Experts worry about getting everyone counted: ‘Illinois needs a good census count more than almost any other state’

The 2020 U.S. census is a little more than a year away but that hasn’t stopped Jay Young from worrying about what it will mean for Illinois.

Here’s a link to the story at the Chicago Tribune.

Franklin County men arrested on meth charges

Five men from Franklin County have been arrested as part of an investigation by the Southern Illinois Drug Task Force.

Here’s a link to the story at the Southern Illinoisan.

Should Illinois allow 12-year-olds to be home alone? Lawmaker wants ‘restrictive’ legal age of 14 lowered

SPRINGFIELD — At what age should it be legal for a child to be at home alone, or to be caring for younger siblings?

Here’s a link to the story at the Southern Illinoisan.

Mullins leads list of candidates to take Saluki Basketball into 2020

CARBONDALE — SIU athletic director Jerry Kill might not have to go too far to find the next head coach of the Salukis’ marquee program.

Here’s a link to the story at the Southern Illinoisan.

A crowded field: Meet 2 candidates running for Benton mayor, 9 running for 4 council seats

BENTON — Voters in Benton will have plenty of candidates to choose from this April 2, as they select four city councilmen and a mayor.

Here’s a link to the story in the Southern Illinoisan.

Bradley awarded lowest seed in MVC history, Loyola given 7th seed in NIT

Bradley’s men’s basketball team received the worst NCAA Tournament seed in the history of the Missouri Valley Conference Sunday, drawing a 15 in the East Region.

Here’s a link to the story at the Southern Illinoisan.

Duke picked as overall top seed in March Madness

The return of Zion Williamson has worked wonders for the Duke Blue Devils.

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

What the college admissions scandal reveals about most families

If watching the college admissions scandal unfold makes you feel uneasy about young people’s adulting journeys, you’re not alone. Research studies and kitchen table conversations nationwide highlight that teenagers in the U.S. – both those applying to top-tier colleges as well as those making other educational and vocational decisions – face choices and challenges those of us over 30 didn’t encounter until our mid-20s.
Here’s a link to the editorial at Fox News.

Your Daily Prayer: A Prayer for Revival

A Prayer for Revival – Your Daily Prayer

A Prayer for Revival
Debbie Przybylski
Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. – Matthew 24:44
We live in serious times. We need to cry out fervently to God, asking Him to revive His Church worldwide. We need to be in intensive prayer, asking God to move in our cities and nations. Studying the characteristics of revival will help us prepare both personally and corporately for a great move of God in His Church. Understanding the deep need to prepare our own hearts for revival and learning how to cooperate with God as He pours into the earth will keep us from hindering the move of God as it comes. The key phrase of the Welsh revival in 1904 was, “Bend the Church and save the world.”
· Spiritual preparation
· Conviction of sin
· God-consciousness
“There was nothing humanly speaking, to account for what happened. Quite suddenly, upon one and another came an overwhelming sense of the reality and awfulness of His Presence and of eternal things. Life, death and eternity seemed suddenly laid bare.” – Winkie Pratney

May God prepare each one of us personally to pay the price for revival—the price of fervent prayer and allowing Him to work deeply in our lives. Let us ask Him to make us conscious of His Presence and learn to abide in Him moment by moment. Pray that He will convict us of even the smallest sin in our life. Press on in prayer and fasting for revival in the nations. A worldwide end-times revival is going to be a glorious thing, but it will be costly.
We lived on a book exhibition ship for years. In some countries, thousands of visitors came on board daily. Long hours of hard work consumed our full attention. Are we ready for the demands of revival? God must prepare us, His Church, personally and corporately for the self-sacrifice that revival entails. May we not draw back but prepare to lay hold of this glorious end-time outpouring of God with all our hearts as the radiant Bride of Christ who is willing to sacrifice all so that people might be saved.
Pray with me for revival:
Lord, thank You for the work You have been doing and the work You continue to do in this world. Make us conscious of Your presence, help us learn to abide in You moment by moment. Convict us of even the smallest sins, and help us turn toward you in joyful obedience. Lord, revive the nations to Your gospel truth. Help us not draw back but rather fight the good fight of faith. In Jesus’ Name, Amen!

Pastor Rick Warren: Are Your Friends Led by the World or the Word?

Are Your Friends Led by the World or the Word?
by Rick Warren

“Wise friends make you wise, but you hurt yourself by going around with fools” (Proverbs 13:20 CEV).

One of the things that causes people to miss God’s plan is peer pressure. Most of us know what that was like as a kid or teenager, but that pressure actually continues into adulthood. There’s plenty of bad advice floating around out there, and too often we feel pressured to follow it.

Proverbs 13:20 says, “Wise friends make you wise, but you hurt yourself by going around with fools” (CEV). You can’t soar with the eagles if you’re running with the turkeys, so choose your friends wisely. If you keep company with wise friends, you’re going to become wise.
We all worry about air pollution and water pollution. Have you ever worried about mind pollution? If you want to follow God’s direction, make sure your advice is from the right source.
The Bible says in 1 John 3:7, “Do not let anyone lead you the wrong way! Christ is righteous. So to be like Christ a person must do what is right” (NCV).
The difference in a thermometer and a thermostat is that a thermometer reflects the temperature of the environment and a thermostat sets the temperature of the environment. Every day, you’re faced with a decision: Are you going to be a thermostat or a thermometer?
PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick
Talk It Over

Who are the people who have the most influence on you?
Do you think God wants you to be friends with unbelievers? Why or why not?
How can a person who is quieter or less outspoken than others help set the temperature of his or her environment?

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

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