By Pastor Jimmy Russell

WELCOME THE KING

READ 2 CHRONICLES 29:1 THROUGH 32:33; JOHN 12:1–19

Crowds poured into Jerusalem for the Passover Feast. In addition to the sacrifices and observances, people sought to renew friendships with those from other regions and marveled at the grand scale of the temple. At this particular Passover, a new excitement stirred the masses. Many heard the stories of incredible miracles performed by Jesus and felt He was the one who would free them from the bondage of Roman rule.

They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting,

“Hosanna!”

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”

“Blessed is the king of Israel!” (John 12:13).

Many of the people in the crowd that welcomed Jesus that day turned against Him and joined the call for His crucifixion. However, a group of Jesus’ followers stayed true to Him. After the Crucifixion, Resurrection, and infilling of the Holy Spirit, they faithfully proclaimed the good news.

Thought for Today: Jesus wants to be welcomed as Lord and Savior by everyone.

Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.

Deuteronomy 6:5 (Read all of Deuteronomy 6:5) New International Version

Can I Be Sure I’ll Get into Heaven?

By By Rick Warren — June 8, 2018

“Those who hear my words and believe in him who sent me have eternal life. They will not be judged” (John 5:24 GNT). Jesus’ death and Resurrection release us from judgment. You may imagine a day of judgment where you’re standing outside the gates of heaven in a really, really long line, and you’re slowly moving forward, one step at a time. As you get closer, you start to sweat and wonder, “Am I going to get in? Am I going to make it? Is God going to use a giant TV screen to show every dumb or evil thing I’ve ever done? Will my every sin be exposed?” I have good news for you; it’s a promise of Jesus Christ. The Bible says in John 3:18 that those who believe in Jesus — his death and Resurrection — will not be judged. Here’s the real picture: You’re standing in line waiting for the judgment. Jesus sees you and says, “I know you. We’ve been friends for years. You put your trust in me one year during Easter. Come with me. Get in the express lane. You get the fast track. You get to bypass the judgment.” Is that good news? Oh, yeah! I have a friend named Buddy who said that, when he was a little kid, his Sunday school teacher taught him that God was sitting in heaven, writing down every bad thing that Buddy ever did. She actually made the class sing a song every week that went, “My Lord is writing all the time. Writing, writing, writing all the time.” Buddy said, “It scared me. I just thought, ‘I’m never going to make it to heaven. My list is getting longer and longer.’” Is that the way God treats us when we come and put our faith in Christ? No! In fact, God is erasing, erasing, erasing all the time. Forgiving, forgiving, forgiving all the time. He’s sitting in heaven, hitting the “delete” button. Why? Because the Bible says “God is love” (1 John 4:8 NIV) and love “keeps no record of wrongs” (1 Corinthians 13:5 NIV). If you put your trust in the love of Jesus Christ, your sins are wiped out. “There is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1 NLT).PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick >> Talk About It What do you think of when you hear people talk about a “day of judgment”? How does confidence of a future in heaven shape your daily actions and choices? If God doesn’t keep a record of wrongs, why is it still important to try to do the right thing?

 

A fourth member of Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan’s inner circle is now the subject of allegations involving inappropriate behavior at the workplace.

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

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”

Matthew 5:13-16 (Read all of Matthew 5:13-16) New International Version

Be Confident in Whose You Are

By Rick Warren

God Designed Us for More Than This Earth

By Rick Warren

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Galatians 6:7-9 (Read all of Galatians 6:7-9) New International Version

Principles for Personal Change: New Thinking

By Rick Warren

Wow – only 3 more days until 2018 Farm City Days – Saturday June 9th. The committee has worked very hard to make this an even better event than last year. We have many sponsors who have made it possible to make as much of this event free as possible. I would like to take the time to thank them for their donations.

State Bank of Whittington, Tabor Pest Services, Steve Vercellino’s Rend Lake Marina, Gesell’s Pump Sales and Service, Sheriff Don Jones, Pirate Pete’s, Week’s in Benton, COUNTRY Financial, Wm Nobbe John Deere, People’s National Bank, William Bryce Levanti – Attorney, Royal Brass and Hose, Tino’s on the Tee, Dunagan’s Collision Center, City of Benton, Midwest Threadwork Designs, TGW Custom Graphics and Dana Communications.
Also, Fast Truck & Trailer, Extreme Exigency/The Armed Barber, Blue Ridge Tractor, YourFranklinCounty.com, Hobbs Service Company, K & M Liquor, Hart Cantrell – Attorneys, Big O Farm & Garden, Consolidated Grain and Barge, Ranger Nation Auto, Evan Owens Family, Jack Russel Fish Co., Leffler Funeral Home, Buntin Bros. Farms, LaFiesta, F B McAfoos, MidwestCarShowOnline.com, Cassie’s Hair Salon and Farm Credit Services.

I have spoken with many farmers in the county and they all seem to have been able to plant a considerable amount of acres of corn and beans over the past couple of weeks. Even with the rain that we received over the weekend they were not discouraged. With more planting in the near future then the wait begins to see what happens in the fall.

The Illinois Farm Bureau anticipates that the Senate farm bill process will soon get underway. We’re working to get our priorities included in the Senate bill and will become increasingly engaged in that process as it moves forward. Our goal remains getting a farm bill passed that reflects Farm Bureau priorities through both the House and Senate before the current farm bill expires September 30.

As part of a 33-year effort to protect sensitive lands and improve water quality and wildlife habitat on private lands, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will resume accepting applications for the voluntary Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). Eligible farmers, ranchers, and private landowners can sign up at their local Farm Service Agency (FSA) office between June 4 and Aug. 17, 2018.

Syngenta has reached a settlement in the lawsuit concerning Agrisure Viptera and Agrisure Duracade corn seed that was sold to farmers who unknowingly purchased it before it was approved by China. The amount eligible claimants will receive depends on various factors, including the amount of the claimants’ interests in US corn priced for sale between September 15, 2013 and April 10, 2018. If you are interested in more information on this please call the office at 435-3616.

According to USA Today Bayer will retire the Monsanto name this week as the company closes its $63 billion buyout of the St. Louis-based seed and pesticide maker. “Bayer will remain the company name,” Bayer said in a statement. “Monsanto will no longer be a company the name. The acquired products will retain their brand names and become part of the Bayer portfolio.”

With summer here I just want to remind our members that we have many discounts – along with local savings at Holiday World and Six Flags – if you are a Farm Bureau member you can log onto the Abenity App and see all of the discounts available to you. The saving are tremendous. If you are not a Farm Bureau member then join today and discover how much you can save. Just call the office at 435-3616 for more information.

Remember we are farmers working together. If we can help let us know.