由Jim Dearman

Today marks America's 247th Independence Day. This celebration highlights the freedom to worship and practice faith openly in the U.S. Meanwhile, the Alliance of Christians in Cuba (ACC) has condemned ongoing human rights and religious freedom violations, demanding the release of religious prisoners like Pastor Lorenzo Rosales Fajardo and the free …

Devotional Time - II Thessalonians 1:7-10 Repairing Our Understanding - The Poor Canaanites Sound Words - A Bar to Heaven and a Door to Hell Be Ready Always - Does the New Testament ever talk about the wrath of God? Have a Bible Question - Can we know how old Abimelech's kingdom lasted?由Mark Teske, Troy Spradlin, Roger Campbell

In recent news, Mark Rienzi, president of the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, testified before Congress on utilizing existing federal laws, including the Ku Klux Klan Act, to combat antisemitism at universities. Additionally, South Fork Outdoorsmen Church in Rigby, Idaho, has rejuvenated its congregation through community outreach and simple ser…

由Jim Dearman

Oklahoma’s top education official, Ryan Walters, has mandated that public schools incorporate the Bible into lessons for grades 5-12, sparking controversy and raising constitutional concerns. Meanwhile, First Church in Berlin, Maryland, held a special Vacation Bible School for children with disabilities, offering sensory-friendly activities in part…

由Jim Dearman

由Mark Teske

由Jim Dearman

L.A. Mayor Karen Bass on Wednesday, June 26, said she is exploring the idea of buffer zones around houses of worship in response to a pro-Palestinian protest at a synagogue on Sunday but said that placing regulations on masks at public demonstrations — at this point — would likely not hold up in court. There were pro-Palestinian protesters who had …

由Jim Dearman

In a 5-4 vote, the U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) sent the case of Idaho and Moyle v. U.S. back to the Ninth Circuit Court in a ruling released today. The case involves a conflict between state law and the Biden Administration’s Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA). “At the heart of the case is the wild assertion by the Biden Administrat…

由Jim Dearman

U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy called for warning labels to be placed on social media, saying in a post to X it is “an important contributor” to a youth mental health crisis. “Congress’ top priority should be making these platforms safer by passing legislation to protect kids’ health, safety and privacy,” he said. Among those cheering the surgeo…

由Jim Dearman

The Supreme Court announced Monday they will hear arguments in a Tennessee case that puts limitations on gender transition treatment for minors. Ethics leader Brent Leatherwood told Baptist Press, “This Tennessee law, created to protect vulnerable children, is now being challenged by the Biden administration in their latest effort to push forward r…

由Jim Dearman

Monday marked the second anniversary of the Supreme Court decision that overturned the Roe vs. Wade decision… moving the abortion debate primarily to state legislators. Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission president Brent Leatherwood says the marker doesn’t indicate an end of an era but instead, a new beginning. “We rejoice knowing the ruling pu…

由Jim Dearman

Today marks the second anniversary of the Supreme Court case that overturned Roe vs. Wade. The decision paves the way for the abortion debate to move from Washington to state capitols across the US. The last two years have been filled with ballot initiatives, executive orders and legislations across the US that has varied greatly. The decision has …

Devotional Time - Romans 6:1-4 Walkin' & Talkin' in the Light - Come Let Us Reason Together Sound Words - The One Who Never Sleeps Truths from the Timeless Text - Preserving God's Message Just a Minute - The Gift of Grace Have a Bible Question - Does grace need to be appropriated?由Mark Teske, Freddie Clayton, Joe Guy

由Mark Teske

由Jim Dearman

由Jim Dearman

Scripture engagement improves hope and lowers stress in Generation Z, a group that otherwise fares worse than any other generation, the American Bible Society said in its latest release from the 2024 State of the Bible. Gen Zers largely saw their life’s plans interrupted by the COVID pandemic and are stressed and less hopeful amid an uncertain job …

