Former Pres. Jimmy Carter Dies at 100

 Former President Jimmy Carter, the 39th president of the United States, who dedicated his life after he left office to brokering international peace, has died at age 100, the NBC News website reports today (Dec. 30, 2024). 

Carter, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 for his human rights work around the world, has been in hospice care since February 2023 at his home in Plains, Georgia, where he lived with his wife of 77 years, Rosalyn Carter. The former first lady, 96, died on Nov. 19, 2023.

Carter was the first U.S. president to reach his 100th birthday. 

In October, for Carter's 100th birthday, President Joe Biden recognized him in a direct --to--camera birthday message shared with CBS News, saying : "Mr. President you've always been a moral force for our nation and the world. I recognized that as a young senator. That's why I supported you so early. You're a voice of courage, conviction, compassion and most of all, a beloved friend of Jill and me and our family."

Biden said he would order an official state funeral to be held in Washington, D.C., and issued a proclamation declaring Jan. 9 to be a national day of mourning. Today (Dec. 30) the U.S. Army Military District of Washington said that the state funeral would be held on that same date, and Biden ordered federal offices closed "as a mark of respect." 

King Charles Christmas Day Speech Upsets Christians for Suggesting All Religions the Same

 King Charles has been criticized for his Christmas Day speech which suggested that all faiths are the same, the Christian Post website reports today (Dec. 29, 2024). The monarch's Christian Day address to the nation is an annual Christmas tradition that many households gather round to listen to on the big day. 

In his address this year, the king said, "The example that Jesus gave us is timeless and universal. It is to enter the world of those who suffer, to make a difference to their lives, and to bring hope where there is despair."

As the famous Christmas Carol, Once in Royal David's City reminds us, "Our Savior holy came down to Eartrh from Heaven ," lived among the poor and mean and lowly and transformed the lives of those He met through God's 'redeeming love.'"

"That is the heart of the Nartivity story and we can hear its beat in the belief of all great faiths of the love and mercy of God in times of joy and of suffering, calling us to bring light where there is darkness. 

Missiologist and Home for Good Founder, Krish Kandiah,said King Charles' comments demonstrate "a fundamental misunderstanding of either Christianity or world religions. "

"The idea that God becomes human and then willingly dies to redeem and rescue humanity is unique to Christianity," said Kandiah.

Pope Visits Prison on St. Stephen's Day; Honors Present--Day Martyrs

Pope Francis marked the feast day of the first martyr, St. Stephen, by visiting a prison and highlighting that Christians are srtill being persecuted for their faith,  the Catholic Herald website reports today (Dec. 27, 2024).  

"Unfortunately, today there are srtill, in various parts of the world, many men and women who are persecuted , at times up to death, because of the Gospel, the pontiff said during the Angelus address in St. Peter's Square on Dec. 26. The pope gave his Angelus address after returning from the Rebibbia New Complex Prison in Rome, where he opened a Holy Door for the Jubilee Year. 

In the Acts of the Apostles, St. Stephen  -- a deacon -- was stoned to death  after being accused of blasphemy by Jewish leaders shortly after Jesus' ascension into heaven. 

In his Angelus address, Francis said the story of  St. Stephen  applies to present--day  martyrs, too.

"They do not allow themselves to be killed out of weakness, nor to defend an ideology, but to make everyone participants in the gift of salvation  they have received from the Lord Jesus Christ," the pope said. 

Student and Teacher Killed in Shooting at Wisc. Christian School

A teacher and teenaged student were shot and  killed at a private Christian school on Dec. 16 in the state of Wisconsin, the Christian Today website reports today (Dec. 23, 2024).

At least six others were injured in the attack at Abundant Life Christian School in the city of Madison. Two of the injured sustained life--threatening injuries and are in a critical but stable condition in a hospital. The shooter was idenrtified by police as Natalie Rupnow, 15, who also goes by the name "Samantha." 

Police said she was in attendance at the school before opening fire in a study hall with mixed grade students at the school. She then turned the gun  on herself and died on the way to a hospital.

