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Bible Apps Top Apple’s Podcast Chart

It may come as a surprise, but the two most popular podcasts in the United States right now are not about sports, news or even pop culture. They’re about the Bible. “The Bible in a Year,” hosted by Catholic priest Mike Schmitz, is No. 1 in the U.S. on Apple’s podcast charts, while “The Bible Recap,” hosted by Tara-Leigh Cobble of D-Group, is No. 2. The podcasts rank higher than podcasts by The New York Times, NBC, Joe Rogan and NPR. A Lifeway Research survey released in December showed that 29 percent of U.S. adults had made a resolution about their relationship with God. It was tied for second as the most popular resolution. Read more about the podcasts here.

 

Federal Judge Halts Covid Vaccine Mandate For Navy Seals

A federal judge has sided in favor of Navy personnel who sued the Biden administration for imposing a COVID-19 vaccine mandate through the Department of Defense. Judge Reed O’Connor of the U.S. District Court Northern District of Texas issued a preliminary injunction arguing that the Navy failed to respect the religious objections of its personnel. “The Navy provides a religious accommodation process, but by all accounts, it is theater. The Navy has not granted a religious exemption to any vaccine in recent memory. It merely rubber stamps each denial,” O’Connor wrote. The injunction halts disciplinary procedures against 35 members of the service’s special operations community for refusing to take the COVID-19 vaccine. Read more about the lawsuit here.

 

Actor Chris Tucker Turns Down Movie Role For Religious Reasons

Popular comedic actor, Chris Tucker turned down a lucrative movie role. Tucker was offered $12 million, according to Ice Cube, to reprise his role in the movie, which followed the 1995 hit comedy, and two sequels 2000’s “Next Friday” and 2002’s “Friday After Next.” Ice Cube, who also produced the movies, said Tucker didn’t return to play Smokey because of “religious reasons.” In a recent interview with All Urban Central, Tucker revealed it was because of the weed smoking in the movies. Tucker added, “I never was a raunchy, raunchy comic, but I didn’t think about what I was saying because I was young,” he told Straight.com in 2014, referencing his 1990s films. “Being a Christian helps me in comedy. Read more about the role here.

 

Dog Leads Police to Injured Owner

Dogs are indeed mans best friend. When New Hampshire State Police responded to reports of a wandering dog on the highway at around 10 p.m., they quickly realized the pup wasn’t merely “wandering.” The dog named Tinsley had a purpose: to take police to the scene of an accident, where two people, including her owner, lay badly injured and in need of help. Police tried to corral the pup, yet Tinsley instead led them past a damaged section of the guardrail and toward the rollover crash of a 2019 Ford F350 pickup, where two men had been ejected from the car, which was totaled. Laundry said after the crash, “She’s my little guardian angel. It’s a miracle how she has that kind of intelligence to do what she did,” Read more about this amazing dog here.

 

 

 

NASA Hires Theologians To Study Human Reactions To Aliens

Too crazy to be believed? Maybe, but NASA recently hired two dozen theologians at the Center for Theological Inquiry (CTI) in Princeton, New Jersey, to offer religious guidance to people if contact with aliens were ever to occur. Rev. Dr. Andrew Davison, a University of Cambridge religious scholar and one of the 24 theologians on the new project, agreed that if humans were ever to make contact with aliens, it would “be useful to have thought through the implications in advance.” Davison notes that a “large number of people would turn to their religions traditions for guidance” if extraterrestrials were found, and what that means “for the standing and dignity of human life.” Read more about the hires here.

 

Bible Translators Adding 400 Sign Languages To Be Translated

The completion of the first sign language Bible translated from the original languages prompted cheers and celebrations in the fall of 2020. But for the deaf, it’s one down, more than 400 to go. “Still only one sign language of the over 400 has a complete Bible,” said J. R. Bucklew, the founder and former president of the Deaf Bible Society, who now works as director of major gifts at Pioneer Bible Translators. “And still, no other sign language outside of the American Sign Language has a full New Testament. There’s a lot of work ahead of us.” If sign languages were left off that list, the translation alliance would have missed a lot of deaf people throughout the world. Read more about their efforts here.

