Spotlight

Laurie Higgins joins David Smith on this edition of Illinois Family Spotlight. Laurie is the Illinois Family Institute’s Cultural Affairs Writer.

They discuss transgender issues and gender dysphoria, including the requirements to be a transgender person, co-ed restrooms and locker rooms, the emotional toll taken on kids who witness transgender children in their schools and people who have been sexually molested, and transgender birth certificates. Also, one of Laurie's recent articles.

Some conservatives are buying into "transgenderism," but as Laurie Higgins points out: "Being castrated doesn't turn a man into a woman. Having a double mastectomy doesn't turn a woman into a man." She added:

Our biological sex matters, or it doesn't. If it doesn't matter, then there is no reason for ever having had separate restrooms for men and women. If biological sex doesn't matter, why have we every had these private spaces?"

Dave and Laurie also discuss the ludicrousness of transgender birth certificates (read Laurie's article here). On that topic, Higgins asks the simple but mostly ignored question: "What does that do to public decency laws?"

In her article, "Things You Don’t Hear About Gender Dysphoria," Laurie demonstrates again the importance of her cultural analysis not just for Illinois but for the nation. The discussion includes the topic of the "detransitioning" movement:

Detransitioners are men and women of diverse ages who regret having taken cross-sex hormones and amputated healthy body parts. Many have come to understand the cause or causes of their gender dysphoria and feel sorrow over the irreversible damage they have done to their bodies. Their stories, easily available online, are painful to hear.

Do you know the difference between "puberty blockers" and "cross sex hormones"? Did you know that sterility is a potential side affect?

This podcast is important and informative about the ongoing efforts to normalize what are "profoundly unnatural" procedures.

Once again a nativity scene has taken its place in the Illinois Capitol rotunda, thanks to the work of the Springfield nativity committee and the Thomas More Society, including our guest Tom Brejcha. Mr. Brejcha is the President and Chief counsel member of the Thomas More Society.

He joins Monte Larrick to discuss religious freedom in Illinois and the nation. From including the nativity display in our capitol building, to the Masterpiece Cakeshop case in the Supreme Court.

Written by John Biver

In this week's podcast, Laurie Higgins joins David Smith to discuss the Trans-Ideology and its effects on our schools, classrooms, and impressionable young children.

Laurie is the cultural affairs writer for the Illinois Family Institute, and "she does an amazing job writing thought provoking and compelling articles that help us think through the contemporary issues and the godless worldviews that dominate the public square."

Laurie refers to what is going on today as "one of the most significant revolutions in history."

"If people think this is just about this very small minority of people who experience gender dysphoria having access to opposite sex spaces -- they're wrong, they're not fully informed." The ultimate goal is to eradicate the public recognition of sex differences, she explains. That means in our restrooms, and locker rooms, shelters, nursing homes and semi-private hospital rooms.

"You have children who are coming to school and identifying as the opposite sex at very very young ages -- as early as kindergarten. And many school are accommodating that. What this teaches children of all ages is "that in order to be compassionate, inclusive people, they have to relinquish their physical privacy."

In their discussion, Dave Smith brings up this question: How evil do the ideas have to be and how young do the children have to be who are being exposed to such evil before Christians speak out and take action?

Laurie stresses that whether you have children in the public schools or not, your tax dollars are paying for them and the kids in these government-run schools are tomorrow's culture makers.

Questions? Contact Laurie at [email protected].

In a partnership with Act for America, the Illinois Family Institute hosted an event with 3 influential personalities in the fight against Islam.

This podcast features the question and answer portion of the event in Orland Park.

The guests include Philip Haney, DHS Whistleblower and counterterrorism expert, author of "See Something, Say Nothing."

Also, Anni Cyrus of the Glazof Gang. A child bride in her home country of Iran, abused and imprisoned as a teen, she escaped to America and now advocates for women and girls, suffering under Sharia. Come hear her story and get answers to your questions!

Rounding out the panel is expert on Islam, Usama Dakdok. Born and raised in Egypt, Usama's first language is Arabic. His English translation of the Qur'an has helped thousands learn the truth about what Islam really teaches and what it means for America.

Written by John Biver

In the Spotlight this week, Dave Smith once again sits down to talk to Rev. Ceasar LeFlore, the Founder and Executive Director of the Beloved Community Development Coalition and the Midwest Regional Director of the Life Education and Resource Network (LEARN). Pastor LeFlore is working towards a national pro-life prayer network, he is seeking to unite a million prayer intercessors to daily pray for the end of abortion.

They discuss racial tensions in America, from the NFL's move to take a knee, to uniting the American church.

Dave Smith began the conversation with the contention that the issue of race in this country keeps coming up due to Leftists and their allies in the media wanting to stir up tensions. LeFlore added that indeed, the political left wants to fan into flame racial tensions because it is their preferred method of dividing the country.

"Our nation will fall," LeFlore said, "Lincoln was quoting scripture when he said that a house divided against itself will fall... Leftists don't love this country and want to see it fall."

"If you don't mind me speaking as a black man," LeFlore said, "one of the things I resent the most is being emotionally manipulated through race -- I see that as being a political strategy."

