In times of great crisis, it’s easy to feel like we are powerless, with no control over the direction of our lives. For the victims of the flooding in Houston and the surrounding region, feelings like these are certainly all too common right now. With the loss of family members, homes, and personal possessions, and with the surreal reality of not being able to recognize your own neighborhood and city because of flooding, I can only imagine the deep sense of loss and hopelessness that the flood victims must be going through, perhaps with no clear direction on how to move forward with life.
For those of us who are not directly affected by the flooding and are feeling powerless to help, there are indeed direct ways that we can make a difference, first by praying for the victims and their families, and secondly by charitable giving if we are able.
Strangely, great calamity can also bring with it a sense of serenity. How is this possible? Serenity can come when we realize that we are indeed powerless, and therefore are left with one option: simply to trust in God and do what we can, to move one foot in front of the other, to lend a helping hand wherever it is needed. Extenuating circumstances that are beyond our control have a way of forcing us to slow down, giving us a kind of tunnel vision to focus on the basics of life: food, clothing, shelter, helping those in need. This forced limitation of options and elimination of worldly distractions can bring with it a sense of peaceful resignation to accept whatever may come, because what other option is there? As we have seen in Houston, an amazing sense of solidarity can develop from these circumstances. A widespread disaster quickly makes it clear that despite people’s political and cultural differences, we are all ultimately in this thing called “life” together.
As the flooding in Texas and every other immense catastrophe has shown, good always comes out of even the direst situations. When we humbly accept what comes our way, God rewards our trust with His grace, mercy, and love.
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
Historical Revisionism – Ken Blackwell
The Battle for Truth and Love – Marcus Harris
Ways to Help Texas Flood Victims
Science vs. Science on USDA Nominee’s Views of “LGBT Behavior” and “Choice” – Peter Sprigg
International Religious Freedom in 2016: Still Work to Be Done – Travis Weber
Why Is Iceland “Eradicating” People With Down Syndrome? – Dan Hart
Religious Liberty
Religious Liberty in the Public Square
5-Year FRC Shooting Anniversary Offers A Study In Presidential Reactions To Hate Crimes – Mollie Hemingway, The Federalist
Why Is the Southern Poverty Law Center Targeting Liberals? – Ayaan Hirsi Ali, The New York Times
Christian ministry sues after being listed as 'hate' group alongside KKK and neo-Nazis – Harry Farley, Christian Today
Southern Poverty Law Center Transfers Millions in Cash to Offshore Entities – Joe Schoffstall, The Washington Free Beacon
J.P. Morgan’s Hate List – Kimberley A. Strassel, The Wall Street Journal
Southern Poverty Law Center: ‘Our Aim In Life Is to Destroy These Groups, Completely’ – Tyler O’Neil, PJ Media
SPLC ‘Hate Map’ Targets Christians, Pro-Family Groups – Joan Frawley Desmond, National Catholic Register
Liberal law center demonizes Christian foes of LGBTQ agenda as ‘hate groups’ – Peter LaBarbera, LifeSiteNews
Groups: Justice court filings defy Trump promises on religious freedom – John Solomon, The Hill
A Wisconsin Judge Builds the Case for Religious Freedom – Rod Anderson, The Christian Post
Political CEOs – Mark Baurlein, First Things
St. Louis’s Unholy War on Religious Liberty – Nathanael Blake, Public Discourse
As College Students Return to Campus, Let’s Allow Free Speech to Reign – Carson Holloway, The Daily Signal
Why a British Muslim Is Suing the Southern Poverty Law Center – Chris Tomlinson, Breitbart
"Free to Believe"
Cake artist to Supreme Court: Affirm artistic freedom, free speech – Alliance Defending Freedom
Court rules high school football coach cannot pray on the field – Todd Starnes, Fox News
Masterpiece Cakeshop: Can the State Force Us to Agree with Its Views? – Jonathan Scruggs, National Review
Court solidifies victory for photographer, other Wisconsin creative professionals – Alliance Defending Freedom
Teacher: Dear Parents, Tell Your Kids to Stop Talking About God – ToddStarnes.com
First Grader Sent to Office, Investigated, for “Pronoun Mishap” – Todd Starnes, Townhall
International Religious Freedom
Christianity Could Vanish From Middle East by 2025 If Terrorism Continues, Believers Warn – Stoyan Zaimov, The Christian Post
