We have been called to honor God in all that we say, think, or do, and we should live our lives according to His principles.  Our faithfulness as believers can spill out into the culture at large.  The light of truth is a powerful force and when the light is shone, blinders can be removed from eyes and clarity can be found.

This edition of "3Stories," features three stories of relevance to the Christian community. Here are this week's topics:

• Good news on potential foster parents’ rights out of WA State
• Male athlete still allowed to compete against females in H.S. track-and-field in CA
• Study shows abortion pill providers violate FDA regulations

This year, the Tennessee Legislature passed, and Governor Bill Lee signed, a resolution declaring June to be “Nuclear Family Month.”  A CBN article quotes co-sponsor, Rep. Bud Hulsey, who “defines the nuclear family as ‘one husband, one wife, and any biological, adopted, or fostered children’ and declares it ‘God's design for familial structure.’"

When we as a society reject His ways, it results in uncertainty and insecurity.  

When you open the door to special privileges based on the fallacy of “gender identity,” it leads to confusing circumstances like we’re seeing in California.

There are so many things that we encounter, perhaps even on a daily basis, that are unexplained. When confronted with the mysteries of the universe, we might seek an explanation, but find ourselves incapable or insufficient of truly being able to derive an answer. But, in some instances, we can rely on Biblical truth to help us to reason with the mysteries of life.

As students close out the most recent school year, it is a good time to consider the influences on young hearts and minds that prey on this generation, bringing thoughts and ideas to bear that are toxic to them, ideas that are born out of a worldview that is contrary to Scripture, ideas that cut to the heart of basic principles for the structure and betterment of society.

This week's edition of 3Stories, featuring three stories of relevance impacting the Christian community, includes:
* Two more states enact bans on abortion pill
* Christian leaders among those gathering to rededicate nation to God
* Texas hospital to launch first “detransition” clinic

The former President Theodore Roosevelt, said this in 1903: “In the Grand Canyon, Arizona has a natural wonder which is in kind absolutely unparalleled throughout the rest of the world,” adding, “I shall not attempt to describe it, because I cannot. I could not choose words that would convey or that could convey to any outsider what that canyon is.”

That is a quote from a USA Today article about the Grand Canyon.

Memorial Day is full of incredible stories of humans who laid down their lives. We remember Jesus said in John 15:13: “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”

The institution of marriage, which dates back to the first man and woman on this earth, is an essential building block for a society and an example of the love that our Savior has for His bride, the Church.  God provides the resources for marriages to last, to be strong, and to reflect His presence.   In Ephesians 5 (ESV), Paul includes a quote from the book of Genesis, and writes:
31 “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. ”
32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.
33 However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

Noted marriage researcher Brad Wilcox of the Institute for Family Studies at the University of Virginia posted this on X recently in response to a Wall Street Journal article on rate of divorce and its consequences:

Hey, @WSJ, why not tell your readers that

✔️ Divorce is down
✔️ Most marriages go the distance now
✔️ Great programs exist to help couples navigate marital distress/failure successfully

?

He posted a chart that showed that in 2021, the rate of newly divorced people per 1000 Americans was 13.6 percent.  That is lower than every census year since 1960.  The IFS website noted in an article from last year: "Prior to the divorce revolution, less than a third of marriages ended in divorce. But the cultural transformation of the 1960s and 1970s radically changed the stability of American unions. It’s from such marriages, formed during the heyday of hippies through the MTV era, that we get the idea that 50% of marriages end in divorce. And it’s this picture of marriage that has been pressed into the American understanding of the fate of newlyweds."  The article goes on to say:

Using the Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP), we found that new marriages are stronger today than every decade since the 1950s. While new marriages in the 2000s initially resembled those from the 1990s, divorce rates slowed down after 5 years into marriage. By 20 years in, marriages in the 2000s were performing similarly to those from the 1960s.

Wilcox and his associates in this IFS article also address what is called "gray divorce:" the phenomenon of older people ending their marriages.  They write: "When 'gray divorce' is analyzed today, it is those marriages formed during the turbulent years of the divorce revolution often being observed. Consider that over half of married adults over the age of 60 wedded in the 1970s and 1980s. When we look at heightened divorce rates among older Americans, we are seeing, in part, the long tail of the 20th-century upheaval. The stability of new marriages suggests this revolution is over."

The same day last summer that this article was released, The Daily Citizen of Focus on the Family released an article about the ministry's report, Marriage Health in America, which said that “74% of marital relationships in the U.S. may be considered as healthy.”  Focus on the Family President Jim Daly noted that “even more significant, the percentage of healthy marriages increases to an amazing 82% when we narrowed down our findings to those who are deeply committed to the Christian faith. Without question, living by one’s Christian convictions makes a difference...”

The study also noted that, “21% of marriages may be considered in a state of crisis — where the couple is pursuing divorce or considering divorce or just have no hope for the marriage. Convictional Christians were found to experience the lowest rate of a crisis state...”

So, for Christian married couples, there is great hope.  When we come together in a relationship that is centered on the love we have for Him and for one another - true, unselfish Christlike love, that can contribute to a marriage going the distance.  

And, the cultural trends concerning marriage that IFS and Focus report show that the conditions for marriage are advantageous for couples in staying together.  The idea that marriages are fragile and temporary and that the divorce rate is skyrocketing can lessen a sense of confidence that a couple can actually stay together.  These trends now show the societal conditions have changed.

When we build our marriages and families on the firm foundation of Jesus Christ, we can be confident that He goes with us and by His love and power, we have the spiritual resources to exemplify Him in our homes.  

When we see injustice around us, as believers in Christ, how should we respond?  When there are gross offenses against human life and there are behaviors that violate Scripture, is the loving thing to do to just say, “it’s gonna be OK,” or is the truly loving thing to actually tell the truth?  We should always strive to be truth tellers and we should be willing to call out sin and injustice where we see it.  Proverbs 24 offers these sobering words (ESV):
11 Rescue those who are being taken away to death;
 hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter.
12 If you say, “Behold, we did not know this,”
 does not he who weighs the heart perceive it?
Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it,
 and will he not repay man according to his work?

Brandon Gill is a Congressman from Texas.  He is a truth-teller and believes that his role as a representative of his constituents is to call out behavior that does not comport with his Biblical worldview perspective.  Recently, in a Congressional hearing about the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances, or FACE, Act, he quizzed a witness, a professor, who is an advocate of abortion.  Her name is Jessica Waters, Director of the American University School of Public Affairs Leadership Program. As The Daily Citizen of Focus on the Family reported it, from a YouTube video:

In challenging Professor Waters’ characterization of abortion as routine healthcare, Rep. Gill asked the witness about her favorite type of abortion.

“I am an advocate for patients having access to the full realm of reproductive health care,” she replied.

Rep. Gill pressed on.

“But do you have a preferred method of abortion that you like?”

Professor Waters answered she didn’t have a favorite method.

Rep. Gill then proceeded to describe some of those methods…

He asked her about a suction abortion, a dilation and curettage, or D&C abortion, and a saline abortion.  All designed to kill the life of an unborn child.  After asking her about the third type and being rebuffed by her prepared “talking points,” referred to by the article, Gill said, “I wouldn’t want to talk about this either if I were you because it is barbaric and evil…”

As Paul Batura, writer of the Daily Citizen article noted, “There are some who might think Rep. Gill’s line of questioning was unnecessarily provocative, but his bluntness was desperately needed and helpful. The cruel and coldblooded murder of innocent children has become so commonplace in America that many have become numb to the reality of what is actually going on inside abortion clinics."

We have to look at actions in our country, such as the taking of human life - born and unborn, the redefining of Biblical principles regarding sexuality - homosexual and heterosexual, and the poison that the enemy has deposited in the hearts and minds of individuals to sin against Almighty God in manifold ways.  We have to call sin sin and recognize evil for what it is.  We should use terms like “good” and “evil” and not try to soften the definitions. Sure, there is a place for compassion, but perhaps in the name of being compassionate, we end up being way too comfortable and make others comfortable in their sin.

We have to make sure that we are not comfortable in our own sin.  Or allow cowardice to replace confidence in God.  There is spiritual warfare taking place, the battle lines are clear, people are not the enemy, and greater is He who is in us than He who is in the world.

