Tim Harlow

After Easter - Costa Rica

What do I write about first?

The unbelievably meaningful, record breaking, Easter weekend? Or the unbelievably meaningful, record breaking missions trip I’m on in Costa Rica.

I’ll just do it in order, I guess.

Easter was phenomenal, again. I really wondered how we could follow up the service the “Goat Has Left the Building” from last year. But this Bridge thing was so cool.

We stole the idea from other churches – as usual – but we are the only place that left the chasm in the bridge and put it all together for people in the service. It was so powerful. We had 7375 people, another Easter record, and we estimate that at least half of them walked across the bridge. Which symbolized different things for different people, but it was a step of faith for all of them. Some will come up to us in heaven and tell us that it was this weekend that they took the beginning step of faith in their journey with Jesus. (We put the service online, so check it out if you weren't able to make it.)

Thank you to all the staff and volunteers who worked weird hours and long hours to make this weekend happen. Especially right after the big Great Investment Campaign. We’ve been a bunch of busy beavers. And by the way, the campaign is going great. We’ll announce totals April 5. So if you aren’t in yet – come and join us!

Let me tell you about Costa Rica. I’ve just come from a service at our sister church here – CCA. Sean Mixson, our student/missions pastor, preached through an interpreter and did a great job. We have 29 total people down here on a medical mission trip. Let me tell you the most meaningful thing for me today. This church is so cool, because they are in one of the poorest areas you will ever see, and they’ve chosen to minister TO those people instead of moving away from them. So they have a drug rehab center for men and one for women and an elderly home as well as a bunch of other ministries to the community. They are a model of “being Jesus to the world.”

Crossing Over From Death Into Life...

Happy Easter everyone!

We got off to a great start last night. Having one under our belts feels really good. To have a thousand people come to an Easter Service on Good Friday is amazing. It went really well. We have such an amazing team.

Let me share a great note I already received from someone about the service:

“I knew it would be good - you know - for all those people that would be attending for their 1st of 2 times a year. I knew it would be good for those seeking Him, especially at this time of year, especially with the world as it is. BUT...I had no idea it would be so good for me!!! I already know my Lord and Savior, I already know the real reason for the season, I already have an exit strategy, I already know about the bridge! BUT...you hit the sweet spot better than ever before!! It was like hearing it for the first time and it was crystal clear!! From the awesome music and thought-provoking drama, to your sermon with its abundant scriptures and illuminating illustrations (hanging the ladder on the cross, oh my!!) (ER...I don't watch that show anymore because it always made me cry - guess it still does!) and, of course, THE BRIDGE!!!!!!!!!!!!! Beautiful! Powerful! Perfect!! And THEN you let us walk across it!!!!! I hate bridges! I avoid them at all costs! If forced to go over, I hold my breath for fear of falling through! Tonight, I loved a bridge!! It was the greatest stroll my husband and I have ever taken together. They were the most meaningful steps I have EVER taken. AND then...after getting to the end and turning around and seeing ALL those people walking across that bridge...oh! I saw them getting on to the bridge and I wondered just how long it would be until my turn. Seeing them walking to the end after I had already gotten there...UNBELIEVABLE!!! They were glowing under the lights!!!!!!!!!!!!”

It is a great service. We still have room at all of our services...if you have someone who needs Jesus this weekend, INVITE THEM. (Saturday at 4:00 and 6:00 PM and Sunday at 8:00 AM, 10:00 AM, and Noon!)

The Real Reason

It’s the most wonderful time of the year.

I mean really, this ought to be the time we sing about. I love Christmas and all of that, but this is the real “reason for the season.” (I always wanted to say that).

So we have 2 billion people celebrating the Son of God dying and rising from the dead. It all starts on Friday night for us. That still leaves 4.6 billion to invite to church. And actually a big part of those 2 billion that haven’t been for awhile. Get them here. We have room in all of our services as of right now. That could change in two days, so please get your e-tickets online. E-Reservations

The service is coming along very well. It’s going to be very powerful, if you had to wonder. It’s the best message and we’re going to do it well.

As I was reading in John this week, I was struck by the people who don’t believe. In John 7, it’s even his bro's. John 7:5 – your brothers didn’t believe you. Lord, how hard it must have been for you to deal with the people. Your own family. Unbelievable. Please know that it was worth it. Know that as I am able to stand up and give hope to 7000 people this weekend – it was worth it.