As wildfires are sweeping across portions of New Mexico, first responders are working to get control of the fires and care for residents in affected regions. Disaster relief workers are keeping a close watch on the fires and are preparing to help those affected as they recover. -- Church leaders across have worked together to develop a new curricul…

Refugees are those driven from their homeland because of war, or threat of violence or persecution. At a Send Relief meeting in Indianapolis last week, Bryant Wright, president of Send Relief, told of time in 2014 when he and his wife sat in the tent home of a Syrian refugee family on the border of Lebanon and Syria. The father, blinded by the rava…

由Jim Dearman

Chaplains from the US military and civilian chaplains where honored last week in Indianpolis. During a luncheon, Chaplain Major General Doug Carver (U.S. Army retired) told the group, ““You are sent outside of your church to some tough places where the church can’t go,” Carver said, emphasizing the unique and vital role chaplains play in prisons, h…

Communicating with the Deaf community in its heart language is a key concept of Jesus: A Deaf Missions Film portraying the story of Jesus entirely in American Sign Language (ASL), billed by Deaf Missions as the first-ever ASL adaptation for the silver screen. The film removes all barriers Deaf people face when viewing spoken-language films with sub…

由Jim Dearman

Devotional Time - Romans 1:20-25 Repairing Our Understanding - What the Gospel Can't Do Sound Words - An Atheist's Utopia Truths from the Timeless Text - Substance and Evidence Just a Minute - Go Back to the Source: Creation Have a Bible Question - Is Genesis 2:23-24 Adam's first words and how did the idea of a "father and mother" ever cross his mi…

由Mark Teske

由Jim Dearman

由Jim Dearman

Today is Flag Day, though not celebrated as a national holiday, it’s been a recongnized day since 1916, when President Woodrow Wilson issued a presidential proclamation establishing a national Flag Day on June 14, according to the Library of Congress. To date, there have been twenty-seven official versions of the flag, but the arrangement of the st…

由Jim Dearman

The Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission is asking believers to think about their opinion on in vitro fertilization to make sure it aligns with their theological convictions. They write, “While many claim that IVF is simply a treatment for infertility, there are a range of ethical considerations with the process. Many individuals feel and even h…

由Jim Dearman

The two-day meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention wraps up today in Indianapolis. Messengers to the meeting make financial and governing decisions for the world’s largest group of Protestant believers. Central to the work of the meeting is the commissioning of new missionaries to take the Gospel to the nations. This year, the IMB put forward m…

由Jim Dearman

The Southern Baptist Convention begins its 2024 Annual Meeting today in Indianapolis. More than 10,000 messengers are gathering to hear reports related to missions, church planting, and the work of the convention. Messengers are considering recommendations on sexual abuse response and reform as well as ways to improve cooperation among the conventi…

When Eric Costanzo became pastor at South Tulsa Baptist Church in 2016, his congregation began supporting local refugees. They discovered a nearby Syrian family, which led to connections with numerous international families. The church's involvement expanded, helping English Language Learners and starting an International and Refugee Ministry, now …

由Jim Dearman

由Mark Teske

Devotional Time - Hebrews 5:8-9 Be Ready Always - What does it mean to "obey the Gospel?" Sound Words - A Promise Kept Walkin' & Talkin' in the Light - Consider Yourself Warned Just a Minute - Righteousness, Self-Control, and Judgment to Come Have a Bible Question - In what way are God's commandments not burdensome (I John 5:3)?…

由Jim Dearman

Following the decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization in 2022 to overturn Roe v. Wade, the issue of abortion rights has taken center stage in state-level politics. This has resulted in numerous state ballot initiatives being decided by voters this fall, many of which relate to abortion and either seek to protect or harm preborn chi…

由Jim Dearman

There are thirteen states potentially considering abortion-related ballot initiatives this election year. At least 11 of them have been labeled anti-life by the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission. In Florida, the ballot initiative amends the Florida constitution by barring the government from “prohibiting, penalizing, delaying, or restricting …