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

Federal court upholds Ten Commandments requirement for Louisiana, Texas schools – Louisiana and Texas attorney generals can proceed in requiring public classrooms to display the Ten Commandments, a federal court has ruled, as Arkansas and Ohio wrangle over similar laws. “Don’t kill or steal shouldn’t be controversial,” Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill said of the ruling.
https://www.brnow.org/news/federal-court-upholds-ten-commandments-requirement-for-louisiana-texas-schools/

Study: One in Three American Christians Say AI Spiritual Advice Is as Trustworthy as a Pastor – A new nationwide study suggests that a significant portion of American Christians now consider spiritual counsel generated by artificial intelligence to be on par with guidance from clergy. The findings come from research conducted by the Barna Group as part of its “State of the Church” project in collaboration with Gloo. In polling 1,514 U.S. adults in November 2025, researchers discovered that 30% of respondents either “somewhat” or “strongly” agree that spiritual advice from AI “is as trustworthy as advice from a pastor.” The percentage rises notably among younger generations, reaching 39% for Generation Z and 40% for millennials.
https://www.christianitydaily.com/news/american-christians-say-ai-spiritual-advice-is-as-trustworthy.html

In 1965, the Catholic Church had 179,000 sisters in America; today: 33,000 – That's an 82% collapse in 60 years. Priests have declined as well, but not as severely. 59K down to 35K. Used to be 3 Sisters for every priest. Now it's 1:1.
https://x.com/ryanburge/status/2028934477959831786

Only 8% of the world’s babies will be born in the West this year – North America will see just 3% of global births in 2026, Europe 5%. Conversely, 85 percent of babies this year will be born in Africa and Asia. Cultural collapse coupled with immigration pressures are pushing the West toward suicidal self-replacement.
https://www.lifesitenews.com/blogs/only-8-of-the-worlds-babies-will-be-born-in-the-west-this-year/

Why do [Jews] remember Amalek every year? – Sometimes we need reminders. We need reminders about dates. We need reminders about milestones. And we need reminders about our history. This Shabbat [2/28] is one of those reminders. Before Purim, we read Parshat Zachor and fulfill the mitzvah to remember how Amalek attacked us. It is striking that this mitzvah is observed annually. The Chatam Sofer famously argued that memory fades after 12 months, and therefore the Torah requires us to recall Amalek at least once a year so we do not forget the danger or the lesson.
https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/amalek-once-a-year-redemption-every-day/

The sacred gift of rest: why we must pause and trust God – From the very beginning, God established the rhythm of rest. After six days of creation, He rested on the seventh day (Genesis 2:2). He didn't do this because He was weary but to set an example for us. He blessed and sanctified this day, calling it the Sabbath (Genesis 2:3). As His children, we are called to follow in His footsteps. We should take a break from the work that we have been blessed with to recover our strength. Hebrews 4:9-10 reminds us, “There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God, for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from His.” Rest is not laziness. Rest is obedience. Rest is renewal. Rest is trust. When we choose to cease striving and depend on God, we align ourselves with His perfect design. We embrace the peace, strength, and comfort He longs to give us. So today, take a deep breath. Pause. And rest in Him.
https://christiantoday.com/news/the-sacred-gift-of-rest-why-we-must-pause-and-trust-god

Supreme Court blocks California’s secret ‘gender transitions’ policies in historic parents’ rights victory – In what is being hailed as an “historic” victory for parental rights, the United States Supreme Court ruled against California’s policy of hiding children’s “gender transitioning” while at school from their parents. California had required school teachers and staff to secretly facilitate children’s “gender transitions” behind their parents’ backs. One family found out that their daughter had been “transitioning” at school with the support of school staff only after she had attempted suicide. The landmark 6-3 decision issued on Monday [3/2] is “the most significant parental rights ruling in a generation,” declared a statement from the Thomas More Society.
https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/supreme-court-blocks-californias-secret-gender-transitions-policies-in-historic-parents-rights-victory/

In California, About the Only Way to Get a House Is to Inherit One – [from a Wall Street Journal article] Inheritance is one of the last reliable ways for younger Californians to own their first home. About 18% of all property transfers in the state last year, representing nearly 60,000 homes, were made through inheritance, according to a recent analysis by real-estate data firm Cotality. That share is a record for California in data going back to 1995, up from 12% in 2019. It is also roughly double the national share of 8.8% last year. California’s home prices rank among the highest in the U.S., reaching a median single-family sales price of nearly $900,000 last year.
https://x.com/WSJ/status/2028176720637948031

Ancient Killer Is Rapidly Gaining Resistance to Antibiotics, Scientists Warn – Despite having plagued humans for millennia, typhoid fever is rarely considered a threat in developed countries today. But this ancient killer is still very much a danger in our modern world. Research published in 2022 revealed the bacterium that causes typhoid fever is "evolving" extensive drug resistance, and is rapidly replacing strains that aren't resistant. Currently, antibiotics are the only effective treatment for typhoid...
https://www.sciencealert.com/ancient-killer-is-rapidly-gaining-resistance-to-antibiotics-scientists-warn