John 7:3-5 "Jesus' brothers said to him, "You ought to leave here and go to Judea, so that your disciples may see the miracles you do. No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world. For even his own brothers did not believe in him."

Some people just don’t want to get it. It was familiarity for them. It will be for your family too. I did meet someone last week who had NEVER been to church in their life before last week. That was cool. But most of your peeps are going to be people who grew up believing in some kind of gospel message. Our job will be to convince them that it still matters. That it’s real. That they can have it! Pray for them. Invite them. Let’s make it 2,000,000,001.

Tim

P.S. If you haven’t seen Rachel’s blog from England in a while, here is the link - Rachel's Blog
They have a big event this Friday – pray for them.

P.S.S. For those of you who have been doing the TRAIN bible reading, here's the next schedule.

Sacrifices & Commitments for the Lost

I’m still hearing amazing stories about the sacrifices and the way God has been working in our congregation as we’ve been trusting Him with our treasure. Let me say it again, I’m very proud to be a part of this place. Pledge cards are coming in every day. If you haven’t done yours yet, let me say this. We still need you. Our commitments are coming in well, but we still need everyone on board for this. You may think your “widow’s mite” is not important, but that is not true. We need everyone. (Download a Great Investment Commitment Card.)

This is “First Fruits” weekend and we’re asking everyone to do everything they can towards their commitment UP FRONT, so that we can get cranking on these projects. We have a tight time schedule to be ready with Lockport for the fall, and parking for Mother’s day, and children’s space for fall, and buying the land ASAP, etc.

These two weekends are why we do this. Palm Sunday and Easter and all of the Passion Week. We have an awesome service planned for both weekends – as usual. But I was reading in John this week and this scripture struck me as the sad reality of the area we live in.

John 5:37-40 “You have never heard his voice nor seen his form, nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one he sent. You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.”

Jesus is talking about the Pharisees of course. But I think it applies to everyone who has heard the scriptures and still doesn’t “come to him to have life.” What a sad statement!

Maybe your friends and family haven’t “diligently studied the scriptures,” but they have heard them. Most of the people in our area grew up with some form of religious upbringing. And it has served to do nothing but inoculate them from having a true life in the Son of God. Earlier in this chapter Jesus says,

John 5:24-25 “I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live.”

They aren’t listening.

Please – invite them to come and join us either or both of these weekends. Please get your E-Reservations so we can know when to close the popular services and push people in the right direction. But whatever you do – invite them to come… and listen to the voice of the Son of God. They think that because they’ve heard the scriptures and because they think their good outweighs the bad, that they have life. But without a relationship – they are just words.

Hears AND BELIEVES.

Bribe them, twist their arm, do whatever you have to do.

Luke 14:23 “Then the master told his servant, 'Go out to the roads and country lanes and make them come in, so that my house will be full.”

It’s why we are making room for more. It’s why we are sacrificing. We know the fields are white for the harvest, get out there and do some harvesting. We have room! This is what we were made for.

Tim

And They're Off

Ps 136:26 Give thanks to the God of heaven. His love endures forever.

The Great Investment is underway. I’m so excited about what God is doing!

I know you all want to know where we are on our commitments, but I can’t tell you yet. We have more come in every day. On any given weekend there are thousands of people who are a part of Parkview who weren't able to come. So we will be taking cards again this weekend and through the month. We’ll make the announcement in early April.

It’s going very well... God is faithful. And so is Parkview. I’m hearing so many great stories about what God is doing in the lives of people who are stretching their faith. So many stories of sacrifice. I’m truly humbled to be your leader. It’s amazing!

Now at the same time – be watchful for Satan and his attacks. He does not like this. I’m honestly shocked that the stock market rebounded so much so soon. I would have guessed the opposite. The more likely scenario is that of my friend on staff whose oven died and his “check engine” light came on – the day after they made the largest pledge of their lives. If you don’t know by now that Satan is the prince of all appliances, automobiles, computers, and pretty much anything with an on\off button – NOW YOU KNOW.

