as you process your own grief.

One of my main purposes for writing today is to pass along some VERY frank, non-traditional, but oh-so-right-on words from Pastor Perry Noble.  For the last 40 years of ministry, I’ve observed everything that Perry writes about in his blog today, and I couldn’t agree with him more.  I hope you’ll take his post to heart and apply it this week and in the weeks to come, not only with Shaun’s family, but with the death of any person you love.  Read and heed.

Probably most “churched” folks have heard of the “7 last words of Christ” (maybe as part of a Good Friday service).  But do you know the ’7 last words of The Church’?

We’ve. Never. Done. It. That. Way. Before.

I’ve been around churches like that.  I’m SO glad CLC is not one of them.  But this summer, we’re pushing the envelope, even for us. 

We’re planning a 4-week series this July 10-31 that is TOTALLY designed to interest your unchurched friends.  It should be the most FUN and most INVITE-friendly series we’ve ever done, as we will teach Biblical principles found in 4 popular movies!

If you think that’s a cheap gimmick (or worse, a ‘compromise’ with ‘worldliness’), may I point out to you that the Apostle Paul himself used references to popular culture of his day, including direct quotes from Greek poets! (see Acts 17:22-28, among others).  Personally, I think 1Cor. 9:19-23 makes it clear: we have a responsibility to use every means possible to reach people with the Gospel, including getting into their world & seeing things from their point of view, so we can lead them to Christ.  And surely we all recognize this: we have friends that might not ever visit a church service, but they DO go to movies.  Maybe they’ll consider your invitation just to see what a church has to say about God@the Movies!

That’s why I’m EXCITED about this sermon series.  We’re going all-out, with lots of promotional tools to help you reach your friends & neighbors.  We’re even decorating the building for our theme, and offering free popcorn to help folks ‘get it’ – and I promise ALL of us will see God through the lens of popular movies.  Who knows…..the person you invite just might be one of those who gives their life to Christ as a result. 

Mark your calendar for July 10, 17, 24 and 31 – and plan to bring friends with you each Sunday!  Stay tuned for more details-

…..I’m SO excited about THIS weekend!

I was already pumped about Easter before, but at our weekly planning meeting with the pastoral staff yesterday, we completely revamped our plans for the message, and I can’t wait to see what God is going to do with people who visit CLC this Easter!

It will be special at EACH campus, that’s for sure, but in Tinley Park we also changed the presentation to include artistic elements that will touch hearts on a different level.  Of course, we also have our children’s choir singing at the Saturday service, and our combined dance teams at the Sunday celebrations – along with a great worship experience as always.

Most importantly, I believe the Presence of the Lord will be at work to draw lost people to Himself.

I need YOUR help:

1.  Would you please PRAY and even FAST a meal or a day before Sunday, seeking the Lord on behalf of people who are far from Him this Easter?

2.  Would you sacrifice your convenience to attend the Saturday celebration or the 8am service, in order to free up a parking space and a chair in the two later services when most guests will likely attend?

3.  Would you use the next 3 days to invite, invite, invite? I said it last Sunday because I really believe it: that little invitation card could become someone’s ‘ticket’ to eternal life!

I hope you’re as excited as I am.  It’s gonna be an Easter we never forget.

I guess it’s only normal, but I really hope you’re getting as much out of the “iKnow” series (watch the trailer here) as I am.  Looking at these bedrock foundational truths has been life-changing already, since we know (regardless of how we feel):

• God is for us!
• God is working in our circumstances!
• God hears us!
• How to be Made Right with God!

But I’m especially excited about sharing with you this Sunday, “Time is Short!”.  I hope you’ll invite a friend or family member to join you this Sunday to learn why time is short, and what you need to do about that fact.  I CAN’T WAIT!

Oh, while you’re inviting them for this Sunday, give ‘em an Easter invite card and tell them about the four great celebrations we’ve planned for Easter weekend!  Who are you inviting?

In case you missed the video yesterday at CLC, you can watch it here.

Makes you think, doesn’t it?

As you’ve considered our Easter celebrations, WHO have you possibly overlooked in your circle of influence?  You know, people that perhaps you think would not be interested in church, or perhaps they’re too messed-up with drugs or alcohol or some other addictive behavior. Or maybe it’s just someone that you’re a little embarrassed to talk to about your church….so you haven’t.

