Court’s Actions Against Israel Cause Concern

Politicians and faith leaders are raising concerns after the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant last November for Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant over its military offensive in Gaza. The International Criminal Court, a supranational organization tasked with “trying individuals for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and aggression,” released a statement announcing that it issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu over “crimes against humanity and war crimes” that purportedly took place between Oct. 8, 2023 and May 20, 2024. The time covered by the warrant overlaps with the conflicts that have erupted after the terrorist organization Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, launched a deadly invasion in Southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people, mostly civilians.

The Hamas-run Gaza health ministry says that over 44,000 people have died in Gaza since Israel’s military offensive began, a tally that doesn’t differentiate between civilians and combatants. The Israeli government has long accused Hamas of using citizens as human shields. The warrant alleges that both Netanyahu and Gallant engaged in “the war crime of starvation as a method of warfare; and the crimes against humanity of murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts.”

According to the Pre-Trial Chamber of the ICC that issued the warrant, there are “reasonable grounds” to believe that Netanyahu and Gallant “each bear criminal responsibility as civilian superiors for the war crime of intentionally directing an attack against the civilian population.” “The Chamber considered that there are reasonable grounds to believe that both individuals intentionally and knowingly deprived the civilian population in Gaza of objects indispensable to their survival, including food, water, and medicine and medical supplies, as well as fuel and electricity, from at least 8 October 2023 to 20 May 2024,” the warrant stated. “The finding is based on the role of Mr. Netanyahu and Mr. Gallant in impeding humanitarian aid in violation of international humanitarian law and their failure to facilitate relief by all means at its disposal.”

The warrant maintains that the actions of Netanyahu and Gallant caused the “disruption of the ability of humanitarian organizations to provide food and other essential goods to the population in need in Gaza.” “The aforementioned restrictions together with cutting off electricity and reducing fuel supply also had a severe impact on the availability of water in Gaza and the ability of hospitals to provide medical care,” the document states. The warrant characterizes Israel’s military action as “calculated to bring about the destruction of part of the civilian population in Gaza.” While the chamber stopped short of charging Netanyahu and Gallant for “the crime against humanity of extermination,” the warrant alleges that they committed “the crime against humanity of murder.”

The arrest warrant drew intense reactions from politicians on both sides of the aisle, faith leaders and advocacy organizations. The Rev. Johnnie Moore, founder of the Congress of Christian Leaders, issued a statement on X calling on the U.S. Congress to “take action against the corrupt ICC.” “This actually has little to do with Netanyahu or Gallant,” wrote Moore, an Evangelical public relations executive who had strong ties to the first Donald Trump administration and was a former commissioner on the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. “It is about the profound corruption of our international institutions (some should not exist at all),” he added.

Biblical Connections: While accountability for leaders needs to exist and is a biblical concept, this accountability clearly seems to be based upon antisemitism, similar to the types of things seen throughout the Old and even into the New Testament with people like Pharaoh, Haman and Nero.

PRAY: Pray for the nation of Israel and their leadership as they continue to be attacked, both militarily and politically.

Bible Removed from Texas School District

The head of a Texas school district says the Bible had to be removed from school libraries because of a new state law prohibiting explicit books. Canyon Independent School District Superintendent Darryl Flusche announced in an email that under House Bill 900, which was passed by the Texas Legislature in 2023 protecting schools from sexually explicit or vulgar content, the Holy Bible is unsuitable due to "sexually explicit material." In an email to concerned parents, Flusche stated the full text of the Bible had been removed because it was categorized under this mandate, even though portions of the Bible remain available in the district's libraries.

 Flusche's statement cited the law's section defining "sexually explicit material" as "any communication, language, or material" that describes or depicts sexual conduct in a manner that is "patently offensive" under the Texas Penal Code. Noting that there are 30 titles available in the library at Canyon Jr. High that are "Bible stories or portions of the Bible," Flusche also cited the school's "strong connections with local churches that [would be] happy to donate a Bible upon request. "We are more than willing to assist a student who would like access to a Bible by arranging this from one of our partnering churches," he added. Flusche concluded the email by urging parents to contact their state legislators about HB 900.

 The email sparked outrage from local parents, with many expressing disbelief at the decision. At a school board meeting on Dec. 9, Canyon ISD parent Regina Kiehne told school officials it "seems absurd to me that the Good Book was thrown out with the bad books." Kiehne, who identified herself as the mother of two Canyon ISD students, said, "In a day when we are needing security guards and bulletproof windows and doors, I think having the Word of God available to our children cannot only be preventative to violence, but also provide comfort and a sense of security in a chaotic world."

She also noted that amid rising anxiety over issues like inflation, political uncertainty, and school violence, young people increasingly turn to the Bible for comfort. "It just makes sense to have the Word of God in our school library," she said. "After all, it is the book of wisdom. It is the bestselling book of all time; it is historically accurate, scientifically sound, and most importantly, life-changing." Kiehne highlighted the Bible's status as the most stolen book in history, stating, "The only reason something is stolen is because it is valuable. The Bible holds great value. It should be valued in our Texas school system."

This incident underscores a larger conversation in Texas about the place of religious texts in public education. In the last year, some state lawmakers, including Republican Rep. Bill Zedler, have championed bills to display the Ten Commandments in classrooms across the state, arguing that they provide a moral foundation and align with American values. However, these efforts have faced resistance from critics who argue that such displays violate the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Supporters of the Ten Commandments in classrooms, like Louisiana state Rep. Dodie Horton, a Republican, believe the commandments' historical and moral value outweighs religious freedom concerns. Advocates for the Bible's presence in school libraries argue that, far from endorsing any particular religion, access to the Bible supports the development of character, critical thinking and a deeper understanding of history and literature.

 Biblical Connections: Isaiah 40:8 states, “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.”

 PRAY: Pray that the Word of God will again be respected across the land and be held with the level of respect and dignity that the Bible deserves.

Church Alleges Discrimination Because of Religious Objections to Same-Sex Marriage

A church is suing the University of Maine System for allegedly refusing to sell a property to the congregation because of its religious objections to same-sex marriage. Calvary Chapel Belfast filed the complaint against UMS and some of its staff members in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maine, Bangor Division. The church submitted a proposal to UMS to purchase a vacant property known as the Hutchinson Center to accommodate its growing congregation, the filing states.

Although UMS initially allowed Calvary Chapel to negotiate the purchase of the center in August, complaints from community members over the theologically conservative views on sexual ethics and pressure from other bidders for the property led UMS to rescind their offer, the complaint reads.

“Through their rescission of the bid award to Plaintiff, Defendants acted to exclude Plaintiff from a government program solely due to its religious identity and the expression of its Bible-centered beliefs and viewpoint, including its beliefs on marriage and sexuality,” claims the lawsuit. “Defendants’ discriminatory action deprived Plaintiff of its right to freely participate in a government program while expressing its beliefs without punishment.”

The University of Maine announced last week that the center property is awarded to a nonprofit called Waldo Community Action Partners, which offered $3.06 million for the property, well above the estimated value of $2.52 million. “WCAP demonstrated proof of funds, and their top-scoring proposal did not have any contingencies that could delay a timely transition of the property, which the university anticipates could be completed by early 2025,” said the university in their announcement. “As is standard with System solicitations, the university has the right to terminate negotiations at any point if they are not proceeding in a manner that is in its best interest as a public institution.”

The church’s lawsuit claims that after its award was rescinded, it again participated in the request for proposal process but was denied in favor of WCAP. The lawsuit described the WCAP as a “secular bidder that had maliciously criticized the Church’s religious identity and beliefs and on whose Board sits a State Senator who openly stoked flames of religious hostility towards the Church in the community. UMS’s actions, culminating in the award of RFP 2025-031 to WCAP, represent a continuation of its pattern of discriminatory treatment toward the Church and a conspiracy against its constitutional rights,” the complaint states.

