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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Anti-Muslim "vitriol" surges on multiple fronts – Abdul El-Sayed made history this month in Michigan by becoming the first Muslim nominated by the Democratic Party to run for the U.S. Senate. But elation among many of his fellow Muslim Americans was tempered by awareness of persisting and widespread anti-Muslim sentiment across much of the nation.
https://apnews.com/article/abdul-el-sayed-anti-muslim-backlash-mosques-655b2bdeee93207fdffcc248f5928c80

Temple Mount status quo continues to erode as Jews are seen using prayer books for first time – The status quo on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem has prevented any type of non-Muslim religious ritual, particularly prayers by Jews and Christians, since 1967. However, over the past years... this status quo has eroded steadily, as Jewish visitors to the mount started praying, singing, and even fully prostrating themselves without being arrested. In the past, even lips moving silently in prayer had been enough to cause the removal of worshippers, and non-Muslims ascending the mount were subject to intense searches that removed any item with religious affiliation, such as tefillin (phylacteries) and prayer shawls. On Sunday [8/16], Israel Police for the first time apparently allowed Jewish worshippers to bring Jewish prayer books.
https://allisraelnews.com/temple-mount-status-quo-continues-to-erode-as-jews-are-seen-using-prayer-books-for-first-time

When the Sun Disappears: What Do Religions and Ancient Civilizations See in an Eclipse? On August 12, 2026, the Moon’s shadow will cross [crossed] part of the Northern Hemisphere, briefly turning daylight into darkness. According to NASA’s eclipse forecast, totality will be visible from Greenland, Iceland, northern Russia, Spain and a small corner of Portugal. Much of Europe, northwestern Africa and northern North America will experience a partial eclipse. Astronomy explains what will happen: the Moon will pass between Earth and the Sun. Religion, mythology and culture ask additional questions. What does such a dramatic interruption of daylight mean? How should people respond? Is it a warning, a sacred pause, a call to prayer or an invitation to wonder? Human communities have offered remarkably different answers.
https://www.worldreligionnews.com/2026/08/religions-eclipses-ancient-civilizations/

How the Bible Became 'Bingeable' Seven years after first airing, the mega-hit biographical Jesus drama The Chosen has become emblematic of a growing Bible-based trend. On Wednesday [4/22], Wonder Project, the studio behind House of David [tv series], announced a three-part companion special, The Old Stories: Moses. In addition to its own upcoming spinoff, Joseph of Egypt, The Chosen has inspired The Promised Land, a Moses-era sitcom whose first season debuted last year on YouTube. Joining them are Fox Nation docudramas David: King of Israel, a four-episode series, and Martin Scorsese Presents: The Saints. Still making the rounds on Netflix is the 2024 Moses docudrama, and Kevin Costner’s story of Jesus’ birth from last Christmas continues streaming on Hulu and Disney+.
https://www.thebanner.org/mixed-media/2026/04/how-the-bible-became-bingeable

1,000-Pastor Survey Finds More Than 8 in 10 Considered Leaving Ministry – Culture, Not Compensation, Was the Main Reason.
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/1-000-pastor-survey-behind-leading-lazarus-finds-more-than-8-in-10-considered-leaving-ministry-and-culture-not-compensation-was-the-main-reason-302847859.html

Rabbi Demands Return of "Trumpeting Stone" – Rabbi Shmuel Rabinovitch has demanded that the Israel Museum transfer a rare [2nd Temple]-era [beginning in 515 BCE] stone bearing the inscription “To the Place of Trumpeting” to the Western Wall Heritage Foundation. The stone was discovered near the southwestern corner of the Har HaBayis compound and is believed to have marked the location where a kohen [priest] sounded a trumpet to announce the beginning and end of Shabbos and Jewish holidays. The surviving Hebrew inscription reads “לבית התקיעה להב…,” translated as “To the Place of Trumpeting,” with the final word left incomplete.
https://belaaz.com/news/kotel-rabbi-demands-return-of-second-beis-hamikdash-trumpeting-stone

Are UFOs inspiring a new religion around the search for alien contact? CE-5 ["close encounters of the 5th kind"] is not just a category of experience. During the past three decades, it has developed into a ritual protocol practised by a global community. Groups gather in wilderness settings around the world with the intention to initiate contact using various techniques. Some use laser pointers to send visual signals into the sky and Geiger counters to measure fluctuations in radiation levels. Stroboscopic light and musical entrainment have also been observed alongside mantra recitations, and transcendental meditation focused on “coherent thought sequencing” (where practitioners visualize their consciousness extending into deep space before sending a telepathic invitation to the operators of UAP to visit Earth).
https://the-independent.com/news/world/americas/ufos-alien-contact-religion-b3030542.html

Ukrainian Drones Outmatch US Army in Exercise – Ukrainian troops from the battle-tested 412th Regiment of Unmanned Systems Forces, known as Nemesis, effectively eliminated a U.S. armored brigade during the Combined Resolve exercise in April and May. Roughly 3,500 American personnel, primarily from the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, participated.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/world/articles/report-ukrainian-drones-outmatch-us-214156220.html

Teens Need Sleep – Medical experts have been clear for years: sleep cycle changes during puberty make it hard for teenagers to learn in the early morning. Later school start times have been linked to better sleep, improved mental health, stronger academic performance and even safer driving.
https://www.realcleareducation.com/articles/2026/08/12/teens_need_sleep_schools_can_afford_to_give_it_to_them_1200076.html