Pride, Dignity and the Need for Jesus

Christians are called to speak truth, but always in love, with the aim  to build up, not tear down, the Christian Today website reports today (June 21, 2025).

Scripture is clear on sexuality: any expression outside God's design for one male and one female in covenant marriage is sin (Romans 1:26--27).These are not arbitrary rules, they are part of God's loving design for human flourishing.

Scripture never condemns human dignity. In fact, it proclaims it: we are all made in the image of God (Genesis1:27),fearfully and wonderfully formed (Psalm 139:14).

But dignity becomes distorted when it turns into deity. This is the pride that Scripture warns against (Genesis 3:5--6), the root of all sin: when we crown ourselves as the final authority on who we are, what truth is, and what love should look like. 

God's purpose is never to shame, but to heal and restore (John3:17). His conviction is not cruelty; it's kindness that leads to repentance(Romans 2:4).Jesus humbled Himself so that we might be lifted up (Philippians 2:6--8).

Jesus still sees,still loves, and still invites every person into His grace and truth (Revelation 3:20).

Students Sue Va. over Being Denied Grants to Pursue Religious Studies

 Three students have filed a complaint against Virginia officials over allegedly being denied access to scholarship grant programs due to their decision to pursue religious studies, the Christian Post website reports today (June 20, 2025). 

Cameron Johnson and Luke Thomas, two recent high school graduates planning to attend Liberty University , and Trace Stevens, a current Liberty student,filed the complaint late last month in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Richmond Division. 

Named defendants in the lawsuit were A. Scott Fleming, director of the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia; John Jumper, Chair of he State Council of Higher Education for Virginia; and Donald Unmussig, chief financial officer of the Virginia Department of Military Affairs. 

According to the complaint, Johnson and Thomas were denied a Tuition Assistance Grant because the SCHEV excludes certain religious programs of study, while Stevens, a member of the Virginia Army National Guard, was denied a grant from the National Guard Tuition Assistance Grant Program because his academic study was centered on  "religious training or theological education."

Report: Bible Engagement Srongly Linked to Human Flourishing

 The American Bible Socety (ABS) released the third chapter of its 15th annual State of the Bible report on June 12, highlighting a strong link between active Christian faith and human flourshing, the Christian Daily website reports today (June 19, 2025). 

According to the report, individuals who reported a connection with God "exhibit greater human flour ishing levels" pointing to the positive impact of spiritual life on overall health  and satisfaction.

Human flourishing is defined in the report as "a state  of thriving and well--being where all aspects of a person's life are good."

The Meaning of the Juneteenth Holiday

June 19, 2025 marks 160 years since the origin of Juneteenth, which commemorates the day the last group of enslaved people found out they had been freed, the USA Today website reports today (June 18, 2025).

Long a holiday in the Black community and now federally recognized, the celebrations kick off each June 19, allowing people to gather, dance, reenact pivotal moments in history, and more. 

Juneteenth is a celebration of freedom and opportunity, said Sam Collins, who is on the trustee board for the Rosenberg Library in Galveston,Texas, often called "Professor Juneteenth." 

"It's not so much about slavery as it is about the freedom from slavery and what it allowed the former enslaved people to live their lives free, to marry, to learn to read, to educate themselves, to have self--agency over their bodies, to keep their families  together," he told USA Today. 

In June 2021, then president Joe Biden declared June 19 a national holiday. 

Up to 200 Christians Killed by Islamic Extremists in Nigeria

 Up to 200 Christians were killed by Islamic extremists in Nigeria's troubled Benue state on June 13, according to a Catholic charity reporting that it's the "single worst atrocity" in a region that has become known for communal attacks, the Christian Post website reports today (June 16, 2025). 

The militants attacked families displaced by radicalized Fulani herdsmen who were housed in buildings repurposed as temporary accommodations in the market square of Yelewata in the Guma Local Government Area, shouting "Allahu Akhbar,"acording to a report today from Aid to the Church in Need.

Buildings were torched as people were sleeping, and anyone who tried to flee was attacked with machetes. Local pastors told the charity that police had earlier repelled attackers who tried to swarm St. Joseph's Church, a facilityhousing over 700 internally displaced persons. 

"When we heard the shots and saw the militants, we committed our lives to God. This morning, I thanked God I am alive," parish priest,Father Ukuma Jonathan Angbiabee, told ACN. Angbiabee said he and others dropped to the floor on the church's presbytery when they heard the shots fired. 

"What I saw was truly gruesome. People were slaughtered. Corpses were scattered everywhere."

Pope Leo XIV acknowledged the attack in his Sunday Angelus message, saying he is praying for those killed in "a terrible massacre," most of whom were "sheltered by the local Catholic mission." Leo prayed for "rural Christian communities of the Benue State who have been relentless victims of violence."

Holy Spirit Has Fueled Gospel Witness through the Ages

 Moe than 1,000 evangelical pastors and ministry leaders from 56 nations gathered at the JW Marriott in Berlin for the European Congress on Evangelism hosted by the Billy Graham Evangelical Association, the Christian Daily website reports today (June 15, 2025).