Liberty Counsel Founder and Chairman Mat Staver, whose Christian conservative legal group is representing Calvary Chapel, said in a statement that UMS “violated the First Amendment by discrimination against a church because of its Christian beliefs.” “Such discrimination is unlawful,” stated Staver. “It is a sad day when government officials violate the Constitutional rights of its citizens. This is a costly mistake for the University of Maine System.”

In an emailed statement to The Christian Post, a UMS spokesperson denied any wrongdoing. “The University of Maine System is still reviewing the complaint that was filed on Nov. 19 but strongly disagrees with any allegations of discrimination,” stated UMS. “As we have previously stated, every organization had the same opportunity to submit a proposal to purchase the Hutchinson Center, and every proposal received was scored by the same objective standards.” The UMS added that “those with lower-scoring offers may formally protest the award decision in writing and that “the System received a formal protest from Calvary Chapel Belfast.” “Consistent with our long-standing practice, the award is stayed until this protest is resolved,” they added.

Biblical Connection: Jesus warned standing by our convictions would cost Christians. However, the Constitution and Bill of Rights in the United States are supposed to prevent this kind of religious discrimination.

PRAY: Pray the forces within America that are trying to discriminate against Christianity will be stopped and religious freedom will be preserved.

Abortion Advocate Honored

The former president of the nation’s largest abortion provider, Planned Parenthood, has received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the United States’ highest civilian honor, disappointing pro-life advocates. President Joe Biden announced that he had awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Cecile Richards, who served as president of Planned Parenthood from 2006-2018. Richards was diagnosed with an incurable form of brain cancer last year.

 Biden shared a picture of himself and first lady Jill Biden at the White House with Richards and her husband, accompanied by a caption reading: “With absolute courage, she fearlessly leads us forward to be the America we say we are — a nation of freedom. Through her work to lift up the dignity of workers, defend and advance women’s reproductive rights and equality, and mobilize Americans to exercise their power to vote, she has carved an inspiring legacy,” he added.

Richards reacted to her recognition in an X post. “Such an honor representing abortion rights and the need for health care for all,” she wrote. “POTUS and FLOTUS, thank you for all you’ve done to support women’s health and rights. Here’s to the work ahead!”

 The White House pool report stated: “With absolute courage and conviction, Cecile Richards fearlessly leads us forward to be the America we say we are — a Nation of freedom. Carrying her parents’ torch for justice, she’s led some of our Nation’s most important civil rights causes — to lift up the dignity of workers, defend and advance women’s reproductive rights and equality, and mobilize Americans to exercise their power to vote. A leader of utmost character, she has carved an inspiring legacy that endures in her incredible family, the countless lives she has made better, and a Nation seeking the light of equality, justice, and freedom.”

 Lila Rose, founder of the pro-life advocacy group Live Action, commented “Cecile Richards presided over the abortions of 3.9 million babies as president of Planned Parenthood. She belongs in jail. Not in the White House receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom.” Kristan Hawkins, president of Students for Life of America, expressed disgust. “Cecile Richards was just given an award for killing babies in the name of ‘freedom’,” Hawkins asserted. “Cecile Richards is anything but honorable.”

 Throughout Richards’ tenure at Planned Parenthood, the organization was subject to scrutiny over undercover videos implying officials at the abortion provider aided in prostitution and admitted to selling aborted fetal tissue, with pro-lifers alleging the abortion provider violated federal law. The undercover videos led to efforts to defund Planned Parenthood, which receives millions of dollars in taxpayer funding every year.

 Although Richards stepped down from her role as Planned Parenthood head in 2018, she continues to engage in abortion advocacy. She co-founded a website titled “Abortion in America,” which seeks to tell the “stories” of the “thousands of people around the country [who] have been impacted by abortion bans” enacted at the state level after the U.S. Supreme Court determined that the U.S. Constitution does not contain a right to abortion in its 2022 Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision. Following the Dobbs ruling, several states have implemented abortion restrictions.

 Biblical Connections: In the Old Testament, nations worshiped pagan gods through child sacrifice. Any nation that not only allows this type of action but endorses it as worthy of respect is not a nation that follows God.

 PRAY: Pray the continued push for abortion will be stopped and life will be preserved and loved once more.

Doctor Deliberately Withheld Results of Puberty-blocker Study

A medical doctor and leading proponent of transgender procedures for minors recently admitted that she deliberately withheld the results of a taxpayer-funded study because it showed there were no positive mental health effects for gender dysphoric children who used puberty blockers. Dr. Johanna Olson-Kennedy, who heads the largest youth gender clinic in the United States at the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles, told The New York Times she feared releasing the results of the study would lead them to be “weaponized” by opponents of such procedures. The doctor also told the outlet she feared the study, which is part of a project that has received nearly $10 million in taxpayer funding from the National Institutes of Health, “could be used in court to argue that ‘we shouldn’t use blockers,’” according to the outlet. “I do not want our work to be weaponized,” she also said. “It has to be exactly on point, clear and concise. And that takes time.”

The study, which began in 2015, followed 95 children with an average age of 11, who started taking puberty-blocking drugs, which prevent the development of natural bodily changes such as breast growth in females or voice changes in males. After the study showed the puberty blockers offered no improvement to their mental health after two years, Olson-Kennedy claimed that was because the study’s participants were already “in really good shape.” The New York Times noted that about a fourth of the patients in the study “were depressed or suicidal” before their treatment.

As The Christian Post reported in 2019, the federally-funded research grant that bore Olson-Kennedy’s name altered the protocol and lowered the age for cross-sex hormones from 13 to 8. Amy Tishelman, who serves as a clinical and research psychologist at Boston College and was involved in the original study, was critical of its results being withheld, according to the Times. “I understand the fear about it being weaponized, but it’s really important to get the science out there,” she said. “No change isn’t necessarily a negative finding — there could be a preventative aspect to it,” she also noted. “We just don’t know without more investigation.”

Erica Anderson, a clinical psychologist who identifies as trans and specializes in working with young people who have gender dysphoria, denounced the decision to withhold the study’s results, according to the New York Post. “We’re craving information about these medical treatments for gender-questioning youth. Dr. Olson-Kennedy has the largest grant that’s ever been awarded in the U.S. on the subject and is sitting on data that would be helpful to know,” Anderson told the outlet. “It’s not her prerogative to decide based on the results that she will or won’t publish them,” Anderson added.

The news regarding Olson-Kennedy’s study prompted attention from public figures on X, such as Elon Musk, who has been outspoken about his own son Xavier’s struggles with gender identity. Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling, who has faced backlash for years because of her outspoken opposition to men being allowed to enter women-only spaces, was especially vocal. “We must not publish a study that says we’re harming children because people who say we’re harming children will use the study as evidence that we’re harming children, which might make it difficult for us to continue harming children,” Rowling tweeted. Rowling’s post earned a retweet from Musk, who gave it a “bullseye” emoji. The X CEO called Olson-Kennedy “evil” in response to a viral video during which Clementine, one of Olson-Kennedy’s former patients, claimed she was put on puberty blockers at age 12 and testosterone at 13, despite noting her confusion followed sexual abuse. She also had a double mastectomy at age 14.

Biblical Connection: Romans 1-2 describes the fallen nature of man and how one of the impacts of the fall is for people to destroy the order God created in Genesis 1:26.

PRAY: Pray madness of our culture in terms of the LGBT agenda and its dramatic impact on our younger generations will be stopped and God’s established order will prevail once more.

