The good news is that my camera bag (that I forgot last night in my weariness) was safe & sound when we arrived back at the church this morning.

The bad news is that I failed to pack my battery charger before leaving home, and that the spare battery I brought AND the battery I was using are both depleted.  So the only pics for the rest of the trip will come from my iPhone.

Enjoy these shots from today:

Sergei is the Worship Pastor of the church here & we got better acquainted today. He never heard about Jesus until he was an adult, having been a member of the Communist Party. But he came to an evangelistic crusade when the Perm church first started & was one of the earliest converts. He's been faithful ever since, and now leads a wonderful worship team that blesses us on each visit!

Neatest story so far: the EQUIP conf. was attended by some business people, including this Amway representative who was unsaved. But at the end of our conference, just before dismissal, Pastor Slava gave an altar invitation and she came forward to receive Christ!

A team of students from Oral Roberts University arrived this afternoon in time to lead worship for the Youth service tonight. This is their first visit to Russia, and they were a real blessing!

My favorite moment was when the ORU team was joined onstage by some of the local youth and together they worshiped in English AND Russian! Beautiful!!

Afterwards, Chris preached to the youth about pursuing their God-given 'dream' (here telling them it won't just fall into their lap; they must catch it & take it to themselves)

We left the hotel at 8am today, and got back about 9pm.  I think it was the longest stretch of teaching we’ve ever done, as Chris & I taught from about 9:15 until about 8:45 with 2 tea breaks and 1 lunch break in between.

I think the sessions were well-received, but as tired as I am right now, I can’t be sure.  And to top it off, I forgot my camera at the church, so I can’t even post any pictures for you tonight – hopefully it will be intact tomorrow and I’ll have some pics for you in about 24 hours when we get back to the hotel again.

That’s all.  G’night!

Oh, no – there is one more thing: if you’re a CLCer, don’t miss the final installment of our PURPLE series this Sunday – we saved the best for last!

Great question!  And while I’m always hesitant to disagree or critique another pastor, since I can’t possibly know the context or even the accuracy of someone’s statement about his teaching, I’ll just answer the simple question at the end of your paragraph.  Here’s my list of priorities, in order:

1.  God.  How could anything else go in this position, in light of Deuteronomy 6:4-5, Matthew 22:35-38, and Matthew 6:33?

2.  Family.  I hope that doesn’t surprise you, but the reality is that God created a family before He birthed the Church!  We pastors are sometimes the worst at getting this priority out of whack, but remember that the family can actually disqualify the ministry – (see Paul’s instructions for the selection of church leaders in 1Tim. 3:1-12 and you’ll see what I mean)

3.  Church.  I could wax eloquent here, but I’ll resist the temptation.  Let me just say that, in my humble opinion, many believers today have no idea how important the local Church is in God’s plan.  The Church is HIS plan for reaching the world with the Gospel.  The Church is your greatest friend in helping you to live a godly life, bring your children up in the way of the Lord, keeping your marriage strong and even finding financial freedom!  I’ll just one verse to support this priority – Psalm 92:13

4.  Work/Ministry.  I place these two together because many times, your work is your ministry!  After all, the average believer spends far more time on their job than they do in volunteering at their church.  And if we are to reach the world with the Gospel, it certainly won’t all happen on Sunday mornings inside our church buildings!  God wants to use YOU in the marketplace!

Hope that helps.  Now, what would YOU like to Ask the Pastor?

P.S.  Chris & I are enjoying our ministry time in Perm, Russia, but we can’t wait to get back home to CLC – and I’ll be teaching this coming Wednesday night – hope to see you there!  And don’t forget next Sunday, May 27 is Pentecost Sunday with a special guest who will inspire your faith with what God is doing in the 21st Century!!!

This congregation meets in the basement of a department store, and it was wall-to-wall, jam-packed.  I taught them about “The Power of Your Story” to encourage them to reach out to others with their personal testimony, and it seemed to be well received, plus I had the chance to pray for quite a few who needed healing tonight.

Good first day here.  Good night.  Tomorrow is a long, full day as we leave the hotel at 8am and likely won’t return until about 8pm – so pray for us as we minister at the Million Leaders Mandate conference for EQUIP.

here’s a couple pics:

Small but effective worship team

wall-to-wall people in the basement (lots more came after this shot during worship)

I was reading the age-old story of David & Goliath, not expecting to see anything new in this story we all learned in Sunday School long ago, but when I got to 1Sam. 17:11 and 23, I started noticing the power of words.

Then I noticed David’s words in verse 26, and how they moved people, including his oldest brother, Eliab, who responded with criticism & judgement & harsh words in v. 28 (really?  Do we sometimes think we can judge someone’s motives & what’s in their heart?)

But David continued to speak in faith (verses 31-37), and his words got the attention of others that led to promotion and eventually changed the heart of his leader!

Don’t ever think “it’s just a word” (verse 29) – your words have power!

(Don’t be surprised if you hear this in a sermon at CLC someday…..I’m just sayin’)

This is the next-to-the-last trip of our current assignment with EQUIP, and as I’ve said recently, it feels like we’re going home each time we minister at the New Testament Church of Perm.

We’re excited about sharing with the leaders there this week, but a little disappointed to miss the final message of the PURPLE series, which I think may be the most important of all.  I hope you’ll invite someone to hear Pastor Ben Stewart this Sunday, and we’ll be back to share next Wednesday at Bible Study!

I’ll try to keep you posted from each day in Russia – keep us in your prayers!

As I was reading Ruth 1 in my devotions recently, all about Naomi’s heartaches – first experiencing a famine that forced her to leave Israel & move to Moab, then losing her husband and both her sons while there.  Of course, each of her daughters-in-law started to go with her back to Israel, but she reasoned with them that they shouldn’t follow her, since she couldn’t offer them more sons to be their husbands.

Her logic worked with Orpah, but not with Ruth, who spoke the beautiful words in verses 16-17 we’ve often heard at weddings (although she said them about her mother-in-law!).

But what I especially noticed was the next verse.  What settled the issue was Ruth’s determination.

Selah.

Haven’t you seen the same truth in your own life?  When we are truly determined, we can accomplish almost anything.  No matter the obstacles, our determination wins out.

I am determined to follow Jesus today.  How about you?

• at the South Bend campus, Pastor Doug says their service was “wonderful, wonderful”, with awesome worship, a powerful word from Shanna that touched many hearts, and a presentation to her from the ladies of the church that was a real tear-jerker at the end!
• in Tinley Park today, while overall attendance was below normal, we still welcomed many guests for Mother’s Day, and I had a chance to meet several family members who came today to honor their mom.  (I also enjoyed several conversations with little kids about how they were making their mom feel special today, with breakfast in bed & ‘pwesents’!)
• It wasn’t her usual fare at all, but I thought my wife did a great job with Titus 2:3-4 and the 5 actions that Paul recommended for women there.  I was especially struck that ‘slanderers’ is the same word for Satan and that when we speak evil of others, we are doing his work for him!
• It was VERY encouraging to see the great response at the foster parenting table.  These children, many of whose parents are unable to care for them because of their own drug habits are the orphans of today, and James 1:27 is quite clear.
• In fact, if you’re interested in that topic, here’s a great article I recommend
• And while I’m passing along links, if you enjoyed today’s video tribute to mom’s, you can view it again here.(Kudos to Simi Akintorin for alerting us to this moving video!)
• Our Hispanic Pastor William says this was a GREAT weekend for the CVC moms, as they enjoyed a fun celebration yesterday with games & food & the Presence of God, and then today they had a strong time of prayer as the moms prayed for their children!  (Excited about what God is doing among our Spanish-speaking CLCers!)

One prayer request before I sign off today: our Youth Pastor Sam Hamstra was admitted to the hospital this afternoon with a blood clot in his shoulder.  Please pray for swift & complete healing with no complication.  Thanks!

First, let me say, “thanks for lobbing me a big ole softball question!”  Not only is your question easy to answer from Scripture, but it’s also a subject that every pastor has to deal with from time to time, lest the congregation be destroyed from within.

In fact, in my experience, this may be the single-most-destructive-weapon in Satan’s arsenal.  I share the story in every new Members class at CLC about the time I was listening to Pastor Jim Cymbala of Brooklyn Tabernacle preach and he said, “If we have a member of the choir at Brooklyn Tab who slips back to their old lifestyle & we learn that they’re drinking or doing drugs or committing sexual sin, we will work with them, love them, counsel them, pray with them and do everything possible to restore them to God and return them to the choir.  But if we learn that a member of the choir has been spreading critical words about the ministry, gossiping against the church, we put them out of the choir and they can never be allowed back in.”

When he said that I immediately thought to myself, “man, that’s hard!”  Then, after thinking for a few moments, I thought, “man, that’s smart!”  As a pastor for over 38 years, I have never seen a church destroyed by members drinking alcohol, doing drugs, or committing sexual sin (for the record, I’m not in favor of any of that) – but I have seen churches literally ripped apart and eventually destroyed because of gossip.

No wonder Proverbs 6:16-19 says God hates it!  And it doesn’t matter what form the gossip takes, whether disguised as a “prayer request” or some other excuse.  And the easiest way to stop it is to refuse to listen to it – read Prov. 18:7-8 and Prov. 26:21-23.  Of course, the ‘gold standard’ in Scripture gives us help for what to say about others in Matthew 7:12 and Luke 6:31 and (my favorite) Philippians 4:8.

Maybe since Mother’s Day is almost here, I could have cut right to the chase and just repeated what your Mom no doubt told you: “if you can’t find something good to say, just don’t say anything”.  Amen, mom!

Hope this helps.  Now, what would YOU like to Ask the Pastor?

My hat is off especially to the single mom’s in our church family, as they have to juggle every day with work to support their family, all of the stuff that goes with being a mom AND try to make up the difference for dad not being in the home.

We’ve got a few surprises up our sleeve, as well as a great message for moms (and everyone else in the room) as we continue our PURPLE series – so I hope you’ll invite the special women in your life to be your guest this Sunday at 8, 9:30 or 11:30 a.m.

It’ll be worth your while.

Honestly, I didn’t plan a heavy agenda, because the extra meetings on Sunday night & Monday night were physically draining, and I was just plain tired.  So after a few praise reports from the weekend, I asked our team to share their ‘dreams’ for their area of ministry, and it was incredible.  Every single leader is hearing from God and envisioning greater influence and impact for the Kingdom of God, not only here in Chicagoland, but in the Nations!

Even more incredible is that the time of dreaming together turned into a prayer meeting that went on and on, as the Presence of the Lord SO filled the room!  I couldn’t help but weep tears of joy over HIS Presence and the wonderful team of young ‘giant-killers’ the Lord has brought to us!

CLC, better buckle your seat belt, because God is taking us places in the days ahead!

See, I’ve been in this Spirit-filled life since 1966, and I’ve experienced countless times where the Presence of the Lord has moved upon & among His people.  But today I’m hungry for more.  I want to really grow in the things of His Spirit, to maximize the benefit of being in His Presence and having His Presence inside of me.

Selah.

Later I read the NLT translation of the same verse, and heard another ‘word’ – I not only want to grow in the Presence; I also want to grow up in His Presence; i.e., I want to be a responsible, mature believer – not whining, making excuses, or walking in any measure of immaturity & childish behavior.

It’s time for all of us to walk softly before the Lord!  Pentecost Sunday is coming soon, and I can’t wait to introduce our special guest to CLC and let you hear about Pentecost in the 21st Century – because the Presence is not diminishing; it’s growing!

Does this resonate with YOU?

Judges 14:5-18 should have given me a clue about his weakness, when he couldn’t stand against a woman’s tears, and Judges 16:1-3 again showed us the connection between his enemy & his weakness for women.

But it was his interactions with Delilah in Judges 16 that just didn’t even make sense to me.  It seems almost unbelievable that he wouldn’t put 2 and 2 together when she begged him 3 times to know the secret of his strength and when he awoke, she had done to him the very thing he said would make him weak (see Judges 16:6-9; 11-12; 13-14).  Are you kidding me?  Could he possibly have thought that was a coincidence?

And YET, after he finally told her his innermost secret (verse 17), he still fell asleep in her lap (verse 19)!

SELAH.

If you know this woman is asking about your strength and every time you tell her something, it happens AND your enemy just ‘happens’ to be in her house at that same time, why, oh why, would you put your head in her lap???

But that’s the nature of sin’s deception.  Even though Proverbs 6:27-28 is clear, logical and entirely predictable, we still think ‘I’m the exception; I can do this & not get burned’.

May each of us be men & women of purpose (as we discussed last night) and continue to walk softly before the Lord. 

Hope to see you at CLC tonight for the closing session of “A Call to Purity” event – 6:30pm!

• This morning’s services at the Tinley Park campus were like an appetizer for the “Call to Purity” event tonight & tomorrow.  Pastor Jeff Colon’ made it clear that the issue really isn’t sexual sin; the issue is that God wants an intimate relationship with us!
• And tonight’s event certainly delivered: it was so basic and so full of principles that we already know and yet SO needful, all at the same time!  Every man & woman I spoke with afterwards was raving about how helpful it was!
• My wife ministered in South Bend today, and Pastor Doug reports that she preached with such conviction but such tender care that everyone was able to receive.

Looking forward to tomorrow night’s Purity event when we’re able to pray with & minister to all those in attendance – see you then!

Enjoy Dan’s article.

