Read: Details of this latest research — and its implications.

Related:

Here is a Family Life Newsmaker Interview on the question of why so many people of faith sit out, letting others determine the directions of their government and their culture:

A Christian leader, named Chris Leader, is on a 100-day countdown to encourage evangelical Christians to register to vote this fall.

The “separation of church and state” isn’t in the U.S. Constitution, not in that form anyway.  But Chris Leader says many people of faith separate themselves from political and social involvement. His effort “Vote Your Faith” is trying to change that.

In this conversation with Family Life’s Greg Gillispie, Leader explains how some Christians are being intimidated, so they avoid voting, politicking, or even speaking out on the issues in the nation and in the local community. He points to Biblical motivation to get registered, plus how a better turnout of Christian voters could quickly solve many of the current problems in our culture.

Vote Your Faith offers inspiration, resources and tools to help improve the ratio of faithful Christians who participate in campaigns and elections. (Some surveys show that 25 to 33 percent of evangelicals stay away from the polls on Election Day).

As of the date of this Family Life Newsmaker Interview (9/05/2024), Chris Leader was about one-third of the way through his 100 Day Countdown to November 5th . He posts a new commentary each day.

Here are links to those (soon to be) 100 commentaries and the Vote Your Faith website.

9/19/24 5 O ‘Clock Report

The bible is where we turn when we want to find answers, but where did it come from, and is it really something we should be trusting?

Bible Verses: Matthew 24:35, Isaiah 30:8, James 1:22, Psalm 119:11

A Christian leader, named Chris Leader, is on a 100-day countdown to encourage evangelical Christians to register to vote this fall.

The “separation of church and state” isn’t in the U.S. Constitution, not in that form anyway.  But Chris Leader says many people of faith separate themselves from political and social involvement. His effort “Vote Your Faith” is trying to change that.

In this conversation with Family Life’s Greg Gillispie, Leader explains how some Christians are being intimidated, so they avoid voting, politicking, or even speaking out on the issues in the nation and in the local community. He points to Biblical motivation to get registered, plus how a better turnout of Christian voters could quickly solve many of the current problems in our culture.

Vote Your Faith offers inspiration, resources and tools to help improve the ratio of faithful Christians who participate in campaigns and elections. (Some surveys show that 25 to 33 percent of evangelicals stay away from the polls on Election Day).

As of the date of this Family Life Newsmaker Interview (9/05/2024), Chris Leader is about one-third of the way through his 100 Day Countdown to November 5th . He posts a new commentary each day.

Here are links to those (soon to be) 100 commentaries and the Vote Your Faith website.

Zooming Out to Bigger Views of the Issues surrounding this Election

A Special Edition of the Family Life Noon Report

Labor Day – 9/02/2024

The proverbial “start” of the election season traditionally kicks in Labor Day Weekend. As American culture slides past the holiday and into the school year, voters are within a couple of months of Election Day. While much of the public has been plugged in to this year’s unique campaign, others are just now ready to begin to explore who and what will be on the ballot.

In this half-hour special from Family Life News, we zoom out beyond the daily and weekly twists and turns of the candidates and their campaign. Today, we delve into some of the bigger issues about the election:

Bob Price and Greg Gillispie have extended interviews with these expert guests:

Click/tap each photograph for additional interviews with these guests, plus their biographies, or scroll through additional podcasts at www.FamilyLife.org/newspodcasts.

All Family Life News podcasts are available for listening, subscribing, downloading and sharing. Go to FamilyLife.org or use the Family Life Now app.

 Smith

 McGuire

  Roberts

  Stonestreet

An update:  In the conversation about IRS regulations about churches which receive charitable contribution status, our guest mentioned the Johnson Amendment (starting at :19:37 in this recording). Now, the National Religious Broadcasters organization is leading other plaintiffs in a federal lawsuit against the IRS, contending those 1950’s-era regulations seek to place unconstitutional restrictions on free speech and freedom of religion. This new article from MinistryWatch.com explores the issues surrounding this complaint from the faith-based groups.

The Parable Podcast with Family Life on-air host Randy Snavely focuses on the parables of Jesus, the meaning of the lessons He taught, and why He taught them as He did, with commentary and discussion that makes them relevant to our listeners lives today. In this episode, it’s part one of the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector, taken from Luke 18: 9-14.

It’s “Staycation Destinations” on Family Life

The last week of August marks the anniversary of a milestone that transformed northwest Pennsylvania — and transformed the world.

It was 1859, when “Colonel” Edwin Drake struck oil at his new well south of Titusville. As he and his team developed the infrastructure to drill, store and transport oil, the petroleum industry mushroomed. So did “oil boom” towns throughout the region.

The Drake Well Museum & Park is at the site of that first well. It tells the story of this discovery which directly led to huge changes in the local economy, the world of transportation and so much more.

Executive Director Emily Weaver tells us about this history and about what modern-day visitors to the site can see at the Drake Well.

Visitor information about the museum and grounds are available at www.DrakeWell.org. There you can find for about the exhibits, history and upcoming events.

We also have separate podcast-only bonus content, as Emily Weaver gives us a radio tour of a town which went from almost nothing to a population of 15,000 — back to almost nothing. The Friends of Drake Well historical organization has a twin attraction about 20 miles further south:  Pithole City.

This extended interview has that story, and information about what visitors can see there too. The biggest annual event there happens in mid-Autumn, the Pithole Lantern Tour.

Listen, download, or share this bonus content here.

Many Christian colleges — like their secular counterparts — are facing financial and enrollment pressures which threaten their futures.

Christian journalist Warren Smith, today’s guest on Family Life’s “Faith Under Fire”, analyzes the issues which have led to numerous faith-based schools retrenching, with some forced to merge or close their doors. He says decisions need to be made — by college administrators, by families with college-bound students, and by churches and denominations. If there is value to higher education with a Christian centering, there are ways to make that more feasible.

In addition to identifying problems with tuition costs and college debts, Smith has some success stories too:  Christian universities which have “doubled down” on their unique identities, and some who have focused on degrees which reward graduates with high salaries and numerous career opportunities.

Warren Smith is president of MinistryWatch.com, a Christian news organization which covers national and global ministry organizations, transparency for Christian donors, and religious news across the spectrum. Ministry Watch has done extended coverage on Christian higher education, inspiring trends, and college closures (such as the recent one at Clarks Summit University in the Family Life listening area).

“Faith Under Fire” with Greg Gillispie is a Thursday news feature on the Family Life radio network, on the air and through our live streams. Expanded versions of those interviews are also available from our website and many podcast feed apps. Search for “Family Life News”.

When we fear what we can gain or lose by the authorities of this world, we’re not thinking with Jesus as our King. Becki, Jim and Tim look at John 11:45-57.

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This is the 5 O’Clock Report from Family Life News

Anchor Sarah Harnisch has Thursday’s top stories, including updates as the verdict against Donald Trump was being announced in New York City.