Goodbye 2009; Welcome 2010!

In just a couple of hours we’ll gather at CLC-TP for the last time in 2009, and, personally, I’m glad to say ‘goodbye’.  This year has been the most challenging year I ever recall, not only from a ministry standpoint, but certainly for my family.  The good news is that we survived!

And to be honest, while there were plenty of tough decisions, sleepless nights, and painful circumstances, there were also LOTS of victories and Kingdom wins that we really must take time to celebrate.  I don’t think I’ll ever forget our Spontaneous Baptisms of Palm Sunday & Easter, when 220 precious people were water baptized in the name of the Lord!

And who could ever forget Pastor Andy Thompson from our First Love Conference last January?  Or for that matter, the entire conference, with Bishop Garlington, Prophet Lloyd Bustard, and Ashmont Hill!

I’m thankful for each and every move of the Holy Spirit in our services and for the anointing on our Worship teams as they lead us each week.  I’m especially thankful for the great team we have to work with, including the newest additions as our Pastors of Family Ministries, Jim & Cheri Garrett – what a God-send they’ve been already!  And I’m thankful for God’s healing hand upon our Worship Pastor Steve Wasmundt, whose quintuple bypass probably saved his life (and his ministry to us).  And I’m SO thankful for Pastors Doug & Shanna Neal, who have provided much-needed pastoral leadership at our South Bend campus, as well as elders Glenn & Laurie Wharton, who brought such peace & stability during a difficult challenge at our Shorewood campus.  And I’m grateful that the Lord connected us with Pastors Eric & Kristen Stone, whose Lisle congregation will launch as our 4th USA campus in the next few weeks!  And I’m amazed at God’s grace in bringing healing & restoration to Pastors Dan & Pat Johnson!

So, yes, 2009 – I do celebrate the good that you brought into our lives – but I’m most thankful that you came to pass!

And I’m ready….SO ready for 2010 and your promise of potential blessing and favor and influence as never before.  Let the countdown begin!

Sunday reflections

The last Sunday of a decade – that’s hard to imagine, isn’t it.  But we’re sending 2009 out with a bang:

• Our very own CLCer, retired NFL linebacker Levar Fisher was our guest speaker for all 3 services in Tinley Park, and he had me from his opening story!  I think all of us will remember that “there are no winners; there are no losers; but each & every one of us are choosers!” and to “1, 2, 3, freeze….and consider the consequences” or better yet, “1, 2, 3, believe!”
• Baptized 2 married couples in the 9:30 service – congrats Jon & Wendy Thorn and James & Jennifer Reynolds!  Love seeing couples obey the Lord together!
• AND after Levar’s message in the last service, we had about 15 people choose to receive Christ – THIS NEVER GETS OLD!
• Pastor Eric Stone reports a good holiday crowd in Lisle with a great sense of unity as we near the launch AND a 21-day fast!
• Pastor Doug Neal says the last Sunday of ’09 in South Bend was marked by the strong presence of God and many praying at the altar.
• I was in Shorewood for their final service of the year and am happy to report one precious woman who prayed to receive Christ afterwards – which means heaven was rejoicing today!
• For those of you who have prayed with us for the past two months, I’m also in awe of God’s grace, as we also announced in Shorewood that today was the close for our interim campus pastors, Glenn & Laurie Wharton, as Dan & Pat Johnson will resume their pastoral duties there next week.  Folks, this is above & beyond anything we could have expected just eight weeks ago – praise God with me for His amazing grace!

After the last service & a quick bite, Jen & I drove to O’Hare to pick up Brent & Sol from their holiday with her parents in Mexico City, and then headed toward Detroit to finish out our family Christmas…..but the lake-affect snow snarled those plans, and we finally gave up after a few hours, so I’m blogging this from a hotel room in the grand metropolis of Watervliet, MI!  We’ll finish the trip tomorrow in time to enjoy some of my sister-in-law’s homemade lasagna & italian sausage, open a few more gifts, and be back in plenty of time for our New Year’s Eve celebration at CLC-TP Thursday at 6pm.  Hope to see you there!

Ask the Pastor

One of our Shorewood members writes,  “Can you please explain the difference of the Gift of tongues and the tongues that take place at the baptism of the Holy Spirit. I was taught at salvation one gets their spiritual gifts, but not all get the same gift and not all get the gift of tongues. Can you elaborate on why tongues is available to all who ask through the baptism of the Holy Spirit?”

Great question.  IMPORTANT questions.  In fact, from my experience, this is perhaps THE biggest question for those who have been taught against “speaking in tongues” for today.  I’ll try to keep it brief, because this can be a Bible study all in itself.