Police are still working to establish a motive. 

Speaking to reporters, Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes said, "Today is a sad day not only for Madison, but for our entire country. We have to do a better job in our community. 

Barnes said police had not had any prior interactions with Rupnow.

The school has asked for prayers. 

The school said, "We have been flooded with thoughts and prayers. This great nation is behind us. So grateful for the tsunami of prayers for our students, staff, and families. 

King Charles Attends Advent Service for Christians

 King Charles attended a special Advent service on Dec. 17 that was held to honor the courage and perseverance of Christian communities suffering for their faith around the world, the  Christian Today website reports today (Dec. 20, 2024). 

The service was held at the Church of the Immaculate Conception, in Mayfair, London, and was co--hosted by Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN).

It coincided with the 10th anniversary of the ISIS  invasion of Mosul and the Nineveh Plains in northern Iraq, which led to the untold suffering of Christians and other minorities. 

During the service, King Charles met with members of the Iraqi Christian diaspora, including individuals who experienced persecution and displacement when ISIS took control of the Nineveh Plains. 

Dr. Caroline Hull, national directror of ACN (UK) said: "Throughout their long  history dating back to the first century, the Christians of Iraq have been no strangers to suffering."

"But little could prepare them for the terrors that would be inflicted both on them and so  many other communities in recent years." 

Dr. Hull added: "The King's constant concern has been a huge source of encouragement for us at ACN."

She also said the journey towards restoration and renewal for Iraqi Christians "has been a long and sometimes painful one" and that "there is still a long way to go towards full recovery." 

Abp. Says Christians Have Role to Play in New Syria

In Syria, Archbishop Joseph Tobjie of Aleppo says Christians must play a role in building an inclusive and democratic society after a civil war of over 10 years and the fall of Bashar al--Assad, the Crux website reports today (Dec. 18, 2024).

The Syrian leader's forced departure followed a surprise offensive across the country by rebel groups, led by Hayat Tahrir al--Sham (HTS), which is associatred with Islamist groups.

"From a security perspective, things are relatively calm here in Aleppo," Tobjie told Vatican News. 

"However, isolated acts of violence persist, and in Damascus, the situation appears far worse. Weapons remain widespread , even among children. Seeing a child carry a rifle is something no one should ever witness," he said.  The rebel group has made promises to respect all communities, including minorities, and so far, their actions are aligned with their words," Tobjie tld Vatican News. 

"They treat us Christians with respect, and there is no form of persecution at present," the archbishop claimed. 

Assad and hs father Hafez, who preceded him as president and died in 2,000, are accused of turning Syria into a dictatorial and murderous country.

Christians made up about 10 percent of the pre--war Syrian population, but now make up less than 2 percent, falling from 1.5 million in 2011 to just 300,000 in 2022. 

"For over 50 years, we were silenced. But now is the time to rise to the challenge. We must lay the foundation for a state rooted in the common good , one that guarantees the dignity and rights of all citizens," Tobjie said. 

Why Was Jesus Born?

There is nothing in creation as glorious as the Gospel of Jesus Christ,which we remember at Christmas, the Christian Post website reports today (Dec. 17, 2024). 

Consider what was proclaimed as the Savior's birth. An angel declared that Jesus would save people from their sins. Mary exclaimed that God's mercy had come on those who fear Him. Zechariah praised God for redeeming His people. Angels sang to the shepherds immediately following the Messiah's birth.

As we mark the celebration Christmas brings, we should consider why the Gospel is full of joy, hope, peace, love, and grace as was so powerfully described at Jesus' first coming. 

The Gospel is good news because it reveals God's greatest gift given in His Son. It is the message of salvation freely given by God to His people from every tongue, tribe, people, and nation. 

When God sent Jesus into the world, He gave us a bountiful number of gifts because the Son is infinitely glorious. This Christmas, we are focusing on. four of those gifts that are ours in Christ. In the first gift, Christians receive the the gift of God's wisdom.

The second and third gifts Paul describes are righteousness and holiness. 

