This month’s IFI Prayer Team guidance comes from Phil DelRe, Executive Director of Voice in the Wilderness Ministries.

To Our Great God and Savior,

With our hearts bowed before you, we join the heavenly host and cry, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD God Almighty. You alone are God and there is no God beside you. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, only you declare the end from the beginning.  You dwell in unapproachable light, and no man can see you and live.  You are the crown over all creation, the royal Redeemer, the Supreme Commander and sustainer of every living thing. We live because you live. You are the God who is, the God who was, and the God who always will be, from eternity past to eternity future, without beginning, without end, Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today and forever the God who changes not!  

By grace alone, through faith alone, through Christ alone, we enter into your gates with thanksgiving and into your courts with praise.  With the scepter of Christ extended, we come before your throne with confidence to seek grace and find mercy to help us in our time of need. You are the vine, we are the branches, apart from you we can do nothing.

As your children, please be merciful to us for we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed; by what we have done and by what we have left undone.  Pardon us, we pray, and help us to repent. Deliver us from lust, greed, and pride. Open the windows of heaven and pour out the Spirit of wisdom and revelation that we might know you better.  Open the eyes of our hearts. Set us on fire for the Gospel; give us a burning passion for the souls of the lost and the hearts of the broken. We pray that you, the Lord of the harvest, would send more laborers into the fields which are ripe for harvest. Pour out your Spirit, and bring a world-wide revival beginning in our own hearts, our own homes, and our own churches.  We pray for all those in authority, from presidents to pastors that we might live in peace. And, we pray for the peace of Jerusalem.  Your Word says, “If we ask anything according to your will, you will hear from heaven, and we will have the petitions we ask.” Be glorified in answering these prayers. God is great and greatly to be praised.

In Jesus name, we pray. Amen. 

Please continue to pray for our local, state and national officials as they consider new policies and laws that will affect our families and freedoms. Join us as we pray for God’s guidance and wisdom in the halls of our legislatures.

Local elections, including school board, are just around the corner. Please be in prayer for the candidates and a good turnout of Christian voters. Pray that voters understand the issues of safety, modesty and privacy for all students in our government schools.

Also pray for the ultimate demise of the following bills pending in Springfield:  taxpayer funding of abortion (HB 40); counterfeit birth certificates (HB 1785); drug decriminalization (HB 3235); no penalties for marijuana for “enrolled students” (HB 3715); incarcerated prisoner can motion to change drug felony conviction to misdemeanor (SB 1886); abortion clinic censorship zone (HB 3735); gambling expansion (SB 7); income tax increase (SB 9) and the ERA (SJRCA 4).

Pray that our neighbors understand the value of human life and the fundamental freedom to live out our faith in the public square. Pray for the success of recent legal challenge to Illinois’ new law that forces pro-life medical professionals to give abortion referrals.

Pray for boldness in our pulpits and for strong, unwavering church leadership and a willingness to engage the culture.

Pray for the health, safety and well-being of the IFI staff and praise God for the volunteers who give their time to come to the office to help with projects.

The American Culture and Faith Institute (ACFI) released a fascinating survey recently revealing that 95 percent of “Spiritually Active, Governance Engaged Christian Conservatives” or “SAGE Cons” are not satisfied with the state of American culture today. While this finding may not be surprising, what may prove to be informative and encouraging is that 67 percent of these “SAGE Cons” desire to be more directly involved in “cultural transformation” here in the United States.

Today’s social media news-feeds show much conversation over current events, and inevitably, some discussions become heated and even hostile at times. With social media readily available, some people may wonder if political engagement online is productive—especially for those of us who desire to be a positive influence on the culture at large.  Unfortunately, I know some Christians who have fled social media precisely because they are unwilling to take a stand.  In effect, they are hiding their light under a bushel.

On one hand, we understand how easy it is to get fatigued. Pew Research Center released findings that show one third of social media users are “worn out” by political content. Fifty-nine percent of respondents in the Pew survey say that discussions with those in which they are in disagreement are “stressful and frustrating.”

Undeniably, social media is a vital tool if used properly and in moderation. However, we should also keep in mind there are many other ways we can effectively inspire “cultural transformation” in our state and nation.

How can we inspire “cultural transformation?”

Invest in your family and close relationships. It was recently reported that Barbara Bush, daughter of President George W. Bush (43), spoke at a fundraiser for Planned Parenthood in Fort Worth Texas.  While we know former President Bush is pro-life, we also know how liberal his wife’s political views are. Evidently, Momma Bush did a better job passing down her worldview to her daughter than did Poppa Bush. What a missed opportunity!

Deuteronomy chapter six teaches us that we should intentionally and diligently teach our children and grandchildren a love of the Lord and His commandments.  We are to teach them so that they do not forget what God has done and so they will live according to His Word.

Investing in our families, churches, and even in our neighbors and neighborhoods is a great first step to inspire the “cultural transformation” that God desires.

Hold elected leaders accountable. It can be tempting to think that our civic duty ends the moment we cast our ballots; however, it is critical that we do more. Our elected leaders need to hear from us before they make important decisions regarding policy and law. In order to take part in informed conversation and correspondence with legislators and government officials, keep up-to-date on local news and be on the lookout for IFI action alerts that detail ways you can engage legislative leaders. The IFI Action Center lists current action items and provides a simple way for you to contact your elected officials.

Serve the community. There are many ways you can influence the culture as you serve in your community. If you have a heart for women facing unplanned pregnancies, search online for a pregnancy care center near your home. Perhaps you might consider helping in a soup kitchen or rescue mission. Often community centers need volunteers for ESL classes or after school tutoring. The local church also offers a multitude of areas in which you can serve and invest in the culture.

And of course, there is a desperate need for Christian citizens to serve in elected office. A favorite quote underscores this point powerfully:

“Public business, my son, must always be done by somebody… if wise men decline it, others will not; if honest men refuse it, others will not.”  ~John Adams

Have you ever wondered why we have so many foolish and dishonest lawmakers in office? It is because wise and honest citizens are not stepping up to fill these spots.  This void creates a vacuum which is filled too often with the lowest common denominator.  Many of us who are well-qualified for public service are wasting a valuable opportunity.  Consider this exhortation from our Founding Father:

“It should be the highest ambition of every American to extend his views beyond himself, and to bear in mind that his conduct will not only affect himself, his country, and his immediate posterity; but that its influence may be co-extensive with the world, and stamp political happiness or misery on ages yet unborn.”  ~ George Washington

Civic engagement is an essential part of the Christian life and witness. If we neglect our civic responsibilities, our freedoms, including our civil right to shed the Light of Christ in our communities and throughout our nation, will be destroyed and the light of Christian witness will grow dim.

