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FCN Daily Bible Verse
September 11, 2018 By Leave a Comment
Pastor Rick Warren: Be Generous Because God Is Generous
September 11, 2018 By Leave a Comment
By Rick Warren
”As a result of your ministry, they will give glory to God. For your generosity to them and to all believers will prove that you are obedient to the Good News of Christ” (2 Corinthians 9:13 NLT).
It makes you happy. Acts 20:35 says, “Remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’” (NLT). Notice Jesus didn’t say it is not a blessed thing to receive. It does make you happy to receive. But the world will tell you that you will be happiest when you receive. Jesus turned that idea around and said that you will be happier when you give than when you receive.
It just makes sense. The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 9:6, “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously” (NIV). Every one of us wants others to be generous with us. Do you think that by sowing miserly selfishness you’re going to reap generosity from God and others? God says that’s not the way life works. There is a law of sowing and reaping. So if you want to reap generosity, you have to sow generosity.
It shows the world what God is like. The Bible says, “As a result of your ministry, they will give glory to God. For your generosity to them and to all believers will prove that you are obedient to the Good News of Christ” (2 Corinthians 9:13 NLT).
When it comes to generosity, what encourages me is to remember the incredible generosity of God. Look at the world we get to live in. Look at the life he gave us. Look at the way he meets our needs. God is the perfect model of generosity. And when we are generous with others because of God’s generosity toward us, it points others to God.
Are you ready to invite Jesus into your heart?
Are you ready to receive God’s gift of grace to you? It’s a simple prayer that will tell God you accept the gift of Jesus.
Prayer:
“Dear God, I’m scared, but I want to get to know you. I don’t understand it all, but I thank you that you love me. I thank you that you were with me, even when I didn’t recognize it. I thank you that you are for me — that you didn’t send Jesus to condemn me but to save me.
“I admit that I never even realized I needed a Savior, but today I want to receive the gift of your Son. I ask you to save me from my past, my regrets, my mistakes, my sins, my habits, my hurts, and my hang-ups. I need you to take away the stress and fill me with your love. I need to be at peace with you, and I need you to put your peace in my heart.
“I ask you to save me for your purpose. I want to know why you put me on this planet. And I want to fulfill what you made me to do. I want to learn to love you and trust you and have a relationship with you. I prayer this in the name of Jesus, amen.”
If you prayed that prayer, please write and tell me at Rick@PastorRick.com. I’d love to send you some materials as you begin your journey with Jesus.
FCC Awards $100M For Rural Broadband In Illinois
September 11, 2018 By Leave a Comment
Rural parts of Illinois could finally get high-speed internet thanks to new federal grants.
Here’s a link to the story at Illinois News Network.
Three Democrats running for state legislative seats call for term limits on Madigan
September 11, 2018 By Leave a Comment
It’s common to hear Republican legislative candidates in Illinois criticize House Speaker Michael Madigan, but for Democrats it is something else entirely
Here’s a link to the story at Illinois News Network.
Nick Hill press conference — Week 3
September 11, 2018 By Leave a Comment
Football 09/10/2018 | 3:17:00 By Tom Weber, SIUSalukis.com
Southern Illinois head coach Nick Hill’s weekly press conference
Story Links
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Here are excerpts from Saluki football head coach Nick Hill‘s weekly press conference held Monday afternoon at Saluki Stadium. Southern Illinois hosts SEMO on Saturday at 6 p.m. Tickets are available on-line or by calling 877-SALUKIS.
Thoughts on the home opener versus SEMO.
We’re excited to get in front of our home fans. We need it to be a full house and to be loud, and I think our fans have a lot of things to be excited about. It’s a big game for both programs. I think there’s a lot to build off from Ole Miss. Yesterday, we had a great day of corrections, of getting better from watching the film, getting out on the field for a short time and letting our guys get their bodies back, some good teaching moments on both sides of the ball. Our approach the entire season is daily improvement.
The schools are 45 minutes apart, so any time you have that, it’s a natural rivalry. It’s a great game that we should play every single year. It’s good for both fan bases and the school pride of playing each other. We don’t treat them any different — same as last week — you asked if we treat an SEC game different. If you get caught up thinking of different things as a player or a coach throughout the week, then you’re not thinking of the right things. Nothing really changes in our preparation.
Thoughts on second half of Ole Miss game.
I thought on offense we could have kept scoring, there were some opportunities there. I thought our guys went on some consistent drives there in the third quarter and penalties got in the way a couple times and then lack of execution. I could have done a better job calling some better plays. The score wasn’t really what it could’ve been. They’re a good team. They had six catches that were contested balls that we guarded them and challenged them, and that’s what I asked our guys to do — make them earn it.
