Concerns over a potential “digital dollar” intensified this week as lawmakers warned that a new form of government-issued currency could reshape how Americans spend and save.

Known as a Central Bank Digital Currency, or CBDC, the proposal would place digital money under the authority of the Federal Reserve. Debate reignited after Rep. Eric Burlison issued a sharp warning.

“Flip a switch, you can’t buy a firearm. Flip another, you can’t donate to your church,” Burlison wrote on X. “China built that system. We are NOT building it here.”

He added, “A Central Bank Digital Currency is a threat to all of our rights and liberties. It must be banned.”

Critics say a CBDC could allow real-time transaction monitoring, restrict purchases and reduce financial privacy. The issue reached Congress during debate over renewing Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act Section 702, where efforts to block the digital currency failed.

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Senate Majority Leader John Thune warned any ban would be “dead on arrival,” while Rep. Scott Perry said Americans “don’t want the government monitoring their bank accounts, telling them what they can buy.”

More than 130 countries are developing CBDCs, with China leading large-scale testing. Several states, including Florida, have already moved to restrict their use. The Federal Reserve has not made a final decision and says it would require congressional approval.

People have been sounding the alarm on this for years, and the warnings are no longer sitting on the fringe. The conversation has reached the highest levels of government, and the framework is already being tested around the world. The question is no longer whether the technology exists. The question is how far it will go.

The book of Revelation clearly lays out a system where control over buying and selling is absolute. That level of control demands one thing: the removal of physical cash and the full transition into a digital system where every transaction can be tracked, approved or denied.

Some refuse to listen as the pieces come together in real time. That refusal changes nothing. Biblical prophecy continues to move forward, step by step, exactly as it was written.

James Lasher, a seasoned writer and editor at Charisma Media, combines faith and storytelling with a journalism background from Otterbein University and ministry experience in Guatemala and at the LA Dream Center. A Marine Corps and Air Force veteran, he is the author of The Revelation of Jesus: A Common Man’s Commentary and a contributor to Charisma magazine. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact media@.

A growing number of near-death testimonies are stirring debate about what lies beyond the veil between life and death. One recent account from a NASA-affiliated scientist describes an impersonal, peaceful consciousness. Another, from a former agnostic turned Christian, describes a direct encounter with Jesus Christ. The stark contrast is forcing a deeper question: What is really on the other side?

As reported by the Daily Mail, oceanographer Ingrid Honkala claims she “died” three times and entered a state of what she called “pure awareness,” describing “a vast intelligence filled with love, clarity and peace.” Her experience lacked any reference to judgment, identity or a personal God, instead portraying a formless, interconnected consciousness.

“Instead of fear, a deep calm came over me,” Honkala said. “The panic disappeared and was replaced by an overwhelming sense of peace and stillness.”

She added, “It felt like being immersed in a vast intelligence filled with love, clarity and peace.”

Honkala now believes death is not the end, but “a transition in the continuum of consciousness,” a view that aligns more with spiritual universalism than biblical doctrine.

A radically different account comes from author and speaker Randy Kay, who says he clinically died after severe illness and encountered a personal, living Savior.

Kay described being drawn out of darkness and into the presence of Jesus, writing, “The light… eventually drew me to the source of that light, Jesus.”

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He said the encounter was not abstract or impersonal, but deeply relational: “My experience being with Jesus was entirely consumed with the love of Jesus Christ… nothing else mattered but being in Jesus’ presence.”

According to Kay, he saw Jesus face-to-face and experienced what he described as overwhelming truth and authority. One moment stood out as defining. “Jesus… whispered, ‘Trust me,’” he said.

Unlike Honkala’s account, Kay’s experience centered on identity, judgment, purpose and the reality of Heaven as a distinct place governed by God.

The contrast between the two testimonies is striking.

One describes:

• No identity
• No judgment
• No personal God

The other describes:

• A personal encounter with Jesus
• A structured Heaven
• Clear spiritual authority and truth

Kay insists the difference is not accidental, pointing directly to the claims of Christ. “Jesus is… the way, the truth, and the life,” he said, emphasizing that access to God comes through Him alone.

These competing accounts are fueling renewed discussion about whether the boundary between the physical and spiritual world is becoming more visible. Scripture describes a reality beyond what the eye can see, and warns that not every spiritual encounter reflects truth.

The apostle Paul wrote that “Satan himself transforms into an angel of light” (2 Cor. 11:14), a warning that deceptive spiritual experiences can appear peaceful, even convincing.