When confronted by the ills of a culture that needs to know God, we can consider how God has directed and empowered us to respond.  That may involve speaking truth in challenging circumstances.  There may be an opportunity presented to us and we find ourselves anxious or fearful - but, we know that the Holy Spirit gives us the boldness and confidence to do what God has led us to do: what He appoints, He anoints, it's been said. In Acts 14 (ESV), we read about some bold disciples:
1 Now at Iconium they entered together into the Jewish synagogue and spoke in such a way that a great number of both Jews and Greeks believed.
2 But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers.
3 So they remained for a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord, who bore witness to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.

I shared with you recently a bit of good news in a set of difficult occasions involving a woman in her 70's in Scotland who was arrested not just once, but twice for holding a sign outside an abortion clinic inviting conversation.  She said not a word, but authorities saw fit to arrest her - then, the charges were dropped.  Good news in the face of a restrictive law, a law that does not protect freedom of speech.

But, we see laws restricting speech near abortion mills throughout the United Kingdom. Just recently, a 78-year-old man, who once served as president of the Association of Baptist Churches in Ireland, was "convicted on two criminal counts and fined £450 (British pounds) for a July 2024 sermon he delivered on the fringes of a buffer zone near Coleraine’s Causeway Hospital."  That's according to the Decision Magazine website from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.  The article notes:

He is charged with “conducting a protest” that could influence a “protected person” and failing to comply with orders to leave, according to U.K.-based Premier Christian News.

Franklin Graham, on Facebook, commended Johnston and called on Christians to pray for him.

"God bless Pastor Clive Johnston for preaching the Gospel—John 3:16! ... Pastor Johnston didn’t even mention abortion; he just preached the Gospel in a public space. I hope his legal team at The Christian Institute will have success in appealing this. Religious freedoms are being threatened not only in the U.K., but here in the U.S., Canada, and around the world."

Franklin Graham did not mince words about the spiritual ramifications, stating: "There is an anti-Christ spirit that is prevailing in our world today. It’s as though every demon in Hell has been unleashed."  Johnston said that his first-ever conviction was “a dark day for Christian freedom.”  He said: “We held a small, open air Sunday service near a hospital,” adding, “We made no reference whatsoever to the issue of abortion. And yet the buffer zones law is so broad that holding a Sunday service has been found to be a criminal offence."

And, millions have reportedly viewed the arrest of a street preaching in Watford, England, according to CBN News.   It reported:

A shocking video shows authorities hauling away a 66-year-old street preacher and grandfather in handcuffs. His alleged "crime?" He was publicly sharing the gospel and speaking out about Islam.

The video showing the dramatic arrest of Pastor Steve Maile in Watford, England, has been seen by millions.
 
In the video, Pastor Maile can be seen struggling as he is handcuffed. He shouts, "I am a preacher of the gospel. Watch this. Watch this. There is no offense being committed here. None whatsoever. None whatsoever. Listen. You repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you'll be saved."

The article says, "Maile faces charges of hate speech for criticizing aspects of Islam and encouraging people to follow Jesus."  But, the pastor contends that preaching the truth of Scripture isn't hate; he is quoted as saying: "The Bible says you must be born again. And God affords this grace through Jesus Christ for all humanity. This is what I preach...This is not hate. This is love. This is compassion—because it's having compassion on the Muslims."

Maile also made this observation: "Something's going on here in the United Kingdom. That is insidious. It is dangerous. It favors a particular community. And if the Islamic community can do anything they want, watch out," adding,  "This is coming to America. Americans, you need to pray, and you need to get ready."    

Rep. Chip Roy of Texas held a hearing recently on the spread of Sharia law in America. Andrew Kolvet of Turning Point USA posted this on X:

RAIR Foundation USA founder Amy Mekelburg just delivered a BRUTAL truth to Congress:

"Islam is a hostile totalitarian political ideology using our freedoms to destroy us. To every non-Muslim, it offers three choices: convert, submit, or die."

"It does not stop until every court, every school, and every government on earth is under Sharia."

"These networks operate more than 8,000 Islamic nonprofits across America, including 650 in Texas alone."

"They have no plan of assimilating." We MUST stop importing Islam to the West. It is a Trojan Horse meant to destroy us.

The name of the RAIR Foundation, according to its website, is an acronym: Rise • Align • Ignite • Reclaim," described as "a grassroots activist and investigative journalism organization made up of everyday Americans leading a movement to reclaim our Republic from the network of individuals and organizations waging war on our nation — on our Constitution, our borders, and our Judeo-Christian values."

Note: The God of the Bible, the God whom we as Christians serve, is not the same as the God of Islam.  While we decry attempts to force Islamic law down the throats of various communities across America, we also should follow this pastor's example and continue to declare the love of Christ to ALL people, including those who follow Islam.

We should speak the truth to those who participate in abortion and to women who attempt to take the lives of their children.  Thank God for pregnancy resource centers and sidewalk counselors who boldly and compassionately share the truth of the gospel.

We should speak the truth to those in the LGBT lifestyle, recognizing they have bought a lie regarding their sexual identity and need to experience freedom in Christ.  We should speak that truth that their sinful desires should not be accommodated in Church and culture, but like other sinful desires, their sin has been nailed to the cross with Jesus and He provides the power by His Spirit to resist temptation and reject desires that do not please God.

We have incredible resources available to us in Christ that equip us to be bold witnesses for Jesus - we have the truth of Scripture, we have the Holy Spirit, and we can have the confidence that God will speak through us as we yield to Him.  We can be confident that He gives boldness to the believers who desire to speak for Him.

This week's edition of 3Stories includes these three stories of relevance to the Christian community:
* SCOTUS extends mail-order distribution of the abortion pill
* White House announces pro-life resources page, Moms.gov
* Cabinet member’s Easter message result in lawsuit from union representing department employees

Around the world, people are living in despair, believing they are trapped in their current circumstances.  They are without hope - true hope that comes from Jesus Christ.  Knowing and believing the truth about Him can bring hope into the heart of the person who looks to Jesus.  That hope will produce a faith that, even though circumstances may not change, they can know that the Lord is with them.  Exposure to the truth produces hope; Psalm 119 (ESV) states:
129 Your testimonies are wonderful;
    therefore my soul keeps them.
130 The unfolding of your words gives light;
    it imparts understanding to the simple.
131 I open my mouth and pant,
    because I long for your commandments.
132 Turn to me and be gracious to me,
    as is your way with those who love your name.

When he was 29 years old, Hyun-Seung Lee, as The Christian Post relates, "began to understand that the world he knew in North Korea wasn't the whole truth."  He learned of the execution of a friend, 23 years old, who was sent to a prison camp, and it opened his and his family's eyes to what was really occurring inside North Korea - and it was different than the rest of the world.  Lee had been an officer in the North Korean military, and he, along with his family, defected to China.  He was in Washington recently for an event called North Korea Freedom Week.

The event, according to the Christian Post, "combined policy discussion with firsthand testimony from people like Lee who have fled the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea." It also noted that, "These discussions coincided with the findings of a report released...by the Seoul-based NGO Transitional Justice Working Group."

North Korea has for over two decades has been atop the Open Doors World Watch List, which lists the leading countries where Christians are persecuted - at #1 every year since 2002, except for 2022, when Afghanistan replaced it for one year.   The Open Doors website noted, "North Korea is arguably the most dangerous place on earth to follow Jesus. If someone is discovered to be a Christian, the consequences are unimaginably stark: either imprisonment in one of its notorious labour camps, with little hope of release, or immediate execution. The same fate is likely to await other family members."  It also stated:

Recent years have seen conditions worsen further for North Korea’s secret believers. This is largely due to the ‘anti-reactionary thought law’, introduced in 2020, which made it even clearer that being a Christian and owning a Bible is regarded as a serious crime. The law has reinforced just how much of a threat Christianity is seen to be by the country’s unbending regime.

That report that was recently released indicates how devastating that "thought law" is.  The Christian Post article relates:

According to the report, which mapped 13 years of executions under Kim Jong-un, executions for religious and "superstitious folk" activities increased since the Anti-Reactionary and Thought Crime Law was enacted in 2020. The law criminalizes the viewing and dissemination of Western and South Korean content.