On how the defense utilizes the safeties.
Our safeties are down in the run fits all game long, a lot of times they are at linebacker depth, especially the strong safety. We primarily start out of a two-high shell and they’re in the run fits a lot of times. Depending on what the offense is doing, they end up becoming linebackers and they’re usually the free hitter on players.
On 5-foot-8, 168-pound RB D.J. Davis, who has had back-to-back 100-yard games.
He’s proven that he’s an elite-level back. Sometimes, just because of his size, he gets put into a scat back (category). You saw him breaking tackles in between the tackles where SEC linebackers had him squared up and he gets yards after contact. He’s a heckuva football player. Coach (Pat) Poore came into my office yesterday and said, ‘that kid is one of the best football players I’ve been around.’ Some of the pass-pro pickups that he had Saturday, he’s just an unselfish and outstanding football player. He models the way effort-wise and is just a competitor.
On SEMO quarterback and Northern Illinois transfer Daniel Santacaterian.
He’s a good player. There’s no secret I have a ton of respect for Coach “Tuke” (Tom Matukewicz), he’s a good friend of mine, and I know they were excited to get him in the offseason. He’s talked about what a good leader he is and he’s kind of taken over the team. You can tell he’s a tough kid. He took a pretty good shot in the first game and had to be taken off on a stretcher, and then he comes back and has the game he had last week against Dayton, just says a lot about his character and his toughness.
On the difference between playing an SEC team versus an FCS opponent.
I think it’s overblown. SEMO will create problems that Ole Miss didn’t. Up front, they have three big guys and do a good job of making you earn it when you’re running the football. What I continue to say every year is that the depth shows sometimes in those (FBS) games, when they’re rolling out more players, but the speed of the game from this level to the next level doesn’t really change much. Each team is going to create different problems. Things that Ole Miss was giving us, SEMO won’t give us.
On the play of the offensive line at Ole Miss.
Our offensive line did a really good job against some really good players. Our tight ends are a part of that. (Jacob) Varble and Jaylon Graham have done an outstanding job bringing some physicality. Varble has taken the next step in his game each and every year. There were some plays on Saturday that he looks like an SEC tight end, physically getting after some people, moving them, taking them down the line of scrimmage, running power. He’s just continued to get better and better, and that helps us in our run game, too. Bryce Wagner had to play 30 plays in an SEC environment, and you didn’t really hear, ‘hey, we have a tackle (out), we have to adjust the gameplan’ when Ben Bailey had to come out with a stinger. I think they’re finding their groove and getting some confidence. Big Z (ZeVeyon Furcron), there were some times he wore some people out on Saturday, and that was exciting to see. It was only his second game playing offensive line and he’ll continue to grow and get better with the consistency.
On the five local players from the Black Diamond Conference.
I’m proud of that, that they’re here and on the team. They all bring something different and are a big part of our team. We love recruiting guys locally. All of those guys were here in our camps and got to know them. We’ll keep recruiting locally and we’re proud to have all five of those guys.
On Chester native and starting defensive end Jordan Berner.
He’s had a tremendous progression. Off the field, he’s done an exceptional job. He got a 4.0 (GPA) in the spring, his second semester since he’s been here with a 4.0. Knowing that he’s just a sophomore on the field can get you excited. He’s such a big, physical kid and his best days are still ahead of him. Everybody in southern Illinois should be proud of Jordan Berner.
Adams’ blast lifts Cards over Pirates 8-7
September 11, 2018 By Leave a Comment
ST. LOUIS — Matt Adams connected on a three-run homer with no outs in the bottom of the eighth inning, lifting the Cardinals to a dramatic 8-7 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates before 33,566 Monday night at Busch Stadium.
Here’s a link to the story a the Southern Illinoisan.
Brewers trim Cubs’ NL Central lead to 1 with 3-2 win
September 11, 2018 By Leave a Comment
CHICAGO — Lorenzo Cain had four hits, Mike Moustakas scored on Carl Edwards Jr.’s wild pitch in the sixth inning and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Chicago Cubs 3-2 on Monday night to pull within one game of the NL Central leaders.
Here’s a link to the story at the Southern Illinoisan.
In the wake of 9-11 terror attack, a flag story for the ages
September 11, 2018 By Leave a Comment
(Editor’s Note: This story was originally written on September 13, 2001 — two days after the terrorist attacks on New York City and Washington, D.C. This story was originally published in the Southern Illinoisan and then was picked up by the state and national media. It’s still an amazing story — 17 years later.)
