Secretary of State Marco Rubio spends his days helping shape American foreign policy while navigating wars, hostage negotiations and global crises. Yet during a recent interview with Pastor Greg Laurie, the conversation focused less on geopolitics than on the Gospel, the return of Jesus Christ and the hope Christians have in Him.

Laurie praised Rubio’s remarks during the memorial service for Charlie Kirk, saying they clearly communicated the heart of the Christian faith.

“I thought you did a better job presenting the gospel than some preachers I’ve heard,” Laurie told Rubio. “It was theologically accurate, it was passionate, and it was also understandable.”

Rubio responded that he spoke from the heart.

“I think these things always come best from the heart,” he said.

‘God Took on the Form of a Man’

Rubio recalled the message he shared at Kirk’s memorial, beginning with humanity’s creation and the entrance of sin into the world.

“His deep belief that we were all created, every single one of us, before the beginning of time by the hands of the God of the universe, an all-powerful God who loved us and created us for the purpose of living with Him in eternity.”

“But then sin entered the world and separated us from our creator.”

“And so God took on the form of a man and came down and lived among us.”

“And He suffered like men. And He died like a man. But on the third day, He rose unlike any mortal man.”

Rubio emphasized the physical resurrection of Christ.

“He didn’t rise as a ghost or as a spirit, but as flesh.”

He concluded by pointing to Christ’s promised return.

“And then He rose to heaven, but He promised He would return. And He will.”

‘Christians Should Never Live in Fear’

Laurie later asked Rubio how he handles the enormous responsibility of serving as secretary of state while facing increasingly unstable world events.

Rubio said Christians have a unique reason to live without fear.

“Of all the faiths in the world, and I’m not prejudging or criticizing anybody, but of all the faiths in the world, the ones who should never live in fear or the ones who should never live in worry that becomes paralyzing are Christians because we know how it ends.”

He compared the Christian life to watching a movie whose ending is already known.

“You know how it ends. You know the lead character survives, but nonetheless, you still get nervous every time you see it.”

Rubio then pointed to the promises found in Scripture.

“We know that at the end of time there’ll be a new heaven and a new earth and that Jesus will return.”

He acknowledged that difficult days will come before Christ returns but reminded believers of the certainty of God’s promises.

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“We know how the movie ends. We know how the story ends.”

“We don’t know when it ends. We can’t detail exactly how that’s going to play out, but we know generally the thematic of it and the thematic of it is victory and the restoration of what we should have been from the very beginning.”

Rubio also reflected on why death exists.

“We were not… death is not a natural… it’s natural because it entered into the world through sin.”

“But we were never meant to die. We were not created to die.”

Living Faithfully While Waiting for Christ’s Return

Laurie asked Rubio whether current world events make him think Jesus’ return could be near.

Rubio cautioned against trying to predict the timing.

“If you look at the 2,000 years of Christianity every generation has believed they lived in the end times.”

He noted that every era has experienced global turmoil and pointed to Jesus’ own teaching about His return.

“I think it’s almost a trap… we’re basically told that it… whether it’s death or the second coming it’ll come as a thief in the night.”

“So, rather than try to predict it or anticipate it, I think you just sort of understand that’s how the story ends and in the meantime, this is what we’re called to do — to live our faith.”

‘Ours Is a Faith of the Cross’

Laurie also asked Rubio whether openly living out his Christian faith has come at a political cost.

Rubio said followers of Christ should expect opposition.

“The gospel’s clear you’ll be hated for it.”

“Ours is a faith of the cross.”

“It’s not the faith of winning the lottery… and there’s nothing wrong with wealth. There’s nothing wrong with success. There’s nothing wrong with happiness.”

“But I think it’s a misunderstanding of Christianity to believe that it’s a… faith that leads to… happiness and prosperity.”

Reflecting on church history, Rubio said Christianity has often been strongest when believers remained faithful under pressure.

“If you look at the era of Christianity where Christianity has been strongest and most vibrant is when it’s countercultural.”

“When it’s been strong and the most vibrant is when it’s been oppressed.”

“We don’t seek oppression. We don’t seek to… be… hated, but it’s going to happen.”