1.  From my understanding of Scriptures, there are 3 different purposes or uses of “tongues” – (a) a ‘sign’ that normally accompanies the baptism or infilling of the Holy Spirit; (b) a ‘prayer language’ that brings wonderful benefits to our devotional times with the Lord; and (c) a gift for public use in the congregation, when accompanied by it’s companion gift of “interpretation of tongues”.

2.  Besides my own experience, which is always subjective and never to be the authority for doctrine, I know that the distinctions I’ve listed above are valid, because the public gift (“c” above) has very definite restrictions/guidelines for its proper use, as listed in 1Cor. 14:27-28, yet NONE of the examples of “speaking in tongues” in the book of Acts meet that Biblical criteria for the gift of tongues!  (Acts 2:4 involved about 120 people, all speaking at the same time, and no interpreter; Acts 10 involved an indefinite number, but definitely more than 2 or 3, and again they spoke at the same time and w/o an interpreter; and Acts 19 involved 12 men who all spoke at the same time and w/o an interpreter.) Since we know that the Bible does not contradict itself then what happened in Acts MUST be different than the gift of tongues for public use as described in 1Cor. 14.

3.  Furthermore, since Paul boasted of his personal practice of praying in tongues, yet said that he’d rather speak 5 words that could be understood rather than 10,000 in tongues during a church service (1Cor. 14:18-19), it seems obvious that he was referring to a devotional use of tongues (“b” above) rather than the public gift with interpretation.

4.  So, to answer your questions more specifically, tongues is available to every believer as a devotional aid (there are MANY benefits listed there in 1Cor 14 and in Romans 8, as well as Jude 20.) The ability to pray in tongues begins when a person is baptized in the Holy Spirit, but, to be honest, at CLC we don’t focus on that “evidence doctrine”, because I’ve learned through the years that it usually just generates arguments.  Instead our focus is on those practical benefits to our prayer life – and I think every believer should desire & expect those benefits!  As to the teaching that no all get the same gift and not all get the gift of tongues, I would agree totally – with the understanding that the gift of tongues referred to is the “(c)” use above; i.e., the gift that is used in public with the accompanying gift of interpretation.  Not every believer receives that gift, but every believer can/should be endued with power from on high (Luke 24:49) and certainly every believer can/should use their prayer language regularly (ICor 14:18)

Hope that helped a bit.  I especially hope that you’re enjoying this Christmas season!

Now, what would you like to Ask the Pastor in 2010?

Christmas offering!

We don’t have all the final totals yet, but already we know that CLCers gave over $20,000 yesterday to bless people in need this Christmas season!

As you recall, those funds are going to provide clean water wells in Peru, where children often go blind by age 9 or 10 from drinking parasites in the water (and where CLC has already provided numerous wells for entire villages) AND to help meet humanitarian needs of poor Messianic believers in Israel, some of whom have experienced persecution & hardship because of their decision to follow Yeshua as their Messiah AND to help feed the hungry & bless the needy right here in our community, AND provide assistance for the launch of our 4th campus in the west suburbs in January of 2010!  So on behalf of ALL those who will receive blessings that will literally change their lives because you gave, I say ‘THANKS’!

And for those of you who wanted to give, but weren’t able to do so yesterday, or perhaps have already traveled out of town for the holidays – it’s NOT TOO LATE – you can online today and make your gift for Christmas today.  Just click here, logon and give to “Christmas giving”.  Thanks!

Sunday reflections

I’m vegging on the couch after another disappointing Bears game (at one point it was so bad that I started alternating between the game & Fox News, and Fox News was actually more interesting to watch).  But I digress…..it was another good day at CLC:

