Dear Friends,
When God created the human race, the pinnacle of His creation, He endowed us with a particularly amazing ability. Our souls are actually wired to feel an elevated sense joy, happiness, and hope when we witness an act of charity being performed by someone in service of someone else, even if they are complete strangers. As I know I have, I’m sure you’ve experienced a tear well up in the corner of your eye as you’ve watched one of the seemingly thousands of “random acts of kindness” videos that are all over the internet.
What’s amazing about this inborn warmth that we feel when we witness goodness is that it has the power to instantly change our attitudes. For me personally, this has happened dozens of times in my day to day life. These moments usually happen completely unexpectedly, especially when I happen to be feeling a little down or discouraged. After I witness an act of kindness on the street or happen to watch an inspiring video that I come across on Facebook, my outlook on life is instantly transformed to one of hope and joy. What’s more, I feel inspired to emulate the act of kindness myself. This is the phenomenon of kindness being “contagious,” which has been hardwired into our humanness by our Creator.
While acts of kindness naturally move and inspire us, that doesn’t mean we always follow through and do them ourselves—this is where our own sin and shortcomings creep in. Let’s all make a point of moving past any hesitation or self-conscious nervousness we might feel when we see an opportunity to perform an act of charity. You never know who might witness our acts of kindness and be inspired to spread the love, thus transforming our broken world one good deed at a time.
Thank you for your prayers and for your continued support of FRC and the family.
Sincerely,
Dan Hart
Managing Editor for Publications
Family Research Council
FRC Articles
Strong Patents: Key to a Strong Economy – Ken Blackwell
CNN Publishes a Hatchet Job on Religious Freedom – Travis Weber
The Remains of Aborted Babies Are Now a Commodity to the FDA – Patrina Mosley
High School Students Enticed into Private Booth for “Queer” Storytelling – Cathy Ruse
The Transgender Movement Just Pushes People Too Far – Cathy Ruse
Religious Liberty
Religious Liberty in the Public Square
I’m Proud To Take A Knee With Coach Kennedy – Bobby Bowden, The Daily Caller
A Sign of the Times? Pastor Greg Laurie Forced to Remove Billboards Featuring the Bible – Emily Jones, CBN News
Alabama public schools may soon add 'In God We Trust' displays – Frank Miles, Fox News
Christian Baker Again Under Fire Again—This Time for Refusing to Bake a Transgender Cake – Tyler O’Neil, PJ Media
Hispanic restaurant owner recipient of death threats, outrage mob after hosting Jeff Sessions – Chris Enloe, The Blaze
University of Iowa Reinstates Nearly 40 Student Groups After InterVarsity Files Lawsuit – Samuel Smith, The Christian Post
Trump Admin Upholds Religious Freedom for Federal Contractors – Mark Martin, CBN News
International Religious Freedom
‘We Must Pay So Dearly’: China's Churches Raided, Silenced – Yanan Wang, AP
China cracks down on citizens, scans handheld devices for ‘illegal information’ – Calvin Freiburger, LifeSiteNews
Court rejects appeal for American pastor's release from detention, Turkish media says – Fox News
Lindsey Graham: 'Normal relationship' with Turkey impossible with pastor jailed – Tom Howell Jr., The Washington Times
US Congress Urges India's Modi to Protect Christians, Condemn Attacks on Minorities – Stoyan Zaimov, The Christian Post
Military Religious Freedom
Army Chaplain Faces Possible Court Martial over Religious Beliefs – ToddStarnes.com
Militant Atheist Group Calls for Removal of Edwards AFB Commander over Public Professions of Faith – Paula Bolyard, PJ Media
1,800 Soldiers Have Professed Faith in Christ at Missouri Army Base in Last 6 Months – Samuel Smith, The Christian Post
Life
Abortion
Pushing abortion on California college students is institutionalized misogyny – Cassy Fiano-Chesser, Live Action
International abortion pressure was no match for Argentina’s love of life – Kristi Burton Brown, Live Action
The Worst Poll Ever on the Roe v. Wade Decision – Michael New, Townhall
18 years of the abortion pill have made things worse for women and society – Susan Michelle-Hanson, Live Action
Adoption
Toby’s Adoption Day – Kathryn Jean Lopez, National Review
4-Year-Old Celebrates His Adoption and New Baby Sister in Sweet Photo: 'He Was So Happy That Day!' – Char Adams, People
Bioethics
What Three Identical Strangers Reveals About Nature and Nurture – Mary Rose Somarriba, Family Studies
‘Slow Code’: Outraged parents say doctors delay care for kids with disabilities – Nancy Flanders, Live Action
California Senate bill allows encouraging terminally ill to choose suicide – Cassy Fiano-Chesser, Live Action
Family
Marriage
Tips for a successful weekly marriage meeting – Erin Stewart, Deseret News
Soulmate Marriage: An Unrealistic Goal? – Annie Holmquist, Intellectual Takeout
How to Strengthen Your Marriage Through Doing the Dishes – Erin Smalley, Focus on the Family
Parenting
How Dads Can Protect Their Kids – Rob Schwarzwalder, The Stream
How to Navigate the Joys and Challenges of Grandparenting – Diana Divecha, Greater Good Magazine
Moms Who Miscarry Benefit from Going to Church, Research Shows – David Briggs, Christianity Today
Studies acknowledge how traumatic miscarriage is — so why doesn’t society? – Anna O'Neil, Aleteia
To the Young Men Who May Want to Date My Daughters – Whitney Fleming, Her View From Home
Economics/Education
Emails Reveal High School Teachers Plotting To Hide Their Political Bias From Parents – Ilya Feoktistov, The Federalist
Democrats More Positive About Socialism Than Capitalism – Frank Newport, Gallup
Faith/Character/Culture
Your Life Is Not Boring – Jon Bloom, Desiring God
Why Americans go—or don’t go—to religious services – Joe Carter, Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission
A Case for Fear – Austin Roscoe, The Stream
Human Sexuality
Love, Economics, and Cheap Sex – C.R. Pakaluk, Public Discourse
Support for Christians Refusing to Serve Same-Sex Weddings Goes ... Up – Morgan Lee, Christianity Today
You Won’t Believe What Kids Can Find On ‘Transgender’ At The Public Library – Maureen Mullarkey, The Federalist
Human Trafficking
NCOSE Intern Report from the World Without Exploitation 2018 Youth Summit – National Center on Sexual Exploitation
Pornography
Ministry Leaders Who Counsel People Struggling With Porn Addiction Say It Can't Be Fought Alone – Michael Gryboski, The Christian Post
For Parents: My Child Just Told Me They Struggle With Porn. Now What? – Fight the New Drug