Satan does not like what we are doing. He will mess with you. But, “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. (I John 4:4) God is going to do amazing things through the seeds we have sown. The light is going to shine brightly from 183rd and Wolf Road. Everywhere I go, people are talking about the service and how emotional it was. It’s just the beginning, my friends.

So the “First fruits” offering starts this weekend. Do everything you can to give everything you can up front. We need to get rolling. We have estimates in on the Lockport campus. We need to close on the property. We go before the Orland board soon for approval on the parking. We need to start moving on these projects. Whatever you can do, do it now.

Easter is coming! Please go online and MAKE YOUR E-RESERVATIONS for one of our 6 services. We need to have you get reservations so we can know how to spread people out. Please try to come at 8 or 12 on Sunday if you can and avoid the 10. And get out there and invite some people. We will have room, somehow, some way – we will make it happen. Invite those people who need to hear about how to get to heaven. That’s what Easter is all about.

Don’t miss this weekend. We have to have Good Friday on Palm Sunday, because we have Easter on Good Friday :-) So this weekend we will focus on the death of Christ on the cross and what that meant to us. We will have a dramatization and some country music and you just don’t want to miss this one!

Let me say again. I’M PROUD OF YOU. I’m proud to be your Pastor. WE ARE PARKVIEW!

TIM

Pressing Forward

You should definitely check out the comments on here when you can. The one from Paula on fasting for March 5 is about a real God miracle that came from prayer and fasting.

It’s been a great week as we have prepared. I’m so pumped up for the weekend I can’t even tell you. I just got a message from my friend Greg in Ohio that they are canceling services for tonight because of all the snow. I know that Satan will try a bunch of stuff to keep our people away this weekend, but I pray that all of you and your families will be there for this miracle.

God brought me this scripture this week:

Ps 134:15 The idols of the nations are silver and gold, made by the hands of men. They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but they cannot see; they have ears, but cannot hear, nor is there breath in their mouths. Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them.

This weekend is going to be the start of a huge idol smashing party for Parkview. As we commit to giving to the Great Investment, many of our congregation are going to be freed from bondage to “stuff.” It’s going to be so liberating. So spiritually deepening. So full of faith.

Last Night Was Just Awesome!!

Here are some pics from last night's Concert of Prayer.

It was incredible, I’m sorry if you missed it. We had our day of fasting and then ended with prayer for the Great Investment and for the spirit of Parkview as we move into the next phase of ministry.

This picture is of the group of people who have been baptized in this new building (in the last two years).

There are over 600 that have been baptized in that time, but this is a pile of them who came to the night and stood to show us what has happened here since the last time some people sacrificed to make room for more. (Check out the video of "Lon the Baptist" on the Great Investment site!)

I hope you’re catching the vision for what COULD happen as we make another Great Investment.

Here's the link to our commitment card so you can see it and even print it if you lost yours. This is the weekend to turn them in. We will celebrate it together; I hope you’re going to join us.

Then the next weekend is Palm Sunday and then Easter (if you haven't made your reservations for one of our six services, please do so now.)

We’ll be headed into another sermon series, but it will mark the beginning of our “First Fruits” which is a biblical term referring to bringing the first part to the Lord up front. We’d like to encourage everyone to bring as much as they can towards their pledge and give it up front. If you are giving stocks or assets, do it in “First Fruits” so that we can get this project started as soon as possible (you can already see the sign for zoning change on the acreage next door for parking).

Also - don’t forget that this weekend is Daylight Savings weekend – you’re going to lose an hour of sleep on TOP of your sacrifice to God. It’s sacrifice weekend, baby!

I’m so excited to see what God is going to do. Don’t miss it.

Tim

Please Pray - and Come Out Tonight!

I’ve been putting myself under a lot of pressure with this Great Investment thing. Especially with the preaching, it just feels like if I do a good job of casting the vision and inspiring faith, it will go well, and if I don’t – it won’t.

Which is really stupid.

Some of you have said that the sermons have been helpful in dealing with this issue. But some of you claim to have recently seen Elvis alive, so I take that with a grain of thought.

Whenever I feel preaching pressure, I try to remind myself that God once spoke through a donkey (Balaam – Numbers 22), and then I lighten up.

