Kavanaugh confirmation: Four ways Democrats’ plan to derail nomination could backfire

September 18, 2018 By Leave a Comment

During Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation hearing earlier this month, Senate Democrats seemed content just scoring points with their base by quizzing the Supreme Court nominee about President Trump, abortion, dark money, racial issues and the like. Now, in the wake of Christine Ford’s sexual assault allegation against Kavanaugh, Democrats appear to be shifting to a new strategy aimed at delaying the final confirmation vote until after the November 6 election and actually defeating the nominee.

Here’s a link to the editorial at Fox News.

Filed Under: Columns

Daily Devotion: A Prayer for Restlessness

September 17, 2018 By Leave a Comment

By Gwen Smith

The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”(Exodus 33:14)

R.E.S.T. {Reflect. Engage. Surrender. Trust.}

ENGAGE

Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:28-29, NIV)

The apostle Paul instructed us, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7, ESV)

Most importantly, we must engage with the grace of God through Jesus Christ, which comes from the confession of our sin. “Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins. Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin.” (Psalm 51:1-2, NLT)

SURRENDER

The best example of surrendering to God’s will is in Jesus. The night he was betrayed Jesus surrendered himself to God’s plan. He prayed, “Father, everything is possible for you. Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will, not mine.” (Mark 14:36, NLT)

Here’s the beauty of surrender: when you lay down your mess, your hands are then free to pick up God’s rest. Because the One who captures us in surrender is the One who sets us free. And in the surrender, you are empowered to trust Him more.

TRUST

Let’s look at what Jesus had to say about this.

“Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? … So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.” (Matthew 6:31-32)

Friend, your heavenly Father knows that your job is stressing you out, that your marriage is hanging by thread, that you are bogged down with health challenges, that you are grieving that loss, that your finances are upside down… He knows the longings of your heart. He. Knows. What. You. Need.

What would happen if every morning you woke up and decided to R.E.S.T.? What if you determined each day to choose to trust God for what you need because you know that He knows what you need? Can you imagine living with that kind of faith?  That is exactly what the Lord is inviting you into. His rest.

Lord, I really want to get this one! Please help me to turn to You in all circumstances – in the good, the bad, and the ugly. Give me the strength to surrender my will to Yours, and guard my heart and mind with the peace as I choose to trust You with my struggles today.

In Jesus’ Name,

Amen.

Filed Under: Columns

Editorial: Vehicle Miles Traveled tax, the most toxic tax in Illinois politics?

September 17, 2018 By Leave a Comment

There is one product that, for a century, has towered above all others as a symbol of choice, control and personal freedom in America: the automobile. There are more than 10 million registered vehicles in Illinois, according to the secretary of state’s office.

Here’s a link to the editorial at Illinois News Network.

Filed Under: Columns

Pastor Rick Warren: What to Do When You Doubt God’s Provision

September 17, 2018 By Leave a Comment

By Rick Warren

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”When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you” (Isaiah 43:2 NLT).

God wants you to be a giving person. That means you sow generosity in your life. You give freely to others in the body of Christ and show God’s love to unbelievers. You look for ways to be generous with the resources that God has generously given you.But sometimes when we focus on giving financially to your church or to others, Satan will try to plant all kinds of seeds of doubt and fear in our minds: “What if you lose your job? What if you get sick? What if you’re incapacitated? What if the economy tanks? How are you going to be able to keep your commitment?”You may be facing some of those same anxieties. When you do face those doubts, you need to remember that God has promised to never abandon you and to always be with you. You don’t have to know what the future holds, because you know who holds the future.

No matter what you face in the future, you’re never going to face it alone. Isaiah 43:2 says, “When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you” (NLT).

This is the key to courage. There is nothing to fear when you know God is near. On your own you might drown, but God has said that he will never leave you or abandon you (go read Hebrews 13:5).

Maybe you feel alone right now. You may feel that way, but it isn’t true. God sees what you’re going through. God cares about what you’re going through. And God will help you out if you trust him.

Your fears and doubts are not from God. When it comes to your giving, you can trust that as God leads you to give, he will stand by you and provide for your needs. The only way to reap generosity is to sow generosity.

Talk It Over

  • How has God been leading you to give?
  • What kinds of doubts or fears do you have about following through with that commitment?
  • God has promised to be with you and take care of you, but sowing generosity can still require sacrifice. What are you not willing to give up in order to be generous? Spend some time praying and asking God to help you release whatever it is that keeps you from trusting fully when it comes to your giving.

Give hope, prayer, and encouragement below. Post a comment & talk about it.

Filed Under: Columns

Editorial: Some ‘journalists’ happy to pitch in on last-ditch hit job on Kavanaugh

September 17, 2018 By Leave a Comment

The Supreme Court nomination seems like a new season of “House of Cards,” with many in the media helping write the script.

Here’s a link to the editorial at Fox News.

Filed Under: Columns

Editorial: Trump’s election STILL has liberals reeling – But even Woodward won’t knock out 2016’s winner

September 14, 2018 By Leave a Comment

Poor Bob Woodward. Poor us. His new book on the Trump White House, “Fear,” was released this week, and its author has been making the rounds. But we’ve seen this movie before: Internationally known author writes book about President Donald Trump that will make all liberal dreams come true. The “expose” of Trump as Lord of the Flies, ruling over a dystopian, dysfunctional White House.

