Written by David E. Smith
Is 2020 the worst year ever? With the combination of a global pandemic, violence, looting, rioting, and devastating wildfires, plus the drama of a fiercely contested general election, this year might seem to be a strong contender for such a dubious honor. So, what should a Christian do when faced with 2020’s chaos and uncertainty?… Continue Reading
Written by David E. Smith
If you’re in need of encouragement (and truly, who among us isn’t), this edition of Spotlight will speak to your soul as we feature more prayer and exhortation from the recent Rally for Jesus. Rev. Ron Citlau references 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 as a model for Christians to engage with the world and strengthen the Church.… Continue Reading
Written by Laure Lee Caum
As Election Day approaches, American Christians may be weighing their options for U.S. president and may have reservations about voting for either President Donald Trump or former Vice President Joe Biden. Despite these concerns, there are good reasons why American Christians might consider supporting President Trump in November. Let’s consider evidence from Old Testament history and President Trump’s first-term accomplishments.… Continue Reading
Tags: Affordable Care Act, Alex Azar, Donald Trump, Eric Holder, Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act, Global Equality Fund, Hillary Clinton, International Religious Freedom Alliance, Joe Biden, King Artaxerxes, LGBT Human Rights, Little Sisters of the Poor, Mike Pompeo, Nehemiah, Sylvia Burwell, United Nations, Universal Declaration of Human Rights, William Barr, Xerxes
Faith & Religion, Federal Elections, Political | David E. Smith | 
August 29, 2020 4:00 AM | 
Comments Off on Biblical and Practical Considerations for the November Election
Written by Benjamin Smith
This edition of Spotlight features Illinois State Representative Darren Bailey and IFI Executive Director David Smith as they address attendees at a recent Rally for Jesus at Calvary Church in Orland Park. David relates how the current moral and cultural climate of our state and nation is expressed in Matthew 24:12 and he calls for individual and national repentance from sin that distracts us from serving and glorifying God.… Continue Reading
Written by Benjamin Smith
As we dive into the last month of summer, David Smith and Monte Larrick welcome Jim Davids, attorney and chief counsel for the newly-formed Justice & Freedom Law Center, to this week’s Spotlight. Jim, David, and Monte explore the concept of “muscular Christianity” and a possible Christian “protest” response – Jesus’ Life Mattered. They also consider J.B.… Continue Reading
Written by Dr. Paul Kengor
Last weekend I overheard two recent grads (both musicians) discussing America’s greatest composers. The usual names were raised: Copland, Gershwin, Bernstein, Sousa … Foster.
“Who?” said one.
“Stephen Foster,” replied the other.
Only one knew who Foster was, and neither knew he was from Pittsburgh. Both, ironically, recently spent a lot of time in Oakland, where the Stephen Foster statue once stood outside the Carnegie.… Continue Reading
Tags: Alexander Hamilton, Ben Franklin, Bernstein, Columbus, Copland, Dr. Paul Kengor, Flinn, Foster, George Washington, Gershwin, Giuseppe Moretti, Highland Park, John F. Kennedy, KKK, Lenin, Lincoln, Margaret Sanger, Oh! Susannah!, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Sousa, St. Junipero Serra, statues, Stonewall Jackson, Teddy Roosevelt, the Confederacy, Ulysses S. Grant
Faith & Religion, Federal Issues | Benjamin D. Smith | July 18, 2020 4:00 AM | Comments Off on Tear All The Statues Down?
Written by Dr. Everett Piper
At a Black Lives Matter protest in Cary, North Carolina, a white woman takes to her megaphone. “We repent on behalf of, uh, Caucasian people,” she shouts, as she calls upon the crowd to kneel before two Black pastors seated before them on a park bench. Several audibly weep as they bow in obeisance.
At a church in Atlanta, Dan Cathy, CEO of Chick-fil-A, genuflects before a Black colleague while shining his shoes in a ritual atoning for the collective “shame” of being White.… Continue Reading
Written by David E. Smith
Home education and private schooling, specifically Christian schooling, are becoming first-choice options for many families as parents realize that their educational goals and priorities for their children don’t match up with those of government schools. John Stonestreet joins Monte Larrick to discuss the responsibility sphere; proactive education of discernment; the LGBT history mandate in Illinois and other states; and convictions, conscience rights and consequences.… Continue Reading
Written by David E. Smith
Our final Spotlight for the month of May features a recent conversation between Monte Larrick and Pastor Dan Haas, a well-known Aurora community activist. In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, Haas wonders what is God’s message to believers in Christ and what is the Church’s task. Dan stresses the opportunity the pandemic presents to re-evaluate and prepare for what ministry could look like inside and outside of the physical church facility in the months to come.… Continue Reading
Written by Paul Hurst
People of faith are sensing something is very wrong with our government right now. In Illinois, the newspapers might as well publish Jeremiah Chapter 36 as their front page cover story. After all, his Biblical account sounds like it’s taken directly from today’s headlines.
Pending disaster, dire warnings, arrogant leaders, cowardly representatives, people of faith banned from their place of worship, untrustworthy people turning each other in and an increasingly godless society, tempting God’s wrath every step of the way.… Continue Reading
