Pastor Rick Warren: Make Time to Be Quiet

April 12, 2018 By Leave a Comment

Make Time to Be Quiet

By Rick Warren — April 12, 2018

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“Find a quiet, secluded place so you won’t be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace” (Matthew 6:6 The Message).

God isn’t going to speak to you if your life is filled with a bunch of noise. You’ve got to get alone, and you’ve got to get quiet. We call this a quiet time.

Jesus says it like this in Matthew 6:6: “Find a quiet, secluded place so you won’t be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace” (The Message).

Here’s the key to hearing God speak and getting his vision for your life: God wants to meet with you.

You need to realize you’re not waiting on God; he’s waiting on you. God made you to have a relationship with him. He wants you to spend time with him on a daily basis. He wants you to schedule a date with him every day. God is waiting.

Getting alone in a quiet place is pretty difficult today. I don’t know if you realize how much noise there is in your life. You’ve always got the radio on in the car or you’ve got earbuds in or Bluetooth turned on. Every waiting room, grocery store, and elevator has music. There’s very little time or space in your life that’s absolutely quiet.

If you’ve got kids at home, it’s even more difficult! But let me give you some hope. Susanna Wesley, one of the great women of history, had 18 children. One of her sons, John, founded the Methodist church and helped spread Christianity across America, and another, Charles, wrote more than 6,000 hymns.

How do you find time alone when you have 18 children? In her biography, it says that Susanna Wesley would sit in her favorite rocker every afternoon, and she would throw her apron over her head for an hour. Her kids knew that Mom with apron over her head meant, “No child bothers Mom or you face the consequences!”

Wesley said it was the prayers of his mom that shaped his life. You can find time alone if you are that desperate. Make time to be quiet and meet with the Lord.

Filed Under: Columns

FCN Daily Bible Verse

April 11, 2018 By Leave a Comment
Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.
1 Peter 4:12-13 (Read all of 1 Peter 4:12-13)
New International Version
Filed Under: Columns

Pastor Rick Warren: You Have to Want to Hear from God

April 11, 2018 By Leave a Comment

You Have to Want to Hear from God

By Rick Warren — April 11, 2018

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“You will search again for the Lord your God. And if you search for him with all your heart and soul, you will find him” (Deuteronomy 4:29 NLT).

You’re not going to hear God unless you really, really want it. I’m not saying it’s an option. I’m not saying it would be nice. It is a necessity!

God doesn’t tell his dream for your life if you want to debate it. God doesn’t tell his vision for your life if you want to discuss it. God doesn’t tell you what he put you on Earth to do just so you can say, “Let me think about it.”

No! It’s got to be a necessity. You have to say, “I’ve got to know why I’m here. I’ve got to know what you want me to do with my life. I’ve got to hear your voice. I’ve got to have your vision.”

King David wrote in the book of Psalms, “My God, I want to do what you want” (Psalm 40:8 NCV) and “What I want most of all and at all times is to honor your laws” (Psalm 119:20 CEV).

David was passionate in his declaration that what he wanted most of all was to honor God. Being obedient and following God were not options for him. It was the only thing David wanted to do. He used phrases for seeking God like, “I long for it,” “I crave it,” “I hunger for it,” and “I’m like a deer panting for water.”

When you get that desperate, you’re going to hear from God.

A lot of people talk to God but never hear from God. For them, prayer is a monologue. But you can’t have a relationship through a monologue. What if I had married my wife and talked to her, but she never talked to me? That’s not a relationship. You’ve got to have a conversation. Just as important as talking to God in prayer is listening to God and letting him talk to you. How does that happen? First, you’ve got to want it more than anything else.

Deuteronomy 4:29 says, “You will search again for the Lord your God. And if you search for him with all your heart and soul, you will find him” (NLT). It’s guaranteed!

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Talk It Over

  • What thing do you want most in life? How does your life reflect that longing?
  • How can you cultivate passion — or greater passion — for God in your life?
  • With what attitude do you usually approach God when you’re asking for direction? Are you prepared to respond in obedience?
Filed Under: Columns

What other are saying: ‘The price Assad should pay for gassing his people’

April 10, 2018 By Leave a Comment

The hellish scenes have played out before in Syria: women and children dead or suffering in agony, the targeted victims of chemical weapons attacks.

Here’s the editorial in the Chicago Tribune.