Rev. Skip Heitzig . senior pastor of Calvary Church in Albuquerque, New Mexico, delivered a passionate call for Spirit--empowered evangelism during the European Congress on Evangelism. A board member of Samaritan's Purse and Harvest Christian Fellowship, Heitzig spoke on the topic "The Holy Spirit Empowers Preaching the Gospel." 

Drawing from the explosive growth of the early church, Heitzig rooted his message in Acts 4:31. "After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly."He urged delegates to consider whether many believers today, like the disciples in Acts 19, know of the Holy Spirit in name, but have never truly experienced His empowering presence. 

"The empowering of the Holy Spirit was the main reason the preaching of the early church was so effective," Heitzig pointed out.

"The idea of the Spirit held by the average church member is so vague as to be nearly non--existent," once wrote a renowned Bible teacher, the late AW Tozer. Heitzig referred to the quote and said that he has himself found some Christians are afraid of the Holy Spirit , often because of excessive behavior in some churches.

 They just say, "I don't want anything to do with that," but listen, you never have to be  afraid of a genuine move and work of the Holy Spirit. If it's really the Holy Spirit, it will be powerful. It will be done decently and in order, but unmistakably, God will move.

 "The Father sent the Son into the world. Jesus, the Son, purchased our salvation on Calvary, and then He sent the Holy Spirit into the church, " explained Heitzig. "And the Holy Spirit empowered the preaching, the teaching. and the function of the church in the book of Acts."

What Is Pentecost Sunday?

 Pentecost Sunday cpmmemorates the coming of the Holy Spirit on Jesus's disciples , which happened just after the Ascension at  the Feast of Pentecost, the Christian Today website reports today (June 12, 2025).

In the Church calendar, it falls seven Sundays or 50 days after Easter Sunday.

The event is recorded in he first two chapters of the Acts of the Apostles, which was written by Luke. It is not certain which year this happened, but most scholars today think it was AD 33.The word "Pentecost" comes from the Greek term shavuot, which was called the Feast of Weeks, and it was the Harvest Festival which celebrated the first fruits of the wheat harvest in the Holy Land. 

The New Testament was written in Greek, and the word for 50th is Pentekoste, hence Pentecost.

At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples. Peter stood up and preached, telling the story of Jesus to the crowds. The Harvest Festival was the first fruits of the great harvest of souls. About 3,000 people joined the Church at Pentecost. These people were Jews of the Diaspora, and some Gentile converts to Judaism. They returned to their homelands and synagogues with the Gospel message. 

Parents Need to Teach Kids Values to Follow Christ

Paerents and grandparents serve as a child's primary and most impartful teachers , followed by church and ministry leaders , the Crossmap website reports today (June 10, 2025). 

Through our actions and words, we impart values such as respect, honor, honesty, truth, obedience, consequences, decision--making, repentance, forgiveness, trust, and peace. Our commitment to living out and sharing our faith must be consistent so that our children can witness Christ in us. We must pray for their strength in their faith journey while acknowledging God as the leader of our homes and personal lives. 

Parenting wields a profound influence on a child's life journey. You might be nurturing a future president, philanthropist, scientist, archaeologist, brain surgeon, or someone profoundly moved by God's love like Billy Graham. Your children will mirror the way you raise them as they engage with the world and eventually raise their own families. 

We must instill in our children a  deep, unwavering love for God and His Word. This foundation equips them to stand firm in their faith as they grow, even when it becomes unpopular. Our children will strive to emulate our lives, our treatment of others, our reverence for God, and our commitment to Him.

700 Marines Being Sent to LA to End Protests

A tense standoff between California and the federal government escalated today (June 9, 2025), with federal officials preparing to send in 700 Marines to assist the National Guard and state officials , saying they will sue the Trump administration's decision to "trample over" Governor Gavin Newsom's authority, the USA Today website reports. 

Newsom shot back at Trump over the move to send in Marines: "U.S. Marines have served honorably across multiple wars in defense of democracy. They are heroes. They shouldn't be deployed on American soil facing their own countrymen to fulfill the deranged fantasy of a dictatorial President. "

The addition of active--duty troops marks a significant escalation. It comes as California officials say they will sue the Trump administration challenging the decision to federalize the National Guard and send its members into city streets amid hostile protests over Trump immigration policies, California Attorney General Rob Bonta said today. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said the Marines are being sent "due to increased threats of  federal law enforcement officers and federal buildings; approximately 700 active--duty troops are being deployed to Los Angeles to restore order." 

"We have an obligation to defend federal law enforcement officers...even if Gavin Newsom will not," Hegseth said.

Pakistan Parliament Passes Bill to Curb Child Marriages

 Pakistan's parliament on May 19 passed a significant bill aiming to curb, discourage, and eventually eradicate child marriages in the federal capital by raising the legal age of marriage for both sexes to 18 years, the Christian Daily website reports today (June 6, 2025).