The situation we face is difficult, but we are not without hope! Let’s renew our efforts to engage the culture around us and also determine to be open to new ways of service that will effectively increase the well-being of our society.

IFI is partnering with pro-life advocates to put up pro-life billboards throughout the Chicago metro area with the simple and bold statement “Abortion Takes Human Life,“ but we need your financial partnership to make this a success.  Can you help with a tax-deductible donation to this campaign?

Read more HERE.

It is a fact: we live in a post-Christian culture. America is growing more and more hostile toward expressions of faith and overt devotion and all expressions of traditional Judeo-Christian values. In our current climate, choosing to lead a Christian life is not easy. Such a choice runs contrary to our culture and the expectations of most of mankind. The default position of the world is that we will blindly, perhaps even eagerly, follow them in their earthly, selfish pursuits. God, however, expects His followers to set our minds on the things of Heaven and deny ourselves, unashamedly and unapologetically.

Jesus emphasized the necessity of this attitude when He warned:

“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” ~ Matthew 7:13-14

Likewise, the Apostle Paul exhorts us to keep our eyes on the true and lasting prize:

“I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” ~ Philippians 3:14

So, what does it mean to set our minds on heavenly things – the things of God? What does it mean to deny ourselves? As professing followers of Jesus Christ, these are questions with which we must wrestle. Probing further, we need to ask ourselves if we are in any way ashamed of Jesus and His Word or have we abandoned heavenly pursuits and begun to set our minds on the things of man?   It is important to regularly examine our heart in order to assess our level of commitment to the Lord and to the Gospel.

Based on our answers to the previous questions, I believe we have three choices as to our level of commitment:

1. We can decide to put God’s will foremost in our lives some of the time.
2. We can decide to put God’s will foremost in our lives most of the time.
3. We can decide to put God’s will foremost in our lives all of the time.

Scripture shows us that Peter made each of these choices at different stages of his Christian life.

In Mark 8:31-38, we see Peter at the first level of commitment, foolishly rebuking Christ as Jesus taught His disciples that He must suffer and die. At this point in his life, Peter wanted to follow a comfortable version of Christianity, a version that affirmed his political and cultural worldview. He loved Jesus, but he only desired the pleasant things associated with following the Lord: the awesome miracles, the beautiful teaching, and the prestige of being close to Jesus as a member of His inner circle. Christ’s work on the cross and His death had no place in Peter’s theology and part-time commitment to God’s will.

There are many self-identifying Christians who are like Peter was early on in his time with Jesus. They try to coexist in two spheres of life – a Christian life focused on the abundant blessings God pours out on believers and a secular life focused on earthly comforts and achievements. But following Jesus also means facing trials, making difficult choices and sacrifices, and submitting to God’s will in all matters. As Peter once did, Christians at an entry level of commitment often rebel when God’s will does not align with their plans.

Many cultural Christians also fear being perceived as too fanatical in the practical application of their faith by family, friends, and neighbors. The fear of man – derision and rejection – often seems more immediate and consequential in their lives than the fear of God, and it exerts a greater effect on their thoughts, words, and actions than they realize. This fear can overwhelm and override any fear of God to the point where there may even be times they are ashamed of being Christians.

We see Peter at the second level of Christian commitment in Matthew 26:69-74. Matthew records a scene between Jesus’ trial before the Sanhedrin and his trial before Pilate. As Jesus had foretold, Peter has just denied knowing Christ three times, and Matthew reports that Peter cursed and swore, saying, “I do not know the Man!”

In the passage of time between his rebuke of Jesus and his insistent denials of knowing Him, Peter’s faith in Jesus had grown. Peter intended to wholeheartedly follow Jesus, but when it came down to a moment of crisis and persecution, Peter bailed out by lying. His spirit was willing, but his flesh was weak, and he gave in to the fear of man.

Many Christians today find themselves wanting, like Peter, to be totally committed to King Jesus, yet they hold back from putting God’s will foremost in certain domains of their lives. Are there areas in our lives where our commitment falters due to the fear of man? Maybe we are reluctant to pray before a meal in a restaurant because we’re afraid of what the other diners might think? Or perhaps we hesitate to “like” or “share” a friend’s Facebook post because doing so would identify us as a Christ follower? Whether it was with family or friends, at work, school, or on social media, I think we can all pinpoint a time when we denied Christ, even if we never uttered a word.

Finally, after the resurrection and the baptism in the Holy Spirit recorded in Acts 2, we see a totally different Peter. The Apostle has committed to put God’s will foremost in his life all of the time! Mature in Christ and indwelt by the Holy Spirit, Peter was bold to preach the risen Lord, even before the High Priest and the Sanhedrin. When they severely threatened to beat and punish him, he replied:

“Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” ~ Acts 4:19-20

And in Acts 5, Peter firmly answered the authorities:

“We ought to obey God rather than men . . .” ~ Acts 5:29

Peter, the impudent and impetuous fisherman who had the audacity to brashly rebuke the Messiah, grew, by the grace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit, into a man who confidently stood up to religious and political rulers. Peter, the scared disciple who denied the Son of Man three times because his fear of man outweighed his fear of God, became a bold man of the Gospel who rejoiced that he was counted worthy to suffer shame for the name of Christ!

Moving beyond a superficial attempt to put God’s will foremost in our lives requires intentionality and the power of the Holy Spirit. It is impossible for us to deny our selfish, human inclinations in our own “strength.” But our weakness is no reason to give up hope – we can certainly look to Peter for inspiration. The more time he spent with Jesus, the more he became conformed to the image of the Savior, desiring to put God’s will first at all times.

While Peter’s transformation is an excellent inspiration for us, Jesus is our perfect model and example. His life was marked by His reverence for His Father – definitely a unique fear of God! Jesus never worried what people thought of Him. Not even once did He compromise for personal gain or for the opinions of man. Christ endured the hard road of the cross to bear the wrath that we deserve for our sin, including our sinful, misplaced fear of man. The Lord’s singular goal was to bring honor to His Father and to do His will.

If we are to be conformed to the image and likeness of Christ, we would do well to follow His example: deny ourselves, disregard the opinions of man, and above all, set our minds on the things of our Heavenly Father. May this be our deepest desire as we strive to glorify God to the world around us.

IFI is partnering with pro-life advocates to put up pro-life billboards throughout the Chicago metro area with the simple and bold statement “Abortion Takes Human Life,“ but we need your financial partnership to make this a success.  Can you help with a tax-deductible donation to this campaign?

Here is some bad news: Illinoisans who support the use of your money to pay for abortions have been calling their legislators asking them to support HB 40. A vote on this bill could come at any time.

The good news is that this legislation can be defeated, but your help and prayers are needed immediately. Your local state legislators need to hear from you and everyone you can encourage to call or email their legislative offices.

