Vacation!

I am happy to report that Chris & I are leaving for our summer vacation this morning, and I’m determined to take an “e-vacation” as well.  That means I will not check email or post to this blog again until at least July 15.

I know; I know – you’re thinking, how will I make it without PJ’s riveting reads for the next couple of weeks?

Yeah, right!

My suggestion is what I learned back in Sunday School in the 1950′s: “Read your Bible.  Pray everyday.  And you’ll grow, grow, grow!”

Love you guys – enjoy your Independence Day – hug your family – bless your spouse.  I’ll be back before you know it.

OH…and in Tinley Park, you’ll enjoy Eduardo Marroquin….and Pastors Jim & Cheri…..not to mention our Summer Revival with Pastors Doug & Shanna and some of our mentorees, plus another WORSHIP NIGHT with Atmosphere of Heaven on July 14…..good stuff all summer long!

Sunday reflections

Today was one of the lowest-attended Sundays at CLC in the past several years – I guess it was a combination of vacation travel, baseball tournaments, sickness, and even the World Cup!  At any rate, still several things to be thankful for:

• in Tinley Park, the low attendance didn’t seem to bother the Holy Spirit, as there was a wonderful atmosphere of worship & prayer…..lots of heartfelt testimonies in the lobby about the message being timely & personal…..and we had at least 7 people pray to receive Christ – that never gets old!
• Excited about Backyard Bible Clubs…..still wondering if God will use them to open a door of ministry in some of our neighborhoods.  If you’re interested in hosting or helping with you, please click here or call the office – and plan to attend the orientation on July 13!
• Thankful for the response to help sponsor students for our Youth Camp – if you want to make a donation to help change a teen’s life, click here or visit the kiosk at the Media booth or just designate an offering any Sunday through July 25.
• Speaking of July 25, mark your calendar and don’t let ANYTHING keep you away from CLC that day, when our 20th Anniversary Celebration continues with our primary partner in the Land of Israel, Daniel Juster of Tikkun Ministries will be our special guest!
• Oops…back to today: in South Bend, Pastor Doug reports great worship & great message from my wife, and better still, lots of new guests and returning guests!
• Speaking of Pastors Doug & Shanna, if you didn’t hear the announcement today, they’ll be ministering at our “Summer Revival” this Wednesday in Tinley Park.  I think it’s their first time preaching here since they left to serve the South Bend campus, so I’m hoping all their TP friends will be there for a grand welcome back!
• Meanwhile, Pastor Dan reports a good day in Shorewood with all of heaven rejoicing over one person who came to repentance!
• Pastor Jaime says our Hispanic service this afternoon was “quiet”, but the Presence of the Lord was great (in spite of the World Cup!!!)
• Pastor Herley at our Philippine campus preached this weekend at their newest location, which just started in the pastor’s home about 6 months ago, and already more than 50 people are worshipping together in a prominently-Muslim area!  Meanwhile, at the Davao City campus, his son Joel preached in the morning and 4 people came to salvation and his assistant pastor preached in the evening and 15 more came to the Lord!  (It’s definitely harvest-time in the Philippines, and I’m so glad we get to be a part of it!)
• Our Media Director, Eduardo Marroquin reports that at least 224 people joined us online today, including some first-time guests and several who have never visited a physical campus!  LOVE IT!!!
• My favorite conversation in the lobby today was a CLCer who ‘corrected’ me for saying I ‘want’ CLC to be a thin-place where it’s easy for folks to enter God’s Presence…..she says “it already is a thin-place!  When I first came here months ago, I was so lost, but I immediately felt God’s Presence here.  My husband believes in God, but not The Church….but he’s heard me talk about it so much, that he never misses an online service now!” (She made my day!)
• Finally, today in Lisle, Pastor Eric gave a final challenge for the launch team in preparation for our September Grand Opening there.  He reports a GREAT response, even from some of the newest attenders, as a ‘culture of serving’ is growing there…..AND they committed $$$ (I was trying to wait for the report totals, but my bed is calling) toward the launch expense!  (It will cost us over $120,000 to launch this new campus, so if you’d like to be a part of making that happen, you can click here and designate your gift for the Lisle campus)

That’s it…..toast….over…..finished…..stick a fork in me, I’m done…..my bed is calling me!