The righteousness Paul has in mind is the forgiveness of sins . When God bestows the gift of righteousness, He erases our sins.Our sins are removed from us as far as the east is from the west, and God remembers them no more. 

However, we could never achieve a perfect righteousness before the Lord on our own. God, then, gives us the gift of the imputation of Christ's righteousness. Not only does God pay off the debt of our sins, but He deposits Christ's righteousness into our account through faith.

Pope Visits Corsica; Tells Catholics to Maintain Strong Rel. Traditions

Pope Francis yesterday visited the Mediterranean  island of Corsica, located west of the Mainland of Italy and north of the Italian island of Sardinia, and encouraged the island's Catholic majority to foster its traditional piety , as secular culture grows in Europe, the Catholic News website reports today (Dec. 15, 2024). 

The papal visit to the capital Ajaccio touched the peripheries of France, where a strongly Catholic population is steeped in Corsican traditions, including songs, both sacred and secular, linked to confraternities. 

The religious associations, which have a long history of Corsican culture, continue to pass down the custom of singing. The hymns are usually sung a capella and in Latin.

Traditional Corsican hymns featured throughout Pope Francis's visit, especially at his Mass with an estimated 7,000 Catholics at Place d'Austerlitz, a park built as a memorial to Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, who was born in Ajaccio. Authorities estimate another 8,000 people were following the Mass on jumbo screens around the city. 

In his homily for the Third Sunday of Advent, Pope Francis said too much time thinking about ourselves and our own needs is why "we lose the spirit of joy."

"If we live only for ourselves, we will never find happiness, the pope said, pointing to the recitation of the Rosary and the spiritual and corporal works of mercy of the confraternities as an example of how to cultivate faith. 

How Has Jesus Been Depicted over 2,000 Years?

 Most people today have a visual image of Christ : long--haired and bearded, simply dressed in homespun cloth, portrayed with varying degrees of Middle Eastern appearance, often with an intense gaze, the Christian Today website reports today (Dec. 14, 2024).

The Christian portrayal of Jesus stands in contrast to Jewish and Islamic prohibitions of images. However, the Christian  position is not unique since similar, easily recognizable iconography can be found in Hinduism and Buddhism where there is similarly no reticence about portraying central characters and divine beings. 

For Christians, the faith in the incarnation (God becoming man) and the belief that in Christ humanity and divinity existed in one man means that historically rthere has been a theological impetus to portray Christ. After all, Chrisrtians believe that it is in His humanirty that "all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell."

Therefore, to portray Him in recognizable human form reinforces this faith, challenges the viewer to accept the reality of the God--man, and reflects on the implications of this reality for His followers as they live out their human lives in the everyday world.

Mystery Drones Flying over U.S. East Coast May Be from Iran

 A U.S.congressman dropped a bombshell two days ago concerning the source of mystery drones flying over New Jersey, saying they're being launched from an Iranian "mother ship" off the eastern seabord of the U.S., the World Net Daily website reports today (Dec.13, 2024). 

"From very high sources, very qualified sources, very responsible sources, I'm going to tell you the real deal," said U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R--N.J.

"Iran launched a mother ship probably about a month ago that contains these drones. That mother ship is off ... the east coast of the United States of America. They've launched drones in everything that we can see or hear, and again these are from high sources. I don't say this lightly." 

Van Drew, a member of the House Judiciary Committee, told Harris Faulkner of Fox News "Iran made a deal with China to purchase drones, mother ships and technology in order to go forward. The sources I have are speaking to me in confidentiality."

Faulkner responded to Van Drew's statement: "Look. you've given some pretty dire information just here. Iran has the capability to pull up along our eastern seaboard and launch drones the size of an S.U.V. into the skies of several states, particularly New Jersey, where we know the incoming president has a large home. Also in the same county or nearby where some of the drones in New Jersey have been seen.

The U.S. military was asked about Van Drew's claim in a briefing on Dec. 11, and completely denied it. 

"There is no truth to that," said Sabrina Singh, deputy press secretary for the Pentagon. 