Filed Under: Columns

FCN – Daily Bible Verse

April 10, 2018 By Leave a Comment
When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Matthew 16:13-16 (Read all of Matthew 16:13-16)
New International Version
Filed Under: Columns

Proposal: Raise state’s gas tax to highest-in-nation 85 cents a gallon

April 10, 2018 By Leave a Comment

The Illinois Economic Policy Institute has proposed more than doubling the state’s motor fuel tax – from 34 cents to 85 cents – but a free market think tank says lawmakers should looking at finding ways to cut costs before hiking the gas tax.

Here’s a link to the story at Illinois News Network.

Filed Under: Columns

Pastor Rick Warren: Obedience leads to peace

April 10, 2018 By Leave a Comment

Obedience Leads to Peace

By Rick Warren — April 10, 2018

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“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7 NLT).

If you feel overwhelmed or confused about a decision that you’re trying to make, you’re probably caught up in yourself and not listening for God’s voice. The Bible says, “God is not a God of disorder but of peace” (1 Corinthians 14:33 NIV). He is not the author of confusion. So if you’re feeling confused, guess what? It’s not God’s voice speaking in your life.

If you’re a parent, do you want your kids to feel pressured or confused when you ask them to do something? No. You want them to understand what to do and then respond in obedience. God the Father wants the same thing for and from us.

The only time pressure could be legitimate is if God’s told you to do something, and you keep saying “no.” Then the pressure does build. But there’s always peace when you say “yes” to what God’s asking you to do.

Satan wants to drive us compulsively, but God wants to draw us compassionately. Satan wants to take advantage of our compulsions and use them to drive our lives. But God is our Good Shepherd. He wants to draw us in toward himself and peace.

Peter Lord, a pastor I deeply respect, used to say, “Ninety percent of what God wants to say to you is encouragement.” If negative messages are all you ever hear from God, something’s wrong. The wires have been crossed.

If you feel like God’s told you to do something but you’re increasingly anxious because of it, then the wires are crossed. Something’s not right.

The Bible tells us, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7 NLT).

Filed Under: Columns

Will Rauner Pull the ILGOP further left? State Central Committee Elections Next Test

April 9, 2018 By Leave a Comment

CHICAGO – Illinois Republican voters were split 51 to 49 percent between a liberal Republican incumbent governor and a conservative state representative in the March 20th primary. The results revealed a dramatic contrast between the party leaders and the GOP base.

In the wake of a party-dividing primary that is still a sore spot among those voters committed to the conservative party platform, another test of the party’s future will be April 18th. That’s when county precinct committeemen gather to pick who will represent them on the State Central Committee. Party activists are expressing concern.

Download-2DEMETRA DEMONTE

Illinois’ Republican National Committeewoman and co-chair of the Trump Illinois campaign, told Illinois Review Saturday that the vote will be very important. She did not personally endorse in the 2018 IL GOP gubernatorial primary.

“These last few months have been a time of bitter primary battles. The primary is over and we have selected our candidates. This should be a time for reconciliation – bringing together all sides so we can be victorious in November,” Demonte said.

“Sadly, it is my understanding there is an effort to thwart conservatives who are running for re-election on the State Central Committee. This effort  is counterproductive and will most assuredly backfire in November. If we are to be victorious in November we will need our army of conservative activists…and most of all our conservative voters. How else can we defeat the juggernaut of the Democrat machine?”

But the wounds are deep – and for many, irreparable. Governor Rauner won by running ad after ad focused on what amounted to lies about his challenger, Jeanne Ives. Rauner misled uninformed voters to believe Ives was a Madigan co-hort, when Ives has been one of the House’s most vocal opponents to the Speaker. That type of win should never be rewarded, Republicans are saying. Many are discouraged, insulted and wounded. They’re planning to stay at home in November – something that could be devastating for down-ticket Republicans.

Download-3DENISE CATTONI

Illinois Tea Party leader Denise Cattoni told Illinois Review that she’s concerned about the state and its future if conservatives disengage from voting in the fall. But, as a vocal supporter of Jeanne Ives in the gubernatorial primary, she understands the discouragement many conservatives are expressing.

She publicly shared her concerns on her Facebook page Friday in a post addressing precinct committeemen.

“The ILGOP is trying to purge all conservatives from the State Central Committee. When you attend the April 18th meeting, all of the conservative SCC Chairmen will have a RHINO opponent (after the primary). Stand for your principles! Stand for the ILGOP Platform, Cattoni wrote. “Gov. Rauner has now made it perfectly clear that Conservatives are NOT invited into the IL Republican party, guaranteeing that he will lose to Pritzker.”

Cattoni said that of the 90 Tea Party groups around the state going back to 2008, over half of the leadership has moved out of state, having read the political handwriting on the wall. As a movement leader focused on fiscal issues, she supported Bruce Rauner in his 2014 bid.

