A faithful CLCer asked this week: why did Jesus sometimes tell those he healed not to tell anyone, as in Matt. 9:29-30 and other places?
Curious minds want to know…unfortunately, the Bible never tells us why.  What it does tell us in verse 31 is what they did about what He told them…namely, spread the news even faster and further!  [...]

Like the Magi or like God’s stated plan for the people of Israel (He always wants us to go home different after we’ve spent time in His Presence), Chris and I are returning to Chicago different.  I say that for these reasons:

obviously, any encounter with the Holy Spirit should change us, and we’ve certainly been [...]

I was encouraged this past Sunday when over 40 adults accepted the “90-day tithe challenge”, but even more so on Monday morning when I received an email from a couple of our elders, David & Robin Hernandez. Since Revelation 19:10 tells us that the “testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy”, I know that [...]

You know the Bible says one of the ways we defeat our enemy is by our testimony, and I also know how encouraging it is to others who find themselves in similar situations, so I’ve got to share a couple of stories I’ve heard recently.
The first comes from a CLCer (Willie Reid) who recently lost [...]

I almost feel guilty typing those words (but not quite!)….Chris & I will hop a plane in a little while to attend a Team Meeting with Reconciliation! Ministries International, led by my pastor, Bishop Joseph Garlington.  Each member of the network is asked to attend at least two of the three scheduled meetings each year, [...]

Finally, the word is out: we have appointed new Pastors to lead our South Bend campus – Doug & Shanna Neal!
Doug & Shanna have been a part of our church family for about 8 years, the last 5 as part of our staff, where they’ve served as Congregational Care pastors and more recently as Tinley [...]

My primary thought about today is I’m tired! I left my house about 5:45 this morning, and I got back about 8:35 tonight – here’s what happened in those 15 hours of my day:

I was very gratified by the response in all 3 services to the final installment of “In God We Trust” – I’d [...]

Our question this week is quite different:I’ve tried to do research on the question but I can’t seem to come up with an answer that I understand. In 2nd Chronicles 11:18, it reads that King Rehoboam’s wife was named “Maachah” who was the daughter of “Absalom”, who gave him a son by [...]

I can’t remember when I’ve enjoyed a series as much as this one, and I kinda hate to see it come to a close – but this Sunday at all 3 services in Tinley Park and in Shorewood we’ll look at “A Real Stimulus Package”. I think it may be the best yet, but if [...]

This is probably one strange post after the kind of weekend we enjoyed at CLC – but the truth is, part of what makes those kinds of weekends possible is that we take care of business, too.
Every church wears several hats: we are a family that operates in love and unity; we are an army [...]