A Public Witness

Laurie concluded the interview by expressing gratitude that Rubio has been willing to speak openly about his faith while serving in one of the nation’s highest offices.

“I think that God has raised you up for this moment to do exactly what you’re doing,” Laurie said.

Throughout the interview, Rubio consistently returned to the same message. While the world faces uncertainty and conflict, Christians have reason for confidence because of the Gospel, Christ’s resurrection and the promise that one day He will return.

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 new study reported on by the Daily Mail is drawing attention for a provocative claim: People who gossip and spread rumors are more likely to be in romantic relationships and have children.

Researchers analyzed nearly 1,500 adults and concluded that what they call “relational aggression” — gossiping, spreading rumors and socially excluding others — may have offered an evolutionary advantage by helping people attract or keep romantic partners. The authors even suggested the behavior “could be under natural selection” in modern humans.

From a purely descriptive standpoint, the researchers identified a statistical association. They did not establish that gossip causes relationship success or larger families.

For us as Christians, however, the more important question is not whether a sinful behavior can appear to produce an earthly advantage. Scripture repeatedly shows that sin can seem profitable for a season while ultimately producing destruction.

The Bible never treats gossip as a virtue, a relationship strategy or a tool for success. Instead, it consistently portrays it as something that damages friendships, divides communities and grieves God.

The danger of calling sin an advantage

Throughout history, people have justified sinful behavior because it appeared to “work.”

Lying can gain temporary advantages. Greed can produce wealth. Pride can bring worldly recognition. Manipulation can sometimes achieve influence.

That does not make those behaviors righteous.

Likewise, even if someone used gossip to damage a rival’s reputation or elevate their own social standing, Scripture would never redefine that behavior as good because it produced a desired outcome.

The Christian standard is not, “Does this increase my success?” It is, “Does this honor God?”

Jesus calls His followers to holiness, not merely effectiveness.

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Scripture’s response to gossip

Rather than encouraging gossip, God’s Word repeatedly warns us against it.

• Proverbs 16:28: “A perverse man sows strife, and a whisperer separates the best of friends.” Gossip doesn’t strengthen relationships—it destroys them. Even close friendships can be shattered when rumors and whispered accusations take root.
• Proverbs 11:13: “A talebearer reveals secrets, but he who is of a faithful spirit conceals the matter.” God honors people who can be trusted. Mature believers protect confidences instead of using someone else’s failures or private struggles as conversation material.
• Proverbs 20:19: “He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with a gossip.” This is one of Scripture’s strongest warnings. Rather than embracing gossipers because they seem influential or entertaining, we are told to be cautious about allowing them into our closest circles.
• Proverbs 26:20: “Where there is no wood, the fire goes out; so where there is no talebearer, strife ceases.” Gossip fuels conflict the way wood fuels a fire. Refusing to pass along rumors is often the quickest way to stop division before it spreads.
• Leviticus 19:16: “You shall not go up and down as a talebearer among your people…” Even under the Old Covenant, God made it clear that spreading damaging stories about others had no place among His people. Our words should protect our community, not tear it apart.
• Ephesians 4:29: “Let no unwholesome word proceed out of your mouth, but only what is good for building up, that it may minister grace to the hearers.” Before speaking, we should ask a simple question: Will these words build someone up or tear someone down? If they don’t impart grace, they shouldn’t leave our mouths.
• James 4:11: “Do not speak evil of one another, brothers.” Speaking negatively about fellow believers is more than poor behavior—it undermines the unity Christ desires for His Church.
• James 1:26: “If anyone among you thinks himself to be religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless.” James doesn’t separate spiritual maturity from our speech. A tongue that is out of control reveals a heart that still needs to be surrendered to God.
• Psalm 141:3: “Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips.” David recognized that controlling our words is difficult. This verse is a reminder to ask God daily for wisdom before we speak.
• 1 Peter 4:15: “But let none of you suffer… as a busybody in other men’s matters.” Gossip often begins with inserting ourselves into situations that aren’t ours to manage. Peter encourages us to mind our own affairs instead of becoming consumed with everyone else’s.

Discernment in an age of conflicting messages

Studies can offer useful observations about human behavior, but Christians are called to evaluate every claim through the lens of Scripture.