Pope's Statement Sparks Backlash

Pope Francis Continues to Lead Catholics Away from the Faith

During a three-day visit to Singapore, Pope Francis declared that “all religions are a path to God,” sparking backlash among religious leaders in the U.S. The statement was made at an interreligious meeting with young people at a Catholic junior college shortly before his departure back to Rome. Departing from his prepared remarks, Francis spoke off the cuff, stating that different religions are like “different languages” to reach God. “If you start to fight, ‘my religion is more important than yours, mine is true and yours isn’t,’ where will that lead us?” he asked. “There’s only one God, and each of us has a language to arrive at God. Some are Sheik, Muslim, Hindu, Christian, and they are different paths to God.” Francis, referring to the universal nature of God, claimed, “Since God is God for all, then we are all children of God.”

Reacting to the pontiff’s comments, Bishop Joseph Strickland, who oversaw the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tyler, Texas, until his dismissal by the Vatican last year, said in a post on X, “Please pray for Pope Francis to clearly state that Jesus Christ is the only Way. To deny this is to deny Him. If we deny Christ, He will deny us, He cannot deny Himself.” Strickland was ousted for disagreeing with Francis on the issue of banning pro-abortion Catholic politicians from receiving communion and over the degree to which outreach to the LGBT community is acceptable in the Catholic Church. A petition created in defense of Strickland last year said he was ousted because he “publicly corrected several heterodox statements from Pope Francis.”

The pope’s remarks come amid reactions from conservative Catholic quarters, reminiscent of past controversies. Francis previously faced criticism and accusations of heresy on social media back in May for claiming the human heart is “fundamentally good” during a “60 Minutes” interview.

When asked by interviewer Norah O’Donnell what gives him hope about the world, the pope responded with “everything,” citing acts of goodness by people as proof of humanity’s inherent goodness. “You see tragedies, but you also see so many beautiful things,” he said. “You see heroic mothers, heroic men, men who have hopes and dreams, women who look to the future. That gives me a lot of hope. People want to live. People forge ahead. And people are fundamentally good. We are all fundamentally good. Yes, there are some rogues and sinners, but the heart itself is good.”

At the time, many commenters on X criticized Francis for his remarks, with some accusing him of failing to grasp the basic teaching of the Gospel. Others quoted portions of Scripture that teach God alone is good and that humanity has a sinful nature. Some X users noted that Francis’ comment appeared to be an example of Pelagianism, a fifth century heresy that denied original sin and taught the essential goodness of humanity. During his 2022 trip to Kazakhstan, he made similar statements. Auxiliary Bishop Athanasius Schneider of Astana, a frequent critic, had then commented on the risk of creating a “supermarket of religions.”

Biblical Connections: 2 Thessalonians 2:3 states, “Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first”. Many believe that what Paul is describing here is a great apostasy that will arise prior to the Rapture and the Tribulation. That the leader of the Catholic Church continually drives away from Scripture and toward universalism should be an immense red flag for believers. While there are many in the Catholic Church that disagree with the Pope on these issues, he does control Catholic theology and has an immense sway on the average Catholic worldwide.

PRAY: Pray that Pope Francis will stop this madness of moving away from Scripture and moving the Catholic Church further away from Orthodox Christianity.

Iran Negotiates Against Israel

There were some that thought when Iran’s new regime would come to power that there was the possibility for peace and a change of strategy in the region. That appears to not be the case. In contrast, it seems that Iran’s new policy is to shore up support from other nations in the region to build a coalition against Israel.

Iran’s new Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has been moving quickly to cement Iran’s role in the region. His diplomatic offensive is taking shape even as Iran continues to threaten Israel with military force. This is important to recognize because it represents a multi-pronged Iranian offensive, on several levels. Araghchi is already holding a series of meetings, even as he is just getting his feet wet in his new role. He brings with him a wealth of experience, so this is not exactly new territory for him. According to Iranian state media, Araghchi spoke with his Kuwaiti counterpart Abdullah Al-Yahya. “In this conversation, Kuwaiti foreign minister pointed out the will of his country to continue the process of development and expansion of relations between Tehran and Kuwait, and emphasized the importance of continuing political dialogues between the two countries,” Iran’s IRNA state media said.

He also reached out to Oman and spoke with his Omani counterpart Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi. “In this conversation, Al Busaidi pointed out the Sultan of Oman’s special attention to the relations between the two countries and its increasing development process, and emphasized his readiness to work closely with his Iranian counterpart to follow up and implement the agreements of the heads of the two countries,” IRNA noted.

At the same time, Iran’s president and Iranian envoys are working to improve relations with key countries. For instance, the Iranian and Turkish ambassadors to Iraq met and shared their views on the region. Iran backs militias in Iraq that have been attacking Israel while Turkey operates in northern Iraq. According to IRNA, Mohammad-Kazem Ale-Sadegh met with Anil Bora Inan, Turkey’s new ambassador to Baghdad. Both Iran and Turkey have close ties to each other, as well as with Russia. Iranian ambassador to Turkey Mohammad Hassan Habibzadeh met the country’s Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz, while Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani also met in Tehran.

Qatar is a key partner of Iran. “During a meeting in Tehran, the two sides discussed a wide range of bilateral, regional and international issues,” IRNA noted. Iran’s president slammed Israel in the meeting. The Iranian diplomatic offensive includes more outreach to Egypt as well. Overall, Iran’s goal is to create a ring of fire around Israel, isolating it diplomatically while using proxies to attack Israel.

Biblical Connections: Ezekiel 38-39 talk about a future invasion of Israel in which Israel will be surrounded by enemies and will only survive through God’s direct intervention. Iran, then known as Persia, is specifically listed as one of the enemies in this invasion. The invasion seems to come from all sides. Is it possible that Iran’s dealings are leading up to a war in which Israel will be surrounded and will need divine intervention? The nations that Iran are trying to accumulate would certainly point in that direction. While time will tell where this leads, it should certainly get our attention that Iran is not only calling for the destruction of Israel, but is actively trying to accumulate allies, including Turkey and Russia, to bring to bear against Israel.

PRAY: Pray the nations of the Middle East will recognize the evil intentions of Iran and stop negotiating with a nation that hates Israel and sponsors terrorism.

National Guard Discriminates Against Christians

An infantry officer who expressed Christian views on human sexuality and other LGBT-related issues faced pressure to resign from the Idaho National Guard and was stripped of his commanding position following a complaint from a subordinate who identifies as homosexual. Liberty Counsel announced that it had notified Gov. Brad Little about the alleged First Amendment violation. While the infantry officer is represented by R. Davis Younts, LLC, Liberty Counsel has added its voice to the man’s case, requesting a response to avoid further legal action.

According to Liberty Counsel, a subordinate senior enlisted man who identifies as homosexual filed an Equal Opportunity complaint against the infantry officer. The officer reportedly expressed Christian viewpoints on human sexuality and expressed opposition to “pernicious practices,” which include prescribing puberty blockers and opposite-sex hormones to children suffering from confusion about their sex. The subordinate who filed the complaint claimed that the officer’s speech showed “just how much the officer truly hates the LGBTQ community.” Liberty Counsel disagreed with this assessment, arguing that the officer believes everyone is made in God’s image and cares for those under his command, regardless of religious or political differences.

“Soldiers who identify as LGBTQ are required to tolerate Christians in the military workplace and may not file false EO Complaints or other charges against superior officers (or subordinates) because they disagree with protected religious or political speech,” Liberty Counsel stated in its letter to the governor. “False charges like these interfere with good order and discipline. Here, the dichotomy between ‘speech for me, but not for thee’ could not be more evident: the baseless and discriminatory AR 15-6 investigation stems from a false EO complaint filed against the Officer by a subordinate senior enlisted man, because the officer had the temerity to speak his religious and political beliefs in public outside of the military context.”