Did you know that survey after survey indicates that 80% of unchurched adults in America indicate that they would accept the invitation of a friend to attend church?

You’ve only got less than 2 weeks left – I hope you’ll make it a point to invite someone to be your guest this Easter – in Tinley Park, there are 4 opportunities to bring them: Saturday, April 23 at 6pm (with a special children’s choir & Culver’s ice cream afterwards); Sunday, April 24 at 8, 9:30 and 11:30 a.m.  At our other campuses, it’s one BIG Easter celebration at the normal service time.

I can promise you this: if you bring your unchurched or unsaved friends and family members, we WILL present the Gospel of Jesus Christ clearly, and God WILL give us a harvest of souls, as people give their lives to him!

Will someone you invite be in that number?

The title may sound strange, so let me explain…

I want to get this message to EVERY woman at CLC, and since some of them are married, I’d like to enlist the help of their husbands in making this possible:

as your pastor, I’m encouraging every woman of CLC to attend our annual Heart to Heart Women’s retreat.  This year it’s located at the Marina Grand Resort in New Buffalo, Michigan on the shores of Lake Michigan.

Whether you are presently a part of H2H, have been a part in the past, or have never attended, my wife wants to offer you a personal invitation to get away for this wonderful retreat.  I’m convinced that YOU need a time to get away from the stress of everyday life to unwind.  It will be a great opportunity for you to be refreshed and restored: physically, emotionally, spiritually and even socially. This is also an awesome opportunity to meet new friends, deepen your relationships, relax, and just be you.  There will be laughter, pampering, glamour shots, crafts, free gifts and awesome times in prayer, worship and the Word.  (Guys, this would be a great gift for Mother’s Day.)

Retreat Options
April 29th – 30th
(Two days & one night’s lodging)
$150.00

April 28th – 30th
(Three days & two nights’ lodging)
$195.00

Saturday only
$100

(These prices are for double occupancy – 3 or 4 women per room brings the cost down per person)

For more information about how you can register, please contact my wife.

Deadline for the retreat is just a week away, so there’s no time to lose.  Sign up today!

Well, I had a little fun Sunday with that MSNBC report that British psychologists at the University of Cardiff in Wales had determined that the last Monday of January was the “saddest day of the year”……but it does seem that the first Tuesday of February in Chicago may be…..at least if the forecasts of blizzard-like conditions and over 20″ of snow in the next day or so hold true.

I hope that all my Chicagoland readers will stay safe if you must be on the roads, and stay warm, too!

If you’re planning to attend any of the midweek ministries (Heart to Heart; Consumed; etc.), please check our website before venturing out – we’ll post an announcement by noon tomorrow to let everyone know if those ministries will be meeting, or if we’ll cancel due to the weather.

We’ll also post the announcement on our Facebook page – so if you’re not already a friend, why not go there now and befriend us.

Meanwhile, I’m looking forward to my upcoming ministry trip to the Philippines, where it never snows!

I know many (most?) of the CLCers who join us for 21 days of prayer & fasting this Jan. 10-30 will likely choose to do a “Daniel fast” rather than a water fast or juice fast – and there are great suggestions in the online resource (prayer & fasting devotional guide) I’ve been mentioning of late.

You can also order meals for a Daniel fast from a faithful CLC caterer.

But the main purpose of this post is that my friend Mark Batterson did a great post here about Daniel’s fast – and the resolution that changed everything.  Read and heed!

Someone sent this to me and I thought it was worth passing along: (gotta admit – it does make you ask yourself how Jesus’ birth might appear in the news today)

INFANT DISCOVERED IN BARN, CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES LAUNCH PROBE
Nazareth Carpenter Being Held On Charges Involving Underage Mother

Bethlehem, Judea – Authorities were today alerted by a concerned citizen who noticed a family living in a barn. Upon arrival, Family Protective Service personnel, accompanied by police, took into protective care an infant child named Jesus, who had been wrapped in strips of cloth and placed in a feeding trough by his 14-year old mother, Mary of Nazareth.

During the confrontation, a man identified as Joseph, also of Nazareth, attempted to stop the social workers. Joseph, aided by several local shepherds and some unidentified foreigners, tried to forestall efforts to take the child, but were restrained by the police.

