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

The Decline of Friendship in America – The loss of friendship is measurable, and can be seen in every age group and demographic — although working-class Americans look to be hardest hit. Does it matter? It does. We know that friendships are good for us. People with stronger social interactions live longer than those without, according to a study published last week in the UK’s Nature Medicine journal.
https://nypost.com/2025/02/24/opinion/friendship-in-america-is-in-freefall-and-its-killing-us/

Leftist Members of UK Parliament Push to End Daily Prayer Because It’s ‘Outdated’ – Leftist members of Parliament in the U.K. have introduced a formal push to eliminate the centuries-old tradition of daily prayers from the House of Commons. Labour MP Neil Duncan-Jordan put forward the motion, according to The Mirror, arguing prayers in the chambers of government are “not compatible with a society that respects the principles of freedom of and from religion.” The tradition of opening sessions with prayer dates back to 1558, but that could be upended soon. Backed by the National Secular Society, the pending motion was crafted to ensure “no religious beliefs or practices have undue influence on how you live your life” — to include opening prayers.
https://www.faithwire.com/2025/02/17/leftist-members-of-uk-parliament-push-to-end-daily-prayer-because-its-outdated/

Supreme Court turns back challenges to laws keeping abortion opponents away from clinics, patients – WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court refused Monday to hear a pair of cases, including one from downstate Illinois, from abortion opponents who say laws limiting anti-abortion demonstrations near clinics violate their First Amendment rights. The majority did not explain their reasoning for turning down the appeals, as is typical, but two conservative justices, Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas, disagreed. The cities said the laws were passed to address disturbing behavior from protesters outside of health care clinics. But anti-abortion activists said the measures violate free-speech rights and should be on their "deathbed" after the justices overturned Roe v. Wade and the nationwide right to abortion.
https://pantagraph.com/news/state-regional/crime-courts/supreme-court-turns-back-challenges-to-laws-keeping-abortion-opponents-away-from-clinics-patients/article_ce27e236-f2d5-11ef-88e2-1ba48545b382.html

From Bleachers to Pews: The Megachurch Takeover of America’s Arenas – Across America’s heartland and sprawling suburbs, a quiet revolution unfolds — not in pulpits or pews, but in the echoing husks of yesterday’s sports arenas.
https://www.realclearreligion.org/articles/2025/02/24/from_bleachers_to_pews_the_megachurch_takeover_of_americas_arenas_1093469.html

70 Christians Beheaded in Congo Church – Seventy Christians were found dead in a church in the Democratic Republic of Congo last week — reportedly beheaded at the hands of radical Islamic militants. Christian group Open Doors, which supports persecuted Christians around the world, said that militants from the rebel Allied Democratic Forces, which has ties to the Islamic State, surrounded a village in Mayba in the territory of Lubero last Thursday, taking 20 men and women captive. The Islamic militants later returned and kidnapped 50 more Christians in the village and took them to a Protestant church in Kasanga, where they were brutally killed.
https://hotair.com/headlines/2025/02/20/70-christians-beheaded-in-congo-church-n3800037

ESV Bible update includes 68 word edits – The English Standard Version (ESV) Bible is undergoing its first text update in nearly a decade, with revisions to 36 passages across 42 verses, the ESV Translation Oversight Committee announced. The changes, aimed at improving accuracy and clarity, will be rolled out gradually over the next two years, the committee revealed in an update Monday [2/17]. One of the most significant changes involves Genesis 3:16, a verse that has been widely discussed among theologians. The ESV's 2016 edition translated the Hebrew preposition el as "contrary to," rendering the verse: "Your desire shall be contrary to your husband, but he shall rule over you." In the 2025 revision, the verse will revert to its 2001 translation: "Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you."
https://www.christiantoday.com/article/esv.bible.update.includes.68.word.edits.reverts.genesis.316.translation.to.2001.wording/142693.htm

Gallup: Americans who identify as LGBT have nearly tripled in 12 years to record high – The percentage of American adults who identify as "something other than heterosexual" continues to soar to record highs, especially among younger generations, according to a Gallup study released Thursday [2/20]. 23% — one in five — of Generation Z Americans (those born between 1997-2006) identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender, the study found. About 9.3% of U.S. adults identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or something other than heterosexual in 2024. The current figure has nearly doubled since 2020 and far surpasses the rate of 3.5% in 2012, when Gallup first began measuring sexual orientation and gender identity.
https://www.christianpost.com/news/americans-who-identify-as-lgbt-have-nearly-tripled-in-12-years.html

Scientists baffled by eerie revelation in area where Bible says Moses parted Red Sea – Scientists who have been exploring the Red Sea have discovered natural death traps in the region now believed to be the location where Moses parted the waters. The brine pools were found 4,000 feet below the surface of the Gulf of Aqaba, where the water is estimated to be up to 10 times saltier than normal seawater and a lack of oxygen causes the pools to kill or stun all marine life that enters it, according to a study published in Nature Communications.
https://www.foxnews.com/world/shocking-deep-sea-discovery-area-where-bible-says-moses-parted-red-sea

How mosquitoes hear may inspire new ways to detect natural disasters – One of nature's most disliked creatures may very well unlock a breakthrough in disaster response.
https://phys.org/news/2025-02-mosquitoes-ways-natural-disasters.html