Following the complaint, the Idaho Army National Guard removed the officer from command and initially agreed to lift the flag on the officer’s file, allowing him to resign without penalty and fulfill his duties in Wyoming. The Idaho Army National Guard did not lift the flag before the Wyoming position became unavailable, according to Liberty Counsel. In addition, the Idaho Army National Guard allegedly used Bible verses to mock the officer for not keeping a promise to leave by a certain date.

Among its list of recommendations, Liberty Counsel requested the restoration of the officer’s career and the dismissal of what the firm described as the “meritless EO complaint.” In addition, Liberty Counsel recommended a rejection of the “No Christians as Commanders Policy,” referring to recommendations made by the Idaho Army National Guard’s investigating officer. The investigating officer reportedly encouraged the Idaho Army National Guard to adopt a policy of scrutinizing future full-time National Guard Duty candidates’ religious and political beliefs. If concerns about the candidates’ beliefs are substantiated, then the National Guard would report them to the Department of Defense Counterintelligence as an example of “Extremist” and “Insider Threats” for “adjudication by subject matter experts” at the Pentagon.

In a statement to The Christian Post, a spokesperson for the Idaho Military Division confirmed that leadership is aware of the allegations and is investigating the matter. “We take this matter seriously and in accordance with all federal and state laws regarding discriminatory behavior, we have initiated an unbiased investigation to address the issue thoroughly. The investigation is ongoing, and it would be inappropriate to comment further on the matter at this time.” The spokesperson promised that if the investigation uncovers violations of the Idaho Military Division’s anti-discrimination policies, those responsible will be held accountable in accordance with state and federal law.

Biblical Connection: Matthew 10:22 states, “And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.”

PRAY: Pray the LGBTQ agenda that has overwhelmed so much of our culture will be stopped and biblical morals will once again be established and enforced.

Houthis Continue to Cause Problems in the Red Sea

Several U.S. Navy warships were targeted in a "complex attack" by the Iran-backed Houthi in the Red Sea, according to the Department of Defense. "We did see a complex attack launched from the Houthis that ranged from cruise missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles," said Sabrina Singh, deputy press secretary for the Defense Department. Houthi forces said they had damaged three U.S. Navy warships in the assault involving 23 missiles and bomber drones. The Defense Department denied that any U.S. military ships were struck. Newsweek has contacted the Pentagon for comment. "My understanding is that those were either engaged and shot down or failed," Singh said of the missile attacks, adding that there were no injuries to U.S. service members.

The military news site Stars and Stripes said that U.S. Central Command, overseeing military operations in the Middle East, along with the Navy Office of Information, confirmed that Navy forces successfully intercepted the missiles. The Houthis' military spokesperson said in a televised speech that the ships were targeted while transiting the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. This is a critical waterway connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, located between Yemen and the Horn of Africa, where the USS Abraham Lincoln and its carrier strike group are located. The strike group includes three destroyers: USS Spruance, USS Stockdale, and USS O'Kane.

Singh declined to confirm whether the destroyers were the intended targets of the Houthi missile attack. "Sometimes, it's hard to tell whether they're being shot in the vicinity of a U.S. ship or targeting another vessel. We always take measures for our self-defense, so I can't really tell you the intended target," Singh said. "We did what we had to do to protect our forces, and, at the end of the day, no ship was hit, no damage, and no injuries to our personnel," she added.

The Houthis of Yemen have carried out a series of strikes on U.S. warships and commercial vessels in the Red Sea since the start of the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip last year. U.S. warships are regularly assigned to intercept such threats and often conduct strikes against rebel forces in Yemen. For example, in December, the USS Carney shot down 14 Houthi drones that were targeting the guided-missile destroyer. The Houthis have said that more attacks will take place if Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu does not stop offensives in Gaza and Lebanon.

Recently, the Houthis launched a missile into central Israel. The attack reportedly caused travelers at Ben-Gurion International Airport to rush to shelters for safety, with air-raid sirens sounding in Tel Aviv and nearby regions. Israel retaliated on the Houthis a few days later. The Israeli strikes killed at least four people and wounded 29, the Houthi-run Health Ministry said in a statement, and residents said the bombing had caused power outages in most parts of the port city of Hodeidah.

Israel's military said in a statement that dozens of aircraft, including fighter jets, had attacked power plants and a seaport in Hodeidah and the port of Ras Issa. It was the second such Israeli attack on Yemen in just over two months. In July, Israeli warplanes struck Houthi military targets near Hodeidah after a Yemeni drone hit Tel Aviv and killed one man. "Over the past year, the Houthis have been operating under the direction and funding of Iran, and in cooperation with Iraqi militias in order to attack the State of Israel, undermine regional stability, and disrupt global freedom of navigation," the military statement said.

Biblical Connection: While Israel is attempting to end its problems in the region with Hamas and Hezbollah, as long as Iran and their proxies like the Houthis continue there will continue to be strike in the region. Could all this strife be leading to the Gog-Magog war? Only time will tell.

PRAY: Pray that the hostilities between Israel, Iran and Iran’s proxies would be able to end, that Iran would stop its attempts to destroy Israel, and the peace could come to the region.

Why Doesn’t God Stop All the Problems in the World?

QUESTION:

 Since God has all the power to do so, why doesn’t He stop all the problems in the world?

 ANSWER:

 The answer to this question lies in the fact that God has made man a free moral agent. Man had the right to choose good or choose evil in the Garden of Eden. He chose evil, and the world has been under a curse ever since. Because of Adam’s sin, we are all sinners:

 “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin, and so death passed upon all men, for all have sinned,” Romans 5:12.

We are born in sin, and we continue in sin. Our sin not only relates to our own lives, but the lives of others. The criminal’s sin affects the victim. The parent’s sin takes its toll on the children. The world leader’s sin causes him to go to war, costing lives on both sides. As the passage in Romans says, we are also under the sentence of death for our sins, and because of that, our mortal bodies suffer as well.

 God does sometimes intervene in the affairs of mankind and end some of the suffering. But He does not do it in all cases, for many reasons that are unknown to us. However, one reason we do know about, is that problems do tend to draw men closer to God, which ultimately brings glory to Him as a result:

 “Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now have I kept thy word,” Psalm 119:67.

 The good news is that our Lord will intervene universally in the world situation at His Second Coming at the conclusion of the Tribulation. At that time, He will defeat the Antichrist and his armies at Armageddon and institute His 1,000 year Millennial Reign of righteousness. Sin and evil will not occur with impunity as is the case now. Even better, we who know Jesus as our Lord and Savior can look forward to even speedier deliverance when He returns prior to the Tribulation on the occasion of the Rapture and Resurrection.

 Although we are now experiencing troubles, we can look forward to that day when problems shall be no more:

 “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea … And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” Revelation 21:1,4

 PRAY: Pray for those who do not know the Lord to come to salvation. Share the Gospel with loved ones and friends while we still have the time.

Turkey’s Erdoğan Threatens to Invade Israel

Turkey’s leader threatened military intervention in Israel to stop Jerusalem’s war in Gaza in a significant escalation of rhetoric from NATO’s second-largest military. In a meeting with his Justice and Development Party (AKP), President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Turkey “must be very strong so that Israel can’t do these ridiculous things to Palestine.” “Just like we entered Karabakh, just like we entered Libya, we might do similar to them,” he said, according to a Reuters report.

Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz came back swinging and suggested Erdoğan would meet a similarly deadly fate as Iraq’s former president, Saddam Hussein, who was executed by hanging in 2006. “Erdoğan follows in the footsteps of Saddam Hussein and threatens to attack Israel. Just let him remember what happened there and how it ended,” Katz said in a message posted to X that included a picture of Erdoğan and the former Iraqi leader.

When questioned about the Turkish president’s comments, an embassy spokesperson in the U.S. told Fox News Digital, “Turkey has no issue with the Israeli people at all. Our problem has been with the brutal acts and irresponsible steps of the current extremist Israeli government.” “Since October 7, Turkey has exerted every effort possible to help achieve a permanent ceasefire to prevent unbearably high Palestinian civilian casualties caused by indiscriminate Israeli attacks on Gaza,” the spokesperson added. “We continue to share with the international community and the US administration our concerns regarding the ongoing Israeli attacks against Palestinian civilians and its steps that may lead to another escalation in other parts of the region, particularly in Lebanon. We call on Israel to sign up to the three-stage plan that US President Biden announced on 31 May.”

The U.S. State Department also told Fox News Digital that it was urging both Israel and Turkey to “avoid any further escalation.” “We maintain strong relations with both Turkey and Israel,” a department spokesperson said. “We urge continued dialogue between these two valued partners.” NATO said it did not have any comment to contribute on efforts being made to cool tensions between the NATO nation and the West’s top ally in the Middle East.

Threats levied by the Turkish president come as Israel faces increasing aggression from Iran-backed Islamic militants, including Hamas, Houthi and Hezbollah terrorist groups. Erdoğan did not detail what Turkish military intervention would entail, though he has repeatedly been a harsh critic of the war in Gaza. “There is no reason why we cannot do this…We must be strong so that we can take these steps,” Erdoğan told AKP party officials. The Turkish leader appeared to be referring to military action Ankara, capital of Turkey, took in 2020 when it sent troops to defend the U.N.-recognized Government of National Accord of Libya amid its civil war, which first broke out in 2014. Turkey has denied direct involvement in Azerbaijan’s military action in its Nagorno-Karabakh region, where it claims to be carrying out “anti-terror” operations against Armenian rebels. Though in 2023, Ankara reportedly said it was using “all means” to support its ally, including through military training.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not publicly responded to Erdoğan’s comments, though he and the Turkish leader have routinely exchanged harsh barbs over the years. Both Netanyahu and Erdoğan have compared each other to Adolf Hitler over Turkey’s long-running war against Kurdish militants and for Israel’s hostile action against Palestinians.

Biblical Connections: As we have seen over the past few years, Turkey, once friendly with the West and open to Christians, has shifted to a much more hostile stance to Christianity, Israel and the West and has cozied up with both Russia and Iran. Is this setting the stage for the Gog Magog war of Ezekiel 38-39?

PRAY: Pray Turkey will not alienate Israel and will not move closer to Iran and Russia. Pray Turkey will once again become friendly to Israel and the West.

Antisemitism Shown on Capitol Hill

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to the United States this summer was supposed to show America’s dedication and resolve to continuing to help one of its biggest allies. Instead, it has shown just how much Antisemitism is possibly influencing American politics. Netanyahu was invited by both leaders of Congress, Representative Mike Johnson in the House and Senator Chuck Schumer in the Senate, to give a speech on the Capitol floor about the continued war in Gaza. It was supposed to be a unifying time where both nations could show their continued support.

However, the visit did not go as planned for a variety of reasons. First, Netanyahu did not receive much publicity on his arrival or during much of his trip because of the major political events that were eating up the American news cycle. Former President Donald Trump had a failed assassination attempt only a few days before Netanyahu’s arrival. Then, during his arrival window President Biden came down with Covid and eventually dropped out of the presidential race, naming Vice President Kamala Harris as his successor. All of these events simply overwhelmed the media buzz, to the point that many, including sitting Congressmen, had even forgotten that Netanyahu had even arrived or that his speech was upcoming.

Second, the political turmoil of the weekend of Netanyahu’s arrival was evident. President Biden was away from the capitol at his home in Delaware with Covid, so he was not there to welcome the prime minister at the airport as is customary when a major ally arrives in the nation. Vice President Harris, who has been a vocal critic of Israel and Netanyahu in particular, was not there to welcome him either. Even Secretary of State Anthony Blinken was not present. Therefore, Netanyahu arrived with little fanfare or media coverage.

Finally, pro-Hamas protesters made it very clear that they did not want Netanyahu comfortable. They released multiple kinds of bugs into the Watergate Hotel where he was staying and pulled the fire alarm multiple times the night before his speech to Congress. Thousands of protesters arrived at the Capitol, burning the US flag in protest and even replacing it with the Hamas flag in front of the Capitol. Many of the Capitol police that attempted to stop the protesters were attacked.

Vice President Harris, along with many other Democratic Congresspeople, also skipped the speech. Harris’ team said that she was doing events on the campaign trail, but it is customary that as acting Vice President she would be present for the speech, as she was when President Zelensky of Ukraine gave a similar speech earlier this year.

Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib made headlines when she held up a sign during the speech calling the prime minister a “war criminal” and advocated that he be arrested and given over to the International Criminal Court. This cannot happen in the United States as the US is not a member of the ICC and does not enforce its laws. Needless to say, the speech and the entire visit have seen very little positive and much negativity toward the Jewish leader.

Biblical Connection: After the horrible events of World War 2 and the Holocaust, it seemed like the West would take care of the Jewish people. People even wondered how the future Antichrist would be able to turn the world against the Jewish people again, as described in the Book of Revelation. However, the events of October 7th have shown that Antisemitism is still very much an active part of society and that all it takes is a little push for people to turn on the Jewish people once again.

PRAY: Pray this hatred for the nation of Israel would cease and that America would again become a strong ally to the Jewish people.

Australia Cannot Understand the Term Woman

The Federal Court of Australia has determined that the term “sex” transcends mere biological classification, which the legal advocacy group ADF International has called a flawed judgment. The court held that the female-only networking app Giggle indirectly discriminated against a man who identifies as a woman and goes by the name Roxanne Tickle by barring him from joining. In the case of Roxanne Tickle v. Giggle for Girls, the court awarded Tickle 10,000 AUD (roughly $6,800) in compensation for what it recognized as “indirect discrimination.”

Tickle, who has legally amended his birth certificate to identify as female, argued for access to spaces designated exclusively for women. Giggle’s defense, supported by ADF International, contended that women have a right to single-sex spaces, a principle extending to both physical and digital realms. However, the court dismissed this defense, stating that disqualification based on male sex constituted unlawful discrimination. The judgment states that “… sex is not confined to being a biological concept referring to whether a person at birth had male or female physical traits, nor confined to being a binary concept, limited to the male or female sex … ”

Katherine Deves, representing Giggle, expressed significant concern during the hearing, noting, “The stakes are high in this case. Women’s international human rights will be lost if ‘woman’ now includes any male who identifies as such. This decision matters not just in Australia but also to the watching world.”

Sall Grover, CEO of Giggle and respondent in the lawsuit, emphasized the original intent behind her app. “For decades, women’s movements have fought for the right to have female spaces in society. Yet today, the clock is being wound back.” Grover continued, “I designed my app to give women their own space to network. It is a legal fiction that Tickle is a woman. His birth certificate has been altered from male to female, but he is a biological man, and always will be. A woman’s-only app isn’t about discrimination. It’s about freedom of speech, belief, and association.”

Robert Clarke, director of Advocacy for ADF International, described the ruling as a severe setback for women’s rights. “In ruling that Tickle, a biological male, was a victim of discrimination when prevented from joining a woman’s app, the court has delivered an egregiously flawed judgment that removes protections for women. Contrary to what the judge held, sex is never changeable. The judgment is a severe setback for women and girls, failing to uphold the basic truth of biological reality — that men cannot become women. Tickle did not experience unjust discrimination, but was simply disqualified from membership on the Giggle app because he is not a woman.”

