Today’s Independence Day Parade is probably Waukegan’s biggest event for the year.  Though budgetary cuts caused the city to cancel other annual traditions, they left the parade on the schedule.

The theme of the parade is “Making History.”  Family Life Church has been making history in the lives of Waukegan residents for 81 years.  We are a multi-cultural, multi-generational body of people whose lives are being transformed by the saving power of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Now we know that God is the Only One who can fix broken things – broken hearts, broken lives and broken cities.  We also know that God placed our church in this city for a purpose.  Today’s parade offers us the opportunity to walk the streets while lifting up Jesus Christ and praying for the city.  As we pray for Waukegan, let’s lift up that only name “under heaven, given to men, by which {all people} must be saved.” (Acts 4:12 NIV)

–Beth Jones

My dear friend,

The problem with your father is that he is a man. Now, don’t hold that against him; God (not your Dad) decided that issue a long time ago. But since fathers are men, maybe it’s time you understood a little more about “how men think.”

First of all, men are not always the best at communicating their feelings or showing their emotions. It doesn’t mean they don’t have any, but that they guard them better than women tend to. It doesn’t mean a dad doesn’t care; he just might be unsure of how to express his emotions in a particular situation. Things get more complicated as kids become teenagers. Dynamics change and dads may find it difficult to communicate love and acceptance. Both parties just need to continue to work on good communication.

Secondly, because dads think like men, they really understand how a “young man” thinks. They know the difficult battle it is to keep one’s thoughts and life pure. Godly dads also know the enemy’s attempt to “steal, kill and destroy” (John 10:10 NIV) even their own precious sons and daughters. This makes dads very concerned for their children. This often teaches dads to pray more earnestly for their children!

Thirdly, dads can be very protective; sometimes this may “feel” very restrictive to their children. Wise dads know “God is the Big Boss on Fathering” and that every dad will answer to Him. Dads are protective because they just want their children to grow into strong, responsible adults who make good decisions throughout their lives. Godly dads know that the most important decision their children will ever make is “to make Jesus Christ Lord of their own lives.” That is why the Godly dad does everything he can in this life, in order that one day he can personally say to Jesus, “Here they are, Lord, the children that You gave me.”

Remember, only Your Heavenly Daddy is the perfect father. So the next time you get frustrated with your earthly dad, remember – he’s just a man! Then thank God for putting this very imperfect but specially-planned-for-you Dad in your life! I guarantee that if you can do that, you will start viewing your dad a little differently. I did!

With fondness,
Miss Beth

The big deal is this — Christianity rests on the certainty of Jesus Christ’s Resurrection as an actual event in history; one that changed the world forever!   Paul said that without the resurrection, our faith is pointless: “And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins”  (I Corinthians 15:16 NIV).

Paul even regarded the Resurrection as proof that the Gospel message about Jesus as Savior and Lord is true.   “In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now He commands all people everywhere to repent.   For He has set a day when He will judge the world with justice by the man He has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead”  (Acts 17:30-31 NIV).

Jesus said to Martha: “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.  Do you believe this?”  (John 11:25-26 NIV)   It’s really that simple — believing that Jesus died on the cross to pay the price for my sins and trusting Him with my life.   It’s what the Resurrection is all about.  It’s the most important decision one can ever make!  Yes, the Resurrection IS a big deal!

(by Beth Jones with excerpts taken from “What Easter Means to Me,” by Rev. H. Neely Gaston)

If you ever have the thought, as I occasionally do, “How do I know my faith is really true?” you are not alone.   Most of us have occasional doubts about the reality of our faith.  But Christmas is a time to review the facts – Jesus Christ was a real person who lived during an actual time in history.   No one can dispute His existence, though many dispute his claims.  The Apostle John said this about him,

“The Word became flesh and lived among us. We gazed on his glory, the kind of glory that belongs to the Father’s unique Son, who is full of grace and truth.” John 1:14 (International Standard Version, 2008)

What this actual point in history has to do with us in 2009 is what we will be considering over the next month.  If Christ is who He says He is, then His coming to earth has extreme relevance for our lives in 2009.   It is my hope that this truth will challenge and encourage us this season.

Even though summer has bypassed Chicagoland, I had a strong taste of it this week as I spent the week in Southern California, enjoying 95+ degree temperatures and even the fragrance of the nearby Station Fires in Los Angeles.

I sensed renewed “fire in my heart” as I gleaned from the life and ministry of Pastor Jack Hayford.  Along with about 40 other senior pastors, I participated in one of Jack Hayford’s Schools of Pastoral Nurture.  It was paid for partially by the National Church Office, partially by our Heartland District, and partially by Family Life Church.

I came home with a lot to think about and process.  I believe that over time there will be a new level of spiritual health and vitality in our church as a result.  This will necessarily spill over into having a significant influence on the people that you and I live and work and play and go to school with.

Excited about Jesus,
Pastor George

The battle is certainly not over; the abortion industry is still alive and well. But WHEN GOD’S PEOPLE HUMBLE THEMSELVES AND PRAY THINGS HAVE TO CHANGE. And this week in Illinois, we have witnessed just that. “Evil men don’t understand the importance of justice, but those who follow the Lord are much concerned about it.” (Proverbs 28:5 NKJV) (IFI Website, 7/14/09)

It is A.D. 2009 with Holy Week less than two weeks away. Are you feeling excited? Millions of Christians worldwide will recall the events from around A.D. 30 — the crucifixion, burial and resurrection from the dead of Jesus Christ.

Now, more than ever, in the midst of global crises, Christians will gather together to worship the Living God. Why? Because this God was willing to sacrifice Himself in order to rescue messed-up, selfish, hopeless people who are powerless in themselves to change, and to restore them in relationship to Him! That was the reason for Christ’s Passion (His suffering) and this is the reason we can be passionate in celebrating, as well. After all, it is because of the events in A.D. 30 that we have hope for living through the uncertainty of A.D. 2009.