Interesting questions – I think I counted 6 in all.  Let me try to answer them, in order:

1.  While (technically) the Bible doesn’t say “pray for the sinners of the world”, we definitely should pray for others – 1Tim 2:1-4 is very clear about that.

2.  We don’t need to pray for Satan because it would accomplish nothing – his fate is already forever sealed & settled in God’s Word and there is no hope of change for him.  (see Revelation 20:1-3, 7-10)

3.  No, Satan is not a sinner like us – he was the ‘anointed cherub who covers’ (KJV) or the “mighty angelic guardian” (Ezekiel 28:14-16), and unlike us, he didn’t begin on earth, but in heaven, from where he was cast out for his rebellion (Luke 10:18; Rev. 12:7-10)

4.  Because Satan was created to be an angel of the highest order, in that sense I suppose he is ‘better’ than us (Psalms 8:3-5), although many translations of verse 5 read, “a little lower than God“ rather than “a little lower than the angels” - so I’m not sure we can say that Satan is truly better than us.

5.  I would say God is different from us in many ways, not only in that He is perfect.  He’s also from “everlasting to everlasting”, whereas we normally are here for only 70 or 80 years (Psalm 90:1-2, 10) and He possesses qualities that we don’t, such as omniscience, omnipotence and omnipresence, etc.

6.  No, Satan is not just a ‘sinner’; he’s an angelic being who wasn’t content to fulfill the role for which he was created in heaven & whose pride caused him to aspire to God’s own position, and for which he was cast out of heaven to the earth (Isaiah 14:12-15)

I hope this helps – there’s NO NEED for any of us to pray for Satan, since his fate is sealed.

Now, what would YOU like to Ask the Pastor?

He’s not just a God who occasionally does miracles; His identity is the One who works wonders!

Sometimes I forget that.  ˆ

Do you?

When the situation I’m facing looks impossible, or when things just don’t go the way I had hoped they would, or I get really bad news from someone, or probably in a least a dozen other circumstances, I tend to react in my flesh first, without remembering that the God I serve and the One I pray to is the same One who works wonders, and there’s NOTHING that’s too hard for Him!

Just thought we could all use a reminder today.  That’s all.

Oh wait, that’s not all – please don’t forget to TUNE IN to WYLL AM1160 at 3pm today – I’ll be a guest on the “180 with Karl Clauson show”, talking with our guest speakers for this weekend from Pure Life Ministries.  Our segment will be live from 3:10-3:52pm.

The Lord became impatient with the misery of Israel! 

Selah.

To my surprise, when I looked a little closer, I discovered similar statements in 2 other places in Scripture: Judges 2:18 and Isaiah 63:9.

I hope this encourages you today – to know that when you’re hurting, God hurts with you!  Even better, He doesn’t like to hurt, so He becomes impatient with your misery, and He steps in to change things!

I think I’ll plan a sermon about “The IMPATIENT God”.  Do you think it’ll preach?

Our segment will be live on the air this Thursday, May 3, from about 3:15-3:52pm.  I hope you’ll listen in, and invite a friend to join you.  It’s time we equip people to be sexually pure in our overly-sexualized culture!

Don’t forget to invite someone to be your guest this Sunday when we’ll dive deeper into this important subject at 8, 9:30, & 11:30 a.m. as well as the “Call to Purity” conference on Sunday at 5pm and Monday at 6:30pm.

After admonishing Israel to be careful to do all the words God had given them (that in itself is SO important, as James reminds us), Moses then added the part that really caught my attention in verse 47.  Notice:

• “for it is no empty word for you” -that is, the Bible is NOT just a nice book of pretty sayings to read.  (This verse put the fear of God in me, by reminding me that I’m not just entertaining folks for a half-hour on Sundays – HIS Word is incredibly important!)
• “but your very life“ – in fact, the stuff God says in His Word works!  The topics we’ve addressed in our ‘PURPLE’ series hit us right where we live, and if we follow them, OUR life is better!
  
• “and by this word you shall live long in the land…” – in fact, by that our lives will

I know this is really no ‘new’ revelation – but the Holy Spirit talked to me out of these verses to let me know !

Selah.

I don’t want to merely read; I want to do!

• heard terrific reports from the H2H retreat, including a testimony from Wendy Durham who was healed of asthma when my wife prayed for her yesterday!
• and of course, welcomed Bennett Andrew McQuay into the world
  

  Bennett Andrew McQuay - 4/28/12 - 6 lbs, 12 oz.

  but then today was off-the-charts again:

• more than 1,500 people worshiped with us in Tinley Park today!
• LOVED the worship set with the little girl’s solo on Awesome God (kudos to India Richardson & Alexis Franklin), and still LOVING the new song, I Am All He Says I Am!
• Don’t recall the last time I saw a grandmother & grandson baptized in the same service OR the last time I saw the Holy Ghost poured out in the water like today – WOW!  (We not only saw it on the big screens; we felt it in the audience!)
• Absolutely LOVED the new approach to baby dedications (as pastors, we met with the families at a reception prior to the service where I had the chance to meet each family, pray over each child, etc. – it felt special again, as it should!)
• And I’m LOVING the Purple series – I know some were helped today with their anger issues, and the momentum is building here!
• I’m GLAD to be a part of a church with a vision for the next generation!  Thank you, Pastors Tony & Sam for articulating that vision so well today, and to all the wonderful dancers from our Children’s Dance Team – you blessed us today!
• I’m also GLAD to be a part of a church with a heart for missions, & I’m excited that several responded to Pastor Jaime’s call for the next trip to Peru!  (It’s not too late – if you want more info about the trip, contact Jaime Flores or Scott Pachol)
• You know, I’m really GLAD to be a part of a church that’s harnessing today’s technology to reach people!  Our Media Director, Ed Marroquin just informed me that a woman who’s only been ‘attending’ online up until now, wrote, “I’ve got to become a member of this church; I’m coming next week!” – LOVE IT!
• and at the South Bend campus, Pastor Doug reports an absolutely incredible day, with “extremely high praise”, 2 babies dedicated to the Lord, and a great response to the teaching that had folks lingering in the altar long after service was over!
• Our Philippines campus is already in their summer break, when many of their college students return to their homes, but Pastor Herley reports good services today with 13 precious people receiving Jesus as their Savior!
• And Pastor William says the Spanish service today had an especially beautiful worship time-

You know, if only D. Rose hadn’t torn his ACL yesterday, this would have been an altogether WONDERFUL weekend……oh well, can’t have everything, I guess.

Great question.  I probably should confess that my statement may have been a little misleading, as I’m sure that many insecure people do serve in churches all around the world.  In fact, often times (in my humble opinion), insecure people volunteer to serve in the hopes of proving their worth to others.

What I probably should have said is that insecurity hinders true service.  In order to truly serve others, I have to “get out of myself, and into them” (as one of my mentors from a secular job used to remind us regularly).  And if I’m insecure, it’s almost impossible for me to focus on others instead of myself.  (That’s why some teachers insist that insecurity & a sense of inferiority is actually just another form of pride, since the focus is still on self & it’s still ‘all about you’).

People who are secure of who they are in Christ have nothing to prove, so they can follow Jesus’ example, put on the apron, and serve.  (John 13:3-5)

Hope that helps clarify.  Now, what would YOU like to Ask the Pastor?

I’ve noticed it seems to talk to me whenever I give it a chance, from wherever I’m reading.  This morning is was Judges 5:1-2

• sometimes we leaders are reluctant or negligent to fulfill our call to lead(after all, when you lead, you become a target, and you do get shot at)
• sometimes it seems that God’s people aren’t offering themselves (as some translations put it) to follow their God-given leaders (there are lots of possible reasons for that, but I like Craig Groeschel’s explanation best: the problem is not that our people aren’t doing whatever it is that we want to complain about; the problem is that I haven’t lead them to do it!
• BUT (this is the part of verse 2 I like) – when leaders take charge and the people gladly follow, WOO-HOO, Praise the Lord! (it doesn’t get any better than this!)

So I just have one question today (actually, I think it’s the question my Bible is asking) – whether you’re a leader or a follower (since we ALL assume both roles at various times) – are you doing what you should do in order for God to do what only HE can do? (i.e., take charge OR gladly follow)

Selah.

My Bible talked to me again this morning.  If you’ll read Luke 22:31-32, I think you’ll hear it, too.  Jesus is praying for you!

Don’t think for a moment that He only prayed for Simon Peter…. Hebrews 7:23-25 makes it clear: He still lives to make intercession for US!  (Read v. 25 in the Amplified Bible)

So whether you’re having a good day or a bad day, on top of the world or struggling to survive – take courage: Jesus is praying for you!  He is SO committed to your spiritual success that He will save you to the uttermost: completely, perfectly, finally, and for all time & eternity – by praying for you today and everyday!

“about 4 weeks ago I was told by my ob-gyn that she found a mass on my breast and needed to send me for my first mammogram and ultrasound. With a history of breast cancer in my family, my ob-gyn was quite concerned. That SAME day, my dear friends and the Lord had plans for me to attend a Saturday service at our church.  There were special guest speakers and a guest praise team, David and Nicole Binion.  I have to admit, at first I was a bit shaken and I just felt like, “why do I need this extra stress and load?  Don’t I already have enough to worry about and deal with?”

  At the beginning of service, during worship, in the Presence of God, I was on my knees, head down, tears streaming, feeling sorry for myself, and David Binion said (something like), “Look up, lift your head!” And I I thought, is he talking to me?  So I looked up.  “I command you, in the Name of Jesus,” he said, looking in my direction, “to be healed!”  I knew he was talking to me.  Later, Pastor Jerry laid hands on me and prayed as well for my healing.  From that moment on I was absolutely positively sure that those words were for me and that I was healed.  I was so confident of that, that later when I went through with the ultra sound and mammogram and was told that I’d need a biopsy of two masses and that other blood work came back abnormal, I told friends, “I don’t think I’m going to see any more doctors.  It’s just a hassle and I already know everything is fine!”  Of course I was chastised with love and had to go forward with the rest of the process- more tests and the biopsies. Today the doctor’s results came back, but God’s report has been back for a while!:)  All I can say is, when God gives you a word, a promise, you can stand firm on that!!!

p.s. today (just a few minutes ago) I got the formal job offer in writing (that I’ve been waiting on for a month!!). 

Then a little later, I received another email (ironically, from the CLCer who was instrumental in bringing Jennifer to CLC) – here’s an excerpt from it:

 I’ll be off in July due to my job change and I won’t receive a paycheck until late August.  In December I did not pay tithes (first time in several years) due to the wedding and I felt so convicted that I made the back payment in March. I prayed for forgiveness and committed to trusting God completely with our finances. On Saturday, Pat (small group leader) prayed that we wouldn’t feel an affect financially from my job change.

Today, I found out that I have 20 vacation days that I didn’t even know I’d accrued. My job will write me a check for in June which will cover all our summer living expenses!!! The max vacation days that you can cash out is usually 10; my boss spontaneously stated that he’d like to make an exception for me (let me be clear–I did NOT request this exception nor did I know it was possible).

Needless, to say God will do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think (Eph 3:20). Praise God!

Can someone say ‘FAVOR’?

I LOVE this season that we’re in!!!  Anyone else want to share a praise report below?

Can’t recall when my schedule was quite this crazy, with Saturday prayer meeting, MEGA leadership gathering and then entertaining a family from our first youth group in MI.  Today was the usual 3 Sunday services, lunch with those friends, a wedding, an ordination service at another church & a conference call with the CAPRO USA Board.  I’m tired!

But it’s a good tired, considering:

• after teaching an old-school holiness message about a life that pleases God, we had about 10-12 people come forward to give their lives to Christ at our Tinley Park location!  (Now, you know that had to be God!!!)
• The worship team was on FIYAH today!  And I think I have a new favorite song – “I am all He says I am” (except I like Dee Wilson better than the original) – love it!
• LOVED Pastor Ben’s story about Nili leading an EMT to Christ while she’s running a 105-degree fever & is being medevaced to the hospital & how that inspired him to pray ‘right now’ for the salesman that God healed of cancer!  Prayer really IS the foundation of pleasing HIM!
• Pastor Herley at our Philippines campus has been teaching our “RUAH” series there, and he reported today that God has really manifested himself through his Holy Spirit in their services, with several miracles & healings.  But what’s more amazing is that it’s also happening outside the church. One of their youth leaders took a bus as she went to another city. While they were traveling the Holy Spirit spoke to her that one of the passengers had pain in his right shoulder. She was a bit hesitant but eventually obeyed the Lord, asked the man and, to her amazement, he had been suffering that pain for months. She asked if she could pray for him and he agreed. Immediately after prayer all the pain was gone. The man was happy and so amazed and he received Jesus into his heart.  Now get the most amazing part: he was a Muslim!  God is at work in the Philippines!
• In South Bend today, Pastor Doug says they had a great service, but more importantly, had about 20 new people at their Newcomer’s Reception, and they all seemed very excited to be a part of the church!
• At our Hispanic campus, Pastors William & Melek are team-teaching “PURPLE” and today 2 precious people gave their lives to Christ!

God is up to something at CLC, and I’m glad WE get to be a part of it!

Wow. Great question. My initial thought was ‘if I knew the answer to that, I’d run for President’. But I wouldn’t – I’d much rather pastor CLC!

Honestly, the only thing (ever) good about hate would be if it is directed at sin & Satan – but never at sinners or people!