Here is part of a statement issued by Brian Burch, who is the president of CatholicVote.org:

“We have been following the developments surrounding H.B. 40, a new spending bill pending before the Illinois General Assembly that, if passed, would authorize the use of state dollars to fund abortion services for qualified Medicaid recipients. Should Governor Rauner sign the bill as it is currently written, pro-life voters will be left with no choice but to oppose his candidacy next year.

. . .

“We have been in conversation with pro-life groups around the state. The overwhelming consensus is that support for any legislation that would coerce Illinois taxpayers into directly funding abortion would disqualify him from receiving their support.

“The state owes $10 billion in unpaid bills, with tens of billions more in unfunded liabilities. Yet now politicians want to spend scarce state resources to pay for abortions. Rauner’s support of this reckless bill would rip apart the Republican Party and destroy any chance of his re-election.

“Let me be clear. If Governor Rauner signs the bill as written, we will urge our members along with every pro-life voter in the state to support an alternative candidate — or to abstain from voting for his re-election. And we won’t be the only group doing so.”

Those are some pretty tough words–words that the Illinois Family Institute and its sister organization Illinois Family Action applaud. We would like to see that threat extended to any member of the General Assembly that votes to use taxpayer dollars to fund abortions.

Cultural issues writer Laurie Higgins explains why IFI supports the position of CatholicVote.org:

IFI wholeheartedly agrees with CatholicVote.org’s commitment to opposing Governor Rauner’s re-election bid should he support HB 40.

There is no more critical human rights issue than the issue of protecting incipient human life from intentional destruction in the womb. The moral offense of legalized feticide is compounded when the hard-earned money of taxpayers is used to fund the killing of humans.

Neither the state of development, dependency status, imperfections, or location of human beings grants to other humans the moral right to end their lives. When the reproductive rights of women come into direct conflict with the right of their offspring to exist, the right to existence takes precedence in that it is a right of a higher moral order.

Any government leader who doesn’t recognize the intrinsic value and rights of all humans doesn’t deserve the support of citizens or public office.

We agree with this statement from eminent legal scholar Professor Robert George:

Maintaining and solidifying the pro-life…stance of the Republican Party is critical. That’s why tactical voting, including voting for bad Democrats over bad Republicans, is IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES (e.g., where the election of a Democrat does not jeopardize Republican control of a legislative house), morally legitimate and perhaps even advisable. We must not let the pro-abortion…movements strengthen their positions in the Republican Party.

We can make a difference, but only if our legislators hear from their pro-life constituents. We hope to convince enough of them not to vote for this big-government, big-abortion bill. We must prevent the sponsor of this legislation from getting enough “yea” votes to pass it.

Our failure to act with as much energy as the other side too often is the difference between victory or defeat–and in this case life or death.

Here is Cardinal Blase Cupich, the Archbishop of Chicago, weighing in on HB 40:

We have raised our voices in the past for those who have no voice, whether they be the
immigrant or the refugee, the poor, or the unemployed. We now need to speak for the children in the womb, who are the weakest among us.

We need to let our elected officials know that taxpayers should not be forced to fund the
taking of human life. In fact, tax money should be used to fund prenatal services for the poor
and child care for working mothers, as well as expand health-care options for those in need.
Please join me in advocating for all life by urging your state representative to reject HB 40 and work instead to pass a budget that funds all essential services.

You can read Cardinal Cupich’s entire letter here, and the statement by CatholicVote.org President Brian Burch here.

Take ACTION: Please send a message to your state representative to ask him/her to vote AGAINST this pro-abortion bill. This legislation is HB 40 – a bill that would authorize the use of tax dollars to pay for abortions in Illinois through Medicaid and state government health care insurance plans. It is sponsored by State Representative Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago).  This bill would reverse the current law which bans taxpayer funding of abortion under Medicaid.

Please also call your state representative during the week to make sure he/she knows how important this issue is to you and your family. The Capitol switchboard number is (217) 782-2000.

Pray for the ultimate demise of HB 40 and all anti-life legislation.

The day after the election, I was scrolling through my Facebook feed and saw two posts back-to-back from friends. One was convinced the world was coming to an end now that Donald Trump was elected president; the other was convinced America’s savior was now in the White House.

I’m sure you’ve seen similar contrasts – maybe even in your own household. There’s a sense of stark disunity in our culture these days, and the polls back that up. A recent Gallup poll found that 77 percentof Americans see the nation as “divided.”

Most of the time when people write about how divided we are, the solution they suggest is typically something like “well, you shouldn’t be so black and white about [insert controversial issue].”

However, you and I know that when it comes to issues like pornography, abortion, marriage, and freedom, there are some clear lines between right and wrong.

A better – and more realistic – way to deal with this division is not by compromising the Truth, but by simply not ascribing the worst motives to people who disagree with us. I know I’m guilty of this all the time – especially when I’m reading posts on social media. It’s too easy in our electronic world to imagine the person behind the other keyboard as the American Darth Vader, whose only goal is to destroy mankind.

However, just because someone’s wrong doesn’t make them ill-intentioned. And I think if we can stop ourselves from picturing the other side as having their finger on the trigger of the Deathstar, we’ll find more common ground.

Don’t miss these stories…

This verse from the Sermon on the Mount got me thinking about this topic.
There’s blessing in not ascribing the worst motives.

World Magazine’s recent cover story is also on this topic.
The divide is also prevalent in the church

The next Executive Order President Trump needs to sign

This Executive Order would be a game changer for religious freedom.
Read the Heritage Foundation’s Ryan Anderon’s analysis of this Executive Order.

One of the sharpest criticisms that comes against Bible-quoting, conservative Christians is that we are hypocrites, failing to live by the very book that we so zealously quote.

Sadly, that criticism is often true.

To give just one example (and as I’ve said countless times), no-fault, heterosexual divorce in the evangelical church has done more to undermine marriage than all gay activists combined.

But we conservative believers hardly have a monopoly on hypocrisy. To the contrary, the Bible-quoting hypocrisy of the liberal left is far more galling than our conservative Christian hypocrisy. We, for our part, truly believe the Bible to be God’s Word and seek to live by it (even though failingly so at times), whereas the liberal left often despises the authority of Scripture except for a few select passages that it misuses for its purposes.

This has come into glaring clarity in light of the president’s executive order concerning refugees. Suddenly, Hollywood elites and their liberal colleagues are quoting the same book that they openly mock, especially when it comes to moral and spiritual standards.

They can’t have it both ways.

Either God’s Word has authority or it does not, and you cannot accept its moral imperative in one place and reject its moral imperative in another place. It simply does not work.

A critic might say, “But you do the exact same thing. You pick and choose what verses you follow.”