While death penalty cases for murder declined by 44.4% following the border closure, the report found that offenses related to foreign culture, religion, and “superstition” experienced the largest growth, increasing by 250% (from 4 to 14), while the number of condemned persons increased by 442.9% (from 7 to 38).

The President of Free North Korea Radio, Ji-Young Kim, who is also an escapee from North Korea, "recalled listening to an outside radio broadcast for the first time at the age of 13. In North Korea, listening to outside broadcasts is a 'dangerous choice,' the escapee said."   Listen to her words: “One of the most powerful forces for changing North Korea is not military force but information,” adding, “Information changes people, and changed people eventually change society. I am living proof of that.”  She is disappointed with the ceasing of broadcasts from South Korea into North Korea, which appears to be some sort of olive branch.  These broadcasts apparently included Christian programming.

But, Far East Broadcasting, as it stated on its website this past February, "...is now one of the final remaining evangelical radio programs that can still be heard in North Korea."  The site notes:

Although it’s difficult to determine exact figures, it’s estimated there are around 400,000 Christians in North Korea, despite the restrictions and persecution people face for practicing their faith. These brothers and sisters in Christ now have extremely limited ways to hear the Gospel in their heart language. With Bibles and evangelism banned in North Korea, the radio serves as a crucial way to reach the unreached.

We’ve had the honor of sitting down with a few North Korean escapees to hear their stories. One of them, Moses Yeon, told us, “It is almost impossible to share the Gospel with [North Koreans] in person…so radio is the best option...”

FEBC is continuing to be faithful to use radio to reach the people of North Korea and other parts of the world.  I am certainly grateful for fellow broadcasters who are opening hearts in closed countries through radio and satellite television.  Because, unfortunately,  you have nations that will block the Internet and isolate their people from the outside world.

It is the truth about that outside world that has stirred a sense of expectation in the minds of North Korea.  And, the truth of God's Word can bring real hope to people - that they can escape from despair and into the hope of Jesus.  The Bible says that His Word brings light. That may not mean physical escape, but it does mean that God will walk with those who embrace Christ and bring them joy in His presence day by day, even while facing persecution.  And, that becomes powerful to their friends and neighbors - that explains growing churches, even where the gospel is being suppressed by authorities.  There is great potential for God to move because hope is being spread.

The Church, and those associated with it, are locked into a battle for the hearts and minds of people around the world - and attempting to leave an indelible imprint on the next generation.  We must be careful to make sure that we are assertively - and accurately - presenting the truth of the gospel.  And, make sure that we are rejecting unbiblical ideas that could derail us in our walk.  The Bible speaks to the power of the gospel message in 1st Corinthians chapter 4 (ESV):
3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.
4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
5 For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake.
6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Students at the University of Georgia gathered about a month ago for a Turning Point USA rally there.  Vice-President J.D. Vance was one of the speakers, and he took questions from the audience.  According to the Roll Call website, a student asked the following:

...when you were growing up, who was your voice/influencer that helped you see your conservative views? And then for now, who can we look at as an influencer or a voice?

Well, just a week after the rally at UGA, The Christian Post ran an article about the  man whose name J.D. Vance mentioned and who he discussed: comedian Theo Von, who is also host of a podcast.  The article related:

Von took a call from a listener who described feeling trapped in a cycle of loneliness, poor decisions and regret. In response, the 46-year-old comedian related the caller’s experience to his own.

“I’ve been struggling, man,” Von said. “For the past couple years, it’s been a struggle in certain ways with certain behaviors that I’m just not proud of, right? Or really just behaviors that I didn’t want to do anymore.”

Von, who previously revealed he attends Bible study with country star Morgan Wallen, said one of the most difficult aspects of his struggle is the tension between seeking help and doubting whether change will last. He shared how he’s shifted the way he prays in response to that internal conflict.

“I started praying like, ‘God, please help me with this. This is a broken part of me that I bring to You. I need help with it,'” he said. “And then I would add to my prayer. I would say, ‘Even God, even as I pray to You right now, there’s a part of me that knows I’m probably lying to You. There’s a part of me that knows I’m gonna do that behavior again. So can You come into that part of me and help me there?’”

Theo Von shared this: “But I think I want a new story, dude,” adding, “And it’s crazy for me to even say that. But yeah, I think I want a new story. So that’s one thing that I’m asking God for — I’m asking God for a new story. I’m asking God for the next part of me.”   The article noted; "He’s also previously described longing for what he calls 'spiritual cleanliness' and connection with God."

The article also mentioned that, "Christian comedian Tim Hawkins told CP that in recent years, he's seen signs of change within the comedy world as an increasing number of comedians grapple with questions of faith and purpose."  Tim said this: "Guys like Theo ... these entertainers … are realizing there's more to it, that they've been down these roads, and it doesn't end in a fun place. It doesn't end in a good place. It's like, ‘Well, what are the answers?’ It sets them on a journey for a purpose, because they know how to do comedy. But it's like, ‘Why? What's the point?’ I think it's encouraging, and the more the clean performers succeed, that helps guys like me … it really is kind of a team thing.”

Certainly, Tim Hawkins has found that meaning and purpose through his life in Christ. Something that Theo Von, and so many others are looking for.  And, yes, God can give a person a new story; the healing that they, including Theo, are desperately seeking.

We recognize that through a relationship with Jesus, a new story is possible.  But, it takes faith and a willingness to surrender to God, to ask Jesus to be our Lord and Savior, and to follow Him as a disciple.  It's possible.

Then one has to reckon with how a new story is practical.  In other words, you have to make decisions that are in line with what you say.  Jesus dealt with the practicalities of following Him - things, perhaps people, definitely desires have to be left behind.  And, when we surrender, God will show us the way we are to walk.

And, a new story is phenomenal.  Jesus calls us to a new story, flowing out of our new life with Him, powered by the Holy Spirit and bringing peace, joy, and, as Acts says, "times of refreshing."  When we are locked in to Christ, He promises a new life that is beyond belief, that is abundant, that is filled with the presence of His Spirit.

Oh, and the influencer that J.D. Vance talked about that night at UGA, who had an impact on his life?  None other than James Dobson; the Vice-President said: "So when I was a kid and I was kind of developing my politics, there was actually a radio host, a guy who founded this organization called Focus on the Family, James Dobson, who was really influential to me. And he was a good Christian guy. He talked about the family. He talked about things I cared a lot about."  He added: "And I came from a broken home. So when he talked about the ways in which a broken home had a negative effect on kids, it made sense to me because I was seeing it in my own life and then here was a guy who was actually talking about it. And what I liked about him is that he didn't talk about it in this judgmental way."

The Daily Citizen noted, "It’s notable that Vice President Vance singled out Dr. Dobson, not simply as a Christian leader or child psychologist, but as someone who influenced him as he developed his politics. There are some who grow uncomfortable when faith and politics are discussed in the same conversation, but there’s no question that one (faith) informs the other."

We can recognize that all are invited to come and be part of this wonderful living entity, the organism known as the Church.  Jesus died for all and His Holy Spirit is drawing people to Himself.  In this day, we see people with a hunger for God who are responding to Him and finding salvation for their souls.  He became like us so that by accepting Jesus as our Savior and surrendering to Him, we can know eternal life - we can have a right relationship with God.  Revelation 22 (ESV) states:
16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.”
17 The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.

Come.  The simple invitation is given.  But, expect to be changed!

The summary of a recent Gallup poll states:

Driven by a recent increase, young men in the U.S. have now surpassed young women in saying religion is "very important" in their lives. Gallup’s latest data, from 2024-2025, show 42% of young men saying religion is very important to them, up sharply from 28% in 2022-2023. By contrast, during this period, young women’s attachment to religion has held steady at about 30%.

By "young," the poll means young men and women ages 18-29.  During the two-year period of 2024 & 25, according to Gallup, "63% of young men report a specific religious affiliation." That's slightly up from the 61% during the previous two years and up from the 57% almost 10 years ago.  