As to your question of “why”, I can only say, because we live in a fallen, sinful world. After all, you only have to read into the fourth chapter of the Bible, and only the first sons of the first family, before you read about murder! I think it’s obvious that hate has been a part of our world since those earliest days of man’s history.

Since I can’t really answer your question, let me instead give you an encouragement from God’s Word: Romans 12:17-21. The way for us to overcome hate is to love, unconditionally.

By the way, on a related topic, we’re dealing head-on this Sunday with ANGER ISSUES, giving practical help for all of us…hope to see you here!

Hope that helps a little bit. Now, what would YOU like to Ask the Pastor?

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!

But the highlight so far was definitely our dinner stop in Dexter, where we pastored a denominational church for 5 years just before moving to Tinley Park. Seeing the building we built was very nostalgic (although it looked so much smaller than I remembered!) and we topped that off with the world-famous ribs from Hickory Log.

For those who aren’t following us on Facebook, enjoy the pics:

Chris & I are helping her make the drive and get settled in, so we decided to make it a fun road trip by stopping off tonight at our all-time #1 favorite rib joint in the world – The Hickory Log in Dexter, Missouri, where we pastored for 5 years prior to coming to Tinley Park in 1989.  (I can taste ‘em already!)

Then tomorrow morning we’ll meet my sister for breakfast (perhaps with some other relatives) in my hometown of Jonesboro, Arkansas, and still plan to pull into Dallas by nightfall.

It’s probably a sign of age, but I’m actually looking forward to this trip down memory lane – nostalgia!

I’ll be back Friday & already looking forward to a great MEGA meeting with CLC’s top tier of leadership and then a full Sunday with 3 services, a wedding, and an evening service at an area church.  Oh yeah, somewhere in there I’m going to squeeze some time with long-time friends from Detroit who were in our first youth group in the mid-70′s! 

Man, now I’m starting to feel old…..

At any rate, it’s always & consistently been a poorly-attended day at CLC, so much so that it can even be depressing for a pastor who was emotionally-high at Easter only to come crashing down the very next weekend.  NOT TODAY:

• This was a first in our history, as we enjoyed a strong attendance at the Tinley Park campus.  And the worship was FULL of the Presence today, in all three services – kudos to Pastor Jon and the Servants of Praise!

• I can’t imagine that free donuts & coffee made that much difference, but it was also one of the highest-attended 8am services in our history, and BEST of all, we saw people give their lives to Christ at each service – at least 6-8 for the day!  (That just never gets old)

• Of course, Chris & I had too much fun with “Male & Female” as we kicked off the ‘PURPLE’ series today – but I’m looking forward to digging deeper in the weeks ahead – hope you’ll invite someone to be your guest.

• Our Philippines campus sent a great report via email: 24 people saved in their Sunday services, but just as wonderful were the testimonies shared: Last Friday during the Regeneration service (their youth ministry), the Holy Spirit moved powerfully and many young people received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. One young lady, a college student, went home speaking in tongues and her parents (who aren’t Christians) became worried because she couldn’t speak Cebuano; she could only speak in tongues that night.  So the parents called Pastor Herley and his leaders went to their home and explained to them what happened to her. The whole family received Jesus and promised to come to church next Sunday!
  Another miracle: one of the visitors to Regeneration who received Jesus had a terminal illness in his lungs.  He was prayed for and the next day he went to his doctor and the doctor was amazed that he’s already healed – said he has new lungs! He came back today and shared his testimony.  (I’ll say it again: I LOVE what God is doing in the Philippines, and I LOVE that we get to be a part of it!)
• Pastor William at our Hispanic campus reports that the Presence of God was so sweet today as Pastor Jaime preached a great message about women.
• And ‘women’ was the subject of the day in South Bend, as Pastor Doug delivered his message to prepare people there for the ‘PURPLE’ series.

That’s it for today – now it’s couch time!

In fact, when we first started working here in 2001, there were only about 2,000 born-again believers in the entire nation.  Today, our leaders estimate that there are perhaps 100,000 believers nationwide!  Of course, that’s still a tiny fraction of the 12 million people here, but it’s encouraging to know that God is at work!

Here are a few of the highlights of the last 3 days:

• After a wonderful teaching about forgiveness & reconciliation from Dave Ogren, some of the pastors became very broken before the Lord, with some even coming forward to make public confession….it was a beautiful sight!
• Chris was able to take all the women (over half of the attendees) for some “women’s-only” sessions, and the Lord really met with them.  Her interpreter was a young woman who has only been saved for one year, but who has a wonderful testimony of deliverance from drugs, the occult, and more.  Her father is a UN official stationed here, and she has been able to lead both her parents to the Lord in the last year!
• After the final session we issued the Global Advance challenge, and everyone in the room committed to spend time with the Lord every day; 14 pastors pledged to plant at least one new church in the next 12 months; and 6 brave souls offered to go as missionaries to either Unreached People Groups in Senegal or to another nation in the next year!

When we were all done, the conference attendees, in typical African hospitality, presented each of us with gifts.  Enjoy the final pics-

Chris teaching with the young woman whose father is a UN official here

Great question – one I’ve been asked many times before, but never based on this verse of Scripture. Here’s my take:

• As you point out, the vast majority of other translations use the word “fill” instead of “replenish” – in fact, in my study, the ONLY time I found ‘replenish’ used was in the KJV – every other translation I looked at said “fill”.
• The Hebrew word translated ‘replenish’ there is found 249 times in the Old Testament and was only translated ‘replenish’ 7 of those times.  I’m no scholar, but from the scholars I read, even the root of the Hebrew word clearly & obviously refers to something being ‘full or filled’.
• So, from a Biblical standpoint, I feel very comfortable to say that “fill” is a better translation in that verse, and that there is no connotation that there were other humans on earth before Adam.

Now, as to my personal opinion, I have never seen any evidence in Scripture that would lead me to believe that there were humans on earth prior to Adam.  I know that scientists calculate our world as being millions of years old and we only have 6,000 years of man’s history from Adam – but I personally feel there are several other possibilities to explain that – NOT that God has a prior creation of humans and that He started over again with Adam & Eve.

Hope that helps.  Now, what would YOU like to Ask the Pastor?

My life is so much richer from having met and networked with people like Hannu Haukka, the founder of Great Commission Media Ministries based in Helsinki, Finland.  We only met yesterday, but we’ve already discovered several mutual friends, including Pastor Edward Grabovenko in Perm, Russia and Leon Mazin in Haifa, Israel.  Hannu has entertained all of us at mealtimes with the most amazing stories of how God has used their ministry in unusual ways to get the Gospel into some of the most unreached places on earth.

For instance, just before Communism fell in the former Soviet Union, his ministry was given permission to air “Superbook” on the Soviet National Television channel.  These 52 Bible stories in cartoon form generated such an overwhelming response that he was asked to come to the main Post Office in Moscow and brought into a huge room that was overflowing with over one million letters.  The postal officials informed him that the vast majority of the mail was for him, and because it had overwhelmed their office, asked him to take the entire roomful of mail and sort out what didn’t belong to his ministry and return it to the Post Office!

He has shared so many absolute miracle stories of how God has opened strategic doors that our fellowship times over meals has been better than the conference itself!  We’re believing that CLC can partner with GCMM to see Senegal reached with the Gospel through a media campaign in 2013.

Here’s a couple more pics from today-

Hannu Haukka of Great Commission Media Ministries with me

"Mama" Bavelloni (Charles' mother) with Chris - it was like a family reunion!

Since a picture is worth a thousand words, I’ll let these pics carry the day:

Chris teaching w/Pastor Victorien translating (she's the short one on the right)

ever one for object lessons, Chris demonstrates how John Wesley's mother managed to get her prayer time even with 19 children

Dave Ogren teaching, Pastor Eloi Dogue translating & Dale Van Steenis listening intently

After the last session, time to snugggle with Sarah, Pastor Vic's youngest daughter

I’ve been doing pastor’s conferences with Global Advance and other missions trips for years, often going straight from the airport after an international flight into the conference (sometimes straight into the pulpit for my opening session) and never realized what a difference it would make to give myself a day to adjust.

Today we slept until almost 8am (can’t remember the last time I did that), ate a relaxed breakfast with Chris and 2 of our other speakers, Dale Van Steenis & Dave Ogren, and then spent the day with them & Pastor Victorien Nakigan.  We took the ferry over to Goree Island (which was the point of departure for almost 90% of all the slaves ever brought to America – and is sobering beyond description when you visualize man’s inhumanity to his fellow man). 

We ended the day with a brief tour of the Dakar church built by CLC funds several years ago and then some fellowship with our friends, Chika Dogue and Pastor Andrew from Ziguinchor.

I’m relaxed and rested and looking forward to the opening of the Conference tomorrow.  I’ll even have time this evening for prayer & study before speaking, instead of trying to prepare on the plane.  Amazing.

I think I’ll do this again.

This is an important season for the Church in Senegal, and we hope to be a real blessing to the precious pastors & leaders there who are shining the light of the Gospel in a predominantly Muslim nation.  I hope you’ll pray for us & the conference this week.

We’ll return by Saturday afternoon – excited about the PURPLE series at CLC!

Adieu!

Oh my goodness, where to start:

• loved the opening guitar riff with Raymond Adams – set the stage for what followed!
• what followed was some Spirit-filled WORSHIP that brought the Presence into the House – thanks, Pastor Jon & Servants of Praise – you were wonderful!
• And the Media Team – wow, I hope you recover from the long hours you put in all week – but all of us think you did an awesome job of bringing the reality of Jesus’ life & death home to us!  Kudos to Eduardo, Brent, Jen, Christian & anyone else on the team I’ve overlooked, PLUS our friend Hudson – we literally could not have done it without you!
• Thanks to the Dance Team for such energy & to Pastor Rachel & Leanne for the special – you looked like you were enjoying yourselves so much, we HAD to join in worship with you!
• Thank you, Gateway Music & Philip Thompson for the SONGS – I absolutely loved singing, “Oh, the Blood” and hearing “Your Masterpiece”……chill bumps!
• thanks to my favorite team of pastors: Ben, Tony & Sam – for coordinating & leading with excellence on this very special day!
• Finally, to the incredible team of volunteers (you know who you are) – some of whom served in all 4 services this weekend because of the need – I love you and I appreciate you!
• Of course, most AMAZING of all is that 54 precious people stood up & walked forward this weekend to receive Jesus Christ as their Lord!  Can you say, ‘Par-tay’ in heaven this weekend!
• Just heard from Pastor William at our Hispanic campus, where they had a great drama & Easter celebration AND 5 people prayed to receive Jesus!
• Pastor Doug in South Bend reports an enthusiastic Easter crowd there today and says they really responded to the creative video elements in the service.

Haven’t heard from our other pastors, but since I’m leaving for O’Hare in about an hour, I’m going to sign off with my favorite comment overhead today: seems that one of our members heard a new family behind them in service, as the husband said to his wife, ‘This is our first time here, but this is home!’

I love this church; I love what God is doing among us!  Can’t wait to see what’s next-

Great question.  Great Scripture!

This passage was a specific prophecy to Zerubbabel, who would eventually rebuild Solomon’s temple that had been destroyed by the Babylonians.  It was a monumental task and he faced much opposition that caused numerous delays & discouragement.

But this prophecy seemed to be the catalyst that enabled him to finish the task, as the Lord assured him that the temple would not be completed by military might or by human will power, but because of the anointing of the Spirit of the Lord!

That ‘word’ not only applied to Zerubbabel then; it’s a principle for every one of us now: whenever we are faced with challenges or daunting odds in trying to walk out God’s will for our lives – we can take courage in knowing that it’s not up to us – our strength, our willpower, our ingenuity, etc. – but our dependency is on the Spirit of God!

It’s also a good reminder to us everyday, whether the task seems bigger than us or not – that it’s not about us; we need His Spirit in everything we do!

Hope that helps.  Now, what would YOU like to Ask the Pastor?

Someone you know is broken on the inside, because of sin and life circumstances.

Someone you know is looking for love, in all the wrong places.

You have the answer.

You know what Jesus did at the Cross.

Just as important, you know what He’s done in your life.

Do you remember how you felt the first day you met Him?

This weekend CLC is offering 4 opportunities for those who are hungry, broken & searching to find life, both now & for eternity. (Saturday at 5pm & Sunday at 8, 9:30 and 11:30am)

What will YOU do about it?

A friend of mine tweeted, “No one comes to an egg hunt without a basket.            No one should come to Easter service without a guest.”

All it takes is your invitation. 

Pick up the phone. 

Send the email. 

Start the conversation. 

Today.

Believe me, we have pulled out ALL the stops to make this Easter the most impactful in our history, with some exciting new worship music, the most ambitious video presentation we’ve ever attempted, a message from the Holy Land, dance, and even Communion together as a church family!  I’m pumped!

Here’s what I’m asking of YOU:

1.  PRAY – as we discussed with our pastoral team today, all of our efforts, creativity & multi-media will mean nothing without the anointing of the Holy Spirit.  I’m urging every CLCer to join me in praying for the manifest Presence of God in every service, and that HE would draw unchurched & unsaved folks to Himself this weekend!  (You may even want to join our weekly prayer gathering this Saturday at 8am)

2.  INVITE – I can’t emphasize it enough.  Your unchurched friends & family WILL come, if you’ll invite them.  Read Luke 14:15-23 and then ask yourself WHO you will bring to service this weekend.  Remember, you have 4 great opportunities: Saturday at 5pm and Sunday at 8, 9:30 or 11:30am!

