Podcasts about open doors

Kingdom Activation of Remnant Ministry – Foundational Issues Part 1 | KIB 535 Kingdom Intelligence Briefing Description Are you ready for what God is about to release in the earth? In this powerful episode of the Kingdom Intelligence Briefing, Dr. Michael and Mary Lou Lake explore the spiritual preparation necessary for the activation of remnant ministry in the last days. As darkness increases and many believers struggle with discouragement and hopelessness, God is calling His people to deeper faith, greater endurance, and unwavering covenant fidelity. Mary Lou begins by addressing the enemy's strategy to attack God's calling on your life from the very beginning. She shares biblical encouragement for overcoming hopelessness and maintaining confidence in God's promises even during seasons of tribulation. Dr. Lake then dives deep into the biblical meaning of belief, revealing that true faith is far more than a one-time decision. Through an examination of John 3:16, Abraham's journey of faith, and the teachings of the New Testament, he demonstrates that genuine belief produces transformation, endurance, obedience, and spiritual maturity. This episode also examines: The difference between easy-believism and biblical faith Why God is preparing remnant believers for Kingdom assignments The necessity of covenant faithfulness in the last days How Babylonian systems have distorted ministry models The importance of returning to the biblical patterns found in the Book of Acts Why believers must develop spiritual discernment in an age of deception and AI-driven confusion The transition from being servants of God to becoming His trusted friends As God begins activating His remnant, it is crucial that believers build their lives upon biblical foundations rather than worldly systems. This message will challenge, encourage, and equip you for the days ahead. If this ministry is helping you grow in your walk with Messiah, please LIKE, SHARE, SUBSCRIBE, and click the notification bell. Your support helps us continue preparing the remnant for the unfolding of end-time prophecy. Visit us at: https://www.kingdomintelligencebriefing.com Timeline 00:00 Introduction and Welcome to KIB 535 01:57 Mary Lou: Overcoming Hopelessness in the Last Days 03:30 How the Enemy Attacks Your Calling from the Beginning 05:40 Tribulation, Faith, and Spiritual Maturity 07:12 Rejecting Hopelessness, Desperation, and Doubt 10:20 How Tribulation Produces Hope and Endurance 13:51 David, Goliath, and Preparing for Greater Battles 16:29 The Remnant's Preparation for the Days Ahead 17:31 Kingdom Activation and End-Time Assignments 18:20 Discernment Concerning Modern Ministry Models 20:53 The Corruption of Biblical Christianity 22:27 Returning to the Book of Acts as the Model 23:45 John 3:16 and the True Meaning of Belief 27:31 The Greek Meaning of Biblical Faith 29:40 Abraham's Journey from Babylon to Covenant 32:22 Faith as a Lifelong Transformational Process 34:12 Will Jesus Find Faith on the Earth? 36:08 Evidence of Genuine Conversion 37:24 Building Ministries vs. Building Christlikeness 41:49 Faith, Prayer, and Spiritual Transformation 43:15 Understanding Authority, Kingdoms, and Open Doors 48:45 Why Salvation Is a Journey, Not an Event 50:17 Redefining Belief Through Scripture 52:30 Abraham: From Believer to Friend of God 54:47 The Cost of Kingdom Faithfulness 56:20 Enduring to the End in the Last Days 58:15 Confirming Your Calling and Election 01:01:45 Working Out Your Salvation with Fear and Trembling 01:03:20 Returning to Biblical Models of Ministry 01:04:45 The Fivefold Ministry and Home Fellowships 01:06:00 Why Believers Must Be Allowed to Ask Questions 01:09:15 Preparing the Remnant for the AI Age 01:11:30 Doing Great Exploits Through Covenant Faithfulness 01:13:05 God's Coming Activation of the Remnant 01:14:16 Final Prayer and Encouragement Hashtags #KingdomIntelligenceBriefing #MichaelLake #BiblicalLifeTV #RemnantBelievers #KingdomActivation #EndTimes #BibleProphecy #SpiritualWarfare #RemnantRising #FaithInGod #ChristianDiscipleship #BookOfActs #KingdomLiving #BiblicalTruth #EndTimeRemnant #ChristianFaith #OvercomingBabylon #LastDaysChurch #HolySpirit #FaithAndObedience

It's Thursday, June 11th, A.D. 2026. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 140 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Jonathan Clark Nigerian court sentences Muslims to death for executing Catholics Last week, a court in the African nation of Nigeria sentenced four Muslim men to death for killing dozens of Catholics. Four years ago, the gunmen attacked a Pentecost Sunday service at a Catholic Church in southwest Nigeria. They killed 41 people, including children. Authorities determined that the armed men belonged to Al-Shabaab, an Islamic terrorist group. The massacre was the first terrorist attack on a church in southern Nigeria.   According to Open Doors, Nigeria is the seventh most dangerous country worldwide for Christians. Proverbs 7:14 and 16 says, “Behold, the wicked man conceives evil . . . His mischief returns upon his own head, and on his own skull his violence descends.” Sudanese man arrested in Ireland for attempted beheading Authorities in Northern Ireland arrested a migrant from the African nation of Sudan on Tuesday. Police in Belfast accused him of carrying out a severe knife attack on a man in his 40s. People across the United Kingdom responded to the attempted beheading with protests. The victim was hospitalized with significant injuries to his face, neck, and back. Many U.K. citizens question their government's immigration policies, including Member of Parliament Rupert Lowe. In February, the lawmaker launched a national political party called Restore Britain. The party is devoted to ending mass immigration and also openly recognizes Britain's Christian heritage.  Congress funds $70 billion for ICE and Border Patrol In the United States, President Donald Trump signed the Secure America Act yesterday. The $70 billion package fully funds the Department of Homeland Security. The bill specifically covers U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection for the rest of President Trump's second term.  Listen to comments from House Speaker Mike Johnson after Congress passed the bill. JOHNSON: “The historic mandate that put President Trump in the White House and Republican majorities in both the House and the Senate is evidence of the fact that Democrats' ‘Defund the Police' agenda is wildly out of step with hardworking American families. After four long years of Democrat policies that opened the door to dangerous criminals and deadly drugs, Republicans are delivering on our promise to restore safe streets and secure our borders.” Inflation rose 4.3% Inflation reached a three-year high last month for American consumers.  The cost of goods and services rose 4.2 percent in May compared to a year ago. Rising energy costs drove the inflation. Gasoline prices were up 40 percent from a year earlier.    iPhone launch connected to lower U.S. fertility rate A new study from the National Bureau of Economic Research suggests that the launch of the iPhone contributed to declining fertility rates in the U.S. Apple introduced the iPhone in 2007. The U.S. general fertility rate has fallen by 22 percent since then. People have been spending more time on their smartphones and less time with each other.  The study noted, “Overall, the diffusion of the iPhone explains 33–52% of the decline in the general fertility rate among women aged 15–44.” Southern Baptists: Only men can serve as pastors The Southern Baptist Convention affirmed its position yesterday that only men can serve as pastors. Over 70 percent of the denomination's representatives voted in favor of the “Truth and Unity Amendment.” The measure was sponsored by Albert Mohler Jr., the president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. The amendment would require churches in the denomination to not appoint women as pastors, elders, or overseers.  Listen to comments from Dr. Mohler. MOHLER: “This motion makes very clear that we affirm the historic Baptist understanding of the pastor, elder, overseer. The structure of the language I have brought goes all the way back to the 1689 Baptist Confession, where the office and function of the pastor are clearly delineated. “This amendment makes very clear that a church, in friendly cooperation with the Southern Baptist Convention, doesn't have anyone other than a man as pastor in the office of pastor and specifies on the functions of the pastor that the key central function of preaching the Word of God to the gathered assembly is limited to men by Scripture.” 1 Timothy 3:1-2 says, “If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Therefore, an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach.”  Animated movie “David” claims #1 spot on Netflix And finally, the animated film David reached the number one spot on Netflix for movies in the United States over the weekend.  The Bible movie from Angel Studios officially premiered on the streaming service just last Wednesday. (audio from David movie trailer) DAVID: “I'm just a shepherd, but deep down I know I can take on the world.” NARRATOR: “There is a darkness over the land.” SAMUEL:  “Our enemies will strike once more.” MAN: “Imagine the biggest warrior you have ever seen!” DAVID: “Okay.” MAN: “Now imagine somebody ate him.” GIRL: “Remember when I told you God had big plans for you?” GOLIATH: “You will serve us!” GIRL: “They may have been bigger than even I thought.” Christian music artist Phil Wickham voiced the adult David in the movie. Wickham told Crosswalk Headlines the film is “full of the story of God and full of Psalms and full of hallelujah and faith and hope.  … I think this movie will last decades. I think it will be something our grandkids watch.” Close And that's The Worldview on this Thursday, June 11th, in the year of our Lord 2026. Subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music, or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com.  Plus, you can get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

It's Wednesday, June 10th, A.D. 2026. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 140 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com. I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Jonathan Clark Hindu mob injured 25 Christians during worship service A Hindu mob attacked a Christian worship service in central India last week. The mob injured at least 25 people, including the pastor's pregnant wife. Such attacks are becoming more common in the country's state of Chhattisgarh.  The state's government passed a law criminalizing conversion in March. It is India's second most oppressive state for Christians. Open Doors ranks the whole country as the 12th most oppressive in the world for Christians.    7.8-magnitude earthquake struck Philippines A 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of the southern part of the Philippines on Monday. The quake killed at least 37 people, injured nearly 500, and displaced over 32,000. Christians in the area are jumping into action. International Christian Concern reports, “Local churches have opened their doors and converted their sanctuaries into vital emergency evacuation centers, providing safe shelter, immediate access to drinking water, and essential family food packs to thousands of displaced and traumatized residents.”   In Matthew 5:7, Jesus said, “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.” Spanish Anglican church joins Bible-believing Anglican denomination In Spain, the Evangelical Anglican Community of Valencia joined the Global Anglican Communion last week. It's the first church in the country to do so. The Global Anglican Communion is a movement of conservative Anglicans led by churches in the Global South. The group rejects the leadership of the Church of England which has shown support for sexually perverted lifestyles. Julian Milson is the pastor of the church in Valencia. He told Evangelical Focus, “We believe that the Church is called to submit to the authority of Scripture above any cultural pressure.” FDA launched safety study of Abortion Kill Pill In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration launched a safety study of the Abortion Kill Pill, reports The Wall Street Journal.  This comes a year after the Trump administration promised to review the dangers of the abortion drug Mifepristone. The drug is not only part of ending the lives of unborn babies, it also poses health risks to the mothers who take it.  Republican Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri introduced legislation in March to ban the Abortion Kill Pill. Listen to his comments. HAWLEY: “It is time for Congress to give the victims, the survivors -- many of whom are here today -- the right to recover against this company that has inflicted harm on them solely for the purpose of making profits. I'm introducing legislation today that will do just that. And I'm delighted to have with me here today great advocates for women's health and for life.” FBI fired analysts who targeted Catholics under President Biden         MS Now reports that the FBI fired several intelligence analysts who targeted Catholics under the Biden administration. The analysts were involved in a 2023 memo which revealed how the FBI was surveilling Catholics as potential domestic threats.  A recent report from the Justice Department stated, “The Biden Administration's policies regularly clashed with a Christian worldview and burdened traditional religious practices.” Amazon dethroned Walmart Amazon has dethroned Walmart as the largest corporation in the U.S. by revenue. That's according to the Fortune 500 rankings for 2026. Walmart came in second, ending its 13-year reign at the number one spot. Other top 10 companies include UnitedHealth Group, Apple, Alphabet, CVS Health, and Exxon Mobil.  Also, Texas dethroned California as the state with the most Fortune 500 companies this year.  Curaçao soccer player shared Christian testimony And finally, soccer teams from around the world are about to compete for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The international men's soccer championship is being hosted across the United States, Mexico, and Canada this year. One of teams hails from Curaçao, an island county in the Caribbean. Players from the national team participated in a Christian worship event ahead of the competition.  The team's striker, Kenji Gorré, shared his testimony at the event. Listen. GORRE: “I received Him as my Savior, because I knew that my good works couldn't do enough. I thought that if you're a good person, you'll make it to Heaven. I thought if you're a good person, God will forgive me. He's a loving God. But the love of God goes deeper. “And that's when I heard the true Gospel of Jesus dying for my sins on the cross, bleeding for me, washing me, cleaning me. And He cleaned me from the inside out. But I thank Jesus every single day. And from that day I've never stopped seeking Him.” Gorré also said, “Tonight we don't gather as athletes seeking worldly success, but as children of God who recognize that everything we have belongs to Him.” 1 John 2:15 and 17 says, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. … The world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.” Close And that's The Worldview on this Wednesday, June 10th, in the year of our Lord 2026. Subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music, or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. Plus, you can get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

Ignorance is not our portion. Because we are not unaware of the enemy's schemes, we must be intentional about closing every door, guarding against carelessness, bitterness, and unforgiveness, which are entry points we often underestimate. What we leave unchecked, the enemy will not overlook.The enemy is strategic, and so must we be. He watches for opportune moments, which is why vigilance and godly community are not optional extras but essential to how we walk. As God works in us through sanctification, our part is to yield, staying open to the Holy Spirit and letting Him shape every area of our lives without reservation.Hit play and share this episode with someone who needs to be stirred toward greater vigilance and surrender.