At the same time, the Bible presents a clear and consistent picture of what lies beyond death. Hebrews 9:27 declares that “it is appointed for men to die once, but after this comes the judgment.”

As testimonies like these continue to surface, the divide between experiences that point to Christ and those that do not is becoming more pronounced.

The question is no longer whether something exists beyond death. The question is whether every experience points to the same truth.

And according to Scripture, only one does.

James Lasher, a seasoned writer and editor at Charisma Media, combines faith and storytelling with a journalism background from Otterbein University and ministry experience in Guatemala and at the LA Dream Center. A Marine Corps and Air Force veteran, he is the author of The Revelation of Jesus: A Common Man’s Commentary and a contributor to Charisma magazine. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact media@.

Quantum computing is advancing at a pace that is reshaping technology and global infrastructure, with growing warnings about a coming moment known as “Q-Day,” when current encryption could fail.

“Quantum computing is advancing faster than many experts predicted—and some warn the world may soon face something called ‘Q Day,’” said Josh Peck, host of “Into the Supernatural.”

Unlike traditional computers, quantum systems process information in a fundamentally different way. “Quantum computing uses some mindbending science…to process information at speeds we could barely dream of before,” Peck said.

That speed brings serious implications. Systems that protect banking, communications and sensitive data rely on encryption that could be rendered ineffective. “Today’s top encryption…would take a regular computer about a billion years to crack,” Peck said. “But a working quantum computer could theoretically bust it open in under two minutes.”

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Peck described Q-Day as a turning point. “Q-Day…is the moment when a quantum computer gets powerful enough to break through the encryption we rely on every day,” he said.

Major companies including Google, Microsoft and IBM are actively developing quantum systems, while governments work to prepare for the impact on digital security.

The rapid rise in computing power is drawing attention from those studying Scripture. Peck pointed to Book of Daniel 12:4, which states, “Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.”

He said this acceleration aligns with the kind of global systems described in Book of Revelation 13:16–17.

“This surge in knowledge will likely be the catalyst to fulfill Revelation 13:16-17…where a global system enables control over commerce,” Peck said.

Quantum computing is moving out of the lab and into real-world use, bringing a shift that is already underway.

“This tech rolls out…faster than most expected,” Peck said. “It’s a heads up to pay attention.”

The pace of change is increasing, and the implications are becoming clearer. This moment calls for awareness and discernment as new systems take shape.

James Lasher, a seasoned writer and editor at Charisma Media, combines faith and storytelling with a journalism background from Otterbein University and ministry experience in Guatemala and at the LA Dream Center. A Marine Corps and Air Force veteran, he is the author of The Revelation of Jesus: A Common Man’s Commentary and a contributor to Charisma magazine. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact media@.

In a courtroom, a judge holds the power. Orders are followed. Authority is rarely questioned.

For Rosie Speedlin Gonzalez, that authority appeared absolute until one moment exposed its limits and triggered a chain reaction she could not control. What followed was not a routine disciplinary issue. It became a criminal case.

She first took the bench in 2018, when she was elected as the first openly gay judge in Bexar County, a detail that drew national attention at the time.

It happened during a Dec. 2024 hearing. What began as a disagreement between the judge and a defense attorney escalated rapidly.

Then came the order that changed everything.

“Take her into custody and put her in the (jury) box,” the judge told a bailiff, according to courtroom transcripts cited by the San Antonio Express-News.

Moments later, the record states: “Ms. Russell is placed in handcuffs.”

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A defense attorney was physically detained inside a courtroom. That decision crossed a legal line.

A grand jury indicted Speedlin Gonzalez on charges of unlawful restraint and official oppression after the incident, according to reporting from KSAT.

The felony charge alone carried the possibility of significant prison time.

She was arrested, booked into jail and suspended without pay. The courtroom she once controlled was no longer hers.

The incident did not stand alone. Complaints had already been mounting over her conduct, including allegations of unprofessional and abusive behavior tied to her time on the bench.

The handcuffing incident became the breaking point, but the case never reached a jury.

Instead, a deal was struck.

Speedlin Gonzalez agreed to resign and accept a lifetime ban from ever serving as a judge in Texas. In exchange, prosecutors dropped the charges, calling it “in the interest of justice.”

No conviction. No trial. No prison sentence.

There is no question she lost her position, her authority and her future on the bench. But the outcome leaves a hard reality.

A sitting judge ordered someone handcuffed in her courtroom, faced felony charges and ultimately avoided a criminal conviction.

