In a world where so many of the challenges in our state, our nation, and our world seem insurmountable, where should we start? In a world where many of our neighbors and even some self-professing Christians believe prayers are useless and the only thing that counts is “good deeds,” how should we as Christians respond?

Illinois State lawmakers will be back in session this week, and hundreds of bills are moving through committees. We want to thank those of you who have taken time to take action on these email alerts. It is vitally important that policy makers hear from Illinois constituents and not just special interest groups/activists.

All around us the dark clouds seem to be descending on our society and on our culture. It is clear that our children and grandchildren will grow up, live and work in a world vastly different from our own. It is a world that we can hardly recognize when compared to our own youth or childhood of play, church dinners, afternoon ball games, and family gatherings. 

Churches throughout Illinois are preparing for this upcoming Easter Sunday. Also known in Christendom as Resurrection Day. It is most certainly the most important of Christian celebrations on the calendar. I mean, what could possibly be more significant and impressive than a man crucified in front of witnesses come back to life a few days later?

There is no doubt about it. Satan is busy selling lies to our culture. Part of his agenda is to get people to doubt who they are created to be, their callings from God, and how He has gifted them to bless others. Today, we have scores of young people who are questioning whether they are male or female... some even identifying with a plethora of other so-called "genders."

If a medical procedure has a 90 percent fatality rate, should it still be pursued? According to Dr. Joseph Meany, president of the National Catholic Bioethics Center, this is exactly the case with the medical practice known as in vitro fertilization. While artificial conception might sound like a godsend for some couples, there are moral quandaries to consider.

It is quite unfortunate that the most important date on the Christian calendar is misnamed! While of uncertain origin, the best guesses are that the title “Easter” is derived from a pagan religion, but that is a subject for another time. My point is, however, that the name gives no indication of the reason for the holiday in the first place, which is to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Most Americans see the date as a time for easter egg hunts or to enjoy Spring.

Since its inception in January, the Parents Matter Coalition (“PMC”) has been on a mission to raise awareness, educate the community, and teach Illinoisans how to advocate for their families and push back on the legislators and bureaucrats who think they know better how to parent our children.

What we think is true can have the same effect on us as what is true. We have known this forever. But today, in our post-truth culture, we are becoming less concerned with discovering what is true and more focused on what we feel is true. Public opinion today is shaped more by emotion and personal beliefs than facts. The impact of this post-truth era is profound.

We ended the last piece in the middle of our discussion of the biblical benefits of homeschooling. Jesus tells us that every student, when he is trained fully, will be like his master (Luke 6:40), which prompts us to ask: what kind of masters are my children being trained by? We discussed the godless ideas permeating the public school classroom, but education is more than just ideas. It also involves people. So let's also consider more than just the lessons being taught; what about the people teaching them?