Articles by David E. Smith
By David E. Smith
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01.20.23
In the wake of SCOTUS decision to strike down Roe v. Wade and the so-called "right" to abortion, we praise God for how dozens of states in the nation have moved to ban or greatly restrict this heinous practice. In blue states like Illinois however, those who love death are busy establishing new death chambers, expanding to strategic new locations and inviting people over the state line to destroy innocent human life. As we once again recognize Sanctity of Human Life Sunday (January 22, 2023), Christ followers must respond intentionally, bringing both salt and light to this desperate situation.
By David E. Smith
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01.12.23
Just when you think Illinois couldn’t do more for Big Abortion Inc. than it already has, Illinois Democrats passed a Planned Parenthood “wish list” on the last day of the lame duck session. On Tuesday afternoon, January 10th, the Illinois...
By David E. Smith
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01.10.23
SpeakOut Illinois will be hosting its annual conference and memorial to the victims of legalized abortion on Saturday, February 25, 2023 at Drury Lane in Oakbrook Terrace.
By David E. Smith
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01.09.23
In late May of 2021, the Illinois General Assembly jammed through SB 818, a bill to require so-called "comprehensive sex-education" to be taught in public schools, starting in kindergarten through 12th grade. It was signed by Governor JB Pritzker and became law on August 20, 2021, despite the hue and cry of parents and grandparents throughout the state. Public schools that taught health and safety classes would have to now teach left-wing sexuality classes to our impressionable young students.
By David E. Smith
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12.30.22
I am excited to share some good news with you about the $260,000 matching challenge we wrote about two weeks ago: The response to this challenge has been slower than in years past, but we are making progress toward meeting the goal before we hit midnight on Saturday evening.
By David E. Smith
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11.20.22
Pastor Derek Buikema asks professor, theologian, and author Dr. Carl Trueman to explain a bit about “expressive individualism,” the subject of Dr. Trueman’s important book The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self: Cultural Amnesia, Expressive Individualism, and the Road to Sexual Revolution.
By David E. Smith
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11.20.22
In another brief excerpt from IFI’s interview with Dr. Carl Trueman, author of two books that touch on “trans”-cultic beliefs including Strange New World: How Thinkers and Activists Redefined Identity and Sparked the Sexual Revolution, Pastor Derek Buikema asks about the responsibility of Christians in regard to the harm being done to children by “trans”-cultic beliefs.
By David E. Smith
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11.19.22
How does Illinois compare to Oklahoma and Florida in protecting religious liberty? Do we have weak or strong protections for health-care workers, the ability of religious organizations to refuse participation in marriage and weddings that violate religious beliefs, and exemptions to childhood immunization requirements. What are the states with the best safeguards of free exercise in the nation?
By David E. Smith
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11.15.22
In this excerpt from IFI’s interview with professor, theologian, and author Dr. Carl Trueman, Pastor Derek Buikema asks what should determine whether Christians stay or leave a church (or denomination) that appears to be moving away from orthodoxy.
By David E. Smith
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11.11.22
There are dozens of great pro-life films and documentaries that have been produced over the past several decades, but there is a new one out that we want to make sure is on your "must watch" list. It is called "The Matter of Life," and it is a powerful and informative documentary about abortion in the United States. In fact, we think it is so important that we are hosting showings of this film in various locations throughout the state...
By David E. Smith
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11.10.22
In this excerpt from IFI’s interview with Professor Carl Trueman, author of The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self, Pastor Derek Buikema’s asks why, “in some places mainline Christianity” has come to affirm sin. Dr. Trueman identifies two factors as integral to this apostasy: freedom of religion and the church’s “vocabulary of love.”
By David E. Smith
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11.05.22
We know you have likely been reminded multiple times over the past several weeks of the importance of this election and your participation in our government "of the people, by the people and for the people." Thank you for your patience with these repetitive messages! Soon, the opportunity to vote in this election will be over. The messaging will stop. The decisions will have been made.
By David E. Smith
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10.03.22
In this fifth excerpt from Pastor Derek Buikema’s interview with Dr. Carl Trueman for Illinois Family Institute, Dr. Trueman touches on a serious problem with contemporary preaching that reflects both a “consumerist” mindset and the ideology of “expressive individualism.”
By David E. Smith
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09.22.22
In his interview with Dr. Carl Trueman for Illinois Family Institute, Pastor Derek Buikema asked how Christians may be inadvertently capitulating to “expressive individualism.”
By David E. Smith
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09.08.22
In an alarming new trend, and in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to strike down the contrived “right” to abortion, more men and women are choosing permanent sterilization. According to an article published by the LA Times, if women were already planning not to have kids, they decided to get sterilized sooner, or they were thinking more intensely about sterilization after the Dobbs decision was leaked.