If a culture begins celebrating a behavior that God warns against, our response should not be to adjust Scripture to fit the culture. It should be to let Scripture remain our standard.

Whether intentional or not, presenting gossip as something beneficial risks normalizing a sin that God repeatedly condemns. We are called to be people whose words heal rather than wound, unite rather than divide, and reflect the character of Christ rather than the values of the world.

Our culture may reward gossip for a time. God’s Word calls us to something better.

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@.

For nearly 2,000 years, the songs of the Levites and their daily psalms used for temple services have been absent from the Temple Mount.

This week, that changed.

In a development that drew global attention, three Levites ascended the Temple Mount and sang the Shir shel Yom, the daily psalm for Tuesday traditionally recited during Temple worship.

The event comes just days after reports of another potential red heifer being born in Israel, adding to a growing list of developments surrounding efforts to restore Temple service.

According to a report by Israel365 News, the singers described the moment as the partial fulfillment of a centuries-old hope.

“We were moved today to fulfill — partially — our dream as sons of Levi: to sing the song of God on the holy mountain. Today, thank God, there are several organizations of Levites preparing for the day when we can stand again on the platform, and we invite our Levite brothers to inquire and join.”

The event was organized by the Beyadenu movement, which encourages Jewish prayer and worship on the Temple Mount. Organizers said the three Levites have been training together and periodically ascending the Mount to sing the daily psalm at the time corresponding to the ancient morning offering. A video of Tuesday’s event was also released.

This was not the first time the three Levites had ascended the Temple Mount to sing.

Around December 2025, the same group gathered to perform a song in memory of the victims of the Bondi Junction terror attack in Australia.

More Than One Event

By itself, the return of Levitical singing is historically remarkable.

Viewed alongside other recent developments, however, it becomes another piece of a much larger picture.

Over the past several years, preparations connected to a future Temple have steadily advanced. Priests have continued training for Temple service. Sacred vessels and priestly garments have been recreated. The Temple Institute has continued its work surrounding the biblical red heifer, and recent reports of another potential red heifer born in Israel have once again fueled discussion about ritual purification and future Temple worship.

Now, after nearly two millennia of silence, Levites are once again publicly performing one of their ancient Temple responsibilities on the Temple Mount.

The organizers emphasized that this is only the beginning, calling for additional Levites to join the growing choir in preparation for expanded service.

The article also notes that the singers stood on the historic 15 steps associated with the Songs of Ascents and that Levitical music was never viewed as mere ceremony.

Quoting 1 Chronicles 25:1, the organizers wrote:

David and the commanders of the army set apart for the service the sons of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun, who prophesied with lyres, harps, and cymbals.

According to Jewish tradition cited in the report, Temple sacrifices offered without the accompanying Levitical songs were considered incomplete.

Why Christians Are Watching

For us as Christians, the significance of these developments is not that they establish a date for Christ’s return. Scripture is clear that no one knows that day or hour.

Nor do we look to a restored Temple for salvation. Jesus Christ fulfilled the sacrificial system once for all through His death, burial and resurrection.

Even so, many students of Bible prophecy pay close attention because Scripture describes a functioning Temple during the end times.

Daniel 9:27 speaks of sacrifices being halted midway through a future covenant. Jesus referred to the “abomination of desolation” standing in the holy place in Matthew 24:15. The apostle Paul wrote that the man of lawlessness will sit in God’s Temple, proclaiming himself to be God (2 Thess. 2:3-4).

Those passages do not tell us when a Third Temple will be built, nor do they place it before the Rapture. They do, however, describe a future Temple playing a significant role during the Tribulation.

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That is why developments like the return of Levitical singing, ongoing priestly preparations and renewed attention surrounding red heifers continue to capture the attention of Christians around the world.

Whether these events ultimately become part of God’s prophetic timetable remains to be seen.

What cannot be denied is that the movement to restore Temple worship is no longer confined to ancient history or theological discussion. After nearly 2,000 years, Levites are once again singing on the Temple Mount, preparations continue on multiple fronts, and the conversation surrounding a future Temple is growing louder with each passing month.

And that is a development worth paying close attention to.

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@.