The system removed her. It did not fully punish her. At one point during the confrontation, she declared she had full control over her courtroom.

For a time, that was true until one decision proved otherwise.

James Lasher, a seasoned writer and editor at Charisma Media, combines faith and storytelling with a journalism background from Otterbein University and ministry experience in Guatemala and at the LA Dream Center. A Marine Corps and Air Force veteran, he is the author of The Revelation of Jesus: A Common Man’s Commentary and a contributor to Charisma magazine. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact media@.

An ongoing earthquake swarm in western Nevada has rattled residents for weeks as hundreds of tremors continue striking near Silver Springs, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

The Daily Mail reported that more than 200 earthquakes have been detected in the region since April 20, including a magnitude 5.2 earthquake on May 1 that was felt across Nevada and parts of California. Since Sunday alone, 19 additional earthquakes have struck the area, with five occurring Monday. The strongest Monday tremors reached magnitude 2.5.

Scientists say the seismic activity is centered in Nevada’s Basin and Range Province, where the Earth’s crust is gradually stretching and thinning. The region also sits within the Walker Lane seismic zone, an active fault system known for frequent earthquake activity. According to the Daily Mail, “The Earth’s crust in this region has gradually stretched and thinned, creating frequent faulting and seismic activity.”

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The article noted that the recent swarm included several stronger earthquakes, including a magnitude 4.8 quake near Carson City on April 22 followed by a magnitude 4.3 and magnitude 5.2 quake just minutes apart on May 1. Since the larger May 1 event, dozens of additional tremors have continued south of Silver Springs and near Lahontan Reservoir.

Residents described powerful shaking during the stronger quakes. “It’s the same area that’s been rocking us the past week. It’s not stopping; I fear volcanic activity,” one person said following the April 22 earthquake. Another resident wrote on Facebook, “Our house shook pretty good. It lasted longer than most do.”

The continuing seismic unrest comes as another cluster of earthquakes recently struck near the highly classified Area 51 military installation in southern Nevada, intensifying online speculation surrounding unusual activity in the region. According to reports citing U.S. Geological Survey data, at least 17 earthquakes were recorded near Area 51 over 24 hours between April 29 and April 30, including a magnitude 4.4 quake at a shallow depth.

Geophysicist Stefan Burns described the location as “an unusual place to get an earthquake,” noting the shallow depth made the activity noteworthy because of the region’s history of underground military and nuclear testing. The area surrounding Area 51 and the Nevada Test Site has long been linked to Cold War-era weapons testing, fueling renewed online theories connecting the recent tremors to classified activity and UFO speculation.

No injuries have been reported from the ongoing swarm, though residents across the region say the repeated shaking has left many on edge.

James Lasher, a seasoned writer and editor at Charisma Media, combines faith and storytelling with a journalism background from Otterbein University and ministry experience in Guatemala and at the LA Dream Center. A Marine Corps and Air Force veteran, he is the author of The Revelation of Jesus: A Common Man’s Commentary and a contributor to Charisma magazine. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact media@.

A San Antonio church is responding with forgiveness after surveillance cameras captured a man allegedly breaking into the facility and stealing equipment in the early morning hours, according to local news reports.

KENS 5 reported that the break-in happened around 3 a.m. on April 28 at CRC Christian Revival Church on the city’s south side. Surveillance footage reportedly showed the suspect entering the property multiple times and taking sound equipment, instruments and cash from the church.

“The first thing he did was he broke open the donation box that belongs to the Harlandale Methodist Church,” senior pastor Luis Martinez told KENS 5. “Then he entered into our sanctuary down here and he stole a couple of mixers from us, and then on his way out, I think he stole also a couple of keyboard[s] and some speakers.”

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“That belong to the other congregation that we share the sanctuary with,” Martinez added.

According to San Antonio police, the suspect broke into the church, left the scene and later returned. The reported losses, including vandalism damage to a back door, totaled about $1,500.

Despite the theft, Martinez chose to respond with compassion rather than anger.

“Somebody who’s lost,” Martinez said when asked who would steal from a church.

The pastor also reflected on his own past experiences and why he believes mercy matters.

“I was a person that was out there in the street, you know, stealing, hustling, so I know what it feels like to be on the other side, and I wouldn’t want anything less than mercy and forgiveness extended to that person,” Martinez said.

The suspect has not been identified or arrested. Martinez said he hopes the person responsible has a change of heart.

