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

Religious ‘nones’ reach record high in US – Americans with no formal religious identity, popularly known as the “nones,” reached a record share of the population in 2025, according to Gallup data that shows fewer than 50% of adults also report that religion is “very important” in their lives.
https://www.christiantoday.com/news/religious-nones-reach-record-high-in-us

How springing forward to daylight saving time could affect your health – Most of America “springs forward” Sunday [3/8] for daylight saving time. Losing that hour of sleep can do more than leave you tired and cranky the next day; it also could harm your health. Darker mornings and more evening light knock your body clock out of whack — which means daylight saving time can usher in sleep trouble for weeks or longer. Studies have even found an uptick in heart attacks and strokes right after the March time change.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/springing-forward-daylight-saving-time-155154835.html

Canada Will Explore Euthanizing Mentally Ill People – TEXT
Canada’s federal government has established another Special Joint parliamentary Committee to examine the implementation of (MAiD) euthanasia for mental illness alone.

Encroaching Sharia law in US – House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., warned of what he characterized as an encroaching threat from Sharia law in the United States, which he said is incompatible with the U.S. Constitution, during a press briefing Tuesday in Florida. "Sharia law and the imposition of Sharia law is contrary to the U.S. Constitution," he continued.
https://www.christianpost.com/news/mike-johnson-warns-of-encroaching-sharia-law-in-us.html

Indiana Judge Rules There’s a "Religious Right" to Kill Babies in Abortions – In Indiana, a Marion County Superior Court judge issued a permanent injunction March 5 blocking enforcement of Indiana’s abortion ban on the outrageous claim that there is a so-called religious right to kill babies in abortions. The judge blocked the ban for a certified class of people who claim killing a baby in an abortion is an exercise of their religious beliefs. Judge Christina R. Klineman ruled that the state’s 2022 abortion law violates Indiana’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act by substantially burdening the religious exercise of the plaintiffs. The class includes members of Hoosier Jews for Choice and others whose beliefs hold that a woman’s mental or physical health takes precedence over the right to life of an unborn child.
https://www.lifenews.com/2026/03/06/indiana-judge-rules-theres-a-religious-right-to-kill-babies-in-abortions/

How Sabbath Laws Reveal the Moral Logic of Markets – Modern arguments about wealth and inequality often presuppose that Scripture offers little guidance beyond a general call to generosity, after which technocrats may improvise distribution schemes according to political fashion. Consequently, biblical economics becomes a set of pious slogans rather than a coherent moral vision. This assumption collapses once the Sabbath and Jubilee laws of Israel receive sustained attention, since these institutions reveal a covenantal framework that ordered property, restrained power, and preserved liberty across generations. The result appears less sentimental than modern welfare theories and more demanding of moral responsibility, which likely explains its absence from contemporary policy debates.
https://blog.acton.org/archives/128107-how-sabbath-laws-reveal-the-moral-logic-of-markets.html

Inside the California neighborhood built entirely by robots – A California startup says it has officially completed its first fully 3D-printed home, marking a futuristic step toward what could be a faster — and cheaper — way to build housing in the Golden State. The company, 4DIFY, announced the milestone in February, saying the home proves that robotic construction technology can move “from concept to completion” under "real world" regulations and conditions. The project is part of a small experimental neighborhood in Yuba County, north of Sacramento, where developers are building a cluster of five homes using the cutting-edge technology.
https://nypost.com/2026/03/08/us-news/california-3d-printed-home-completed-in-just-24-days-in-yuba-county/

The Blood of Centenarians Reveals 37 Proteins Linked With Slower Aging – Science is one step closer to cracking the code of longevity thanks to a new study that identified dozens of proteins linked with slower aging in the blood of centenarians.
https://www.sciencealert.com/the-blood-of-centenarians-reveals-37-proteins-linked-with-slower-aging

Whole milk was ‘demonized’ for years. So why is it suddenly cool again? – After years of steady decline, milk sales are ticking back up. You could say that whole milk is having "a moment."
https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/whole-milk-was-demonized-for-years-so-why-is-it-suddenly-cool-again-100032382.html