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

Gallup: Public trust in pastors continues to decline – Public trust in pastors has dropped to a new low, according to the latest Gallup poll. The survey finds that only 30% of Americans rate clergy as highly honest and ethical, continuing a downward trend.
https://www.christianpost.com/news/public-trust-in-pastors-continues-to-decline-gallup-poll-finds.html

Abortion Pill Sales Spike 966% with Trump Becoming President – According to an Associated Press article from November, there was a significant surge in demand for long-term birth control, sterilization, and chemical abortions following the election. One company saw a 966% spike in sales of “emergency contraception” and abortion pills in the three days after Donald Trump’s re-election. The demand for a “value pack” of one particular type of “morning after” pill increased by 7,000% in a week! Planned Parenthood also reported an explosion in demand for abortion pills, long-acting contraception like IUDs, and vasectomies.
https://www.lifenews.com/2025/01/17/abortion-pill-sales-spike-966-as-liberals-stock-up-with-trump-becoming-president/

Historic decline in IQ could stem from poor education – A recent study suggests that, for the first time in nearly 100 years, Americans’ average IQ is declining, a trend that the study's authors theorize could result from the quality of education. The authors write that 'the greatest differences in annual scores were observed for 18- to 22-year-olds.'
https://www.campusreform.org/article/historic-decline-iq-stem-poor-education-study-shows-/21483

Supreme Court Tackles Adult Website Age-Verification Restriction – The Supreme Court heard oral arguments Wednesday [1/15] in a case involving a Texas law requiring adult websites to verify the age of their users. The Texas law in question, supported by the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, is one of 20 such laws passed in various states aimed at protecting minors from pornography. The Supreme Court’s ruling will depend on how it determines whether a user’s First Amendment rights have been violated. A decision in the case is expected in June.
https://religionunplugged.com/news/2025/1/15/supreme-court-hears-arguments-on-law-requiring-age-verification-for-adult-websites

Are There Three Different Accounts in the Bible of Paul’s Conversion? The short answer to the question in the headline is "No." There are three accounts of the conversion of Saul to Paul on the road to Damascus but, as the following 8:58 video from Inspiring Philosophy demonstrates, they are not contradictions, contrary to a host of critics of the Bible.
https://www.hillfaith.org/contradictions/contradictions-are-there-three-different-accounts-in-the-bible-of-pauls-conversion/

Structure discovered in Jerusalem's City of David dates back to the First Temple – An ancient structure uncovered on the eastern slope of the City of David inside Jerusalem Walls National Park is believed to have been used for ritual practices during the time of the First Temple, according to a new study. The structure contained eight rooms containing things like an altar, a standing stone, an oil press and a wine press.
https://www.foxnews.com/world/structure-discovered-jerusalems-city-david-dates-back-first-temple-study-finds

Struggling [historic Peterborough] Cathedral might consider visitor fee – A city cathedral said it might have to start charging visitors to keep it running, as it faces the prospect of raising £300,000 by the end of March. Peterborough Cathedral said it was "facing a critical challenge" and needed to raise hundreds of thousands of pounds to keep its doors open seven days a week for prayer and reflection.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cnvqj3eyeqdo

Tulsa City Council Eliminates Opening Prayers After Pagan Priestess Delivers Invocation – The city council of Tulsa, Oklahoma, is pulling prayer from its meetings after a pagan priestess dedicated an invocation to Medusa last fall. On Wednesday, councilors voted 8-1 to replace the opening prayer with a moment of silence or personal reflection, according to Public Radio Tulsa. It was noted in the report residents who previously signed up to give invocations at meetings will still be allowed to do so.
https://cbn.com/news/us/tulsa-city-council-eliminates-opening-prayers-after-pagan-priestess-delivers-invocation

Xenon gas shows promise in Alzheimer's treatment – Most treatments being pursued today to protect against Alzheimer's disease focus on amyloid plaques and tau tangles that accumulate in the brain, but new research from Mass General Brigham and Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis points to a novel—and "noble" — approach: using Xenon gas.
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-01-xenon-gas-alzheimer-treatment-clinical.html

Caterpillar fungus could be the surprising ingredient that stops cancer – NOTTINGHAM, United Kingdom — In a remarkable discovery, researchers have uncovered the key behind a traditional Asian medicine’s potential to combat cancer. The compound in question, cordycepin, is produced by a caterpillar fungus and has long been touted for its health benefits, but its precise effects on the body have remained elusive – until now.
https://studyfinds.org/caterpillar-fungus-stops-cancer/