By Jim Muir
BENTON — There are things that happen in life, even though hard to explain, that can be passed off as coincidence. And then there are other things, regardless of how much a person tries to reason, that simply have no explanation. Such was the case recently in Benton, Illinois when a simple phone call produced a chain of events that could only be described as eerie.
The odyssey began Thursday when Benton High School athletic director Don Smith contacted Benton businessman David Severin looking for 40 small flags to place at Tabor Field for Friday night’s football game. Smith wanted to decorate the field as a patriotic gesture following the terrorist attacks on September 11.
Severin explained to Smith that he also had been trying to locate flags for his store, All Stars n’ Stitches, that’s located on the Benton square. Severin told Smith, in the aftermath of what had taken place in New York City and Washington D.C., everybody was sold out of flags.
Approximately 30 minutes after the phone call Severin received another call, this time from his mother.
“The first thing she asked me was if I knew anybody that might be looking for some flags,” Severin said. “I asked her how many flags she had and she said 40.”
Severin explained that his mother had been going through the personal belongings of his father, the Rev. George Severin, who passed away two months ago, and came upon the flags that had never been unwrapped.
Severin immediately traveled to his mother’s home and what he saw, in his words, gave him “goose bumps.”
“My dad loved to decorate with flags so it wasn’t uncommon that he’d ordered them,” Severin said. “But when I looked at the sales ticket I noticed that he had ordered the flags more than 30 years ago.”
The flags were shipped, Severin said, from New York City on Sept. 11, 1970 – exactly 31 years to the day that New York City was attacked by terrorists.
“Totally unbelievable,” Severin said. “When I saw the date and where the flags were shipped from … I couldn’t believe it – what’s the chances?”
And if that’s not enough for any skeptics in the audience who want to say ‘merely a coincidence’ there’s one final piece to this puzzle.
According to the sales ticket the flags were shipped to the house where the Rev. George Severin lived in 1970 – the address is 337 South Main Street in Benton — which happens to be the same house where Don Smith, the person that made the original phone call about the flags, currently lives.
September is Preparedness Month in Illinois
September 10, 2018 By Leave a Comment
Cites importance of simple planning, lifesaving skills to ready for unexpected
SPRINGFIELD — Gov. Bruce Rauner today proclaimed September Preparedness Month in Illinois during closing ceremonies of the 2018 Illinois Emergency Management Agency Training Summit in Springfield, where the governor greeted a crowd of more than 600 first responders and emergency workers.
Rauner underscored the importance of family and community preparedness in his address, held in conjunction with what is also National Preparedness Month.
“Many people have the mindset that ‘it can’t happen here,’ but history has shown that a disaster can strike anywhere and at any time,” Rauner said. “I want to encourage all Illinoisans to spend a few moments during this month to prepare for potential disasters, both natural and man-made.”
The theme for this year’s National Preparedness Month campaign is Disasters Happen. Prepare Now. Learn How. The state is partnering with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in the monthlong campaign that encourages Americans to take simple steps to prepare for emergencies in their homes, businesses and communities. Having a plan that includes where to go and how to communicate during disasters, as well as an emergency supply kit, could save the lives of your family, friends, neighbors and employees.
“This is a great time to learn lifesaving skills such as CPR and first aid, check your insurance policies and coverage for hazards such as floods, earthquakes and tornadoes,” said Acting IEMA Director William Robertson. “Make sure to consider the costs associated with disasters and develop a plan to save for an emergency. Also, know how to perform practical safety steps like shutting off the water and gas in your home. Remember, there is no one more capable of planning for your situation than you.”
In this day and age of families constantly on the go, it is critical for people to have multiple ways to receive notifications and updated information about severe weather warnings. FEMA offers a free mobile app that provides fast and reliable weather alerts from the National Weather Service. The app can be tailored to offer alerts for up to five different locations nationwide. The mobile app also can help locate open shelters and disaster resource centers near you in an emergency.
IEMA offers disaster preparedness information on the Ready Illinois website (www.Ready.Illinois.gov), a one-stop resource for detailed information about what to do before, during and after disasters. During large-scale disasters, IEMA uses the Ready Illinois website, Facebook and Twitter pages to provide critical information about the incident, including shelter locations, road closures, safety information, photos and more.
For more information about emergency and disaster preparedness, visit ready.illinois.gov.
Gov. Rauner launches college and career planning tool
September 10, 2018 By Leave a Comment
ILCollege2Career.com allows parents, students to compare employment, earnings post-graduation from Illinois colleges and universities
SPRINGFIELD – For the first time, Illinois high school students will have access to data which shows how much they might earn if they graduate from colleges and universities located in the state.