Since then, she’s gotten more involved in Republican Party circles, which has led her to be especially concerned about the two congressional districts where conservative state central committeemen are currently serving, but who backed Jeanne Ives in this year’s gubernatorial primary. 

State Central Committeeman John McGlasson in the 16th CD and Bob Winchester in the 15th CD are both being challenged by elected state lawmakers – likely put up by Rauner’s people, she says. 

“Why would State Rep Tom Demmer and Senator Chapin Rose be given MORE power by the ILGOP??” Cattoni wrote. “Rauner’s PAYBACK to conservatives. You are not welcome in the party.” 

12803296_10206023733013091_3068761182420275534_nJOHN MCGLASSON

Illinois Review asked McGlasson his thoughts about the challenge he’s facing. He not only backed Jeanne Ives in the gubernatorial primary, he backed challenger James Marter over incumbent Congressman Adam Kinzinger in the 16th CD.

The Rauner camp is reaching out to precinct committeemen, urging them to support State Rep. Tom Demmer over McGlasson. State Representative David Weller is circulating a letter among other members, opposing McGlasson. Four that McGlasson knows of did not sign Welter’s letter.

McGlasson says he’s committed to the Illinois Republican Party platform as his principle base. He recalls vividly the battle waged at the 2016 IL GOP State Convention over the platform changes Rauner people – including former Party Chairman Pat Brady and SCC member Ryan Higgins – tried to make on family issues.

“I worked very hard, along with many others, to bring the platform to the floor at the last convention,” McGlasson told Illinois Review. “And I will continue to fight for conservative values in future platforms. One of the most important duties of state central committee members is the appointment of committee members for the convention. I am very proud of those I appointed last time and the battles they waged.”

14725560_10210690032789644_379296642405976429_nSTAN BOND

Stan Bond, SCC member from the 14th CD, although conservative as well, is running unopposed in the SCC race.

“You may recall I was one of the committed group who worked through the night to ensure the party platform wasn’t revised per Pat Brady and the chosen platform committee,” Bond told IR. “It was an historic effort that dramatized for all the importance our base places on family values.

“I would like to strengthen and clarify our platform on some issues but remain proud of it as written. I strongly believe party support should be focused on candidates who support the platform. That’s why we have a platform,” he said.

The platform is key to the conservative majority in the Illinois Republican Party. The vote at that convention on maintaining traditional family values in the party platform was supported in a standing seven-to-one vote – a fact Rauner and his staff either purposely overlook or can’t believe is that important to Republican voters.

Demonte, who represents the state to the RNC, stands with the party’s conservatives. While the nation pulls to the right with President Donald Trump at the helm, the Illinois Republican Party is being dragged to the left at the insistence of Governor Rauner and his well-paid campaign staff.

“As your Illinois’ Republican National Committeewoman, and as a loyal Republican, I plan to vote for our entire Republican slate in November,” Demonte said.

“But I want to assure the party faithful that I remain committed to the conservative principles lined out in the Illinois Republican Party platform, as well as continue to actively engage and push policy at the national level on the Republican National Committee that represents the values of our grassroots.”

Filed Under: Columns

Pastor Rick Warren: Before God speaks, decide to say ‘Yes’

April 9, 2018 By Leave a Comment
Before God Speaks, Decide to Say “Yes”
By Rick Warren — Apr 8, 2018
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Devotional image from Rick Warren

“The seeds that fell in good soil stand for those who hear the message and retain it in a good and obedient heart, and they persist until they bear fruit” (Luke 8:15 GNT).

God speaks to people who decide they’re going to do what he tells them to do, even before he tells them. It’s saying, “God, if you want me to move, I’ll move. If you want me to get married, I’ll get married. If you want me to leave this job, I’ll leave this job. Before you even tell me, my answer is ‘yes.’ Whatever you want me to do, I will do it.”

Luke 8:15 says, “The seeds that fell in good soil stand for those who hear the message and retain it in a good and obedient heart, and they persist until they bear fruit” (GNT).

I used to study this parable of Jesus and think it was talking about four kinds of people: those who are resistant, those who are shallow, those who are busy, and those who are good.

But this parable actually represents four attitudes. You can have all four attitudes in the same day! One moment you go, “God, I don’t want to hear you, because I know what you’re going to say.” And the next moment you say, “Lord, tell me quickly.” Then you hear it and think it’s good, but you don’t do anything about it. Maybe the fruit starts to appear in your life, but then you get busy with your job or school or your kids, and the weeds grow up. Then other times you say, “God, do whatever you want. I’m totally open to you.”

