Dear Friends,
After Labor Day, a common emotion that is experienced by many of us is one of melancholy. We get the sense that the season is beginning to change from summer to fall, and with it, many of us seem to be thrust back in to our roles as workers and students after our summer vacations and school breaks, with all the responsibilities and stress that goes along with it. It’s notable that fully 87 percent of people in the world don’t particularly enjoy their jobs, and I’m sure most adult readers remember childhood feelings of dread at the thought of going back to school after summer break.
What’s important to remember during this time of transition is that work is actually a gift from God that is meant to fulfill us. John Cuddeback writes: “…work has a humanizing power: [in] some important sense it both expresses and brings about our humanity… Our daily work should … provide a basic and irreplaceable experience of human fulfillment … We can first of all seek the humanizing element in our daily work—whatever that work might be.”
In order for us to be fulfilled by our work, we must be engaged by it, and there are helpful steps we can take to be more productive at and satisfied with our jobs. During this season of new beginnings, let’s make a special effort to use our God-given strengths and talents to excel in our work, not just for the benefit of us and our families, but for the betterment of society and to give glory to the Giver of all that we have.
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
Why Judge Kavanaugh Should Be Confirmed to the Supreme Court – Travis Weber and Chris Gacek
What to Expect From the Kavanaugh Confirmation Hearing – Ken Blackwell
California’s ‘Must Stay Gay’ Bill Is Nearing Passage. Here’s the Severe Harm It Would Do. – Peter Sprigg
SOGI Law Forces Catholic Adoption Provider to Close After 95 Years – David Closson
Forced Use of False Pronouns Kills Faith and Freedom – Cathy Ruse
New CDC Numbers Show the Sexual Revolution Keeps Making Things Worse – Cathy Ruse
India’s Opportunity for Religious Freedom – Travis Weber
Update on California’s AB 2943: Therapy Ban Assaulting Freedom of Speech and Religion Passes Senate – Peter Sprigg
3 Ways in Which Brett Kavanaugh Has Supported Religious Liberty – Travis Weber
Religious Liberty
Religious Liberty in the Public Square
Despite my court win, Colorado Civil Rights Commission is coming after me again – Jack Phillips, USA Today
Southern Poverty Law Center ‘Hate’ Labels Deserve a Vigorous Response – Michael Farris, National Review
SoCal Harvest: Thousands to 'Take a Stand' for Bible Amid Greg Laurie's Billboard Controversy – Samuel Smith, The Christian Post
Pastor Faces Eviction for Hosting Home Bible Study – ToddStarnes.com
‘In God We Trust’ Motto On Currency Deemed Constitutional By Court After Atheists Complain – Kassy Dillon, The Daily Wire
The Transgender Language War – Abigail Shrier, The Wall Street Journal
Two-thirds of conservatives don't trust Facebook, say they're being censored – Jennifer Harper, The Washington Times
Christian Cake Baker Turns the Tables, Sues Colorado for Anti-Religious Bias – Thomas Jipping, The Daily Signal
International Religious Freedom
Nigerian Girl Who Refused to Renounce Jesus for Her Freedom Begs for Help in Newly Released Audio – Stoyan Zaimov, The Christian Post
The Shameful Abandonment of the Yazidis – Judith Bergman, The Christian Post
European Union Religious Freedom Report
Life
Abortion
Why we should work to overturn abortion laws – Andrew T. Walker, Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission
'Most Damning' Planned Parenthood Videos Yet Set for Release if Judge Lifts Gag Order – Tyler O’Neil, PJ Media
California state assembly passes law mandating abortion on college campuses – Cassy Fiano-Chesser, Live Action
Trump administration moves to cut Planned Parenthood funding sooner – Live Action
Adoption
States Must Stop the War on Faith-Based Adoption Agencies – Monica Burke, The Daily Signal
Is it OK to get attached to a foster child? – Ashley Gorman, Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission
The Other Side of Foster Care – Jason Johnson, Family Studies
Bioethics
Oregon dives deeper into assisted suicide with new drug policy – Bradley Mattes, LifeSiteNews
Families of assisted suicide victims plead for the killing to end – Cassy Fiano-Chesser, Live Action
Family
Marriage
For Better or Worse: The Marriage-Health Connection – Aaron Cheesman, Sacramento Magazine
How (and Why) Government Should Invest in Marriage – Alan J. Hawkins and Hal Boyd, Public Discourse
Why Every Sane Society Encourages Marriage, Not Divorce – Chuck Chalberg, Intellectual Takeout
An Open Letter from Young Adults to Married Couples – Allegra Thatcher, The Stream
Hospital Wedding of Terminally Ill Woman a Powerful Witness – Maria Ximena Rondon, National Catholic Register
Parenting
Stop Criminalizing Parenthood – Kerry McDonald, Intellectual Takeout
How to Reassure Your Children of Who They Are in God's Eyes – Sara Hagerty, Focus on the Family
Motherhood: Why Society is Making it the Most Stress-Ridden Career – Veronika Winkels, Intellectual Takeout
Talking with Our Children About Homosexuality – Lucy Olson, The Gospel Coalition
How Low-Energy Parents Can Get Their Children to Cooperate – Zac Alstin, Intellectual Takeout
Teach Them About Marriage Before the World Does – Jani Ortlund, Desiring God
Economics/Education
How Our Education System Fails Most Students – Oren Cass, Family Studies
Want More Power To The People? Choose Capitalism – Andy Pudzer, The Federalist
Strong Families Make Strong Schools – Brianna Heldt, National Catholic Register
7 Things I'd Do if I Wanted to Keep Poor People Poor – Brian Balfour, Intellectual Takeout
Faith/Character/Culture
Why Everything Is Wonderful But Nobody’s Happy, And What To Do About It – Nathanael Blake, The Federalist
How an unsatisfying life leads to spiritual freedom – Amy Simpson, Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission
Miracle Baby Born at 22 Weeks and Given a 2% Chance of Survival Heads Home – Micaiah Bilger, Life News
Only 14 Percent Of Americans Changed Their Minds Because Of Something On Social Media – Nicole Russell, The Federalist
Kindness: A Pathway to a Satisfying Life – Barry Brownstein, Intellectual Takeout
Why It Matters That Teens Are Reading Less – Jean Twenge, Intellectual Takeout
Don’t Trust the Peace in Your Heart – Matt Rogers, The Gospel Coalition
Human Sexuality
Can Sexual Orientation Change? – Michael Cook, Intellectual Takeout
I Loved My Girlfriend—but God Loved Me More – Jackie Hill Perry, Christianity Today
STDs continue rapid rise in U.S., setting new record, CDC says – Linda Carroll, NBC News
Pornography
Amazon Pushes Pornography Ads on Website for Boy Scouts – National Center on Sexual Exploitation
18 Mind-Blowing Stats About The Porn Industry And Its Underage Consumers – Fight the New Drug