My words aren’t really all that important; the nice video we made, the fantastic brochure and publications that Karyn put together, the testimonies and music, all of it is good. Hats off to the team of staff here who made it all happen, and to Tim Bailey – our campaign chairman who kept the vision alive. But these all are to get you thinking.

BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU WILL DO, WILL NOT BE TO THINK. IT WILL BE TO PRAY. We want to motivate you to get to that point. Because if you do, God will help you know what to do.

I invite you to come tonight. Even if you didn’t sign up, even if you didn’t fast – just come and pray. We won’t be asking for commitments or putting any pressure on you about the campaign.

This is prayer time only.

And don’t forget to spend some time with your family in prayer together. There is a guide in the back of our prayer guide. Prayer Guide

Here is the scripture that stuck out to me this week as I was going through the guide. Because I think the biggest problem we have in this campaign is the problem of the “What If’s.” The economy, the politics, the expenses, health care, retirement, etc.

I could give it all away if I knew what was going to happen in the future.

To which Jesus says:

Matthew 6:25 -"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? 28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

I know that most of you reading this today from Parkview are struggling with it. It’s commitment weekend this weekend. It’s D (ecision) Day.

What is holding you back?

Pray about it.

See you tonight,

Tim

It's Worth It

I’m a dad.

So I’m in Seneca (about an hour away) sitting in a diner. We had a little breakfast, and I’m working on the sermon, and we’ll have a little lunch.

Why?

I’m a dad. It’s “Solo and Ensemble” contest for the Illinois Music Educators Association. Lauren had three things at 830 this morning, and Becca isn't on until 1. So it was either drive the hour back and forth again, or grab a bad cup of coffee and hopefully steal some internet somewhere (which I did find out in the street where I am sending this from my minivan) and get my Saturday stuff done. There is no Starbucks in Seneca – just in case you wondered.

Why do parents do these goofy things? Because we love our kids. I wouldn’t trade hearing the judges tell my daughters how beautiful they sounded for any cup of good coffee back in Chicago. I will get up early, I will pay a bunch of money, I will sit around in a diner... And I will go through the even harder things that we all go through as parents – BECAUSE I LOVE THEM.

Do you ever think about what it would be like if you hadn’t (didn’t) have kids? How much money you would have? How much time\sanity\hair you would have?

Yeah, we all do. But we know it’s worth it, don’t we? I know people who want to have them and can’t and they would trade places in a second.

It’s a privilege, and an honor.

I bring this up because we have some of the same kinds of “privileges” as member of a growing church. We may have to shuttle park, give, attend a different service, serve, or make sacrifices of some kind so that God’s children can have what they need to grow up in their spiritual lives.

I hope you know that it’s worth it. They may not thank us right away, like our kids may not see the sacrifices right now. But one day we will all know it was worth it when we share in His joy forever together.

Let me again remind you of what is going to happen during this important week.

• Day of Fasting and Concert of Prayer: Wednesday, March 5th

If you are physically able, we invite you to refrain from eating on the 5th, and to spend that time and energy in prayer. Then we will meet together that evening from 7:00 to 8:00 for an inspiring time of prayer, worship, and communion, followed by a light meal to break the fast. (Please register online or call Stella at 708-478-7477, Ext. 247 so we can plan for food and childcare.) Here is some information on fasting: Download Fasting.doc

• Family Gatherings: Week of March 3rd

We are encouraging you to get together with your family sometime during this week to pray and to determine the part that God wants you to play in The Great Investment. There is an outline to help you during this time at the back of the Prayer & Family Guide..you can pick one up this weekend or download a copy. (Prayer & Family Gathering Guide)

• Commitment Weekend: March 8th-9th

Following the Concert of Prayer, we are asking you to decide what commitment you and God can make together; not just what you think you can do! You’ll be making a pledge that God has three years to fulfill through you, over and above your regular tithes and offerings. Then on Commitment Weekend, we will all bring our completed commitment cards and celebrate together! (Commitment cards have been sent in the mail, and are also available at Parkview.)

• “First Fruits” Offering: Begins March 15th-16th

“First Fruits” is a concept from the Bible about bringing the best to God…up front. If you have cash or assets as part of your pledge that you can give up front, please use the Great Investment Offering Envelope and turn it in starting March 15th. Let’s see what we can all do to get the project started!

From the Seneca Family Restaurant, and my minivan,

Tim