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

Most Churchgoers Don’t Think Scripture Is Clear About Sexuality, Study Reveals – While the number of college-aged Americans identifying as transgender is declining, a new survey found most churchgoers don’t believe the Bible speaks clearly about homosexuality. The “Social Issues and Worldview” study, released jointly by the Family Research Council and the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University, found only 47% believe Scripture is “clear and decisive” about “whether homosexuality is morally acceptable,” a steep decline from the 63% in 2023.
https://cbn.com/news/world/most-churchgoers-dont-think-scripture-clear-about-sexuality-study-reveals

God and the Victory at Yorktown – On October 19, 1781, in a battlefield not too far from Jamestown, America won its independence. The framers of this country said this was by the grace of God. We too should acknowledge the help of God, upon whom our rights are predicated, as the founders spelled out in the Declaration of Independence.
https://www.realclearreligion.org/articles/2025/10/17/god_and_the_victory_at_yorktown_1141625.html

Most adults in Britain aren't married, latest data shows – The Marriage Foundation has described the latest marriage data as “bleak and disheartening”.
https://christiantoday.com/news/most-adults-in-britain-aren-t-married-latest-data-shows

Vatican sets up dedicated Muslim prayer room in Pope's library – A Muslim prayer room has been set up in the heart of the Vatican City's 500-year-old library. Islamic scholars visiting the Vatican Apostolic Library had requested a "room with a carpet to pray on" - and staff heeded their request.
https://www.gbnews.com/news/world/vatican-muslim-prayer-room-library

NBC News cutting LGBT, and DEI-focused reporting teams – NBC News downsized its racial and sexual identity reporting teams, eliminating most journalists who wrote stories about drag queens, homosexuality, and ‘transgender’ athletes. NBC News is laying off 150 staffers, including those who cover niche and DEI-focused topics such as LGBT-themed news and racial identity politics. The cuts come as NBC is splitting with its explicitly left-wing sister company, MSNBC.
https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/nbc-news-cutting-lgbt-and-dei-focused-reporting-teams/

70% of Americans Have Obesity by New, More Accurate Definition – Obesity rates in the United States may increase dramatically under a new definition introduced earlier this year by the Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology Commission. Researchers at Mass General Brigham discovered that applying the updated criteria—which expands beyond the traditional body mass index (BMI) to include measurements of body fat distribution—raised obesity prevalence from around 40 percent to approximately 70 percent among more than 300,000 participants. The increase was especially notable among older adults.
https://scitechdaily.com/astounding-70-of-americans-have-obesity-by-new-more-accurate-definition/

Drought lowering Mississippi River levels again, disrupting shipping – Water levels on the Mississippi and lower Ohio Rivers are dropping again, threatening barge traffic and commerce as drought conditions persist with little sign of relief in the coming weeks.
https://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-forecasts/drought-lowering-mississippi-river-levels-again-disrupting-shipping/1826271

Climate Change Could Turn the Desert Wetter than Ever – The Sahara Desert ranks among the driest places on Earth, receiving only about 3 inches of precipitation each year — roughly one-tenth of what Chicago experiences from rain, sleet, and snow. However, scientists from the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) predict that this arid landscape could become significantly wetter in the latter half of the 21st century.
https://scitechdaily.com/rain-in-the-sahara-climate-change-could-turn-the-desert-wetter-than-ever/