Also being held for questioning are three foreigners who allege to be wise men from an eastern country. The INS and Homeland Security officials are seeking information about these who may be in the country illegally. A source with the INS states that they had no passports, but were in possession of gold and other possibly illegal substances. They resisted arrest saying that they had been warned by God to avoid officials in Jerusalem and to return quickly to their own country. The chemical substances in their possession will be tested.

The owner of the barn is also being held for questioning. The manager Bethlehem Inn faces possible revocation of his license for violating health and safety regulations by allowing people to stay in the stable. Civil authorities are also investigating the zoning violations involved in maintaining livestock in a commercially-zoned district.

The location of the minor child will not be released, and the prospect for a quick resolution to this case is doubtful. Asked about when Jesus would be returned to his mother, a Child Protective Service spokesperson said, “The father is middle-aged and the mother definitely underage. We are checking with officials in Nazareth to determine what their legal relationship is.

Joseph has admitted taking Mary from her home in Nazareth because of a census requirement. However, because she was obviously pregnant when they left, investigators are looking into other reasons for their departure. Joseph is being held without bond on charges of molestation, kidnapping, child endangerment, and statutory rape.

Mary was taken to the Bethlehem General Hospital where she is being examined by doctors. Charges may also be filed against her for endangerment. She will also undergo psychiatric evaluation because of her claim that she is a virgin and that the child is from God.

The director of the psychiatric wing said, “I don’t profess to have the right to tell people what to believe, but when their beliefs adversely affect the safety and well-being of others – in this case her child – we must consider her a danger to others. The unidentified drugs at the scene didn’t help her case, but I’m confidant that with the proper therapy regiment we can get her back on her feet.”

A spokesperson for the governor’s office said, “Who knows what was going through their heads? But regardless, their treatment of the child was inexcusable, and the involvement of these others frightening. There is much we don’t know about this case, but for the sake of the child and the public, you can be assured that we will pursue this matter to the end.”

I like the version in Luke 2 much better.  I hope you’re ready for a GREAT celebration of His first coming – join us Christmas Eve at 5pm or December 26 at 10am at the Tinley Park campus, as we conclude our series, “A Baby Changes Everything”, with a look at the Prince of Peace!

Tonight really was a “Summer Revival” at CLC – in fact, as I type this, our youth are still going strong, sharing testimonies of what God did in them during Destiny Youth Camp 2010!  I’ve heard from parents who say they’ve got brand-new kids since camp – so great was the transformation!

Meanwhile, our Hispanic Pastor, Jaime Flores preached in the adult service – “How Do You Battle Your Problems?”, using Acts 16:16-31 as his text.  My favorite quote from his encouraging message was when he told us, to win our battles, we should PP on the devil!

In case you’re wondering, PP means “Pray & Praise”, which is exactly what Paul & Silas did, instead of complaining (as we’re so prone to do when things aren’t going our way)….and God showed up in a supernatural way!  He. still. does. that. today.

One of my preacher friends often says, “If your experience with the Lord isn’t supernatural, it’s superficial“.

I’m glad we serve a BIG God!  I’m enjoying these Wednesday summer revival services.  Our final one for the season is next Wednesday when Pastors Dan & Pat Johnson will be ministering – hope you’ll join us.  Now go PP on the devil!  (thanks, Pasttor Jaime – we won’t forget that one)

Probably like most of you, I’ve had a little interest over the last several weeks in the trial of former Governor Rod Blagojevich that ended in a mistrial yesterday on 23 of 24 counts.  But as the news came out from the jurors about their deliberations, it sure seems like the Blago trial is helping us preach.

Think about it: were it not for one person, Gov. Blagojevich would be looking at a long prison sentence today.  One jury kept the panel from a conviction.  One person stood against the prosecution.  One woman enabled our ex-Governor to remain a free man (at least until the retrial).

The power of ONE.  That’s what we’re talking about this entire month of August, and I’m excited about the remaining two messages in the series.  THIS Sunday, we’re going to dig even deeper into the parables Jesus gave us in Luke 15 and look at the unique & different kinds of people we’re reaching for, and how we can most effectively reach “One Like These”.  I hope you’ll join us at any campus & get the scoop on the difference YOU can make as ONE person (even without serving on a jury).

And of course you’re invited to join us for our annual PICNIC afterwards – get your tickets here.