Here’s a link to the story at Fox News.

Filed Under: Columns

Daily Prayer – A Prayer for God’s Protection over Your Children

September 14, 2018 By Leave a Comment

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A Prayer for God’s Protection over Our Children
By: John North

“Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it” – Proverbs 22:6

God has taken a life that he loves, that he wants nurtured to love him and serve him, and entrusted it into your care—no greater privilege could he give you!

As you watch your children grow, (whether you are their natural or spiritual parent), you realize that their whole lives are being shaped by their experiences in their early years. As you train your children to love God above all else and to share Christ with others and to see every situation as a ministry opportunity, you are shooting them like arrows into the future.

Long after your own influence in this world has faded, your children and their children after them will be serving God and building his Kingdom in the lives and hearts of those around them. The time you spend giving your kids a godly heritage will bear far greater fruit in the long run than time spent in your own ministry to others.

If you are a parent, you do not have to choose between your own ministry and discipling your children, but the Lord is reminding you not to let the balance swing away from your children for too long. They are God’s gift to you. And your years of influence in their lives will not last forever!

Dear Lord, we ask that you place a hand of protection over our children. Teach them to be strong without being hard, and compassionate without being proud. We are their parents, but you are their Heavenly Father. Please be with our children as they grow in this strange world. Teach them to love others as you have loved them, and help us guide them in your ways. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Filed Under: Columns

Pastor Rick Warren: Wise People Ask Questions and Then Listen

September 14, 2018 By Leave a Comment

By Rick Warren

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”People’s thoughts can be like a deep well, but someone with understanding can find the wisdom there” (Proverbs 20:5 NCV).

If you want to be wise, learn to ask wise questions—and then listen.Proverbs 20:5 says, “People’s thoughts can be like a deep well, but someone with understanding can find the wisdom there” (NCV). In other words, everybody’s got something to teach you. It’s like deep water in a well, and you’ve got to draw it out of them.

How do you draw the wisdom out of every person? By learning to ask smart questions.

As I’ve traveled around the world, I’ve asked questions of taxi cab drivers and prime ministers, and they’ve each taught me something. You can learn from anybody if you know the right questions to ask!

One of the things I’ve learned is that I have never learned anything while I’m talking. If my mouth is moving, I’m not learning. You don’t learn when you’re talking. You learn when you’re listening. So you’ve got to learn to listen.

I’ve done an awful lot of interviews over the years, and I’ve noticed that the interview shows have changed. They’re no longer about the guest. They’re about the interviewer. The whole goal of the interviewer is to draw attention to himself.

You can learn from anybody, but you’ve got to be willing to ask questions and then listen. That’s the mark of a wise person.

Talk It Over

  • Try to spend a whole day focused on listening rather than talking. What difference does it make?
  • What do you communicate to someone when you ask a question and then listen to the answer with focus and interest?
  • What would be an example of wise question?

Give hope, prayer, and encouragement below. Post a comment & talk about it.

Filed Under: Columns

Editorial: Don’t expect the Legislative Inspector General to clean up Springfield

September 14, 2018 By Leave a Comment

Women in Springfield took a public stand 11 months ago to try to stop pervasive sexual harassment and unwanted advances in the capitol.

Here’s a link to the editorial at Illinois News Network.

Filed Under: Columns

Pastor Rick Warren: To Become Wise, Spend Time with Wise People

September 13, 2018 By Leave a Comment

By Rick Warren

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”Spend time with the wise and you will become wise, but the friends of fools will suffer” (Proverbs 13:20 NCV).

Have you ever heard the old phrase, “If you want to soar with the eagles, you can’t run with the turkeys”?If you’re going to be wise, you’ve got to get some wise people in your life.

You don’t need a lot of friends in life. You don’t need to be popular. You just need a few good friends who build you up, not tear you down—people who are wise, not fools. If you hang around with fools, that’s what you become.

We always grow in community. You cannot grow to spiritual maturity by yourself. You could become a hermit and move to the top of a mountain and spend your life sitting in silence and reading books. You would grow in knowledge, but you wouldn’t grow in wisdom.

Why? Because wisdom is all about love. Wisdom shows up primarily in relationships. That’s why some people have educational degrees, but their marriages are falling apart. They’re educated, but they’re not wise.

The Bible says in Proverbs 13:20, “Spend time with the wise and you will become wise, but the friends of fools will suffer” (NCV).

If I stand on the edge of a stage, and I’m trying to pull you up while you’re trying to pull me down, which is easier to do? It’s always easier for somebody to pull you down than pull you up. People who pull you down are not your friends. Friends pull you up. Friends encourage you in your pursuit of godly wisdom by offering their own.

Is anybody in your life giving you input for good on a regular basis? You need that kind of encouragement if you want to be a wise person.

Talk It Over

  • What people are closest to you?
  • How are those people encouraging you in spiritual growth and wisdom? Or how are they distracting you from learning to live wisely?
  • Is it more important to you to have a lot of friends or a few, deep relationships? Why?

Give hope, prayer, and encouragement below. Post a comment & talk about it.

Filed Under: Columns
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