 

Kenneth Copeland’s 7 Million Dollar Home Is Considered Tax Exempt

Slimy but not illegal. According to an investigative report by the Houston Chronicle, televangelist Kenneth Copeland has avoided paying $150,000 in annual taxes on his $7 million Texas mansion because of a loophole in the state’s tax code. Copeland’s 18,000-square-foot home, which he built in 1999, is considered a parsonage for his church, Eagle Mountain International, in Tarrant County, meaning that the property is exempt from taxation under Texas Tax Code Sec. 11.20. Under state law, Texas parsonages qualify for a tax exemption so long as it only sits on one acre of land. While Copeland’s house fulfills that requirement, he also owns 24 more acres of lakefront property, for which he only pays $3,000 in annual property taxes. Copeland is considered America’s wealthiest pastor as he has a reported net worth of $750 million. Read more about the property here.

 

Good Samaritans Run Into Burning House To Save 80 Year Old

 A Virginia man and an unidentified stranger ran into a burning house in Norfolk, Virginia, and saved an 80-year-old woman. According to Faithwire, the unnamed man was joined by a neighbor, Derrick Vaughan. They are both being called heroes and good Samaritans. The brave rescue reportedly unfolded after the unnamed hero was driving by and noticed flames coming from the home. Rather than continue driving toward his intended destination, the man jumped out of his car and ran toward the house. There he found and rescued an 80 year old woman who was inside. The woman’s son said he’s grateful his mother is OK, and he’s thankful to the brave men who went inside the home to save her before the fire spun even more out of control. Read more about the rescue here.

1700 Year Old Good Shepherd Ring Representing Jesus Found In Israel

A stunning “Good Shepherd” ring that depicts a young Jesus holding a sheep, was found when archaeologists explored two shipwrecks that sank off the ancient port of Cesarea, Israel dating back 1700 years. The ancient city of Cesarea figured prominently in the Bible, in the Book of Acts in connection with Peter, Philip the Apostle, and, especially Paul, who is known to have been was imprisoned there before being sent to Rome for trial, where he was subsequently martyred. Its green gemstone at the center was carved depicting the figure of Jesus as a young shepherd, dressed in a tunic with a sheep around his shoulders. Read more about the ring here.

 

Satanic Holiday Display Installed In Illinois Capitol Building

When many government buildings refuse to allow nativity scenes for Christmas displays, Illinois says yes to a satanic holiday statue. The display, which was placed inside the capitol’s rotunda on Monday, portrays the deity Baphomet laying in a make-shift crib as an infant, an image similar to the birth of Christ. The move has sparked protests from a Catholic group, who argues that such installations should not be allowed in the capitol building or any public space. “The Capitol welcomes a diverse religions every year to display holiday statues, so we wanted to join in on that,” Satanic Temple of Illinois Minister Adam said. Read more about the display here.

 

Nobel Peace Prize Winner Archbishop Desmond Tutu Passes Away

Desmond Tutu, South Africa’s Nobel Peace Prize-winning icon, an uncompromising foe of apartheid and a modern-day activist for racial justice dies at the age of 90. While Tutu was best known for helping to end decades of institutionalized segregation and racism in South Africa, and for heading the truth and reconciliation commission that came in its aftermath, he was also celebrated for lending his voice to other injustices and oppression globally. Tutu’s death “is another chapter of bereavement in our nation’s farewell to a generation of outstanding South Africans who have bequeathed us a liberated South Africa,” said South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. Read more about his legacy here.

 

Tulsa Cops Rescue And Adopt Abandoned Christmas Puppies

A horrific Christmas find turned into five new fur-ever homes for a litter of puppies left in a duffel bag abandoned at an Oklahoma QuikTrip on Saturday, according to authorities. Someone allegedly zipped the pups up and dumped the bag on the store’s counter on Christmas Day, the Tulsa Police Department said in a statement. “Overwhelmed with Christmas feelings, 4 of the officers immediately adopted 4 of the puppies and the 5th went home with the [QuikTrip] employee,” the department wrote on Facebook. “These dogs have clearly had a rough 24 hours,” police said. “But, they are in good hands now.” Read more about these adorable pups here.

