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

Trusting God Is a Challenge – Today's study reflects [the writer's] need to examine passages about trusting God when speed bumps throw me off course. (Raise your hand if you can relate.) We begin with a well-known verse about trust, recorded in the Old Testament book of Proverbs. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight" (Proverbs 3:5-6). This short verse contains three action phrases you should incorporate into your life, and when you do, God promises His reward.
https://townhall.com/columnists/myrakahnadams/2025/11/16/a-quick-bible-study-vol-294-trusting-god-is-a-challenge-old-testament-verses-n2666408

Finding Jesus at Chorazin – It seems like almost every year, archaeologists uncover another ancient synagogue in the Holy Land. Although many of these synagogues have become famous for their early date or beautiful mosaic floors, only one is explicitly identified in the Gospels as a place where Jesus preached: the Chorazin synagogue (Matthew 11:21; Luke 10:13). The site, located just a few miles north of the Sea of Galilee, features a monumental synagogue from the fourth century that was built directly above the remains of an earlier Jewish sanctuary from the time of Jesus. [video]
https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/ancient-cultures/ancient-israel/finding-jesus-at-chorazin/

When Jews [waged] a ‘war on Christmas’ – On a frigid winter’s day in 1906, tens of thousands of Jewish parents in New York’s Lower East Side and Brooklyn kept their children home from school. It wasn’t a snow day, but a protest: Activists and the Yiddish press had called for a boycott of the Christmas assemblies and pageants that they knew Jewish children would be obliged to attend on the day before the holiday. “Jews Object to Christmas in the Schools,” blared the New York Times. The Brooklyn Eagle warned that “agitators” sought to rob Christian children of their traditions. The boycott was, depending on the source, a valiant cry for religious freedom, or the first shot in the 100-year-plus “war on Christmas.” The episode is the subject of historian Scott D. Seligman’s new book, “The Great Christmas Boycott of 1906,” which reconstructs how a seemingly local dispute in one Brooklyn school exploded into a test case for religious freedom and civic belonging.
https://www.jta.org/2025/11/16/culture/when-jews-really-did-wage-a-war-on-christmas

Update and Clarification Regarding the Red Heifer from the Temple Institute – The burning of the red heifer on July 1 marked a significant moment in Jewish tradition, sparking considerable discussion. The Temple Institute, which has long been preparing for this ritual, issued its first official statement on the event, addressing the various claims circulating across media platforms, such as YouTube. Few scholars are experts in the red heifer.
https://israel365news.com/413978/update-and-clarification-regarding-the-red-heifer/

Israel Launches World-First Project to Refill Sea of Galilee With Desalinated Seawater – In a historic and unprecedented step, Israel has begun pumping desalinated Mediterranean water into the Sea of Galilee (Kinneret), marking the first time anywhere in the world that processed seawater is being used to replenish a natural freshwater lake. The initiative comes as the iconic biblical lake continues to suffer from years of drought, falling rainfall, and declining spring flow.
https://www.worthynews.com/110177-israel-launches-world-first-project-to-refill-sea-of-galilee-with-desalinated-seawater

Pope Leo Declares Jesus Alone Saved the World, Rejects Title of Mary as 'Co-Redeemer' – A decree from Pope Leo's office firmly rejects the claim that Mary, Jesus' mother, helped save the world from damnation, settling a debate that has baffled the Catholic community by stating that Jesus alone redeemed humanity by his crucifixion and death. According to the Catholic News Agency, the title of "Co-redemptrix" has been a point of debate for decades, as some Catholics have called for Mary's "title" to be declared dogma, while opponents say it exaggerates her importance and could isolate Catholics amongst other Christian denominations.
https://cbn.com/news/world/pope-leo-declares-jesus-alone-saved-world-rejects-title-mary-co-redeemer

Profanity as a Sign of Cultural Decline – “Eliminate all laws governing obscenity by calling them ‘censorship’ and a violation of free speech and press.” — Goal No. 6, “45 Goals of Communism” There is no doubt that modern times have ushered in an unprecedented amount of vulgarity. The days when swearing was relegated to sailors and construction workers are long gone. Much has apparently changed in the past couple of decades.
https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2025/11/profanity_as_a_sign_of_cultural_decline.html

God is now just one text away because of AI – They say God is always with you, and now that includes in your pocket. From chatbot Jesus to AI-written sermons, churches are using the technology to try to get more people engaged with religion. Churches are enlisting the help of AI to “stay relevant in the face of shrinking staff, empty pews and growing online audiences,” said Axios. The degree of use varies from place to place, with some places simply employing the tools in “mundane ways” like to “answer frequently asked questions such as service times and event details” or “feeding congregation attendance data into AI software to help them tailor outreach and communications.” AI is additionally being used as a way to convey otherworldly messages. The technology allows people the “feeling they are talking to a divine power, clergy member or deceased person,” said Axios. For example, the app Text With Jesus lets users chat with and ask questions of Jesus. The app quotes the Bible and seems to provide thoughtful responses. Still, with apps like these “we have no idea what’s under the hood there, what’s really creating the reality that then they present,” Robert P. Jones, a religious researcher, said to Today.
https://theweek.com/religion/ai-chatbot-religion-church-god