"There is no Iranian ship off the coast of the United States and there's no so--called mother ship launching drones towards the United States."

Luigi Mangione's Manifesto on Internet Believed to Be a Fake

 Luigi Mangione's manifesto , a recitation of the injustices of the healthcare system against his chronically ill mother ,misdiagnoses the causes of the healthcare crisis -- and justifies Mangione's tragic crime of premeditated murder, the New American website reports today (Dec. 11, 2024). 

The post claiming to be Mangione's last words was taken down by Substack for violating the platform's impersonation rules. 

Mangione, 26, was charged with murdering United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Following his arrest, various claims about him circulated online, including speculation about an online manifesto that allegedly explained his motive for the killing. 

The post, attributed to "LM" on the blog site Substack, is titled "The Allopathic Complex and Its Consequences" and has been shared in various social media posts crediting Mangione as the author. 

Mangione had a three-page document with him when he was arrested that police say speaks to his alleged motive at the time of the killing but claim the manifesto posted online was authored by Mangione is false. 

Police continue to piece together a possible motive for the cold blooded killing -- including whether Mangione was fueled by a vandetta against the medical industry after sufffering from chronic back pain.

Mangione is being held in a Pennsylvania lockup while fighting extradition to New York, where he is facing murder charges in Manhattan over Thompson's slaying. 

Christians in Syria Face Uncertain, Perilous Future

A human rights group has warned that Christians in Syria confront an uncertain and perilous future under the control of Islamist--led rebel forces, the Christian Today website reports today(Dec. 10, 2024).

The minority Christian  population of  Damascus, significantly diminished by over a decade of civil war, now grapples with fears of escalating threats and restrictions.  

Islamist rebel forces, led by Hay'at Tahir al--Sham (HTS), which is designated as a terrorist organization by the US and Uk, captured Aleppo about a week ago , followed by Homs and Damascus late last Saturday night in a sweeping offensive that toppled Syrian government forces. Bashar al-- Assad fled the country on a flight to Russia on Saturday night. 

Since  Hay'at al--Sham's takeover of Aleppo, many Christians have fled, leaving behind a small but resolute group trying to maintain their faith and traditions. 

A bus carrying young Christians was stranded on the Aleppo road , later finding refuge at the Syriac Orthodox Archdiocese. 

Many Christian leaders have remained in thwe city , providing spiritual guidance and practical support to their communities. 

Syriac Orthodox Metropolitan Bishop Mor Boutros Kassis and other Christian leaders have been communicating through social media where they held prayers and liturgies . They are encouraging Christian residents to face the reality with awareness, courage, and faith, he was quoted as saying. 

Rebels Form Interim Govt. in Syria; al-Assad Flees to Moscow

 Rebel forces took control of Damascus, Syria yesterday, marking the end of Bashar al--Assad's decades--long autocratic rule, the Euro News website reports today (Dec. 9, 2024). 

Syrians across the world celebrated the astonishing end of Bashar al--Assad's rule when, after more than 13 years of civil war, anti--government  rebels declared control of the country's capital. 

The overthrown leader is reportedly in Moscow, according to Russian media reports where he is expected to be granted asylum.

As they swept into cities, armed rebels flung open prisons and released what human rights  groups have said at least 100,000 people considered missing at the hand of the state since 2011.

Despite celebrations , world leaders were cautious that a power vacuum in the region could open up the possibility of further instability, with U.S. President Joe Biden calling events  a "moment of risk and uncertainty" for the Middle East.

Expressions of Faith Making Comeback ln U.S.

For too long, we've watched public expressions of faith slowly disappear from our communities, but things have changed recently, and public expressions of faith are now being restored, the Christian Post website reports today (Dec. 6, 2024). 

Kelly Shackelford, President, CEO, and Chief Counsel of First Liberty Institute, said, "Public expressions  of faith are making a comeback."  

With the law being more favorable toward religious freedom and expression, one can join the national movement to rebuild and restore historical public displays that have long been enjoyed all across our country. 

