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

Homology and Evolution – Ever notice how similar in structure your hand is with those of multiple other creatures in the world? For a long time, that common structure [homology] was taken to be evidence of common descent... in support of Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution. But, as the following 8-minute installment of “Long Story Short” video series from the Discovery Institute demonstrates, [appearances can be deceiving].
https://www.hillfaith.org/long-story-short/homology-means-what/

Why has Canada embraced euthanasia? In short, because Canadians want it.
https://religionnews.com/2025/08/15/why-has-canada-embraced-euthanasia/

Doctor Wants to Redefine Death So Hospitals Can Harvest More Organs – The New York Times just published an opinion piece with a shocking headline: “Donor Organs Are Too Rare. We Need a New Definition of Death.” Yes, you read that correctly. The authors, a cardiologist and two heart transplant directors, argued that the rules for declaring someone dead should be loosened so hospitals can harvest more organs. Before organ harvesting occurs, a patient must first be declared dead. There are currently two ways to declare death. The first is circulatory death, where the body as whole ceases to function because your heart has stopped beating. The second is when the brain ceases to function (even if the heart, lungs, and the rest of the body continues to function). That’s known as “brain death.” Right now, there’s a waiting period before organs can be harvested. Ideally, this is done to ensure the patient has truly died, but patients declared “brain dead” are alive. This waiting period does not protect them. The medical community argues that the waiting period can mean the organs become unusable. Their “solution?” Broaden the definition of death to obtain more viable organs.
https://www.lifenews.com/2025/08/19/doctor-wants-to-redefine-death-so-hospitals-can-harvest-more-organs/

The book of the Bible written to unbelievers – It’s the book of Ecclesiastes. This often misunderstood part of Scripture, which many bible scholars say was written specifically to atheists and agnostics, devotes two full chapters to atheism and the remaining 10 to navigating our sometimes confusing lives with a sovereign God.
https://www.christianpost.com/voices/the-one-book-of-the-bible-written-specifically-to-unbelievers.html

Rare biblical seal with ancient fingerprint found in debris from Jerusalem's Temple Mount – An archaeologist who was recently sifting through debris in Israel uncovered a link to a legendary biblical king from the House of David. The Temple Mount Sifting Project announced the discovery on July 30 of a rare clay seal impression bearing the name "Yed[a‛]yah (son of) Asayahu." "The sealing still retains a clear fingerprint, presumably left by the ancient official who once owned it," the project noted. Based on its script, the artifact dates to the late 7th or early 6th century B.C. – during the reign of King Josiah, who ruled Judah and oversaw major Temple reforms.
https://www.foxnews.com/travel/rare-biblical-seal-ancient-fingerprint-found-debris-from-jerusalems-temple-mount

Temple Institute Announces: All Texas Red Heifers Disqualified – The Temple Institute announced on Tuesday [8/5] that the remaining red heifers that had been brought from Texas by Boneh Israel to perform the Biblically mandated purification ceremony are not suited for the ceremony.
https://israel365news.com/411214/temple-institute-announces-all-texas-red-heifers-disqualified/

Dr. James Dobson, Focus on the Family founder and advisor to 5 presidents, dead at 89 – Dobson is widely regarded as one of the most influential Christian leaders of the past half-century
https://www.foxnews.com/us/dr-james-dobson-focus-family-founder-advisor-5-presidents-dead-89

"Lord's Prayer" halted at school board meeting – A Phoenix Union High School District board meeting turned contentious when a board member was blocked from reciting the Lord’s Prayer because it could not precede a 'land acknowledgement' [a statement recognizing that an event or institution is located on land historically inhabited or claimed by indigenous peoples].
https://www.campusreform.org/article/lords-prayer-halted-school-board-meeting-we-cannot-religious-prayer-land-acknowledgement/28445

Science Fiction? Think Again. Scientists Are Learning How to Decode Inner Thoughts – In recent years, scientists have been working on technology that could help people— such as those paralyzed by strokes — to communicate. In particular, devices called "brain-computer interfaces" pick up electrical signals in the brain as people try to form words, then translate these signals out loud. In a new study, researchers report they have decoded four participants’ "inner voices" for the first time, with up to 74 percent accuracy. The team says that SO FAR the technology isn’t accurate enough to translate thoughts against a participant’s will.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/science-fiction-think-again-scientists-are-learning-how-to-decode-inner-thoughts/ar-AA1KBeYi