All-Church PICNIC!

This is ONE annual event that’s been a tradition here since the first year we opened – a church picnic – and it’s coming right up, on Sunday, August 22!

If you’ve ever attended, you know how much fun it is…..if not, take it from me, there’s something for everyone, with food, games, food, music, food, contests, food, sports, food, fellowship with your church family and, well, more food!

This year takes on even MORE fun since every CLC campus is coming – so you can meet & enjoy CLCers from Tinley Park, Shorewood, South Bend, Lisle and Centro Christiana de Vida!

And since no one wants to stand in line, waiting to buy tickets, you can just click here and purchase yours online, like I just did.  (How cool is that?)

Can’t wait to see you all there-

BE the ONE!

You know me: I’m always excited (no, not about stuffed animal eagles in public places in Alaska) –

I’m always excited about the subjects & series we bring at CLC.  But I gotta tell you, after today’s sermon-planning meeting with our team, I think THIS SUNDAY is going to be extra-special as we dive into Week 3 of “ONE”.

I can’t wait for you to hear the video testimony and the…..(oh wait, it would be much better for you to be here in person to get it first-hand). I’ll just say that what our pastoral team added to my plans for this Sunday will make it even BETTER!  (We might even blow your hair back!)

Invite a friend…..see you Sunday at 8 or 9:30 or 11:3o in Tinley Park!

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!

a boost in the middle….

Ever need a boost in the middle of your morning?  (you know, a cup of coffee or a quick snack for some fresh energy)

Or is it mid-afternoon that you find yourself needing a little boost in energy?

For most of us, meeting together with other believers on Sunday just isn’t enough to get us through the whole week, and we need a little midweek ‘boost’ to re-energize our faith & help us walk strong in the world.

That’s why I’m excited to tell you about our “Summer Revival” each Wednesday in June, July & August at CLC-TP.

Atmosphere of Heaven will be leading us in a special Worship Night to kick it all off this Wednesday, June 9 at 7:30pm.

Bring the whole family – there will be something for everyone!

What in the world is going on?

It’s only about a 15-minute drive from my house to the office, so I often listen to news on my way in.  In those few minutes this morning, I hear about mounting tensions in the Korean peninsula as well as new concerns about the stock market. Since I had personally received some disappointing and disturbing news late yesterday, it’s enough to make one think, “Lord, what in the world is going on?”

Ever felt that way?

Let me give you a few assurances:

1.  None of this catches HIM by surprise.  He really is the Alpha & Omega (first & last letters of the alphabet), the Beginning and The Ending (Rev. 22:13).  As Pastor Jack Hayford reminded us a few weeks ago, “It’s not over until HE says it’s over!”

2. No matter what’s happening in the world (or in your world), there is another dimension.  The first several chapters of Isaiah are my favorite illustration of that – as they rumble on about how bad things are, how they’re getting worse, how ‘woe is me’ fills the pages until Isaiah caught a glimpse of the Lord – and when he saw Him, suddenly the whole earth was “full of His glory”.

Reminds me of an old chorus we used to sing, “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face.  And the things of this earth will grow strangely dim.  In the light of His glory and grace!”

So my word for today is let’s keep it all in perspective.  If you’re worried or stressed about the news, look up just as Luke 21:25-28 encourages us.  That’s what I’m gonna do.

help me get the word out….

As Mark Batterson says, “church is a tag-team sport”.  Each week at CLC, we ‘tag’ you as you leave to go into the world as the church scattered, so that you can minister & serve the people in your sphere of influence, hopefully to bring some of them with you the following Sunday to the church gathered, when you ‘tag’ us as pastors and it’s our job to reach them with the Gospel.  I love this partnership!

You touch people every week that I never can.

That’s why I’m asking you to help me get the word out, as we continue our celebration of 20 years of ministry with four distinguished guests in the next four weeks:

• this Sunday, May 23 it’s best-selling author & popular conference speaker, Mark Batterson.  His writing won me over several years ago, and I know he’s coming with a ‘word’ for CLC, so invite your friends!
• on Sunday, June 13, we’ll host Ashmont Hill, who’ll lead worship at each service.  They’ve just released their second CD project, and if you were around when they led our First Love Conference in January 2009, you can’t wait to welcome them back to CLC!
• That morning at all 3 services, we’ll hear from their pastor, Bishop Gideon Thompson (we heard all about him from his son, Andy – now we get to hear from him!)
• then, that evening at 6pm and Monday, June 14 at 7pm, we’ll enjoy our annual visit from Bishop Tudor Bismark and you know when the Bishop is in the house, anything can happen!

Help me get the word out – tell your friends, your neighbors, your co-workers – even your enemies (they need Jesus, too) and let’s come together this Sunday morning expecting!

Our next guest for this special year…..