The joy of the disciples seeing God's work expand during intense difficulty is the key to the church's expansion. God blesses when God's people get on board with God's plan by using their gifts and abilities The greatest battle we face as believers is the battle of the mind.

Do you want to pray for missionaries but don't know where to start — or wonder if it even makes a difference? In this episode of Fuel for the Harvest, Nathan sits down with fellow Forge speaker Santiago Fuentes, joining all the way from Mexico City, for one of the most theologically rich and practically helpful conversations the podcast has ever had on the topic of prayer.From a deep dive into Colossians 4 to a list of real ministries you can follow today, this episode will challenge you to stop treating prayer like a spiritual band-aid — and start treating it like the powerful act of devotion it actually is.In this episode, Nathan and Santiago Fuentes cover:Why God answers prayer — and what we miss when we don't prayThe difference between God being limited and us limiting our own experience of GodA powerful breakdown of Colossians 4:2-4 and what it means to truly "devote yourself to prayer"What the Apostle Paul asked for from prison — and why it wasn't what you'd expectThree specific categories of people to pray for: unreached people groups, persecuted believers, and missionaries themselvesTrusted ministries to follow for fresh, specific prayer requests: Open Doors, Voice of the Martyrs, and the Joshua ProjectWhy Billy Graham's answer to "how can I help your ministry?" was always the same one wordSantiago Fuentes is a bilingual Forge speaker available to speak at your event. Find more from Santiago — in both English and Spanish — on the Forge YouTube channel.

Prayer: I Decree Open Doors and Access!“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, ‘These things say He who is holy, He who is true, “He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens”: “I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name." Revelation 3:7-8Heavenly Father, I come before You with a grateful heart, thankful for the grace that fills my life each day. Thank You for the promises in Your Word that declare You hold the key to every door — Revelation 3:7-8 reassures us that what You open, no one can shut. Today, I decree open doors and divine access over my life, my family, friends, businesses, ministries, and careers.Just as You freed Peter from prison in Acts 12, I invite Your mighty hand to unlock the doors that have been closed and to illuminate the paths ahead. I celebrate the faith that Peter embodied, knowing that You are with us, guiding our every step. Let every barrier of delay, limitation, and stagnation be shattered in the name of Jesus.Isaiah 22:22 says, "I will place on his shoulder the key to the house of David; what he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open."Father, I pray for new opportunities and prepared places; anoint us to be in the right place at the right time. May we experience divine favors and breakthroughs that surpass all understanding. Isaiah 22:22 proclaims that You have keys; let those keys open new horizons in our careers, relationships, and spiritual journeys.As I release this decree, I command every closed door to swing wide on its hinges. Let those doors that are not meant for us remain shut, while those You've always intended for us burst forth with overflow. I receive this declaration with faith and gratitude, expecting miracles to manifest as we walk in Your will.Lord, with the Key of David, I invite You to unlock my next season. Lead me into spaces of abundance and blessing. In Jesus' name, I declare it done. Amen. John 10:9 says, "I am the gate. If anyone enters through Me, he will be saved. He will come in and go out and find pasture." Amen.https://maglife.org

God is opening doors for us! Our responsibility is to recognise open doors, walk through them, and help others do the same. Jesus is the door to salvation, and we are called to bring in the lost through this open door.

Special guest, Dan from from Open Doors, shared a number of inspiring stories from the persecuted church around the world as part of his message titled, 'God of the Impossible'. Just like the first church in the book of Acts, the church of today continues to grow despite violent persecution. In Acts 12, we read about the death of James and Peter's miraculous escape from prison. Even in the face of persecution, God continues to do impossible things. Nothing is impossible for God; therefore, all that we need to do is trust Him. The church were earnestly praying for the release of Peter and it happened; therefore, it is clear that our responsibility is to fervently pray courageous, even impossible, prayers today. For more information about Breathe New Life Church or if you'd like to make a decision to follow Jesus, visit our website here: https://breathenewlife.church/becomeachristian

First century events in the city of Ephesus show that the Gospel is best served by people with humble hearts, as the Holy Spirit opens doors in many, and sometimes surprising, ways.

Tommi Hakkari ja Johanna Kultalahti keskustelevat kristittyjen tilanteesta Mauritaniassa, joka on vuoden 2026 World Watch List -vainoraportin sijalla 21.   https://opendoors.fi/maa/mauritania/  

It's in the fire: Can we truly worship when life is hard? We're thrilled to welcome Emma Worral from Open Doors (opendoorsuk.org), an organisation supporting millions of persecuted Christians around the world. Through the radical, passionate example of these believers, we'll be challenged to consider what true devotion to God looks like - especially when faith is tested to the absolute limit. Wherever you are on your journey of faith, we're so glad you're here. You can stay connected with us by going to zeochurch.com/connect If you received Christ through this message or need prayer, email us at hello@zeochurch.com We would love to hear how God is touching your life through our Zeo Online ministry! Drop us a note at zeochurch.com/contact as we'd love to hear from you. If you would like to support Zeo Church financially you can give by going online through our website: zeochurch.com/give For more information about Zeo, visit zeochurch.com" Connect with us on social www.instagram.com/zeochurch www.twitter.com/zeochurch www.facebook.com/zeochurch

It's Thursday, June 4th, A.D. 2026. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 140 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Jonathan Clark China's Tiananmen Square massacre anniversary Today is the 37th anniversary of China's Tiananmen Square massacre in 1989. In the weeks leading up to the tragic event, students were protesting for democracy in Beijing. The Communist Chinese government responded by forcibly putting down the protests. Hundreds, if not thousands, died in the massacre. China's military also arrested leaders in the underground church which had fueled the protests.  Communist Chinese denying Bible to imprisoned pastors Speaking of China, the country continues its persecution of the church. International Christian Concern reports Communist officials are denying access to Bibles for imprisoned pastors. Authorities arrested three leaders of Maizhong Reformed Church last year. Their family members requested to send them Bibles during their imprisonment. But officials refused the request and subjected the families to more intimidation.  Please pray for our persecuted brothers and sisters in Christ of the underground church in China.  According to Open Doors, China is the 17th most oppressive country worldwide for Christians. Please send a 2-3 sentence letter urging officials to give the Bible to imprisoned pastors. Send it to Chinese Ambassador Xie Feng, Chinese Embassy, 3505 International Place NW, Washington DC 20008. Africa's fertility rate above replacement level Pew Research reports that Africa boasts a young and growing population compared to the rest of the world. The continent is home to 19 percent of people around the globe. And it contains 28 percent of all people under the age of 25. In the next 75 years, nearly half of the world's young people are projected to live in Africa. Also, it is the only world region where the fertility rate is above the replacement level.  Scotland officials drop case against pro-life grandmother The government of Scotland recently dropped its case against a pro-life, Christian grandmother. Last September, authorities arrested 75-year-old Rose Docherty. She was simply holding a sign near an abortion mill in Glasgow. The sign read: “Coercion is a crime. Here to talk, only if you want.”   A court cleared her of criminal charges in April. And Scotland's prosecution office dropped the case last month.   Listen to comments from Mrs. Docherty after her victory. DOCHERTY: “I was arrested, charged, and prosecuted for nothing more than peacefully inviting consensual conversation in a public space that I was permitted to be in. When I was arrested, I was handcuffed, placed in the back of a police van, and placed in a police cell for over two hours without a chair to sit on. Simply for being available for the lonely, the afraid, and the coerced, I have been treated like a violent criminal. “But thankfully, today the charges have been dismissed. The judge ruled that the charges were irrelevant and that they were a breach of my Article 10 free speech rights. Thank you all for your support and prayers. Thank you to ADF International and my entire legal team, who were brilliant. “Nobody should be criminalized for consensual conversations, and I am glad that that truth has been vindicated here today.” In Matthew 5:10, Jesus said, “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.” Trump proposed new tariffs on 60 countries In the United States, the Trump administration proposed new tariffs of up to 12.5 percent on 60 economies. The U.S. Trade Representative's ‌office released the proposal on Tuesday. It accuses these economies of failing to curb the importation of goods produced with forced labor. These economies include China, India, the European Union, the United Kingdom, and Canada.   Episcopal Church installed lesbian bishop in North Carolina An Episcopal Diocese in North Carolina installed Sarah Fisher, a self-avowed lesbian, as its bishop last month. She is living in unnatural relations with another woman, Mandy Brady, who is an Episcopal priestess. It is reportedly the denomination's first appointment of its kind in the American south.  Back in 1977, the Episcopal Church received its first homosexual into the clergy. Since then, membership has declined by nearly 50 percent as it has rejected clear Biblical teaching. Gallup poll: Americans less likely to support sexual perversion now A new survey from Gallup found that Americans are becoming less likely to support sexually perverted lifestyles. Support for such sinful lifestyles grew rapidly for two decades, peaking five years ago. Now, 65 percent of U.S. adults favor legal homosexual unions. That's down from a high of 71 percent in 2022. Similarly, 62 percent support homosexual relations now, down from 71 percent over the same time period. Wycliffe Bible Translators celebrated 800th Bible translation And finally, Wycliffe Bible Translators celebrated its 800th Bible translation this week. About 6.2 billion people now have the complete Bible in their own language.  It took over 1,900 years to translate the Bible into 400 languages. The next 400 translations were completed in just the last 28 years.   Isaiah 11:9-10 says, “The Earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea. And in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse, who shall stand as a banner to the people; for the Gentiles shall seek Him, and His resting place shall be glorious.”  Close And that's The Worldview on this Thursday, June 4th, in the year of our Lord 2026. Subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music, or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com.  Plus, you can get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

This past month we've covered: 1. Identifying what you really want. 2. Harnessing Your Attention Span 3. Navigating Limiting Beliefs 4. Why it's important to take time for yourself and 5. Today, we're talking about how to get into action, one small step at a time. I share a few examples from my life. Let's move towards what matters together. If you enjoy the episode, share it a with a friend.   KEY TOPICS Intro + Series Context (0:00:07) Why 15 Minutes of Daily Self-Connection Matters (0:02:45) Identifying the Area of Life Calling for Attention (0:04:30) Daily Micro-Actions Toward Your Chosen Goal (0:04:59) Journaling to Process Feelings and Get Clarity (0:09:13) Career Pivot Story: From Head-Hunting to Marketing (0:11:15) Midlife Pivots, Informational Conversations & Trying Things (0:13:17) Nutrition School, Self-Publishing & Following Dead Ends that Open Doors (0:13:17) Podcasting & Taking Action in Creative Work (0:15:45) Health & Body-Image Example (Menopause / Perimenopause Weight) (0:15:45) Accountability, Support & Choosing the Right People (0:17:39) Closing: It's Not a Race, It's Your Life (0:19:00)   RESOURCES MENTIONED Join The Newsletter Subscribe on YouTube Follow on APPLE PODCASTS Follow on SPOTIFY PODCASTS Book: Design a Life You Love Recent Episodes This Month: Harness Your Attention Span Interview with Guest Fred Marshall Main Character Energy Episode with Michele Don't Let Limiting Beliefs Stop You with Michele Take Time For Yourself     *The Good Life with Michele Lamoureux podcast and content provided by Michele Lamoureux is for educational and entertainment purposes only. It does NOT constitute medical, mental health, professional, personal, or any kind of advice or serve as a substitute for such advice. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast or website is at the user's own risk. Always consult a qualified healthcare or trusted provider for any decisions regarding your health and wellbeing. This episode may contain affiliate links.