• Pastors Doug & Shanna Neal reported a good day in South Bend with a real sense of joy in their services & special music from KidsTown, which is always fun at this time of year-
• Pastors Glen & Laurie Wharton said the entire service in Shorewood today was “intense” with the manifestation of the Holy Spirit, and my wife led a “fire tunnel” at the close, with practically everyone in attendance going thru the line to receive prayer for spiritual gifts to be released in their life – sounds like real fun at Christmas!
• Pastor Eric Stone reports the Lisle service today focused on ‘destiny’, as he cast vision for the future and the upcoming launch there, and the enthusiasm was tangible & contagious!  Please do join us in praying for a suitable rental location there – if we don’t locate the right building in the next couple of weeks, we’ll have to postpone the launch.
• Pastor Jaime Flores reports one of the highest attendances of the year at Centro de Vida Cristiana – so the new service time (1:30pm) already seems to be helping, even before we did a Grand re-opening next month for the Hispanic community!
• At our Philippines campus in Davao, Pastor Herley reports a very busy week of Christmas observances, with concerts & special meetings, and new people coming forward to receive Christ at each – nothing like Christmas in the Philippines!
• And at Tinley Park today we thoroughly enjoyed the special presentations from our combined youth & adult dance ministries AND the sax solo from our man of many talents, Eduardo Marroquin. Most of all, I rejoice over several adults who prayed to receive Christ today – it just never gets old!
• As planned, we received a special Christmas offering today at each campus, and the initial reports indicate that CLCers gave over $20,000 to “light a candle” (as the dance number challenged us) by helping provide clean water wells in Peru, caring for needy Messianic believers in Israel, feeding & clothing people in each community where CLC serves, and helping with the launch of our 4th USA campus!  Thank you for responding with generous hearts that will make this Christmas better for so many people!
• As I shared in service today, I had the privilege of observing the Shorewood Food Pantry in operation yesterday, and it made me a proud pastor!  Seeing the tremendous outpouring of volunteers, both CLCers & local residents, and how everything was so organized in order to treat each family that we served with dignity & honor, was just terrific!  I even had the opportunity to serve a few of the 100+ families who received a box of food, a turkey for the holidays, and even some Christmas toys for the children!  Thanks, Sean & Shannon Baumgartner, Pastors Dan & Pat, and EACH of the CLC-SW members who made it possible! (The team is even able to pray with each of the families, and several prayed with us to receive Christ yesterday!) It is simply wonderful to see the Church being the Church – meeting needs & healing hurts!

That’s it for this weekend -

Ask the Pastor

My favorite questioner writes: Matthew 23:8-10 states that we should call no man Rabbi, Father, or Master. It goes on to state that we have only One Father, which is in heaven.  Can you break this down for me? I’ve read the KJV, The Amplified Version, and the NLT, and they all seem to give the same clear meaning (not to give these titles to any one on earth).  I’m really confused because Rabbi and Father are common titles used in today’s world, especially in some churches and synagogues.

Great question.  The answer is probably a little more complicated.  First, we must never fall into the habit of judging Scripture by what we see around us, but rather judge what we see in life on the basis of Scripture!  (Let the chips fall where they may, as far as what some churches or synagogues practice today)

However, I do think Jesus’ intent was more than just telling us to avoid those specific titles, because, frankly, the same error can be made today with titles like ‘Apostle’, ‘Prophet’, ‘Bishop’, or even the one I most commonly answer to, ‘pastor’.

I do like what Eugene Peterson has done in The Message paraphrase, because I think it addresses the real issues, both for leaders and their followers:

• pedestals are not good for people!  My ego doesn’t need to be stroked, and you don’t need to place your ultimate confidence in man, but in God!
• all of us are equal in God’s sight even though we have different gifts and different callings.  None is holier than another!
• God, and only God, is the true Authority for both leaders and followers.  In fact, I’m only able to be followed as I am following (1Cor. 11:1)
• As leaders exercise our calling, we must remember that at best, we are only “under-shepherds”, and we dare not let followers force us to take charge of them – their ultimate responsibility is to the Chief Shepherd!

I am always honored and humbled when someone chooses to call me ‘pastor’ – but as I’ve said before, I’d much prefer to do the stuff and not have the title as to have the title and not do the stuff!

That was fun – hope you found it helpful.

Now, what would YOU like the ask the Pastor?

Opportunities to be seized NOW!

Someone has said that “opportunity only knocks once”.  I don’t know about that, but I’ve heard my pastor say that “the opportunity of a lifetime must be seized in the lifetime of the opportunity”, and I’ve got 3 different opportunities that must be seized now, lest we miss them completely:

1.  This Sunday at CLC-TP is the conclusion of our “3-D Christmas” series, and besides the special effects video & great music, I believe the message is going to be the BEST of the series, full of practical tips as to how you can have peace on earth this Christmas, and all-year long.  This Sunday is tailor-made for bringing guests – I truly believe it can be life-changing for your friends & family!

Obviously, that ONLY happens if you take time NOW to invite someone to be your guest.  Would you do that today?  Pick up the phone, send an email, or have that conversation – it really could change eternity for someone you love!

2.  This Sunday is also our “CHRISTMAS OFFERING” Sunday at each CLC campus, and I’m just so excited to see how we’re going to be able to make an investment to change lives here in Chicagoland (by launching our 4th campus in January), in Israel (by helping needy Messianic believers there thru the ministry of Tikkun International, in Peru (where we will provide more clean water wells so little children don’t go blind from drinking the parasites in their water), and locally (feeding the hungry & helping needy people through our food pantries and local agencies we partner with to meet needs).