Egypt Closes Church Over Muslim Extremist Opposition, Blocks Worship at Another – Samuel Smith, The Christian Post
State Dept. Releases Report on Status of Religious Freedom in 199 Countries – 21st Century Wilberforce
Sudan Arrests 7 Pastors Who Refused to Give Gov't Control of Denomination – Samuel Smith, The Christian Post
Top 5 Worst Countries With Blasphemy Laws Ranked by USCIRF, One Christian Nation Listed at No. 7 – Stoyan Zaimov, The Christian Post
Life
Abortion
Top 10 Reasons Why It’s Good to be Pro-Life – Maria Gallagher, LifeNews
Pro-Choicers Should Explain Why They Think Eugenics Is Acceptable – David Harsanyi, The Federalist
Texas permanently bans taxpayer funding of abortion – Fr. Mark Hodges, LifeSiteNews
Shunning The Disabled – J.D. Flynn, First Things
Oregon governor signs bill offering free abortions to citizens and undocumented immigrants – Becky Yeh, Live Action
Ten (Bad, But Popular) Arguments for Abortion – David Hershenov, Public Discourse
Abortion Groups Attack Religious Medical Providers, Right of Conscience for Health Workers – Rebecca Oas, C-Fam
Fighting for Life in the ‘Abortion Capital of the Western World’ – Jim Graves, National Catholic Register
Hidden Abuse of Women: Coerced Abortions – Colin LeCroy, National Review
Adoption
Group Works to Promote Adoption as Positive Parenting Option – Megan Reuther, WHOTV
Bioethics
It’s a Culture War, Stupid – George Weigel, First Things
How one man’s fight to save his dying wife allowed him to witness two miracles of life – Susan Michelle-Hanson, Live Action
The Charlie Gard Legacy: Forced Euthanasia – Chris Michalski, The Stream
Iceland Capital’s Only Baptist Pastor Doesn’t Want Down Syndrome Eliminated – Gunnar Ingi Gunnarsson, Christianity Today
Obamacare
America Already Has A Single-Payer System, And It’s Killing Veterans Like Me – Jonathan LaForce, The Federalist
Obamacare Insurer Lost $57.6 Million in First Half of 2017 – Robert Donachie, The Daily Signal
How House Conservatives Plan to Revive Obamacare Repeal, and Why It Could Work – Rachel del Guidice, The Daily Signal
Family
Economics/Education
The Crisis of the Christian Colleges – Stephen Baskerville, Crisis
The Need for Thick Schools: Classical Education Against Cynicism – Casey Shutt, Public Discourse
Podcast: Sen. Ben Sasse and Russell Moore discuss parenting, education, and vocation in an era of historic disruptions in the workforce – Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission
America, Home of the Transactional Marriage – Victor Tan Chen, The Atlantic
Marriage
Why you should brag about your husband – Jenna McDonald, Aleteia
This Is the Truth About Good Communication in Marriage – Laura Triggs, Verily
Has Marriage Become My Idol? – John Piper, Desiring God
How trials can make your marriage better – Sarah Walton, Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission
Want a better marriage? Share a sport – Craig Swalboski, Post-Bulletin
Relationship Standard Bearing: When It’s Not Okay to Not Be Okay – Kelly M. Roberts, Family Studies
Faith/Character/Culture
The iPhone and Us – Daniel Ross Goodman, Public Discourse
Michael Cromartie, R.I.P. – Ethics & Public Policy Center
After the Flood, All the Colors Come Out – Jared C. Wilson, The Gospel Coalition
Six Questions to Ask Before You Binge on Netflix – John Piper, Desiring God
Atheism and the Problem of Beauty – Joe Heschmeyer, Word On Fire
The Christian Understanding of the Human Person – Gerhard Cardinal Müller, Principles
Human Sexuality
Video: How do you teach your children about manhood and womanhood from a biblical perspective? – Daniel Akin, Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission
Precious Clarity on Human Sexuality: Introducing the Nashville Statement – John Piper, Desiring God
Mapping the New Mating Market: A Review of Cheap Sex – Helen Alvaré, Family Studies
How Catholics Can Welcome LGBT Believers – Cardinal Robert Sarah, The Wall Street Journal
UNESCO Promotes Sex-Change and Abortion for Kids – Marianna Orlandi, C-Fam
Preventing sexual violence starts with what we teach our boys – Maryjo Oster, Child Trends
Human Trafficking
Video: Fighting Human Trafficking in America – Dallas Theological Seminary
Google Attempts to Block Bill to Hold Sex-Traffickers Accountable – Lisa Correnti, C-Fam
Comboni nun answers ‘scream of pain’ of human trafficking victims Inés – Inés San Martín, Crux
Pornography
Pastor fired for porn addiction offers help to fellow strugglers – Greg Garrison, Alabama Living
You Are Not Addicted: The Power to Resist Pornography – John Piper, Desiring God
I Was a Pastor Hooked on Porn – Garrett Kell, The Gospel Coalition
4 Signs Your Man Is Serious About Quitting Porn – Monica Gabriel Marshall, Verily