It's Monday, June 1st, A.D. 2026. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 140 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Adam McManus Egypt grants legal status to 191 church buildings The Egyptian government released an order the week of May 18th granting legal status to 191 church buildings that previously lacked official recognition, reports International Christian Concern. In total, 3,804 churches and related buildings have been approved since the creation of a committee to review churches in 2016, according to Christian Solidarity Worldwide.  Thousands of churches and associated buildings have been built in recent decades. Still, the northeast African country of Egypt maintains a system for approving Christian places of worship that is separate from — and more difficult than — that for Sunni Muslim places of worship. According to Open Doors, Egypt is the 42nd most oppressive country worldwide for Christians. Pope Leo meets with pro-abort, pro-sex perversion Chicago mayor On May 28th, Pope Leo XIV met in a private audience with radical Chicago Democratic mayor Brandon Johnson, during which they reportedly discussed ICE raids in the city, slavery reparations, and the Iran war, but not key moral issues such as abortion and the homosexual transgender agenda, both of which Mayor Johnson supports, reports LifeSiteNews.com. The mayor has a radically pro-abortion and pro-sexual perversion record, previously pledging to offer free Abortion Kill Pills and to prosecute pro-life sidewalk counselors. And, in 2024, the mayor commemorated “National Abortion Provider Appreciation Day.” At the time, Chicago Mayor Johnson said, “We commend the bravery and resilience of abortion providers and look forward to continuing to support their efforts to ensure that reproductive rights are upheld and respected. Together, we can resist attempts to roll back the progress we have made, ensuring Chicago remains a sanctuary for choice.” Notice, he failed to mention that the choice the mother makes is the choice to murder her innocent pre-born baby boy or baby girl. In God's conversation with the prophet Jeremiah, He said, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart.” (Jeremiah 1:5) Supreme Court Justice Amy Barrett targeted in attempted swatting U.S. Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett was the target of an apparent “swatting” attempt after an unknown caller falsely reported gunfire at her Virginia residence, reports The Christian Post. On May 27th, Fairfax County police said that a caller contacted the department's nonemergency line claiming to have heard shots fired at Barrett's home. Officers quickly coordinated with Supreme Court Police assigned to the residence and determined the report was false. Texas Governor Abbott blasted Democrat James Talarico Appearing on Fox News Channel, Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott blasted James Talarico, the Democrat Senatorial candidate, who will face off in the general election against Republican Ken Paxton for U.S. Senate this fall. Listen. ABBOTT: “Talarico himself said he has a record that he's going to run on. Let me tell you quickly about that record, about votes that he cast, not crazy things that he said. But he cast votes that support [Diversity, Equity and Inclusion] in our public schools, support defunding our law enforcement, supports boys in girls' sports, supports transition surgery for minors, supports a state income tax in the state of Texas, supports open border policies. “So, the votes he's cast set a record for how challenging he would be for any average Texan. You know, oftentimes you hear President Trump talk about a 90/10 issue, where 90% of the people are lined up on one side, 10% on the other side. Talarico's votes are on the 10% side.” How a small-town Arkansas man got God on America's money And finally, Matthew Rothert Sr., a Presbyterian furniture manufacturer and avid coin collector born in 1904, was at church in Chicago on June 21, 1953, when he believed the Holy Spirit impressed upon him the idea that the phrase "In God We Trust" should be featured on American banknotes as it did on coins, according to his daughter, Alice Rothert Nelson, reports The Christian Post. She said, "The collection plate was going around, and he felt God tell him that the coins had 'In God We Trust,' but it was the bills that went all around the world. And he believed he should get 'In God We Trust' on the bills of the paper money, and so that started the campaign." By way of background, "In God We Trust" was first engraved on U.S. coins during the Civil War, after Mark Richards Watkinson, a Baptist minister from Pennsylvania, petitioned then-Treasury Secretary Salmon Chase at the end of 1861 to promote "the recognition of the Almighty God in some form in our coins" amid the fading illusion of a short, relatively bloodless conflict. Pastor Watkinson told Chase, "You are probably a Christian. What if our Republic were now shattered beyond recognition? Would not the antiquaries, [those who study history], in succeeding centuries, rightly reason, from our part, we were a heathen nation?" He saw the increasingly brutal, intractable war as a divine chastening that could destroy the country. Expressing hope that honoring God in such a public way "would relieve us from the [disgrace] of heathenism." Watkinson noted, "This would place us openly under the divine protection we have personally claimed. From my heart, I have felt our national shame in disowning God." Salmon Chase and James Pollock, a Presbyterian minister then serving as director of the U.S. Mint, agreed with Watkinson, ultimately leading Congress to pass a law in April 1864 allowing "In God We Trust" on the one- and two-cent pieces. Pollock said, “We claim to be a Christian nation—why should we not vindicate our character by honoring the God of Nations. Our national coinage should do this. Its legends and devices should declare our trust in God—in Him who is "King of Kings and Lord of Lords." AUDIO FROM DIVINE HYMNS: “King of kings and Lord of lords. Glory Hallelujah. King of kings and Lord of lords. Glory Hallelujah.” Revelation 19:16 says, “On [Christ's] robe and on His thigh, He has this name written: 'King of kings and Lord of lords.'” The U.S. Congress passed another law in March 1865 to place the words on all gold and silver coins, which was the last act President Abraham Lincoln signed before his assassination. Nearly a century later, the motto gained renewed attention when the United States found itself embattled again during the global tensions of the Cold War. Seeing its simple declaration of faith as a necessary contrast to the atheist communism that animated the Soviet Union, Matthew Rothert followed Watkinson's example. He gave speeches, rallied support, and fired off many letters to officials, including President Dwight Eisenhower and Treasury Secretary George Humphrey, urging them to add the phrase to paper money. In a 1987 interview, Matthew Rothert, at the age of 83, said, "The Lord seemed to tell me to do this. He put the idea so strongly in my mind that I worked on it until I accomplished my goal. I realized the circulation of American coins was limited to the boundaries of the country, while U.S. paper money circulated worldwide. It looked like Americans were saying they trusted in God only a few cents' worth!" In an unusually swift and bipartisan action, the bill was on President Eisenhower's desk by July 11, 1955. Changing the master dies and printing plates at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing to include "In God We Trust" would typically have been too cost-prohibitive, but, providentially, they were already set to be replaced that year to accommodate a new printing process. And now you know the rest of the story! Close And that's The Worldview on this Monday, June 1st, in the year of our Lord 2026. Subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music, or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com.  Plus, you can get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

The sermon centers on the church's sacred responsibility to faithfully proclaim the King's message—the gospel of the kingdom—without alteration or dilution, emphasizing that true evangelism involves both the proclamation of the gospel's essential elements and the faithful role of the church as heralds, not innovators, of divine truth. It critiques modern attempts to adapt the gospel to cultural relevance, citing four examples—He Gets Us, the United Methodist Church's 'Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors,' the Four Spiritual Laws, and Rob Bell's 'Love Wins'—as distortions that replace the gospel's call to repentance and transformation with comfort, inclusivity, or universalism. Drawing from 1 Corinthians 15, the sermon identifies the four non-negotiable components of the gospel: Christ's atoning death, burial, resurrection, and post-resurrection appearances, all grounded in Scripture and essential for salvation. It underscores the inseparable link between the gospel and the kingdom, showing through passages in Matthew, Acts, and Revelation that the message of salvation is inherently tied to the expanding reign of God, calling believers to proclaim both the cross and the kingdom with unwavering fidelity.

Tommi Hakkari ja Johanna Kultalahti keskustelevat kristittyjen tilanteesta Algeriassa, joka on vuoden 2026 World Watch List -vainoraportin sijalla 20.   https://opendoors.fi/maa/algeria  

It's Friday, May 29th, A.D. 2026. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 140 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Adam McManus and Jonathan Clark 180 Christian families denied communal water in India More than 180 Christian families in 32 villages across Chhattisgarh State in central India have reportedly been denied access to communal water sources and livelihood opportunities for the past three weeks as punishment for refusing to leave their Christian faith, reports International Christian Concern. Many Christian families in the Antagarh region of the district have been barred from using community rivers, ponds, taps, and hand pumps. At the same time, Christians have been denied work under a government employment scheme.  2 Timothy 3:12 says, "Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted." According to Open Doors, India is the 12th most oppressive country worldwide for Christians. Trump's accelerating squeeze on Cuba The Trump administration is bracing for the potential collapse of Cuba's totalitarian government as early as this summer, and has war-gamed new military response plans in case the island descends into chaos, reports Axios. President Trump will keep pushing economic sanctions to try to strangle the regime in Havana in a slow-motion constriction. This methodical squeezing of Cuba's communist regime is also designed to buy time for Trump — who's now engrossed in peace talks with Iran — to eventually focus on Cuba and decide how to bring about change there. The Cuba operation aims to eliminate Latin America's source of Marxist agitation and anti-U.S. activism ever since Fidel and Raul Castro led their successful revolution in 1959. To bring Cuba to its knees this year, the administration first focused on the island's lifeline: Venezuela, which is 1,200-miles south, and its socialist dictator, Nicolás Maduro. Venezuela kept Cuba afloat with shipments of oil that helped power the country and gave it a source of export revenue. Former Attorney General Pam Bondi has thyroid cancer Former U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi was diagnosed with thyroid cancer shortly after her departure from office earlier this year and is now receiving treatment, reports USA Today. Bondi, age 60, was fired by President Donald Trump in April but is set to return to the Trump administration to serve on an advisory committee on artificial intelligence policy as she battles cancer. Thyroid cancer results from malignant cells growing in a person's thyroid gland, the butterfly-shaped gland at the base of your neck that makes hormones, according to the Cleveland Clinic and Mayo Clinic. These hormones regulate how your body uses energy, including metabolism, heart rate and blood pressure. Jill Biden wondered whether Joe had a stroke mid debate Remember this pivotal moment in the 2024 presidential debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump? BIDEN: “Making sure that we continue to strengthen our health care system. Making sure that we're able to make every single solitary person eligible for what I've been able to do with the uh, with the COVID, excuse me, with, um, with dealing with everything we have to do with.  Look, if.  We finally beat Medicare!” As First Lady Jill Biden watched her husband stumble through the most cringeworthy portion of his disastrous June 2024 debate, she wondered if he had unknowingly ingested drugs or was having a medical episode on live television. In an upcoming CBS News Sunday Morning interview she said this. JILL BIDEN: “As I watched it, I thought, ‘He's having a stroke!' And it scared me to death.” However, at the time, right after the debate two years ago, Jill Biden said this. JILL BIDEN: “Joe, you did such a great job! You answered every question. You knew all the facts.” In her new biography entitled, View From the East Wing, she was far more candid. She wondered, “Is he short-circuiting? Is this a stroke? I felt like we were watching an AI hologram of the man we knew, and the hologram was glitching. Has he been drugged?” According to The Atlantic, which has seen a preview copy ahead of the June release, Jill Biden wondered, “Will people watching assume this is how he is all the time?” Bidens fighting to squelch embarrassing audio recordings Gary Bauer, founder of American Values and the co-host of Family Talk, wrote, “Right now, the Bidens are fighting to prevent closed-door audio recordings of interviews Joe Biden did from being released to the public. Why? Because in those interviews Biden couldn't remember basic events in his life. He couldn't remember when he was vice president. He couldn't remember when his son, Beau, died. He couldn't remember the advice his generals gave him.”   Bauer concluded, “And we all remember what Special Counsel Robert Hur said. Hur did not charge Biden for keeping classified documents because no jury would convict an ‘elderly man with a poor memory.' In other words, Joe was not mentally competent to stand trial.” Teenage worker bees drops to lowest level since 1948 The number of teenagers working jobs this summer is expected to fall to the lowest level since 1948. The consulting firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas predicts teens will gain 790,000 jobs in May, June, and July. That's down from 801,000 last summer. The firm noted, “Rising inflation, climbing oil prices, and a broadly cautious hiring environment are expected to keep the 2026 summer hiring total well below historical averages as employers and consumers rein in spending.” Welsh preacher John Penry pleaded for Welsh evangelism before execution And finally, on May 29,1593, 433 years ago today, Welsh Protestant preacher John Penry appealed for Christian pastors to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ in Wales shortly before his execution under the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. John Penry wept for Wales. He noted that thousands of Welsh had never heard of Christ. He wrote, “O destitute and forlorn condition! Preaching itself in many parts is unknown. In some places, a sermon is read once in three months.” Penry proposed a system of lay pastors supported in part with voluntary gifts from the people. His attack on the neglectful behavior of the Church of England won Penry the undying hostility of John Whitgift, the Archbishop of Canterbury, reports the Christian History Institute. Having become a Puritan Separatist in his thinking, Penry could not accept a state-run system because, "The truth of Christ” could not be in bondage to an “anti-Christian power.” Because of such outspoken views, and his stern warnings to Queen Elizabeth I and her bishops, Penry had to flee. Because he dared to expose the Church of England for its neglect, John Penry was captured and treated to a travesty of justice. Some strong words of warning against the queen in his notebook were interpreted as treason. Archbishop Whitgift was the first to sign his death warrant. Penry was hauled off to be hanged on this day, May 29, 1593. A thin scattering of bystanders, none of them his friends, watched as the 34-year old departed this world at the end of a rope about four in the afternoon. He was not allowed to preach a final sermon. He had, however, written a lengthy letter to his four daughters named Deliverance, Comfort, Safety, and Sure Hope -- who ranged in age between 4 and four months. He implored them to follow the true faith. James 1:12 says, “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love Him." Close And that's The Worldview on this Friday, May 29th, in the year of our Lord 2026. Subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music, or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com.  Plus, you can get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