ILCollege2Career.com, unveiled at Gov. Bruce Rauner’s quarterly Children’s Cabinet meeting today, links employment and higher education data so users can compare the relative earnings value of college degrees. The data is broken down by schools and area of study, so that students can compare the earnings potential of business degrees, for example, from different public and private institutions in the state.
The idea is to help students and parents make college decisions based on an evaluation of real-time successes of a school’s graduates, in addition to other factors such as cost, average debt levels, and likelihood to graduate on-time. The tool will also show the benefits of investing in higher education, as it demonstrates how connected our thriving higher education system is to the workforce development of our state.
“ILCollege2Career.com is groundbreaking for our state,” Rauner said while introducing the tool to Cabinet members at the meeting at Springfield High School. “Education has been my top investment priority for many years. In order to grow our economy, we need to give our young people the best education system possible, so they will choose to live, learn and work here in Illinois. This multi-agency effort is making it easier for our students to be informed about their higher education choices and illustrates the competitiveness of our schools right here in the state.”
ILCollege2Career.com is the product of collaboration between the Governor’s Office, Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE), the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB), the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC), and the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES).
“IDES works with employers on a daily basis to help deliver them a quality workforce,” said IDES Director Jeff Mays. “The College2Career tool can help deliver that workforce by giving students and their families a clear picture of what Illinois higher education has to offer. If we keep more of our students in state, we have a better chance to keep them here when they graduate into our workforce.”
In addition to helping students and parents make informed decisions, the tool allows prospective employers to compare not just schools, but programs within schools to project the quality of employee they are getting. As the schools turn out a strong workforce, the business community will see their value.
“The fact that the tool is Illinois-centric and highlights many of the positive things colleges are doing in preparing the future of the Illinois workforce is fantastic,” said Tom Cross, chairman, Illinois Board of Higher Education. “The companion tool that was developed specifically for the colleges and universities should also be lauded, as schools will be able to use it to drive decision-making and to better align their program offerings with workforce demand.”
Another main goal of the tool is for higher education institutions to have feedback loops on the outcomes of their students, to foster insights and drive improvements in course offerings and support services. The mobile-friendly website has two aspects: a public-facing student/parent portal and an internal institutional researcher portal for each two- and four-year Illinois college and university.
This announcement follows a number of recent education achievements in the state including:
- $25 million allocated for higher education in FY19 and merit-based scholarship program AIM HIGH to encourage our best and brightest high school grads to stay in Illinois for college;
- Newly signed Senate Bill 2559 requiring ISAC to develop a three-year pilot program to better educate students on loan amounts, repayment and interest;
- House Bill 4781 creating a task force to study how student college or career interest data can be collected and shared between high schools and colleges so higher education institutions will be able to enhance their programs and services to support the specific needs of their incoming student body;
- HB5020 that revises the Monetary Award Program (MAP) to prioritize access for existing grant recipients, and;
- SB2354 increasing degree-advising services and making it easier to transfer credits between Illinois schools.
“Consistent with our mission to help make college more accessible and affordable for Illinois students, ISAC is pleased to have helped build a tool that can help students make more informed decisions about college and career,” said Eric Zarnikow, executive director of the Illinois Student Assistance Commission. “We look forward to seeing it grow and become even more robust and useful.”
This project, several years in the making, was greatly helped by a tremendous partnership with schools throughout the state. In fact, nearly 100 percent of Illinois schools participated in the project — that’s all 48 community colleges and 60+ four-year universities in the state. This project was not legislatively mandated or required. Education officials recognized the benefit of ILCollege2Career for both students and schools.
“We at IBHE are excited about the launch of this powerful tool that quickly and easily touts Illinois’ college and university programs, graduation rates, costs, potential for financial aid and more,” said Dr. Al Bowman, executive director of the Illinois Board of Higher Education. “College2Career is going to make the college search so much easier for Illinois students and their families.”
“As a state, we are moving away from just generating data for compliance purposes to using data to transform decision-making at the local, regional and state level,” said Karen Hunter Anderson, executive director of Illinois Community College Board. “The Illinois College2Career tool gives high school students and parents, as well as nontraditional students, more transparent and easily accessible information about their post-secondary choices and careers.”
Technical assistance for this project came from the Harvard Kennedy School Government Performance Lab (GPL).
“Our goal is to do what we can to keep our best and brightest talent home,” Rauner said. “Illinois is a large and diverse state. So if a student lives in one college town and wants to go elsewhere, we can show them they have a broad choice of college towns to choose from in Illinois. Those kids who want to go to the ‘big city’ can see that one of the greatest cities in the world is a short car or train ride from home and has a broad offering of quality colleges and universities to choose from. Once those students have graduated, they may be more open to looking to stay ‘home,’ whether that is in Chicago or another part of our wonderful state.”
