Sunday reflections

I love Sundays!  I especially love Sundays at CLC!  Today was a LONG one (left the house before 6am and got home after 7pm, with 3 services, a newcomer’s reception and 2 Equip U classes in between), but I enjoyed it all.  Here’s my thoughts on the day:

• loved the fact that we had people pray to receive Christ at all 3 services today in Tinley Park……that NEVER gets old!
• thoroughly enjoyed teaching today…in fact, I’m enjoying this whole Back to the Future series!
• But probably not as much as I will enjoy next Sunday with Dr. Jack Hayford – still can’t quite believe he’s actually coming to CLC! Woo-hoo!!!
• met several newcomer’s this afternoon at the reception, including one lady who told me she’s been watching our services online for several weeks, and finally decided to visit!  Our website has become the new lobby of our church, as more & more people visit there before they visit our physical address!
• Speaking of the internet, I saw several great comments on Facebook from CLCers who worshipped online, as well as folks from other parts of the country who joined in with us today – just AMAZING!  Our media director tells me we were viewed “coast-to-coast” today, with 13 states representing 17 cities, from Tampa to New York to Honolulu!
• In South Bend, Pastor Doug said they enjoyed “awesome freedom” in worship, with gifts of the Spirit manifest and a great flow in teaching!
• In Lisle, Pastor Eric was beside himself as he reported a near-record attendance, the worship team was as tight as he’s heard them, and great responses to the teaching.  One of their 1st time guests said, “I’ve never felt anything like this – I had no idea church could be this fun or powerful!”
• At our Hispanic campus, Pastor Jaime reports that they have gained 13 new people just since changing their service time to 1:30pm (in case you didn’t know, we now offer 4 services in Tinley Park each Sunday: 8, 9:30 & 11:30 a.m. in English, AND 1:30pm in Spanish – tell your Hispanic friends!)
• My wife ministered at our Shorewood campus and Pastor Dan said she “left it all on the field“, as they enjoyed great worship and a real move of the Spirit, with a very neat ‘Holy Ghost set-up’ for a prophetic word that went forth at the close!
• Equip U got off to a good start this evening with several classes offering practical training in a variety of areas: worship, Holy Spirit, leadership & more.  It’s not too late for you to enroll – just go here.

That’s it for this last day of February – I’m calling it a day!

Happy birfday, Jen

Late one night, thirty-two years and a few hours ago, I got a call from my wife, who was staying with her mom to be close to the hospital our obstetrician worked from, that if I wanted to see the birth of our second child, I’d better get moving (we lived about an hour away).  I hurriedly dressed and drove the hour from Mt. Morris, MI to William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, rushed into the maternity ward just as they were wheeling Chris into the delivery room, and was able to welcome our only daughter into the world!

Since then, she’s been a source of much joy – from the times as a little girl that she made funny faces to distract her parents from church problems, to the various times she’s made us proud – whether from an accomplishment or recognition at school, or something for the Kingdom of God (like the time she prayed for a handicapped man in the Philippines, and he got out of his wheelchair and walked!)

She was with us in the Philippines at age 4, and got ‘bit’ by the missions ‘bug’ that has seen her travel to probably as many countries as her dad, as God has enabled her to adapt and love and serve people of various cultures and nations.  Here at CLC, she serves in a variety of roles, helping with graphics and desktop publishing and assisting us in all sorts of projects (like today’s extensive administrative preparation for Equip U).

But most of all, to this dad, she’s still my one & only babygirl, and I love her very much.  Happy Birthday, Jen!

The New Testament in 50 days – day 22

On this first day of our fourth week of reading through the NT, we’re at Acts 19, which contains the final detailed account of an outpouring of the Holy Spirit, along with more interesting glimpses into Paul’s ministry.  Here’s what I noticed today:

• first, I can’t help but point out that the gift of the Holy Spirit IS an experience subsequent to salvation, and that as believers we can know whether or not we’ve had this experience – otherwise, Paul question in vv. 1-2 would make no sense whatsoever!
• I also feel the need to point out again the connection between water baptism & the baptism of the Holy Spirit (vv. 3-6).  We’re seeing in Acts that the normal Christian ‘initiation’ (got that term from Pastor Jack Hayford, who will be our guest THIS Sunday!) is repentance, water baptism, and the infilling of the Holy Spirit.  If it was the norm then, it should be the norm now! (You can schedule your water baptism or pray to receive the Holy Spirit at any CLC service – just let us know!)
• I’m encouraged by verses 9-10 to know that the entire province of Asia (modern Turkey) was reached with the Word in just two years! I’m also stirred by the knowledge that Turkey today is almost entirely Muslim – would you take time to pray for our friends there, as this is one of the countries that we feel is a ‘God-assignment’ to CLC.
• Note Acts 19:11-12 – Is it just me, or does “unusual miracles” seem redundant?  Perhaps miracles in the early church were so common, the writer had to designate these as ‘unusual’.  I say, “Do it again, Lord!”
• Love vv. 18-20 – isn’t ‘life change’ what it’s all about?
• The final story in the chapter is interesting in that not a lot has changed in the last 2,000 years: people are still self-centered (verses 24-25), and, more often than not, the crowd doesn’t really know what’s going on (verse 32).  Aren’t you glad God knows, and He has a plan for us!