Actually, that’s not the case. We have a grid through which we read the Bible – a grid given us by the Bible itself – and we use the Scriptures to interpret the Scriptures.

For example, we learn that God gave Israel certain laws to keep them separate from the nations, even though the laws were not based on moral absolutes. A good example would be, “Don’t wear garments with mixed fabric” (Leviticus 19:19; Deuteronomy 22:11), even though there is nothing morally wrong about doing so. It was simply wrong for Israel because God was teaching them to be separate from the other nations.

On the flip side, when the Ten Commandments say, “Do not murder,” it is based on an absolute moral prohibition, one that is binding for all people everywhere.

So, while Christians today are not obligated to keep these specific laws of separation (which include the dietary laws), they are obligated to keep the universal moral prohibitions of the Bible, which include prohibitions against adultery and stealing and murder.

The left-wing, hypocritical Bible-quoters, have no such grid. Instead, they learn a few verses (or, snippets of verses) and quote them with smug self-assurance, not realizing that the book they are selectively quoting actually condemns the lives they are living

For a number of years, their favorite verse has been, “Jesus said ‘Don’t judge,’ but you’re guilty of judging me!” – and they say this as they harshly judge us.

What they fail to realize is that Jesus was teaching us not to judge superficially or hypocritically and not to condemn so that we could judge righteously rather than by superficial appearances (see Matthew 7:1-6; John 7:24).

And this same Jesus often warned about hell fire, taught that the path to God was narrow and straight, stated that He was the only way to the heavenly Father, and made clear that those who rejected Him would die in their sins – among many other exclusionary and flesh-offending statements. As for the moral standards of the Law – including sexual standards – He took them to a higher level.

To the Bible-citing Hollywood elites and your ultra-liberal colleagues, are you sure you want to be quoting the words of Jesus?

But the hypocrisy has gotten worse after President Trump’s executive order putting a temporary halt on incoming refugees from seven Middle Eastern countries. These one-time Bible-mockers are now quoting the words of the Torah in the Old Testament – yes, those supposedly antiquated, misogynist, bigoted words – reminding us of Israel’s calling to care for the refugee and the foreigner in their midst.

Of course, I totally affirm this ethic and call, and since we are a nation of immigrants, it applies all the more to us, just as it applied especially to the people of Israel, who themselves had been mistreated when they lived in Egypt: Don’t do to the foreigners what Egypt did to you!

But let’s put this compassionate command in context. The ancient Israelites were first commanded to exterminate the Canaanites who lived in the land they were about to inherit – including men, women, and children – because the spiritual and moral wickedness of the Canaanites was so great that it would pollute and destroy the Israelites should any survive.

That’s what I call extreme, yet it was a one-time command for ancient Israel, only after God waited 400 years until the wickedness of the Canaanites reached horrific proportions (see Genesis 15:16).

So then, the same God who called for compassion on the non-hostile foreigner seeking refuge among the people of Israel also called for the elimination of hostile foreigners (similar to candidate Trump’s call to “bomb the h-ll out of Isis”).

Not only so, but the non-hostile foreigners who took refuge in Israel were required to assimilate into Israel’s culture and were expected to live by Israel’s laws (see, e.g., Numbers 15:29). Is that a standard we’re ready to apply here as well?

More galling still is the liberal left’s quotation of Torah law pertaining to care for the refugee while ignoring the Torah’s strict moral code, which universally forbade homosexual practice and adultery under penalty of death.

For the record, these prohibitions are upheld by the New Testament (both by Jesus and Paul), the difference being that instead of a physical death penalty there is a penalty of spiritual death, which in many ways is far worse.

The bottom line, then, is simple: By all means, keep quoting the Scriptures and calling America to live by the morality of the Bible. Just don’t do it selectively.

And the next time conservative Christians do the same, don’t yell back at us, “Separation of church and state!”

Fair enough?

This article was originally posted at Townhall.com

By now, most of us have put away our Christmas lights and decorations.  However, the hope and truth of the Christmas story still remains.  Luke 2:7 says  “And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.” This one verse tells us that Jesus was born in a manger, because there was no room at the local motel.

The coming of the promised Messiah had been anticipated for thousands of years, yet when the Son of God came into the world, there was no room for Him.  Every day, the Lord Jesus knocks at the door of our heart.  The question I have for you today is:  Do you have room for Jesus?  Do you make room in the “inn” of your life for the Lord?

We already know there is resistance to the Lord in the world today. We see this in the following:

• The ACLU threatens to sue cities over nativities scenes and crosses
• Schools are banning prayers at sports games
• There’s been talk of changing the “In God we trust” motto for several decades
• There are even Churches that are edging Jesus out

I want to know, do YOU have room for the Lord in your daily activities?  Do you make Him a priority? Do you give Him the time He deserves?

I hear what you’re saying, “Brother, I’m busy.  I work two jobs to make ends meet.  I’m also trying to go back to school and the never-ending task list is growing every hour.”  I get that. But, if we’re not careful, we can make an idol of our busyness.  An idol is anything that knocks God off the throne of our hearts.

The late-great Adrian Rogers said, “If Satan can’t make you bad, he’ll make you busy.”  Even the busyness of ministry work can take us away from our alone time with the Lord.  It can sometimes “replace” our relationship with Him, since it’s “working unto the Lord”.  In all honesty, “working unto the Lord” should never replace “spending time with the Lord”.

In our home, we have a cordless phone.  Yes, we’re one of the few remaining houses that have a landline.  When the cordless phone is off the hook for too long, it no longer works.  The signal has lost its power.  The phone must be rested back onto the base in order for it to work again.  One of the reasons why we’re losing strength is, we’ve been disconnected too long.  We need to get back to the base for power.

• Back into our prayer closets
• Back into His presence
• Back into His Word
• Back into Church
• Back into fellowship with other believers

We need to get back to the base for power so that we can be connected again.  If there is no room for Jesus in the “Inn” of your life, then you need to clean house.  Do whatever it takes to make Him the center of your everything.

Dr. Joey Krol is the Senior Pastor of Galilee Baptist Church in Decatur, IL.  He is also the author of “Common Misunderstandings about God, Jesus and the Bible.” (Available on Amazon) He lives with his wife, Aubrey, and their two kids, Timothy and Hannah. 

We normally send out prayer alerts to the IFI Prayer Team – to those 800 plus people who have opted into this special publication.  But in light of a new presidential administration and new legislative sessions in both Washington D.C. and Springfield, it is important that this message be viewed by as many Christians as possible, as we exhort each reader to prayer – fervent prayer, if I may be so bold. (Learn more about IFI’s Prayer Team HERE.)

Today, Donald J. Trump was sworn in as the 45^th President of the United States.

