Who Is Jesus?

Jesus and His disiples went on the village around 

Caesare Philippi. On the way, He asked them, "Who do people say I am? (Mark 8:27),the Crossmap website reports today (August31,2025).

After Peter had spent so much time with Jesus, he had become familiar with who Jesus was, so his answer was fitting to Jesus' question. "You are the Messsiah." It wasn't the right time for everyone to know who Jesus fully was, even though the whole time He was on earth, he was 

revealing the Father God. The fullness of the glory of God was revealed in Jesus . 

Ater He died on the cross, Jesus became our Messiah, He won the victory over  sin and became the exalted Son, who sits at the right hand of God.

The one thing about our identity that we should never forget    is that God tells us who we are and calls us His sons and daughters. we are a new creation because of Jesus and belong to God's Kingdom.

Theerefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come. The old has gone, the new is here!

Prague March for Jesus Draws Crowds of Hundreds

Hundreds of Christians filled  the streets of central Prague on August 2 for the third annual "March for Jesus,"the Christian Daily website reports today (August 29, 2025). 

The evangelistic march, organized by the Czech associations Salvation Crew and Reach the World, drew believers from across the country for a time of worship, public preacching, and prayer in some of the capital's most iconic squares.

In Prague, Czech worship leader Jan Kristof led the joint worship in Hradcansky Square.

Rev. Peter Kuba, pastor of the Open Church in Prague, then spoke about the gospel's message and the importance of churches being unified in faith.

The event concluded at the Old Town Square at 6:30 p.m. with a worship performance by the band,"The Altar Echo."

Minneapollis Cath. School Shooting Leaves 2 Dead, over a Dozen Wounded

 At least two children have died and over a dozen are injured after a shooting this morning (August 27, 2025) at a private school in Minnesota,the Christian Post website reports.

Authorities responded to reports of a shooter at Annunciation Church and Catholic School in Minneapolis, which occurred around the time that students were at weekly mass.

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara said at a press conference that it was "an unthinkable tragedy" that occurred during the first  week of school. A gunman believed to be in his 20s fired through the church windows, hitting children and other worshipers, O'Hara said. 

Two children, aged 10 and 8, were among the dead.There were 17 other injuries, including 14 children, two of whom were in critical condition.

"The sheer cruelty and cowardice of firing into a church full of children is absolutely incomprehensible," O'Hara said. "The coward who fired these shots ultimately took his own life in the rear of the church."

O'Hara did not identify the gunman, and  a motive is not yet clear.

Venezuelan Christians Hold Nationwide March for Jesus

 A multitude of evangelical Christians mobilized across Venezuela on Aug. 2 during the March for Jesus, an event declared months earlier as

the "National Day of the March for Jesus" by the Venezuelan government through a presidential decree, the Christian Daily website reports today (August 26, 2025).

According to the Latin Evangelical Alliance (AEL), delegations from evangelical churches across all 23 states and the Capital District participated in the event. Believers of various nationalities and denominations also joined, marcching with banners,flags, and T--shirts bearing the event's theme, along with messages exalting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Along the way, songs, praises, prayers, and calls for unity could be heard. This year's theme was "Jesus, the nations belong to you."

Pastor Jose Pinero, executive director of the Evangelical Council of Venezuela, addressed the crowd in Cumana with a    message of the gathering.

Pinero stressed, "This march is  a space where we celebrate Jesus Christ with joy."

Living a Purposeful Life

 The purpose of life doesn't begin with us, but begins with God,  the Christian Today website reports today (August 22, 2025).

God, who is love Himself, made us out of love, and to love.

But humanity fell (Genesis 3). In  arrogance, we rejected His love, allowing sin to enslave us (Romans 1:21). The bondage of sin ruled over us  -- until God, in His mercy and love, sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to break its  power.Through His sacrificial death and victorious resurrection, Christ restored our identity as sons and daughters of God and opened the way to eternal life with Him (John 1:12).

The first command God gave humanity was to "be fruitful and multiply" (Genesis 1:28).Being fruitful means maturing in faith and bearing the fruit of love, both in our relationship with God and how we love toward others. This can only happen when we abide in Christ and He abides in us (John 15:5).

