Happy birthday, babygirl!

It was 31 years ago today that I got a call from my wife (she was visiting her folks in Detroit while I was an hour away at home) that I’d better head to the hospital if I wanted to see the birth of our second child.  I did.

I got there just in time…our doctor looked up at me and said, “what do you want, a boy or a girl?” “A girl”, I replied.  Then with a dramatic flourish (you’d really have to know Dr. Ciccini), he said, “Ta Da!” and help up our new baby girl!

She’s brought incredible joy since that special arrival….in fact, when she was a toddler, and sensed that Chris and I were talking too seriously about some problem at church that had us concerned, she’d wag her head and make funny faces to get us off the church subject to laugh at her again.  We’ve laughed many times at her antics since then, watched her grow, prayed a lot and wept over her each time she’s left for extended missions stints in Kenya or South Africa, and celebrated each accomplishment with the kind of swelled-chest pride that only a parent knows.

Today she not only turned 31, but she officially accepted the marriage proposal of Churchill Ogolla, a youth pastor from Ft. Portal, Uganda (serving with Pastor K.L. Dickson there).  So it’s with a lot of joy but also a lump in my throat, (knowing she’ll be making her home there after their wedding this December) that I say, “Happy Birthday, babygirl, AND congratulations on your engagement!”

Ask the Pastor

One of my favorite CLCers submitted 2 questions from a friend this week:

Jesus said that just as Jonah was in the whale’s belly for 3 days and nights, so the Son of man would be in the heart of the earth (Matt. 12:40). So, yes, Jonah represents the death, burial & resurrection of Christ – but I don’t think it has anything to do with the places he prayed.  It has to do with the fact that he ‘died’ inside the fish (some think literally!) and was buried in the fish’s belly for those 3 days, and was ‘raised’ (vomited out) afterwards.

Hope that helps….now what would YOU like to ask the Pastor?

Sunday reflections

Here’s a few random thoughts from the comfort of my couch this Sunday evening:

• Amazing how your vocal cords adjust to not preaching three times a day….after having ‘light duty’ in South Bend (with only one service) for the past three Sundays, I was hoarse by the 9:30 a.m. service today, and by the 11:30 a.m. service I was croaking like a frog….but thank God I got through all three AND the Newcomer’s Reception afterwards.  (Hmmm…maybe if I yelled less and talked more, I wouldn’t have this problem….)

• sure was GREAT seeing all the folks at our Tinley Park campus again – I love pastoring this church!

• In fact, I think my favorite part of the day was meeting all the new folks who’ve recently begun attending, hearing their stories and answering their questions at the Newcomer’s Reception.  Continually amazed at the people that God continues to bring here for us to serve.  So good chatting with Mike & Kim, Ray & Jean, Paul & Linda, Ann & Lesley, and Vicki and Tina and Bill and a whole bunch of others.

• My wife reports a great day at our Shorewood campus with Pastors Dan & Pat – neat to hear about more new folks finding CLC (and Jesus!) there-

• Doug & Shanna Neal’s first day on their own as Campus Pastors in South Bend went “very well” according to Shanna.  For all our South Bend members, don’t forget that next Sunday is Doug’s first message as pastor there – invite a friend to join you!

• Talking about ‘fixers’ and ‘complainers’ today seemed to hit a nerve, so I’m praying for all of us to “yadah” and “shabach” this week instead…if you have a chance to put either into practice, let us know how it goes below-

A leader’s work

Had our M.E.G.A. meeting yesterday for all 3 CLC campuses – M.E.G.A. not only is the Greek word for ‘great’, it’s also an acronym to us that represents “Mutual Encouragement, Growth, & Accountability” or sometimes, “Mission, Empowerment, Growth & Accountability”.  At any rate, it’s when we gather all our key ministry leaders together for a time of fellowship, vision-casting, leadership lessons, and discussion.

It’s always good, but yesterday my wife made a statement that I’ve been chewing on ever since – I think it’s a great quote for every leader in every ministry:

“Much of our work should involve time waiting, worshipping, listening & seeking God’s face!”

