I first met Pastor Derek Buikema in my radio work around 2018. We broadcast my two-hour talk show from the Orland Park Christian Reformed Church (OPCRC) where he serves as lead pastor. Later, he would join me on a frequent segment I hosted called the Pastors Roundtable. Always an insightful guest. 

As you know, Lincoln was our first Republican president and served during the entire course of the Civil War. The war ended on April 9, 1865. Lincoln fell to an assassin’s bullet in Ford’s Theatre 5 days later.

I didn’t like any of the three non-binding advisory questions on the ballot here in Illinois. The “Millionaire Tax” serves as a “gotcha” move by those who live with envy. And the Assisted Reproductive Healthcare Advisory Question is laden with controversy.

In many ways the Lord has answered our prayers and been merciful to us as a nation. Praise be to the God of heaven for His kindness and blessings! We did not deserve this—never forgot it.

Officials at the Cook County Department of Public Health are sounding the alarm about the spike in syphilis cases, particularly congenital syphilis, in which this malady is passed to a preborn baby. Is the problem of sexually transmitted infections primarily a public health issue or a worldview issue?

A newly-created database called the Stop the Harm Database shows that 225 hospitals around the United States offer so-called “gender-affirming care” to minor children. Sadly, many of the hospitals listed in the database are right here in Illinois.

Not long ago, I lamented the Massachusetts legislature's bill attempt to redefine the nature of parenting. Touted as a needed "tune-up" to "outdated norms" in current family law, the bill was written to carefully scrub out offensive, archaic words like "paternity" and replace them with innocuous, up-to-date terms like "parentage."

DINKs are couples who have “taken over social media,” according to Christian podcast host and 2024 Illinois Family Institute banquet speaker Allie Beth Stuckey. Other thoughtful commentators like Steve Deace recently analyzed the DINK group and went so far as to ask if this group would be the death of the U.S.! Increasingly we are hearing of and learning more about this present and deeply disturbing demographic challenge of childless adults. How ought Christians think of and respond to this trend?

Dr. Pamela Garfield Jaeger has been in the mental health field for over 20 years. Known as The Truthful Therapist due to her transparency and honesty when it comes to the transgender debate, Dr. Jaeger discusses the overlooked dark side of mental health and gender distress.

Because of the dramatic skills demonstrated at every Olympics, it is hard not to cheer on our champions. I love the display of American flags and the playing of our national anthem when medals are being placed around the winners' necks. 

Gender-affirming care, until recently, has been gaining popularity around the world for treating gender dysphoria in children and adults. All that is changing. The term itself mischaracterizes the treatment. Gender-affirming care is not care. It is chemical and surgical mutilation.

On June 6 of this year, the Doctors Protecting Children Declaration officially launched. Included in the coalition of co-signers are members of the healthcare community representing a variety of specialties, including psychiatrists, pediatricians, nurses, physicians, scientists, and more.

Our world is obsessed with being offended. We frequently talk about being offended and are careful to watch what we say lest we offend someone else.

By all standards and metrics, America has a mental health crisis. Not only that, but it also has a moral crisis. The number of people who are seeking help for unwanted behaviors and emotions is growing by leaps and bounds. What is more, the link between mental health and spiritual health is undeniable.

Last month, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) became the first major medical organization to denounce the practice of performing “gender-affirming care” procedures on minors. ASPS represents over 90% of all practicing plastic surgeons in the United States and Canada.