 

 

 

Wreaths Across America Accused Of Desecrating Graves

Wanting honor and give back to veterans, this year marks the 30th anniversary of the first wreaths laid at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia by the group “Wreaths Across America”. Yet proving no good deed goes unpunished, Mikey Weinstein, founder and president of the nonprofit “Military Religious Freedom Foundation,” said the group  is guilty of “carpet-bombing” the country’s 155 national cemeteries with “Christian gang signs.” Adding, placing a wreath on a headstone without getting permission from the veteran’s surviving family members is a desecration of the grave. Read more about the controversy here.

 

New Possible Covid-19 Microchip Brings Fear Of The Mark of The Beast

Many Christians believe we are living in the last days. And a new microchip is adding fuel to the fire. An increasing number of Swedes are having a COVID-19 passport microchip implanted under the skin in the arm or hand, leading to speculations among some Christians that this could be the fulfillment of a biblical prophecy about the mark of the beast. The microchip the size of a grain of rice, can be implanted as a COVID-19 passport and used to store other data, all of which can then be accessed by a device, such as a smartphone, that uses the near-field communication protocol. The mark of the beast can be found in Revelation 13:15-17. Read more about the microchip here. 

 

Singer Mariah Carey says The Virgin Mary Is The Real Queen Of Christmas

Mariah Carey’s ‘All I Want for Christmas Is You’ has been called the iconic holiday song, leading many to label the American singer the queen of Christmas. But this Queen doesn’t want the crown. Carey doesn’t think of herself as the “Queen of Christmas” and believed Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus, was more deserving of the title. Saying, “Can I just say that I did not create the title or the moniker ‘Queen of Christmas’. Okay I did not do that. That was other people, and I just want to humbly say that I don’t consider myself that.” Read more of her comments here.

 

Houston Church Records Over 1,100 Professions Of Faith

A church in Houston, Texas, recently saw over 1,100 people make professions of faith during its annual Christmas show. According to Faithwire, attendees of Champion Forest Baptist Church’s annual Christmas Spectacular show were treated to a time of music, lights and performances between December 8-12. At the end of each show, the church’s lead pastor, Jarrett Stephens, shared the gospel and asked people if they could hold up their flashlights on their cellphones if they would like to surrender their lives to Christ. According to the church, 1,114 people shone their lights. Read more about the event here. 

 

 

 

 

Denzel Washington Says It’s Spiritual Warfare In The Last Days

Academy Award-winning actor Denzel Washington is ready to do battle. The actor opened up about the spiritual aspect of his Christian faith and highlighted the importance of having an “anchor” in an ever-changing culture. Washington is gearing up for the release of his new film “Macbeth,” and in an in-depth interview with The New York Times, the actor and his co-stars talked about his Christian faith. The entertainer then shared his view of Heaven, explaining that “there are going to be two lines, the long line and the short line, and I’m interested in being in the short line.” Read more about his Christian views and new movie here.

 

Christian Finance Expert Dave Ramsey Sued For Religious Discrimination

A former employee of Christian finance guru Dave Ramsey is suing his former boss for religious discrimination, claiming he was fired for putting his faith in science and not prayer during the COVID-19 pandemic. The complaint cites comments made by Ramsey early in the pandemic, saying that anyone who wore a mask was a “wuss.” Brad Amos, who filed the suit, requested to be able to work from home in order to safeguard his family’s well-being. That request, according to the complaint, was seen as a “weakness of spirit.” And when Amos refused to comply with Ramsey’s views, according to the complaint, he was fired. Read more about the lawsuit here.

