weekend reflections

Just a few thoughts about this wonderful weekend:

• Preaching at our newest campus in South Bend today was a blast! I think I met almost as many brand-new guests today as on the opening Sunday a few weeks' ago, and it was neat to see how the postcards are still working. We're continuing to unpack our CLC vision there, so I was teaching about Connecting, specifically on the essentials of small groups - and so many told me afterwards that they want to be a part of that. Best of all, we had 4 people who publicly received Christ - and (get this) 3 of them were men!
• Pastor K.L. Dickson was in Shorewood today (Pastor Dan Johnson was preaching in Dakar, Senegal before his return home this week) and the reports are a full house and a powerful move of the Spirit, with Pastor Dickson praying for people who needed healing or deliverance for over an hour after the service had concluded!
• My best friend and companion for the past 35 years was on fire in Tinley Park all weekend. I was able to enjoy the entire service last night, and I returned from South Bend in time to experience the altar time after the 11:15 service today - what can I say? You really had to be there! Needless to say, I'm excited about people who were healed, set free, filled w/the Holy Spirit and who-knows-what-else this weekend!

After that final service we had perhaps our largest-ever Newcomer's Reception, and I really enjoyed getting acquainted with some of our newest guests, hearing some of their stories as to how God led them to CLC. Pastors Doug & Shanna Neal and Nana Brayboy and her connections team do such a terrific job of hosting these receptions, and today seemed extra-special.

I've got to admit, I'm pretty pumped about Easter coming this weekend - and I hope YOU will do your part by inviting some friends to join us!