Just imagine: together we will touch more people and do more to meet practical needs as Jesus taught us in just ONE DAY than we ever have before!  That’s why Chris & I plan to give our largest gift this Christmas thru CLC – and the joy of doing this will be greater than any sweater we give anyone else!  Can I ask you again to prayerfully consider what you can do this Christmas, and join us in giving this Sunday?

3.  Finally, as you know we plan to launch our 4th campus in the Lisle-Downers Grove-Woodridge area on January 31 – but we’ve still been unable to locate a building to lease.  In fact, just today the high school that I personally felt was going to be the perfect spot refused our request, & it’s crunch time now!

Would you join me in praying for God to open the right door for us speedily?  After all, CLC is HIS Church, and folks in the west suburbs deserve a chance to receive through a multi-cultural, Spirit-filled, healing-Presence church as much as anyone else!  Prayer can open a door – but we need you to pray now.

Thanks for the help – I’ll give you the good reports later.

This is OUR day!

I’ve heard that from numerous preachers as they exhorted us to win the world for Christ or some other such lofty aspiration.  And I believe it – this is the greatest hour for the Church to shine.

But I mean it a little more selfishly today.

I’m writing this post for my wife.  It’s our day.

And I’m convinced that special days ought to be celebrated.

I mean it.  Too often we settle into the necessary routine of life, and just grind it out in a ‘dog eat dog’ world. But marriages must be maintained if we are to thrive – even if they are ‘made in heaven’, the maintenance is done here on earth by both partners.  And romance is an important component, lest our marriage relationship slides into “two people just living in the same house”, in some kind of Christian endurance contest.

That’s why Chris and I take time every year to celebrate the day back in 1972, in a small church in the suburbs of Detroit, when a shy, 18-year old, beautiful blonde named Chris Hansen became Mrs. Jerry McQuay.  I had no clue back then how far over my head I was marrying, and I’ve never ceased to be amazed at the way she keeps reinventing herself into the woman of God she is today.

December 16 is our big day…and we’ll be enjoying a romantic dinner tonight at Fogo de Chao.

But I also want to encourage you to take time for those you love…invest in your relationships, and celebrate the most important people in your life…..it really is the ONLY way to truly live.

Happy 37th anniversary, sweetheart – I love you more than ever!

Thank you!

I’ve literally been overwhelmed by the deluge of thoughtfulness in the form of gifts, cards, songs, food & more from SO MANY on the 57th anniversary of my birth yesterday!

Even though most of the day was spent in a pastors seminar, I honestly think it was the BEST birthday of my life, because of the honor of having so many friends like you in my life.

I’ve been saying it from the pulpit for years, but yesterday I saw it afresh: life is all about relationships!

I feel like a rich man to have so many of you in my life.  Thanks for making this old man feel young again!

Finally, I pray that each of you will likewise take time to enjoy the relationships of people God has placed in your life this holiday season!

Primal

That’s the title of Mark Batterson’s newest book, and I gotta say: I love it!  

I was fortunate enough to receive an advance copy from WaterBrook Multnomah for my review, and it arrived just before my flight to Las Vegas week before last.  I grabbed it from my briefcase shortly after take-off, and then Primal grabbed me on the first page, and wouldn’t let go!  In fact, I finished it just before landing – it’s a real page-turner!

I’ve said publicly that Mark’s earlier work, In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day was the best book I read in 2006, and I’m ready to say the same thing for Primal this year.  I loved the glimpses that Mark gives us of his own life experiences through several personal stories, and especially how he hears from God in and through those experiences.  He truly goes beyond the surface of the familiar words of the Great Commandment to challenge each of us to love God with our heart, mind, soul and strength….perhaps in new & fresh ways!

As Mark himself writes, “Is there a place in your past where you met God and God met you?  A place where your heart broke for the things that break the heart of God?  Maybe it was a sermon that became more than a sermon.  Maybe it was a mission trip or retreat.  Maybe it was a vow you made at an altar.  In that moment, God birthed something supernatural in your spirit.  You knew you’d never be the same again.  My prayer is that this book would take you back to that burning bush—and reignite a primal faith.”

IMHO, this is not only a great read for you, it would make a great Christmas gift for any believer – get your copy now here.  In fact, I’ll issue a challenge for every reader: why not make this the first book you read in 2010?

(I’m also excited to tell you to mark your calendar for Sunday, May 23, 2010 when Mark will again be our guest at CLC!)

The author of Wild Goose Chase and In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day, Mark Batterson serves as lead pastor of National Community Church in Washington, D.C. One church with nine services in five locations, NCC is focused on reaching emerging generations and meets in movie theaters at metro stops throughout the D.C. area. Mark has two Masters degrees from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Chicago. He and his wife, Lora, live on Capitol Hill with their three children. www.markbatterson.com <http://www.markbatterson.com/>

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