What a gorgeous day – a sunny 70 degrees on the 2nd Sunday of November – gotta love Chicago!  (Although I suspect it may have impacted attendance a little, as CLCers made Sunday ‘play-day’ outside). Here’s my thoughts about the day:

• the new technology featuring YouVersion was fun – thanks to the folks at LifeChurch.tv for developing it, and extra props to Eduardo Marroquin & his team for getting CLC up to speed!
• did you ever think you’d see the day when we’d encourage cellphone use in church???
• hope the ‘Live. Laugh. Love.’ series was as much fun to hear as it was to preach!  seriously, we enjoyed each week and felt like we were helping folks in the process – were we right?
• that last line was a shameless request for feedback….did you benefit from this relationship series?
• Loved doing water baptisms again – what a neat testimony from Nate & Jessica Hernandez, who came to the Lord just a few months ago at CLC.  Nate was instantly delivered from a 10-year drug habit and has been clean ever since!
• Our Shorewood interim campus pastors, Glenn & Laurie Wharton gave me the most encouraging report of the day – great worship there today and 223 in attendance!
• Pastor Doug Neal also reported good things in South Bend with strong presence of the Holy Spirit in worship and great response to the video teaching.
• Pastors Eric & Kristen Stone both reported with excitement – a new record attendance in Lisle with 110 people present, and a deep move of the Spirit as well!
• However, the ‘prize’ for good reports goes to our Philippine campus in Davao City, Mindanao, where Herley Montes reported from last weekend that he baptized 50 women from their Encounter retreat, then drove to another church where he ministered at their anniversary services and when he gave the altar invitation, the municipal mayor, several of his councilmen, and the chief of police all came forward to give their lives to the Lord!  A few days later at another village church he was able to led several of the village officials to the Lord as well!  Now, that’s what I’m talking about!
• Today we had over 200 people from at least 10 states (coast to coast) join us for worship with our live-stream over the internet!  Spread the word – every Sunday, real-time, right here.

I hate to spoil all these good reports with da Bears, so let me just say that as far as I’m concerned, the season is officially over……since I can’t bear to watch anymore.  I will say this: even Kyle Orton couldn’t win with this supporting cast – we need a MAJOR makeover before the 2010 season begins.

Get ready for our next series, ‘Heaven on Earth’ – catch the vision!

Just one more thing: our Senegal team has arrived safely & already begun ministering to hundreds of needy people with free medical clinics – pray for favor & anointing all this week!