Crain's assistant managing editor Ann Weiler joins host Amy Guth to discuss the Chicago families that hold the most influence right now in the city. Plus: Tech firms look to unload Loop office space; Rahm Emanuel pitches sweeping college affordability plan as 2028 buzz grows; DHS renews threat to cut customs staffing at O'Hare and other sanctuary-city airports; and UChicago launches multibillion-dollar fundraising effort. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

My friend Shana Reif suffered from Cystic Fibrosis, a genetic disease that primarily affects the lungs and other organs. It causes thick, sticky mucus to build up in the airways, leading to repeated infections, inflammation, and progressive lung damage. In many cases, the disease can advance until the lungs can no longer do what God created them to dobring oxygen into the body and sustain life. Cystic Fibrosis is a horrible and incurable disease, and it was the disease Shana endured all her life. When she was born, her parents were told she would not live much past her twentieth birthday. But Shana lived to be thirty-two. I came to know Shana in high school, not long after I became a follower of Jesus. After high school, we became very close friends. She edited my Bible college papers, and I visited her often during her many hospital stays. I also visited her at home as she recovered from the latest infection. By 2003, her lungs had been so damaged by chronic infections that she was placed on the waiting list for new lungs. She received a double lung transplant in 2004, but even then, her suffering did not fully end. Her body remained fragile. Her fight continued. But Shana loved Jesus. Though she struggled deeply with her disease, she held onto the hope of the gospel. One of the last emails I received from her was signed with words from her favorite hymn: Great is Thy faithfulness. In 2007, Shana died from complications after a procedure to reopen a constricted airway. When someone you love suffers like that, the question How long? is not theoretical. How long will disease ravage bodies? How long will death take those we love? How long will Gods people suffer in a world still broken by sin? How long before Christ makes all things new? Revelation 6:911 brings us to that question. But here, the cry comes specifically from those who have been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they maintained. The Martyrs: The Cost of Their Witness (v. 9) There are three cycles of judgment in Revelation: the seals, the trumpets, and the bowls. These cycles do not unfold in strict linear successionseals, then trumpets, then bowlsbut recapitulate the same period of history with increasing intensity, like birth pains. For our purposes, I simply want you to notice one pattern that helps us understand what is happening in this passage. In each cyclethe seals, trumpets, and bowlsthe first four judgments affect the world in broad, visible ways, but the fifth shifts the focus. The fifth seal shows the saints crying out for justice (Rev. 6:911). The fifth trumpet shows judgment beginning to fall on the enemies of Godthose who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads (Rev. 9:112; especially 9:4). The fifth bowl shows judgment reaching the very throne of the beast, whose kingdom wages war against all who refuse to worship him (Rev. 16:1011; cf. Rev. 13:78, 15). This is why the first four seals show us the horsemen riding across the earth. But when the fifth seal is opened, the focus shifts from what is happening on earth to what heaven sees when Gods people suffer because of the word of God and the testimony they maintain. These martyrs are not beneath the altar because they were victims of history. They are there because they belonged to the Lamb and remained faithful to the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. Their witness cost them their lives. John is showing us what Jesus had already told His disciples: If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me (Matt. 16:24; NASB). The fifth seal reminds us that following Jesus is not merely a call to believe certain truths about Him; it is a call to bear faithful witness to those truths, even when obedience is costly. Polycarp is said to have been a disciple of the apostle John and later became the bishop of Smyrna. Smyrna, you may remember, was one of the seven churches Jesus addressed in Revelation. Jesus told that suffering church, Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life (Rev. 2:10). Years later, Polycarp was arrested and ordered to deny Christ. When pressed to renounce Jesus, he replied, Eighty and six years have I served Him, and He never did me any injury: how then can I blaspheme my King and my Saviour? Polycarps witness cost him his life, but heaven did not see his death as Rome did. Rome saw a criminal to be silenced. Heaven saw a faithful witness beneath the altar. And we do not have to go back to Polycarp to see this kind of witness. You may remember the twenty-one Coptic Christians who were taken by ISIS in Libya and led onto a beach in orange jumpsuits. They were ordinary men who refused to renounce their faith in Jesus. Their blood was shed on earth, but Revelation 6 reminds us that heaven did not miss a drop. The world saw men being led to execution. Heaven saw faithful witnesses beneath the altar. Since 2015, conservative estimates suggest that more than 50,000 Christians have been killed for faith-related reasons around the world. According to Open Doors 2026 World Watch List, North Korea remains the most dangerous country in the world to be a Christian, while Nigeria is the deadliest, accounting for 3,490 of the 4,849 Christians killed for their faith during the latest reporting period. The seals describe the birth pains that mark this present age. The first four seals show us a world marked by conquest, war, famine, and death. But when the fifth seal is opened, we are shown what heaven sees when Gods people suffer because of the word of God and the testimony they maintain. The Altar: The Cry Before God (v. 10) Notice that John not only tells us that these faithful Christ-followers suffered and died for their faith, but also tells us where he saw these Christians. They are under the altar. This is a crucial detail that you can only understand if you know something about the Old Testament tabernacle that God told Moses to build. Scripture tells us that the earthly tabernacle was a copy and shadow of the one in heaven (Heb. 8:4-5; Exod. 25-31; 35-40). So when John sees an altar in heaven, he is not seeing something new, but the heavenly reality to which Israels worship had always pointed. Within the tabernacle, there were two primary altars. The bronze altar stood in the courtyard, where sacrifices were offered. The altar of incense stood near the Most Holy Place, close to the ark of the covenant, which represented the throne of God. Both altars help us understand what John sees. The blood of the sacrifice was poured at the altars base, and the incense rising before the Lord symbolized the prayers of Gods people ascending into His presence. So when John sees the souls of the martyrs beneath the altar, he sees their lives as precious before God and their prayers as heard before His throne. In the earthly tabernacle, a veil stood between the priests and God's immediate presence. But in heaven, no curtain hides His throne from His redeemed people. The martyrs are not far from God. They are beneath the altar, before the throne, and in the presence of the Lord God Almighty. Now, picture what is happening before Johns eyes. Those who suffered the ultimate cost for following Jesus are not behind the altar, nor are they on top of the altar. These saints are under the altar, which tells us that they are closest to the throne. Also, the martyrs are not passive, but are actively pleading for vindication in Gods heavenly court. There is no magical language here, for their cries are raw and honest. There is no anger hurled before God, but cries of vindication in light of their understanding of who God is! Notice what these dear saints include in their prayer: O Sovereign Lord, holy and true... Now lets stop there for a moment. The ESV translates the word well asSovereign Lord.The Greek word used here is not the most common term for Lord,kyrios, butdespotēs, and this is the only time it appears in the entire book of Revelation. The word these martyred saints use conveys absolute ownership, supreme authority, and sovereign mastery. We get our English worddespotfrom this word, but whiledespotusually carries a negative meaning in English, that is not the case whendespotēs is used of God in the New Testament. When used of God, it emphasizes His complete authority over creation, His servants, history, judgment, and justice. This matters because these Christians are not merely crying out to God as sufferers, asking whether He cares. They are crying out to the One they know to be the Sovereign Master over all things. They are appealing to the One who has the authority to judge, avenge, vindicate, and bring history to its appointed end. They are not crying out in doubt. They are crying out in faith. They know He is able. They know He is holy. They know He is true. And they know that the Sovereign Lord will do what is right. Notice what the saints attribute to God next. Not only is He the Sovereign Master, but He is holy. These saints who have suffered much understand that their God is utterly set apart from all evil, corruption, compromise, and injustice. He is not like the kingdoms and the kings of this world. He is not indifferent to injustice and the bloodshed at the hands of the wicked. He is not morally conflicted. He is pure in all His judgments, righteous in all His ways, and completely opposed to everything wicked. He is holy and these saints know it! God is not only holy; He is also true. When these saints plead their case before the throne of God, they do so knowing that He is faithful to all He has promised. He does not forget. He does not make empty threats or hollow promises. What He has spoken, He will do (Num. 23:19; Josh. 21:45; Isa. 55:1011; Titus 1:2; Heb. 10:23). So when these martyrs cry, How long? they are not questioning Gods goodness, nor are they doubting that He will keep His word. They are asking when the God who is holy and true will act in perfect faithfulness to His word and to those He has promised never to forsake (Deut. 31:6; Heb. 13:5; Rev). The breaking of the fifth seal and the prayer of these suffering saints teach us an important truth about how we can and should pray. They pray from their understanding of who God truly is. This is the kind of thing we read about in Daniel 11:32: ...the people who know their God shall stand firm and take action. These saints know their God, and so they cry out, O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth? This prayer is not a contradiction of Jesus command to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us (Matt. 5:44). It is a plea to the holy and true God to judge evil, vindicate His people, and set the world right. Their cry is rooted in the justice of God, knowing that His Word teaches that vengeance belongs to Him and not to His people (Deut. 32:35; Rom. 12:19). The martyrs beneath the altar are asking God to do what only God has the right and authority to do. The Throne: The Completion of Gods Purpose (v. 11) Now, notice what happens next. God responds, meaning He heard their prayer. But He does not respond as we might initially expect. The God who is sovereign, holy, and true responds by giving these Christians white robes as a sign of honor, purity, and vindication. These robes signify the righteousness that is theirs because of Jesus. When we see this great multitude again in Revelation 7, we are told, They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb (Rev. 7:14). These martyred saints represent every faithful witness who has been slain for the word of God and the testimony they upheldfrom the earliest martyrs of the church to our brothers and sisters suffering for Christ today. They are not treated as victims of random violence but as saints who belong to Christ and whose witness is precious before God. God responds by giving them white robes and telling them to do the thing we all hate: wait. Verse 11 says they were told to rest a little longer. That word, rest, matters. God is not dismissing their cry. He is not ignoring their suffering. He is calling them to rest in His presence, assured that perfect justice will come in His appointed time and in His sovereign way. Why must they wait? Because other Christians will suffer as they did, and they must wait until their number is complete. This means Gods justice is not delayed because He is indifferent. It is delayed because His purpose is not yet complete. There are still more witnesses to be gathered, more saints to be strengthened, and more glory to be given to Christ through the faithful endurance of His people. Gods answer to their prayer was to wait a little while longer. Conclusion My friend Shana frequently asked the same question you may have asked more than you can count: How long O Sovereign Lord, holy and true... It is the plea of the suffering. Shana was not a martyr, she was not killed by persecutors because of the word of God. She died on the operating table due to complications at the hands of surgeons who were trying to ease her suffering. Let me tell you what Shana did know. She knew what it meant to suffer in a world that is still waiting for Christ to make all things new. She knew what it meant to groan. She knew what it meant to wait. She knew what it meant to hope. I know that God used her life to encourage and strengthen the faith of others. Revelation 6:9-11 teaches us that we need not pretend the pain we experience is small. We need not pretend injustice does not matter. We need not pretend that death is natural. We can cry How long and do so in faith, not despair. We can cry it to the Sovereign Lord, who is holy and true. The Lamb who opens the fifth seal, is the Lamb who sees the suffering of His people. He honors the witness of His redeemed. He gives those who follow Him rest. The Lamb who died for you, is the Lord who will bring His purpose to completion for His glory and for your good! So, my dear brothers and sisters, we wait. But we do not wait as people forgotten by the One who sits upon the throne. We wait as those who belong to the Lamb. We wait as those whose lives are precious before the One on the throne. And we wait with confidence that the One who is sovereign, holy, and true will do exactly what He has promised. We can trust Him to do what is good and right because that is who He is.

