State lawmakers passed a bill late Thursday meant to make it easier for patients with mental health and addiction issues to get insurance coverage for treatment
Here’s a link to the story at the Chicago Tribune.
Legislature passes bill to improve insurance coverage for mental health, addiction
June 4, 2018 By Leave a Comment
Rauner to sign spending plan he acknowledges doesn’t address bill backlog, have reforms to grow the economy or reduce taxes
June 4, 2018 By Leave a Comment
Gov. Bruce Rauner said he will sign a budget that passed both chambers for the first time in his three-and-a-half years as the state’s chief executive despite concerns from a small group of lawmakers who said the budget isn’t balanced.
Here’s a link to the story at Illinois News Network.
FCN Daily Bible Verse
June 4, 2018 By Leave a Comment
| One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple. |
| Psalm 27:4 (Read all of Psalm 27:4) New International Version |
Elmer Ray Loucks – Mulkeytown, IL
June 4, 2018 By Leave a Comment
Elmer Ray Loucks, 57, of Mulkeytown, IL passed away on June 1, 2018 at Barnes Hospital, in St. Louis.
He was born on March 25, 1961 in Benton, IL to James and Mona (Ingersoll) Loucks. He is survived by his children Natalie (Trevor) Joiner of Valier, Nathan (Roxie) Loucks of Mulkeytown, Bobbie Benedict of Herrin, Danny (Miranda) Nutt of Sesser, and James (Joyce) Nutt of Willow, AR; 11 grandchildren; one great grandchild; one sister Rita Gonzalez of Kaufman, TX; two brothers Randy (Terri) Loucks of Sesser and Jerry Loucks of Sesser; he is also survived by several nieces, nephews and many other children that he cared for through the years.
He was a Member of the Teamsters Union. His wishes were to be cremated. A memorial service will be held at a later date. Brayfield-Gilbert Funeral Home in Sesser is handling arrangements.
Pastor Rick Warren: God’s Power to Keep Going
June 4, 2018 By Leave a Comment
God’s Power to Keep Going
by Rick Warren — June 4, 2018
“I’m a mess. I’m nothing and have nothing; make something of me. You [God] can do it; you’ve got what it takes” (Psalm 40:17 The Message).
I don’t want you to just get into heaven. I don’t want you to just get across the finish line. I want to help you finish the race of life well. I want you to enjoy life, the abundant life — to figure out what God made you for and then do it.
How can you be sure you’re going to finish the race of life? Because of God’s sustaining grace. God doesn’t want to just save you. He wants to sustain you through life. He wants you to make it.
What is sustaining grace?
Sustaining grace is the power to keep on going when you feel like giving up. It’s the power to do the right thing when you don’t feel like doing the right thing.
There are many pitfalls in the marathon race of life. But regardless of what you go through, no matter what you face this year, you can count on God’s sustaining grace.
“My purpose in writing is to encourage you and assure you that what you are experiencing is truly part of God’s grace for you. Stand firm in this grace” (1 Peter 5:12 NLT).
Ethel Anne Woods – Benton, IL
June 1, 2018 By Leave a Comment
Ethel Anne Woods, 77, of Benton, IL passed away in the family home, Thursday afternoon, May 31, 2018 with her daughters at her bedside.
She was born in St. Louis, MO on May 16, 1941 the daughter of Oliver T. & Helen Anna Casey.
Mrs. Woods was an excellent seamstress and a fantastic cook. Her family was very proud of her talents. She was involved in Girl Scouts, PTA, and Pyramid Players.
Ethel married Gordon A. Woods on June 2, 1958 in Corinth, MS, and he preceded her in death on Dec. 2, 2011. She will be buried on their 60th wedding anniversary.
Mrs. Woods is survived by her four beloved daughters, Crystal Slover, and husband Tracy, of Wayne City, IL, Shelia Jones, and husband Jerry, of Dallas, TX, Carol Fleming, of Benton, IL and Amber Doty, and husband David, of Mt. Vernon, IN; seven grandchildren, Brittnie (Ainslie) Wells and her children Keegan and Hudson, Matthew Woods, and his children Hendrix and Nyomi, Casey Ainslie, Rybka Sargent, Anthony Doty, Megan (Slover) Beaver, and husband Mason and Caleb Doty; sisters Helen Sue Evans, Lucille Bierbaum and Betty Bennett.
Mrs. Woods was preceded in death by her husband and parents.
She will be missed by her faithful companion Duchess Pearle who stayed by her side.
Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, June 2nd at the Masonic & Oddfellows Cemetery in Benton. There will be no visitation. Those attending the service are requested to meet at the cemetery.
For those who wish, memorials may be made to the American Heart Association, the American Diabetes Association or to the Franklin County Animal Shelter.
The Morton & Johnston Funeral Home in Benton is in charge of arrangements.
Leo Furlow-Christopher, IL
June 1, 2018 By Leave a Comment
Leo Furlow, 70, of Christopher passed away on Thursday May 31, 2018 at his home.