“If he’s watching this and if anybody knows any information on that, that they feel moved to reach out and do the right thing to support CRC Christian Revival Church,” he said.

James Lasher, a seasoned writer and editor at Charisma Media, combines faith and storytelling with a journalism background from Otterbein University and ministry experience in Guatemala and at the LA Dream Center. A Marine Corps and Air Force veteran, he is the author of The Revelation of Jesus: A Common Man’s Commentary and a contributor to Charisma magazine. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact media@.

The Sanhedrin recently issued a formal letter to the Iranian people claiming that the ancient Persian prophet Zoroaster was actually Mordechai from the biblical book of Esther, according to a report from Israel365 News.

The letter, signed by “the Elder Brother, the Rabbis of the Mount Zion Sanhedrin Court,” described the Jewish and Persian peoples as having a shared spiritual history dating back roughly 2,500 years. The Sanhedrin connected the claim to both biblical history and current tensions between Israel and Iran.

According to the report, the Sanhedrin declared, “The only explanation for this wondrous phenomenon is that the God of Israel, Creator of the world, protects the soldiers of Israel and brings success to our wars.”

The article explained that the Sanhedrin’s argument relies heavily on research by Dr. Chaim Hafetz, who claims Jewish and Persian historical traditions describe the same individuals under different names. The letter specifically tied the theory to the story of Queen Esther, King Ahasuerus and the rise of Mordechai in the Persian Empire.

The Sanhedrin stated plainly: “The name Mordechai could be associated with the Babylonian idol Merodach or Marduch. Therefore, Mordechai preferred to become known by the name ‘dod Esther’ — Zoroaster.”

According to the article, the Sanhedrin also argued that the core teachings of ancient Zoroastrianism mirror biblical Judaism. “All the core beliefs of the original prophet Zoroaster correspond to Judaism: the struggle between good and evil, free choice, the vision of the end of days, good thought, good speech, and good action,” the letter stated.

The article listed several reasons the Sanhedrin believes Mordechai and Zoroaster were the same person:

• The timelines of the Persian Empire and the events in the book of Esther closely align.
• The name “Zoroaster” is interpreted by the Sanhedrin as meaning “elder of Esther” or “dod Esther.”
• The Sanhedrin identifies the Persian figure Hutaosa with Esther’s Hebrew name, Hadassah.
• Zoroastrianism’s monotheistic beliefs closely resemble Judaism.
• The struggle between Zoroaster and the Magi is viewed as parallel to Mordechai’s battle with Haman.
• The influence of Esther over King Ahasuerus mirrors accounts of Hutaosa influencing Persian rulers.
• References in the Talmud to “Ahormiz” are interpreted as references to the God of Israel.
• The “mass conversions” mentioned in Esther 8:17 are viewed as the spread of a monotheistic Persian faith tied to Mordechai.
• The Sanhedrin argues Mordechai’s fame throughout Persia only makes sense if he later became known historically as Zoroaster.

The letter concluded with a direct appeal to the Iranian people, urging them to return to what the Sanhedrin described as the original monotheistic faith of ancient Persia and its historic relationship with Israel.

James Lasher, a seasoned writer and editor at Charisma Media, combines faith and storytelling with a journalism background from Otterbein University and ministry experience in Guatemala and at the LA Dream Center. A Marine Corps and Air Force veteran, he is the author of The Revelation of Jesus: A Common Man’s Commentary and a contributor to Charisma magazine. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact media@.

A recent video from Perry Stone has ignited widespread debate across the UFO and disclosure community after the longtime prophecy preacher claimed pastors were privately warned about future government disclosures involving alleged extraterrestrial phenomena.

In the video, Stone said a trusted friend informed him that “a large number of pastors” had been invited to hear concerns from individuals connected to the U.S. government regarding information allegedly set to be released publicly.

“Some of the people who were in the meeting were telling us as pastors, you need to prepare your people and you need to get ready to answer them for what you’re about to hear being released,” Stone said.

Stone claimed the discussions involved “aliens,” “unidentified flying object spacecraft,” and “crafts that have been discovered that are not allegedly a part of our planet.” He also referenced reports of “very strange reptilian-looking creatures and other things that almost sound like something out of a sci-fi movie.”

The comments quickly spread across social media and online disclosure forums, where users began debating whether Stone’s remarks point to a larger coordinated effort involving future UFO revelations. Clips from the video have circulated widely among UFO researchers, prophecy channels and conspiracy-focused communities, fueling speculation about possible government disclosures and the role faith leaders may play in responding to public reaction.