The court also found that section 5b of Australia’s Sex Discrimination Act, which prohibits discrimination on the ground of “gender identity,” aligns with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, despite the ICCPR only specifically prohibiting discrimination based on sex, not gender identity.

Biblical Connection: Genesis 1:27 states, “So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” Satan has always tried to corrupt the things of God throughout history. God established mankind as male and female in the very beginning of creation. He even used the concept of marriage as a metaphor for the church’s relationship with Jesus. For centuries this biological fact has been accepted by every culture throughout the world. To declare that the distinctions between men and women are nonexistent or easily changeable is to spit in the face of our Creator.

PRAY - Pray that this unholy attack on the created order established by God will stop and sanity will return throughout the world.

Interest in the New Testament Grows in Israel

The faith-based nonprofit Jews for Jesus, an organization that shares the Gospel with people of the Jewish faith, says it has seen an increase in the number of New Testament orders from Israelis since the war between Israel and Hamas began last October. Jews for Jesus, affiliated with the Messianic Jewish movement, is an organization dedicated to helping Jewish people continue living out their faith while believing in Christ, the Son of God. The organization engages in conversations about Jesus in public spaces like college campuses and parks and hosts events to create opportunities for dialogue. The group is devoted to demonstrating Christ-like behavior through charitable acts, such as soup kitchens and ministering to Holocaust survivors during their last days of life.

Jews for Jesus offers the New Testament for free to Israelis through its website and the sites of its ministry partners, One for Israel or Tree of Life Ministries. According to data provided to The Christian Post, the organization has seen 1,230 New Testament orders from Israelis since the war between Israel and the terror group Hamas began in October. Jews for Jesus Executive Director Aaron Abramson told CP that one possible reason for the increase in requests is that Israelis appear to have a lot of questions, including spiritual ones, since Hamas’ Oct. 7 onslaught. “But there’s also a kind of hopelessness,” Abramson said. “Israel has prided itself in its ability to defend itself, so Oct. 7 was a real blow to that for people. You had people questioning whether they should remain in Israel and if it was safe for them. You have people who once lived in other countries and experienced antisemitism who were like, ‘Well, where do we go from here?’ And so, if you can’t put your trust in maybe, let’s say, a political solution, you can’t put your trust in like a military solution, or if you can’t put your trust in an economic solution, then where do you put your trust?” he asked. “And I think that’s why a lot of people were starting to sort of dig into those spiritual questions.”

Abramson said many of the organization’s staff in Israel have wives, husbands or kids in the Israeli military who were called in after Oct. 7. He said the nonprofit decided to “shift gears” by supporting those who were impacted by the terrorist attack, partnering with groups like Samaritan’s Purse. In addition to helping kibbutzim residents relocate after Hamas devastated their communities, Jews for Jesus helped provide food once residents resettled at hotels. They also set up makeshift classrooms so children could continue going to school.

Jews for Jesus transformed its Moishe Roshen Center in Tel Aviv into a location that provided resources to those impacted by Oct. 7, such as toiletries and medication. Abramson said that the group even set up an art gallery to help people express themselves and hosted barbeques for military units. “So for us, it was really how can we create space for people to come in to wrestle through deeper questions and how can we speak to those spiritual needs, as well as meeting some of those emotional and physical needs?” Abramson said.

Biblical Connections: In Romans 11, the apostle Paul said Israel was spiritual blinded and the Gospel would go to the Gentiles, but in the future Israel would turn back to God and recognize Jesus as their Messiah. While this will most likely occur during the Tribulation period, it is possible that we are starting to see the beginnings of this revival today.

PRAY: Pray more Jewish people will have their eyes opened to the Gospel and accept Jesus as their Messiah and Savior.

Doctor Faces Going to Jail for Protecting Children

The U.S. Department of Justice has unsealed the four-count indictment against a doctor who potentially faces 10 years in prison after blowing the whistle on the largest pediatric hospital in the U.S. for allegedly prescribing puberty blockers to minors despite claiming otherwise. Dr. Eithan Haim, 34, who completed his surgical residency at Texas Children’s Hospital (TCH) in Houston, was slapped with four felony counts after he “obtained personal information including patient names, treatment codes and the attending physician from Texas Children’s Hospital’s (TCH) electronic system without authorization,” according to a DOJ press release.

Haim reportedly leaked such records to journalist Christopher Rufo last year because they exposed the “gender-affirming services” allegedly still being performed on minors at the hospital at the time, even though the hospital told the public it had paused such procedures.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton had earlier released a formal opinion in February 2022 that labeled some sex-change procedures and the use of puberty blockers as “child abuse” under Texas law, after which Gov. Greg Abbott issued an order instructing state agencies to investigate them as such. The six-page indictment released by U.S. Attorney Alamdar Hamdani and reported by National Review alleges that Haim went to the press instead of the appropriate authorities within the hospital.

Last May, within 24 hours of Rufo publishing a story in City Journal based on Haim’s leak, the Texas Legislature passed SB-14, which made such procedures for minors illegal in the state effective Sept. 1, 2023. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed the bill into law last June.

Rufo’s story also prompted Paxton to launch a formal investigation into TCH. The hospital’s CEO, Mark Wallace, later issued a statement promising to finally shut down the facility’s trans procedures for minors by the time the law went into effect.

Rufo noted in a subsequent article last June that the information Haim leaked to him redacted key personal information, but the indictment claims the records retained dates of service, diagnosis, procedure codes and physician names. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tina Ansari, the lead DOJ prosecutor in his case who also signed his recent indictment, showed evidence of bias and went after both him and his wife, his lawyers claimed in a letter sent to members of Congress earlier this year.

Ansari allegedly described trans procedures as the “last hope” for some families and pressed Haim to avoid felony prosecution by admitting to a crime. She also reportedly claimed it was not Haim’s job to expose the trans procedures at the pediatric hospital and used a personal cellphone to communicate with Haim’s attorneys. “These people are corrupt,” Haim told The Christian Post in January. “And the only way to expose it is to not play into this Kabuki theater, like these people are practitioners of justice. Because if we were to collude with them, we would be sanctioning our own destruction.”

Biblical Connection: While it can be argued that Dr. Haim did not use the proper channels when calling out what he considered child abuse, the bigger issue is that a hospital catering to children would not only do “gender affirming surgeries”, which many can and should view as child abuse, but also that they would continue to do so even after telling the public that they had stopped. Unfortunately, many in the medical field have bought into the LGBT agenda and will stop at nothing to propagate and even instigate the issue with these types of surgeries on minors. Isaiah 5:20 summarizes this idea perfectly when it states, “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!”

PRAY: Pray our children will be safe and that this agenda to change God’s design for our families will be halted.

Turmoil Remains in the Middle East as Tensions Rise Outside of Gaza

After more than 1,000 miles and almost three hours of flight time, the squadron of Israeli F-15s and F35s launched their missiles on Yemen's Hudaydah port, leaving in their wake a raging blaze and renewed fears of a Middle East engulfed by wider war. Israel's retaliatory attack was meant as a fiery message to a terrorist group that hit Tel Aviv with a deadly drone strike the day before. The drone strike from the Iran-backed Houthi militia, which controls wide swaths of Yemen and is allied with Hamas, managed to get through Israel's defenses and kill one civilian and wound at least 10.