If Jesus Christ called His Church home today, would we be ready?

That’s the question Pastor Jack Hibbs challenged us to confront as he laid out what he believes is the Bible’s unmistakable message about the rapture. His focus wasn’t on winning an end-times argument. It was on awakening us, the body of Christ, to live every day with the expectation that Jesus could return at any moment.

“Though I do not see Him, I long for Him and I’m looking for Him,” Hibbs said. “I’m commanded in the Bible to look for Him. It’s crystal clear.”

The Scripture That Changed His Mind

Hibbs said one passage completely transformed his understanding of the rapture.

Quoting Jesus’ promise in John 14, he read:

“Let not your heart be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions. And if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.”

He said Christ’s promise forced him to reconsider his previous position.

“Jesus has been preparing a place in Heaven, according to His own words, to bring us there. That’s what He says.”

Then came the question he couldn’t answer.

“I never get to go up there to see the mansions. I never get to go up there to where He has been preparing. I never get to go up there to where He is. There’s no reunion up there with a post-tribulational view. Doesn’t work.”

That realization drove Hibbs back into Scripture.

“I swung back through the Scripture and study slowly,” he said, “but I swung back to the post-tribulational, premillennial, literal view of Scripture, what is also known as futurist view of prophetic interpretation.”

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A Return That Could Happen at Any Moment

Hibbs argued that Christ’s First Coming and Second Coming are both tied to specific prophetic events.

The rapture, he said, is different.

Reading from 1 Corinthians 15, Hibbs emphasized Paul’s words:

“Behold, I tell you a mystery… We shall not all sleep… We shall be changed.”

He pointed to Paul’s repeated use of the word “we.”

“He didn’t say, ‘They shall be changed,'” Hibbs said. “He said… ‘We shall be changed.'”

Hibbs said Paul fully expected Christ could return during his own lifetime.

“Some people are going to be alive when it happens, and their bodies going to be changed without death.”

Hope, Not Endless Arguments

Hibbs acknowledged that Christians have debated the timing of the rapture for generations, but he pointed back to Paul’s conclusion in 1 Thessalonians 4.

“Therefore, comfort one another with these words.”

He urged believers not to allow prophecy to become another reason for division.

“Getting big arguments about this and break fellowship with your friends and create your own denominations and beat pre-tribulation, mid-tribulation, post-tribulationists up, getting a big fight about it? No.”

The purpose of the doctrine, he said, is encouragement.

Live Like Jesus Could Return Today

Hibbs said the doctrine of the rapture isn’t about fear or escaping hardship.

“The rapture is not an escape for fearful people.”

Instead, he said it changes the way we live every day.

“Though I do not see Him, I long for Him and I’m looking for Him. I’m commanded in the Bible to look for Him. It’s crystal clear.”

“And so because I love Him, I want to be ready to meet Him.”

Hibbs also challenged us to reject celebrity culture, internet personalities and human traditions whenever they compete with God’s Word.

“I don’t care what anybody says about that. What does the Bible say?”

He warned believers not to blindly follow popular teachers—including himself.

“Don’t listen to what I have to say. The moment I give you a Bible verse and then I start talking about I went to a delicatessen or an air show, your ears better get perked up and ready for discerning.”

He closed by warning against elevating tradition above Scripture.

“You have replaced the teachings of God with the traditions of men.”

Then Hibbs left believers with one final challenge.

“Back to the Word of God, back to the Bible, and back to the blessed hope and the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.”

Finally, he offered a reminder every one of us should take to heart.

“Don’t let anyone steal your joy. Get ready. He could come back at any moment. Are you ready? In the meantime, let’s be busy about our Father’s business.”

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 prominent Orthodox rabbi is making a bold claim about President Donald Trump’s recent posture toward Israel, arguing that it is not simply the result of politics or diplomacy, but part of God’s dealings with Israel in the last days.

According to reporting by Israel365 News, Rabbi Mendel Kessin believes Trump’s apparent shift from one of Israel’s strongest allies to a leader urging restraint against Iran and Hezbollah fulfills a pattern found in the Torah thousands of years ago.

