Illinois State Police acknowledge it wrongly issued a gun license to Aurora shooter
Here’s a link to the story at the Chicago Tribune.
Illinois State Police acknowledge it wrongly issued a gun license to Aurora shooter
February 19, 2019 By Leave a Comment
Illinois among 16 states suing to block Trump’s national emergency declaration for border wall
February 19, 2019 By Leave a Comment
A coalition of 16 states filed a federal lawsuit Monday to block President Donald Trump’s plan to build a border wall without permission from Congress, arguing that the president’s decision to declare a national emergency is unconstitutional.
Here’s a link to the story at the Chicago Tribune.
Cubs’ rash of off-field controversies could give team the motivation it needs
February 19, 2019 By Leave a Comment
Any day now, the conversation about the Cubs will return to baseball.
Here’s a link to the story at the Southern Illinoisan.
MVC Notebook: Bradley, Drake both surging into final 2 weeks
February 19, 2019 By Leave a Comment
The only men’s basketball game in the Missouri Valley Conference tonight pits two of the most unlikely top-four teams you could have thought of at the beginning of the season.
Here’s a link to the story at the Southern Illinoisan.
Lawmakers promote recreational marijuana plan at town hall
February 19, 2019 By Leave a Comment
Two lawmakers crafting a bill to legalize marijuana for recreational use in Illinois are promoting their plan at town hall events around the state.
Here’s a link to the story at Illinois News Network.
Pritzker criminal justice initiative to focus on equity
February 19, 2019 By Leave a Comment
The governor announced a new state initiative Monday focused on bringing ideas to change the state’s criminal justice system to a single place.
Here’s a link to the story at Illinois News Network.
Illinois State Police gave Aurora shooter gun permit before revoking it
February 19, 2019 By Leave a Comment
Officials with the Illinois State Police said Monday the agency doesn’t have the Aurora mass shooter’s revoked Firearm Owners Identification card, and it doesn’t know how many firearm disposition records remain outstanding for last year.
Here’s a link to the story at Illinois News Network.
Kris Bryant says his ‘St. Louis is so boring’ comment was taken out of context
February 19, 2019 By Leave a Comment
MESA, Ariz. _ Kris Bryant said he was “caught off-guard” by the backlash regarding his comments about St. Louis “being so boring,” but added his comments in January were taken out of context.
Here’s a link to the story at the Southern Illinoisan.
Pastor Rick Warren: How do you handle the mistakes you’ve made?
February 19, 2019 By Leave a Comment
How Do You Handle the Mistakes You’ve Made?
By Rick Warren
“[God] canceled the debt, which listed all the rules we failed to follow. He took away that record with its rules and nailed it to the cross” (Colossians 2:14 NCV).
You and I blow it from time to time. The Christian life is a guilt-free life, but it’s not a mistake-free life.
The Bible never hides this truth. It is painfully honest about the failures of its heroes. God saved the world after a flood through a man named Noah—who then got drunk and naked, and blew it all. Moses led the children of Israel through the Red Sea and into freedom—yet his anger kept him out of the Promised Land. The Bible tells the story of King David, a man after God’s own heart—who then had an affair and arranged the murder of the woman’s husband so he wouldn’t be discovered.
God realizes our frailty. If God only used perfect people, the Bible would be a pretty short book. In fact, he has a solution for our failures: grace.
The Bible says, “[God] canceled the debt, which listed all the rules we failed to follow. He took away that record with its rules and nailed it to the cross” (Colossians 2:14 NCV).
If you look at all those failures in Scripture, you get a clear picture. You and I—just like those heroes of the Bible—are trophies of God’s grace. Your primary witness to the world around you isn’t all the great stuff you do for God. It’s how you handle mistakes you’ve made. Do you mope or do you revel in the grace of God?
People want to meet a God who turns failures into triumphs. People want to meet a God who can transform broken lives.
The amazing part of God’s grace isn’t just his power to forgive. It’s the strength he gives us when we start over.
It’s the strength God gives us when we become trophies of his grace.
PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick
Talk It Over
What’s the significance of the Christian life being guilt-free but not mistake-free?
How have you seen God use a failure of yours to show the world his strength and power?
Name some other stories of grace trophies within the Bible. What makes their stories so special to you?
Give hope, prayer, and encouragement below. Post a comment & talk about it.
Charges against former Sesser mayor include drug manufacturing, weapons charges
February 19, 2019 By Leave a Comment
SESSER — Ned Mitchell, the former longtime mayor of Sesser, is facing five felony counts after he was arrested on charges of unlawful possession of methamphetamine in mid-January.
Here’s a link to the story at the Southern Illinoisan.
