Written by Pastor Calvin Lindstrom
Church of Christian Liberty & Christian Emergency League

To any discerning Christian, it should be obvious that we have serious moral, cultural, political and financial problems in our nation and our state.

Especially for those who have been living in Illinois, it is easy to be discouraged and weary. For all of our prayers and efforts to stand for truth, we ask where is the fruit?

A study of Scripture and church history shows that there are times when God’s people are called to endure long seasons of challenge. We are also called to recognize that the battle we face is ultimately a spiritual battle. We are not given a full understanding in Scripture of all that takes place in the spiritual realm, but from the book of Daniel and other places in Scripture we know that much more is taking place than we realize.

Paul says in Ephesians 6:12, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”

What are God’s people called to do in during great spiritual battle? We are called to pray and stand boldly as witnesses to God’s truth.

In Romans 15:30 Paul begged his readers to strive together with him in prayers to God for his ministry. The Greek word translated as strive together means to join with someone in severe effort.

There is a blessing in prayer, but the word striving reminds us that prayer is not always easy or pleasant.

We must continually battle the world and our flesh as we stand alert to the wiles of the devil.

On Wednesday, February 20, 2019, Governor J. B. Pritzker is scheduled to present his budget proposal for fiscal year 2020 (the fiscal year begins July 1).

The Illinois Family Institute is calling for a Day of Prayer and fasting on this day.

We know that our state is broke financially. In the midst of this financial brokenness, forces of evil are pushing for laws to promote even more killing of unborn children.

Abortion is just one of the fruits of sin, but it is a particularly poisonous fruit. We pray against wicked legislation that will only encourage more killing.

As part of your prayers and witness, keep in mind two bills regarding abortion: HB 2495 (which further promotes abortion) and HB 2467 (repeals parental notification).

Let us pray that as God humbles us, He will also strengthen us (Psalm 31:24).

Let us pray that God, through the mighty working of the Holy Spirit, will revive His people and church in our state and bring many more to saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (Psalm 85:6).

Let us pray that God will bring conviction to our lawmakers that each one will have to give account to Him for all their votes (Psalm 2:12).

And let us pray that God will bring glory to His name and that all might know that our God is alone Lord and ruler over heaven and earth (2 Kings 19:19).

Planned Parenthood, the ACLU, and Personal PAC have joined forces, once again, to eradicate any and all limits on killing babies in Illinois, absurdly claiming that Illinois’ parental notice law is “dangerous” and “unnecessary.”

The push comes from Governor JB Pritzker’s office and has materialized in the form of two bills. In a press conference, State Representative Kelly Cassidy (D-Chicago), chief sponsor in the Illinois House for the grossly misnamed Reproductive Health Act (HB 2495), stated, “We know that there is a movement today to limit access to reproductive health care. We want to reflect our values in Illinois and trust women.”

Well, she got one thing tacitly right. Those who wield power in Illinois have barbaric “values” that include utter disregard for the bodily integrity, dignity and sanctity of humans in the womb.

In fear of Roe v. Wade being overturned, they will do everything in their power to preserve the non-existent moral “right” to slaughter inconvenient and imperfect humans in Illinois. According to speakers at the February 12th press conference, their bills will do the following:

• Repeal the Illinois Abortion Law of 1975 including criminal penalties on doctors who commit abortion

• Repeal the Partial Birth Abortion ban, which allows babies to be killed up to the time of birth

• Remove any and all regulations on clinics that commit abortion

• Repeal the Parental Notification Act of 1995

State Representative Emanuel Chris Welch (D-Westchester) is the chief sponsor of the HB 2467, a proposal to repeal the Parental Notice of Abortion Act of 1995. This law only requires notification—not consent. But pro-abortion advocates don’t want anything—not even parents—to hinder a child’s ability to have her baby killed. Liz Higgins, Planned Parenthood Associate Medical Director, stated, “Planned Parenthood and our partners are not going to let this become a country where people can no longer access abortion.” This includes our daughters. The government is once again interfering in familial relationships in order to advance Leftist “values.”

This must be stopped. Planned Parenthood and the ACLU will stop at nothing to achieve their body-and soul-destroying goals. If we fail to do everything in our power to block the passage of these bills, we become complicit in the destruction of countless more innocent lives.

How much longer will God stay his wrath on this state for shedding innocent blood?

Take ACTION:  Please speak out!  Click HERE to send a message to your state senator, state representative and to Gov. Pritzker. Ask them to stop targeting innocent pre-born children and vulnerable women in Illinois. Ask them to vote against HB 2495 and HB 2467.

A bold voice for pro-family values in Illinois!

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As we begin 2019–with new federal lawmakers being sworn in to office last week in Washington D.C. and new state lawmakers being sworn into office this week–it is vital that we are intentional about praying for those in authority. Although we may disagree with the political philosophy of many of our elected officials, we must not neglect God’s instruction to pray for them (1 Timothy 2:1-3) or ignore the power of prayer to change hearts and minds (Proverbs 21:1; James 5:16).