In the hours after the strikes, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant characterized the hit as a message not only to the Houthis but to Israel's regional enemies. "The fire that is currently burning in Hudaydah is seen across the Middle East and the significance is clear," Gallant stated after the Israeli strike. "The Houthis attacked us over 200 times," Gallant said. "The first time that they harmed an Israeli citizen, we struck them. And we will do this in any place where it may be required."

Yet it's a message the Houthis are unlikely to heed, experts say. "The Israeli attack was meant to shock and awe, but unfortunately you're dealing with the Houthis," said Hisham Omeisy, a US-based Yemeni analyst. The Houthis, who started out as anti-government rebels, had spent years in pitched battles with the Yemeni state; in 2014 they overran the capital, Sanaa, then put their sights on the rest of the country. To stop them, a Saudi-led onslaught — bolstered by American weapons, intelligence and logistics support — launched a devastating air campaign and blockade that brought Yemenis to the brink of famine. By the time an April 2022 cease-fire was signed, the Houthis remained even stronger in the areas they controlled. "Shock and awe and the use of overwhelming power didn't really work on them when it was a coalition of countries hammering them," Omeisy said. "So it won't work now."

Meanwhile, the Iranian-backed Kataib Hezbollah terror group in Iraq has said it would support the Houthis in more attacks on Israel. This statement comes amid reports that the Houthis and Iranian-backed militias in Iraq want to conduct more “joint” operations against Israel.In the wake of the Houthi attack on Tel Aviv on July 19, the Houthis and Iraqi militias have sought to highlig ht how they might increase their threats to the region.

Kataib Hezbollah and the Houthis have both slammed Saudi Arabia and other Arab states, accusing them of working with Israel. They use similar language in their condemnation of Saudi Arabia and regional Arab states. In addition, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group of pro-Iranian militias, claimed, on July 24, that it had targeted Eilat. The pro-Iranian Al-Mayadeen reported that “similarly, the Resistance in Iraq is conducting joint operations with the Yemeni Armed Forces to target the occupied Palestinian territories. Sayyed Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, leader of the Ansar Allah movement in Yemen, confirmed in his speeches that ‘These joint operations between the Yemeni army and the Islamic Resistance in Iraq have had a direct and significant impact on the enemy,’ emphasizing that they will continue and escalate.”

The reports of the joint work of the Iraqi militias and Houthis come amid escalation by Hezbollah. Hezbollah has continued its rocket and drone attacks on northern Israel. Al-Mayadeen news network reported that a “squadron of the Islamic resistance Hezbollah drones from Lebanon entered the West Galilee region in northern occupied Palestine and sirens sounded in the Zionist settlements.” The attacks on northern Israel wounded a soldier recently. It also appears Hezbollah is increasing the range of its attacks. This would coincide with the Iranian attempt to push the Houthis and Iraqi militias to expand their attacks. Thus, even if the Israelis make a deal with Hamas for a cease-fire, there is no guarantee the chaos in the region simply subsides.

Biblical Connections: Satan has always hated the Jewish people and has tried to eliminate them several times throughout history. It is clear that he is working hard to gather as many enemies against the Jews as he can.

PRAY: Pray that these threats to Israel from various directions would cease and that their allies, including the US, will stay strong.

California Continues the Push to Remove Parental Powers

The California Senate has approved a bill that would prohibit school districts from requiring school officials to share information about a student’s sexual orientation and gender identity with the child’s parent, drawing concerns from Christian and parental rights groups. The Democrat-controlled California Senate passed Assembly Bill 1955 in a 29-8 vote. Support for the legislation fell along party lines, with all votes in favor of it coming from Democrats and all opposition coming from Republicans.

The legislation includes a provision declaring that “[a]n employee or a contractor of a school district, county office of education, charter school, or state special school for the blind or the deaf shall not be required to disclose any information related to a pupil’s sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression to any other person without the pupil’s consent unless otherwise required by state or federal law.” The bill states that “policies that forcibly ‘out’ pupils without their consent remove opportunities for LGBTQ+ young people and their families to build trust and have these conversations when they are ready.”

The measure comes in response to local school districts adopting policies requiring parental notification when it comes to such issues. Sonja Shaw, a member of the school board for the Chino Valley Unified School District that passed a parental notification policy, said that “if a child is asking for the school district to now call them by another sex’s name or go into the other sex’s restroom, we will notify the parents. No one’s outing anybody,” she said, adding, “The kid is coming out, and the parents have a right to know.”

Students First California, an advocacy group that seeks to ensure that “parents have a seat at the table” when it comes to their children’s education, published a letter expressing opposition to the measure. “There is a reason courts have consistently affirmed parents as having a fundamental right to direct the care and upbringing of their children,” wrote Students First California President Jonathan Zachreson. “Parents know and care for their children more than anyone else and are ultimately responsible for them in every setting — school, home, and elsewhere,” he added. “Notifying and involving parents in something as paramount as when a school takes an active role in socially transitioning a child is critical for the well-being of children and for maintaining trust between schools and parents.”

Citing state law, Zachreson noted that “parents of students under 18 years old in public schools have an absolute right to access all records related to their children and the editing or withholding of any of those records is prohibited.” “These records include the gender and name in which the child goes by at school regardless of if the gender or name matches a student’s official government documents,” lamenting that “AB 1955 would enable and strengthen policies that violate this right.”

California Family Council has also expressed its opposition to the bill. “This bill assumes parents with biblical beliefs about gender and sexuality are a threat to their own children,” the organization stated in an online campaign against the bill. “AB 1955 marginalizes parents, preventing them from receiving critical information about their kids. Parents need to be informed partners in addressing issues of gender identity, ensuring their children receive the support and guidance they need within the family unit.” The bill must return to the Assembly before it can be sent to California Democrat Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk.

Biblical Connections: The Bible clearly places the care of children in the hands of their parents and family. For a government to intervene and attempt to lesson that bond for nefarious reasons shows just how far parts of the nation have moved away from the Bible.

PRAY: Pray this continued push to hide children’s actions and thoughts from their own parents would be stopped and that a Biblical foundation will again reign throughout the nation.

Allies Urged to Avoid Rebuke of Iran

The US is pressing European allies Britain and France to abandon plans for Iran to be censured at the upcoming International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors meeting for its lack of cooperation and prohibited nuclear activities, according to the Wall Street Journal, apparently to avoid disruption with Iran before the US elections this November. These divisions come as a new IAEA report revealed Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium has reached unprecedented levels. The UN nuclear watchdog stated Iran’s stockpile of 60% enriched uranium rose over 20 kg (45 pounds) in the last three months to 142 kg (313 pounds) – its highest level yet. US officials say that material could be converted into weapons-grade enriched uranium within days.

The rift exposes differences in approach that have emerged since the Trump administration withdrew from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal in 2018. Europeans were strong supporters of the accord, which lifted sanctions in exchange for temporary nuclear constraints on Tehran. They sought to preserve the deal even after the US exit, while the Biden administration made reviving the agreement a top priority upon taking office in 2021. But those diplomatic efforts collapsed in August 2022 when Iran hardened its demands as negotiations faltered. Since then, US officials have sought to contain escalating tensions with Tehran. European diplomats now accuse Washington of lacking a coherent strategy and appear unwilling to either seriously engage Iran in new diplomacy or take punitive steps over its growing nuclear program.

The divisions have raised alarms in European capitals that the window is closing to rein in Iran’s atomic work through non-military means. There are increasing Western fears that Iran, already considered a nuclear threshold state, may be positioning itself to acquire weapons capability. While Tehran insists its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, it has significantly reduced IAEA oversight and stonewalled investigations into previous undeclared nuclear materials and activities. European diplomats argue failure to censure Iran at the IAEA would undermine the agency’s authority as the nuclear watchdog and erode Western credibility in confronting potential proliferation risks. They contend it is time to take a firm stand against Tehran’s continued defiance of non-proliferation obligations.