Ask the Pastor

My #1 questioner writes, “I have a question about 1Tim 4:1-5.  This question may be an individual’s choice, but I get kind of confused when I hear so many Christians announce that they do not eat meat of any kind – when vv. 3-4 indicate we can eat meat. Pastor can you explain this to me?  Is this something that has changed since our food is so polluted now or shall we eat anything we choose as long as we pray and give thanksgiving for everything we eat? Also, I don’t want to offend anybody but even vegetarians are at risk because of the chemicals and sprays. Pregnant women are forbidden to eat fish because of the mercury and Organic food is good but sometimes a large household with kids can’t afford all organic foods. Can you shed a little light on this for me?”

Well, I can try.  It’s a good question, since as you point out, some believers seem to have strong opinions about their diet.  First, I’m guessing that you refer to the KJV of the text rather than the NLT quoted above.  So from a Bible interpretation view, the passage obviously refers to any foods we eat, not just meat.

I think the real issue is whether people are making their dietary choices because of a supposed commandment in Scripture (such as this passage) OR if they’re making choices based on their own preferences (whether those are health concerns or taste preferences).

If someone chooses to abstain from ANY foods because of their health concerns or personal preferences, that’s fine – probably all of us should be a little more diligent in regards to eating right.  But for anyone to abstain from any food because they think the Bible forbids it – well, based on the text you cited and others, they are just sadly mistaken.  According to 1Tim. 4:1-5, Rom. 14:20-22, Heb. 9:8-12, and Rom. 14:17, we simply are not under the dietary restrictions of the Old Testament law any longer.

Having said that, I will say that my understanding of the Old Testament restrictions is that they were given by God for the health of His people.  Personally, I don’t think pork or shrimp is the best choice of foods for me to enjoy maximum health – but I don’t personally make that a “law” for myself or anyone else (in fact, I ate ham this week at a church luncheon where it was the only meat offered).

Finally, in spite of everything I’ve said above, if someone has a weak conscience and cannot eat in faith, then by all means, obey Romans 14:2-3, 23.

Hope this helps.  Now, what would YOU like to Ask the Pastor? Please submit your question below – although I’m taking a 2-week vacation, I will answer your questions again on July 16.

I would only add or clarify that

well…….

Well…….I won’t be back for tonight’s service as planned.  Our flight was cancelled this afternoon and no airline in greater New York (3 airports!) had a single available seat into Chicago tonight.  So Jon Jones and I are on the first flight home tomorrow morning.

I think I may be maturing…..or maybe just mellowing in my old age.  At any rate, I’m not as frustrated as I used to get.

Perhaps it’s because our time with Bishop Garlington included a lot of brokenness and lingering in His Presence….including an “encounter” this morning where I really believe I heard the Lord for myself.  It happened as Bishop & Pastor Barbara prayed for us individually in the final session we attended before driving to the airport to get the news that all Chicago flights were canceled, so I’m fighting to hold onto what I received.

I’m looking forward to sharing with CLC this Sunday – all 3 services in Tinley Park – see you there!

New Jersey bound…..

Headed to O’Hare again this morning for a flight to LaGuardia and then a short drive to Kearny, New Jersey.  Pastor Vinnie Manzo and his City of Hope Church will host the Reconciliation! Ministries International team meeting with Bishop Garlington, and pastor friends from around the country.

Bishop asks that we all attend at least 2 of the 3 meetings he conducts for the network each year, and I missed in January during our 21-day fast, so I’m feeling the need to be there – but I also want to take this time to hear from the Lord personally as well as for CLC.