His conclusions have sparked discussion among Jewish audiences because they touch on Israel’s security, Iran and biblical prophecy. For Christians, however, an important question arises: How should we evaluate these prophetic claims while still recognizing Israel’s central place in God’s prophetic plan?

The answer requires both discernment and humility.

A Rabbi’s Explanation for Trump’s Shift

Kessin rejects conventional political explanations for Trump’s recent actions.

Rather than attributing them to advisers, foreign policy calculations or geopolitical pressures, he argues God is allowing Trump to change course because of Israel’s internal spiritual condition.

“It’s shocking,” Kessin said, according to Israel365 News, “because it looks like Trump has changed. But really, God is giving this punishment because of what the Israeli government is doing. They have no idea of the commotion they’re making in heaven.”

Specifically, Kessin argues Israel’s effort to draft ultra-Orthodox yeshiva students into military service represents an attack on Torah study, which he views as the nation’s greatest source of spiritual protection.

Whether Christians agree with that conclusion is another matter.

While we affirm the authority of the Old Testament and God’s covenant promises concerning Israel, our understanding of redemption, prophecy and salvation is centered on Jesus Christ and the New Testament. We do not interpret biblical prophecy through rabbinic tradition or Kabbalistic teaching, but through the whole counsel of Scripture.

Even so, when respected Jewish teachers begin viewing current events through a prophetic lens, Christians should at least understand what is being said before weighing it against Scripture.

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“Save Me From My Brother”

The centerpiece of Kessin’s argument comes from Genesis 32:11.

As Jacob prepares to meet Esau after years of separation, he prays:

Save me, I pray, from the hand of my brother Esau, for I am afraid he will come and attack me…

Kessin believes the wording points beyond Jacob’s immediate situation.

“The Torah calls it that Esav, that Jacob prays against Esav, and he says, ‘from the hands of my brother,'” Kessin said.

“Take a look at the beginning of the verse. He’s actually calling Esav his brother and he’s praying to God to save him from Esav as his brother.”

He continued, “There will come a day when Esav will be your brother again in the future, and he will try to do what? Kill you. So you’re going to pray: ‘Please God, change his mind. Save me from that.'”

Kessin applies that interpretation directly to Trump, noting that both Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have publicly referred to one another as brothers.

“The Torah refers specifically to Esav, miyad achi, miyad Esav, from the hands of my brother, the hands of Esav, and you have called Trump your brother,” Kessin said.

“It’s amazing when you think about that: a direct reference that you can actually pray for salvation from Esav as your brother. And this is it. Everybody is now praying that Trump reverse himself the way he used to be.”

That interpretation is entirely Kessin’s. Scripture does not identify Donald Trump with Esau, and Christians should be careful not to declare as biblical certainty what Scripture does not explicitly teach.

But the larger question remains worth considering.

If one of Israel’s strongest political allies can become a source of concern almost overnight, what does that remind us about placing our confidence in political leaders?

Iran, Trump and a Different Prophetic Lens

Kessin also argues that Trump has a divinely appointed role in confronting Iran.

“God wants him to remove Iran, and he’s not doing that,” Kessin said. “He’s playing around. It’s ping-pong.”

He sharply criticized negotiations with Tehran, arguing the Iranian regime cannot be trusted to honor agreements.

“The war is not with Iran. It’s with Islam,” Kessin said. “That’s the war.”

Christians should distinguish between Kessin’s interpretation and biblical prophecy.

Many of us have long recognized Persia—modern-day Iran—as one of the nations specifically mentioned in Ezekiel 38 as part of a future coalition that comes against Israel. That does not mean every diplomatic negotiation fulfills prophecy.

It does, however, remind us that Scripture consistently presents Israel as central to God’s prophetic timeline.

The Bible also repeatedly warns against trusting human rulers above God.

Whether presidents change course because of politics, pressure, personal ambition or reasons known only to God, our confidence ultimately rests in the Lord rather than in Washington, Jerusalem or any other capital.

Where Christians Agree—and Where We Don’t

Perhaps the most significant takeaway from Kessin’s lecture is not whether his interpretation proves correct.

It is that many Orthodox Jews increasingly believe the world is entering an extraordinary period of prophetic significance.

We can appreciate that growing expectation while recognizing that our hope rests in Jesus Christ, not in rabbinic interpretations of the Torah.