Adding fuel to the proverbial social media firestorm, Alan DiDio of Revival Nation publicly backed Stone’s account on social media, writing, “I was in this meeting, and it’s absolutely true.”

I was in this meeting, and it's absolutely true.

— Alan DiDio (@alandidio) May 5, 2026

Stone said the alleged disclosures could create two very different responses among the public. “You’re going to have people who are going to say if there are galaxies and there are allegedly other creations in the galaxies, then the whole creation story is a myth,” he said, while others would begin turning to churches for answers.

He also suggested the growing focus on UFO narratives could eventually be used to explain mysterious disappearances tied to biblical prophecy. “My son believes that this idea of people disappearing, they’re setting it up so that when the return of the Lord takes place, and people disappear, here’s how they’re going to explain it away. Alien invasion.”

As conversations surrounding UFOs, government disclosure, and unexplained phenomena continue to intensify, the moment serves as another reminder of the absolute necessity for spiritual discernment in these days.

Deception is running rampant across every facet of life these days, making it more important than ever for us to remain grounded in Scripture, seek wisdom through prayer and test every claim carefully rather than being swept away by fear, confusion or speculation.

James Lasher, a seasoned writer and editor at Charisma Media, combines faith and storytelling with a journalism background from Otterbein University and ministry experience in Guatemala and at the LA Dream Center. A Marine Corps and Air Force veteran, he is the author of The Revelation of Jesus: A Common Man’s Commentary and a contributor to Charisma magazine. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact media@.

The massive Darvaza gas crater in Turkmenistan, widely known as the “Gates of Hell,” is beginning to dim after burning continuously for more than five decades. Scientists and officials say the flames have significantly weakened in recent years as nearby drilling operations redirect methane away from the crater.

The fiery crater formed in 1971 after Soviet drilling operations reportedly collapsed into a natural gas cavern beneath the Karakum Desert. Engineers ignited the leaking gas, expecting it to burn out quickly. Instead, the flames continued for decades, turning the site into one of the world’s most unusual tourist attractions.

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According to reports highlighted by scientists at a hydrocarbon development conference as well as the New York Times, the fire has now “diminished to nearly a third of their original size,” and flames once visible for miles can now only be seen up close.

Infrared imaging showed heat intensity from the crater has dropped by more than 75% over the last several years.

Turkmen authorities continue efforts to extinguish the crater entirely. Reuters previously reported that Turkmenistan’s government has long sought to close the site over environmental and economic concerns, while researchers now believe newly drilled wells could eventually “halt the gas flow fueling the fire.”

James Lasher, a seasoned writer and editor at Charisma Media, combines faith and storytelling with a journalism background from Otterbein University and ministry experience in Guatemala and at the LA Dream Center. A Marine Corps and Air Force veteran, he is the author of The Revelation of Jesus: A Common Man’s Commentary and a contributor to Charisma magazine. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact media@.

Hundreds of thousands of Americans across parts of California and Arizona were warned Monday to stay indoors as dangerous dust and pollution filled the air, creating what the Environmental Protection Agency classified as “hazardous” air quality conditions.

According to the Daily Mail, “a massive plume of ‘hazardous’ air has engulfed a roughly 100-mile-wide stretch of California and Arizona,” impacting communities including Yuma, Arizona, Imperial County and the Coachella Valley. Officials said strong winds carrying desert dust pushed levels of harmful particulate matter sharply higher throughout the region.

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The National Weather Service warned that “everyone can be affected,” but added that “sensitive groups such as people with lung or heart disease, older adults, people who are pregnant, children, and those who spend a lot of time outdoors are at greater risk,” according to the Daily Mail report.

The article noted that the polluted air can lead to inflammation, breathing problems and increased risks of heart attacks and strokes. In Brawley, California, air quality monitors reportedly recorded an air quality index of 1,365, far exceeding the EPA’s normal hazardous threshold.

Officials urged residents to keep windows and doors closed, avoid outdoor activity and use air purifiers or air conditioning when possible.

As these communities face dangerous conditions, let us pray for protection over every family affected, for those struggling with respiratory and heart conditions and for first responders and medical workers serving people throughout the region.

James Lasher, a seasoned writer and editor at Charisma Media, combines faith and storytelling with a journalism background from Otterbein University and ministry experience in Guatemala and at the LA Dream Center. A Marine Corps and Air Force veteran, he is the author of The Revelation of Jesus: A Common Man’s Commentary and a contributor to Charisma magazine. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact media@.