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 leaders, lawmakers push for $1 billion to secure houses of worship – At a recent Shabbat service in West Bloomfield, Mich., Rabbi Jen Lader shared plans to lobby Congress to pour more funding into a federal program that strengthens security at houses of worship. "We are not asking Congress to just protect Jews – we are asking Congress to protect every community of Americans that gathers to pray. And we are asking with the full weight of what we have just lived through behind us," she said, referencing the March attack on her congregation of Temple Israel.
https://www.npr.org/2026/05/24/nx-s1-5815007/religious-leaders-lawmakers-push-for-1-billion-to-secure-houses-of-worship

The Generosity Crisis Facing Churches and Ministries – Giving USA reports that over the last 40 years, religious giving has fallen from 63% to 24% of total charitable contributions. For church leaders and ministry executives, it may be tempting to blame the economy. Inflation, household debt and financial pressure are squeezing families from every direction. Those forces matter. But reducing this challenge to a budget problem misses the deeper story. Generosity in America has not disappeared. Total charitable giving recently reached $592.5 billion, marking 3.3% growth after adjusting for inflation. What has changed is where that money flows, and why.
https://www.realclearreligion.org/articles/2026/05/22/the_generosity_crisis_facing_churches_and_ministries_1184316.html

"Looking for God" at Disney – Disney Adults [subculture of grown-ups who are avid fans of the Walt Disney Company] are an example of the new festivals, games, and liturgies invented to give life meaning without God.
https://breakpoint.org/looking-for-god-at-disney/

We Were Wrong About Fasting, Massive Study Finds – As effective as fasting can be for weight loss, it's often thought that depriving the body of sustenance might have a negative impact on brainpower. Based on an analysis of 63 scientific articles representing 71 independent studies, and covering a total of 3,484 participants, the review found that there was no meaningful difference in cognitive performance between people who were fasting and people who were having regular meals. It's a comprehensive counter to the idea that moderate, short-term restrictions on eating will deplete mental reserves in healthy people...
https://www.sciencealert.com/we-were-wrong-about-fasting-massive-study-finds

Could the fossil record scattered across America actually preserve evidence of the catastrophic flood described in Genesis? That question is drawing renewed attention after a recent Daily Mail report highlighted mysterious upright fossilized tree trunks— known as “polystrate fossils” — that some researchers believe may align with the biblical account of Noah’s Flood. According to the report, these fossilized trees have been discovered in multiple parts of the United States. They are notable for their trunks extending vertically through several layers of sedimentary rock. Researchers argue that the formations suggest the trees were buried rapidly, before they had time to decay, potentially during a catastrophic flood.
https://mycharisma.com/news/could-fossils-across-america-prove-noahs-flood-the-evidence-shocking-scientists/

The Population of Jerusalem in Jesus’ Time – Much as today, Jerusalem was a diverse city and pilgrimage center in the first century C.E. Many different people visited and called it home. Before the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 C.E., Jerusalem was home to numerous Diaspora Jewish communities. Evidence of these communities abounds. Texts, such as the New Testament, Mishnah, and Josephus’ writings, help us reconstruct who they were. Additionally, burials and inscriptions serve as major sources for understanding the population of Jerusalem in Jesus’ time. [Most modern historians and archaeologists estimate the permanent population of Jerusalem during the time of Jesus to be around 50,000 to 80,000 people (Wikipedia). However, during major pilgrimage festivals, the population could swell to over 150,000 to 180,000 as Jews from all over the region flooded the city (Christian Courier)].
https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/biblical-sites-places/jerusalem/the-population-of-jerusalem-in-jesus-time/

NYC teachers say phone ban in classrooms has caused ‘jaw dropping’ change in students’ attention – May 15 marks one year since Governor Kathy Hochul enacted a “bell-to-bell” ban on personal phones in public schools, impacting almost a million children in K-12 public and charter schools across the state. Teachers who spoke to The Post all say the ban has had an overwhelmingly positive impact on their schools.
https://nypost.com/2026/05/14/lifestyle/nyc-teachers-say-phone-ban-in-classrooms-has-caused-jaw-dropping-change-in-students-attention/

The "terrifying" rise of schoolboys making AI "girlfriends" – New research has revealed that one in five boys aged 12-16 is either in or knows of a boy their age who is in a romantic relationship with an AI companion.
https://archive.is/QMNRm

Nearly 400 Earthquakes Rock Southern California – One day it will happen. As millions of people living in Southern California go about their daily lives, a cataclysmic earthquake will suddenly strike. The geography of the California coastline will be permanently changed, and the ground on the western side of the San Andreas fault will drop by several feet. Since much of Southern California is just barely above sea level, the Pacific Ocean will start rushing in. The shaking that we have witnessed over the past 72 hours [May 12] has been extremely alarming.
https://mycharisma.com/news/nearly-400-earthquakes-rock-southern-california-will-a-cataclysmic-seismic-event-soon-rip-the-san-andreas-fault-wide-open/

Eating beef every day may not be as bad for your health as first thought – Red meat has long been tied to risks to cardiometabolic health, including heart disease and Type 2 diabetes. The conditions affect more than 160 million Americans, including over 36 million living with Type 2 diabetes. However, having 6-7 ounces of beef every day – a slightly smaller portion than a typical ribeye steak – does not affect risk factors for Type 2 diabetes, researchers at Indiana University say. “Results from this gold standard randomized controlled trial build on existing scientific evidence that shows eating beef as part of a healthy dietary pattern supports heart health and does not adversely impact measures of blood sugar regulation or inflammation,” Kevin Maki, an adjunct professor in the Indiana University School of Public Health-Bloomington, said in a statement.
https://health.yahoo.com/wellness/nutrition/healthy-eating/articles/eating-beef-every-day-may-213322427.html