Last week, state lawmakers were sworn into office in Springfield to begin the 100^th General Assembly (a two year session).

Two weeks before that, on January 3, 2017, our federal lawmakers were sworn in, starting the 115^th Congress (also a two year session).

All of these government officials have a tremendous duty before them to uphold the State and U.S. Constitutions and serve the general welfare of the American people. As Christians, we have an obligation to pray for them because it benefits us, our families, our neighbors, and society as a whole.

“I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.” ~1 Timothy 2:1-2

POTUS

Pray for President Donald J. Trump. Pray that God gives him an abundance of wisdom, discernment and understanding of the issues before him. Pray that god-fearing advisers surround him.  Pray that his administration would do good, seek justice, defend the oppressed and do the hard things to establish sound moral and fiscal policies. Pray for his spiritual and physical safety and well-being.

Pray for Vice President-elect Mike Pence. Pray that God would use him in great ways to advise President Trump. Pray that he will have many great opportunities to share the truth of the Gospel and to disciple those within the administration. Pray that he would continue to seek God in prayer in all things. Pray for his spiritual and physical safety and well-being.

Let’s pray fervently for God’s hand of blessing and direction on Donald Trump over next 100 days!! May he learn to lean on the Holy Spirit in his new capacity.

U.S. Congress

We also urge you to pray regularly for U.S. Senator Richard Durbin and your particular U.S. Representative.  In addition, there are three federal lawmakers elected to new positions this session that we should also lift up in prayer.  They are U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth and U.S. Representatives Raja Krishnamoorthi (D- Schaumburg) of the 8^th District and Brad Schneider (D-Deerfield) of the 10^th District.

Illinois General Assembly

Likewise, for our lawmakers at the State Capitol in Springfield, we must pray regularly for Governor Bruce Rauner and your own state senator and state representative. We also have a new Illinois Comptroller, Susan Mendoza. It would be wise to pray for her as she is in charge of the state “checkbook.”

In addition, we have twenty-three new elected officials who are in need of our prayers.  Here is the list:

Illinois State Senate:

Omar Aquino (D-Chicago)

Christina Castro (D-Elgin)

Paul Schimpf (R-Murphysboro)

Dale Fowler (R-Harrisburg)

Illinois State House of Representatives:

Teresa Mah (D-Chicago)

Julia Stratton (D-Chicago)

Melissa Conyears (D-Chicago)

Justin Slaughter (D-Chicago)

Nick Sauer (R-Barrington)

Steve Reick (R-Woodstock)

Tony McCombie (R-Savanna)

Michael Halpin (D-Rock Island)

Ryan Spain (R-Peoria)

Daniel Swanson (R-Woodhull)

David Welter (R-Morris)

Jerry Long (R-Ottawa)

Lindsay Parkhurst (R-Kankakee)

David Olsen (R-Downers Grove)

Brad Halbrook (R-Shelbyville)

Katie Stuart (D-Edwardsville)

LaToya Greenwood (D-East St. Louis)

Dave Severin (R-Marion)

Although we may disagree with the politics and worldview of many of the officials above, Christians have the privilege of going “above their heads” to appeal to an omnipotent God who is able to turn the heart of a king like a stream of water (Proverbs 21:1).

Pray that God would accomplish His purposes through these elected officials for the welfare of our state and nation.

Finally, pray that Congress will move to defund Planned Parenthood quickly, and that our state lawmakers will reject HB 40 — the bill to have our tax-dollars pay for thousands of abortions every year.

May God be pleased to answer our prayers!

Join IFI at our Feb. 18th Worldview Conference

We are excited about our third annual Worldview Conference featuring world-renowned theologian Dr. Frank Turek on Sat., Feb. 18, 2017 in Barrington. Dr. Turek is s a dynamic speaker and the award-winning author of “I Don’t Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist”

Join us for a wonderful opportunity to take enhance your biblical worldview and equip you to more effectively engage the culture:

Click HERE to learn more or to register!

 “As well could you expect a plant to grow without air and water as to expect your heart to grow without prayer and faith.”
~Charles Spurgeon

Written by Pastor Myles Holmes

God has never answered a prayer that has not been prayed. He has promised that if we His people, are humble, repentant, and will seek His face, He will hear from heaven, forgive our sins, and He will heal our land. That is something we cannot live without! Illinois needs healing.

Our state is now saturated with crises, all symptoms of spiritual disease.  We seem to be quickly sliding toward the edge of total moral, social and economic collapse. Violence increases on our streets, government is amassing unsustainable debt loads and there is no answer from anywhere.  A praying people is the only hope for our state. Fervency in the prayer meeting and intensity in the prayer closet is what must be revived.

Speaking to the mountain of difficulty in your path as Christ has authorized us to do, does not mean to say “hello’, build a relationship, negotiate or share pleasantries. It means to resist, rebuke and REMOVE that mountain in the Power and Authority of His Name.

Let’s look at what prayer really is and what it means.

Prayer is NOT… convincing God, it is not the believers gripe/complaint session, it is not changing God’s mind or twisting God’s arm.

Prayer is the…

• Engaging of faith in the revealed will of God
• Entrance to the Throne Room of mercy and grace
• Environment to which God restricts His workings
• Enforcement of God’s rule upon a rebellious world
• Enjoyment of God’s tangible Presence
• Enduing of our lives with power
• Encouragement of mind and spirit with truth
• Enriching of personality with God’s peace and purity
• Encounter of human weakness with Divine strength
• Encampment of stubborn faith upon the promises of God

Let’s bury, once and for all, the old lie that some are gifted or called to be intercessors and others are not. Show me in the Word of God where there is a ‘gift’ of prayer, or the  Office of the Pray-er. You can’t find it.  All God’s followers are called, expected, anointed and appointed to pray. We all have the wonderful privilege of praying God’s will on earth, just as it is in Heaven.

God answers faith- filled prayers. God answers persistent prayers. God answers fervent prayer. God answers the prayers of righteous people. God answers prayers of agreement. Find a group of people, or even just one, and agree together in prayer. Keep a prayer journal. Record your miracles. Those who expect nothing in prayer are never disappointed.

Pray in Expectation. Faith is a Bible condition for answered prayer. If you want to receive any response from heaven, you must believe that God exists, and that He is a rewarder of those who earnestly and consistently seek Him. Let your faith arise. Go ahead, let God’s promises get your hopes up!  God rewards expectation. Pray without ceasing, pray in faith and God will answer.

Be strong in prayer. We are as strong spiritually as we are strong in prayer. We are as effective spiritually as we are effective in prayer. Prayer is work, a battle, a warfare. Prayer is also peace producing, a joy and a delight. Prayer is a struggle, a labor, and requires commitment. Prayer also releases power, strength and comfort.

