Articles by David E. Smith
By David E. Smith
|
01.03.22
If you do an internet search on the phrase “finding your purpose,” Google identifies approximately 1,140,000,000 websites, books, blogs, op-ed pieces, podcasts, academic papers, etc. that might help in the quest to determine what one’s purpose is in life. Without...
By David E. Smith
|
12.31.21
Did you know? The IRS will allow taxpayers to claim both the standard deduction and a limited deduction for donations to qualified charities for the 2021 tax year.
By David E. Smith
|
12.27.21
Thanks to your generous contributions we have raised a little more than 75 percent for our End of Year Matching Challenge Campaign. We have until the stroke of midnight on Dec. 31st to raise the remaining 25 percent to reach our goal!
By David E. Smith
|
12.06.21
We are pleased to announce the 2021 end-of-year matching challenge! In an effort to help us raise $300,000 by the end of this month, a number of generous donors have offered to match donations to IFI all the way up to $150,000! So between now and the end of the year, you can double the impact of your giving!
By David E. Smith
|
11.25.21
On behalf of the Illinois Family Institute — and my own family — I want to wish a very happy Thanksgiving to you all.
As we all prepare to gather together with relatives, friends and neighbors to thank God for...
By David E. Smith
|
11.23.21
When I say the word “Thanksgiving,” what comes to mind?
For most of us, it would be turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie and football. If we go back in our history books, we learn that the early pilgrims celebrated the first Thanksgiving to give God thanks for His goodness. From that time forward...
By David E. Smith
|
11.19.21
God’s Word is filled with promises, commands, exhortations, and encouragement. Scripture is also replete with warnings. In 1 John 2:15-16, we read:
“Do not love the world nor the things of the world. If anyone loves the world, the love...
By David E. Smith
|
10.28.21
I know we shouldn't be surprised. We know intuitively and intellectually that the nature of Big Government is tyranny. Yet I was stunned to watch Illinois Democratic State Lawmakers intentionally and aggressively pursued an agenda to diminish the civil rights of its people. Not only did they attack health care conscience rights protections, but they also repealed Illinois' last major abortion regulation which ensured the rights of parents/guardians to be notified when their minor daughter seeks to have an abortion.
By David E. Smith
|
10.27.21
On Tuesday afternoon, the Illinois Senate Executive Committee heard testimony on HB 370, the legislation to repeal the Parental Notice of Abortion Act. A few hours later, it was sent to the Illinois Senate floor, debated and then passed by...
By David E. Smith
|
10.27.21
As we reported earlier, the Illinois Senate passed the pro-abortion, anti-parental rights HB 370 by a vote of 32-22 yesterday. The bill is now in the Illinois House Executive Committee for consideration. We only have a short time to fill out witness slips in opposition to Amendments 1 and 2.
By David E. Smith
|
10.26.21
State Representatives Robyn Gabel (D-Evanston), Bob Morgan (D-Highwood) and State Senator Melinda Bush (D-Grayslake) are sponsoring legislation (SB 1169) to diminish the Illinois Health Care Right of Conscience Act specifically for COVID-19 remediation. In other words, these state lawmakers are heading up the effort to strike down existing legislation protecting citizens' rights to excuse themselves from the COVID-19 vaccine mandate.
By David E. Smith
|
10.25.21
We recently read a great little sermon illustration in which a young boy asked his father, “Dad, I was watching a TV show about marine biologists. Why do scuba-divers jump backwards into the water?” His father wittily responded, “Because if they jumped forward, they'd still be in the boat!”
By David E. Smith
|
10.19.21
The Illinois Family Institute Faith, Family, and Freedom Fall Banquet will take place in less than two weeks, and we can hardly wait to welcome our special guest, Rev. Dr. Erwin W. Lutzer!
By David E. Smith
|
10.07.21
IFI’s Annual Banquet is getting closer! This year we are hosting our special fall event at the Carlisle in Lombard on October 29th, and we still have ad space, sponsorships, table hosts, and individual seats available.
We are very pleased...
By David E. Smith
|
09.30.21
Last Friday, by a vote of 218 to 211, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a radical pro-abortion bill that would essentially codify Roe v. Wade. The so-called "Women’s Health Protection Act of 2021" (H.R. 3755) would create an absolute right to abortion in federal law, superseding all state laws. The vote fell along party lines, with only one Democrat—U.S. Representatives Henry Cuellar (D-TX)—voting against the bill.