It's Friday, May 22nd, A.D. 2026. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 140 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Adam McManus Pakistani Muslim man abducts and marries 14-year-old Christian girl A married Pakistani Muslim, 41-year-old Arshad Habib, who already had three wives, abducted a 14-year-old Christian girl on May 12th. He forcibly converted her to Islam and married her, exploiting her epilepsy and mental health vulnerabilities to sexually abuse her, reports Morning Star News. The girl's father, Abbas Masih, a daily wage laborer and member of a local Brethren church in Lahore, the Pakistani capital, said his daughter, Nisha, disappeared on May 12th while working as a domestic helper at a Muslim household. Police showed the father documents claiming Nisha had converted to Islam on February 15 and married Habib three days later. According to Open Doors, Pakistan is the eighth most oppressive country worldwide for Christians.  Send a two-sentence letter of objection to Pakistani Ambassador Rizwan Sheikh, Pakistan Embassy, 3517 International Court NW, Washington, D.C. 20008. Jeff Bezos: We don't have a tax problem. We have a spending problem. Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, gave CNBC co-anchor Andrew Sorkin a reality check on how ludicrous the Left's tax-the-rich scheme really is when measured up against the data during the May 20th edition of Squawk Box, reports NewsBusters.org. Sorkin tried cornering Bezos on the bevy of headlines in the media excoriating billionaires, decrying their wealth accumulation, and vilifying them for supposedly not paying their fair share in taxes. Bezos was not fazed. BEZOS: “I think what's going on is that it's kind of a tale of two economies. So, you have a bunch of people in this country who are doing really well. But you also have a bunch of people in this country who are struggling -- rent, groceries.  “A nurse in Queens, who makes $75,000 a year, pays more than $12,000 a year in taxes. Does that really make sense? How about we start by having the nurse in Queens not pay taxes at all.  “The bottom half of income earners in this country pay only 3% of the taxes. The top 1% of taxpayers pay 40% of all the tax revenue. We don't have a revenue problem in this country. We actually have a spending problem.” Jeff Bezos gave an example of how spending more money is not necessarily an iron-clad guarantee of fixing a problem. BEZOS: “The New York City school system: They spend $44,000 per student. That's 30% more per student than other big cities like Chicago, L.A., and Boston. And it's three times more than Miami and Houston. By the way, New York City doesn't get better outcomes.  “If we ran Amazon the way New York City runs their school system, your packages would take six weeks to arrive, we'd have to charge you a $100 delivery fee, and then, when the package did finally arrive, it'd have the wrong item in it anyway.” Homosexual former Congressman Barney Frank died Former Democratic Congressman Barney Frank of Massachusetts, a self-avowed homosexual, died May 19th at the age of 86 after entering hospice care at his home in Maine last month due to congestive heart failure, reports The Western Journal. According to The New York Times, he came out of the sexual perversion closet publicly in an interview with The Boston Globe in the spring of 1987, saying, "If you ask the direct question: 'Are you gay?' the answer is: 'Yes. So what?' " He was the first open homosexual in Congress and the first one to be faux married in July 2012. Frank met his faux “husband,” Jim Ready, 30 years his junior, at a homosexual political fundraiser in Maine.   Appearing on NBC's Meet the Press in March 2015, Congressman Frank was asked this question by Chuck Todd. TODD:  “You're trying to answer this conundrum. Gay rights were once reviled publicly and Congress was revered. Now, those attitudes have flipped. How did that happen?” FRANK: “Our reality, as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender people, beat the prejudice. The essential mechanism is there, that we stopped hiding. And it turned out we weren't what the stereotype was.  “There was a point when the notion that I could get married to Jim [Ready] while I was still in Congress, would have been the most bizarre possibility. And by the time I got married, someone said, ‘Well, was it controversial that you get married while you were still in Congress?' And the answer was, ‘Yes, it was. A lot of my colleagues were mad that they didn't get invited.'” TODD: (laughs) In an attempt to deflect from the importance of legislating morality on social issues, like homosexual faux marriage and abortion, Congressman Frank said, “The issue is not that morals be applied to public policy. It's that conservatives bring public policy to spheres of our lives where it should not enter.” But Proverbs 29:2 says, “When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan.” Barney Frank retired from Congress in 2013 and went on to serve as a political commentator, writer, and public figure. Colorado teacher prohibited 7th grader from reading pro-life poem in class And finally, a Colorado teacher at Drake Middle School refused to allow a seventh-grade student to present her pro-life poem in class because it was deemed “offensive,” reports LifeSiteNews.com. GIRL: “My teacher assigned an assignment in class to write a slam poem about a conflict in the world that we are passionate about. I chose life. I chose this topic because it's important to me and my family. In my poem, I met all of the criteria. I got reputable resources. And I included everything that I needed in my poem.” The opening of the 13-year-old's poem said, “A life is a life, no matter how small. Seventy-three million people have been killed in one year when they are completely innocent humans. They never get to see the light of day before they are cast away.  They did nothing wrong except exist and were dismissed. People say women need health care but never think how unfair. They kill baby for simply being there! The Word of God says [in Psalm 139:13], ‘You knit me together in my mother's womb.'  How come we never listen to this and try to send them to the tomb?” The teacher reportedly tried to kick the girl out of class during other students' presentations which slammed the Second Amendment and championed sexual perversion.  The girl's mother said her own mother became pregnant at age 14 and chose life, resulting in strong pro-life convictions in her own family. Close And that's The Worldview on this Friday, May 22nd, in the year of our Lord 2026. Subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music, or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com.  Plus, you can get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

Top headlines for Friday, May 22, 2026Marco Rubio's Cuba Independence Day message and bypassed aid plan, a Bible-reading marathon drawing millions amid calls for revival, new research linking committed religious practice to better mental health, and a California track controversy reigniting debate over transgender athletes in girls' sports.00:11 Marco Rubio sends historic message to Cuban people01:02 Bunni Pounds reflects on millions watching Scripture marathon01:51 Christian school director received payments for enrollment02:43 Church attendance linked to decreased rates of depression: Report03:42 Allie Beth Stuckey slams Avalon rerelease of 'Testify to Love'04:33 Trans athlete shares first wins with girls at track meet05:30 Open Doors event draws 9,000 to Germany for prayer, testimoniesSubscribe to this PodcastApple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle PodcastsOvercastFollow Us on Social Media@ChristianPost on TwitterChristian Post on Facebook@ChristianPostIntl on InstagramSubscribe on YouTubeGet the Edifi AppDownload for iPhoneDownload for AndroidSubscribe to Our NewsletterSubscribe to the Freedom Post, delivered every Monday and ThursdayClick here to get the top headlines delivered to your inbox every morning!Links to the NewsMarco Rubio sends historic message to Cuban people | PoliticsBunni Pounds reflects on millions watching Scripture marathonChristian school director received payments for enrollment | U.S.Church attendance linked to decreased rates of depression: Report | Church & MinistriesAllie Beth Stuckey slams Avalon rerelease of 'Testify to Love' | EntertainmentTrans athlete shares first wins with girls at track meet | SportsOpen Doors event draws 9,000 to Germany for prayer, testimonies | World

Hour 3 of the Bob Rose Show, on tech billionaire Eric Schmidt's rejection of any immigration reforms that would help the US cope with mass layoffs caused by AI technology. Arizona college grads booed Schmidt's commencement address promoting H-1B tech visas, saying America is at its best when this is the country ‘ambitious' people want to come to. But, competition from cheap foreign labor? Plus, all of Tuesday morning's biggest news stories for 5-19-26

Ryan Hamm is the Global Head of Content for Open Doors International, an organization that cares for persecuted Christians around the world.He joined me live at Lakeside Chautauqua to chat about his fear of birds (yes, really), where he's finding hope in the midst of a world that's burning, and why ducks are the friendliest of all avian sorts.Plus: how we might support Christians around the world who fear for their livelihoods or even their lives.Many thanks to Ryan for joining me for this special episode, and to Lakeside for the invitation to speak during Birding's Biggest Week. My heart is full, and this episode is both wrenching and joyful. I can't wait to share it with you. Get full access to Keep Looking Up at courtneyellis.substack.com/subscribe

Are you constantly praying for God to open the next door, relationship, or level of influence in your life? What if the biggest barrier to your progression isn't a closed door in front of you, but the unfinished heart work inside of you?In this episode of The Purpose City Church Podcast, Pastor Talaat McNeely breaks open Acts 10 to reveal a profound truth: Before God ever expands your assignment, He will challenge your assumptions. Whether you're feeling stuck in a season of waiting, navigating a divine interruption, or wondering why your next breakthrough is delayed, this message is a masterclass in divine preparation. Tune in to discover why God care less about merely preparing a place for you, and cares deeply about preparing the person who will step through it.Key Takeaways From This Episode:Divine Interruptions vs. Demonic Distractions: Why God will purposely disrupt your daily routine and break your comfort zone right before He deploys you into your destiny.Exposing Hidden Boxes: How to identify the cultural, religious, or personal prejudices we carry that limit our God-given purpose—and how to let God break them.Public Ministry Requires Private Hospitality: Understanding why spiritual preparation isn't complete until it translates into active, immediate obedience to the people right in front of you.Episode Timeline & Chapter Markers:[00:00] – Introduction: The Trap of Praying for Open Doors[04:15] – Contextualizing Acts 10: Where Peter is Active but Unprepared[11:30] – Point 1: How God Uses the Mundane Routine to Get Your Attention[19:45] – Point 2: Confronting the Invisible Assumptions and Cultural Prejudices We Carry[29:10] – Point 3: The Line of Action—Why God Calls for Immediate, Unhesitating Obedience[38:15] – Divine Calibration: A Call to Surrender on the Holy Altar[43:00] – Closing Prayer & Final ThoughtsScripture References & Resources:Scripture Focus: Acts 10:1-23 (NLT)Core Series: Unstoppable (Part 6)

In a world where 70% of jobs are found through someone you know, "social capital" is more than just a buzzword—it's a gateway to the future. But for many first-generation students in under-resourced communities, those networks are often out of reach.In this episode of the Charity Charge Show, Grayson Harris sits down with Heather Wathington, CEO of iMentor, to discuss their ambitious new campaign: Open Doors, Ignite Possibility. Heather shares how iMentor is working to mobilize a movement of mentors, corporate partners, and communities to open 1 million doors for students by 2035. From the profound impact of social capital to the simple power of a listening ear, this conversation is a masterclass in how relationship-driven support can improve the human condition.Show Notes: Key TakeawaysSocial Capital is the Great Equalizer: Success isn't just about what you know, but who you know . iMentor focuses on building "social capital" for students, helping them access the networks and professional knowledge required to navigate convoluted career pathways.The "Everyday Mentor" is the Best Mentor: One of the biggest misconceptions is that you need to be a corporate mogul or a community leader to mentor. Heather emphasizes that students simply need an advocate—someone willing to listen, offer patience, and believe in their limitless potential.Long-Term Relationships Yield the Highest ROI: iMentor prioritizes sustained, years-long relationships over transactional interactions. Trust and confidence are built over time, providing a stable foundation for students as they transition from high school to post-secondary life.Mentorship as a Lifelong Practice: The goal isn't just a one-time connection . iMentor aims to instill a culture of mentorship where students learn to seek out mentors at every stage of their career and eventually "pay it forward" to the next generation.

There is something to be said about the opportunities that come with independent films. Actors can shift behind the camera or into other roles not typically available in more mainstream productions. That’s the case with “Neglected,” an independent project from David Lipper, who wrote, directed and produced the film to go along with an acting role in the movie. In this week’s episode, hear from Lipper as well as his co-star Elena Sanchez, who both share their thoughts on the movie. That interview from co-host Bruce Miller is followed by another with Josh Duhamel and Dylan Sprouse, who also co-star in the film. Duhamel is best known for his Daytime Emmy-winning role on “All My Children” and for appearances in four of the “Transformers” movies. Sprouse has had a number of roles with his twin brother, Cole, in shows like “The Suite Life of Zack & Cody” and “Grace Under Fire,” but has more recently found success on his own. About the show Streamed & Screened is a podcast about movies and TV hosted by Bruce Miller, a longtime entertainment reporter who is the retired editor of the Sioux City Journal in Iowa and Terry Lipshetz, a senior producer for Lee Enterprises based in Madison, Wisconsin. The show was named Best Podcast in the 2025 Iowa Better Newspaper Contest. Theme music Thunder City by Lunareh, used under license from Soundstripe. YouTube clearance: FV694ULMCJQDG0IY

Spiritual Warfare I'm giving away FREE E-copies of my book. Email me your email address at spiritualwar17@gmail.com for your FREE E-copy. If you have questions or would like us to speak about a certain topic email bradshaw_jc@icloud.comWe will try to answer them as quickly as possible on the podcast.  If you would like to support this Podcast monthly or make a one-time gift you can click the PayPal link below. https://paypal.me/spiritualwar17

Velkommen til en prædiken fra København Vineyard. Tak fordi du lytter med. Dagens taler er Hasse Falk Jacobsen. Du er altid velkommen til en af vores gudstjenester kl. 10.30. Eller kig forbi i løbet af ugen til en kop kaffe. Vi glæder os til at se dig!