3.  EXPECT – after you’ve prayed & invited, you have every right to expect God to work!  Expect Him to move on the hearts of those you invited, so that they’ll come.  Expect Him to draw hungry people from north, south, east and west (Isa 43:5-7).  Expect His Presence to fill every service.  Expect His Word to go forth with power!  Expect people you’ve invited to receive Jesus!

4.  GIVE – as I mentioned last Sunday, we’re receiving a one-time special EASTER offering specifically for our next generation at CLC.  Your generous gift will help us to provide the ‘WOW’ factor with equipment & tools to reach our children from the nursery to the college classroom.  Please mark your offering “Easter” or you can give easily & securely online here.

Can’t wait until Saturday at 5pm!

Does that speak to you?

Here’s what it says to me: perhaps the biggest giant that we’ll ever face & certainly the last one we’ll need to overcome in life is our own comfort!

God has made incredible promises to each of us in His Word – but that doesn’t mean the manifestation comes without a battle.  And our passivity or laziness or comfort will prevent us from pressing in to receive ALL that He has for us.

Instead, let’s get out of our big beds today (and every day) and defeat the giants who would hinder us from our Promised Land!

• I’m thankful for the team that God is putting together for us at CLC.  One week ago today, our Board of Directors commented to me that they felt it’s the best team we’ve ever had, and yesterday in the lobby a long-time CLCer made the same comment to me.  I’m praising God for each & every pastoral team member & I agree with the prophetic word from our ordination service that we now have some “giant-killers” on this team!
• I’m glad that we’re functioning as a team.  Last week’s trip to the All-Access Conference was a blessing on so many levels, not the least of which was that I can’t recall the last time I laughed so much!  This team knows how to have fun together, and in the stressful world of ministry, that’s uber-important!
• I’m proud of the job our Family Ministries team did in service yesterday!  Brent clearly articulated the goal and the specifics of how people could serve; Sam kept us all laughing about being a part of the “dysfunctional CSM team”; and Tony had us all in tears at the thought we could make a difference in an Eboni!
• I’m grateful for the terrific job that Jen and each of the ministry leaders did in organizing the Ministry Exp and making it simple & easy for CLCers to respond.
• I’m still moved by the memory of our next generation at CLC marching onto the stage to your applause, cheers and prayers yesterday!
• Most of all, I’m happy to be part of a church that always responds to the vision God is giving us and I’m blown-away by the fact that 180 people volunteered to serve in some area of ministry here yesterday!  This is in addition to the hundreds of CLCers who already serve, and will take our ministry to a whole new level!
• I love this Church!

Because of all this & more, I so want others to experience the Presence of God in this house, and we all have 4 opportunities to get them here THIS weekend for Easter.  WHO will you invite?

• definitely feeling like a ‘softie’ these days, as I couldn’t help tearing up as I told the story of the New Testament Church of Perm, Russia & how they dismiss their children for their classes each Sunday – but I was just as moved by how CLCers welcomed our next generation today!
• as a pastor, you always wonder if the message is really being received, beyond the “amen’s” or the laughter at your jokes – but this afternoon I’m not wondering; I’m rejoicing – about 100 CLCers volunteered to serve in our next generation ministries today, besides all the other areas where you committed to serve.  I love this church!!!
• Is it just me, or are these new songs AWESOME: Standing and I’m a Lover of Your Presence – loving it, Pastor Jon & SOP!
• Pastor Doug reports that our South Bend campus baptized 4 people today & enjoyed several new or repeat guests – great response to the call to serve there, also!
• Finally, Pastor Herley just emailed that 9 people received Jesus in their Sunday services at the Davao City campus.  He also writes, “We had supernatural services where the presence of God was so strong and manifested Himself in our midst. We are honored to have Pastor Kevin Dedmon, author of Treasure Hunt, one of the Pastors of Bethel Church from Redding, California under Pastor Bill Johnson. So many were healed: Blindness, shorter leg grew, cancer, and all kinds of sicknesses and diseases. Everybody experienced the presence of God!” LOVE what God is doing in the Philippines!

Can’t wait for EASTER Sunday – who are you inviting?  Only 6 more days – but your invitation just may make a difference in their eternity!

• I’m glad CLC is a part of ARC.  I don’t know of another group in the country that is planting life-giving churches as successfully as ARC – with 93% of the churches we’ve planted in the last 10 years still going!
• By sowing into ARC every month, ‘we’ are planting churches & obeying the “Judea” part of our Great Commission strategy to reach our local area, our nation, cross-culturally and internationally (Acts 1:8)
• The leaders of ARC are the real deal!  From the opening sessions on Tuesday until the final amen on Thursday, we were hearing about prayer, hearing God, generosity, honor, & caring for people.  It’s probably not what most people would expect from big-time, nationally-known pastors of mega-churches – but it’s exactly why these men are pastoring nationally-known churches of multiple thousands!
• I’m especially glad that I could bring our pastoral team with me.  We’ve got some incredible young men serving at CLC, and I’m thrilled that THEY heard the same thing I did: prayer, hearing God, generosity, honor & caring for people is what it’s all about!

Thanks, ARC!  (Oh yeah, Gateway Church wasn’t too shabby, either)

I understand each of our “gifts” are a unique form of ministry to others; however, I am referring to a leadership position in a church or ministry.

What’s your take on this?”

Excellent question – one that’s been hotly debated in different church circles for years, and that I’ve answered several times through our history at CLC.

Let’s start with what I know: the Bible never contradicts itself.  NEVER.  Otherwise, it loses its authority and we are left without a rudder – we don’t know what to believe.

And since I know that the Bible never contradicts itself, I personally don’t see any way that 1Tim 2:11-15 (or the only other passage in Bible that seems similar, 1Cor 14:34-35) could possibly mean what some have interpreted it to mean; i.e., that ministry or leadership positions in the New Testament church are reserved for men only.

I say that because there are so many other references in Scripture to women who obviously ministered publicly: John 4:39; Exodus 15:20; 2Kings 22:14; Acts 18:24-26, Acts 21:9; Romans 16:1-2, Romans 16:7; Joel 2:28 w/Acts 2:17-18. 

Think of women in the Old Testament who influenced nations, like Deborah and Esther.  Or how about the “ministering women” who defied the custom of the day in Palestine to follow Jesus, and  their names have been recorded for us as a memorial of them. (Luke 8:3; 24:10).  These women were among the last at the cross (Matt 27:55-56) and the first at the His tomb!  (Mark 16:1-2)

Or how about these women in the New Testament Church, who obviously had a ministry: Mary (Acts 12:12); Tabitha (Acts 9:36); Priscilla (of Acts 18 and 1Cor 16:19); or even Euodia & Syntche (Phil 4:3).

Personally, I’m convinced that Gal 3:28 makes it clear: women canfulfill any ministry that a man can fill.  In fact, my experience in ministry over the last 43 years tells me that the real issue is usually gender-bias or male chauvinism!  And in my mind, the only thing worse than human prejudice is when we try to use Bible to justify it.

I’ll get down from my soapbox long enough to try to address the specific passage you asked about – 1Tim 2:11-15, and I can tell you that ‘silence’ in verse12 is same Greek word as ‘quiet’ in verse 2.  According to Greek scholars, it does NOT denote a verbal quiet, but a quiet as in peaceful.   (I’m not a scholar, but I’m told that there are 2 Greek words, one indicates ‘tranquillity arising from without’, and this one, indicating ‘tranquility arising from within; meaning, ‘causing no disturbance to others’, and it was also used in 1Pet 3:4 so it is often associated with ’meek’, to characterize the spirit or disposition of a person.

Finally, IF that one verse of Scripture is to override all the rest of the Bible and truly forbids a women to minister publicly, then why has God blessed so many women in ministry through the years, including just a few that I’ll list here:

• Sojourner Truth -  an ex-slave, mother, evangelist, abolitionist, author, women’s rights advocate, temperance activist.  Those who knew her remembered her as a “dynamic woman with strength, integrity, poise and wit.  She was a powerful public speaker and knew large portions of the Bible by heart, but never learned how to read or write.  Sojourner Truth spent more than 50 years on the front lines.
• Aimee Semple McPherson started a church, the Foursquare denomination, and a Bible School.  She applied for and received the first FCC license ever issued to a woman and was the first Christian radio station ever operated.  In her lifetime she composed 175 songs & hymns, preached thousands of sermons and graduated over 8,000 ministers from L.I.F.E. Bible College.  It is estimated that during the Depression, some 1.5 million people received aid from her ministry.
• Bertha Smith was a missionary to China for nearly 42 years. She retired at age 70, returned to USA where she had another ministry of almost 30 yrs, awakening American Christians to their need for revival and inspiring them to pray for an awakening in their land.  During her travels and constant speaking engagements she touched thousands of lives.  She died just five months short of her 100^th birthday.  She left a legacy in the form of the Peniel Prayer Center, a retreat center for spiritual life conferences.
• Kathryn Kuhlman was known for a worldwide ministry that began to develop in 1950. Her messages were heard all over the United States and overseas. Most of us remember her as a woman of miracles.  However, although there were thousands upon thousands of miracles, the greatest miracle to Kathryn was when a person became born again.  It was common for tumors to dissolve, cancers to fall off, the blind to see and the deaf to hear.  Migraine headaches were healed instantly.  Even teeth were divinely filled.  It would be impossible to list all the miracles that took place during her prolific ministry.

Sorry to wax eloquent on this subject, but I do feel passionate about how the Church has oftentimes gone into battle with one hand tied behind our back by not allowing women to fulfill the calling that God has placed upon their life to minister, simply because of their gender.

I do understand the authority that God has delegated to the husband in his household and the principle of men in leadership even in the Church.  But as I’ve explained in the past, my wife is not “usurping” authority at CLC; I have given it to her, knowing that God has gifted her to pastor here alongside me.

Hope this helps a bit.  Now, what would YOU like to Ask the Pastor?

Besides the incredible line-up of speakers we’ll enjoy over the next couple of days, we’ll also have a chance to see first-hand one of the premier churches in America, our host, Gateway Church, led by Pastor Robert Morris.

Best of all, we’ll have a chance to bond together as a team, since we have several newbies on our staff, and I’m looking forward to our fellowship & conversations into the night.

We’ll be back Thursday afternoon, fired-up and raring to go!

If you wish to order the entire set of 5 messages on CD for just $20, you can place your order here and pick up your set next Sunday at the information desk.

Others have asked about DVD’s of all the services, and that entire set is also available for $35 if you place your order here.

Awesome!

• Thank you to the Binion’s for leading us into His Presence each & every service;
• Thank you, Dale Van Steenis, for reminding us that the anointing always runs down & if we’re in a low place, that’s where we’ll find it!
• Thank you, Tim Ross, for helping us see so clearly the privilege & responsibility we have as ambassadors in The Kingdom & that wherever we are is an Embassy of our country!
• Thank you, Pastor Gordon Banks, for teaching us how we can all be a “Closer” like Michael Jordan!
• Thank you, Bishop Garlington, for defining what real integrity is, so that we can walk it out in a world that so desperately needs an example!
• THANK YOU, CLCers, for showing up large, many of you for all 5 services, demonstrating your love & support not only for what God has done in the past 22 years, but for what He’s about to do through us and our newly-ordained pastors: William & Melek Arevalo, Tony & Angie Gilmore, Sam & Taylor Hamstra, Jon & Rachel Jones and Ben & Nili Stewart!  (Dale Van Steenis told me last night that in all his years of ministry he had never seen such a beautiful ordination service, and I concur wholeheartedly!)

In case you don’t know, Chris & I love you and we’re excited about our future together!

In fact, they always manage to question us about stuff I would never have guessed they’d ask about, and it seems the discussion often goes in different directions than I would ever have planned.  But I’ve noticed that God uses them consistently to help us.

That’s really no surprise, since the New Testament Church always included a plurality of elders, and there’s no example of a local church being led by one pastor.  Chris & I both feel privileged to serve with these men in leading CLC, and we remain submitted to their counsel.

In the middle of it all today, I’ll sneak out of the room long enough to do the eulogy for Lorenzo Poe, so, if you read this early on Monday morning, please remember Kathy and the family in your prayers – and ask the Lord for His wisdom to be imparted through our Directors today, too.

It’s gonna be a good day.

Wow.  My heart goes out to him, and many others in similar situations.  Let me offer a few suggestions:

1.  Do something.  Ecclesiastes 9:10 is sobering in regards to the fact that our time here is limited, but the first part of the verse is the key: whatever you find to do, do it with your whole heart.  For someone who is unemployed, the worst thing you could do is sit around all day thinking depressing thoughts about your situation.  Instead, get up as though you had a job to go to – get dressed and find something constructive to do – whether it’s hitting the streets to look for work, sending out resume’s, or scouring the area for temporary jobs of some kind.  And even better than that,

2.  Serve someone.  ALL of us will become direction-less, confused or stagnant if we focus on ourselves and our situation only.  Instead, find someone else in need and do what you can to meet that need.  Shovel snow for an elderly neighbor, rake leaves, volunteer in a soup kitchen, tutor a child, volunteer at your church – there is something you can do to serve someone else.  And by getting out of yourself and into them, you’ll start to feel good about yourself – there’s no joy like the joy of serving others!  There’s no better example of this in Scripture than Joseph, who served with his heart even though he was a slave: Genesis 39:2-20, 41:9-57, Acts 7:10.

