Silver Splitters
On Wednesday, January 15th, my wife and I are hoping to celebrate our 48th wedding anniversary. We’re grateful our partnership has come this…
Mark Elfstrand
Cultural Affairs Writer
Writing for IFI since 2023 128 articles
Articles by Mark Elfstrand
When Wicked Becomes Wicked
It’s the start of a new year and you know what THAT means! Two things: worthless resolutions and a bevy of awards…
A Righteous Response to “Deny. Defend. Depose.”
Word of the year candidates for 2024 included “Polarization"—Merriam-Webster’s choice. Dictionary.com opted for “demure.” They both had their reasons. My personal choice…
How in the World Did We Get Here?
His/Her name is Drew Stever. She holds a position as a female minister in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Drew…
War as Entertainment
Tomorrow will be the annual recognition of Pearl Harbor Day. It seems like the more that time separates us from the horrific…
Snowflake Rehab?
For the most part, America has been spared early snowstorms in 2024. Colorado being a significant exception. Here in Illinois, it is…
A Grand Stand by an Illinois Man
I first met Pastor Derek Buikema in my radio work around 2018. We broadcast my two-hour talk show from the Orland Park…
Post Election Reflections
I didn’t like any of the three non-binding advisory questions on the ballot here in Illinois. The “Millionaire Tax” serves as a…
Vote Once, Please!
One of our Facebook friends, with whom I served on a church council, posted an invitation to visit his church on October…
Coneheads, Chicago, and Consumption
It’s that time of year. Most children in Illinois will parade through the streets on October 31st begging for treats instead of…
Blog Pre-election Musings
“Will Your Presidential Vote Send You to Hell?” It was a bit of a startling headline. But that, of course, is the…
Spoken and Unspoken
I can’t recall who first added a wonderful challenge to the old adage about “two things we should never talk about…religion and…