And, those in the younger generation, according to this survey, are showing up in church. The summary notes: "The percentage of young men reporting monthly or more frequent attendance at religious services rose seven points between 2022-2023 and 2024-2025, reaching 40% — its highest level since 2012-2013. This followed a stretch from 2016-2017 through 2022-2023 when young men’s attendance had languished near 33%."  It also related: "Young women’s attendance has also increased modestly since 2022-2023, rising three points to 39%. However, the most recent rate remains far below the levels recorded in the early 2000s."

Less than a month ago, The Washington Stand published a piece that featured comments from David Closson, Director of the Center for Biblical Worldview at Family Research Council.  He said, “The new Gallup data is striking, particularly because it reverses a long-standing trend,” adding, “For decades, young women have been more religious than young men, but that gap has now flipped."  He cited "broader ideological shifts," and made reference to "deeper cultural dynamics," stating:

"For years, young men have been told that traditional expressions of masculinity are problematic or even harmful. In that context, it is not surprising that some are gravitating toward faith communities that offer a clearer sense of identity, purpose, and moral framework. For many young men, church provides structure, accountability, and a vision of ordered freedom, all of which can be especially compelling in a culture that often feels unmoored.”

Joseph Backholm, Senior Fellow for Biblical Worldview and Strategic Engagement at FRC, noted: “The Left has been waging a war on men for a while now, so it’s possible that young men are being drawn to religion as a way of rebelling against everything on the Left. If that’s true, that might be part of the reason young men are more religious than young women. Secularists like women better than men. As a result, women like secularism more.”

He also stated: “It’s also true that the Holy Spirit is at work in the world and Jesus is drawing us to Himself,"

Greg Laurie of Harvest Christian Fellowship, speaking at the Turning Point USA Faith Forward Pastors Summit last year, stated, according to The Christian Post: "There's a lot of encouraging things happening right now...There's been a dramatic shift in the culture toward the Gospel and toward Jesus Christ. In the past, elders and baby boomers tended to be the more committed Christians, but in the last two years that has changed, especially among young people and specifically among young men."  

The article went on to say:

"Gen Z men are making a commitment to Christ," he said, presumably referencing a study that was part of Barna's State of the Church 2025 initiative, which found that commitment to Jesus has risen sharply among young men.

Conversions jumped 15 percentage points between 2019 and 2025 among Gen Z men, and 19 percentage points among millennial men, according to the study.

Again, I believe that something is happening, something is stirring among our young people.  We can rejoice that God is at work, and even those in other generations can take note and be inspired by how we are seeing God move.

We can also be inspired to take stock of our own spiritual lives - when we see the fervor of the young, we can consider how we can allow God to energize us, to respond to His invitation to draw closer to Himself, and experience more times of refreshing, as the book of Acts refers to.

And, it is encouraging to see men step up and embrace what God has in store for them. When men are in right relationship with God and functioning in their Biblical roles, it provides strength and direction for the Church.  We can respond to our Lord's call to follow Him, to be His disciples.

We continue to reflect on the incredible history of our nation, and as we approach a special ceremony this Sunday rededicating our nation to God, we can celebrate our founding principles that originate with Scripture and devote ourselves to following them.

But, there are those that have different ideas.  And, some of those ideas have consequences that the Founders would have not intended.  Our nation was founded on certain freedoms and the opposition to tyrannical leadership.  And, there is a discernible thread of Biblical truth that is woven through our history.  In Proverbs 29 (ESV), we can read these words:
2 When the righteous increase, the people rejoice,
    but when the wicked rule, the people groan.
3 He who loves wisdom makes his father glad,
    but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth.
4 By justice a king builds up the land,
    but he who exacts gifts tears it down.

There are powerful lessons throughout the Scriptures regarding our dependence on Almighty God - the One True God, the God of the Bible, who has sustained our nation.

But, as I mentioned, there are those who reject the concept of this God at the heart of our nation.  There are those that worship the gods of secularism and Marxism, who embrace godless socialism and Communism, and pay homage to the god of Islam, who is not the same God whom we as Christians worship and serve.

The threat of the imposition of Sharia law is something that has governmental leaders concerned.  The Christian Post quoted from Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, who said, "Sharia law and the imposition of Sharia law is contrary to the U.S. Constitution. Our Constitution is the greatest in the world. It's the longest surviving Constitution on the planet, and we're 250 years into this grand experiment in self-governance..."  The article stated: "Noting that the Declaration of Independence affirms human dignity and value, and that U.S. law guarantees freedom of religion, Johnson said Sharia law conflicts with it."

And, Johnson is not alone - Rep. Chip Roy of Texas is referred to in the article, which stated that Roy "launched the Sharia-Free America Caucus with another Texas congressman amid fears their state has been inundated with Muslim immigrants who have no intention of assimilating, but aim instead to establish self-governing enclaves under Sharia."

Kris Kubal, Chief Program Officer at Intercessors for America wrote a piece recently at The Christian Post, referencing, "the Adhan, the Muslim call to prayer, now blaring over loudspeakers in communities nationwide."  She continued:

...Now blaring over loudspeakers, it unapologetically and forcefully declares its presence in our American cities, such as in Dearborn, Mich., Paterson, N.J., Falls Church, Va., New York City, N.Y., and Minneapolis, Minn. The Adhan's call is becoming a fixture, a sonic marker of shifting cultural tides in America.

Kubal warns: "Under the guise of religious freedom, a political system rooted in Sharia is advancing into our neighborhoods."  And, just like Mr. Johnson said, Kris Kubal highlights "its fundamental incompatibility with our Constitution;" stating these three areas:

Recently, the Parliament in the nation of Uganda had been considering a bill that would establish Sharia courts in that nation - once gaining traction quickly, there are no indications that the Parliament passed the bill before it adjourned almost two weeks ago.  A Christian Post article stated:

“We are very concerned at the Qadhis Courts Bill, which will require Christians and other non-Muslims to appear before Sharia courts, and formally introduce religious law into our national law,” said Arthur Ayorekire, vice president of the Uganda Christian Lawyers’ Fraternity. “The bill is not necessary and will only lead to legal uncertainty, tensions between religious groups, and potentially will allow extremism to grab a hold in Uganda.”

ADF International pointed out that the bill raises concerns about religious conversion. Sharia law does not recognize conversion from Islam, and under the proposed courts, Muslim individuals seeking to convert to Christianity or other religions would likely be prevented from doing so.

Back in America, as we approach the 250th anniversary of our nation, we find there is a significant number of Americans who don't like this country and would like to try some other form of government; some would rather institute Islamic law than continue with the U.S. Constitution.

While we should always show Christian love toward those who embrace Islam and share the gospel with them. We also recognize that there are those who, under that banner, desire to dominate and institute a form of government that stands in sharp contrast to the freedom-based U.S. Constitution that guarantees freedom of religion and freedom of speech.  

So, Muslims in America are free to exercise their faith under our system of government and benefit from being citizens of the United States; but when you have those who want to fundamentally change of system of government and reduce our freedoms, that becomes a bridge too far.  

We should recognize that there is a spiritual tension that is present between followers of Christ and those who don't know Him.  That is readily apparent when you compare the teachings of Scripture with the teachings of the Koran.  We must pray for God's truth to be established in the hearts of His people and pray for those who don't know Him to embrace our Savior - not just a good teacher, but the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

When people in authority acknowledge the hand of Almighty God and embrace His principles, it is something worth noting.  Even if their lives may not have exemplified an adherence to Christian principles.  We can be careful to pray for our leaders and pray that they will exercise Godly wisdom.  And, we can continue to give attention to the hand of God as He works in and among the nations.  In 2nd Chronicles 20 (ESV), we read the proclamation of King Jehoshophat just before the nation of Judah experienced a powerful victory:
5 And Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the Lord, before the new court,
6 and said, “O Lord, God of our fathers, are you not God in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. In your hand are power and might, so that none is able to withstand you.
7 Did you not, our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel, and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend?

We are approaching the 250th anniversary of the separation between what is now the United States and England.  In the Declaration of Independence, we can read about our Founders' reliance on Almighty God in the face of tyranny, embodied in King George III. The grievances were many, but in the face of the authoritarian actions, the colonists declared their independence and stated their dependence on God.

King Charles III received a warm welcome in his visit to the U.S. recently, stood before Congress, with many in the audience supportive of the ideology associated with the "No Kings" movement, as it's been pointed out.  But, an actual king, well, he delivered an address that focused on shared history and shared religious practice.