3.  Spend time daily in praise and worship.  I know it’s important for you to pray, but in a situation like yours, it’s so easy for pray time to become self-pity time, rehearsing all your needs.  So I would encourage you instead to make the willful decision to spend extra amounts of time in worship.  Use the book of Psalms if you need some help getting started, but instead of just pleading with God for relief from your circumstances, start reciting all the reasons you’re thankful – all the attributes of God that deserve your praise – all the blessings of the past – all the promises of His Word that you’re believing for.  Here are a few verses to help: Colossians 3:15-16; 1Thessalonians 5:18; Hebrews 12:28; Hebrews 13:15; Psalm 103.

I sincerely hope that helps, not only my friend who asked the question, but for any other reader in similar circumstances.

Now, what would YOU like to Ask the Pastor?

• through our partnership with World Compassion, more than 1,100 students in Communist China are enrolled in Discipleship Training
• AND we’re supporting pastors in Iraq in compassion evangelism outreaches with shoes, food & blankets, as well as smuggling Bibles (almost 30,000!) into this radical Islamic nation where the underground church is flourishing!
• AND, in Afghanistan, where all the mainline media reports are negative these days, CLC is providing literacy, English & computer training to hundreds of students.
• AND finally in Myanmar (Burma), we’re a part of supporting 15 different church plants, where about 1,000 people gave their lives to the Lord in a recent outreach!

and through our partnership in Russia with the One Year for Jesus program, we’re literally helping to reach the forgotten people in the most-difficult to reach villages of Russia.  In fact, one of the teams that we partner with recently traveled by snowmobile, in minus-22 degree temperatures in order to preach the Gospel to over 3,000 people in small towns & villages in the Northern Perm region.  Here’s the full report, with pictures: 2012.02-03_Project Update (you’ll have to save the pdf file to your computer & then open it in a new browser)

According to what Jesus said in Matthew 10:40-42, every CLCer who has given to support this ministry will also share in the reward with these precious partners who labor in the harvest fields!

Thank you for your faithful giving week after week – every dollar you give is going to change lives, both here & in the Nations!

Personally, I want to press in on HIM in my worship – not be content to go thru the motions or have just ‘another’ church service.

And after I press in on HIM, I especially want to press in to hear the Word!  I’m praying that each member of our Board of Directors will come with ‘rhema’ words specifically for CLC, but I also know that if I come hungry, eagerly-receptive, then God will be faithful to let me hear exactly what He has for me.

I wrote all of that in first-person because it’s got to start with me, but it’s true for each and every CLCer – so would you purpose in your heart to (a) be here, as much as possible on Saturday & Sunday, and (b) press in on Jesus in your worship and (c) be eager to receive His Word.

If we will, it will be a life-changing weekend!

Who will join me in pressing in?

Here’s the schedule so you can get your party shoes & join us:

• Saturday at 5pm – The Binion’s will be our special guests for a great WORSHIP Night!  We’ll also hear exhortations from two members of our Board of Directors, Dale Van Steenis and John Nordstrom, Sr.
• Sunday at 8 and 11:30am – The Binion’s will lead worship & Tim Ross will bring a rhema Word to us!
• Sunday at 9:30am – The Binion’s will lead worship & Pastor Gordon Banks will be ministering!
• Sunday at 5pm – The Binion’s will lead worship & Bishop Joseph Garlington will minister in Word & song, in his own inimitable style!  Our entire Board of Directors will be on hand to officiate the ordination of Ben Stewart, Tony & Angie Gilmore, Jon & Rachel Jones, Sam & Taylor Hamstra and William & Melek Arevalo.  It will be a night to remember!

A 22nd Anniversary only happens ONCE, so I hope you’ll make plans to join us!

Dunno about you, but I guess I hadn’t thought about praising His Word before.  And my theology probably tells me that the correct interpretation would be to praise GOD because of His Word (rather than praising the Word itself).

Regardless, it spoke to me about how many reasons I personally have to worship because of the Word, and how thankful I am for The Word:

• His Word has set me free from my self-deception
• His Word has given me direction when I wasn’t sure what to do
• His Word has brought me comfort when I needed it most
• His Word has calmed my fears and given me peace

I could go on, but you get it.  In fact, as I looked at the Psalm more closely, it seems that’s exactly why David said he would praise the Word – please note verses 1-4 and verses 8-10.  I love the closing declaration of verse 9: “this I know, that God is for me!“  How did David know that, even when he was surrounded by enemies?  Because of the Word!

I first learned it as a child: The B-I-B-L-E, yes, that’s the book for me!

How ’bout you?

It’s unfortunate that ordination in some circles has been cheapened to basically be about titles.  I shouldn’t be surprised, since Jesus himself warned us about the dangers of ‘title power’ in Mark 10:42-45; Luke 22:24-27; and Matthew 23:6-10.

In the world system, titles are important for recognition, but in the Kingdom of God, we are to have a servant-heart, not a desire for titles/recognition. Some would argue that titles are important to have respect from people.  However, it is possible to have numerous titles and still not have respect OR to have respect without any title.  I’m convinced that if you focus your attention on doing the work of ministry, producing the fruit of ministry, that recognition will come – ordination will seek YOU!

In our 22 years of ministry at CLC, we’ve had the privilege of ordaining about a dozen couples – so I’m particularly excited that this Sunday night we will ordain 5 couples in ministry: William & Melek Arevalo (Hispanic pastors), Tony & Angie Gilmore (Family Ministries Pastors), Sam & Taylor Hamstra (Student Ministries Pastors), Jon & Rachel Jones (Worship Pastors), and Ben & Nili Stewart (Executive Pastors).  And I’m especially pleased that our CLC Board of Directors will be here to officiate.  We’re also recognizing the anointing on Pastors Jaime & Jeannette Flores as they move from overseeing our Hispanic ministry to the position of Missions Pastors for CLC.

Besides all of that, the Binion’s will lead us in worship & Bishop Joseph Garlington (my pastor) will bring the Word – so I’m encouraging every CLCer to be present to support & encourage these pastors on their ordination night & to celebrate what God is doing.

It’s going to be an Anniversary Celebration to remember!

• worship is always good at the Tinley Park campus, but in the 9:30 service today, it almost got away from us – WOW is the word if you weren’t there – the Presence was in the house!
• Strong attendance of about 1,350 in spite of the summer-like temp’s that must have tempted some to engage in outdoor activities today!
• For anyone who didn’t believe or who is just curious about my wife’s part of today’s message – it’s all true; she really is that introverted and she really won’t even try a new restaurant (If I check ‘em out w/o her first, then she might go!)
• More than 30 CLCers in our Next Steps classes today – love what God is doing in bringing new people to us!
• Awesome to pray over 17 doctors, nurses & big-hearted CLCers who leave for Senegal this week where they’ll conduct free medical clinics for hundreds of needy people – and so neat to know that SO many other CLCers had a part in this trip by sorting medications, etc. to make the team in Senegal more productive!
• I even enjoyed the spaghetti dinner from H2H today (can you tell I love this church?!)
• At our South Bend location, Pastor Doug reports the joy of the Lord was in the house, with strong worship and a message on FIYAH (I think it’s his way of pronouncing ‘fire’, but I guess it could be an acronym for something – I’m just passing along his report
• Pastor Eric is still ministering in Ethiopia as I mentioned here, so I didn’t hear from the Lisle campus today (if you were in service there today, your comments below will be appreciated).
• I did hear from Pastor Herley at our Philippines campus, where 809 people worshiped today and 30 guests prayed to receive Christ!  He also reports that their dawn watch (prayer from 4am-6am) continues to draw 150-200 people each weekday, that their Heart to Heart ministry just celebrated it’s first anniversary with 78 women present, and that 62 men completed their Encounter Weekend where they were introduced to the baptism of the Holy Spirit!  (Love, love, love what God is doing in the Philippines!)

That’s it….Jasper is begging to go outside for a walk, so I’m out of here…..

Certainly.  I’m sorry you had difficulty in the resources you checked, but as you can see in the footnote under Exodus 34:18, Abib was simply the Hebrew name of the first month of the year in the Jewish calendar, which usually falls in March or April.  For what it’s worth, according to Strong’s, the word literally means, “tender”, and was occasionally translated as in “green ears of corn” or the ‘greening’ of a crop.

Keep in mind the Jewish year didn’t begin in January, as ours does, but when they were released from Egyptian bondage and set out for the Promised Land, God instructed them to change their calendar to celebrate the anniversary of their deliverance as the first month of the year (as if to say, “life begins when your sins are forgiven!”)

You can read more about it in Exodus 12:1-2, 40-42.

Hope that helps.  Now, what would YOU like to Ask the Pastor?

Some of you met them this past Sunday.  Many of us got to hear him teach the Word last night – and if you did, you already know part of the reason why I’m excited to welcome Tony & Angie to our CLC pastoral team!

Angie is a PK, having grown up in a pastor’s family in St. Lous, where her parents continue to lead the local church they have served for over 35 years.  Tony most recently served with Joyce Meyer Ministries at the Dream Center in St. Lous, where he developed a sports program for inner-city youth that was reaching over 900 middle-school students weekly!

Here at CLC, the Gilmore’s will be overseeing all of our ministries from birth through college, which means they have HUGE responsibilities for the next generation, in addition to serving on our senior leadership team.  As they make the move here from St. Louis, please help them to feel at home and cover them with your prayers!

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!

What you probably don’t know is some of the special projects we’re able to fulfill because of your faithful giving.  For instance, last summer when I was in Ethiopia for a Global Advance pastor’s conference, I learned about an incredible ministry there that is reaching Muslims by the thousands.  I posted here about their efforts, and about the training center outside Addis Ababa that was under construction.  This new center will enable these MBB’s (Muslim Background Believers) to get discipled and trained so they can effectively minister to others.

They only needed about $20,000 to complete the center, and Global Advance & CLC agreed to help finish the project by giving $10,000 each.  I’m happy to tell you that the building is now completed and will be dedicated this weekend!  I asked Pastor Eric Stone to go there to participate (since he was part of that July trip with me), and Global Advance was kind enough to pay his way.  Just wanted you to know the part you played in making all of this possible!

And speaking of missions investments, the largest medical team that we’ve ever sent to Senegal will be leaving next week, where they will provide free medical care as an outreach to hundreds of people in that Muslim-dominated country.  We’ll be praying over the whole team during our services this Sunday, and again – it’s because of your faithful giving that we’re able to be a part of what God is doing in the Nations!

So I did.

And I soon remembered Psalm 16:8, where David said that he personally had always set the Lord before him, and that was the secret of his confidence.

I ‘selahed’ some more.

And I came away convinced that this really is a secret to living the kind of life that God designed for all of us (“a rich & satisfying life”, as we discussed yesterday).  Instead of compartmentalizing our life (as many of us have done) – “this is my work, this is my family, this is my hobby, this is my church time”, David said I have set the Lord always before me.  In other words, no matter where I am or what I’m doing, the Lord is always uppermost in my heart/mind.

That doesn’t happen by accident.  We must “set” Him there – place Him there by our conscious choice.

I’m determined to do that, today and every day.  How ’bout you?

Seems every year Daylight Savings Time Change Sunday is the same: huge drop in attendance & tons of people talking about how much they need a nap!  I actually heard yesterday of one pastor who has led his church to turn their clocks forward after church instead of on Saturday night, and it’s working for them (I’m sure thinking about it for March, 2013!)

In all honesty, it was a good day at CLC, despite the time change affecting attendance:

• losing an hour of sleep didn’t hurt worship any – wonderful Presence of the Lord in the house today at all 3 services at the Tinley campus!
• and it didn’t hurt our celebration, with 3 precious people being water baptized and at least 8-10 more who indicated their desire to make Jesus their Lord today! (that never gets old!)
• didn’t hurt the Word, as I thoroughly enjoyed preaching to an alert & responsive crowd today!  Don’t you love the picture of a laughing Jesus, living life to the full!
• didn’t hurt our gratitude toward the wonderful people who have faithfully served at CLC for 5, 10, even 20 years!  (I was blown-away by the percentage of the congregation standing each service!)
• And in the South Bend campus, Pastor Doug says my wife really shared her heart about the importance of each individual in the Kingdom and how each of us can serve!  We’re also rejoicing over the 1 person baptized and the young couple who prayed to receive Christ at the close of service!

Haven’t heard from any other campuses, but the couch is calling me, so I’m signing off………..

Hmmmm.  Interesting question….one I’ve never been asked before.  Here’s my thought, without doing exhaustive study:

at the risk of being overly-simplistic, the first thing I notice is the NLT is that ‘name’ isn’t in the verse, just that the virgin would call him Immanuel.  However, a quick review of the several versions of the Bible on my computer shows me about half the time “name” was included in the verse and half not – so I can’t be definitive with what I was about to say – which is that Jesus was called Immanuel, since it means “God with us”, and even His name, ‘Jesus’, includes that connotation, for it means “Jehovah has become salvation”, or “Jehovah-Savior”.

The same question could be asked of Isaiah 9:6 as well, since none of the wonderful titles given there was His given name.

I guess I should just say, “I don’t know” how to fully answer your question, except to say the prophecy was fulfilled in that we know Jesus is God with us.