Study: Prisons in Pakistan Mistreat Christians

 A new study shows that prisoners from minority backgrounds, particularly Christians, face bias in Pakistani jails and are subjected to abuse by prison staff and Muslim inmates, the Christian Daily website reports today (August 20, 2025).

They are labeled as "untouchables" and given menial tasks, like cleaning toilets, according to the study released on Aug. 15, "Hope Behind Bars," by the National Commission for Justice and Peace, a Catholic church organization.

Among the worst--treated and discriminated prisoners are those charged under the country's harsh blasphemy laws and other religiously--motivated cases, the report stated.

Once the religious identity of prisoners becomes public, officials treat Christian and Hindu inmates poorly, assigning them menial tasks and refraining from offering them the remission in sentences that are offered to Muslims, according to the study.

What Worship Leaders Say Are Top Obstacles

 There are these roles every worship leader fills: musician, minister, and multiplier, the Christian Post website reports today (August 19, 2025).

There is musical ability to consider when choosing a worship leader. Can they sing? Can they play?Can they understand music theory? Can they lead rehearsal ? If the answer is yes, most churches overlook the lack of experience and spiritual maturity in the leader.

The second role worship leaders fill is that of minister, as well as by spending a lifetime  listening   and living in God's Word. Worship leaders must be taught how to provide theologically sound, sensitive and prudent ministry. It's the responsibility of the local church to raise them in sound, biblical education and training.     

The third role worship leaders inhabit is that of "multiplier." This means not only disciplining the volunteers on your worship team, but developing them as musicians and leaders Plurality and leadership with intentional discipleship and development are essential in modern worship ministries,

It's time to witness the joy and power of spiritual, creative worship driven by leaders who have everything they need to thrive.

Report: Hundreds of Hostile Acts Perpetrated against U.S.Churches

 A new report released by the Family Research Council shows that more than 400 acts of hostility were recorded against churches in the United States in 2024, with a sharp rise in gun--related incidents, the Christian Today website reports today (August 18, 2025).

The incidents highlighted in the group's "Hostility against Churches in the United States" report ranged from vandalism and arson to gun--related threats, bomb hoaxes, and physical assaults.

The Washington--based conservative Christian advocacy organization documented 415 hostile acts across 43 states, affecting 383 churches, based on open--source documents, media reports, and official records.

"The rise in crimes against churches is taking place in a context in which fewer Americans are attending religious services or identify with specific faith," the report notes.

UK Universities See Drop in Religious Studies

 There are concerns about the future of theology and religious studies in the U.K., as a number of universities offering these subjects continues to decline, the Christian Post website reports today (August 16, 2025).

A broad spectrum of faith leaders, academics,and public figures have expressed concern that the subjects could disappear altogether for universities unless action is taken now to safeguard them.

There are only 21 higher education institutions in England and Wales offering undergraduate degrees in theology and religious studies compared to 90 in history, 90 in music,and 101 in sociology.

"This impacts student choice, but it also has adverse effects for society,"the letter reads.

"Theology plays a crucial role in the intellectual, ethical, and cultural development of communities. It equips people with the tools to engage more thoughtfully with global cultures and traditions and to engage deeply with complex sacred texts.

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German Evangelical Leader:We Need to Keep Our Hearts Pure

 Evangelicals have moved into positions of political influence in recent years, particularly in the United States, the Christian Daily website reports today (August 15, 2025).

Reinhardt Schink,  head of the Evangelical Alliance in Germany, is concerned about the consequences.

Schink reflected on the rapid shift from evanglicals often being a minority voice ignored by secular society in having influence on laws and public debates about morality,gender, and abortion -- matters he describes as questions of "what is right and what is wrong."

"Suddenly our voice is being heard and there is an opportunity to shape society to have influence within the lawmaking process," he said. "On the other hand, it is so easy to be compromised by the possibilities and by the power which you have. And I think this might be not only an opportunity but also a danger to Christians in these positions, also to ministries, to try not to play power games just like the world does."

To understand the right approach to power, Schink pointed to the example of Jesus, who demonstrated both great authority -- casting out demons, healing, speaking a word,and stilling the storm -- and great humility, as when He washed His disciples' feet.

