more Da Vinci fun...

We got off to a great start this past weekend as we examined, "What Does History Teach Us?", and I appreciated all the buzz afterwards from CLCers who felt this series is both timely and helpful.

 

This weekend is one that I'm especially excited about, because many Christians don't know how our Bible came about, and I'm looking forward to answering, "Can the Bible Be Trusted?"  It will be a great opportunity to invite some of your friends and co-workers to join us for a family weekend, when even our children from school age-up will be in the auditorium for a great time of worship together.  (That's also why we'll need many of you to attend on Saturday to free up seats in the auditorium for both Sunday services - otherwise, latecomers will be watching the service by video in the Youth room - so c'mon out this Saturday and then have all day Sunday for yourself and your family!)

 

I also hope you'll read Josh McDowell's 'A Quest for Answers'  and be thinking of WHO you can engage in conversation about the Da Vinci Code in order to invite them to the simulcast on May 21 at 6pm.  This is a great opportunity for us to be salt and light in our dark world!

 

Have a great week and I'll see you this weekend-

Jerry McQuay
Senior Pastor,
CHRISTIAN LIFE CENTER
www.clctoday.org

 

WHY?

Ever wonder why things happen as they do?  Especially when it's bad things happening to good people?  I sure do.  And, not to shock or disappoint you, but to be truthful - I don't have all the answers to that.

 

I was thinking about it this week because of our CLC missionary to Mongolia, Akilah Bronaugh.  If you weren't here this past weekend when we prayed over her, she's a young single woman, a school teacher by profession, who decided to put her life here on hold for a year, while she travels to one of the most desolate and difficult places I've ever seen, to serve Christians there and hopefully, to help others become Christ-followers.

 

To make a long story short, she left Chicago on Monday night for LA and her connecting flight to Mongolia.  However, the airline agent at O'Hare mistakenly took her next flight ticket with her boarding pass.  The airline in LA told her this happens several times a week, but they weren't going to overlook it this time, so they refused to let her board.  After spending the night at a hotel at her expense, and a long day of phone calls to the various airlines, travel agent and family, she was forced to purchase another ticket to replace the one the airline took at the cost of about $900.  (They indicated that she could be reimbursed once the ticket situation is sorted out, but that it often takes about a year to do so!) Then and only then was she able to continue her journey and, thankfully, she is now in Mongolia with the missionary she'll be assisting.

 

WHY?  There are several possibilities - as I've sometimes illustrated, if you woke up this morning to find a flat tire on your car, it may be (a) that the devil really wanted to frustrate you and interfere with your plan for today; or (b) that the Lord was looking out for you, perhaps protecting you from an accident that might have happened had you left on schedule; or (c) that your car ran over a nail last night on your way home.  My point is that some things happen because we live in an imperfect, fallen world.

 

One thing I do know: God can (and probably already has) used this situation to prepare Akilah for certain difficulties and delays ahead during her service in Mongolia; and He wants to do the same for us.  No matter what situation or circumstance we're in, He wants to use it for our benefit and His glory.

 

One more thing: if you'd like to be a blessing to Akilah, since she wasn't prepared for that extra expense, please send your gift to CLC, designated "Mongolia", and we'll get it to her.  Blessings,

Jerry McQuay
Senior Pastor,
CHRISTIAN LIFE CENTER
www.clctoday.org

 

The DaVinci Code

We now have e-vites for the upcoming sermon series on our website, as well as additional information regarding 'Cracking The DaVinci Code'.  I'm convinced that your friends and coworkers will respond to your invitation, because the novel and upcoming movie have captured so much attention.

 

Yesterday after our final Easter celebration, I walked into a local restaurant and noticed the book beside the cashier's desk.  When I asked her about it, she told me she and some friends had just formed a book club and this was their first selection to read and discuss together.  Early this morning I stopped at the dry cleaning business that we use, and the owner had already received our CLC postcard and made it a point to tell me he wants to come for all three messages, because he's interested in this subject.

 

I'll say it again: it's going to be difficult not to have a conversation about this subject, especially when the movie comes out May 19.  I urge you to be here these next three weekends, and invite a friend to join you - I believe it will strengthen your faith, and perhaps open their eyes to truth!

Jerry McQuay
Senior Pastor,
CHRISTIAN LIFE CENTER
www.clctoday.org

 

More news from Senegal

I was mistaken.

 

I reported here and to our congregation a few weeks ago that during the outdoor campaign with Norwegian Evangelist Aril Edvardsen we saw approximately 5,000 Senegalese come running to receive Christ.  However, I just received word this week from Pastor Charles Bavelloni that the actual total, based on decision cards turned in and follow-up correspondence courses for new believers distributed, was in fact 10,000 people! 

 

Keep in mind that this is in a predominantly Muslim nation with only about 3,000 born-again Christians.  Pastor Charles also gave another outstanding report of a lady with an issue of blood (not unlike the Bible story) who was not healed during the campaign, but instead received complete healing during their later follow-up meetings with the new converts!  Charles also said that many of the visitors from his dedication service who made decisions for Christ are continuing to attend his church and their numbers are growing.

 

CLC, you are making a difference in the nations!

Jerry McQuay
Senior Pastor,
CHRISTIAN LIFE CENTER
www.clctoday.org

 

DaVinci code???

I'm hearing more and more about people taking Dan Brown's novel, The DaVinci Code seriously.  In fact, some recent survey's indicate that people in North America who have read the fictional book say it was "very helpful to their spiritual understanding" - which is a scary thought for me, since it's based on blatant distortions of historical facts and deliberately seeks to undermine some of the most basic truths of Christianity.

 

I've got no problem with good fiction; in fact, I'll probably watch the movie with Tom Hanks when it comes out next month.  My concern is whether people really are looking at it as fact instead of fiction and especially whether we should address it at CLC, to help you defend your faith and even use this as an opportunity to reach out to your non-Christian friends.  How 'bout it?  If you have an opinion as to whether a sermon or two debunking the DaVinci code myths would be helpful to you, please weigh in with your comments here, or drop me an email today.  Seek the truth!

Jerry McQuay
Senior Pastor,
CHRISTIAN LIFE CENTER
www.clctoday.org