Dunno if that helps, but hoping so a bit.  If someone reading this has a better explanation, please share it below – we’re all ears!

Now, what would YOU like to Ask the Pastor.

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!

The fact that I was in the Land probably made it stand out even more, but I loved how the writer describes hearing what God had done for his ancestors in the past, when He drove out the heathen, but planted His people, and how He afflicted others (are you thinking of the Egyptian plagues here?), but He set free His people!  (I know it’s written to Israel, but it sure reminds me of what He’s done for me, too!)

But then notice verse 3 – we didn’t get set free & planted in the Land because of our ingenuity or our strength, but it was HIS strength and HIS might and the light of HIS face – all because HE delights in us!

So today, if you’re in a good place of blessing, do you realize it’s all because of God’s unmerited, undeserved LOVE for you – that He is good to you for no other reason than that He is good!

And, if you’re not in a good place, but instead struggling with issues & problems that you’re not sure how to solve, read verses 5-6 and take courage that you don’t have to solve all those challenges – it’s not your smarts or your ability that will get it done anyway – it’s HIS!

Then verses 7-8 can be your song today.

Don’t you love His Word?

1.  For the many in our country who were devastated by the tornadoes last week.  I’ve lived thru a tornado (Jonesboro, AR, 1968) so I can testify: it’s unimaginable.  For those who might want to do more than pray, I recommend Convoy of Hope.

2.  This is fresh on my mind because of our visit last week, but Prime Minister Netanyahu & President Obama are in meetings today to discuss the Iranian nuclear situation.  Please pray that our president will stand with Israel and more importantly, that God will defuse this threatening situation without a disastrous war.

Thanks!

• the finale of our financial freedom series brought 1,611 people to worship in Tinley Park today!  (Our 8am service was almost exactly double its norm!)
• Pastor Robert Morris absolutely hit it out of the park with his video teaching, “Principles of Multiplication”.  I’ve never personally had any doubts about the effectiveness of video teaching, but if I had, they would have all been dispelled today!  Loved his anointing; loved our response!
• Kudos to our pastoral TEAM (Ben Stewart, Sam Hamstra, Eduardo Marroquin, and my son & daughter) for having everything so well-organized for the giveaways at the close, and extra-kudos to Jon Jones, not only for leading us into the Presence today in all 3 services (felt like I could fly at the close of 11:30 worship!), but also for the FUN music during the giveaways!  You guys rock!

Where to begin describing the 27 gifts in Tinley Park with total value of about $6,600?  Here’s what I know:

• at least 3 or 4 of the winners whose name was drawn at random chose to generously give their award to someone else!  (feels like the Word was already working in us!)
• The housing award at 8am went to a couple who’ve both been unemployed for over a year; their unemployment benefits ended last week; and they were 2 or 3 months behind on their house payment!
• One of the $50 gas card winners in the 8am service wrote me on Facebook afterward that her “low-fuel” light came on during her drive to church today!
• Another winner of the housing award told me afterwards that God has blessed her with a good job, so she is donating her award to missions instead!
• Another CLCer just informed me via Facebook that one of our members who didn’t enter for the drawing because he felt others needed it more – later bought some $50 Speedway cards to pass out himself to help meet needs!  (guess the Word is really working in us!)
• Seems like faith & prayer was even at work in the awards, as one of the winners changed her clothes this morning because she thought she’d be called to the front for a photograph & one of the iPad winners was literally praying at her chair when her card was drawn!
• I had conversations with first-time guests who were teary-eyed after each service as they tried to describe to me how they were impacted by a church that was demonstrating such love & generosity! (That’s what it’s about, folks!)

• At our Lisle campus, they decided to wait until next Sunday for their giveaway (for several reasons, including the fact that they’ll be back at their hotel location), but Pastor Eric reports he has “never seen so much joy on a church, when talking about generosity”!  (I’d say, ‘just wait till next week!’)

• Pastor Doug reported from our South Bend campus that it was “incredible” how things worked out with their giveaway: one of the $50 winners was a new attender who said thru her tears that she had given $50 on her first visit last month, but that today she needed gas & didn’t even have money for an offering!  Another gas card winner was a member who had just given $50 to someone else for gas.  The car payment winner chose to give the award to a friend in need.  The housing award winner is choosing to distribute it to various people in need in the congregation.  Does this sound like generosity in action or what?!?!?!

• At our Hispanic campus, William Arevalo says a new family wants to join the church & that one of their members who had shared a testimony about tithing & God’s provision was the first one to win a gas card today!

• Meanwhile, I received an email report from Pastor Herley Montes at our Philippines campus where they had a record-breaking attendance today & 61 people prayed to receive Christ.  They also conducted a women’s encounter retreat this weekend, where all 60 women participants were baptized in water & with the Holy Spirit!  (I love what God is doing in the Philippines, & I’m so glad that CLC gets in on it!)

Remember, we do not serve the god of debt; we serve a debt-canceling God!        If you haven’t done so already, this would be a good time to register for the Dave Ramsey simulcast on March 17.

But I can easily tell you my funniest memory (and I need to, since the team will be telling it all over CLC, no doubt).  On the very last night, at our “last supper” in Israel, we went around the table and had each team member share one thing that stood out for them about the trip.

One of our non-CLC team members was a devout Catholic who had never been exposed to husband-and-wife ministry teams and was quite impressed that I didn’t ‘hog’ all the ministry times, but had Melva Lea Beacham and Chris share from their hearts at several locations – including having Chris lead our Communion service at the Garden Tomb.  At any rate, when Bonnie shared her outstanding memories, she closed by saying, “Thank God that Pastor Jerry is a metrosexual pastor!”

Yep, don’t think I’ll ever forget that one.

And I hope you don’t forget to invite someone TODAY to be your guest tomorrow for the close of our finance series and the demonstration of generosity in our giveaways at each service, each campus.  Can’t wait!

Great question….one that I’ve never been asked before.

I don’t think Scripture gives us any reason behind this word choice, and one could even argue that the words are somewhat interchangeable, since Jesus invited us to believe on Him (John 7:37-39) and to follow Him (Mark 1:16-20)

But I must admit that I like the term ‘disciples’, because it seems to imply there’s more to the Christian walk than just believing or just following.  It carries the idea of discipline (since they come from the same root) and of a real commitment.  As a pastor, I’ve observed sadly over the past 40 years how that level of disciplined commitment seems to be waning in the American church.  I’m not negative about God’s Church overall, and I do believe He’s coming back for a ‘glorious’ church, without a ‘spot’ or ‘wrinkle’ or ‘blemish’ (Eph. 5:27) – but sometimes the American version seems to be lacking the commitment that I see so obviously in other nations during my missionary travel.

Here’s something we can all agree on: God is calling me to be a true disciple!  No matter what others do, I want to follow Him closely, as a true disciple!  Amen?

Hope this helped.  Now what would YOU like to Ask the Pastor?

Israel has experienced severe drought for the past 8 years or so, but it rained so much yesterday & today that roads were closed, which ‘enabled’ us to see even more of the country than was planned, in order to get back to Jerusalem from the Dead Sea.  In fact, it was so cold & rainy (they’re calling for SNOW tonight) that our time in the Garden Tomb and the probable site of the crucifixion was…..well…..let’s just say, unusual.

Can’t wait to see everyone again Sunday – especially because of the finale of our finance series and the huge giveaway we’ve planned for every service at every campus!

Enjoy the pics-

the normal route was flooded, so we had CHOICES!

last glance at the Dead Sea on our way back to Jerusalem

Golgotha is "The Place of the Skull", and while no one can prove exactly where Jesus was crucified, this site meets ALL the Biblical criteria, and even looks like a skull!

our group waiting to enter the tomb of a rich man, which again meets all the Biblical criteria as the possible site of Christ's burial

inside the tomb - "HE is not here; HE is Risen!"

We left Jerusalem this morning and drove south to the Dead Sea, the lowest elevation point on earth.  Along the way, the team visited Qumran, the site where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered, and Masada, the unbelievable fortress built by Herod in the desert.

Tomorrow is our final day in Israel, which we’ll spend in Jerusalem before boarding our return flight for home.  I hope you’re inviting someone to be your guest for our exciting conclusion to “This Little Piggy Had None” as we bless a number of folks with special gifts this Sunday!

Enjoy the pics-

The Essene community preserved the Scriptures known as the Dead Sea Scrolls - this was one of their ritual baths (baptism pools)

Dead Sea Scrolls were found in some of these caves at Qumran

Our guide explains this model of the incredible Roman fortress at Masada

colorful frescoes like this preserved thru the centuries indicate the luxury of Herod's fortress

Roman engineering even provided sauna/steam baths at Masada!

I’ll let the pictures tell the story:

We donated clothing for the CFI Distribution Center (which is located next to the main Bus station in Jerusalem!)

One of CFI's most unique ministries is providing Jewish brides with free use of wedding gown & all accessories on her special day!

Ray & Sharon Sanders are the founders of CFI & have been serving Israel for 27 years!

We also brought Bibles for new believers in Tel Aviv pastored by this Nigerian pastor

One of most inspirational visits was to Kfar Etzion (google it!) - a Jewish settlement that has an incredible history. We're looking down at the actual bunker where many of the original pioneers were killed by Arab grenades.

looking down at the ancient pool of Bethesda where Jesus healed the lame man after 38 years!

Unbelievable acoustics at St. Anne's Cathedral (near the site of Stephen's martyrdom) led to an impromptu time of worship - 2 other tour groups came in later & just joined in - Presence of God was so real!)

military service is mandatory for all Israeli's (men & women) so you see the IDF everywhere - such security!

This is "Gabbatha", the place where Pilate condemned Jesus to die (John 19:13)

behind us is the narrow street (Via Dolorosa) that Jesus would have walked toward the place of crucifixion

Jesus would have passed thru this ancient gate on His way to the cross

This evening we were able to meet with and bless our partners from Revive Israel, specifically two couples who have each visited CLC in the last 14 months: Jonathan & Simcha and Andrew & Shanni.  It was great catching up & hearing more about the work of R.I.

It’s already late here and we’ve got an early start for a full day tomorrow, so I’ll just say, enjoy the pics:

some of our team on the southern steps to the Temple Mount - Jesus & his disciples would have used THESE very steps many times during his visits to the Temple

Upper center is the 'Huldah Gate', the entrance to the Temple off the southern steps

center of pic is the beginning of archway outside the Temple - which was destroyed in 70 A.D. by the Romans - but enough remains for us to know it would have been an archway over the street beside the Temple

some of the ruins after the Temple destruction (purposely left to show us how the entire area looked)

these huge stones behind our guide were pushed from the Temple wall to the street below by the Romans in 70 A.D.

Dennis Debrie climbing up from the ruins of the ritual baths where Jews purified themselves in order to enter the Temple Mount

Golden Menora to be used in 3rd Temple (already prepared by the Temple Institute, along with all the instruments to be used in the Temple, the priest's garments, etc. - they are anxiously awaiting the Messiah & the 3rd Temple!)

The Muslim Dome of the Rock on Temple Mount as seen from the Jewish Quarter of Jerusalem

entrance to the tradiitonal (Roman Catholic) site of the crucifixion & burial tomb of Jesus

along the Via Delarosa (traditional path that Jesus walked to the cross)

the Western Wall (not part of the Temple Mount, but the wall just behind the Temple Mount, now considered the most sacred spot in Israel becaue of it's proximity to the Holy of Holies)

Dennis Debrie praying at the Wall. I think each of us had significant experiences with the Lord while interceeding for Israel at the Western Wall (often called the "wailing wall")

Unfortunately, Best Buy sold me the wrong battery for my camera (and possibly the wrong charger, too), so unless the charger does indeed work on the old battery tonight, this blog is going to get rather boring for the rest of the trip, as I was only able to take a few shots with my iPhone, which I have posted below.

And even though we’re here in the Holy Land, my thoughts were drifting to CLC, so I’m hoping that our pastors and any readers from the various campuses will weigh in with your thoughts about service today at home – for my benefit!  Just leave your comment below the post-

enjoy the pics:

Olive tree in the Garden of Gethsemanae

This olive tree is so old, it was possibly in the Garden of Gethsemanae when Jesus spent time there with his disciples (the disciple at the bottom of the pic is considerably younger)

Roman Catholic tradition says this stone (inside a Cathedral near the Garden) was part of the stone on which Jesus prayed in the Garden

Most of our climbing was in the excavations of the City of David. This shaft for instance, extended all the way to the pool of Siloam.

looking out at the valley of Megiddo, site of future Armegeddon

Valley of Megiddo, site of future battle of Armegeddon

Worship at Eitan Shishkoff's (our partner) congregation in Galilee - today was led by their YOUTH worship team - and they DID worship!

all the singers & musicians were teens or early 20's!

Reading from the Torah was done with such reverence - the cheapest scroll costs more than $40,000 - and the same text is read at every Jewish synagogue in the world each Sabbath

After Sabbath worship, we drove along the Mediterranean Sea

Roman theater in Caesarea, the home town of the first Gentile convert (Acts 10) named Cornelius

Some of the ruins of Caesarea, overlooking the Mediterranean

the new with the old: modern tankers in Caesarea harbor

Eddie Postma by the moat & walls that protected Caesarea from her enemies

The aquaducts of Caesarea behind me - such modern engineering, 2,000 years ago!