Smith and LeFlore also discussed the reality of racists programs pushed by Leftists that have helped destroy the black family in America. "Almost 8 in 10 babies in some black communities are born without a father," LeFlore said, and as a result, "the state becomes the father for those children."

Regarding the protests being made by players in the National Football League, LeFlore said that targeting the National Anthem is misguided. "If I can get you angry, you're not thinking. And if you're not thinking, you're not grateful," he said. "God has brought us to a place where we are a blessing to the world."

Follow Pastor LeFlore on twitter @CeasarLeflore. Contact Reverend LeFlore at:  (708) 378-4712, or via email: [email protected].

Last month, Illinois Family Institute teamed up with Restore Our Constitution to host a special event with historian David Barton in Decatur. Mr. Barton is the founder and president of Wall Builders, and an author of a number of best selling books.

David Barton touched on a number of topics in his presentation, including the push for a Convention of the States, the problem of rouge federal judges and the indoctrination centers known as colleges and universities — pointing out that only 27 percent of college graduates get a job related to their major.

Mr. Barton answers a question about the Johnson Amendment, the Free Speech Fairness Act (read more HERE) and the concerted efforts to diminished the role and influence of Christian leaders and pastors in the public square.

In the second half of this week’s podcast, Mr. Barton talks about judicial appointments and tells us his top choice for the next nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court. Give it a listen:

In this week's Spotlight podcast, Dave Smith sits down to talk to Rev. Ceasar LeFlore, the Founder and Executive Director of the Beloved Community Development Coalition and the Midwest Regional Director of the Life Education and Resource Network (LEARN). Pastor LeFlore is working towards a national pro-life prayer network, he is seeking to unite a million prayer intercessors to daily pray for the end of abortion.

Prayer, Pastor LeFlore said, "is required because an awakening is necessary for the darkness to be overcome. Hearts need to be in the right place, he said, or people will not embrace the truth."

Abortion is the "sacrificing of children at the alter of convenience for the adults," LeFlore pointed out. "Abortion to me is child sacrifice because what we're doing is giving up the life of that child in order for the parent to not be inconvenienced or delayed in any ambition or pursuits they have for their own life."

In addition, they discuss the signing of HB 40 by Governor Bruce Rauner, which makes abortion more available for poor women in the black community. "Politics too often comes before principle," Pastor LeFlore lamented, "and too many blacks still vote for the party whose platform continues the policies of the racist Margaret Sanger, as well as Planned Parenthood's agenda of genocide."

Dave and Ceasar also talk about the candidacy of Jeanne Ives and her challenge to Rauner in the March 20, 2018 Republican Primary.

Follow Pastor LeFlore on twitter @CeasarLeflore. Contact Reverend LeFlore at:  (708)378-4712, or via email: [email protected].

Joining Monte Larrick is Pat McManus, the Pastor of the Kingom Impact Center in Aurora. He is the main proponent of a movement to unite churches from several denominations in prayer for the state of Illinois.

They discuss how to awaken churches in Illinois, activate young people, and how to pray for leaders such as Governor Bruce Rauner and House Speaker Mike Madigan.

Monte pointed out the reality of the many roadblocks that currently exist in Illinois, and Pat stressed that true change requires unity among Christians regarding prayer and participation in the political process. "We can't do it alone," he said, "we can do it together."

Monte asked "what does true change mean?":

Pat responded: "Godly government. Godly leaders in government. Godly people that are truly honoring God in their decision making..." Their policy decisions impact not just the government, he said, but the culture, the schools, businesses and "every area of life."

What happens if that change doesn't happen?

"We're on a path of destruction, financially, economically, culturally, Pat said, and warned that if we don't act, "generations beyond us are going to come into a society where there's no value, where there is nothing left for them."

Pat and Monte discuss the great opportunity Christians have in Illinois and what some of the initial steps are on the path to saving the state.

In the Spotlight this week is Stephen Black, the Excecutive Director of First Stone Ministries. Mr. Black is the author of "Freedom Realized: Finding Freedom From Homosexuality and Living Life Free From Labels."

He joins Monte Larrick to discuss his testimony, child abuse role in homosexuality and transgenderism, the process of healing and freedom from homosexuality, and christian counseling for homosexuals and transgenders, including a new Illinois law that places a ban on reparative therapy for minors.

Question: Have you ever bitten into a peach, plum or other fruit that wasn't ripe and get a real sour or bitter taste?

Question: Have you ever bitten into an apple, apricot or some other fruit that looked good from the outside – bright and shiny – but then regret to learn that something has been eating it from the inside – or find it to be rotten at its core?

There are many factors that go into producing healthy, sweet fruit.  Lots of sunlight, warm weather, adequate water, proper soil, and of course, timely pollination… among other things. But the process of producing sweet fruit can be disrupted by any number of things, including draught, an early frost, worms, bugs, diseases and, well, fill in the blank.

Oh, and the maturity of the fruit plays a role here.

It is not so different for spiritual fruit. In John 15:16 Jesus tells us plainly...

You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.  ~John 15:16

God wants our fruit to be good. In fact, Jesus warned, “Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and is thrown into the fire” to be destroyed (Matthew 7:19).