Don’t be confused; prayer is all the above and must consist of all the above. Those who find prayer to be only a battle and fight are not engaging the victory won by faith. Others who only experience prayer as a joy and delight, have forgotten that we are at war with the forces of hell. Fight on! Pray on! Laugh through tears and celebrate the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith.

Fast AND Pray. I can personally testify that all the most significant breakthroughs in my life have come during, or just after, a serious extended season of fasting and prayer. My best ideas come during prayer times. But the financial miracles, supernatural direction, and Heavenly Blessing that have marked my life have always been linked to prayer and fasting. There is a release of power, anointing and authority that is only available through prayer and fasting. (Matthew 17:21) *

It is an astounding realization and a holy obligation to recognize that we have an audience with the King of kings and the Lord of lords, the Creator of all that is. The ‘sweet hour of prayer ‘ is the Christian’s highest calling.

*Excerpted from “Fasting  for Breakthrough – A Guide to Praying in Faith” by Myles Holmes, 2015

Myles Holmes is the lead pastor at REVIVE church in, Collinsville, Illinois, and works to put a smile on the Face of GOD & give the devil a migraine everyday! Myles strives to be a holy terror to mediocrity, get the hell out of people & the Heaven in.

The worldview of many Christians reveals a troubling lack of biblical knowledge. And the absence of a biblically informed worldview bodes ill for American culture. The lack of knowledge and understanding of biblical principles and how they should shape our participation in the public square requires immediate attention.

Secularism has a firm grip on our nation, reaching even into our churches. It is a sad truth that secularism, the “religion” of the Left, is having a much greater influence on the culture than is orthodox Christianity, which explains why so many churches look, feel, and sound much like the world around us.

We can see throughout history what happens when man forgets God and rejects biblical principles. Arrogant leaders rise to power, build empires, and dominate people. We can look back in history and count the cost in human lives and suffering:

Vladimir Lenin ruled the USSR for 7 years. During that time 7 million people were killed by his regime.

Joseph Stalin ruled the USSR for 12 years.  During that time 23 million people were killed under his regime.

Adolf Hitler ruled Germany for 11 years. During that time approximately 20 million people were killed by his regime.

Mao Zedong ruled China for 34 years.  During that time 50+ million people were killed under his regime.

Pol Pot ruled Cambodia for 4 years. During that time approximately 2 million people were killed by his regime.

The Illinois Family Institute is deeply concerned about the growing secularization of America both in and out of our churches. Evidence of the corrosive influence of godlessness is seen in the cultural embrace of body- and soul- destroying “transgenderism.” Co-ed locker rooms and government-coerced speech are portents of the cultural darkness to come.

The Apostle Paul warned Christians to guard ourselves from being conformed to the world by being transformed by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:2). Renewing the mind is another way of saying that we need to develop the ability to think biblically.

That is why Illinois Family Institute is hosting our third annual Worldview Conference. This year, we are pleased to have Dr. Frank Turek as our keynote speaker.

Dr. Frank Turek is the president of CrossExamined.org, a dynamic speaker, and a Gold Medallion award-winning author who has written/co-written several books, including I Don’t Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist (over 200,000 sold). He hosts an hour-long apologetics and an hour-long apologetics radio program. Dr. Turek speaks over 100 times a year at colleges, high schools, and churches. He has debated several prominent atheists, including Christopher Hitchens and David Silverman. He is also an adjunct professor of apologetics at Southern Evangelical Seminary.

Having a consistent Christian worldview has never been more important than it is now as our culture is rapidly embracing a secular, non-biblical value system. Please join us for a wonderful opportunity to enhance your biblical worldview and become better equipped to effectively engage the culture.

What:  IFI Worldview Conference with Dr. Frank Turek

When:  Saturday, February 18^th, 10 AM to 3:30 PM

Where:  Village Church of Barrington, 1600 E. Main St., Barrington, IL 60010 (map)

Cost:  $20 per person/$50 per family/student scholarships by calling the IFI office.

Seating is limited, so please register as soon as you are able. Register online or call the IFI office during normal business hours at (708) 781-9328.

Click HERE for an event flyer.

The more I contemplate cultural and societal trends and scrutinize the times in which we live, the more I realize that we – a nation founded on the fundamental right of religious freedom – have forgotten God in our pursuit to create new idols we deem worthy of our worship.  Secularization has a firm grip on our nation, to the point where it has even contaminated the Church.  It is a sad truth that secularism, the “religion” of the Left, has had a much greater influence on the culture and the Church than any influence Christians have been able to exert on the culture or within the Church.

The fact is, too many Christians have been rendered ineffective, or have been paralyzed, and/or have allowed themselves to be bullied into silence and inaction by what Scripture proclaims as the fear of man.  We cower in fear of man instead of being rightly guided by its antithesis, the fear of God.

Lest there be any confusion, when I refer to the fear of God or the fear of man, the word fear does not mean that we are afraid or scared or trembling.  Rather, the fear of God is defined by awesome respect or deep reverence – admiration and adoration – which grows out of the knowledge of His greatness and power – knowledge that we gain by reading and studying His Word and by walking in faith and obedience.

Having made that clarification, I feel a self-assessment is in order.  Are Christians in America today: “motivated more by the fear of God . . . or the fear of man?”  An honest consideration of this question, compels us to admit that the fear of man has too great of an influence in the Body of Christ and, quite possibly, in our own lives as well.

In a similar vein, Scripture encourages us to: Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith.  Test yourselves.  Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?–unless indeed you fail to meet the test!  (2 Corinthians 13:5)

Perhaps, through self-assessment and Spirit-led examination, we will come to the realization that the fear of man does have an undue influence in our mind and life, as it certainly does in the culture at large.

Most assuredly, the more we learn about God, the more we will fear and respect Him.  If we believe He is: omnipotent – all powerful, omnipresent – all present, omniscient – all knowing, omnis sanctus – all holy, we will have abundant reason to revere Him.

On the other hand, the fear of man is the deference and devotion to man and his corrupt opinions and responses.  This fear includes not only the fear that people will hurt, humiliate, ridicule, or reject us, but it also encompasses our yearning to impress others or to be admired.

Matthew Poole’s Commentary on the Holy Bible defines fear of man as:

“inordinate fear of harm or mischief from men, which is fitly opposed to trust in God, because it comes from a distrust of God’s promise and providence . . . .”

No doubt one of the Scriptures which informed Poole’s definition was Proverbs 29:25 – The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is safe.

While the world – the powers, principalities, and the rulers of this dark age – wants us to fear man, Christians and the Church must know and believe that the antidote for the fear of man is the fear of the Lord.  Knowing, understanding, obeying, and serving God must be preeminent in our hearts, minds, and actions. Nothing else can be more important.

