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

Fewer than half of Americans believe God exists – A new survey has found that more than half of Americans do not believe God exists or that He “affects lives,” prompting one prominent researcher to highlight the need for “sweeping national repentance and spiritual renewal.” The research found that overall, 60% of Americans do not believe God exists or that He “affects lives.” Nearly half of self-identified Christians (47%) and a slightly smaller share of theologically identified born-again Christians (40%) said the same.
https://www.christianpost.com/news/less-than-half-of-americans-believe-god-exists-barna-survey.html

Immigration Accounted for All U.S. Population Growth in 2023 for the First Time Since 1850 – Immigration accounted for the entirety of the U.S. population growth between 2022 and 2023, according to the Migration Policy Institute... the number of immigrants climbed by 1.6 million, reaching a record high of 47.8 million. The percentage of foreign-born Americans stands at 14.3% which is slightly less than the record of 14.8% in 1890.
https://pjmedia.com/rick-moran/2025/03/13/immigration-accounted-for-all-us-population-growth-in-2023-for-the-first-time-since-1850-n4937870

Identifying Pi Ramesses – Identifying Pi Ramesses Mentioned in the Hebrew Bible as one of the two cities in which the Israelites labored during their servitude in Egypt, Pi Ramesses— biblical Raamses (Exodus 1:11)— is fascinating for a several reasons, not the least of which is that it could help date the period of the Exodus. [video]
https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/ancient-cultures/ancient-egypt/identifying-pi-ramesses/

Searching for Biblical Mt. Sinai – The case for Har Karkom in the Negev, and the case for Saudi Arabia
https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/biblical-topics/exodus/searching-for-biblical-mt-sinai/

Mount Ararat and Noah's Ark research team discovers marine fossils suggesting ancient flood – Analyses revealed traces of marine deposits and a ship-shaped structure matching biblical dimensions. The “ship-shaped” mound, called the “Durupinar formation,” was first discovered in 1948 by a Kurdish farmer near Mount Ararat’s summit in Turkey.
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/archaeology-around-the-world/article-845277

Christian College Launching ‘Pulpit Simulator’ to Train Pastors for Better Preaching – A small Christian college in rural Indiana has big goals for its latest initiative — a program designed to be a “flight simulator” of sorts for pastors wanting to hone their skills behind the pulpit.
https://www.faithwire.com/2025/03/13/christian-college-launching-pulpit-simulator-to-train-pastors-for-better-preaching/

Scientists discover how to reactivate cancer's molecular 'kill switch' – In a recent study reported in the Feb. 15 issue of Nature Communications, scientists from The Jackson Laboratory and UConn Health not only show how cancer hijacks this tightly regulated splicing and rearranging of RNA but also introduce a potential therapeutic strategy that could slow or even shrink aggressive and hard-to-treat tumors.
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-03-scientists-reactivate-cancer-molecular.html

Does exercise really extend life? Physical activity is seen as a way to extend the human lifespan, but Finnish twin studies found the benefits of physical activity for longevity may not be as straightforward as has been previously thought.
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-03-life-twin-insights.html