The Christian Post reported:

King Charles III, whose royal titles include Defender of the Faith and head of the Church of England, spoke about the importance of his Christian beliefs in his address to Congress.

“For many here — and for myself — the Christian faith is a firm anchor and daily inspiration that guides us not only personally, but together as members of our community,” he told those gathered.

“Having devoted a large part of my life to interfaith relationships and greater understanding, it is that faith in the triumph of light over darkness which I have found confirmed countless times.”

It is true that the King of England does occupy a position of ecclesiastical authority, and I think that one could certainly question decisions and viewpoints in his personal and professional life.  He is correct when he speaks, ironically, of the concept of freedom. The article says, "Charles emphasized a common heritage of liberty, noting that English measures like the Magna Carta of 1215 and the English Declaration of Rights of 1689 influenced the U.S."

Some say that the King is not a political figure, but the office carries with it a close relationship with the British Prime Minister and considerable influence of British policy.  So, when you have a King who dedicated a sculpture last year paying tribute to LGBTQ+ veterans, it is worth noting.  And, his dogged embrace of climate change policy proposals is certainly troubling.  In his address to Congress, he stated, “Even as we celebrate the beauty that surrounds us, our generation must decide how to address the collapse of critical natural systems, which threatens far more than the harmony and essential diversity of nature..."  

We don't have a King - even amidst people taking to the streets in protest calling for "No King."   The people of Israel wanted a King, even though Samuel insisted that the Lord was their King.  And, they suffered for it.  Throughout the writings of the Old Testament, we see a succession of kings - two sets of them, once Israel and Judah separated following Solomon's reign.  Some followed the Lord wholeheartedly, some perhaps half-heartedly, others didn't follow Him at all.  Jehoshaphat exercised dependence on the Lord, King Josiah actually publicly proclaimed the Word of God.  Others led their people in a direction away from God.

We serve the One True King, who is called King of Kings and Lord of Lords, and we can pray for the leaders over us to submit to His authority.   The Bible teaches that authority has given by God.  King Charles and leaders throughout the ages - from monarchs, to dictators, to democratically-elected Presidents and Prime Ministers, will all stand before the presence of the ultimate Judge.  And, so will we - we have to make sure that we are in right relationship with God through Christ.

In response to an Executive Order from President Trump, the Task Force to Eradicate Anti-Christian Bias was established in the Department of Justice, and just days ago, it released its findings, noting, according to a DOJ press release, "The report examines how the Biden Administration pushed its radical policy agenda, even when its actions infringed on Christian beliefs, free exercise, and on matters of deep personal importance to nearly every American: life, family, marriage, self-identity, education, medical decisions, and more."

The report was summarized in this way: "The report touches on a broad array of federal policies and programs, including conscience rights, the Johnson Amendment, fines against Christian universities, girls’ sports, vaccine mandates, and the exclusion of Christians from public programs, among many others."

Some examples given in the press release were as follows:

• President Biden pushed policies to eliminate statutory protections for religious Americans that interfered with his policy goals. Although he failed to change federal law, under his direction, federal agencies used policy and regulatory means to accomplish the same goals.
• The Biden Justice Department aggressively opposed concerned parents through the Garland School Board Memo and diligently attempted to use its enforcement authority against parents who defended their children’s safety at local school board meetings.
• The Biden Justice Department immediately mandated the adoption of gender ideology throughout the federal government far beyond the Supreme Court’s ruling in Bostock v. Clayton County.

The example was also given that senior Administration officials regarded religious objections to the COVID-19 vaccine as “insincere” or “not religious.”
 
The DOJ stated: "While this report details the egregious actions of the Biden Administration against Christians, it also demonstrates how the Trump Administration is restoring the rights of Christians—and all Americans—to practice their faith without fear of retribution."

Kelly Shackelford, President, CEO, and Chief Counsel at First Liberty, on its website, is quoted as saying: “This report is shocking. The Biden administration’s record of hostility toward Christian Americans is despicable and should serve as a warning. We can never let this happen again. We are grateful to the current administration for recognizing that religious liberty is foundational to all of our Constitutional freedoms and for working to protect our first freedom.  All Americans should be free to exercise their faith without government intrusion in school, in the military, in the workplace, and in the public square.”

Ryan Gardner, Senior Counsel for First Liberty Institute, was a recent guest on The Meeting House on Faith Radio and provided comments and analysis of the report.

Meanwhile, last Thursday, another Federal agency, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission released a report detail its actions regarding religiously-oriented complaints. A summary on the EEOC website noted, "Since January 2025, the EEOC has filed 16 religious discrimination lawsuits and recovered over $63 million on behalf of religious workers via public and private pre-litigation voluntary resolutions, as well as litigation settlements." Chairman Andrea Lucas was a member of the DOJ's task force set up to study anti-Christian bias.

The report also noted: "In March 2026, the EEOC settled a $15 million public conciliation on behalf of dozens of (largely Christian) workers who were denied religious accommodations from COVID vaccine mandates, our largest publicly announced conciliation resolution in this space."  There were other vaccine-related cases that were settled by the agency. There were also actions taken against Anti-Semitism by the EEOC.

Rose Docherty is a Scottish woman who is pro-life.  But, Scottish officials brought criminal charges against her for standing outside an abortion clinic holding a sign.  The Christian Post reported:

Docherty was charged last December with violating Scotland's 2024 Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) Act by holding up a sign outside an abortion clinic that read, “Coercion is a crime, here to talk, only if you want.” Authorities accused her of “influencing” people seeking an abortion within a 200-meter “buffer zone” around a medical facility.

The article notes that in a statement, "the nonprofit legal organization ADF International announced that a judge in Glasgow, Scotland, had dismissed charges" against Docherty, who had been arrested in February of last year holding the same sign, only to have the charges dropped.

The article quotes Docherty as saying, "'Buffer zone' legislation must be repealed in Scotland and across the U.K. to ensure it is not misused to target peaceful and lawful expression again in the future, as has now happened to me twice," adding, "The resources used by the authorities to target me, a 75-year-old grandmother, for offering to speak with people, have been totally wasted."

The article says, "ADF barrister and legal counsel Jeremiah Igunnubole said the U.K. has faced a 'deepening free speech crisis.'"

I remember telling my mother as she entered into her later years, even into her 90's, that God wasn't finished with her.  She spent quite a few years unable to walk without assistance, and certainly was not that mobile.  But, she could speak and do what she did for years: she was an encourager.   She did spend time working on a church staff, but the majority of her "ministry" was through her interactions with people.  Paul wrote in Romans 15 (ESV):
13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
14 I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another.

JP Spitz is someone who, throughout his career as a barber, and working in a number of ministries, shared his faith in Christ with people, leading them to the Lord.  A recent God Reports article related that JP is now 83 years old and doesn't drive any more.

But, his fervor to see people come to Christ is being expressed in another setting; as the article says: "he continues to witness to Uber drivers who pick him up for doctor appointments and other errands."   The article related a typical gospel conversation, which starts with a brief introduction, and then this question that gets right to the heart: "Are you a Christian?"  The article continues:

If the Uber driver says yes, JP asks a follow-up question. “When did you pray to receive Jesus as your savior?”

If the driver begins to waffle, he then explains the Good News:

“I want to share something with you, it’s called the gospel, it has four parts, and these are the four parts: God loves you. You screwed it up. Jesus fixed it, and you need to repent.”

After answering any questions about these points, he will ask, “Will you pray with me to receive Christ? Follow Me in prayer…”

Before JP is dropped at his destination, he usually gives his driver the tract called Steps to Peace with God by Billy Graham.

And, his desire to spread the love and truth of Jesus doesn't stop when he exits the Uber vehicle, the article says, "he will often witness to the receptionist, the people sitting in the waiting room, and the technicians who gave him his radiation treatment."  And, he also has shared a book that he and his wife, Diana, have written recounting some of their experiences in ministry, called, Cracked Vessels: True Stories of Real Life Restoration.

Talk about being "Uber"-evangelistic!!

Last year, JP took Ubers to radiation treatments for prostate cancer five days per week. What a wonderful door the Lord has offered to him to share what Christ has done in his life.

