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.

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The financial dilemma that wound up helping US churches thrive – By many measures, Americans are growing less religious: Since 2007, for example, the percentage of people who pray daily has dropped, while the “unaffiliated” have grown to 29%. But those numbers can distract from just how much faith still matters in American public life – much more so than in Western Europe, despite its similar religious roots. About two-thirds of Americans consider religion “somewhat” or “very” important, compared with 56% in Italy, 40% in Spain and 36% in Germany. While about two-thirds of American Christians pray every day, only 18% of European Christians do so. Why such a stark divide? One reason, some scholars have argued, is the United States’ tradition of separating church and state, also called “disestablishment.” In other words, Americans’ freedom of religion helped faith to thrive in ways that the state-sponsored churches did not. As [the author's] research into the history of philanthropy shows, disestablishment was not just a cornerstone of American democracy. It was also an engine for the extraordinary growth of philanthropy, which played an important role in fueling American churches’ growth and innovation.
https://theconversation.com/the-financial-dilemma-that-wound-up-helping-us-churches-thrive-288332

Ancient Book of Revelation city gives up stunning secret buried for 1,500 years – [shared by Steve Sammet] An ancient mosaic was recently revealed in a Turkish city long known for being one of the seven churches mentioned in the Book of Revelation. The artwork was uncovered in the ancient city of Smyrna, an archaeological site in modern-day İzmir, Türkiye, according to Turkish state news outlet Anadolu Agency (AA). Smyrna — along with Ephesus, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea — is one of the seven churches of Asia Minor addressed by Jesus in the Book of Revelation. Revelation 2:8 states: "To the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again." The mosaic was found during infrastructure work at the archaeological site. It dates to between the fourth and sixth centuries A.D., according to officials, and measures roughly 16.4 by 8.2 feet.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/entertainment/general/ancient-book-of-revelation-city-gives-up-stunning-secret-buried-for-1-500-years/ar-AA29eKxY

What God Means to Americans – The "history of God" in America, since before the arrival of the Mayflower, is the story of a contentious and unstable relationship. Its earliest colonists imported a strict monotheistic faith presided over by a providential God. But as independence was won, another conception of American religion emerged, as codified in the Bill of Rights: that of a pluralist nation whose citizens were free to choose from among a panoply of coexisting "versions" of God.
https://www.realclearreligion.org/articles/2026/07/31/what_god_means_to_americans_1197708.html

Christian influencer kicked off Alaska Airlines for evangelizing passengers – Whitney Lynn, a Florida evangelist with a large social media following, was ordered off an Alaska Airlines flight bound for San Diego this week after she preached to passengers before the plane left Orlando International Airport.
https://www.christianpost.com/news/christian-influencer-kicked-off-alaska-airlines-for-evangelizing.html

This Tiny Organ Plays a Far More Profound Role in Human Longevity Than We Realized, Study Finds – The thymus, which plays a crucial role in early life in helping to develop children's immune systems, is known to decay and shrink with age, leading to it often being considered a relatively useless or defunct organ in adults. But research is showing this maligned "immune cell graveyard" doesn't actually lose its purpose when we grow up, as many had thought. In fact, recent research published in Nature suggests the thymus could have a persistent and profound impact on health and longevity throughout people's lifetimes, helping the body counter disease risk, including cancer.
https://www.sciencealert.com/this-organ-plays-a-far-more-profound-role-in-human-longevity-than-we-realized-study-finds

Weed Is the New Booze – Now, it’s increasingly popular to enjoy cannabis-infused beverages, which include seltzers, teas, lemonades and mocktails with varying blends of THC and CBD depending on the desired vibe (social, relaxation, sleep, focus). But advocates glide past the health risks. Long-term cannabis consumption is linked to reduced activation in brain regions responsible for attention, decision-making and memory. For those who start young, chronic use leads to an average permanent IQ loss of 5.5 points— and you don’t get them back when you quit. One meme criticizes pot’s popularity by suggesting that the slow-paced Middle Ages was defined by “stoner societies”— cannabis was common in some medieval European and Middle Eastern cultures. By contrast, the memesters claim, bustling Renaissance era cities were “alcoholic societies.” Of course, binge-drinking also harms productivity. The fear is that the weed frenzy will produce a generation of bleary-eyed slackers who aren’t capable of doing more than a medieval peasant. The cannabis being consumed today is much stronger than in the past. In the 1960s through ’80s, THC content was less than 2%. Now, the cannabis industry has developed strains of marijuana with THC concentrations as high as 28%. [rest of article requires a subscription to the WSJ]
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/free-expression/weed-is-the-new-booze-32d574e3

A 4,000-year-old disease is on the rise in [Florida] thanks to... armadillos – A 4,000-year-old disease often associated with biblical times is making a slow but steady comeback in one U.S. state. Leprosy, also known as Hansen's disease, is an illness many often relegate to the history books. Florida, however, has recorded 17 infections this year as of July 18, according to state health data. Of the 174 cases recorded nationwide in 2025, 36 occurred in the state, including 27 that were contracted locally rather than abroad. Hansen's disease affects up to 225 people in the United States and 250,000 globally every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
https://www.yahoo.com/news/us/articles/4-000-old-disease-rise-215052850.html

Kitchen Habits That Are Truly Dangerous – There are a million and one hygiene and safety rules in the kitchen, and they're not always clear about what's truly risky versus what's just gross. Not every bad cooking habit or broken rule carries the same level of danger. Which practices are genuinely hazardous, and which are merely icky— and what nuance gets lost when all of it is treated with the same level of alarm? Every year, 48 million Americans get some kind of foodborne illness, and experts say that bad habits in home kitchens are a common cause.
https://health.yahoo.com/conditions/infectious/food-poisoning/articles/kitchen-habits-truly-dangerous-ones-170000759.html