Allie is joined by Ryan Brown, the CEO of Open Doors. His organization has a World Watch List that tracks Christian persecution around the globe. Some countries, like Mexico, may shock American Christians, while Syria has gotten gratuitously worse since Assad was deposed. However, Ryan shares the stories of Christians who have overcome unimaginable torments through faith alone and tells viewers how they can support their brothers and sisters in need. Support Christians in Africa: https://www.opendoorsus.org/en-US/getinvolved/arise-africa/ Share the Arrows 2026 is on October 10 in Dallas, Texas! Tickets are on sale now at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://sharethearrows.com⁠⁠⁠ Share the Arrows is sponsored by: A'del Natural Cosmetics: AdelNaturalCosmetics.com Range Leather: RangeLeather.com/ALLIE We Heart Nutrition: WeHeartNutrition.com Buy Allie's book "Toxic Empathy: How Progressives Exploit Christian Compassion": ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.toxicempathy.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ – Time Codes 0:00 Introduction 3:53 Tracking Christian Persecutions 20:09 Syria 25:53 Yemen 29:30 Africa 33:09 North Korea 38:51 Mexico 46:34 The Middle East & Islamic World 57:42 How to Get Involved – Today's Sponsors: Alliance Defending Freedom | For a limited time, every dollar you give to ADF will be doubled — but only while matching funds remain available. Go to JOINADF.com/ALLIE or text ALLIE to 83848 to have your gift for life matched. Shopify | Sign up for your $1-per-month trial today at shopify.com/allie. Voice of the Martyrs | Visit ⁠VOM.org/ALLIE⁠ to get your free copy of "Hearts of Fire 2" today! Seven Weeks Coffee | Experience the best coffee while supporting the pro-life movement with Seven Weeks Coffee; use code ALLIE at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.sevenweekscoffee.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get up to 25% off your first order, plus your free gift! Pre-Born | To donate, dial #250 and say the keyword “BABY.” Or visit Preborn.com/ALLIE. Episodes You May Like: Who's Funding the Christian Genocide in Nigeria? | Judd Saul | Ep 1270 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWMloyWeFio&t=600s How to Become the Resistance: Obey | Ep 338 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-LkCaxo240 --- ► Buy Allie's book "You're Not Enough (& That's Okay): Escaping the Toxic Culture of Self-Love": https://alliebethstuckey.com/book ► Subscribe to the podcast: iTunes: https://apple.co/2UVssnP Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2FwkXxj ► Connect with Allie on Social Media: https://twitter.com/conservmillen https://www.instagram.com/alliebstuckey/ https://facebook.com/allieBlazeTV/ ► Relatable merchandise – use promo code ALLIE10 for a discount: https://shop.blazemedia.com/collections/allie-stuckey

It's Friday, May 8th, A.D. 2026. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 140 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com. I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Adam McManus Three North Korean prisoners to receive human rights award Three Korean missionaries detained for more than a decade in North Korea will receive the Graciela Fernandez Meijide Human Rights Award in August in absentia, reports International Christian Concern. The three men — missionary Choi Chun-gil, age 70, missionary Kim Jong-Uk, age 62, and Pastor Kim Kuk-gi, age 72— were helping North Korean defectors and underground churches in Northeast China before North Korean agents arrested them and took them to jails inside North Korea.  North Korea sentenced the three men to life in a North Korean labor camp. The South Korean government has repeatedly called for the missionaries' release. Analysts estimate that more than 30,000 Christians are currently suffering in these camps where they are overworked, starved, and tortured. Not surprisingly, North Korea denies the existence of such camps. According to Open Doors, North Korea is the most oppressive country worldwide for Christians. Vatican: Homosexual couples are not guilty of sin The new Vatican synod report published May 5th has just dropped a bombshell, reports LifeSiteNews.com. It said, “Sin, at its root, does not consist in the same-sex couple relationship.” Instead, the document suggests sin is merely a lack of faith in God. Homosexual relationships are presented by the Vatican through glowing testimonies. The document takes specific aim at Courage, a Catholic group established for the support of those with homosexual attraction who wish to live chastely and in accord with Catholic Church teaching.  And the report openly questions whether such unions could be considered analogous to marriage.  It asks whether homosexual “relationships” can be thought of as equal “to heterosexual conjugal union,” despite “the evident impossibility of procreation.” This is not a fringe document. It comes from a synodal study group operating with Vatican approval. But Leviticus 18:22 could not be more clear. “Do not have sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman; that is detestable.” US launches strikes on two Iranian targets On May 7th,  U.S. Central Command confirmed military action within the Strait of Hormuz, saying American forces intercepted “unprovoked Iranian attacks” and struck back amid claims by Tehran that the Trump administration had violated a fragile ceasefire, reports NewsNation.com. According to Fox News, U.S. officials said Qeshm Port in the Strait of Hormuz and the port city of Bandar Abbas were struck. Plus, Iran's Bandar Kargan naval checkpoint in Minab was also hit. CENTCOM officials said Iran launched missiles, drones, and small boats on three U.S. guided-missile destroyers in the Strait of Hormuz headed to the Gulf of Oman. In response, U.S. forces “eliminated inbound threats and targeted Iranian military facilities responsible for attacking.” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said this. RUBIO:  “As President Trump has said, and the facts clearly bear out, the United States of America holds all the cards. There is no scenario here in which, if they decide to join a ladder of escalation, they wind up getting the last say. “But our preference is for these Straits [of Hormuz] to be opened to the way they're supposed to be open, back to the way it was. Anyone can use it. No mines in the water. Nobody paying tolls. That's what we have to get back to, and that's the goal here.” Mark Hamill of “Star Wars” posted image of dead President Trump Mark Hamill, the actor best known for playing Luke Skywalker in the original “Star Wars” trilogy of the 1970s and '80s, posted an image on May 6th that got the White House's attention, reports The Western Journal. The image, posted to Hamill's account on the social media platform BlueSky, showed President Donald Trump lying in a grave, hands folded, with a headstone that read “Donald J. Trump, 1946-2024.” Hamill wrote, “If only he should live long enough to witness his inevitable devastating loss in the midterms, be held accountable for his unprecedented corruption, impeached, convicted & humiliated for his countless crimes. Long enough to realize he'll be disgraced in the history books, forevermore.” Meanwhile, on the social media platform X, the official White House Rapid Response account, called Hamill “one sick individual.” Then, the White House linked Hamill-style rhetoric to other disturbing events, saying, “These Radical Left lunatics just can't help themselves. This kind of rhetoric is exactly what has inspired three assassination attempts in two years against our President.” Texas Governor pressures waterpark to cancel Muslim-only event A planned celebration of a Muslim-only day at the Epic Waters waterpark in Grand Prairie, Texas has been canceled after backlash over religious discrimination, reports Fox4News. The Epic Waters waterpark had planned to hold a private event throughout the park on June 1st to celebrate Eid al-Adha, the feast of sacrifice and the second of two main festivals in Islam. It honors the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac as an act of obedience to God's command. When The Worldview first reported the story of the Muslim-only, waterpark-wide event, Cathy Blake of Fate, Texas emailed the Epic Waters leadership. She wrote, “I see you are hosting a Muslim celebration and closing the park to non-Muslims, which is religious discrimination. But, since you probably don't see it that way, and are wanting to be inclusive, I'm wondering what day the park will be available for only Jews or only Christians as those two religions are two of the most practiced religions in America, alongside Islam. Please let me know the date so I can plan my summer accordingly.” When Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott heard about the event, he sent a letter to the City of Grand Prairie in which he threatened to pull $530,000 in public safety grants if the city held the event. The letter states that the event was being advertised as "Muslim Only" before changing its advertisements to state only a requirement of a modest dress code would be enforced. Governor Abbott wrote, "The event purports to be public-facing and discriminatory at the same time: All Muslims—but only Muslims—may attend. An event at a city-owned pool that was publicly and indiscriminately advertised as ‘Whites only' would surely violate the Constitution.” On May 6, officials with the City of Grand Prairie wrote, "After further review and in the best interest of the City of Grand Prairie, the June 1st event at Epic Waters Indoor Waterpark has been canceled." The organizer, Dr. Aminah Knight, noted that 600 people attended the event last year and she was “deeply disappointed.” American Bible Society celebrates its 210th anniversary And finally, on May 8th, 1816, the American Bible Society organized in New York to distribute the Bible worldwide. In 1816, there was a significant demand for Bibles in the United States following the American Revolutionary War.  The importation of Bibles from England had ceased, leading to a shortage as the nation sought to foster religious revival. Since then, it has distributed hundreds of millions of Bibles in thousands of languages worldwide. The first President of the American Bible Society was Elias Boudinot, who had been President of the Continental Congress from 1782 to 1783. John Jay, the first Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court, was named the Bible Society president in 1821. And Francis Scott Key, the writer of the United States' national anthem, served as a Vice President from 1817 until his death in 1843. Today, people around the world are longing for the hope and truth found only in Scripture. Consider making a one-time donation today to empower believers with God's Word in their own language. Every $2 you give provides another Bible. The website is www.AmericanBible.org. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” Close And that's The Worldview on this Friday, May 8th, in the year of our Lord 2026, my 60th birthday. Follow us on X or subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music, or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. Plus, you can get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

Our guest is JESS EKSTROM, a Forbes top rated speaker, entrepreneur, founder of Headbands of Hope out of her college dorm room, and more recently founder of MicDrop Workshop, helping raise up a new wave of women speakers. Jess is a 3 time author, including her brand new bestseller Making It Without Losing It. She speaks for and advises some of the top companies in the world. We discuss leadership today, why speaking is about the audience, lessons as an entrepreneur, balancing mom life and work life, and much more. Plus check out the list of 25 Women Speakers to Know. Make sure to visit http://h3leadership.com to access the list and all the show notes. Thanks again to our partners for this episode: OPEN DOORS - Get the latest FREE 2026 World Watch List and prayer guide at http://opendoorsus.org. Since they were founded by Brother Andrew nearly 70 years ago, Open Doors has become the world's largest on-the-ground network working to strengthen persecuted Christians. 380 million Christians face high levels of persecution for their faith- 1 in 7 worldwide. Download the FREE World Watch List now. Plus the Prayer Guide gives you the World Watch List, real stories of persecuted Christians, profiles of all 50 countries and specific ways to pray for each one. Again, visit http://opendoorsus.org. And COME and SEE FOUNDATION – reaching a billion people with the story of Jesus. Visit http://comeandseefoundation.org. Come and See Foundation is on a mission to ensure that all 7 seasons of The Chosen are produced, translated into 600 languages, globally distributed, and kept FREE for all. From Michigan to Madagascar, people are encountering Jesus through The Chosen, Join Come and See in inviting a billion people to find and follow Jesus. You can play a supporting role in introducing the world to Jesus. Lean more and get involved at http://comeandseefoundation.org.

The coffee chat isn't the problem. The vague ask is. Jill Griffin breaks down how senior leaders stop leaving relationships to chance and start building influence with intention.In this episode:Why "let's catch up" is killing your executive relationships before they startThe three things that make a busy senior leader actually want to meet with youHow to build a usefulness habit that compounds your influence over timeSupport the showJill Griffin, is a leadership strategist, executive coach, and host of The Career Refresh. She works with senior leaders to navigate complexity, strengthen teams, and lead with greater clarity and intention.With 20+ years of experience at companies like Coca-Cola, Microsoft, Hilton, and Martha Stewart, Jill brings a practical, real-world lens to leadership, decision-making, and career strategy. Visit GriffinMethod.com to learn more about working together:The Next Era Leader An 8-week cohort for women leaders ready to expand their capacity and lead through complexity with clarity and intentionExecutive Coaching & Leadership Advisory 1:1 strategic partnership for leaders navigating growth, transition, and what's nextConnect with Jill for Leadership Development for Organizations and Speaking & WorkshopsInstagram: @JillGriffinOffical

When Yancey Strickler moved to New York, he was broke, freelancing for $50, and chasing a writing career. Little did he know, his gift for building on the internet would soon change the world of crowdfunding. A chance encounter with a friend and a half-baked idea about crowd-funded concert tickets led to the founding of Kickstarter, a platform that has raised over $7 billion for creative projects worldwide. In this episode, Yancey joins Ilana to discuss his journey from freelancing on a shoestring budget to building a billion-dollar platform and what it took to survive the hardest moments. He also explains his bold plan to help artists participate in capitalism. Yancey Strickler is the co-founder and former CEO of Kickstarter, the platform that raised over $7 billion for more than 200,000 creative projects. He now runs Metalabel, a studio building tools for creative cooperation. In this episode, Ilana and Yancey will discuss: (00:00) Introduction  (03:11) From Music Households to Manhattan Bylines (06:28) The Side Project That Changed Everything (13:34) The Ladder Vouch System That Launched Kickstarter (18:57) Why Showing Up as an Open Box Wins Every Room (26:31) The Day Two Projects Hit a Million Dollars at Once (33:40) The New Definition of Work in the Age of AI (36:28) Building the Legal Blueprint for the Artist Economy (43:09) Why the Private Internet Is Where the Real World Lives (49:38) Q&A: How to Open Doors to New Connections Yancey Strickler is a writer, serial entrepreneur, and the co-founder of Kickstarter, the global crowdfunding platform that has raised billions for creative projects.  He's the author of This Could Be Our Future and The Dark Forest Anthology of the Internet and the co-host of the New Creative Era podcast. Before Kickstarter, Yancey was a music critic for outlets like Pitchfork and Spin. Today, he leads two bold projects: A Corp, a legislative effort to provide artists with real economic infrastructure, and DFOs, a platform reimagining the private internet.  Connect with Yancey Yancey's Website: https://www.ystrickler.com Yancey's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yancey-strickler-486b4557/  Yancey's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ystrickler/  Yancey's X: https://x.com/ystrickler  Resources Mentioned: Yancey's Books, This Could Be Our Future: A Manifesto for a More Generous World: https://www.amazon.com/This-Could-Our-Future-Manifesto/dp/0525560823  The Dark Forest Anthology of the Internet: https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Forest-Anthology-Internet/dp/B0D14NN1DN  On the Creative Life: Conversations Toward a New Creative Era: https://squad.metalabel.com/onthecreativelife?ref=ystrickler.com&variantId=1  Leap Academy: Ready to make the LEAP in your career? There is a NEW WAY for professionals to fast-track their careers and leap to bigger opportunities.  Check out our free training today at https://bit.ly/leap--free-training

In this episode, David, Mark, and Chris speak with Alanna Boyd, Chief Sustainability Officer at Sun Life Financial, about her decade-long journey leading sustainability at the company. They discuss the power of purpose, the ways to integrate sustainability across an enterprise, and emerging opportunities for an insurance business to create positive impacts in the 21st century.  