Because we know Christ, we have been given a testimony - a story of God's faithfulness, of "Jesus and His love," the hymn relates.  We can demonstrate to others about the life change that Jesus has made and share with people how they can experience the transformation we have.

JP discovered a new avenue of sharing his faith in Christ by engaging in a gospel conversation with an Uber driver.  It's certainly a unique one-on-one opportunity that God can use powerfully.  We can be sensitive to the doors that God may open for us, and the door opener may just be at our fingertips. 

Throughout the Scriptures, we can see instances of the practice of God's Word being read publicly.  I think of the dedication of the walls of Jerusalem in Nehemiah 8, where we read (ESV):
1 And all the people gathered as one man into the square before the Water Gate. And they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses that the Lord had commanded Israel.
2 So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could understand what they heard, on the first day of the seventh month.
3 And he read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand. And the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law.

Bible Gateway recounts: 

In Exodus 24, Moses read Scripture to the Israelites on Mount Sinai.
In Deuteronomy 31:9-13, the Jews were instructed to read Scripture publicly every seven years at the Feast of Tabernacles.
In Joshua 8:34-35, Joshua read Scripture to the people of God as they entered the Promised Land.
In 2 Kings 23:1-3, the King Josiah read the Scriptures publicly and started a revival.
In Nehemiah 8:1-12, after the return from the Babylonian exile, the priest Ezra read the Bible publicly for hours each day for a week, which also started a revival.

Paul writes to Timothy in the 4th chapter of the book of 2nd Timothy (ESV):
1 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom:
2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.
3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound[a] teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions,
4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.

Movieguide published a recap of the recent America Reads the Bible event originating from Museum of the Bible in Washington:

After seven days and 84 consecutive hours of uninterrupted Scripture, America Reads the Bible concluded Saturday with the final words of Revelation proclaimed inside the Museum of the Bible and streamed nationwide on Great American Pure Flix.

Nearly 500 voices — pastors, worship leaders, entertainers, public servants and families — read the Word of God aloud from Genesis to Revelation during America’s 250th anniversary year. Millions engaged from homes, churches and communities across the country.

A press release appearing on the Christian Newswire site noted that "more than 3 million viewers tuned in to the historic weeklong Scripture-reading event livestreamed on Great American Pure Flix from April 18–25 in celebration of America’s 250th anniversary. The 84-hour broadcast marked the highest-rated event in Pure Flix history, with thousands more attending in person at the Museum of the Bible, underscoring the unprecedented national engagement surrounding the initiative."

And, there's more to come.  There continues to be published reflection and consideration of the impact of that global event.  Movieguide also noted:

The conclusion of America Reads the Bible does not mark the end of the moment, it marks the beginning of a broader cultural effort. Alongside the weeklong Scripture reading, Great American Media has launched America Sings the Anthem, a nationwide invitation for families, churches and communities across all 50 states to submit their renditions of “The Star-Spangled Banner” as the country approaches its 250th anniversary.

National Spokesperson for the Bible-reading event, Candace Cameron Bure, posted this on Instagram:

What a weekend in Washington D.C. for the historic reading of the Holy Bible. Today we kicked off 7 straight days, 9am to 9pm, over 400 readers, 84 hours reading from Genesis to Revelation. I was honored to be the national spokesperson and read Genesis 6-8. You can live stream this event on PureFlix.com for free. Sit down with your families and watch it. From government officials, to farmers, pastors, entertainers, educators, and every day American moms and dads, and even the President. We are all united and reminded that we are equal in God’s eyes. God’s love for us is so patient. Let us be reminded of His wisdom and goodness for us when we repent and rend our hearts to Him.

Matt Friedeman of Wesley Biblical Seminary, writing for the Magnolia Tribune, offered a critique and call to action after the event concluded, writing that: "Public reading of Scripture is a worthy endeavor. But we also need leadership to affirm that if we truly intend embrace the Bible and worldview that made this country great, we would be wise to give sober assessment to the moral direction of our nation and the consequences that await without a course correction."  He noted: "The hope in all of this?  It is as true today as it was then:  'Humble ourselves…seek His face.'”

Franklin Graham wrote a piece in Decision Magazine recently that began like this: "On May 17, thousands of Americans are expected to assemble on the National Mall, in Washington, D.C., to participate in 'Rededicate 250: National Jubilee of Prayer, Praise and Thanksgiving.'”  He notes that, "Citizens from every state in the Union are expected to gather near the Lincoln Memorial to prayerfully give thanks for God’s blessings and providence for the United States since her founding in 1776. Americans will also be praying for God’s ongoing protection and direction for our country as well as seeking His forgiveness for our nation’s many sins."

He also encouraged readers to participate with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association in praying each day from May 14 through July 4.  He stated: "Visit OneNationUnderGod.com beginning May 14 and for the following 50 days as a pastor from each state shares Scripture and leads a daily prayer for our nation."

We just celebrated the National Day of Prayer yesterday, and Franklin recalled how his father had encouraged President Harry Truman in the launch of a National Day of Prayer; the younger Graham said:

More than seven decades ago, my father held a peace rally on the east steps of the U.S. Capitol building to encourage President Harry Truman to establish a National Day of Prayer. It was a historic moment that had an immediate impact. Within two days, legislation was introduced in the House of Representatives and passed after committee action by unanimous vote. Truman signed the joint resolution into law in April 1952.

Will Graham co-hosted the national livestream last night to observe the National Day of Prayer.  

Prayer.  Bible reading.  Gatherings of believers.  These are all encouraging signs and can hopefully motivate Americans to turn to God - for each Christian to search his or her heart, to ask the Holy Spirit to illuminate our sin and that cleansing power of Christ would purify us, and that His light, out of pure hearts, would overflow to the world around us.

We can exemplify what it truly means to seek God's face, to realize that His Word contains the answers to the manifold challenges we face as a nation.  God has had His hand on our nation, and we can pray that He will continue to show Himself to be faithful; yet, we must be faithful to call upon Him.

It is the 2026 National Day of Prayer, and this year's theme is: Glorify God Among the Nations, Seeking Him in All Generations."  The theme Scripture is from 1 Chronicles 16:24, which says, in the New American Standard: "Tell of His glory among the nations, His wonderful deeds among all the peoples."

Following the completion of the Temple in Jerusalem, as well as his own house, the people of Israel observed a feast, then a solemn assembly, according to 2nd Chronicles chapter 7. We read in that chapter (ESV):
12 Then the Lord appeared to Solomon in the night and said to him: “I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for myself as a house of sacrifice.
13 When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command the locust to devour the land, or send pestilence among my people,
14 if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

Today, I want to shine the light on a survey from the State of Discipleship survey from Lifeway Research.  The summary at the organization's website notes:

Seeking God is one of eight signposts that measure characteristics evident in believers progressing in spiritual maturity. The average churchgoer scores 78.5 out of 100 in seeking God, ranking it first among the signposts.

The summary goes on to relate: "Around 7 in 10 U.S. Protestant churchgoers (69%) say they set aside time for private worship, praise or thanksgiving to God at least a few times a week, with 40% doing so every day."

Furthermore, almost 8 in 10 in this group indicated that they pray "on the go;" again, 4 in 10 strongly agree with that.  The language of the article said: "praying at the spur of the moment."  So, it appears you have a minimum of an additional 10%, possibly higher, who are pray-ers, but perhaps don't do that in the context of a dedicated quiet time.  Make sense?

The survey summary goes on to say: "Whether intentional or impromptu, most churchgoers say they regularly, personally express praise and thanksgiving to God for who He is. Most (56%) say this is an everyday practice, while 22% do so a few times a week, 11% once a week, 6% a few times a month, 3% once a month and 2% rarely or never do so."

But, the practice of "seeking God" is at the top of the list of those eight characteristics in the overall survey.   So, you could reason that from that self-identified act of "seeking God," other characteristics don't necessarily trickle down.  Lifeway Research had reported on that list:

• seeking God (78.5)
• obeying God and denying self (75.1)
• serving God and others (73.1)
• exercising faith (71.6)
• Bible engagement (69.8)
• building relationships (64.0)
• and living unashamed (61.0)
• sharing Christ (54.8).