We also differ from Kessin on foundational doctrines.

We do not believe Torah study is humanity’s highest command or Israel’s greatest defense. We believe Jesus Christ fulfilled the Law and the Prophets and that salvation comes through Him alone.

At the same time, Christians should reject replacement theology and remember that God is not finished with Israel.

Romans 11 warns Gentile believers not to become arrogant toward the natural branches. Genesis 12:3 declares God’s blessing upon those who bless Abraham’s descendants. Zechariah 12 points to Jerusalem becoming a heavy stone for the nations, while Ezekiel 38 and 39 place Israel at the center of future conflict before God powerfully reveals Himself to the world.

Those passages are why Christians should continue to watch the Middle East carefully—because Scripture tells us that Israel will remain central to God’s redemptive plan.

We pray for Israel. We pray for the Jewish people to recognize Jesus as the Messiah. We pray for wisdom for world leaders and for Israel’s leaders as they face extraordinary threats. Above all, we remember that no president, prime minister, peace agreement or military alliance determines the outcome of history.

The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob 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@.

Nearly 30 years after a Georgia pastor was shot to death while repairing the roof of the church he faithfully served, authorities have arrested a suspect in a case that has remained unsolved for decades.

According to initial reporting by WSB-TV 2, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation announced Wednesday that Zachary B. Harper, 47, has been charged with felony murder and malice murder in the June 1, 1996, killing of Pastor James Hand.

Hand, 54, was serving as pastor of Full Gospel Church of Snipesville in Jeff Davis County when he climbed onto the church roof to make repairs. Investigators said he was shot multiple times while working, and deputies later discovered his body on the roof.

The murder stunned the local community and launched an investigation that stretched across nearly three decades.

Authorities said investigators with the GBI and the Jeff Davis County Sheriff’s Office continued pursuing leads over the years. New information developed during the investigation ultimately led to Harper being charged in the case.

Harper is currently serving a life sentence at Jenkins Correctional Facility for an unrelated murder. Investigators have not publicly disclosed what evidence connected him to Hand’s death or what they believe the motive was. The investigation remains active, and once complete, the case will be presented to the Brunswick Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office for prosecution.

A Pastor Faithfully Serving Until the End

The circumstances surrounding Pastor Hand’s death make the tragedy especially sobering.

He was not traveling, attending a conference or even standing behind the pulpit. He was caring for the church in a practical way, repairing its roof when his life was taken.

For many pastors, ministry extends far beyond preaching on Sunday mornings. Shepherds often spend countless hours maintaining church buildings, helping families in need, counseling hurting people and serving wherever there is work to be done. Pastor Hand’s final act reflected that servant-hearted commitment.

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While many questions about the case remain unanswered, one thing is clear: investigators never stopped searching for answers. After nearly 30 years, a family, a church and an entire community may finally be one step closer to seeing justice carried out.

As the body of Christ, let us remember Pastor Hand’s loved ones, the congregation he served and everyone who has carried the weight of this tragedy for nearly three decades. We can pray that the legal process reveals the full truth, that justice is faithfully administered and that God brings lasting peace and healing to all those whose lives were forever changed by this heartbreaking loss.

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 remarkable manuscript discovery is giving the world a fresh glimpse into how one of the church’s greatest theologians wrestled with one of Scripture’s most mysterious passages.

According to a report from the Daily Mail, researchers uncovered two previously unknown sermons by St. Augustine hidden within a 12th-century Latin manuscript in a Polish library. The sermons center on the account in 1 Samuel 28, when King Saul sought out the Witch of Endor after God no longer answered him.

The passage has long sparked debate because it appears to describe the prophet Samuel appearing after his death.

Professor Christian Tornau summarized the account this way: “‘Saul believes himself to be in a hopeless situation shortly before a battle against the Philistines. God does not listen to his prayers. He turns to a witch.'”

At Saul’s request, the woman “conjures up the supposed spirit of the deceased prophet Samuel,” who foretells Saul’s death.

Augustine’s Conclusion

The newly discovered sermons reveal that Augustine carefully considered whether Saul truly encountered Samuel or was the victim of some form of supernatural deception.

