"I'm Glad You Said That" - Jim Minnery Talks Faith & Politics

According to Wikipedia (cool side note on their founder below), abolitionism is "the political movement to end slavery and liberate enslaved individuals around the world."

So, an abortion abolitionist would be the political movement to end abortion and liberate unborn children around the world...right ?

I'm on that team. Alaska Family Council has been working in the world of ending abortion politically, legally and culturally since our founding.

So what's the issue ?

As you might know, abortion abolitionists, generally speaking, do not think incremental approaches to ending abortion are effective or even moral. Oftentimes, they are actively opposing efforts to put any safeguards up unless it is total eradication.

There's a lot to chew on with this issue and I'm privileged to sit down with Daniel Cooper, an Alaskan abortion abolitionist, to examine and dissect it. 

I hope you can tune in.

Support the show

My good friend Loren Leman is on the show today.

Fisherman.
Engineer.
Christ-follower.
Musician.
Former Lt. Governor and Senator.
Exemplary husband, father and grandfather.

Loren and I will chew the fat on ranked choice voting, abortion and the horrific judicial selection process that has kept our Superior and Supreme Court in the hands of liberals.

I hope you can tune in.

Support the show

Although Rachel in Scripture did not have an abortion, we know she experienced deep pain on many levels.

Click HERE for a wonderful summary of her story and how God worked through it to give her strength and hope in a future that is unblemished.

The angst and loss Rachel had is applicable to all of us who make decisions counter to what God has in mind for our own flourishing. And yet...there is Jesus.

My guest today on "I'm Glad You Said That" is Tara Haughey with Project Rachel, a ministry within the Archdiocese of Anchorage & Juneau that provides compassion and care for people who have experienced the trauma of abortion.

To be pro life is so much more than just preventing abortions.

We serve as ambassadors of God best in this arena when we not only work at rescuing those being led to slaughter but also reach out to those who need love and forgiveness and support after a decision to end the life of a pre-born has been made. To stand alongside them not with judgement but with sincere humility and empathy.

I hope you can tune in.

Support the show

Erin Getz, Senior Director of State Walks with the National March for Life, is on the show today.

She is young and really enthusiastic about Alaska becoming the 16th state to host a March for Life. Alaska Family Council is privileged to do so with ProLife Alaska on Saturday, February 22nd in Anchorage.

Support the show

A very short time ago, to think there would be an Executive Order from the United State President entitled "Protecting Children from Chemical and Surgical Mutilation", would be unfathomable.

How times have changed.

That we have to protect children from this but more to the point of my interview today, that we are now going all in to try and stop it. The speed of history is, at times, baffling.

Today on "I'm Glad You Said That", I have the privilege of speaking with Matt Sharp, a Senior Counsel and Director of the Center for Public Policy at Alliance Defending Freedom. ADF has 13 U.S. Supreme Court victories. They are as good as it gets legally.

Matt will go into detail on why this Executive Order is so profoundly impactful and what states can expect from this strong Federal stand to lift up that which is good and punish evil. In Alaska, where no laws are in place to protect children from chemical and surgical mutilation and where these medical malpractices are occurring, this EO opens doors for us to make a difference. It's time to act.

Support the show

Dr. Ashton-Lazaroae is a pediatrician who takes the issue of gender ideology and it's harms to children, families and communities very seriously.

She was a panel speaker in October of last year at The Christian Post's seminar "Unmasking Gender Ideology" speaking on topics including:

I'm super grateful to have her on "I'm Glad You Said That" today. Hope you can tune in.

Dr. Ashton-Lazaroae has practiced general pediatrics since 1996. She received her medical degree from Indiana University School of Medicine and completed a general pediatrics residency at Vanderbilt University Children's Hospital. She is a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Northern Virginia Pediatric Society and the Christian Medical and Dental Society. She recently joined the American College of Pediatricians and assisted with launching the Biological Integrity website. She was commissioned as a Colson Fellow in 2022, after completing a teaching practicum "Transgenderism: Unraveling the Confusion."

Support the show

My good friend Senator Shelley Hughes with the Alaska Senate Republican Caucus is on the show today. We discuss education funding, defined benefits, election legislation and more. It's always a pleasure chatting with such an engaged, thoughtful and Christ honoring woman. Hope you can tune in.

Support the show

Sarah Vance, the Alaska House Representative from Homer, is on the show today talking sex trafficking and minors accessing porn online. Despite the Democrats in charge this session, she is pushing forward. 

Support the show

David Fowler has always been thinking outside of the box.

As a former State Senator, choir director, author and my friend and colleague at Family Action Council of Tennessee, David has always challenged current dialogue and jurisprudence that ignores the fundamental definition of what it means to be human.

Today, on "I'm Glad You Said That", I get to speak with him about the landmark case heard at the U.S. Supreme Court on whether the Constitution requires medical experimentation on children. As our friends at Alliance Defending Freedom have noted, the United States of America v. Skrmett case is about "the ability of states (Tennessee in this instance) to govern the practice of medicine—a responsibility that states have exercised since our nation’s founding."

Support the show

"Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man."  Matthew 15:11

How often have you felt like you defiled yourself ?

I did again myself this morning with my wife. Said something that I wish I could put "back in the tube" but toothpaste, and words, don't work that way.

Thankfully, my wife, and my God, offer forgiveness. But that is most attributed to the fact that I am in relationship with them. What about words we use that harm others that we have never even met or have no real relationship with ?

As is often said, the world of politics is a full contact sport. Emotions often run high around beliefs that run deep. Words are used all the time that make assumptions, cast broad nets and have direct and collateral damage.

At a recent State Policy Network training event I attended, I came across a session presenting a way of analyzing speech. It wasn't focused on policy or politics or party. It was highlighting the reality that much of the divide in our nation right now has as much to do with how we address disagreements as it does with the disagreement itself.

It's called The Dignity Index and it hit me pretty hard. Scripture, as you likely know, is full of words about how we use words. Jesus Himself is called, "the Word of God."  He is the personification of the written and spoken word. The testimony that God revealed through the prophets during the Old Testament period was now made human with the coming of Christ. Hence the Word became flesh.

We are image bearers and when we talk about other image bearers, we are to be like Christ.  Not easy and a very high calling but the more we can do it...the more we will be witnesses to the Truth.

Tami Pyfer is one of the creators of The Dignity Index and is my guest today on "I'm Glad You Said That". 

May we each strive to give other people the dignity they deserve.

Support the show