 

South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem Introduces Bill To Protect Prayer In School

Saying “Every student deserves the opportunity to begin their day with a calm, silent moment,” South dakota Governor, Kristi Noem wants to “restore protections for prayer in schools.”  On Monday the governor introduced a draft bill that would require public schools to have a moment of silence each morning that would last up to one minute and would be free of interference from school officials. The bill does not require that the moment be used for prayer, although it does list prayer alongside other activities, including meditation and reflection, that are often conducted during such brief events. Each student would decide how the moment of silence is used. Read more about the bill here.

 

Wife Prays On Phone With Husband Trapped By Kentucky Tornado

The wife of a Kentucky man who was trapped under a collapsed candle factory in the aftermath of a tornado touchdown says she prayed with her husband over the phone while he was trapped.  Courtney Saxton, 38, said she spoke with her husband, Mark, Friday night as he was trapped under debris from the Mayfield Consumer Products factory after tornadoes tore through the area. She kept saying to him, “keep fighting,” and that God would “work it out.” And keep fighting he did. Her husband, Mark Saxton survived the ordeal with minor scrapes and bruises. Mark’s wife, Courtney, faced her own harrowing ordeal as she and the couple’s five kids hunkered down in a bathtub as the tornado tore the roof off their home. Read more about their ordeal here.

 

 

United Nations Sculpture Resembles Daniel 7 Endtime Beast

Many believe we are living in the last days before Christ’s return. And now a new sculpture at the United Nations Plaza in New York City is sparking up controversy because of its striking resemblance to the end times beast described in the biblical books of Daniel and Revelation. called a guardian  for international peace and security, the statue was donated by the government of Oaxaca, Mexico. Some social media users have also pointed to 1 Thessalonians 5:2-3 when criticizing the statue, noting that the scripture warns that unbelievers will call for “peace and safety” just before the rapture. Read more about the statue here.

 

2000 year Old Synagogue Discovered In Galilee

In yet another amazing discovery, Israeli archaeologists say they have found a 2,000-year-old synagogue in the Galilee region. It was found the synagogue in the town of Migdal, which is on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee. The town had a large Jewish community during the Second Temple Period and is the birthplace of Mary Magdalene. The synagogue is of basalt and chalk, and comprises a main hall and two side rooms. Current excavations are being carried out by private archaeologist Yehuda Govrin with scientific oversight by the Zinman Institute of Archaeology at the University of Haifa. Read more about the discovery here.

 

Samaritan’s Purse Responds To Tornado Ravaged Areas

Franklin Graham’s Samaritan’s Purse deployed disaster response teams to Mayfield, Kentucky and Monette, Arkansas in response to the deadly tornadoes that spawned overnight. The storm system created widespread devastation across six states. Chaplains from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association’s Rapid Response Team are deploying alongside Samaritan’s Purse to provide emotional and spiritual encouragement to families impacted by the severe storms. The charity encourages those who want to help in the tornado relief efforts to sign up for volunteer opportunities. Read more about the charity’s efforts here.

 

Christmas Tree Planted 43 Years Ago By Elderly Couple Now 50 feet Tall

A couple who planted a 6-foot Christmas tree in 1978 now use a cherry-picker to decorate the 50-foot giant with 3,000 lights in an annual tradition. Avril and Christopher Rowlands welcomed 2,000 locals to the switch-on in Inkburrow, Worcestershire, England. The tree was six feet tall when they planted it after first moving in to their new home. The tree has become a big part of the community’s lives and the switching on of the lights has become quite a village tradition. The village where the tree shines, is one of the darkest places in the UK as one of the only towns without any street lights. Read more about the tree here.

 

Pastor On Trial For Raping Two Teenage Girls Takes Own Life

A Florida pastor who was on trial this week for raping two teenage girls was found dead in a parking garage Thursday in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, according to the Murfreesboro Police Department. David Rowan, 66, appeared to have died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to the preliminary investigation. Rowan was awaiting a jury’s verdict regarding his charges for multiple sex crimes involving two teenage girls in 2014. Read more about his arrest and suicide here.