Selah.

Ask the Pastor

A faithful CLCer asks, “When we receive our spiritual language what does it mean exactly; speaking in the spirit?  Do we understand at first or ever come to understand what it is we are speaking?  I start crying when I do speak in the spirit, but I’m not sure exactly why, because I don’t know what I’m saying.  Does God speak to us when we’re speaking in the spirit?  Would you explain why some receive the gifts to interpret spiritual languages and the purpose for interpretation?”

Wow…that’s a mouthful!  But they’re all great questions, so let me tackle them in order:

1.  “Speaking in the Spirit” simply means that the Holy Spirit is providing the words, or the language, while we do the speaking in prayer or worship to God (Acts 2:4; 1Cor. 14:2)

2.  It is possible for us to come to understand what we are saying – either because someone presents understands the language we spoke (Acts 2:5-11 and in lots of personal testimonies I’ve heard or experienced through the years) or because the Holy Spirit gives you that understanding (1Cor 14:5; 1Cor 14:13)

3.  Your tears aren’t surprising (same thing often happens to me), although we don’t have to be moved emotionally in order to pray in the Spirit (that can sometimes be a product of religion). For sure, God can and does speak to us when we pray in the Spirit – often with secret truths and hidden things (1Cor 14:2 Amplified).  In fact, the Holy Spirit comes to reveal those hidden things to us! (1Cor 2:9-10) Some of my greatest insights have come while or immediately after praying in the Spirit!

4.  Some receive the gift of interpretation because it is one of the gifts that the Holy Spirit gives – in fact, each of us receives at least one of the Holy Spirit’s gifts when we are born again.  As to why some receive that gift and not others, I don’t really know, except that the Holy Spirit chooses the best gift for us personally. (1Cor 12:4-11)

5.  The purpose of the gift of interpretation is simple: to help the church understand in their own language what was said in a foreign language by someone who was speaking in the Spirit.  The gift of interpretation enables the highest good – the edification of the entire assembly, as opposed to just you personally being edified by praying in the Spirit.  (1Cor 14:4-13; 1Cor 14:18-19)

That was fun…hope it helps!

Now, what would YOU like to Ask the Pastor?

Eric Holder and race relations

Seems everyone (or at least all talk-show hosts) about Attorney General Eric Holder’s comments yesterday about race relations in America. Some seem quite offended by his use of the word ‘cowards’ to describe us as a nation regarding race relations.

Regardless of your view about Mr. Holder and his comments, I think it just goes to show what I’ve been saying for years: we can’t expect society to get it right until the Church gets it right!

This is not a legislative issue; it’s a heart issue.  See, we can enforce integration in the workplace, or even in the classroom, but as our Attorney General pointed out yesterday, we remain “voluntarily socially segregated”.  And those words cut all the colors: white, black, red or yellow.

Pardon me for getting on my soapbox again, but part of the answer is for churches like CLC to be a living, breathing example to our communities that white and black and red and yellow can all worship together, love each other, and embrace our differences as God’s best design for humankind.

By the way, attending a multi-ethnic church like ours doesn’t exclude you from being ‘voluntarily socially segregated’ - it’s still a personal choice to build social relationships with people of a different skin color.  If you haven’t yet, it’s not too late – introduce yourself to someone in the lobby this Sunday or invite someone out for lunch, or get connected in one of our Life Groups with someone who doesn’t look just like you – and see how God works in your new friendship.

I think you’ll be glad you did.

And it won’t take government intervention to make it happen….it just takes the love of Jesus in your heart.

‘Fess up!

Listening to Don & Roma on the way to the office this morning had me ready to scream: “When will politicians ever get it?” 

Personally, I’m sick of Chicago-style politics, and a little embarrassed to live in Illinois these days.  But the real issue is WHY does every politician posture and lie and backtrack instead of coming clean?  I’ve found people to be incredibly forgiving and willing to give others a second chance, but it’s the cover-up, the lying, the-avoid-the-question-as-long-as-possible-palavar that drives us crazy!  If you messed-up, just tell us you messed-up and that you’ll do better next time (and mean it!)  Why is that so difficult for politicians?