It was a FULL day, starting early in Galilee and ending in Jerusalem after sundown.  Along the way we met with our friend & partner, Rabbi Eitan Shishkoff & his congregation in Galilee.  He has such a pastor’s heart and has built a congregation that has now given birth to 4 or 5 other congregations in northern Israel.

Worshiping with them in Hebrew via English translation headsets was definitely a highlight of the trip – even when we couldn’t understand the words, we definitely felt the Spirit!

Have great services at CLC this weekend and I’ll be posting more tomorrow night-

• Crossing the Sea of Galilee with worship & prayer aboard the only Christian-operated boat company, captained by Danny Carmel, a Messianic Jewish believer who is Spirit-filled AND a worship leader/recording artist!
• Baptizing most of our group in the River Jordan, including the incredible personal privilege of baptizing my only sister, Barbara, who’s a part of the trip!
• Visiting the excavated town of Capernaum, home of Apostle Peter and where Jesus often ministered.
• Looking out at the Sea of Galilee from the Mt. of Beatitudes, where Jesus preached his Sermon on the Mount
• Visiting the place thought to be the location where Jesus multiplied 5 loaves & 2 fish and fed perhaps 20,000 people!
• In the most incredible display of God’s favor, even though it was Shabat (Sabbath) and the museum had long already closed for the day, they re-opened just for our group so we could see firsthand the incredible story of the 2,000-year-old fishing boat from the time of Christ, and quite possibly used by his disciples.  (You can read the awesome story of it’s discovery here)

Enjoy the pics:

How awesome to have my sister Barbara on the trip

Messianic worship leader/captain Danny Carmel

Clara Debrie baptism

Carl & Nancy Harris baptism

CLCers outside the town of Capernaum

tradition says the rock under the altar was part of a stone that Jesus placed the bread & fish on before distributing to His disciples

genuine 2,000-year-old "Jesus boat"

Great questions.  As you perhaps know, this debate between ‘Calvinists’ and ‘Armenians’ in the body of Christ has been going on for several centuries, so I’m not likely to resolve it in this post.

However, I can certainly give you my view of Scripture, which probably mirror your own.  To keep this from turning into a book, let me just summarize by saying that my understanding of Scripture is that The Church is predestined, but individuals are not – i.e., there’s no doubt since the foundation of the world that there will be a Church of people who have been called out of the world to serve God, and Jesus is returning for them some day.  But whether or not I will be a part of that Church is a matter of free-will – I can choose to answer God’s call by obeying the Gospel. or I can reject His call and refuse to trust Him for my salvation.

Jesus told a parable that illustrates this in Matthew 22:8-14.  The man who was rejected could have chosen to wear the proper garment (it was a free gift), which is why he had no excuse.  Thus, when Jesus said in verse 14, “many are called, but few are chosen”, it certainly wasn’t because the man wasn’t chosen from the beginning; he wasn’t chosen because of his response to the invitation.

Jesus died for all.  Everyone on this earth has an opportunity to trust Him for salvation.  Many never will.  That doesn’t change the fact that God loves them and that we have a responsibility to preach the Gospel to them, so they can choose for themselves.

Admittedly this is a complex subject, but I hope this helps.  Now, what would YOU like to Ask the Pastor?

We took a group photo to show you that we made it here safely:

Safe & sound in ISRAEL

After being up so long w/little or no sleep, and getting here mid-afternoon, the plan today was basically just to take our bus from the airport up to this hotel where we’ll be staying for the next couple of nights.  The real touring begins tomorrow morning with a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee with the only Messianic boat operator here, a Spirit-filled worship leader & recording artist – so we’re starting the trip with a bang.

Thanks for continuing to pray – I’ll post each day so you can keep up with us if you like.

And if you’re part of our CLC family, please invite a friend to join you for this Sunday’s continuation of “This Little Piggy Had None”.

For that matter, we encourage CLCers regularly to invite someone to be your guest.

But if you’ve got 12 minutes to spare (or at least 7 minutes to hear her story), I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a great story of WHY we should invite, as this video from Elevation Church, pastored by Steven Furtick.

Watch….weep…rejoice….and then invite, invite, invite.  You never know what YOUR invitation can do!

There are 7 others from around the country joining us on this trip, including my sister Barbara from Jonesboro, AR, and of course, our host, Melva Lea Beacham.  We will have opportunity to see many of the famous sites in the Holy Land, where so much of Scripture took place, but more importantly, we’ll be connecting again with our partners in the Land, to deepen our relationships and join our hands & hearts with theirs in serving the Jewish people.

Thanks in advance for your prayers for all of us (and our families left behind) – I’ll be posting daily with pictures & reports from our time there, so I hope you’ll stay tuned.

AND I want to encourage you NOT TO MISS this Sunday as we continue “This Little Piggy Had None”, with the single-most-important principle for anyone who wants to be financially free.  And it’s not too early to invite a friend or family member to join you for the close of the series on March 4, when we’ll practice generosity by helping lots of folks with their debt – making house payments, car payments, cell payments and giving away gas cards & even some iPads.  It’ll be a service to remember!

This week in Jerusalem!

At first glance, it probably seems to have nothing to do with this series about being financially free.  Think again.

One thing the Lord has dealt with me about in this series is our attitude and the power of our words.  This verse addresses both:

1.  If our attitude is negative about those who have more than us, or if we fall into the entitlement mentality toward the government, we will remain in financial bondage. (Notice the verse said “even in your thoughts“!)

2.  When we speak, even in private, there are both demons and angels listening nearby, and both of them will take our words and try to bring them to pass.

So if I’m complaining about my situation compared to someone that I perceive has it better than me, I’m empowering demonic forces to keep me in financial bondage.  The rich are not my problem.  The government is not my problem.  I must watch my attitude!

And, when I speak positive, life-giving words, confessing God’s promises to me in spite of my circumstances, I’m empowering God’s angels to help bring me into financial freedom.  That doesn’t relieve me of my responsibility to plan well & manage well, but it does release God’s supernatural assistance to bring about my financial breakthrough!

Say it today.  Say it often.  “I do not serve a god of debt; I serve a debt-canceling God!”

P.S. If this series is helping you in practical ways, or if you have a financial testimony to share that will encourage others, please leave a comment below:

But then I read Psalm 37:3, and the end of the verse jumped out at me.  I’m using the ESV for my devotions this year, and I don’t think any other translation puts it quite that way: “befriend faithfulness”.  Selah.

Of all the principles that I’m seeing in God’s Word & sharing with you about being led out of the bondage of debt into prosperity (Psa 68:6), I think this is The most important one: befriend faithfulness.

So many of us are going at taking off weight for a while.  We’re good at hitting the gym for a while.  We can watch our spending for a while.  We have no problem tithing for a while.  But for so many of us, the old adage is still true: “consistency, thou art a jewel”.

Yet Scripture is FULL of encouragement that faithfulness is the key to having the kind of life, ABUNDANT life that God wants for each of us.

So I challenge you today, especially if you want to be led out of debt’s bondage into prosperity – befriend faithfulness.

What have you learned that helps you be more consistent & faithful?  I hope you’ll share it below so all of us can benefit-

Breaking the curse of debt_02.19.12

Don’t dare miss next Sunday – I’ll be in Israel, but Pastor Ben will continue the series with an important message, and then we’ve got a VERY special ending via video.  Wish I could be here – it’s gonna be that good!

• about 1,400 in attendance again at the Tinley Park campus, which is a jump of at least 100 people from where we were this time last year! (Don’t have to tell you that if you worshiped at 9:30 today – jam-packed!)  Maybe it’s time to consider the 8am service, where we still have plenty of chairs & parking spaces (I’m just sayin’)
• Wore myself out again preaching today – but hearing the stories afterwards is making all the effort worthwhile.  I’m SO excited about testimonies from CLCers who are already being set free from debt – thru persistent effort AND supernatural help from the Lord!  (we’re going to capture these on video so everyone can be encouraged – if you’ve got a story to share, let us know here.)
• BEST NEWS of the day: I think about 6 people got rid of a debt they could never have paid – the debt of sin that Jesus nailed to His cross – by walking forward publicly to give their lives to Him today – that just never gets old!  And we baptized 6 others in water, including 3 precious Hispanics from CVC!
• Also heard great reports from our Next Steps 2 & 4 classes today, with over 20 people in each class.  I love that people want to grow in their walk with the Lord!
• At our South Bend campus, Pastor Doug told me for the second week in a row how much FUN he’s having with this series & how much he senses it’s helping there!  God is bringing us out of bondage into prosperity!
• In Lisle, Pastor Eric reports a very strong attendance, and better yet, a tangible spirit of joy as they celebrated in worship.  The message was received very well and they had 5 people come to the Lord at the close!
• And Pastor Jaime says CVC enjoyed a good attendance & a great Presence of God today.  We hear it often, but really, ‘Presence’ is a core value of CLC – because only HE transforms!

Finally, for those of you at the 8am service in Tinley Park, I had a good report tonight that Hattie Howard (the CLCer who fainted during service) did not have to be admitted to the hospital and is doing fine at home now.

P.S. I promised the packed of helpful worksheets would be up on my blog as well as on our website later, and here they are:

Track Spending

Actual Monthly Expenses

Monthly Spending Plan

Debt Repayment

Ways to save on groceries, insurance & more

Great question – and I’m bumping it to the front of the line, especially because of our current series and also because I’m sure there are other Christians who have asked the same question.  Here’s my best shot:

As to whether Scripture mentions bankruptcy specifically, the answer would be “no”, since there was no such thing as bankruptcy then.  And I want to quickly tell you that I am sensitive to the plight that some Christians have gotten into with their finances, just as I’m always sensitive to questions about divorce.  It’s easy for any of us to sit in judgment and condemn someone for filing for divorce or filing for bankruptcy, but I’ve observed thru the years that few issues are black-and-white; there are almost always difficult circumstances that make it nearly impossible to give ‘one-size-fits-all” advice.  I have a real sense of compassion as we begin this series for those who find themselves trapped in financial hardship.

Having said all of that, I do find verses that speak in principle to the idea of bankruptcy.  For example:

• Psalm 37:21 says, “The wicked borrow and do not repay.”  (That’s pretty strong – God says it’s wicked to borrow & not repay)

• Romans 13:7-10 says “Give to everyone what you owe them: Pay your taxes and government fees to those who collect them, and give respect and honor to those who are in authority. Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law. For the commandments say, “You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not covet.”* These—and other such commandments—are summed up in this one commandment: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God’s law.”  (Would refusing to pay those we owe through bankruptcy be doing wrong to them?)

Here’s a possible suggestion for any believer who’s contemplating bankruptcy:
Write a letter to your creditors and say, “I am a Christian and I don’t want to file for bankruptcy.  I don’t want to stiff you on what I owe you but I can’t pay it all off right now.  But I will pay it all off.  Here’s my plan.” And you tell them.  Maybe your payment is supposed to be $25 a month and you say, “I can’t pay you $25 a month.  I’ll pay you $5 a month.  But if you’ll be patient with me, I will pay it off.”  You might even beg for mercy and say “If you keep compounding interest on this note I’m never going to get out of debt and you’re never going to get repaid.  Please.  Stop the interest from this point on and let me just pay it down.”  Ask them.  Many might do just that.  If you’ll take the initiative by communicating honestly with your creditors instead of ignoring the bills and letting them keep piling up – people hate it when you ignore them – but if you write them a note and say, “I can’t pay this but here’s what I can pay and I intend to pay it off.  I’ll be good on my loan.”

Here’s what God says in Proverbs 16:7 – “When a man’s ways please the LORD, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.”

Hope this helps a bit.  And I especially hope you (and all my readers) will be a part of the rest of this series, because with God, nothing is impossible – including our financial problems!

Now, what would YOU like to Ask the Pastor?

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.)

Read it for yourself: Proverbs 9:6-9.

Here’s what struck me: it sounds so simple – but simple doesn’t mean easy!

You would think that any of us would appreciate receiving wisdom, correction & instruction, so we could learn, do better, be better.  Don’t we all want that?

Yet so often, when the correction, instruction or wisdom comes to us, we reject it because we think we know better.  (“Who does he think he is, telling me that?”)

Here’s my prayer: “Lord, forgive me.  Help me me humble enough to receive the correction, instruction & wisdom that You send my way, no matter who delivers it.”

Amen.

I was especially encouraged by verses 16-18, as I noticed:

• a king is not saved because he has a great army;
• a warrior is not saved by his great strength
• we should not count on a warhorse to give us victory

ALL of the things that David’s culture would have relied on…..just as today we would rely on our money or our job or our education.

Instead, our reliance is on God’s steadfast love AND the fact that HE is watching over us!

No one ever said it would be easy to get out of debt and into financial freedom.  But I am encouraged that GOD is going to lead us out, as we place our trust in Him, not in the world’s system or methods.  We serve a debt-canceling God!

Invite someone to be your guest at any campus of CLC next Sunday – we’re going deeper and we’re getting practical help from Scripture to break the curse of debt over our families!