In the 8^th chapter of the Gospel of Mark, Jesus rebukes impudent Peter, saying, “Get behind me, Satan!  For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”  Jesus’ words cut right to the heart of the matter: Peter is focused on the wrong things!  Rather than focusing on God’s plans, established before the foundation of the world, Peter was placing his own plans and agenda ahead of the Lord’s.  And, if we are honest, shouldn’t we admit that we are often guilty of doing the exact same thing?

Please do not fool yourself – preoccupation with the things of man leads to the fear of man, which can lead us to sin against our perfect, holy God.  Saul knew this all too well when he confessed to Samuel, “I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice.”  (1 Samuel 15:24)

The prophet Isaiah adds another layer of understanding as he declares it is a kind of pride to dread what man can do while disregarding the goodness, promises, and purposes of God.  Speaking for God, he asks,

“… who are you that you are afraid of man who dies, of the son of man who is made like grass, and have forgotten the LORD, your Maker?  (Isaiah 51:12)

God is speaking plainly through Isaiah, and His message is this:

Don’t. Fear. Man.

If we keep our focus on the Lord, on His character and His power, the fear of man that once loomed so large in our lives will diminish and, in its place, God will enable us to speak with confidence and boldness as we address the moral issues and false teachers of our day.

Scripture gives us excellent models of faithful servants of the Lord who were able to set aside any qualms about offending or being “too aggressive” as they confronted family, friends, neighbors, and enemies.  Consider Elijah and the prophets of Baal, Nehemiah, David and the armies of both the Philistines and the Israelites, John the Baptist and the religious and political leaders of his day, the Apostle Paul, and finally, our Lord Jesus Christ – all of these zealously demonstrated their fear of God, without entertaining thoughts of compromise or considering the opinions of man.

Ultimately, the issue is not whether we will serve God.  The issue is which God/god will we serve and honor with our very being?  Will we succumb to our fear of man, a fear that is often palpable, and serve a false idol of our own making or will we rightly fear and serve the Living God?

Brothers and Sisters, we need to pray for one another!  The fear of man has far too much influence in our lives, in the Church, and in our culture.  Pray that we would delight in the fear of the Lord and be open to the Holy Spirit’s leading and conviction.

Pray for boldness for every believer, and especially for Christian leaders and workers who are on the front lines in the public square.  Pray that we would be intentional to teach and model the fear of the Lord to the next generation.  And finally, pray for the Body of Christ, that through our words and actions, our zeal and boldness, the world will recognize, fear, glorify, and revere God.

May the Lord God, whom we love, serve, and fear, be gracious to hear and answer our prayers. Amen!

Join IFI at our Feb. 18th Worldview Conference

We are excited about our third annual Worldview Conference featuring world-renowned theologian Dr. Frank Turek on Sat., Feb. 18, 2017 in Barrington. Dr. Turek is s a dynamic speaker and the award-winning author of “I Don’t Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist”

Join us for a wonderful opportunity to take enhance your biblical worldview and equip you to more effectively engage the culture:

Click HERE to learn more or to register!

In today’s “politically correct” America, it is evidently a possible offense to quote a former president and discuss the role of Christianity in the founding of the nation.

The State Journal-Register’s political reporter Bernard Schoenburg recently reported on an invocation given at a recent Sangamon County Board meeting in his column titled “Prayer at county board raises church-state question.” The prayer, delivered by board member Mike Sullivan is, according to Schoenburg “getting some attention and has come under some criticism.”

Sullivan’s prayer began:

“Lord in heaven, during this Christmas season as we celebrate the birth of your son, Jesus Christ, we are reminded that our country … was founded on godly principles by God-fearing men and women who believed in the Holy Bible and thereby set up a form of government for a God-fearing populace.”

You can listen to the entire prayer here.

(Note the enthusiastic “Amens!” after it.)

County board member Mike Sullivan also included quotes from founding father John Adams and from Noah Webster, who famously wrote in a letter to James Madison, “The Christian religion, in its purity, is the basis, or rather the source of all genuine freedom in government.”

Was quoting Adams and Webster what triggered the need for some to seek out a “safe space”? Was it how Sullivan introduced the Adams quote?: “Today Lord, as our country appears to be more and more divided between believers in your son Jesus Christ and non-believers…”

Or was it how he closed the prayer by asking those assembled to:

“humbly pray for the forgiveness of our sins and that our fellow countrymen will unite with us in inviting you into their hearts and souls making us one nation under God, thereby allowing the God of the universe to bless our country so it will be truly great again.”

“In the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, Amen.”

Board Chairman Andy Van Meter explained that it is “routine for board members to give the invocation,” and that the members “take turns giving the prayer as each meeting begins.”

“All are heartfelt,” Van Meter said. “Some are more articulate than others. We also have invited religious leaders from denominations not represented on the board from time to time as well. We do not presume to give guidelines. Tony is welcome to give the prayer any time.”

Tony DelGiorno, the offended board member who posted the prayer on Facebook cited his ancestors who were persecuted in America because of their Catholic faith and said, “I find religious elitism abhorrent to the 1st Amendment principle of religious freedom in a nation and a community that is made better by our friends of all faiths.”

It is unclear from Schoenburg’s article what, exactly, demonstrated “religious elitism” in the prayer, nor, exactly, how it is “abhorrent to the First Amendment” to exercise freedom of speech and to express one’s faith during an invocation.

Sullivan said that he didn’t mean to offend anyone with the prayer, and that he was “merely stating some factual history.” Evidently, to paraphrase John Adams, to some people “facts are scary things.” This sad tale is why prayer has never been more important — especially when it comes to the operation of our government.

End-of-Year Challenge

As you may know, IFI has a year-end matching challenge to raise $110,000. That’s right, a small group of IFI supporters are providing a $55,000 matching challenge to help support IFI’s ongoing work to educate, motivate and activate Illinois’ Christian community.

Please consider helping us reach this goal!  Your donation will help us stand strong in 2017!  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

Recently, IFI’s Laurie Higgins was a guest on the Lawyers for Jesus Radio show hosted by attorney John Mauck, of the law firm Mauck & Baker, LLC.

https://soundcloud.com/mauckbaker/cultural-affairs-writer-laurie-higgins-discusses-christianity-and-the-lgbt-agenda

In this program, Higgins discusses the Illinois Family Institute’s mission which is to promote human flourishing — even for those who suffer from unwanted same-sex attraction. Currently in Illinois, it is illegal for a minor to receive reparative therapy, yet legal for a minor to get a double mastectomy.