It's Monday, May 4th, A.D. 2026. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 140 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Adam McManus Christians in Afghanistan have to remain invisible to survive Being known as a Christian in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan brings lethal danger. In this country of 44 million people, Muslims comprise more than 99.7% of the population, reports International Christian Concern. Not long after the Taliban retook control of Afghanistan in August 2021, they declared that no Christians were remaining in the country. Though the Taliban claimed no Christians remained, Christians still exist—surviving only by remaining invisible. The Taliban reportedly searched door to door and through smartphones, hunting for any signs of Christian conversion. This reality highlights the core argument: Afghan Christians must stay hidden to survive. The situation also became highly precarious for other religious minorities, including Sikhs, Hindus, and the country's last Jewish resident. According to Open Doors, Afghanistan is the 11th most dangerous country for Christians worldwide. In John 15:19, Jesus said to His disciples, “If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.” Trump withdraws 5,000 troops from Germany The United States will withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany in the next six to 12 months, the Pentagon said Friday, fulfilling President Donald Trump's threat as he clashes with the German leader over the U.S. war with Iran, reports the Associated Press. Trump had threatened to withdraw some troops from the NATO ally earlier this week after German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the U.S. was being “humiliated” by the Iranian leadership and criticized Washington's lack of strategy in the war. Germany hosts several U.S. military facilities, including the headquarters of its European and Africa commands, Ramstein Air Base and a medical center in Landstuhl, where casualties from the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq were treated. U.S. nuclear missiles are also stationed in the country. The number of troops leaving Germany would be 14% of the 36,000 American service members stationed there. News of the troop withdrawal drew swift pushback from Democrats in Congress as well as a hawkish Washington think tank. They said the move will benefit Russian President Vladimir Putin and weaken U.S. security interests. Bradley Bowman, a scholar at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, said the U.S. military's presence in Germany and elsewhere in Europe “not only strengthens deterrence against additional Kremlin aggression but also facilitates the projection of American military power into the Mediterranean, the Middle East, and Africa.” Federal appeals court blocks mail-order abortion pills Ready for some great pro-life news? On May 1st, a federal court issued a ruling that temporarily blocked the ability to send the Abortion Kill Pill by mail. Of American mothers who abort, 63% choose to use abortion drugs. If ultimately upheld, this decision could save tens of thousands of babies from abortions, reports LifeNews.com. A panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans temporarily blocked a Biden administration rule allowing the abortion drug, mifepristone, to be dispensed through the mail. Marjorie Dannenfelser, the president of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, called the ruling “a huge victory for victims and survivors of Biden's reckless mail-order abortion drug regime. We are so grateful for the tenacity of [Louisiana] Attorney General Liz Murrill, abortion drug coercion survivor Rosalie Markezich, and all our allies demanding action. “Women and children suffer and state sovereignty is violated every day the Food and Drug Administration allows abortion drugs to flood the mail – harms that are no mere accident, but predictable outcomes of the FDA's unscientific removal of safeguards like in-person doctor visits.” Republican State candidate found dead An investigation is underway into the death of a Republican state Senate candidate in Oklahoma who was found dead in his pickup truck on April 30th in a wildlife refuge, reports The Western Journal. Barry Christian, a candidate for state Senate District 38, had disappeared on April 28th, according to KOCO-TV. The Beckham County Sheriff's Office said a hunter reported to authorities that he had seen the wreck of a pickup truck that appeared to have crashed off a high ridge. 149th anniversary of God's locust miracle in Minnesota And finally, from 1873 to 1877, grasshoppers, also known as locusts, destroyed hundreds of thousands of acres of crops in Minnesota, leaving eggs in the soil for the next season. On April 26, 1877, Minnesota Republican Governor John Pillsbury declared a statewide day of prayer and fasting to combat a devastating four-year Rocky Mountain locust plague, which was threatening widespread starvation.  Schools and businesses closed, with many residents taking the day seriously, asking God for deliverance. Shortly after the day of prayer, an unseasonable cold snap and snow arrived, freezing and killing millions of hatching larvae grasshopper nymphs. It was divine intervention. God answered their prayers. Prayer At The Heart invites 1 million Christians to pray for an unbeliever Speaking of the power of prayer, Prayer At The Heart, a group founded in 2021, to pray for America, launched 50 days of prayer, inviting one million Christians to pray for the salvations of a friend or loved one through May 24th. Franklin Graham said, “The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association desires to express its appreciation and support for the efforts of Prayer At The Heart to see one million people come to Christ by Pentecost Sunday, 2026. This could be the beginning of the spiritual awakening our nation so desperately needs, a renewal found only in Jesus Christ.” Get access to a free 68-page, 50-day prayer guide through a special link in our transcript today at www.TheWorldview.com.  Plus, check out their  online ‘Prayer Wall' with  scheduled prayer in every state for an hour each week. In Jeremiah 29:12-13, God said, “Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will hear you. You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart.” Close And that's The Worldview on this Monday, May 4th, in the year of our Lord 2026. Follow us on X or subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music, or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com.  Plus, you can get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

What does it look like for the church to mirror heaven today—strong in truth yet radically open to all? Could the balance between firm biblical foundations and an always-open invitation be the missing link in the church's mission?

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. We are about to begin our next study and move into the Old Testament. We will begin with the book of Hosea. Hosea reveals what happens when a nation confuses comfort with covenant faithfulness. This means it is time to get your next Scripture Journal from our website for this study. If you are a Project23 partner giving $35/month or more, we have already sent this to you in the mail. Our shout-out today goes to David Luna from Frisco, TX. Thanks for your partnership in Project23. Our text today is 1 Corinthians 16:5-9. I will visit you after passing through Macedonia, for I intend to pass through Macedonia, and perhaps I will stay with you or even spend the winter, so that you may help me on my journey, wherever I go. For I do not want to see you now just in passing. I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits. But I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost, for a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries. — 1 Corinthians 16:5-9 How do you know when God is opening a door? Paul says something about this that is pretty striking today: "A wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries." We often assume God opens the door to ease. Paul assumes the opposite— opposition. This means a "wide-open door" does not always mean comfort.  Wide-open opportunity in the kingdom often invites resistance. Notice the theology beneath this statement. The door has opened because God did it. But on the otherside the adversaries are real. Open doors, even wide open ones, do not remove enemies. They often reveal them. And Paul does not refuse the door because opposition appears. He walks through it because the opportunity is substantial. This is mature discernment. Providence is not measured by comfort. Faithfulness is not determined by the absence of difficulty. Sometimes the clearest sign you are in the will of God is that resistance increases. The Corinthians were tempted to chase two things: spectacle and status. Paul models two different things: endurance and obedience. He sees the mission clearly. He walks through the open door anyway. Because resurrection hope produces durable courage. If death is defeated, all adversaries are not ultimate. DO THIS: Identify one area where opposition has made you question obedience. Recommit to faithfulness there this week. ASK THIS: Do I interpret resistance as a sign to quit? Have I confused ease with God's will? Where might a "wide door" require stronger resolve? PRAY THIS: Lord, give me discernment to recognize open doors even when adversaries appear. Make me courageous, steady, and faithful in the work you have set before me. Amen. PLAY THIS: "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God"

The most horrific crime against humanity in the world history is underway in our time. According to Open Doors' World Watch List, over 388 million Christians are currently being heavily persecuted around the world.  That's more people than live in the United States  being tortured, imprisoned, raped, driven from their homes and, in many cases, murdered simply because they follow Jesus Christ.  Our coalition called “Save the Persecuted Christians” conducted this week a powerful webinar exposing one of the most flagrant and ongoing examples of such horrors. It examined the genocide to which Nigeria's Christian population is being subjected with the knowledge and complicity of its government.  To his great credit, President Trump intervened there last Christmas, killing large numbers of jihadists responsible for such predations. Now, he must redouble his efforts to hold them and their governmental enablers accountable. This is Frank Gaffney.

Our guest is Dr. HENRY CLOUD, NYT Best-selling author of over 20 million books, global leadership expert, renowned psychologist and author of the new book Your Desired Future. We discuss discovering your purpose, finding the right job, leadership recent learnings, and much more. Plus check out the April Top Ten Leadership List. Make sure to visit http://h3leadership.com to access the full list and all the show notes. Share them with your team, repost the lists, and follow and subscribe. Thanks again to our partners for this episode: GENERIS – one of the biggest challenges today is building a culture of generosity. But our friends at Generis have the proven giving strategies that will help accelerate generosity in your church, school, college or non-profit. For over 30 years Generis has helped thousands of churches and non profits develop a sustainable culture of generosity to fund their God-inspired vision. Get started at http://generis.com to schedule a conversation with one of their incredible consultants. It will be worth your time. Again, visit http://generis.com to get started. Generis has the experience and heart to inspire generosity, advance your mission, and grow your impact for the Kingdom. And OPEN DOORS - Get the latest FREE 2026 World Watch List and prayer guide at http://opendoorsus.org. Since they were founded by Brother Andrew nearly 70 years ago, Open Doors has become the world's largest on-the-ground network working to strengthen persecuted Christians. 380 million Christians face high levels of persecution for their faith- 1 in 7 worldwide. Download the FREE World Watch List now. Plus the Prayer Guide gives you the World Watch List, real stories of persecuted Christians, profiles of all 50 countries and specific ways to pray for each one. Again, visit http://opendoorsus.org.

