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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Number of Single Men in US Reaches Record High – A new report revealed there are 30.4 million single men aged 18 to 39 in 2025 in the U.S., amounting to almost 10 million more bachelors than there were in 2000 (20.7 million). This rise in male singleness [18-39] has translated to fewer married men. Over the last 25 years, the number of wedded men has plunged from 18.1 million to 15.4 million, a 15% drop.
https://www.dailysignal.com/2026/09/14/singe-men-us-record-high/

[Gallup] [K-12] Education satisfaction hits record low as college readiness declines – Only 32 percent of American adults say they are 'completely' or 'somewhat' satisfied with the quality of K-12 education, the lowest figure in Gallup’s 27-year trend, according to a Sept. 7 poll.
https://www.campusreform.org/article/education-satisfaction-hits-record-low-college-readiness-declines/30569

Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales leaders to meet to plan breakup of UK – First Ministers John Swinney of Scotland, Rhun ap Iowerth of Wales, and Michelle O’Neill of Northern Ireland are expected to sign a joint declaration demanding the right to hold referendums on breaking away from the UK. For the first time, the three constituent nations of the UK are held by pro-separation parties.
https://www.firstpost.com/world/northern-ireland-scotland-wales-referendum-uk-breakup-andy-burnham-trump-pressure-14045533.html

First toddler euthanized under new [Dutch] state law – Doctors predicted that the child would not live to adulthood; therefore killing the two-year-old was the best choice for "care." Neither the article, nor the medical committee described how the child's life was ended.
https://notthebee.com/article/dutch-officials-say-first-toddler-euthanized-by-the-state-was-handled-well

AI staff 'genuinely frightened' for humanity's future – An artificial intelligence researcher who quit AI firm Anthropic has said people working on the technology were "genuinely frightened" about the speed of its advancements and what it could mean for humanity.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/science/articles/ai-staff-genuinely-frightened-humanitys-011509740.html

Lost biblical city [Bethsaida] linked to Jesus’ miracles identified, expert says – Archaeologists say a lost city bound up with the ministry of Jesus Christ has finally been pinpointed after ten years of digging, with the project’s academic director declaring he is “100%” certain of the identification. According to a report from Fox News, the El-Araj Excavation Project, directed by Mordechai Aviam, has been working since 2016 at a site on the Sea of Galilee. Biblical Bethsaida, near Capernaum, was home to the apostles Peter, Andrew and Philip and the setting of several of Jesus’ miracles, including the healing of a blind man. The Gospels place the feeding of the 5,000 on the city’s outskirts.
https://endtimeheadlines.org/2026/09/lost-biblical-city-linked-to-jesus-miracles-identified-at-last-expert-says/

A [computer] chip cannot renew the mind – In March, China became the first country to approve a brain-computer interface for commercial use, beating Elon Musk’s Neuralink to market— which he has been developing with initial FDA approval over the last few years. A brain-computer interface, whether Musk’s or China’s, is simply a device that lets a person control a machine using their thoughts alone. Brain-computer interfaces bring great dangers to both freedom of conscience and spiritual development.
https://wng.org/opinions/a-chip-cannot-renew-the-mind-1787610755