Ultimately, Augustine rejected the idea that the medium possessed authority over the dead.

As the report explains, Augustine argued that “the Witch of Endor held no power over the dead. If Samuel genuinely appeared, he believed it was because God allowed it, not because the medium had summoned him through magic.”

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Rather than forcing a final conclusion, Augustine presented multiple interpretations before allowing his congregation to wrestle with the text.

Tornau explained, “‘It was not until the second sermon on the following Wednesday that the options were weighed up.'”

He added, “‘The style, humor and content also clearly indicate that the sermons in the manuscripts were actually written by Augustine.'”

Is Daniel 12:4 Unfolding Before Our Eyes?

Discoveries like this naturally raise a fascinating question.

Daniel 12:4 declares, “But you, Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book until the time of the end. Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.”

That verse has often been associated with advances in travel, technology and human knowledge. Yet our generation has also witnessed an extraordinary number of biblical discoveries emerge from the ancient world—Dead Sea Scrolls, archaeological finds confirming biblical history, forgotten manuscripts and long-lost writings that illuminate how the early church understood Scripture.

These discoveries do not add to God’s Word or change biblical doctrine. We know Scripture is complete. They can, however, deepen our understanding of history, language and the way faithful believers throughout the centuries wrestled with difficult passages.

Whether the continuing recovery of ancient biblical texts represents part of the increase of knowledge Daniel foresaw is something we should prayerfully consider. Scripture does not explicitly identify discoveries like these as a fulfillment of Daniel 12:4. Yet they undeniably contribute to humanity’s growing understanding of the biblical world and continue drawing attention back to God’s Word thousands of years after it was written.

Augustine’s newly recovered sermons remind us that the deepest questions of Scripture have challenged God’s people for centuries. They also remind us that we are called to search the Scriptures diligently, test every interpretation against God’s Word and trust that He alone remains sovereign over life, death and the unseen realm.

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@.

As war, prophecy and the modern nation of Israel continue to dominate headlines, Bible teacher Amir Tsarfati is urging Christians to keep one foundational truth in focus: It’s never been about elevating Israel above God.

“It’s about the God of Israel,” Tsarfati said. “Don’t ever, ever try to be like Israel. He’s not asking you to be a Jew.”

Pointing to Exodus 33, Tsarfati noted that after Israel sinned with the golden calf, Moses’ greatest concern was not preserving Israel’s reputation but remaining in God’s presence. Moses pleaded with the Lord, “If your spirit, if your presence is not leading, I’m not moving out of here.”

Tsarfati said that same priority should define our walk with God. The goal is not to imitate Israel’s national identity but to pursue the God who called Israel and redeemed us by His grace.

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It’s About God’s Name

Tsarfati turned to 2 Samuel to explain why God chose Israel in the first place.

“It’s not about them, IT’S ABOUT HIS NAME,” he said. “He is choosing them to make for Himself a name.”

God’s covenant with Israel reveals His faithfulness, His sovereignty and His unchanging character. Israel points to Him. When believers lose sight of that, they risk putting the spotlight on the wrong place.

“The emphasis is not on them,” Tsarfati said. “The emphasis on Him.”

He also warned against two opposite errors.

“And every time you idolize Israel, you take the glory from the God of Israel,” he said. “And when you hate Israel, you hurt the heart of God of Israel.”

Chosen by Grace

Tsarfati also challenged the idea that Israel was selected because of its moral superiority.

“There’s nowhere a single verse that says in the whole Bible they were so good and they were so perfect that that’s why God chose them,” he said. “Nowhere.”

He then connected that truth directly to every Christian.

“Show me a verse that says that you are perfect. That you are so good and that’s why God chose you.”

His point is the heart of the Gospel. God did not choose Israel because it earned His favor, and He does not save believers because they deserve it. Both demonstrate His grace.

Closing with Isaiah 44, Tsarfati reminded listeners of God’s enduring covenant with Israel: “Remember these, O Jacob and Israel, for you are my servant. I have formed you. You are my servant, O Israel. You will not be forgotten by Me.”

As conversations about Israel continue to intensify, Tsarfati’s message serves as a timely reminder that the ultimate focus of Scripture is not merely God’s people, but the God who remains faithful to every promise He has made.