As you know, we’re celebrating our 20th Anniversary at CLC all this year, by bringing in some of God’s “generals” to leave an impartation at CLC – including such giants as Jack Hayford, Joseph Garlington, Marilyn Hickey and Bill Hamon.

Our next guest is a young man – in fact, the only ‘young’ leader we’ve invited for this special year.  However, as I look into the future, I honestly believe that 30-40 years from now, if Jesus tarries, people will be talking about him the way we talk about those giants in the first paragraph.  He is already a man of integrity and wisdom beyond his years, a noted author who is building a great church in our nation’s capitol.

Of course, I’m referring to Mark Batterson.

May 23 is the date, and he’ll be speaking at all 3 services: 8:00, 9:30 and 11:30 a.m.  I think this is another one of those “prime inviting opportunities”, because Mark’s teaching will relate and connect with your unchurched friends as well as all the rest of us.

So get busy – help us spread the word today!

The Manhattan Declaration

Several weeks ago, I signed the Manhattan Declaration, which was released this past November by a group of Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican, and Evangelical Christian leaders.  It is a document reaffirming and promising to defend fundamental truths in three areas:

1. the sanctity of human life;
2. the dignity of marriage as the conjugal union of husband and wife; and
3. the rights of conscience and religious liberty.

It is clear that these basic truths are being threatened today on all sides. Millions of innocent children are being killed by abortion; same-sex “marriage” has become common in several states; and there are very real threats to our ability to freely practice religion and follow our consciences.

As the pastor of Christian Life Center, I have in the past and will continue in the future to refrain from mere political statements or positions – but I see this as being far more than a political issue – it’s a spiritual issue for those of us who want to be salt and light in a nation that is increasingly becoming dark.  Therefore, I urge you to go to the website. Follow the links to read and understand the Manhattan Declaration and add your voice to the many who have already responded. Encourage others to sign as well. The goal is one million signatures. To date, over 440,000 people have signed, including hundreds of religious leaders.

Along with the authors of the Manhattan Declaration, may we “commit ourselves to honoring [these fundamental truths] fully no matter what pressures are brought upon us and our institutions to abandon or compromise them. We make this commitment not as partisans of any political group but as followers of Jesus Christ, the crucified and risen Lord, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.”

OMG!

Oh My Goodness!

If you weren’t here tonight for the special service with Don Piper, I don’t know what to say.  It was so amazing, I really don’t have words to describe (but I’m a preacher, so I’ll try):

• people arriving 90 minutes BEFORE the service began, just to get a good seat!
• every chair in the auditorium filled (has that ever happened before?)
• extra folding chairs in the aisles and across the back of the auditorium-
• plus, people sitting in the youth auditorium to watch a live feed of the service, with every chair filled there, too – and folding chairs brought in to accommodate more!
• more folks (CLCers) standing along the walls of the auditorium, and still others sitting in the lobby, watching the service on the TV’s there!
• AND still at least 75 more folks participating via live stream on our website!

Besides all that…..

• Don was witty, humorous & engaging, and he obviously has a story to tell!
• LOVED his message about how he finally began to recover – by realizing that his greatest test could become his TESTimony and his mess could be his MESSage, and out of his pain could come his purpose!  Awesome!
• the most convicting part of his whole presentation (to me) came after he described the “welcoming committee” who greeted him in heaven (all people who had been helpful in getting him to the Lord) and then he asked us the simple question: who will you welcome into heaven?
• AND several folks who prayed to receive Christ (making their reservation for heaven!) – that never gets old!

It was also a thrill seeing CLC “look like heaven” tonight, as I saw several new Filipino faces, plus lots of Hispanics, tons of Caucasians and African-Americans – wonderful!

Perhaps my favorite moments were after the service, meeting folks from so many different backgrounds, including Orthodox believers, Roman Catholics, and more – and hearing how much they enjoyed our worship & music even before Don shared!  God used this night to introduce many new people to what He’s doing at CLC, and for that I’m thankful!

Speaking of thanks – major, mega-props to our ushers & security teams – managing a crowd like tonight is a major task – and you folks did an incredible job!!!

And finally, THANKS to all our youth ministry volunteers for a great dinner beforehand that made it possible for folks to attend who otherwise might not have been able – hope it helped you with Youth Camp expenses in a big way!

Forgive me for stating the obvious – but has this 20th Anniversary Celebration of special guest speakers been off the chain or what???  Next up: Mark Batterson on May 23!

I gotta feeling this Sunday is going to be HUGE as we tackle “Anger Management” in ‘Making Your Life Work’ with more wisdom from the book of Proverbs – invite someone to join you for any service at any campus!

Live Stream tonight!

I just learned that our Media Team is prepared to do a live-stream of tonight’s service with Don Piper – so for those of you who cannot get here to enjoy it in person, join us at 7pm, right here. (Click this link, or cut & paste into your browser)

Can’t wait!

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