September 7th – News Of The Day
Grace Community Church To Receive $800,000 In Covid Settlement
Last year, when far-reaching government restrictions were put in place, Grace Community Church continued holding indoor worship services despite bans on such gatherings. The pastor, John MacArthur, also refused to enforce mask and social distancing guidelines for congregants. He argued at the time that such mandates violated constitutionally protected religious liberties. So the church sued the state. And now Los Angeles County and the state of California have agreed to pay $800,000 in attorney’s fees to John MacArthur’s church after the congregation prevailed in multiple courts over the issue of COVID-19 restrictions. Read more about the win here.
New Documentary Set to Celebrate God And His Creation
“The Riot and the Dance” is following in the footsteps of “The Chosen” by inviting viewers to invest in bringing to life a nature series that shows creation was intentionally designed by a divine Creator. The series, which celebrates how mankind and nature can live in harmony, was created by N.D. Wilson. “The name ‘The Riot and the Dance’ came from Dr. Gordon Wilson’s biology textbook. The show has also garnered the support of numerous celebrities, including Kirk Cameron, Kanye West, and “The Chosen” creator Dallas Jenkins. Read more about the series here.
Some Texas Churches Are Opposing Heartbeat Bill
Some Texas churches, alarmed that the new “Heartbeat Bill” goes too far, are taking on the issue of abortion. A coalition of 25 churches is opposing the state’s law and are promoting the continued legalization of abortion in what pro-life activist Albert Mohler calls a “tragic intersection of liberal religion and abortion politics.” Some clergy say the law will violate their First Amendment rights, because it is restricting their ability to provide reproductive counseling, which is fundamental to their faith, violating their religious freedom. Read more about the coalition here.
New Research Shows Smiling Can Repair Relationships
A certain type of smile can help to restore trust in relationships after someone has been uncooperative or untrustworthy, according to new research by Queen’s University Belfast. Co-author of the research, Dr Stephanie Carpenter from University of Michigan, USA, says: “Smiling at another person does not always lead to trust and cooperation. Subtle differences in a smile can have a real impact on whether people trust each other and choose to cooperate. In fact, the way you smile in a good or bad situation can impact whether people trust you.” Read more about the different type of smiles here.