Did you know open doors give the enemy access to your soul? Many believers don't know that unhealed trauma, "AKA" soul wounds, can quietly give the enemy access to their mind, will, and emotions. Not to mention; their identity in Christ. Unfortunately, many believers have been taught that healing and deliverance are optional or extra rather than essential to becoming whole in Christ. When we ignore God's truth, we often end up managing "symptoms" instead of addressing the spiritual and emotional roots. Unhealed wounds linger. Trauma stays active. Patterns and cycles repeat. Open doors fuel unnecessary warfare and cause havoc to our relationship, healing, and healing progression! If you've been feeling drained, confused, or stuck in vicious cycles that don't align with your faith in Jesus Christ ... This episode of The Vertical Relationship Show, will help you identify access points, healing, deliverance, and what you need to experience victory in your life! Chapters: *   **00:00:00** - Welcome to Vertical Relationship Show with Melia! *   **00:00:30** - Are You Being Harassed? *   **00:01:00** - Rooted in Jesus: Inner Healing & Deliverance is Key *   **00:01:30** - Harassment Sources: Unpacking the Roots *   **00:02:30** - Social Media Rollercoaster: Devil's Playground? *   **00:03:00** - Hosea 4:6: Knowledge is Power! *   **00:03:30** - Stand Firm: Don't Take the Devil's Darts! *   **00:04:00** - Mind, Body, Soul, Spirit: A United Front *   **00:04:30** - Evil Intruders: Finding the Cracks *   **00:05:00** - Saved, But Still Harassed? Warfare is Needed! *   **00:05:30** - Demons & Hosts: Why They Need Human Hosts *   **00:06:00** - Permission Granted: How Demons Get In; Trauma *   **00:06:30** - Flesh: The Winning Ticket for Demons *   **00:07:00** - Luke 11: The Impure Spirit's Return *   **00:08:00** - Torment: The Wedge Between You & God *   **00:08:30** - Root Cause: Lasting Healing Awaits *   **00:09:00** - Inner Healing First, Deliverance Second *   **00:09:30** - Gentle Deliverance: No Shouting Needed *   **00:10:00** - Jumbled Emotions: The Harassment Invitation *   **00:11:00** - Salvation Isn't Enough: Soul Work Needed *   **00:11:30** - Healing & Deliverance: The Complete Package *   **00:12:00** - "Fear Not" Audiobook Bundle + Bonuses! *   **00:12:30** - God's Love: Freedom is Your Birthright! *   **00:13:00** - Spread His Love: Join God's Mission *   **00:14:00** - Learn More about Melia & her Services *   **00:14:30** - Blessings & Closing! Blessings-  Melia's Services -> https://meliadiana.com/our-services Melia's Books ->https://meliadiana.com/books Melia's Courses -> https://meliadiana.com/vertical-relationship-academy Prophetic Gatekeeper Manuscript Specialist -> https://meliadiana.com/prophetic-gatekeeper-manuscript-specialist    

The All Local Afternoon Update for Friday, April 24th 2026

Artist: Radoo (Russia) Name: The Author's Sign Mix [April, 2026] Genre: Deep House / Melodic House / Indie Dance Release Date: 22.04.2026 Exclusive: Deep House Moscow In this mix you listen to 13 works from Deep to Melodic House and Indie Dance tracks produced by Radoo. Melancholic «Miss Me», funky mid of the mix and deep dreamy «Open Doors» is a journey in Radoo's music world. Enjoy! Check the tracklist via link and add favorite track in your playlist. Radoo (RU) ‒ https://soundcloud.com/radoomusic Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/radoo.music/ CONTACT (DHM): Email — deephousemoscow@hotmail.com Follow us: www.facebook.com/deephousemsk/ www.instagram.com/deephousemoscow/ vk.com/deephousemsk/

Author Caryn Kilgore teaches on how open doors-such as generational sins and ties, immorality, addiction, and the occult and false religion-disrupt your life and give the adversary access to your heart and mind. Drawing on decades of biblical study, Caryn provides a practical guide to identifying and closing these spiritual doors.This transformative teaching on her book equips you with the actionable steps you need to break free from the bondages of sin, eliminate distractions, and accelerate your spiritual growth.Do you have any open doors? Take control of your spiritual journey-by blocking harmful paths-and step into peace by discovering true freedom in Jesus Christ

Don't forget to grab your free scripture journal at ⁠⁠⁠PrayingChristianWomen.com/journal ⁠⁠⁠today!What do you do when following Jesus could cost you your family, your freedom, or even your life? This week, Rachel Morley, the Senior SRP Specialist for Open Doors, joins Jaime for an eye-opening and deeply moving conversation about the realities facing the persecuted church today. In this episode, Rachel shares the unique, often hidden, and complex challenges that Christian women face in hostile regions around the world. She opens up about the heartbreaking reality of secret believers, the threat of forced marriages, and the profound cost of choosing Christ in places like Afghanistan, Somalia, India and Bangladesh. Rachel also unpacks incredible stories of resilience that prove God is still doing the impossible in impossible places. From believers finding peace in the face of familial betrayal to Muslims encountering Jesus in miraculous dreams and visions, this conversation highlights the unbreakable spirit of the global church. She also introduces a powerful, simple way to intercede when you don't have the answers: the "somehow" prayer. You'll walk away inspired by the courageous faith of our persecuted brothers and sisters, reminded that God's light shines brightest in the darkest places, and equipped with practical ways to stand with them in prayer. Visit ODUS.org to learn more about how you can support persecuted believers, explore the World Watch List at ODUS.org/WWL, and follow them on Facebook at Open Doors US for daily prayer requests, videos, and stories of hope. Discover More: Explore additional episodes of Praying Christian Women, Mindful Christian Prayers, and other Christian podcasts at Lifeaudio.com Check out our new podcast, Christian True-Crime Junkies!, on Apple, Spotify, or anywhere you listen to podcasts! Connect with Us: Stay updated and engage with our community: On Substack @PrayingChristianWomen On Facebook @PrayingChristianWomen On Instagram @PrayingChristianWomen On YouTube: @PrayingChristianWomen Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Author Caryn Kilgore teaches on how open doors-such as generational sins and ties, immorality, addiction, and the occult and false religion-disrupt your life and give the adversary access to your heart and mind. Drawing on decades of biblical study, Caryn provides a practical guide to identifying and closing these spiritual doors.This transformative teaching on her book equips you with the actionable steps you need to break free from the bondages of sin, eliminate distractions, and accelerate your spiritual growth.Do you have any open doors? Take control of your spiritual journey-by blocking harmful paths-and step into peace by discovering true freedom in Jesus Christ

It's Monday, April 13th, A.D. 2026. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 140 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Adam McManus Pakistani Muslim threatened to kill Christian woman for not converting On Easter Sunday, in Muslim-majority Pakistan, police arrested a Muslim man accused of threatening to kill a Christian woman if she refused to convert to Islam and marry him, reports Morning Star News. Imran Masih in the Sahiwal District, said his 20-year-old niece, Laiba Javed, received a handwritten note from Rehman Irfan on April 2nd demanding that she convert to Islam and marry him by April 15th. In the note, Irfan warned that he would have her killed if she refused. Laiba, who works in Lahore, had returned to her ancestral village to celebrate Easter with relatives when she received the note. Masih said, “Irfan, [the Muslim man] who is a former schoolmate of Laiba, came to our house with two armed accomplices when she was alone. He handed her a letter at gunpoint stating that he loved her and would go to any extent to marry her after converting her.”  Not exactly the typical romantic gesture. Laiba immediately informed her family, who approached police. They booked him for issuing threats. Not surprisingly, she has since left the village due to safety concerns, though they remain worried about her security. According to a study by the Lahore-based Center for Social Justice, 515 cases of abduction and forced conversion involving minority women and girls were reported between 2021 and 2025. Hindu girls accounted for 69 percent or 353 cases, followed by Christian girls at 31 percent or 160 cases, while two cases involved Sikh victims. Additionally, more than half of the victims were between 14 and 18 years old, and about 20 percent were under 14. Religiously speaking, 96% of the Pakistani population is Muslim. Open Doors has documented that Pakistan is the eighth most oppressive country worldwide for Christians. Hegseth: “Iran begged for this ceasefire” On April 8th, War Secretary Pete Hegseth said Operation Epic Fury was a resounding success. HEGSETH: “Iran begged for this ceasefire, and we all know it. As the president 'truthed' this morning, ‘A big day for world peace.' “Iran wants it to happen. They've had enough. Operation: Epic Fury was a historic and overwhelming victory on the battlefield, a capital ‘V' military victory.” Iran peace talks underway as Vance arrives in Pakistan President Donald Trump said that talks with Iran have begun, adding that global oil shipping is finding alternatives to the Strait of Hormuz, reports NewsNation.com. Trump predicted the strait would reopen in the “not too distant future.” He warned that if negotiations do not go well, the U.S. is prepared to “reset,” saying, “We're ready to go.” The negotiations between the United States and Iran in Islamabad, Pakistan, on ending the six-week conflict are the first face-to-face talks between the two nations since 1979. Vice President J.D. Vance is leading the U.S. delegation, which also includes special Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff; Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner; and deputy national security adviser Dr. Andy Baker. Franklin Graham compares Trump to Biblical Esther On Good Friday, Rev. Franklin Graham prayed a powerful prayer at the White House as President Donald Trump stood behind him. GRAHAM: “Father, You tell us in the book of Esther that the Persians, the Iranians, were wanting to kill every Jew -- woman, child -- and do it all in one day. But You raised up Esther to save the Jewish people, Father, we thank you. “Today, the Iranians, the wicked regime of this government, wants to kill every Jew and destroy them with an atomic fire. But You have raised up President Trump. You've raised him up for such a time as this. And Father, we pray that You'll give him victory.” In Esther 4:14, Esther's guardian Mordecai, concerned about the fate of the Jews in light of Haman's threats, said, “For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” Franklin Graham concluded his prayer at the White House with these words. GRAHAM: “Father, we pray for our military that you'd watch over and protect them. Father, we pray for the people of Iran who want freedom to be set free from these Islamic lunatics. “Father, we thank you for Your Son, Jesus Christ, who came to this earth to take our sins, that He died and shed His blood on a cross for our sins, that He was buried. He took our sins to the grave, but You raised Him to life. Father, we thank You and we praise You, and we give You the glory. Father, protect President Trump. We pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.” Public school fully embraces Muslim Holidays, calls Easter ‘Spring break' John Overton High School, a taxpayer-funded public school in Nashville, Tennessee, has drawn national outrage after the Nashville Banner newspaper published a feature story celebrating the school's decision to fully embrace the Islamic holidays.  Not only does the school provide a food-free zone during lunchtime for Muslim students who are fasting during Ramadan, but the Muslim kids have reserved space on campus to pray.   In addition, Muslim students are also provided electronic hall passes so they can leave class for 15 minutes to pray, and teachers decorate their rooms with Muslim holiday decor.  For example, there's a map of Kurdistan above one teacher's desk and a box of prayer mats in the corner that students often borrow to pray at school.  Plus, Overton High School's cafeteria was decorated with gold and blue stars, moons, lanterns, and string lights, proclaiming, “Ramadan Mubarak” which means “Blessed Ramadan.” At least two Tennessee congressmen are disturbed by the school's coziness with the Islamic holidays. On the X platform, Republican Congressman Andy Ogles  wrote, “Meanwhile, Christians have seen every trace of their religion erased from American education.” And Republican Congressman John Rose, who is running for the Republican nomination to be governor, said “Political correctness has overtaken common sense.” He noted that the school district merely referred to the Christian holy day of Good Friday as “Spring Holiday” on its official calendar. Christian talk show host Todd Starnes asked, “I wonder if Overton High School celebrates the Jewish and Christian faiths with as much gusto as they do the Muslim faith? Do they erect a Nativity in the cafeteria during the 12 days of Christmas? Is there a banner proclaiming that Jesus is the reason for the season? I reached out to the school to find out if classrooms and hallways are decorated to celebrate the Christian holidays, but so far, there's been no response.” Starnes concluded, “And what's especially peculiar is the silence from atheist groups like the Freedom From Religion Foundation and anti-Christian hate groups like the ACLU and Americans United For the Separation of Church and State. That crowd gets triggered by teachers handing out candy canes. But there's not been a word of condemnation about a public school being turned into a taxpayer-funded mosque.” In Exodus 20:3, God commanded, “You shall have no other gods before Me.” Send a polite, 2-sentence letter of objection to Principal Kelby Garner, Overton High School, 4820 Franklin Pike, Nashville, TN 37220. See “A Great Awakening” Christian film by this Thursday And finally, if you have not yet seen the phenomenal Christian historical film entitled “A Great Awakening,” about the unlikely friendship between preacher George Whitefield and founding father Benjamin Franklin, get your tickets today. It's only in the theaters through this Thursday, April 16th. Watch the trailer through a special link in our transcript today at www.TheWorldview.com. www.AGreatAwakening.com Close And that's The Worldview on this Monday, April 13th, in the year of our Lord 2026. Follow us on X or subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music, or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com.  Plus, you can get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

"The enemy doesn't need to win a massive battle if he can just get you to leave the door unlocked." Most of us view spiritual warfare as a series of spooky, cinematic events, but the reality is much more subtle—and much more personal. We often find ourselves in a cycle of either obsessing over the enemy or ignoring him entirely, while all the while, the "flesh" is leaving doors wide open for him to rent real estate in our hearts. In this episode of The Leader's Cut, Preston Morrison pulls back the curtain on the spiritual mechanics of navigation. If we want the Holy Spirit to move freely, we have to allow Him to cut away the habits and footholds that give the enemy a seat at our table. In this conversation, we're breaking down: The Obsession Trap: Why constantly blaming the enemy for every inconvenience is actually a personal invitation for him to stay. Open Doors & Footholds: Identifying the one thing about yourself you least want to admit—and why that secret might be the longest-standing open door in your life. The Enemy's Notes on You: How to understand the specific angles and triggers the adversary uses against your unique personality and history. Don't Fight Fair: Why trying to resist the enemy on his terms is a losing strategy, and how to practice divine annoyance by doing exactly what he hates most. The Prayer Intercept: Understanding what is happening in the unseen realm when it feels like your requests are being blocked. This isn't about being afraid; it's about being aware. It's time to stop fighting the wrong battles and start closing the doors that were never meant to be open.      

You're talented. You work hard.So why are others getting opportunities you're not?