This episode of Illinois Family Spotlight features Dr. Karl Benzio, a Christian Psychiatrist who serves with the AACC (American Association of Christian Counselors). He is s the co-founder of Honey Lake Clinic, a board certified Christian mental health treatment facility located in Greenville, Florida.

In this interview, Dr. Benzio focuses on how God designed the mind to work and how we can properly steward our mind in our decision-making process.

This is an amazing interview you don’t want to miss.… Continue Reading

It’s nothing short of amazing how fast gambling has been embraced by professional sports. After all, Las Vegas is the host city for Super Bowl LVIII.

Something like 50 million people BET on the game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers. Plus, the broadcast ad lineup featured once-taboo spots for several betting services.

Gambling used to be radioactive for sports. The professional leagues and their college counterparts wanted fans to trust that outcomes were honest, not tainted.… Continue Reading

Once a hush-hush activity often relegated to tavern backrooms, gambling is emerging from the seedy shadows and striving to clothe itself with an air of normality, respectability, and lighthearted fun. But, at its very core, gambling is predatory, parasitic, and exploitive.

Ken Darnell returns to Spotlight to share his in-depth, biblical perspective as to why gambling is anything but a harmless form of entertainment. Referencing factual research, as well as Scripture and the Preamble to the U.… Continue Reading

March Madness is in full swing. By this time next week, the NCAA will have crowned the national champion for the 2020-2021 college basketball season. Also, by this time next week, tens of thousands of people will have lost a staggering amount of money due to legalized, online sports betting in our and other states across the nation – and, if Illinois residents had legally been able to bet on college teams located within our state, the losses surely would have been substantially higher.… Continue Reading

With our state and nation focused on the pandemic, the new administration in Washington, D.C., and other pressing issues, the subject of gambling has been lost in the shuffle (no pun intended). Thanks in part to the Rebuild Illinois Act of 2019, which unleashed massive gambling expansion in the Land of Lincoln, the gaming industry has been able to thrive due to sports betting and other forms of online gambling – despite COVID-19 lockdowns and protocols – while many small businesses were forced to close up shop forever.… Continue Reading

Did you ever get a Christmas present you didn’t want or like? Chances are you returned the gift and chose something else. Well, this Christmas, Illinoisans are receiving “gifts” from our legislators that many of us didn’t ask for, don’t want, and can’t give back. Anita Bedell of Illinois Church Action on Alcohol & Addiction Problems joins Monte Larrick for a very timely and informative edition of Spotlight.

Bedell and Larrick detail the many pitfalls of gambling expansion – more casinos as well as “racinos” and the introduction of sports betting – and Bedell offers important action steps citizens can take in an effort to weaken gambling expansion.… Continue Reading

Increased coverage of the push to legalize high potency marijuana in Illinois has allowed another legislative movement – one that would expand access to an equally addictive behavior – to stealthily gain momentum. It’s time for Spotlight to cut through the shadows and reveal the dangers of Illinois lawmakers’ intentions to legalize internet and sports gambling in our state.

Anita Bedell, Executive Director of ILCAAAP, Illinois Church Action on Alcohol & Addiction Problems, joins Monte Larrick to discuss the devastating effects gambling expansion will bring to the Land of Lincoln.… Continue Reading

Addictions to help mitigate decades of irresponsible political spending? It’s preposterous, but that is out-going left-wing Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s prescription to reduce (not solve) the nagging pension crisis.

Emanuel and others like him think that hooking Illinois citizens into vices like marijuana and casino gambling is a legitimate way to realize new revenue sources. Of course, ill-gotten gains from dope and gambling are inadequate in-and-of-themselves and require spendthrift politicians to increase our gasoline tax by 20-30 cent per gallon to feed their insatiable spending habits.… Continue Reading

With the November election just a month away, this podcast is especially timely! Joining Monte Larrick this week is Anita Bedell, executive director of Illinois Church Action on Alcohol & Addiction Problems. ILCAAAP is committed to preventing problems caused by alcohol, other drugs, and gambling by means of public information and education, as well as legislation.

Anita Bedell and Monte discuss the dangers, deceptive promotion, and miniscule financial benefits of proposed gambling expansion in Illinois.… Continue Reading

In this week’s edition of our weekly podcast, Monte Larrick talks with Anita Bedell, the executive director of Illinois Church Action on Alcohol and Addiction Problems (ILCAAAP).  Anita and Monte discuss Gambling and Marijuana and their effects on revenue and taxes in Illinois.

Illinois lawmakers are once again considering legislation to expand gambling.  The proposal before the Illinois General Assembly is sponsored by Illinois Senators Terry Link (D-Gurnee), Dave Syverson (R-Rockford), Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago) and Donne Trotter (D-Chicago).… Continue Reading