Oh.  Wait a second.  I guess it’s not just politicians.  When will we ever get it?  God is amazingly forgiving…..Scripture says He’s ready to forgive (even before we ask)…He just wants us to ‘fess up.  In fact, there’s no better example in the Bible than an Old Testament ‘politician’ – the ruler of Israel – read this confession after he got caught sinning.

Anything you need to confess to Him today?

3 Seasons

No, I’m not trying to ignore winter (although I would, if I thought it would help me endure the cold, snow & ice).   And I’m not thinking of baseball, football and basketball.

My devotional reading this morning got me thinking about the seasons of life that we all experience – Luke 4:1-2 explains how the Holy Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness (that’ll make you think), but what caught my eye today was the “for 40 days” part.  It became even more emphatic when I got to verse 13, when the devil departed for a time. 

That’s good news for you, if you’re in a season of trial and difficulty – because the Word is clear that it won’t always be this way!  God always limits the season of difficulty - please read Rev. 2:10 and 1 Pet. 1:6.

As I reflected, it seems to me that all of life is seasonal.  We’re either in a season of difficulty (the wilderness/testing/trials), or we’re in a season of unusual favor (as believers, we walk in the favor of God, but sometimes it’s manifest in unusual ways), or we’re in-between (where most of life is lived).

Here’s the deal: if you’re in the difficult season, be encouraged to know that it won’t last forever, and allow God to work in you during the difficulty.  If you’re in a time of unusual favor, then recognize it and seize the opportunity that is before you!  And, if you’re in the third season, somewhere in-between “life is hard” and “life is wonderful”, then be faithful – just keep on doing what you know to do and enjoy this season of life – it’s the stuff that marriages and churches are built on.

Which season are you in today?

Sunday afternoon reflections

The house is quiet while my better half tries to catch a nap, so it’s a good time to reflect on today:

• Pastor Dan Johnson reports a GREAT day in Shorewood, with a nearly-full auditorium, a couple of salvation decisions (including one by a first-time attender) and fantastic worship – special props to Marcus & Monika Moore and their team – I’m hearing reports like this every week!
• My third straight Sunday in South Bend went well – more first-time guests, plus some repeat guests showing continuing interest.  Reception has been great for the whole series, “In God We Trust”, which will finish up next week with Pastor Doug Neal leading, so I can visit the Tinley Park campus again!
• Speaking of Tinley Park, I hear that my wife was on fire again today!  I’ve teased about it for years, but one CLCer stopped me in the lobby after the last service to tell me that I really shouldn’t let her preach anymore, because folks wouldn’t ever be interested in hearing me again!  Well, no such luck, because I’m in the TP pulpit for the next two Sundays for sure….

Seriously, God is up to something at each campus right now, and I’m just praying “Surprise me!” to the Eph. 3:20 God!

Love is in the air…

I realize that Valentine’s Day is probably a “Hallmark holiday”, but at my house, it sure seems love is in the air:

Chris and I exchanged cards & gifts this morning and then enjoyed a steak together at Outback for lunch.  As we ate, we talked about our whirlwind courtship 37 years ago this  month and some of our favorite memories.  I’ve gotta say it: she’s even hotter now than she was back then, and we advise every married couple to take some time for yourselves, to stoke the fires of romance now and then – your children will survive without you, and your marriage will thrive because of it!

This was also the week that every dad knows will eventually come: when a young man asks permission to marry your daughter.  In my case, it happened via a series of text messages – because Jen’s suitor is the youth pastor serving with Apostle K.L. Dickson in Ft. Portal, Uganda.  So I’m coming to grips with the fact that my babygirl is all grown-up now, and later this year she will become Mrs. Churchill Ogolla.  (I guess our nest really will be empty soon)

Churchill is on Facebook, so if you want to get to know him, click here.

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