God wants you to have an attitude of obedience so that you can bear fruit — the biblical term for being successful. God wants you to be fruitful in your business, your family, your friendships, your relationship with God, your relationships with others, and your health.

So how do you bear fruit when God tells you something? You pass it on. When God tells you something, the quickest way to let it bear fruit in your life is to tell somebody else what you just learned.

Another version of Luke 8:15 says, “They listen to God’s words and cling to them and steadily spread them to others who also soon believe” (TLB). God wants you to pass on to others what you learn.

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Filed Under: Columns

Walter Wendler: Reflections on Higher Education

April 9, 2018 By Leave a Comment

FOCUS

Organizations succeed or fail based on their willingness to focus and concentrate. Because of the explosion of data, and therefore the ability to compare, organizations and individuals spend an inordinate amount of time concentrating on “others.” Bobby Jones, probably the world’s greatest golfer, said it this way, “A leading difficulty with the average player is that he totally misunderstands what is meant by concentration. He may think he is concentrating hard when he is merely worrying.”

I purchased a car at a local dealership. I brought it in for a 5,000-mile checkup, a courtesy afforded to me by either the manufacturer or the dealer. An hour after I dropped the car off, I received a text message with a YouTube video attached. The video was a systematic, fully illustrated and narrated description of what had been done to the vehicle. I thought, “This is customer service on steroids.” It may be that dealers have been doing this for some time; however, it was my first experience with an acutely focused concern for keeping the car owner informed, aka customer service.

Universities must focus on their ultimate purpose—providing quality educational experiences, and guiding purpose is geography. One challenge of distance education is its disconnection, which may lead to a lack of concentration on geographic needs. The best distance education has been, and will continue to be, attentive to institutional geography. At our university, faculty who teach online also teach on-campus courses. A geographic concentration and attention to student aspirations is conveyed, over the internet, to those engaged “at a distance.” A natural outgrowth of this focus is a genuine care for individuals. That care will transcend all locations—caring is caring. Students want to attend caring institutions. Good teaching is good teaching.

West Texas A&M University is located in a distinctive region of the state of Texas. For our university to thrive, and any other institution for that matter, we must see geography as a great strength. Deliberately focusing on the needs of the Texas Panhandle and its people creates quality experiences for students. In the midst of an ongoing long-range planning process, our goal is to become a regionally responsive research university. Such a goal will require a Bobby Jones style of focus and concentration. Worrying about where we stand will not get the job done and a loss of concentration will rob us of our greatest asset, something we have that no other institution does…a home in the Texas Panhandle.

As we move towards our future, we will focus sharply on five or six areas of interest—a focus that will provide a unique experience for our students and faculty and a single-minded determination to serve our region first. These areas are under development at this time. A specific response to distinct characteristics of the Panhandle region will lead to a narrow and razor sharp single-mindedness for all programs, but particularly graduate programs. Such attention to geographic forces and human needs will provide immediate benefits.
Wind – We live in one of the most consistently windy regions of the United States. Amarillo, the closest and most important neighbor of Canyon, Texas, is one of the five windiest cities in America. Tough on hairdos to be sure, but distinctive in the opportunity our location provides to understand wind energy and the science and policies for its effective use.

Beef – The U.S. leads the world in producing beef. Moreover, no region in the United States feeds and produces as much beef as the Panhandle and high plains of our state—about one third of the total U.S. production within a 100-mile radius of Canyon. With the leadership of people like Paul Engler, cattle on feed became big business in the Texas Panhandle. He was among the first class of inductees into the Cattle Feeders Hall of Fame.
Water – One of the most precious resources to the survival of man is scarce in the Texas Panhandle. The agricultural heart of the nation, of which the Panhandle is a significant part, is one of the ten most challenged regions of the country for “water scarcity.”

Rural Communities – The heart of the Texas Panhandle, home to dozens of small communities, relies on Amarillo and Canyon for cultural, human and community sustenance. The cultural context of this constellation of communities revolves around the Interstate 27 corridor, connecting Amarillo and Canyon. The region expects West Texas A&M University to cultivate appreciation for the human condition and its expression provided by the arts. A special focus on the history of the Texas Panhandle comes alive through the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum.

These areas of interest and others, such as teacher preparation and human health and engineering, all focused on geography, will serve as the basis for guiding West Texas A&M University forward. Our circumstances are challenging and unique. Principles of focus and concentration, applied without exception, are the genesis of progress.

Filed Under: Columns
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