 

Pastor Who Appeared In Drag For A Television Show Is Fired From Church

An Indiana pastor who dressed as a drag queen on a reality TV show last month has been “relieved of his duties” and will undergo a process of “renewal, reflection, and recovery.” Rev. Craig Duke had served at Newburgh United Methodist Church near Evansville until last week. Friends set up a GoFundMe last week to help the pastor and his family through the next few months, which already has raised more than $23,000 after his “drag mother” Eureka O’Hara, who helped him create his drag persona on “We’re Here,” tweeted about it Sunday (Dec. 5).  Read more about the firing here.

 

Former SBC President James Merritt Resigns After Sharing Sermon From Gay Son

Former Southern Baptist Convention President James Merritt has resigned from his position as a visiting professor at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary amid controversy that followed his decision to share a short message by his son, who is gay. In response to criticisms from some Christians over his decision to promote his son’s message, Merritt defended his position saying, “Regardless of who preaches Jesus or speaks truth I rejoice when they do because I love Jesus and truth. I can approve a message even when I have disagreements with the messenger. I agree with Paul: love rejoices with the truth. And that is the truth.” Read more about his resignation here

 

New Study Shows Chewing Gum Could Reduce Spread Of Covid

Could specially-treated chewing gum help fight COVID-19? Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania say yes, and they’re submitting their findings to the FDA. Researchers at Penn have developed a new experimental chewing gum that could slow the transmission of COVID. It works on saliva, which is the main way the virus is spread. University of Pennsylvania scientist Henry Daniell is leading a study that uses specially treated lettuce to make a chewing gum that helps prevent the transmission of COVID. Researchers have taken everyday lettuce and infused it with a protein that can neutralize COVID. Read more about the research here.

 

The Chosen Christmas Film Tops Box Office

With its sales now topping $8 million, the Christmas special for “The Chosen,” the first-ever multi-season television show about Jesus, has broken another record by becoming the bestselling movie in the history of its distributor Fathom Events. Just hours after tickets went on sale early last month during a livestream with show creator Dallas Jenkins, pre-sale records were shattered for the distributor with $1.5 million in sales in the first 12 hours. Viewers can expect an amazing experience that showcases the birth of Christ through the eyes of Mary and Joseph and highlights the hardships they endured. Read more about the Christmas movie here.

 

Open Doors Ministry Donating 100,000 Bibles To Persecuted Christians

It’s difficult to imagine not having access to Scripture, but for millions of believers around the globe, that is their everyday reality. One charity, Open Doors USA, is changing that for tens of thousands of Christians this Christmas. Open Doors USA, is  a U.S.-based ministry that monitors religious persecution around the world. David Curry, President of the organization, said it had reached its goal of raising enough money in late November to send 100,000 Bibles to persecuted Christians in areas such as Afghanistan, North Korea and Nigeria, calling it the greatest outpouring of support the ministry has seen in the U.S. Learn how to donate to the ministry here.

 

Wisconsin Governor Vetoes Bill Requiring Medical Care For Babies Who survive Abortion

Wisconsin’s Democratic governor vetoed five pro-life bills Friday, including one that would require medical care for a baby who survives an abortion. The bill would impose criminal penalties on doctors who fail to give medical care in the extremely rare circumstance in which a baby is born alive following an abortion attempt. Violators would be guilty of a felony punishable by up to six years in prison. The bill also would make intentionally causing the death of a child born alive as a result of an abortion a felony punishable by life in prison. Read more about the vetoed bills here.

 

Chicago Pastor Camping Out For 100 Days to Raise Gun Violence Awareness

Ten years ago, Pastor Corey Brooks slept on the rooftop of a dilapidated motel for 94 days with the goal of helping end the cycle of violence in his Woodlawn neighborhood. Now, with violence nearing record levels a decade later, Brooks is camping out again. Late last month, Brooks embarked on a 100-day “tent-a-thon,” a campout with the same stated objective of ending gun violence. Brooks hopes to raise $35 million to build The Leadership and Economic Opportunity Center, which is planned as an 85,000-square-foot-building that will provide a safe place for youth amid violence. Read more about his efforts here.