The Nuclear Age Turns 80

Earlier this month, on August 6,Americans as a nation,  commemorated the 80th anniversary of dropping the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan. We dropped a second atomic bomb on Nagasaki on August 9, the Christian Post website reports today (August 14, 2025).

For many decades now, Americans, as well as people around the world, have debated whether America should have dropped "the bomb."

In helping defeat Hitler and Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan, more than 16 million Americans had served in the American Armed Forces. America had suffered over a million casualties. 

America and its political and military leaders were war weary and yet were still facing a fanatical and implacable enemy that showed every sign of continuing to fight "to the last man" in combat situations.

Prague March for Jesus Draws Crowds of Hundreds

 Hundreds of Christians filled the streets of central Prague on August 2 for the third annual "March for Jesus,"publicly proclaiming the gospel despite rainy weather that drenched participants several times along the route, the Christian Daily website reports today (August 13, 2025).

The evangelistic march, organized by the Czech Association Crew and Reach the World, drew believers from across the country for a time of worship, public preaching, and prayer in some of the capital's most iconic squares. 

"Although the weather was not very good this year and the participants got wet several times on the way to the squares,  the atmosphere was joyful and I think that no one regretted the participation,"wrote Rev. Lubomir Ondacek, senior pstor of Christian Fellowship Prague and executive secretary of the Christian  Missionary Society, in the Czech Christian monthly Zivotvivx (Life of Faith).

Why Purity Matters in the Christian Faith

 When Christians talk about purity, it can feel restrictive, outdated, or even irrelevant, the Christian Today website reports today (August 12, 2025).

Even in church spaces, many of us grew up hearing about purity in ways that felt heavy, shame--based or impossible to live up to.

But God's view of purity is not about being perfect or prudish. It's about love,relationship, and transformation--living with a heart that's fully devoted to God. And that matters -- more than ever.

God is holy, good, pure, and sinless. He created us in His image and we were meant to reflect His nature. We strayed far from that image, and no amount of rule--keeping could restore what was lost.

That's why God gave us Jesus. Through His death and resurrection, we are given a new identity -- one we could never earn on our own. When God looks at those who are in Christ, He sees the purity of Jesus.

Poll: Americans' Trust ln Church Rebounding

 Public trust in the church as an institution has risen after three years of stagnation with 36% of Americans now saying they have a great amount of confidence on it. The shift, recorded in Gallup's latest survey on the topic marks the first significant increase since 2020, the Christian Daily website reports today (August 10,  2025).

Confidence in the church had fallen to 31%in 2022 and remained around 32% over the following two years, near the lowest recorded levels. Gallup hs tracked this trend annually since 1973, when trust stood at 66%, reaching a high of 68% in 1975.

The only other major rebound in recent decades came in 2001, when post 9/11 sentiment briefly raised confidence to 60%, the last time the institution earned such support, as reported by Lifeway Research.

The latest numbers show the American church regaining some ground, matching levels last seen in 2021 when confidence was 37%, while still far from majority support. The increase is notable across several demographics, particularly among poliitical conservatives.

Is College Worth the Time and Money?

 Liberal arts education in college is a waste of time and money, the Christian Post website reports today (August 8, 2025).

The original colleges and universities in North America were Christian. But today, most of these schools stand for the exact opposite. Liberals didn't start these shools; they just took them over, turning them away from God.

Today, we have cut ourselves off from the ancient wisdom found in the Scriptures, and instead find ourselves adrift in a sea of relativism. No wonder so many young graduates regret going to college.

Colleges should have technical schools that teach a particular trade or discipline, such as medicine, law, or computer science. Technical schools are about what you do, and universities should be about why you do it.

We may Be Nearing a Spiritual Awakening

 All around are promising signs we could be at the beginning of a spiritual awakening that only God can cause, the Crossmap website reports today (August 7, 2025).

A spiritual awakening occurs when God soveeignty pours out His Spirit in such a way it impacts the entire culture. Thisi is what happened during the Jesus Movement and at multiple times in Ameican history.

We are now seeing a spiritual hunger and resurgence about Jesus, especially among young people. This is what happened during the Jesus Movement. It was youth coming to Christ out of desperation.

Our young generation is hungry for spiritual truth.They want the unfiltered gospel of Christ crucified and the power of resurrection.