Jon Jones will be my traveling companion and we’ll enjoy several sessions with Bishop & others before returning home in time for our “Summer Revival” this Wednesday night.  Later-

Sunday reflections

To all the online DAD’s – hope your family made your Father’s Day as special as mine was!  Here’s my random thoughts on this special day:

• I dunno if the message was as practical as Proverbs has been – but I sure know it hit home.  Thanks to all the CLCers from all 3 services who received the Word and committed afresh to being the “priests” in your home.
• It was an emotionally-charged message for me – had a hard time getting thru it all 3 times – and was really drained afterwards.  There’s something about the bond between fathers and their children - and I join with every Dad today who had a chance to tell your kids, “I love you.  I’m proud of you!  You’re good at…….!”
  
• Special thanks to Chris, Jen, Brent, Sol & Jaden for making my day special with lunch at one of my favorite places, cards, gifts, more cards (Jen!), and then one of the funniest movies I’ve seen in a long time – pure nonsense, totally unbelievable, and thoroughly entertaining…..and to my LA kids: Chad and Dorothy, for the card, gift & phone call that made my day extra-special, too!

Pardon all the personal stuff – around the CLC campuses, it was a good day:

• Pastor Dan in Shorewood reports 2 salvation decisions and several returning guests from the week before, which is always a good sign!
• In South Bend, Pastor Doug says it was a very emotional service with lots of tears as he shared his personal testimony about his dad-
• A first-time guest in Lisle told Pastor Eric after service, “I can’t believe it….I finally made it home!  From the way I was welcomed in the parking lot to the sermon, everything tells me this is home!”
• Our media director, Eduardo Marroquin reports that we had 5 local guests  online today who are currently searching for a church home, along with more than 130 others from around the internet…..I still think it’s so cool that we can extend our reach beyond our four walls!
• And according to Pastor Jaime, our Hispanic ministry continues to receive new guests each Sunday

My bed is calling……g’night!

Ask the Pastor

My #1 questioner writes: “I have a question about fear.  I know that it is not a good thing to fear and we all know about the book of Job when he said that the very thing he feared came upon him.  Also, we have to be very careful about what we speak because this could cause negative things to happen.  My question is, I have always been taught that we can go to God and talk to Him about anything.  Sometimes I have certain things that frighten me and that I refuse to let myself dwell on because I don’t want the things that happened to Job happen to me.  But when I am in my prayer room I speak these things that frighten me to God(my daddy)and I tell Him these things. Would this be the same as speaking negative things out of my mouth even though I am telling them to God? “

Good question about a much-needed subject.

First, you are right that fear has a way of drawing negativity to us and becoming a “self-fulfilled prophecy”.  That’s because fear is the opposite of faith. So just as faith attracts blessing from God, fear attracts the attention of the enemy by creating an open door into our life.

However, it is my personal opinion that you CAN say anything to God, since he invited us to do so in 1 Peter 5:7.  By telling Him of your fears in prayer, you can receive His assurance and reaffirm your trust in Him (Psalm 56:3).  My only caution is to make sure that once you ‘cast your fear upon Him’ that you leave it there. In other words, don’t give your fears to God in prayer and then pick them up again when you quit praying!  Leave your fears in His hands.

Hope this helped.  Now, what would YOU like to Ask the Pastor?

this weekend…

Most everybody looks forward to the weekend – time off work, social & family gatherings, recreation, whatever….

But I’m extra-excited about this weekend because I really believe we’ve heard from the Lord about a couple of new things:

1.  Beginning THIS Saturday at our Tinley Park campus (and continuing each Saturday until further notice) - we’re gathering for corporate prayer from 8-9 a.m.

We’re calling on all CLCers to join us for 60 minutes of worship & devotion & intercession, and each week we’ll focus our prayers of agreement on the next day’s services and the harvest that God has promised CLC.  Can’t wait!

2.  As a result of the impartation from Bishop Thompson, we’ll be ‘interrupting’ our Proverbs series to bring a special Father’s Day message, “How to Pray for your Family” – and I URGE you to be here – it may make an eternal difference in your family!

We’ve got a surprise gift for each Dad in attendance as well, so it’s going to be a GOOD day – see you then!