What stood out in your reading today?  Please share your thoughts with us below as we continue working the Word into our lives!

The New Testament in 50 days – day 21

Acts 10 is our Bronze reading for today.  After the death & resurrection of Christ in the Gospels, this is perhaps the most important chapter in the Bible for us Gentiles, for prior to Acts 10, the entire Church of Jesus Christ was Jewish.  This chapter records the first Gentile to be added to the church, and the open door for all of us!  Here’s a few assorted thoughts:

• when you read Cornelius’ pedigree in verse 2, it makes vv 5-6 remarkable – that is, in spite of the fact that he was devout and God-fearing and a family man who prayed regularly and gave generously, there was still more he needed to do! He would have been qualified to serve in leadership at most churches today (maybe even as pastor!), but God’s evaluation is that he needed more…..because good works won’t save anyone!  (see John 3:3-5)
• As we’ve seen elsewhere in the NT, I love how God works on both ends of the line at once – with precise timing, as we notice in Acts 10:9-20.
• Even though the instruction to hear from Peter was given to Cornelius personally (see 10:22), I love his willingness/eagerness to share with his family & friends (v. 24).  May each of us be so willing & eager to share the Good News with those close to us!
• Some of the ‘best news’ in the Good News is found in Acts 10:34-35, 43 – God doesn’t play favorites; anyone can come to Him!
• Verses 44-45 describe the outpouring of the Holy Spirit for the first time upon Gentiles, and the resulting amazement of the Jewish believers about it.  Yet they couldn’t deny the reality, since they heard the Gentiles speaking in tongues (v. 46), which they identified as the same experience they had received at Pentecost (v. 47; Acts 2:4)
• Finally, once again we see the importance the early Christians placed upon water baptism (vv.47-48).  Since the challenge to read through the NT was issued in part because of James 1:22-23, let me ask a bold question: have you been baptized in water since believing on Christ for salvation? If not, in light of what we’re seeing in the history of the early Church, why are you waiting?  I urge you to email us or call our office today to schedule YOUR baptism!

Enough preaching!  What stood out in your reading today?  Would you share it with us below, so others can be encouraged to ‘work the Word into their life’?

Stand With Israel / go to Israel!

I’m a little slow in posting, but we had a couple of great meetings yesterday with John Sommerville of Christians United For Israel.  The first meeting was for pastors, and we had some from more than two hours away!  It was very informative and I’m hoping productive in getting other pastors & churches to understand the need for Christians to stand with Israel, both now and in the future.

And of course we moved our midweek service to Thursday (this week only!) so that more CLCers could take advantage of the opportunity to learn more about what’s happening in Israel and why it’s so important for us to stand with her.  We were joined by a number of churches from around the area, plus other friends of Israel, including a rabbi from the northern suburbs!  John’s presentation was lengthy, but packed with important information.

All of that just lit my fire a little brighter about our upcoming missions trip to Israel this November 9-19. Get all the details here, including a sample fundraising letter you can use, as others will help you make the trip.  There’s also information from our trip hostess, Melva Lea Beacham.  Please note: the $100 savings deadline is fast approaching – so you’ll want to make your initial deposit with the travel agent soon!

It’s going to be the trip of a lifetime!

The New Testament in 50 days – day 20

Ask the Pastor

One of my favorite CLCers writes, “I actually have a question posed by a friend.  She wants to know do animals have souls?  She says when you look in their eyes they don’t seem souless.  If you believe the “Darwin’s” theory then how could you say Apes don’t have souls if we evolved from them.”

Hmmmm….seems like there’s no good answer for this question.  The truth is, at least from my studies, the Bible is silent on this issue.  Scripture gives me no indication that animals have souls, but every indication that only mankind does.  However, as a dog-lover myself, I’m sure the popular sentiment would be that “all dogs go to heaven”.  (I suppose cat lovers feel the same way, but I’m certainly not going to endorse that idea, since cats are of the devil)

Just kidding.

Back to the original question.  With all due respect, the reasoning of your friend is SO typical of Americans, it’s really sad.  By that I mean that rather than using God’s Word as our final authority, most of us instead use a hodge-podge of our own ideas and what seems right to us.  Looking into an animal’s eyes is not a determining factor for anything, unless you’re an animal opthamologist.  But that’s so typical of the humanist approach to spiritual issues.

And to use the logic of Darwin’s theory of evolution, for us as believers, is almost adding insult to injury.  Darwin had a theory only, and it has never been scientifically proven, and it never will be – because it’s contrary to Scripture.  We did not descend from apes, or any other animal life.  We were created in the likeness and image of God.  GOD Himself fashioned us, with His own hands, and breathed life into us (Gen. 2:7).  That’s foundational truth, and if we reject it for theories, then the whole Bible is suspect.  Instead, I’ll take my stand with the Apostle Paul as outlined in Romans 3:4.  As one old-timer said, “I believe the Bible from cover to cover.  In fact, I even believe the cover, where it says, ‘Holy’ Bible!”