The headline for that article was "Lifeway Research Finds Discipleship Deficits Among U.S. Churchgoers."

So, we go back to 2nd Chronicles 7:14 - the four conditions for revival: humbling ourselves, pray, seeking God's face, and turning from our "wicked ways."  Faith will result in works - we need to be spending personal time with God, no doubt, but from that should flow a dedication to Christ, outward expressions of the inward work of Christ.  James taught in chapter one to be doers of the Word and not just hearers; in chapter 2, he wrote, "Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, 'You have faith, and I have works.' Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works."

We should be people who seek the face of God - regularly - intentionally - with a time set aside to be with Him, to sit at the feet of Jesus, to talk to Him and hear from Him through His Word and the direction of the Spirit.  From these practices, we come to know God better, we grow in the Lord, and we show the world who Jesus is.  Faith Radio is here to help you in your spiritual growth, but our Bible teaching and worshipful music is not a substitute for your one-on-one time in God through a consistent quiet time and your communication with Him throughout the day.  But, we can help you keep focused on the things of God, and we encourage you to listen in regularly.

Too often, we see Americans demonstrably divided about a number of issues.  In some cases, I admit, rightfully so, people, including Christians, take positions that are in accordance with Biblical truth, and that will result in disagreement.  But, when anger and rage take over, when people protest, as it seems, just for the sake of protesting, perhaps even when a financial benefit is present, it becomes more of a show that an honest effort to express opinion.  And, when anger leads to violence that becomes very unacceptable.  We all have opinions, for sure; and believers in Christ should make sure that our opinions - and the expressions of them - line up with Scripture.  This passage really spoke to me recently, from Matthew 5 (ESV):
33 “Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’
34 But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne;
35 nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.
36 Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black.
37 But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.

So, Jesus taught that we should be forthright in what we believe, and our allegiance should be to God and God alone.  We should not embrace positions that are not consistent with Scripture.  

After members of Congress who declare "No Kings" actually giving the standing O to a real King, King Charles, last week, another in a seemingly endless stream of people taking to the streets to protest who knows what occurred.  It always seems to center on opposition to the President, who was elected by a majority of Americans through one of our greatest forms of expressing opinions - the ballot box.  And, by the way, remember, you can make your voices heard by voting on Tuesday May 19 and selecting candidates who best represent your Christian values.

Now, back to the sea of protest; and by the way, public expressions of opinion are a legitimate activity protected by the First Amendment.  Christians have been know to gather publicly to express their views.  

There just seems to be a manufacture of division that is concerning.  Last Friday, on May 1, May Day, according to FoxNews.com just days before it:

Agitators and protesters are expected to gather in cities across the country Friday for May Day, boycotting work, school and shopping in demonstrations driven by the "Workers Over Billionaires" motto.

Nearly 500 organizations are planning more than 750 events, including roughly 200 virtual events, that will take place in New York, Washington D.C., Minneapolis, Chicago, Los Angeles and other metropolitan cities.

"On May 1, 2026, workers, students, and families rally, march, and take action across the country to demand a nation that puts workers over billionaires, with many refusing business as usual through No School. No Work. No Shopping," May Day Strong, which is the main organizer of the demonstrations, describes the event.

How rich (pun intended)!  You have employees skipping work to protest the people who have the resources to hire and employ them.  Because they have too much.  How quaint - how Marxist.  Class warfare.  So, your employer has too much money?   Take a day off and protest that company.  A building owner in New York City has too much money, in your estimation?  So, do like the mayor did recently - announce you're going to tax him more, even though he's probably already paying a higher tax rate.  Sounds like unjust measures to me, which is something the Bible warns against in Proverbs 11.  The owner, who was planning a huge project that would employ hundreds of workers, is now considering taking the project elsewhere.  

The Fox article went on to describe the Marxist roots of May Day celebrations.  And among them, as Jeff Johnston of Focus on the Family pointed out at the Daily Citizen: The National Education Association (NEA) and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), who "are joining other leftist groups and encouraging members to celebrate May Day Strong National Day of Action with hundreds of rallies across the country."  Johnston describes how teachers were being encouraged to gather together before the school day:

Walk-Ins are 30-45 minute events before the school day where “parents, educators, and students, along with neighbors and community leaders” meet in front of their school for a rally. During school hours, teachers are encouraged to have students create artwork and write reports about the day.

Again, this is a political event, with teachers unions encouraging the indoctrination of children into Marxist and socialist ideologies.

So, many should rightly ask, "why?"  Because, despite the divisive rhetoric, by and large, there are disturbing trends in public education.  Johnston writes:

"Parents of children in public schools generally think their local schools are doing a good job. And, again, many schools and teachers do terrific work.

But national surveys demonstrate low academic achievement among most students. According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress, known as the Nation’s Report Card, fewer than two thirds of American eighth graders can do math (26%), read (30%), or do science (31%) at grade level.

Despite their rhetoric, teachers unions don’t advocate for students – they advocate for teachers. Perhaps if educators spent less time agitating, organizing and power-building, we would see students performing better.

More time teaching the basis, less time teaching ideology that flies in the face of people's deeply-held beliefs.  That is why there was a renewed emphasis on parents' rights following the pandemic, as virtual learning revealed concerns over what was really being taught. Parents were empowered by the U.S. Supreme Court decision last year allowing parents to opt-out students from LGBT curriculum material.  You have to wonder why that subject matter is even being taught in any school - but the answer is the public intimidation that LGBT activists are promoting.  So, in that sense, protest has worked, to a certain degree.  But, at what cost?

I believe that hundreds of organizations, whether it be May Day Strong or Indivisible, who run the "No Kings" protest, are chipping away at the soul of America, because they seem to believe that division makes us stronger.  The embrace of left-wing, even socialist policies does not contribute to a well-functioning society.  

Keeping people divided and fanning flames of hatred is contradictory to a society that reflects the ideals of our Founders - or the Scriptures.  But, you might say, well the Founders were protestors, weren't they?  But, look at the motivation - there were legitimate concerns over the tyranny of the Crown.  And, they, motivated by a deep-rooted faith in God, took steps to sever the relationship.  Unfortunately, it resulted in war and many lives were lost.  But, out of that furnace of affliction, a great nation was born that has survived the test of time, and we celebrate that faith-infused Declaration of Independence on July 4 this very year.  

From a Christian perspective, I do believe God is calling out to His people to draw near to Him.  There is certainly a "May Day" - a cry of distress, for help, a call to repentance and righteousness that is being sent out, found in the words of 2nd Chronicles 7:14 - surrender to God.  Even though there are many challenges we face as a nation, we recognize that our hope is in Him.

We have seen what has been called the "culture of death" advance throughout the last half-century, from the hideous Supreme Court decision, Roe v. Wade, to the shift of abortion in surgical clinics to abortion at home.  Chemical abortion - using a two-pill regimen, including mifepristone - has become more common and not only babies, but women who attempt to take the lives of their unborn children at home, are paying the price.

After the U.S. Supreme Court whiffed on the opportunity to reduce the availability of the abortion pill, the state of Louisiana set out on its own course to eliminate abortion by mail. And, last week, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit issued a ruling to protect the lives of women and unborn babies in the state.  Alliance Defending Freedom announced online: "The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit ruled Friday that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration must restore the in-person dispensing requirement for the abortion drug mifepristone pending appeal. This ruling prevents pro-abortion activists and doctors from mailing streams of high-risk abortion drugs into states that protect the lives of unborn babies."

The Attorney General of Louisiana, Liz Murrill, in partnership with ADF, "asked the court to temporarily block the unlawful mailing of abortion drugs into pro-life states while the 5th Circuit considers Louisiana’s appeal from the district court’s denial of preliminary relief."

Lila Rose, Founder and President of pro-life organization Live Action, said the ruling was a "major step toward justice" and said: "This must be the turning point," adding, "We are calling on Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and President Donald Trump to act immediately to take this dangerous drug off the market once and for all with a full and permanent ban."

However, it was announced earlier today that the U.S. Supreme Court has put that ruling on hold temporarily.  SCOTUS Blog reported: "In a brief order on Monday morning, Justice Samuel Alito, who handles emergency requests from the 5th Circuit, issued an administrative stay putting the 5th Circuit’s order on hold and temporarily restoring access to mifepristone by mail while the justices consider the drug companies’ request, and instructed the FDA and Louisiana to respond by 5 p.m. EDT on Thursday, May 7. The administrative stay expires on Monday, May 11, at 5 p.m. EDT."

