Below are this week's Articles of Interest as compiled by Mr. Van Baker. This collection of articles is cultivated by Mr. Baker with the goal of highlighting some of the trends, upheavals, and things to watch for in our society. These articles are not necessarily the express views of the United Church of God, Mr. Baker, or me as the pastor, but they are informative of what is occurring in our nation and culture. In accordance with Christ's warning to correctly discern the times (Matthew 16:1-4), it is wise to be aware of what is going on around us. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Don't Be Fooled by Parades and Football - Thanksgiving Is a Distinctly Christian Holiday – “Although it be not always so plentiful, as it was at this time with us, yet by the goodness of God, we are so far from want.” These words, written by Pilgrim Edward Winslow, are part of one of the sole primary source accounts of the first Thanksgiving in 1621. That first Thanksgiving was a celebration not of the Pilgrims’ own accomplishments, but of the mercy God showed them in providing for them in the most foreign of lands. The Christian foundation of Thanksgiving did not die out with the Pilgrims. The Christian nationalists who served in the Continental Congress in 1777 were unequivocal in pointing to God as they issued the first national Thanksgiving proclamation for the fledgling United States.
https://www.westernjournal.com/dont-fooled-parades-football-thanksgiving-distinctly-christian-holiday/

Bible Sales Are Booming in the U.S. – Smartphones and high-tech gadgets may dominate modern life, but the timeless truth of Scripture is experiencing a remarkable resurgence in the United States. Bible sales are up 22 percent in the U.S. this year compared to the same time frame last year, according to Circana BookScan book tracking data cited by The Wall Street Journal. The data included sales through the end of October. By comparison, book sales in 2023 were up only 1 percent compared to the same time frame the previous year. Anxiety combined with a desire for certainty are driving the surge, experts say.
https://www.crosswalk.com/headlines/contributors/michael-foust/bible-sales-are-booming-in-the-us-new-data-shows-theyre-looking-for-hope.html

The Most Read Verse of 2024 Says a Lot About Our World – Popular Bible app YouVersion says it has seen more people engage with the Bible this year than ever before, drawing closer to God through His Word. Developers of the Bible app point out the most popular verse from 2024 reveals that people have been seeking God's comfort in tumultuous times. This year, the most searched scripture was Philippians 4:6. It reads: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."
https://cbn.com/news/us/bible-app-engagement-spikes-and-most-read-verse-2024-says-lot-about-our-world

As 'In God We Trust' Returns to US Classrooms, Here's How It Became Our Official Motto – Over the past few years, a movement has sprung up to remind Americans of our national motto in a variety of settings from public school buildings to law enforcement vehicles. The national motto is so ingrained in society, you'd think America's national motto has been around for centuries. The phrase was inspired by the fourth verse of the national anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner", which includes the line, "And this be our motto: 'in God is our trust.'"
https://cbn.com/news/us/god-we-trust-returns-us-classrooms-heres-how-it-became-our-official-motto

Ohio kids can sit for lessons from the Satanic Temple during school hours – Ohio schoolchildren can now spend part of their school day learning the teachings of the Satanic Temple through the state’s religious release program. The temple’s Hellion Academy of Independent Learning, or HAIL, announced that it’s offering lessons once a month during school hours to students from Edgewood Elementary School in Marysville, beginning in December. The new off-campus lessons provide an alternative to Bible study that’s offered through the religious release program and was prompted by the wishes of local parents, leaders of the Satanic Temple said.
https://nypost.com/2024/12/04/us-news/ohio-kids-can-sit-for-lessons-from-the-satanic-temple-during-school-hours/

UK Parliament votes in favor of bill allowing doctors to kill their patients – In a 330-275 vote, the UK Parliament advanced the highly controversial 'Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill' that allows doctors to euthanize their patients under certain conditions.
https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/breaking-uk-parliament-votes-in-favor-of-bill-allowing-doctors-to-kill-their-patients/

Muhammad overtakes Noah as most popular boy's name – Muhammad was the top choice for parents naming their baby boys in England and Wales in 2023, with more than 4,600 children registered with the name. It has been among the top 10 names for baby boys since 2016, but has now overtaken the previous favourite, Noah, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cly4g2v0ej6o

'One-of-a-kind' Ten Commandments stone found by accident – A late Byzantine period tablet inscribed with the Ten Commandments and discovered as a stepping stone in a private residence is going up for auction next month. The tablet is estimated to sell between $1 and $2 million, according to a press release from Sotheby's. The stone, which weighs 115 pounds and stands at two feet tall, is believed to be the oldest known tablet featuring the entire Ten Commandments [less one]. The estimated age of the tablet somewhere around 1,500 years old. The tablet notably contains only nine of the Ten Commandments, leaving out "Do not take the Lord's name in vain" and instead adds a command to worship on Mount Gerizim, a sacred place for Samaritans.
https://www.foxnews.com/lifestyle/one-of-a-kind-ten-commandments-stone-found-accident-now-valued-eye-popping-sum

Evangelical Prophetic Author Hal Lindsey Dies at 95: 'The End of an Era' – Lindsey is most recognized for his end times book, "The Late Great Planet Earth," which the New York Times said was the best-selling non-fiction book of the 1970s. The author, who was a strong supporter of Israel, released the book shortly after the Six-Day War. It brought biblical prophecy and contemporary geopolitical developments to a broader audience.
https://cbn.com/news/entertainment/evangelical-prophetic-author-hal-lindsey-dies-95-end-era

Hanukkah Starts On Christmas Day: Why That’s A Rare Event – Hanukkah falls a little later than usual this year — and it’s causing all kinds of headaches for interfaith couples and for interesting calculations for those curious about how time is measured.
https://religionunplugged.com/news/2024-holidays-after-thanksgiving-and-black-friday-why-christmas-hanukkah-coincide-this-year