He was born on May 25, 1948 in East St. Louis, IL to Darrel and Mary Lou (Brasel) Furlow.
He is survived by his son Sean (Amy) Furlow of Mulkeytown; two grandchildren Braden and Addison Furlow; uncles Bill (Jean) Furlow of Christopher and Bob Furlow of Christopher; special friends Cindy Furlow, Mark Niblett, Kelley Kerkemeyer and numerous close friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, one son Darrel Michael Furlow, grandparents Joe and Effie Furlow, one uncle Harold Wayne Furlow, and one aunt Kathy Furlow.
He was an avid St Louis Cardinals fan and loved all sports events. His all-time favorite team was his son’s 1990 Christopher Bearcat Football Team.
He owned and operated Bowlin’s Foodland in Elkville from 1974 until 1991, he then worked for Proctor & Gamble as a merchandiser until he retired.
Funeral services will be on Monday June 4, 2018 at 1:00 Pm at the Gilbert Funeral Home in Christopher. Visitation will be on Monday from 10:00 AM until 1:00 PM. Burial will be at Harrison Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Harrison Cemetery and will be accepted at the funeral home.
For more information go to our website www.gilbertfuneralhomes.com
Carolyn Lynch – Ewing, IL
June 1, 2018 By Leave a Comment
Carolyn Lynch, 75, of Ewing passed away Friday morning, June 1, 2018 at The Franklin Hospital in Benton.
She was born in Chicago Heights, IL on March 4, 1943, the daughter of Gale & Hazel (Parrish) Sneed.
She married Ronald Lynch on Aughst 16, 1962, and he preceded her in death on February 11, 2018.
Mrs. Lynch was a member of the Whittington Baptist Church.
Mrs. Lynch is survived by two sons, Dan Lynch, and wife Susan, of Benton and Craig Lynch, and wife Shari, of Mulkeytown; grandchildren Brooke Lynch Cecil, Dustin Lynch, and wife Tori and Kassie Lynch; sisters Janet Wilson, and husband Bill, of Benton and Judy Smith, and husband Tom, of Benton; brothers-in-law, Ronald Newcomb, of Ewing, James Lynch, and wife Barbara, of Benton, Alfred Lynch, and wife Annette, of Benton, Michael Lynch, and wife Debbie, of Mulkeytown. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews, step-grandchildren and step great-great grandchildren.
Mrs. Lynch was preceded in death by her parents, husband, by a sister, Evelyn Newcomb and by an infant brother, Milford Lee, and by a brother-in-law, Bob Payne.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, June 5, 2018 at Morton Johnston Funeral Home in Benton with the Rev. Mark Minor officiating. Burial will be in the Masonic & Oddfellows Cemetery in Benton. Visitation will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday at the Morton & Johnston Funeral Home.
For more information or to leave online condolences please visit www.mortonjohnstonfuneralhome.com
What others are saying: Budget deal is timely, still awful for taxpayers
June 1, 2018 By Leave a Comment
Barring an unforeseen hurdle, the Illinois General Assembly this week will pass a balanced budget on time for the first time of the Gov. Bruce Rauner era.
Here’s a link to the editorial at Illinois News Network.
Daily Hope
June 1, 2018 By Leave a Comment
You Have Direct Access to God
“You come to him as living stones, a spiritual house that is being built into a holy priesthood” (1 Peter 2:5 GW).
In the Old Testament, priests did two things:
- They had the right, privilege, and responsibility to go directly to God. They could pray and talk to God, worship, and fellowship with God. Everybody else had to go through a priest.
- The priest had the privilege and responsibility of representing God to the people and ministering to the needs of other people (serving).
Those are the very two things that are true of you when you become a believer.
The Bible says that when Jesus died on the cross, there was a veil in the temple that separated the Holy of Holies, where God’s Spirit was, from where man was. Only priests could go behind that veil once a year. When Jesus died on the cross, God ripped that veil — about 70 feet — from top to bottom, symbolizing that there no longer was a barrier.
You now have direct access to God. You don’t have to pray through anybody else. You don’t have to confess through anybody else. You don’t have to fellowship with God through anybody else. Read your Bible, talk with the Lord, and fellowship directly with him.
You have also been gifted for ministry to serve other people. Every Christian is a minister — not a pastor, but a minister. Anytime you use your talents and gifts to help others, you are ministering.
“He saved us and chose us for his holy work not because we deserved it but because that was his plan long before the world began” (2 Timothy 1:9 TLB). Why did God save you? So you could serve him. A non-serving Christian is a contradiction.
How do you know what your ministry is? Look at your talents, gifts, and abilities. When you use those talents and gifts to help other people, that’s called ministry — nothing fancy or scary about it. It’s just helping others. Can you be a priest in a sales office? You bet you can. Can you be a priest as an accountant? Of course. Driving a truck? Sure. Anytime you’re helping other people in God’s name, you’re ministering.