Wow….didn’t expect to get so theological over a dog.  Hope it helps.  Now, what would YOU like to Ask the Pastor?

The New Testament in 50 days – day 19

The bronze level reading for today is the 8th chapter of Acts.  Here’s a few tidbits I noticed today:

• The first thing that struck me was how, even though Jesus clearly instructed the disciples to take the Gospel to all the world (Acts 1:8), they all stayed in Jerusalem until persecution came, and it was the persecution that finally got them to take the message elsewhere (Acts 8:1, 4).  Kinda made me wonder if God sometimes has to allow uncomfortable situations in our life in order to motivate us to obey His will?  Just a thought-
• I love verse 8 – whenever the Gospel comes in power (as demonstrated here by deliverance & healings), it brings great joy to a city!  ‘Lord, may Chicagoland experience joy because of what You do among us at CLC!’
• Acts 8:14-17 serves as historical indication of how important the gift of the Holy Spirit was in the early Church, in that the apostles weren’t content with the report of many new believers in Samaria – instead, they sent Peter & John on a mission to introduce them to the Holy Spirit!  It’s also a stark reminder of how far some churches have strayed from that original priority & emphasis.  I’m committed that CLC will always emphasize the importance of being baptized in the Holy Spirit, and challenge all believers to never settle for less!
• I noticed a detail in Acts 8:23 that I hadn’t considered before: Simon the sorcerer was bitterly jealous of the apostle’s ministry.  Peter’s strong reply (what he literally said is, ‘take your money and go to hell’) emphasizes the seriousness of our motives before God.  It made me stop for a heart-check: am I jealous of others….their giftings or anointing or success? I certainly don’t want to be!
• Verses 26-40 contain one of my favorite stories from Acts – with so many lessons for us (Philip’s sensitivity & obedience to the Holy Spirit in leaving a great revival to go to a desert; the beauty of the Spirit’s orchestration of this meeting – not only prompting Philip, but preparing the eunuch, too; and the fact that water baptism was somehow included in Philip’s preaching of the Good News – unlike so many modern churches / believers, where baptism has been relegated to an ‘optional’ experience instead of being part of the Christian initiation)

I’ll stop there – what stood out for you in your reading today?  Please share below so others can be encouraged to ‘work the Word’ into our life, too!

The New Testament in 50 days – day 18

Acts 2 is our reading for today at the Bronze level, and it’s one of my all-time favorites, the ‘birthday’ of the Church of Jesus Christ!  Since I’ve preached from it so many times (it was our ‘sugar-stick’ in my original faith family), I’ll try to keep it fresh today instead of resorting to memory:

• Acts 2:1 immediately grabbed my attention, since this special event/birthday was planned from eternity past, and God could have chosen to fill His followers in their homes, scattered all over Jerusalem – but He didn’t! Instead, He chose to come where they were meeting together – and I think that was partly to show us how much He wants to meet with us when we gather together for worship!  (see also Matt. 18:20)
• when it comes to our ‘prayer language’, Acts 2:4 shows us that the Holy Spirit gives us the ability, but it is still up to us to do the speaking!
• One of the most common misconceptions about the purpose of speaking in tongues comes from vv.5-12, which has caused some to think that tongues were only used to preach the gospel to foreigners.  However, vv. 14-18 clearly rules out that theory, as Peter lifted up his voice (in only one language, most likely Aramaic) and people were able to understand him.  In fact, the speaking in tongues primarily resulted in confusion (v 12), whereas Peter’s preaching resulted in salvation! (v41)
• Acts 2:39 is a huge promise, in that the gift of the Holy Spirit is promised even to us Gentiles, for as long as God is calling people to Himself!
• Chapter 2 closes with a wonderful description of how it can be/should be in every local church – we’ve got a ways to go, but it’s my goal!

How was your reading today?  Please share your insights with us below, so all of us can work the Word into our lives!

The New Testament in 50 days – day 17

John 17 is our Bronze level reading for today, and what an awesome chapter it is!  We usually refer to the prayer in Luke 11 that begins with “Our Father” as “the Lord’s Prayer”, but it’s really a model for our prayers – whereas John 17 really is the prayer that Jesus prayed shortly before going to the Cross to purchase our salvation!  Here’s a few of the tidbits I enjoyed:

• John 17:3 puts it as succinctly as it can be said!
• John 17:4 tells how YOU can bring God glory….the question is: are you? (That’s my goal in life: to complete my assignment!)
• John 17:9, 20 makes it clear: Jesus prayed (and is praying) for YOU and me!  (that is, if you have believed on Him because of the writings of the New Testament)
• Remember John 17:15 when life seems tough; and don’t forget John 17:18 – there is a purpose for you to fulfill on earth.  (That’s what John 17:4 is all about, too)
• Finally, I LOVE John 17:26 – He not only has revealed; He continues to reveal the Father to us – through the Word!  Let’s keep reading & working it into our lives!

What stood out to you today in your reading?  Please share below with the rest of us, so we can all be encouraged together!

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