First Liberty conducts research and provides analysis on the effects of policy actions on religious liberty. It is intended to be used for informational, educational and reference purposes only. 

God has opened an incredible door to restore faith in America, and it's up to you and me to walk through it. 

Magnitude 7 Earthquake Hits California

 A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck near the town of Petrolia in California today (Dec. 5, 2024) at 10:44 a.m. local time , generating a now discontinued tsunami warning that stretched from southern Oregon to San Francisco, the USA Today website reports. 

The quake occurred on the sparsely populated northern coast of California in a seismically complex area known as the Mendocino Triple Junction. It is where three tectonic plates meet and the Northwest's Cascadia subduction zone and California's San Andreas Fault system meet. The quake itself occurred on the Mendocino fault zone. 

In Arcata, California , just under 60 miles from Petrolia, 25--year--old Jared Mitchell was having an early lunch in his apartment when he felt  a  "jolt," he told USA Today.

"It wasn't that big of a violent shake," said Mitchell, an assistant manager at Los Bagels, a bagel shop in town. "But my apartment was swaying back and forth for a bit. It was kind of scary, like I was on a raft in the middle of the sea." 

By 12:30 p.m., less than two hours after the initial quake, the area had experienced 13 different aftershocks, ranging from 5.1 to 3.1, according to the U,S, Geological Survey. By 2:30 p.m., the USGS had reported at least 39 aftershocks of at least 2.5 magnitude in the region, including Petrolia and Ferndale. 

Traci Grant, 53, a public relations specialist, said she was on the phone with a friend when she felt her San Francisco apartment of 20 years "swaying."

"I felt my whole apartment was moving in slow motion," said Grant. "For a moment I thought I should get my purse and my cat and get out." 

Pope: Pursuit of Peace not the Responsibility of a Few, But of All

 Reflecting on the upcoming Christmas season, Pope Francis yesterday warned that if  "desensetization  and indifference to the horrors of war prevail, all of humanity is defeated." the Catholic News website reports today (Dec.3, 2024). 

"I hope that the glimmer of peace that has emerged can lead to a ceasefire on all fronts," Pope Francis stated after praying the Angelus yesterday. 

He was referring to the ceasefire agreement reached between Hezbollah in Lebanon and Israel to end 13 months of fighting.

Building upon this, the pope also challenged  the Lebanese people to elect a president. "As soon as possible,"  he encouraged, "so that institutions can return  to normal functioning, proceed with the necessary reforms, and ensure the country remains an example of peaceful coexistence among different religions."

Pope Francis continued to express his concern for the areas of the world in conflict, including Gaza, Sria, and Ukraine. He shared his deep concern for the release of Israeli hostages and petitioned once again that "humanitarian aid to the exhausted Palestinian population" be available. 

Pope Francis renewed his challenge to the international community "and to every man and woman of good will, to do everything possible to stop war and to promote dialogue, frarternity, and reconciliation."

Remembering the Holy Land this Christmas

 As Christmas approaches, Friends of t he Holy Land is asking Christians to turn their minds to the city of Bethlehem, where the  Christmas story began , and conflict continues in the region., the Christian Today website reports today (Dec. 2, 2024). 

For children across the world, the celebration of Christ's birth will mean presents, nativity plays, and meals with family and friends, but children in the Holy Land will spend their Christmas worrying about  bombing in the region and where their next meal will come from, says Friends of the Holy Land.

Speaking at the launch of its Christmas Appeal, CEO Brendan Metcalfe said that the Holy Land's children are being robbed of their chance of a normal childhood, and the ongoing conflict has denied children many of their basic needs. 

It is proving impossible to keep children sheltered from the reality of the situation, with parents from across the West Bank reporting warning signs of the heavy toll the ever--present danger is taking on children. Many experience nightmares fed by the fears they live with day--to--day,  while others have lost their appetite and do not want to play with friends anymore. 

Also, a whole generation is at risk of missing out of some of their most formative years of school. According to Metcalf, "Since October 2023, many children are unable to attend school due to travel restrictions, school fees, or because they are too frightened to leave their homes."