This may be my earliest (and longest) “Sunday reflections” posting ever, but I’m ready for vacation, so here’s my last work-related post for a while:

• it’s always sad for a pastor to say ‘goodbye’ to good folks, and today I had to do that with some CLCers whose jobs transferred them out of the area (love you, Ramon & Candice!), or who are moving close to family (gonna miss you on the front row, Judy!) and especially people who have served so well on staff with us for the past 2 years (Joe & Sarah Dascenzo, you’ve helped us in more ways than you realize!)….sniff, sniff.
• But I am thanking God for His faithfulness in bringing Jim & Cheri Garrett to join our staff.  I’ll have more to say when they officially move here, but 32 years of ministry experience is a gold mine for CLC!  (some folks have one year of experience 32 times, but the Garrett’s really do have 32 years of experience!) I’m especially impressed with their heart to coach, mentor & train workers to help enable us to expand to many more locations in the future – knowing that already they have sent out over 200 Christian workers (pastors, missionaries, teachers, etc.)  I heard Rick Warren say one time that the real measure of a church is not its seating capacity, but it’s sending capacity, and I agree!
• Must say I enjoyed teaching the End-times series even more than I expected, and it was fun to wrap-up today on such a practical note!
• What did you think of the video review of the Philippine trip? I’d love to hear your comments below. For me, it was like being there all over again!  Thanks, Eduardo Marroquin, for the impossible task of editing hours and hours of footage into an 11-minute video!
• By the way, if you didn’t hear my ‘missions report’ today, we were just able to partner with Kids Against Hunger in sending enough food for 142,500 meals (valued at nearly $33,000) to SENEGAL for just $1,000!  Our friends, Pastors Victorien Nakigan & Eloi Dogue will coordinate the efforts to feed children for over a year with this one-time gift!  (Special thanks to founder, Richard Proudfit, and Director, Larry Langston, for making this possible for us – what a God-connection!)
• And part 2 of my ‘missions report’ is that CAPRO has decided to open a USA office, and it will be housed at CLC-Shorewood!
• Finally, part 3 of that report is that we have now opened our 4th campus – in Davao City, Philippines!  Pastor Herley Montes and his congregation and changing their charter and their name in order to become part of our CLC family! Still not sure what all that entails, but one thing is certain: we’ll be making at least one trip every year to our campus there, so be listening for more details.
• Pastors Dan & Pat report a good day in Shorewood, although they’re feeling the pain of ’summer slump’ in attendance.  Heard great reports of the bowling outing last night, too-
• Pastors Doug & Shanna had an over-the-top experience in South Bend last night with the Ron Kenoly concert – full house!  They also reported a great time with Ron’s teaching today and a summertime attendance of 161!  Good things in the Bend…and best days still ahead!

Don’t forget that NEXT SUNDAY is our Patriotic Celebration, with some very special plans that should make you proud to be an American on one hand, and cause you to interceed for our nation on the other.

Meanwhile, Chris & I are leaving tomorrow for our summer vacation, and I’ll be checking out of the blogosphere (except for my ‘Ask the Pastor’ feature on Friday, which is already written & scheduled for the next few Fridays). You’ll be in good hands during our absence, and we’ll come home rested and refreshed and ready to move forward!

Be ready to join the conversation as we begin our “God Questions?” series beginning July 26 – and we’re starting with a bang as we examine the abortion issue that day.  Invite a friend to be your guest – it will be an incredible time of healing and hope for all!

Goodbye now, one and all-