Tuesday reflections

The last couple of days have been a blur of meetings & activity, but I wanted to grab some time tonight to reflect on this past special weekend:

• we were in God’s Presence – that’s not a new thing at CLC, but I sure don’t want us to ever take it for granted!  Honestly, no matter your tastes in music, you have to love Ashmont Hill and their all-out worship in each song!  In a world with too many “celebrities”, I so appreciate the authenticity & hearts of these young people!
• we heard from God – that, too should happen each time we come together, but it seemed especially true of each message from “The Bishops” (G.A. Thompson on Sunday morning & Tudor Bismark on Sunday & Monday nights).  Honestly, it was coming so fast that I’m going to have to listen again to glean more of the invaluable truths we heard.  The podcasts will be up soon here, or you can order the CD’s or DVD’s at CLC.
• we responded with generosity – in many ways, this was the most ‘ambitious’ weekend we’ve scheduled, with 9 musical guests and 3 guest speakers to care for, with airfare, local transportation, lodging, meals, and honoraria – BUT, just like you always do, you responded with one of the largest offerings in our history, and we were able to make our budget and bless our guests!
• we received an impartation – my biggest desire when we planned our 20th anniversary year of celebrations was that the various guests we brought in would leave something of their anointing & experience behind – a tangible impartation to CLC.  I know that happened on Sunday with Bishop Gideon Thompson with regard to prayer – and I believe CLC will be different as a result!

In fact, I’ll have a couple of special announcements tomorrow as a direct result of this weekend – stay tuned!

Sunday reflections

What a wonderful day this has been!  It seems like each campus experienced unusual blessings:

• in South Bend, where Dale Van Steenis was the guest speaker, Pastor Doug said the service was “awesome”, with incredible worship, a message that was ‘perfect’ for their house, and a great testimony of healing!
• at our Lisle campus, Pastor Eric reports great response to the message and two new families joining the church, including the lady who hadn’t been to church in 40 years (we posted about her here) who has not only kept attending, but also brought her husband and they told Eric afterwards that they’re going to bring their adult children next week!
• my wife was the speaker in Shorewood this morning, and Pastor Dan says she was definitely “Pastor Chris” , with a “timely” message that was both powerful & practical, and a time of prophetic ministry as well.
• Pastor Jaime reports a great service in Spanish this afternoon, with lots of people wanting prayer at the close.
• At our Philippines campus, Pastor Herley says their morning service has grown so much they’re forced to add another, and just this weekend a total of 39 people prayed to receive Christ!
• How can I describe Bishop Gideon Thompson at Tinley Park this morning?  He was exactly what I had hoped for when we originally scheduled some of “God’s Generals” to mark this 20th year celebration at CLC: that this great men & women of God wouldn’t just preach a sermon to us, but leave an impartation of their anointing and experience.  When he finished the 11:30am service and I went to the stage to conclude the service, I was just overwhelmed with the prayer anointing that is on his life.  I truly believe that CLC will be different as a result of his visit!
• He also prophesied over CLC after that, and I plan to post the transcript of that word later so that all of us can do warfare with it.
• Then there was tonight with Bishop Tudor Bismark…..and there literally are NO WORDS to describe it….you just had to be there.  (If you weren’t, you still have another chance, as he ministers again tomorrow at 7pm…..if you were there, I know you’ll want to be back again!)
• Finally, special thanks to Ashmont Hill for leading us into the very Presence of God in worship.  I just love these young people & their heart for God, and it’s a joy to have them back at CLC!
• One more thing: I just learned that over 350 people worshipped with us online this morning, including a couple of local families that learned about us via the internet and engaged in ‘chat’ with several CLCers during the services (including some from other campuses who weren’t in Tinley today) and after hearing good reports from our members promised to attend next Sunday in person!  That’s what I’m talking about!!!

Did I mention that almost 1,800 people physically worshipped with us at CLC today?  I’d call that a good Sunday-

My bed is calling my name now…..later!

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