It is the duty of churches, Higgins explains, to equip Christians to understand and refute both poor theological arguments and specious secular arguments that seek to normalize and promote homosexual activity. Churches need to help believers learn how to respond and be prepared to speak truth in love despite possible persecution. It is not love to affirm behavior, Higgins explains, that is harmful physically, mentally, and spiritually

Click here to listen to the interview.

End-of-Year Challenge

As you may know, IFI has a year-end matching challenge to raise $110,000. That’s right, a small group of IFI supporters are providing a $55,000 matching challenge to help support IFI’s ongoing work to educate, motivate and activate Illinois’ Christian community.

Please consider helping us reach this goal!  Your donation will help us stand strong in 2017!  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

Temporarily Halts Illinois Abortion Referral Mandate

The First Amendment to the United States Constitution states:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

It seems that our nation’s founding fathers were not clear enough with their use of language in the First Amendment, which protects some of our God-given rights. That “make no law” thing is confusing for many, and that “abridging” business, well, that’s way over the heads of Leftists.

While the U.S. Constitution binds Congress, our state constitution binds our state government, and the spirit of the First Amendment is expressed using different words in our state constitution’s Bill of Rights.

Regardless, in Illinois, our governor and General Assembly have now taken up the task of telling people what they can’t say. Reparative therapy is now against the law. So anyone seeking help to escape unwanted same-sex attraction or gender confusion are going to have to find a state where therapists retain their freedom of speech.

In addition, they passed a law forcing pro-life counselors and medical professionals to violate their conscience by telling patients the benefits of abortion and going so far as to require them to give referrals, making them complicit in ending a human life. Here is Michele Bachmann speaking at an IFI event in September:

It is amazing to me that the law compels believers to say something they know isn’t true. Doctors, caregivers, people in pro-life centers — they’re forced, compelled, by a state entity, to share information that not only violates their moral conscience, but they know fundamentally, maybe even experientially in their own life — it is not only wrong — it will bring about death. And yet their government says they must say it.  (Read more here.)

The Alliance Defending Freedom is reporting some good news on this latter front — the doctors and healthcare professionals at the Pregnancy Care Center of Rockford have been given a reprieve by a state court in the form of a preliminary injunction.

Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) Senior Counsel Matt Bowman commented on the injunction:

“Forcing pro-life doctors and pregnancy care centers in Illinois to operate as referral agents for the abortion industry in violation of their freedom of conscience is unconstitutional, illegal, and unethical. No state has the authority to compel health professionals, against their will and their sacred oath to “do no harm,” to promote abortion. We commend the court’s ruling which is a victory for free speech and the freedom of conscience.”

ADF reported that in its nineteen-page order issued Tuesday, “the state court noted that Pregnancy Care Center of Rockford raised sufficient questions as to whether the new law is either legal or constitutional as applied to pro-life doctors and pregnancy care centers.”

As an example, according to ADF, the ruling states:”Why must the State, which licenses and regulates those who provide the objected-to services, rely on the very people who object to the services to be the source of information about them?”

Click here to read the order of the state court granting preliminary injunction.

Upcoming Event:  Join thousands at March for Life Chicago 2017 as we come together from across Chicago, the Midwest and the U.S. to defend, protect and celebrate LIFE on January 15th.

Illinois Family Spotlight:  Listen to this week’s podcast as Monte Larrick and Dave Smith talk with pro-life hero Jill Stanek about what the pro-life movement can expect over the next few years in a Donald Trump administration.

End-of-Year Challange

As you may know, IFI has a year-end matching challenge to raise $110,000. That’s right, a small group of IFI supporters are providing a $55,000 matching challenge to help support IFI’s ongoing work to educate, motivate and activate Illinois’ Christian community.

Please consider helping us reach this goal!  Your donation will help us stand strong in 2017!  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

Last month a Woolworth store in Germany made headlines in the UK and in the U.S. for proclaiming itself to be a “Muslim” store, and therefore it would no longer carry Christmas items. There’s more to the story – as the local management of the store defended itself by saying that there was such little demand for the Christmas products, they decided the shelf space was better used with other items. You can read about it here, here and here and decide for yourself what to believe.

Christmas as controversy is not new, of course, as the debate over whether to say “happy holidays” or “merry Christmas” has long been a part of American pop culture. It even made an appearance in the 2016 presidential campaign as the question whether saying “merry Christmas” is offensive to some delicate ears. Donald Trump said often on the campaign trail that if he was elected, “we’re gonna be saying Merry Christmas at every store … You can leave happy holidays at the corner”:

“I love Christmas. I love Christmas. You go to stores, you don’t see the word Christmas. It says happy holidays all over. I say, ‘Where’s Christmas?’ I tell my wife, ‘Don’t go to those stores.’”

With the election of Trump, a writer at New York Magazine weighed in:

And so it is apparently ‘safe’ for Christians to be rude to their Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, or nonreligious friends and colleagues by regaling them with sectarian holiday greetings. The war on common courtesy has apparently been subordinated to the war on ‘political correctness.’

Dennis Prager, who is Jewish, has a different take (the video is embedded below):

I’m a non-Christian. I’m a Jew. Christmas is not a religious holy day for me. But I’m an American, and Christmas is a national holiday in my country. It is, therefore, my holiday – though not my holy day – as much as it is for my fellow Americans who are Christian. That’s why it’s not surprising that it was an American Jew, Irving Berlin, who wrote “White Christmas,” one of America’s most popular Christmas songs. In fact, according to a Jewish musician writing in the New York Times, “Almost all the most popular Christmas songs were written by Jews.” Apparently all these American Jews felt quite included by Christmas!

By not wishing me a Merry Christmas, you are not being inclusive. You are excluding me from one of my nation’s national holidays.

. . .

The vast majority of Americans who celebrate Christmas, and who treat non-Christians so well, deserve better.

So, please say ‘Merry Christmas’ and ‘Christmas party’ and ‘Christmas vacation.’ If you don’t, you’re not ‘inclusive.’ You’re hurtful.

The American Family Institute has posted a version of a naughty and nice list with its “Rating the Top Retailers and How They Market to Christmas Shoppers.” They divide up American businesses into three categories: Nice, Marginal, and Naughty — this is from their website:

Among the Nice “5-Star” companies listed are Walmart, Cracker Barrel and Hobby Lobby. At the other end of the spectrum — the Naughty kids — are companies like Barnes & Noble, Best Buy and Pet Smart. Pet Smart may carry Santa suits for dogs, but we all know Santa doesn’t exactly serve to emphasize the “Christ” in “CHRISTmas,” so that doesn’t count.

Before you head out the door for another round of Christmas shopping, visit the American Family Institute’s “Naughty (and Marginal) and Nice” list. AFA even invites recommendations for their list, though they don’t include local or regional companies — only nationally-recognized companies.

Merry Christmas!