There was more news on the pro-life front, with action out of the U.S. Supreme Court.  The relentless opposition to the compassionate work of pregnancy resource centers, many of whom are based on Christian faith principles, has been manifested in a number of ways, from vandalism to verbal assaults.  In New Jersey, the Attorney General decided a way to hamper the work of these centers was to require information on their donors, which is a strategy that has been attempted legislatively against pro-life organizations in the past in order to silence them or reduce their impact.

As Family Research Council explains it, First Choice Women's Resource Centers were "targeted" by former New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin "...with a baseless, wide-ranging, and onerous subpoena that required the organization to consume its limited resources to produce extensive documentation--including donor information--or face legal consequences."  As FRC contends, "First Choice was targeted for being a pro-life religious organization."  

Last week, the high court issued a unanimous decision in favor of First Choice.  Tony Perkins, President of FRC, stated, "Thankfully, the U.S. Supreme Court has struck down another blatant attempt to sideline Christian ministries by government officials. The Court's ruling that the former New Jersey attorney general illegally targeted First Choice Women's Resource Center is a major victory."  He added, "The former New Jersey attorney general targeted First Choice because he disagreed with their Christian-based, pro-life mission. In this country, Christians have the right to speak freely about their religion and to act on those biblical beliefs in the broader society."

As the SCOTUS Blog reported, "In a unanimous 22-page opinion on Wednesday, the Supreme Court reversed the lower court’s decision, clearing the way for First Choice’s lawsuit to move forward in federal court."  It noted that Justice Gorsuch, writing the majority opinion, "focused on whether First Choice had a legal right to sue, and in particular whether the group could meet the requirement that it have suffered an 'actual or imminent' injury as a result of the subpoena."  The analysis said: "First Choice, Gorsuch noted, argues that the state’s demand for information about its donors constitutes an 'actual or imminent' injury because it deters donors from associating with the group. Gorsuch agreed."

The issue of males playing in female sports is certainly a distortion of God's original design and intent with regard to matters of sexuality and gender.  While there have been efforts to promote this sort of activity, there has been clear pushback legislatively and culturally. Another flashpoint in this conflict has been occurring in the state of Vermont.

As a FoxNews.com piece reports, officials at Mid Vermont Christian School in 2023 "decided to forfeit a girls’ basketball postseason game against a team with a trans athlete."  In other words, a boy was attempting to play in a game presenting as a girl. Fox notes: "Within days of the forfeit, they learned the consequences escalated far beyond a single game. The Vermont Principals’ Association banned the school, not just from basketball, but from all athletics and a range of academic competitions."

But in 2025, a federal appeals court ruled in favor of the school.  The FoxNews.com piece states:

...the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit ordered the school reinstated while the case continued — a decision that opened the door for students to return to competition.

The appeals court ruled in September 2025 that Mid Vermont Christian must be allowed to participate in state athletics, after two years of banishment had passed. The court then returned the case to district court for further proceedings.

The state's intransigence in the matter has now come with a big price tag; Fox reported, "State education agencies in Vermont have paid over $566,000 in damages and legal fees" to Mid Vermont Christian School and its legal representation, Alliance Defending Freedom.

The Bible instructs us to be people of integrity, who can be trusted.  We can make sure that we can be relied upon to tell the truth, building a commitment to honesty in our hearts and minds.  By so doing, we align ourselves with the One who said that He is the way, the TRUTH, and the life.  Proverbs 11 (ESV) states:
3 The integrity of the upright guides them,
    but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.
4 Riches do not profit in the day of wrath,
    but righteousness delivers from death.
5 The righteousness of the blameless keeps his way straight,
    but the wicked falls by his own wickedness.

Jaydon Cintron is a teenager who works at a Chick-fil-A restaurant in Kinston, NC.  In the restaurant's men's restroom, he found two envelopes.  According to Michael Foust at Crosswalk.com, "Cintron picked up the envelopes from the floor and soon noticed a detail of potential importance: logos bearing the names of financial establishments: First Citizens Bank and Truist Bank. Inside the two envelopes was enough cash to tempt just about anyone – nearly $10,000 total."

Finders keepers, right?  Not to young Jaydon; rather than enjoy a personal payday, he "turned it in," according to the article, which went on to say:

When asked by WITN why he didn’t keep the money, Cintron responded simply, “That’s not what Jesus would’ve done. That’s not what God would’ve wanted.”

Employees searched security footage to try and identify the owner – but to no avail.

Eventually, the owner came back to the restaurant, searching for the missing envelopes.

“A lot of people will … unfortunately, take that money and run with it,” Kinston Police Chief Keith Goyette told WITN. “Kudos to that employee at Chick-fil-A. He definitely deserves a reward.”

The TV station also quoted the owner of the restaurant, John McPhaul, who said, "True leadership, you know, true integrity is doing the right thing when no one is watching,” adding, “Jaydon did that in this case, and he should be commended for it.”   The owner also offered to give Jaydon $500, which he initially declined.

I thought I had seen some news a while back about a survey that presented a similar scenario.  On the website of Fox 10 Phoenix, I found an article, which said, "In a global study, researchers planted more than 17,000 'lost wallets' across 355 cities in 40 countries and kept track of how often somebody contacted the supposed owners. The unexpected conclusion was that people are more likely to return a lost wallet if it contains money."

Get this: the return rate for empty wallets was 40%; for wallets with around $13 cash - 51%. The researchers added even more money in the U.S., U.K., and Poland: $94.  The article says, "The response jumped to 72 percent for wallets containing the equivalent of about $94, versus 61 percent for those containing $13."

As the article noted, the study involved employees in a work environment, and said: "The key question was whether the employee receiving each 'lost wallet' would contact its supposed owner, whose name and email address were displayed on three identical business cards within."  

That article quotes one of the study authors, Alain Cohn of the University of Michigan, who had reported it in the journal, Science; he said: "The evidence suggests that people tend to care about the welfare of others, and they have an aversion to seeing themselves as a thief."  

In this wallet survey, a majority of people apparently have an aversion to feeling that they have stolen.  The teenage restaurant employee in North Carolina believed that Jesus would want him to return the money he found.

This is one of those Biblically-based values that contributes to a society that works, that is perhaps hard-wired into our culture.  Where do we learn that stealing is wrong?  How do we know we shouldn't murder?  Why, the 10 Commandments instruct us to that effect! Now, perhaps we need to work on the others, such as the command to have no other gods before us than the One True God.  

Interestingly enough, there are a variety of ways in which people steal from each other. Most people don't rob one another, but there are definitely more subtle ways.  When we work for a company and we don't give 100% of our time - and our effort, we are engaging in theft.  Same goes for padding expense accounts.  Robert Jeffress, in a piece found on the Pathway to Victory website, from a sermon called, "The Eighth Commandment: Respect the Property of Others," notes:

First of all, we steal by despoiling, or forcibly taking what doesn’t belong to us. It’s not just armed robbers who steal. Students who cheat on an exam, employees who take home office supplies, and people who claim others’ ideas as their own are also stealing what is not theirs.

Second, we steal through dishonesty, or misrepresenting the truth for our gain. In biblical times, dishonest merchants used false scales and balances. That’s why Proverbs 11:1 says, “A false balance is an abomination to the Lord, but a just weight is His delight.” Today, stealing through dishonesty may look like a phishing email that tries to trick you into giving personal information.

Third, we steal by defaming, or robbing somebody of their reputation. That is such a serious offense that God devoted the ninth commandment to it, which we’ll discuss in depth next week.

Fourth, we steal by defrauding, or not giving somebody what we owe them.

I would also note that participating in gambling is a form of theft - you are essentially taking from others for your own promised financial gain; you win on the backs of the losers, many of which can't afford to gamble.  

So, we can be challenged to check our honesty meter - to please self, do we end up taking from others?  Do we benefit at others' expense?  And, does our selfish behavior lead us to shade the truth?  And, I would also challenge each of us to put ourselves in young Jaydon's shoes.