By Dr. James Spencer for Charisma Media
In the wake of the latest shooting in Uvalde, Texas, many Christian leaders have called for Christians to pray. For some, prayer has become an empty ritual that conveys a sense of apathy and detachment.
We pray and, having done so, absolve ourselves of doing more. Yet faithful prayer is not empty or passive. It is not an excuse to ignore the world’s suffering. Rather, it is a means of acknowledging that the world is broken beyond our fixing.
By James Spencer for The Christian Post
What if we no longer understand what the word “Christian” means?
I’ve been working with Christian institutions for almost 20 years. Despite their differences, each institution would describe itself as “Christian,” but this description doesn’t provide the clarity one might expect. Rather, I’ve found that some institutional leaders struggle to answer two simple questions: (1) How are you Christian? and (2) Why does it matter?
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By Sarah Freymuth for The Christian Post
We live in a world where perfection is demanded daily.
Whether it’s an important championship for your team, a presentation at work, an assignment at school, or even maintaining your home and family life – the enormous pressure to be perfect can be all-encompassing. It’s exhausting to keep striving with effort and rely on your performance.
We aren’t made to live like this.
By Sarah Freymuth for The Christian Post
We like to be chosen. When we try out for a team, our eyes long to find our name on the final roster. In gym class, we like to be one of the top people picked for whatever game the class is playing. It feels good to be wanted.
If we’re not careful, though, our feelings of wanting to be picked can become all-consuming. We can focus our attention on attracting those around us. If we don’t check ourselves, we can end up with the rise and fall of our feelings based of whether we think people approve of us — or not.
What are we longing for? We want to belong. We want to be seen. We want to know that we have value.
By Patti Garibay for Charisma News
Mother’s Day—a day celebrated annually in the United States on the second Sunday of May. Starting after the death of her beloved mother in 1905, Anna Jarvis conceived of Mother’s Day as a way of honoring the sacrifices mothers made for their children. After many years of dedication and a massive letter-writing campaign to newspapers and prominent politicians by Jarvis, President Woodrow Wilson signed a measure officially establishing the day on the national calendar.
For Christians, motherhood is a divine calling requiring divine mercy and grace. The natural tendency for mothers to protect their children from harm is met with the tension of knowing that their “littles” must eventually be equipped for adult life. Protecting while equipping—a formidable mandate that can only be fulfilled through the power of the Holy Spirit.
By Maureen Mackey for FOXNews.com
Some families across the country are reconsidering their previously Disney-friendly stance in their homes or their lives — including the movies, the streaming service, the theme parks and other offerings from the entertainment and media conglomerate.
That’s partly because Disney’s CEO, Bob Chapek, has opposed a new bill signed into law this week by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis; it’s known as the Parental Rights in Education bill.
By Katy Talento for Townhall.com
Somewhere in East Asia, a man walks into a brothel. It’s a place of human slavery and degradation. This man has his eye on a certain teenager, although his reasons might surprise you as much as they are about to surprise the proprietor and security personnel in this hideous business establishment.
Suddenly fireworks go off somewhere in the building. Is that gunfire? In the pandemonium, the young woman and man sprint away to a safehouse. She has nothing but what she’s wearing, but she will happily begin the arduous journey to recovery and a better life.
By Dan Britton for The Christian Post
My college lacrosse coach loved to work over the officials during our games. He stayed on them from the first whistle to the last.
When it came to this “gift” of his, my teammates and I considered him a professional. He even coined phrases to get under the officials’ skin. My favorite one he used every game was, “Hey ref, you are consistent in that you are inconsistent!” I am convinced to this day that his badgering hurt our team more than it helped.
By Sarah Freymuth for The Christian Post
Our team allegiances can run deep. If you’re a die-hard Green Bay Packers fan, you might bristle when you run into someone who supports the Chicago Bears because the rivalry goes back decades. We’re quick to remember all the epic battles on the gridiron over the years. It gets heated on Saturday nights in winter, when cross-town rivals come together for a basketball game to determine who lands at the top of the conference. Our sides of the bleachers are sharply divided, and there is no crossing over.
We’re protective of our teams and have fierce loyalty. We will not stray to the other side and wouldn’t dream of rooting for anyone else.
By Dr. James Spencer for The Western Journal
In “The Social Dilemma,” Jaron Lanier, “founding father” of virtual reality, suggests, “It’s the gradual, slight, imperceptible change in your own behavior and perception that is the product. … Changing what you do, how you think, who you are.”
Lanier goes on to illustrate how the small decisions we make online can lead to significant real-world changes. After all, “viral content may disappear — its consequences do not” (Trust Me, I’m Lying). Our small decisions are more consequential than we think.