However, the US fears an IAEA censure could prompt Iranian retaliation and further limit inspectors’ access, as occurred after a 2022 rebuke. With Russia and China likely to veto any push for new UN sanctions, a failed censure vote could deal a major diplomatic blow that emboldens Iran’s nuclear intransigence. The Biden administration argues that European powers could do more to economically pressure Iran, like cutting off its banks still operating in Europe and designating the Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist organization. The German dpa News Agency reported that Germany and other European nations are advocating for the EU to designate Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization, as per a recent German court ruling. However, diplomats noted that “such a terror listing would be primarily a symbolic step because there are already EU sanctions” against the IRGC. For now, US officials recently held rare indirect talks with Iranian counterparts in Oman in a bid to reduce regional tensions.

Ultimately, experts suggest any censure of Iran’s nuclear activities should be part of a broader negotiating strategy of both disincentives and incentives to alter Tehran’s behavior. “The board needs to send a message that there are consequences for stonewalling,” said Kelsey Davenport of the Arms Control Association. “But it needs to be part of a broader strategy to pressure and incentivize Iran to cooperate with the IAEA.”

Biblical Connections: Iran continues to be a problem in the region of the Middle East. If they are able to acquire nuclear capabilities, then they could eventually try to attack Israel without Western interference.

PRAY: Pray Iran’s nuclear ambitions will be thwarted, and that Israel will not have to try to stand up to a nuclear powered Iran.

Pope Francis Argues “People are Fundamentally Good”

Pope Francis has been a controversial figure to say the least over the past few years as many conservative Catholics argue that he is drawing the Catholic Church further away from their roots and into a more liberal theology. This concern was highlighted when he drew scorn and accusations of heresy on social media for maintaining during his “60 Minutes” interview that the human heart is “fundamentally good.”

Responding to interviewer Norah O’Donnell’s question regarding what gives him hope when he looks at the world, the pontiff said “everything,” and then went on to list examples of people doing good things as evidence of humanity’s essential goodness. “You see tragedies, but you also see so many beautiful things,” he said. “You see heroic mothers, heroic men, men who have hopes and dreams, women who look to the future. That gives me a lot of hope. People want to live. People forge ahead. And people are fundamentally good. We are all fundamentally good. Yes, there are some rogues and sinners, but the heart itself is good.”

Many commentators on X criticized Francis for his remarks, with some accusing him of failing to grasp the basic teaching of the Gospel. Others quoted portions of Scripture that teach God alone is good and that humanity has a sinful nature.

“This is contrary to basic Christian theology,” radio host Erick Erickson wrote. “We are all sinners. There aren’t just ‘some sinners.’”

“If this is true, we don’t need a Savior to die on the Cross. So this pope is a heretic,” wrote author Eric Metaxas.

“Welp, this is a Satanic lie…” wrote Babylon Bee editor Joel Berry.

“This raises a question: Is the Pope Catholic? Apparently not! The minute he saw an American journalist nodding at him, he should have known he had gone astray,” Daily Wire host Andrew Klavan wrote.

Some X users noted that Francis’ comment appeared to be an example of Pelagianism, a fifth century heresy that denied original sin and taught the essential goodness of humanity. Pelagianism was named after a monk named Pelagius who was ultimately excommunicated from the Catholic church in 418, according to the Encyclopedia Britannica. Multiple councils condemned his worldview, which was also famously repudiated by Augustine of Hippo in his “Confessions.”

Francis also raised eyebrows for other comments he made during his interview, such as accusing conservative U.S. bishops of exhibiting “a suicidal attitude” by opposing his “efforts to revisit teachings and traditions.”

The pontiff also responded to the furor around the Vatican’s recent “Fiducia Supplicans” guidance, claiming it does not permit the blessing of a homosexual union itself, but rather the two individual homosexuals engaging in the union. “What I allowed was not to bless the union; that cannot be done, because that is not the sacrament,” he said. “I cannot. The Lord made it that way. But to bless each person? Yes. The blessing is for everyone.”

Biblical Connections: In Luke 18:19, Jesus stated, “So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God.” Paul in Romans 3:23 stated, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” In Isaiah 64:6, the prophet writes, “But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags.” While humanity was created fundamentally good, the fall of man in Genesis 3 has led to a sinful condition throughout all of humanity. To argue that humanity as a whole is fundamentally good and that there are only a few bad apples that mess things up simply is not consistent with the pages of Scripture.

PRAY: Pray the drift to more liberal leaning movements of various groups within Christianity will stop and people will return to the foundation of the Bible.

Fight Ensures Over the Ten Commandments

Louisiana became the first state to require public school classrooms to display the Ten Commandments through a Republican-backed bill signed by Republican Gov. Jeff Landry. House Bill 71, sponsored by Republican Rep. Dodie Horton, mandates that each public school classroom display a poster-sized copy of the Ten Commandments by next January. "If you want to respect the rule of law you've got to start from the original law given, which was Moses," Landry said during a signing ceremony.

The display must be a “poster or framed document that is at least eleven inches by fourteen inches,” according to the text of the legislation. The text of the Ten Commandments must be the “central focus” of the poster or framed documents, which shall be printed in “large, easily readable font.” The display must also include a four-paragraph “context statement” telling readers that “The Ten Commandments were a prominent part of American public education for almost three centuries. Around the year 1688, The New England Primer became the first published American textbook and was the equivalent of a first-grade reader. The New England Primer was used in public schools throughout the United States for more than one hundred fifty years to teach Americans to read and contained more than forty questions about the Ten Commandments,” the context statement reads.

“The Ten Commandments were also included in public school textbooks published by educator William McGuffey, a noted university president and professor. A version of his famous McGuffey Readers was written in the early 1800s and became one of the most popular textbooks in the history of American education, selling more than one hundred million copies. Copies of the McGuffey Readers are still available today.”

The new law is likely to face legal challenges. Secular church-state separation groups have already threatened lawsuits, contending that it violates the U.S. Constitution’s Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. The American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Louisiana, Americans United for Separation of Church and State and the Freedom from Religion Foundation announced their intention to file a lawsuit. The groups assert that school displays of the Ten Commandments equate to “religious coercion of students, who are legally required to attend school and are thus a captive audience for school-sponsored religious messages.”

The organizations believe the law violates U.S. Supreme Court precedent set in the 1980 Stone v. Graham decision. In a 5-4 ruling, the Burger court ruled against a similar law passed in Kentucky requiring classrooms to post copies of the Ten Commandments, finding that it violated the First Amendment. "The law violates the separation of church and state and is blatantly unconstitutional,” the groups wrote in a joint statement. “The First Amendment promises that we all get to decide for ourselves what religious beliefs, if any, to hold and practice, without pressure from the government. Politicians have no business imposing their preferred religious doctrine on students and families in public schools.”

Supporters of the law maintain that its purpose is to highlight the document’s historical significance, as the legislation describes the Ten Commandments as one of the "foundational documents of our state and national government." The bill also allows schools to display other historical documents, such as the Mayflower Compact, the Declaration of Independence and the Northwest Ordinance. “Although this is a religious document, this document is also posted in over one hundred and eighty places, including the Supreme Court of the United States of America. I would say is based on the laws that this country was founded on,” Republican state Sen. Adam Bass told KALB.

Biblical Connections: Many of the founding documents and laws of America were founded on biblical precedent. Getting back to that precedent is paramount in having a successful nation.

Pray- Pray that there will continue to be a push for getting America back to its biblical roots and that the court challenges to stopping this will be defeated.