• first (not in importance, just pressing on my mind right now), I preached myself hoarse.  My throat still hurts from all the yelling….during a finance series of all things!  (Hope I didn’t hurt your ears today)
• Only the second time all year we were under the 1400 mark in attendance in Tinley Park (I’m guessing Valentine’s weekend had something to do with that)
• Loved seeing the first 2 baptisms following the outpouring of the Holy Spirit among our students (many more to come), and at least 3 people who prayed to receive Christ today!
• I’m still fired-up about the fact that Proverbs 22:6 is immediately followed by Proverbs 22:7 – I hope every parent at CLC will help me get our children on the debt-free path from childhood!
• announcing here for the first time: this series will include a couple of special features we’ve NEVER done before on Feb. 26 and March 4 (when we’ll help several CLCers on the path to financial freedom by making their house payment, their car payment, their cell-phone payment and MORE!)  You must be present to win these gifts, so don’t dare skip a Sunday during this series!
• Loved the report from Pastor Doug at our South Bend campus, as he said it was “by far the most fun I’ve had talking about money & debt with any congregation”!  He challenged people’s faith to believe that “while we’re doing our part, God is working on our behalf to supernaturally bring us out of debt & into financial freedom”!  Couldn’t have said it better myself, Pastor Doug!
• At our Davao City campus, Pastor Herley tells us they had 90 new people who came forward to receive Christ this Sunday!(One reason the revival continues is because for more than a month now, over 500 people have been gathering from 4am-6am for “Dawn Watch” as they seek the Lord for revival – picture below)
• 

• Dawn watch at the Davao church

• Pastor Jaime Flores reports another good day at CVC, but he made my day by texting me afterwards that he & Jeannette had been able to teach their kids to live free of debt because of what they learned at CLC.  I want that for ALL our families, as God leads us out into financial freedom!
• Last report comes from our Lisle campus, where Pastor Eric says they had a great celebration of last week’s baptisms and many said today’s teaching was “life-changing”.  They closed the service with a corporate faith declaration that felt like it “literally raised the roof!”, first confessing their past financial mistakes & debt, then surrendering their financial affairs to JESUS, and finally declaring, “I am not bound to this world; I am a child of God, free from worries, anxieties & fears about money — I replace them with faith, creativity & strategy!  The word I speak is freedom.  I am walking into freedom – out of bondage into freedom; out of bitterness into freedom!”  I love it! (can a pastor say, I wish I’d thought of that first?)

Boy, after these reports, I think I’m more pumped than I was before this morning – CLC, get on board with us, because God is doing to lead us out into financial freedom!

Great question.  And while it was somewhat of a figurative expression, I think it’s understandable when you remember that Benjamin and Joseph were the only sons by Rachel (Gen. 35:24).  Scripture is very clear that Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah or the other mothers of his children (Gen. 29:30-31).  So it’s only natural that he would favor Rachel’s sons more than his others.  Then when you add the fact that Benjamin was born as Rachel died in giving birth to him (Gen. 35:18), it’s obvious that Jacob regarded Benjamin so dearly, since he was all he had left from Rachel.

Thus, his statement to Reuben.

Hope that helps.  Now, what would YOU like to ask the Pastor?

What you won’t hear is that more Iranians have come to Christ in the last few years than since the book of Acts, and that there are now more than a million believers in the underground Church there.

Here’s a specific request for how we can pray in the light of what’s happening.  I’m glad that CLC is able to partner with the ministry of Elam each month, and I hope you’ll join me in praying.

Seemed strange at the time, but with all that was happening, I didn’t think more about it.

Yesterday we heard from a single mom who’s been having difficulty with her 18-year old son, and Sunday on the way home from church, it boiled over again, and she ordered him out of the house.As she packed his belongings, she discovered not one, but two LOADED guns in his things.

She had them turned in to the police that afternoon, and learned they had been stolen from a neighbor when his house was burglarized a few weeks earlier. She’s praising God for warning/protecting her from what could have been disastrous!

Is God amazing or what?

John Maxwell said the Lord told him that HE would pour out the spiritual gift of leadership Tuesday morning, and I believed. Later he laid hands on me & dozens of others at the altar & imparted the anointing that’s on him, and I believed.

This much I know: it’s an honor just to be associated with the ministry of EQUIP, and with all my heart, I want to be a transformational leader, both at CLC and in the Nations where I’m privileged to serve.

I can’t wait for this Sunday!

• I’m blown away by reports I continue to receive about Super Sunday! One CLCer told me it was the “best service of my 50+ years!” and I had reports of healings, Holy Spirit baptisms & more! For sure, RUAH was in the house and none of us want to go back to normal church again!
• The Global 2020 event got off to a great start here with a parade of nations (I’m such a softie at missions stuff) – get this: EQUIP is actively training leaders in 150+ nations (over 5 million leaders already) with curriculum in 65 different languages! AND John Maxwell announced the goal last night of being in EVERY NATION by 2020! I’m so glad CLC is a part of this….and it’s all because of your faithful financial support!
• Chris & I will be in more sessions here today & tonight before flying home tomorrow for the kickoff to “Heart to Heart” and “CLC Iron Men” this Wednesday – hope you’re planning to join us!
• I literally don’t have words to describe my feelings about the new series beginning THIS Sunday…..I believe the Lord has spoken to me that HE’s going to “lead us out” of debt, much like He led Israel out of bondage in Egypt! It will be unlike any finance series we’ve ever done at CLC, I promise. You MUST invite someone to be your guest (everybody you know is interested in more money)….& mark your calendar for March 5 when we’ll close the series with a BANG! (that’s not quite right, because I think this series won’t ‘close’; it will become a movement into financial freedom!)

We’ve SO enjoyed our work in Perm, Russia for the past couple of years, so we’re excited to see some of our friends from there and other pastors & leaders from all over the world, as Equip celebrates 15 years of training pastors & leaders in the Nations.

We’ll be back Wednesday afternoon in plenty of time for the kick-off to this semester of Heart to Heart and CLC Iron Men, so we’ll see you then!

Super Sunday, indeed!

Seems like 3 forces came together: the conclusion of 21-days of prayer & fasting, plus 4 weeks of focusing on the Holy Spirit in our ‘RUAH’  series, AND the end of our CSM Student Winter Camp – and it all combined for an explosive Sunday:

• at the Camp on Friday & Saturday, 12 students gave their lives to Christ, 7 asked to be water baptized, and 22 were baptized in the Holy Spirit!
• Jon Jones & the entire S.O.P. team did an incredible job of leading us into the manifest Presence of the Lord in all 3 services – (I’m sure they’re exhausted tonight, and Jon did all that while his son, Jon Jon is at Children’s Memorial Hospital downtown for testing – so join me in expressing your appreciation).
• The “fire tunnel” was the highlight of each service, but especially at the 11:30 service when the tunnel was made up of the students fresh from their Winter Camp, instead of the pastors & elders & prayer team that served the first two services.  I love seeing the kids on fire & them sharing that with us!
• Favorite ‘fire tunnel’ moment (and there were many) was when one CLCer came through, obviously ‘under the influence’ of the Holy Spirit, and I asked him, ‘Did you have a prayer language before you got in the tunnel?’, to which he replied, ‘No’.  Then, ‘do you have one now?’, and he quickly said, ‘yes’!
• Also loved the Word that Melanie Hilton gave our youth after their Camp today – Luke 10:38-42.  Agree with me in prayer that what they received at Camp will NOT be taken away from them by the busyness & distractions of life!
• Kudos to Sam & Taylor Hamstra and their whole team – the proof is in the pudding, as they say….you’re doing an AWESOME job with our teens!
• At our South Bend campus today Pastor Doug says they had a SUPER service, with special prayer over several folks identified with gifts of helps and a number of prophetic words were released in the house.  He called it a ‘unifying, purposeful & powerful’ day!
• Pastor Eric reports described our Lisle campus as “dynamic joy” today, with 11 water baptisms and at least 7 people baptized in the Holy Spirit!
  
• If you’re keeping track, that’s more than 100 CLCers filled with the Holy Spirit in the last 2 Sundays!  And God says, “this is just the beginning!”
• At our Philippines campus, the ‘dawn watch’ continues with over 500 people showing up for prayer from 4-6 a.m. each day – and the results are amazing, as 105 new people came to the Lord in their services this Sunday!  Pastor Herley also had the honor of ministering to more than 1,000 provincial employees at a neighboring province last week, with several mayors & the governor in attendance!  Truly God is at work in the Philippines, and CLC is part of it!
• At our Spanish service today, Pastor Jaime reports another strong attendance and 3 adults who gave their life to Christ!  Gloria a Dios!

Here’s the 2 canvas’ of CLCers impressions from our 21-days of fasting:

people were invited to write a 'word' or Scripture of what God did in them during the fast.

I know I’m biased, but I don’t think the Super Bowl will be as exciting as Super Sunday at CLC!  But I think I’ll watch just in case….

Today is the last day of our 21-day fast, but I hope not the end of our hunger.  See, more than I want a hamburger & some pepperoni pizza & some fried chicken & a juicy steak (that’s just the first day), I want to be changed!

I’m asking the Lord that this time of prayer & fasting will become the new normal at CLC.  I don’t mean that we’ll become vegetarians or continue fasting every day – after all, the real purpose of this fast is NOT what we ate or didn’t eat – the real purpose was for us to disconnect from our bodily appetites in order to truly connect with the Holy Spirit!  And I don’t want to lose that simply because I begin eating meat again.

I personally want to maintain this hunger for God….this hunger to be changed by His Presence…this hunger that causes me to go after the things I need & want in prayer, knowing they won’t be obtained any other way! (Jer. 33:3)

How about it, CLC?  Let’s not ever go back to trying to live this Christian life in our own strength, but let’s live each day hungry & dependent on Him!  As we read yesterday in Psa 27:8, let’s respond to His voice with our whole heart!

One final thing: would you come Sunday prepared to share a Scripture that has particularly spoken to you during this fast?  You’ll also have an opportunity to share a “one-word testimony” of what this season of prayer & fasting has done for you.  We’re expecting the full ministry of the Holy Spirit at each campus as we celebrate the end of our fast during “Super Sunday“!

Today’s Prayer Focus:  at every campus we’re praying today that we would be anointed to take the power of the Holy Spirit outside our church walls to the marketplace, our schools, our neighborhoods & wherever we go!

What are you hearing?  We fully expect that the Holy Spirit will speak to us during this time of fasting, and if you receive impressions from Him that you are willing to share, we’d love to hear from you.  You can simply leave a comment below, or send your ‘word’ to us here.  We also encourage you to share those thoughts on your campus FaceBook page, to encourage your fellow ‘fast-ers’, whether Tinley Park or Lisle or South Bend.

For today’s devotional from Awake 21, go here Awakening Devotional.

Interesting question. Actually, the Bible doesn’t say anything about that specific issue – but the Scripture is FULL of admonitions against gossip, period.  (See Leviticus 19:6; Psalm 15:1-3; Proverbs 11:12-13; Proverbs 16:28; Proverbs 20:19; Romans 1:29, just to name a few)

If you read those verses, you’ll see that gossip is NOT an ‘innocent pastime’; it’s a serious sin!  I’ve wondered for years why some churches focus on other sinful behaviors but seem to ignore this one that can be SO damaging.  In fact, as I’ve said many times at CLC, I’ve never yet seen a church destroyed because one of its members smoked, or drank or committed adultery (for the record, I’m not in favor of any of those behaviors), but I’ve seen numerous lives destroyed by gossip.

Does this mean the gossiper is struggling with these issues?  There’s nothing in Scripture that would indicate so, but that’s really not my concern.  It does mean the gossip is disregarding the Word of God and the Savior who died for him/her, and damaging another member of Christ’s body – and the way we treat each other is ultimately the way we are treating our Lord (see Acts 9:1-5)

Let me be a pastor for just a moment: the wording of the question makes me think that perhaps my questioner is harboring some deep resentment or bitterness over the rumors and gossip.  I understand that words can hurt.  But I also know that resentment will destroy you.  I would plead with you to forgive those who have caused you pain with their words – not because they deserve forgiveness, but because you don’t deserve to live with the bitterness – and because you, too will need God’s forgiveness, which He promised to withhold if we don’t forgive others (see Matthew 6:14-15).  I pray you’ll find grace to release all those who have wounded you.

Hope that helps.  Now what would YOU like to Ask the Pastor?

According to that verse, when we call on the Lord, He promises to show us things.  And not just ‘things’, but great things.  And not just great things, but hidden things.  In fact, the word ‘hidden’ there can actually be translated ‘inaccessible’ things.  In other words, there are things that we want from God that cannot be obtained any other way except through prayer, when we call on the Lord.

When we realize that what we so desperately need & want cannot be gotten through any other efforts, but is promised to us when we pray…..well, that motivates me to pray with greater passion & persistence – how about you?

What is it that you want today that can ONLY be obtained through prayer?

Today’s Prayer Focus:  this is one request I’m circling (if you haven’t read Mark Batterson’s, “The Circle Maker”, you really should!) this entire fast: to extend our influence in Chicagoland, Michiana & globally (additional campuses, etc.)  In fact, there are 2 specific desires that I’m asking the Lord for in this regard, and while I don’t feel at liberty to disclose them publicly, I ask that every CLCer will agree with me for greater opportunities to impact our world!

What are you hearing?  We fully expect that the Holy Spirit will speak to us during this time of fasting, and if you receive impressions from Him that you are willing to share, we’d love to hear from you.  You can simply leave a comment below, or send your ‘word’ to us here.  We also encourage you to share those thoughts on your campus FaceBook page, to encourage your fellow ‘fast-ers’, whether Tinley Park or Lisle or South Bend.  Better yet – come prepared this Sunday to share what the Lord is speaking to you!

For today’s devotional from Awake 21, go here Awakening Devotional.