It is important to regularly appeal to God for the well-being of our state and nation. It is essential to ask Him to work in the hearts and minds of each one of our local, state and national our leaders. Let’s ask the Lord to help our officials understand what is good and true. Ask Him to give them wisdom and to open their eyes to those who are trying to mislead or deceive them. Let’s pray that God would bring into their lives a Daniel or a Paul to be trusted godly influences who will not shrink back from telling them about God’s standards of right and wrong.

Additionally, here are some other ways to pray this week and throughout the year:

• Thank God for this new year in which we can serve Him. Thank God for what He has done in our lives during the last year, and what He will be doing this year in not only our lives but also in the lives of our family members and in His church worldwide. Throughout history we can see how His hand has been upon the nations.

• Thank God that He is making all things new (Isaiah 43:18–19; Revelation 21:5; Isaiah 65:17).

• Pray that He would prompt us to stay in His Word, reading it daily so that we are fully equipped for what He is calling us to do.

• Pray that He would train us in righteousness and give us wisdom to know how to respond to the growing immorality and unfaithfulness in our culture.

• Pray for a successful and peaceful March for Life Chicago next Sunday. Pray that our culture would come to understand the preeminence of the sanctity of life.

• Pray for key federal officials–including President Donald Trump, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and U.S. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy.

• Pray that federal officials would be serious about military readiness, national security, border protection and the importance of defunding Planned Parenthood.

• Pray for key state officials–including Governor-elect JB Pritzker, Illinois Senate President John Cullerton, Illinois Senate Minority Leader Bill Brady, Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, and Illinois House Minority Leader Jim Durkin.

• Pray that the effort to legalize recreational marijuana fails. Pray that state lawmakers would understand the alarming consequences and high costs of approving this legislation and not be swayed by the potential of a new tax revenue source.

• Pray against efforts to indoctrinate children in government schools–especially the legislation to mandate the teaching about homosexuality and the “trans” ideology positively in government schools (SB 3249) from kindergarten through 12th grade.

• Pray that God would increase our reverence and love for Him and His Word and that we would be effective servants.

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Are you aware that legalizing high potency marijuana is one of governor-elect JB Pritzker’s stated top priorities when he is sworn in as governor in January? Are you concerned about your children or grandchildren getting hooked on drugs and the anticipated increase in drugged drivers on our roads?

There is no question about the negative impact legalization of high potency marijuana is having in other states. The social costs are staggering.

Don’t believe Big Marijuana. They have one goal – to make a ton of money.

IFI has been working hard to make people aware of the dangers associated with high-potency marijuana. We have established a dedicated page to help Illinois residents better understand this issue so they will be equipped to speak out before it is too late. We encourage you to visit this page: “Resources on the Truth and Consequences of Marijuana.”

The page is organized by category so readers can easily navigate through the links. Categories cover the general effects on society; the health effects; mental health issues; marijuana-related deaths and suicides; impaired-driving accidents, including fatalities; marijuana’s effects on children, adolescents and schools; marijuana’s effects in the workplace, and marijuana’s effects on law enforcement and the medical community.

Additionally, we want to urge you to look at a series of webinars created by NoWeedIllinois.com, a coalition of organizations that are opposed to the legalization of recreational marijuana. These webinars offer troubling information that may surprise citizens. For example, Dr. Karen Randall is featured in one webinar testifying on how emergency rooms in Pueblo, Colorado have been overwhelmed with marijuana overdoses, hyperemesis (known as “scromiting”), psychosis, polysubstance use/abuse, and acute cardiac issues.

In another webinar, Dr. Ken Finn highlights marijuana’s negative effects on the heart and lungs, the increase in marijuana-related driving fatalities, and the increasing problems associated with youth use. He also dispels the myth that marijuana legalization can help cure our opioid crisis.

Perhaps the most shocking webinar features Dr. Mourad Gabriel who exposes an unfolding environmental disaster as many marijuana growers are poisoning soil and water sources and killing wildlife.

There are additional webinars on the No Weed Illinois YouTube channel and even more information on their Facebook page. We cannot stress enough the importance of learning as much as possible about what may be coming our way in the very near future.

After you watch these videos, please pray that this push for legalization will fail. Immediately thereafter, please ask your state rep and state senator to watch these videos HERE. Then, once they do, ask them to let you know how they will vote on high potency marijuana legalization.

The only way to stop this drug tsunami heading our way is if every person reading this newsletter relentlessly presses both their state rep and state senator to OPPOSE legalization.

We need a deafening hue and cry from citizens across the state to defeat this disastrous legislation.

End-of-Year Challenge

As you may know, thanks to amazingly generous Illinois Family Institute partners, we have an end-of-year matching challenge of $100,000 to help support our ongoing work to educate and activate Illinois’ Christian community.

Please consider helping us reach this goal!  Your tax-deductible contribution will help us stand strong in 2019!  To make a credit card donation over the phone, please call the IFI office at (708) 781-9328.  You can also send a gift to:

Illinois Family Institute
P.O. Box 876
Tinley Park, Illinois 60477