The bill has been sent to President Asif Ali Zadari for his assent.Once he signs it into law, it would apply only to the federal capital, Islamabad,and only district and sessions courts would handle related cases. The Child Marriage Restraint Act of 1929 would no longer apply in the federal capital following enforcement of the law, but all past orders, decisions and judgments made under that act would still be considered valid. 

"In this modern day and age, we have the resources and research which invariably proves that child marriage is harmful to both genders, and especially girls, who have hit puberty and are able to bear children," states the bill. 

"Furthermore, child marriages  are in complete violation of the rights of children, and international obligations, and goal 5 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals focuses on gender equality and includes a target to end child marriage by 2030."

The Power of Active Listening

jesus Christ was very busy in His earthly ministry , but He took the time to listen , the Crossmap website reports today (June 5, 2025). 

At the pool of Bethesda, He asked the paralytic, "Do you want to get well?" When His friend Lazarus died, Jesus listened to Mary's and Mrtha's words of disappointment and grief, and wept with them. When the blind beggar Bartimaeus called out to Him, Jesus stopped and asked, "What do you want me  to do for you?" Jesus recognized the importance of looking into someone's eyes and learning their perspective. 

Jesus also experienced the frustration of not being heard. Everywhere He went, large crowds gathered to hear His words. Few, however, actually heard the message from His heart.

Hearing and seeing and understanding can only be accomplished when we actively listen . It cannot be done while multi--tasking. Active listning requires that we care enough to stop what we're doing and focus. Close the laptop. Quit scrollling. Take out the earbuds. We need to look into someone's eyes, read their body language, and lisen for the story behind their words.

One way to remain focused on the speaker is by asking clarifying. questions, such as "What I'm hearing you say is ... or "How did you feel when that happened?" When we tune in and actively listen, the person speaking will feel seen and heard and understood -- and loved!

Report::Bible Reading and Welcoming Churches Are Key Factors in People Coming to Faith

A new report by the Evangelical Alliance (EA) has found that reading the Bible and experiencing   a welcoming  church are two of the most common reasons why people become Christians, the Christian Today website reports today (June 4, 2025).

The new repor, "Finding Jesus: Identifying Pathways to Faith in Adulthood," draws on the experiences of 280 adults who came to faith  in the last five years. 

For many respondents, a deep dissatisfaction with life was the trigger for their faith journey -- over a third (37%) said they had needed help with life at the time of turning to Christianity, while a similar proportion (34%)were looking for meaning. 

People from low incomes were most likely to cite the positive actions of Christians towards them. 

Rachael Heffer, co--lead researcher of the Finding Jesus project, said: "We are witnessing lives being turned  around and church growing as a direct result of people being more open to the Christian faith, asking big questions, reading the Bible, and seeing God transform their  lives."

"The challenge of the church is how to welcome and nurture the many people coming through our doors!"

Christian Nationalism Now Pervading U.S.

Considerable effort has been expended to paint many people of religious faith (particularly Evangelical Protestants and conservative Catholics) as seeking to run  roughshod over our precious First Amendment religious liberty protections and safeguards, the Christian Post website reports today (June 3, 2025).

This is nothing more than a political scare tactic, seeking to elevate certain fringe groups to a level of influence they do not have, and God willing, never will have. 

On the contrary, the vast majority of Evangelicals, conservative Catholics, and other people of faith believe it is their obligation and duty to bring their faith convictions to bear on the moral issues of the day and to seek to influence their fellow citizens to do the "right thing" in terms of public virtue. 

Aftr all, America has been a faith--based country from the beginning. This has been our tradition  and heritage from the Pilgrims onward. 

Critics and analysts deride conventional Christian conservatives as Christian nationalists. There are, by this definition, tens of millions of Christian nationalists. Sometimes, even civil religion,  with its homage to a vague deity, is labeled Christian nationalism.

Christian nationalists sometimes sport paraphernalia with American flags draped around the cross. These folk religionists usually aren't aware they are Christian nationalists. They don't have articulated policy agendas, just an attitude that God and country should be interchangeably honored. 

Franklin Graham Urges Evangelicals to Share Good News of Jesus

Evangelist Franklin Graham has urged evangelicals to "take advantage of the moment" by boldly proclaiming the good news of Jesus to migrants finding refuge on the continent of Europe, the Christian Daily website reports today (June 2, 2025). 

Graham took time to speak about the issue during the European Congress on Evangelism hosted by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association taking place this week in Berlin, Germany.

 The United Nations high Commissioner for Refugees states that "Europe remains among the regions with the highest number of displaced people globally." Speaking about the issue, Graham pointed out that many of these refugees have homes and land left behind when they fled situations such as war and poverty.

 He pointed out that these displaced people would likely return to their origins eventually and that presents a limited timeframe for European  evangelicals to reach them with the urgent message of the gospel.