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. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A new age of politics is upon the world, as toppled leaders lose their grip on power – The world has crossed an invisible boundary into a new age: Everything familiar now appears strange, everything solid is crumbling to pieces. The roar of many sirens we hear today is a warning that midnight has come and gone — it’s one minute past, and history, with all its troubles and triumphs, has us in its grip.
https://nypost.com/2024/12/15/opinion/a-new-age-of-politics-is-upon-the-world-as-toppled-leaders-lose-their-grip-on-power/

The Reason Americans Fear for Britain – The old England which cherished liberty is dying, and a more sinister society is emerging in its place. In that, it joins Australia, New Zealand and Canada. It's a grim warning for the United States.
https://www.rodmartin.org/p/the-anglosphere-embraces-tyranny

German Government Collapses at a Perilous Time for Europe – Chancellor Olaf Scholz lost a confidence vote in the German Parliament on Monday [12/16], a defeat that effectively ended the increasingly unpopular government he has led since 2021 and set the stage for elections early next year. The collapse of the government just nine months before elections had been scheduled was an extraordinary moment for Germany. This will be only the fourth snap election in the 75 years since the modern state was founded, and it reflected a new era of more fractious and unstable politics in a country long known for durable coalitions built on plodding consensus.
https://dnyuz.com/2024/12/16/german-government-collapses-at-a-perilous-time-for-europe/

Archaeologists unearth oldest Christian artifact north of the Alps – Archaeologists in Germany have confirmed the discovery of a 1,750-year-old amulet containing a silver scroll, now recognized as the oldest physical evidence of Christianity north of the Alps. The extraordinary artifact was first uncovered in 2018 during excavations of a Roman-era grave in Frankfurt... The grave, dated between 230 and 270 A.D., contained the amulet, inside which archaeologists noticed a small silver scroll. Eventually, a 3D X-ray method known as computed tomography was employed, enabling experts to digitally "unroll" the scroll without physically handling it. This process revealed 18 lines of Latin text, which linguists spent months deciphering. The inscription consists of sentences praising Jesus Christ, including the words: "Holy! Holy! Holy! In the name of Jesus Christ, Son of God. ... Protect the man who surrenders himself to the will of the Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, since before Jesus Christ every knee bows." Archaeologists believe the grave belonged to a Christian man who likely wore the amulet on a cord around his neck, similar to a phylactery used in Jewish tradition.
https://www.christianpost.com/news/archaeologists-unearth-oldest-christian-artifact-north-of-alps.html

Reflections on faith and family from the Old Testament and New Covenant – The Book of Genesis provides a foundational narrative not just for Christianity, but for humanity itself. Its stories reveal profound truths about loyalty, trust, and the nature of relationships - truths that echo deeply, not just within the family of faith but for all who reflect on the human experience. The importance of loyalty within families is timeless. It binds generations together, influencing blessings or curses that ripple down through the years. In today's world, when relationships are increasingly fractured by neglect or self-interest, the ancient call to honour family bonds feels especially urgent. Yet the New Testament transforms this concept of family. Through the sacrifice of Christ, we are baptised into a new family - the Church. In this spiritual household, biological ties are secondary to our identity as brothers and sisters in Christ. One striking pattern throughout Scripture is God's tendency to choose the unexpected. Abraham, likely not a firstborn, was chosen to father nations. Moses, a man who doubted his own abilities, became a leader. Gideon, who saw himself as insignificant, was called to deliver Israel.
https://www.christiantoday.com/article/reflections.on.faith.and.family.from.the.old.testament.and.new.covenant/142440.htm

In historic first, Nativity scene goes on display at US Capitol – For the first time in history, a Nativity scene was displayed on the steps of the U.S. Capitol Tuesday [12/10], marking what organizers say is a milestone for religious freedom and the First Amendment. The display, accompanied by prayer, Christmas carols and a reading of the Christmas story, was made possible by a landmark federal court decision that granted Rev. Patrick Mahoney and his supporters the right to peacefully celebrate the Christmas season on Capitol grounds.
https://www.christianpost.com/news/in-historic-first-nativity-scene-goes-on-display-at-us-capitol.html

'Holiday Heart' Is a Serious Medical Issue Triggered by Festive Booze – It's the time of year for workplace Christmas parties, and gatherings with family and friends. Maybe you'll drink a lot in one go. Then you feel your heart beating fast or irregularly. Maybe there's a flutter in your chest or neck. Maybe you feel dizzy or short of breath. You may feel so concerned you go to the emergency department. Every festive season, emergency departments see more people with alcohol-related issues and irregular heart rhythms.
https://www.sciencealert.com/holiday-heart-is-a-serious-medical-issue-triggered-by-festive-booze

Tech companies claim AI can recognize human emotions, but the science doesn't stack up – Can artificial intelligence (AI) tell whether you're happy, sad, angry or frustrated? According to technology companies that offer AI-enabled emotion recognition software, the answer to this question is yes. But this claim does not stack up against mounting scientific evidence. [not yet]
https://techxplore.com/news/2024-12-tech-companies-ai-human-emotions.html