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@.

Mercy Culture Pastor Landon Schott isn’t mincing words when it comes to one of the most controversial issues facing the modern church.

Speaking on a recent episode of his Spiritual Leadership podcast, Schott argued that many churches have responded to homosexuality in ways that are neither biblical nor loving. While emphasizing that every person is loved by God, he said genuine love refuses to compromise biblical truth.

“When it comes to gender and sexuality, we must be unconditional in our love for people while remaining unwavering in our loyalty to God’s Word,” Schott said.

According to Schott, the church has made three major mistakes that have contributed to widespread confusion both inside and outside the church.

1. Treating Homosexuality as the Greatest Sin

Schott believes many Christians have elevated homosexuality above every other sin, even though Scripture points to something else.

“The first is this is they’re making homosexual practice the greatest sin. And homosexuality is not the greatest sin. Pride is.”

He pointed to Scripture after Scripture that warns about pride, saying it ultimately keeps people from repentance.

“Homosexual practice or any sexual practice is not the greatest sin. It’s pride. Why? Because pride keeps you from repenting of any sin.”

Schott added that every believer should examine pride in his or her own life before elevating one particular sin above another.

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Speaking Truth Instead of Staying Silent

While Schott rejects treating homosexuality as the worst sin, he also believes many churches have gone to the opposite extreme by refusing to address it altogether.

2. Remaining Silent Out of Fear

Schott said fear has caused many pastors to avoid teaching what the Bible says about sexuality.

“The second mistake the church is making is not addressing it. I call it being scared, speechless. And the church has become a coward.”

He encouraged pastors to teach Scripture even when it invites criticism.

“We need to understand it is not personal. It is spiritual.”

Schott went on to challenge believers to seek churches that clearly teach biblical doctrine.

“If your pastor doesn’t know what the Bible says or refuses to teach biblical truth on sexuality, you need to leave that church.”

Love Doesn’t Mean Affirmation

Schott’s strongest warning centered on churches that, in his view, have moved beyond silence to affirming behavior Scripture identifies as sinful.

3. Affirming What Scripture Calls Sin

Schott said churches should never redefine biblical truth to match cultural trends.

“The third mistake the church is making, and I believe this is probably the worst mistake they’re making, is they are affirming it.”

Quoting Isaiah 5:20, he warned against reversing God’s standards.

“They’ve abandoned the Word of God. They’ve abandoned the truth of God. They have tolerated the wickedness of the world. And they are embracing what is demonic instead of embracing what is holy.”

Schott argued that tolerance has become confused with biblical love.

“A lie of the enemy is to replace repentance with tolerance. And it is demonic.”

He added that Christians are called to love every person while remaining faithful to what Scripture teaches.

Identity Is Found in Christ

Schott closed by encouraging those struggling with sexual temptation not to define themselves by their desires.

“You are not your sexuality. Your identity is in Christ Jesus.”

He continued:

“I’m going to say it again. You are not your sexuality. Your identity is not your sexuality. Your identity is a son, a daughter in Christ Jesus.”

The issue ultimately comes back to discipleship rather than identity politics. His central message was that believers should anchor their identity in Christ, pursue holiness through obedience to Scripture and extend both truth and love to those wrestling with sexual sin.

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@.

Four major earthquakes struck three regions of the world within hours of one another on Wednesday, leaving devastation in Venezuela, shaking Japan and rattling Northern California. According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the events included a magnitude 7.2 earthquake in Venezuela, followed less than a minute later by a magnitude 7.5 earthquake, a magnitude 6.9 earthquake off Japan’s northeast coast, and a magnitude 5.6 earthquake in Northern California.

The earthquakes unfolded thousands of miles apart and occurred in separate tectonic settings. Seismologists have found no evidence that the events were causally connected.

At the same time, the extraordinary concentration of major earthquakes in various places around the world inevitably draws us back to the words Jesus spoke nearly 2,000 years ago.

Four major earthquakes in one day

The day’s most destructive earthquakes struck Venezuela.

The USGS recorded an initial magnitude 7.2 earthquake approximately 100 miles west of Caracas. Thirty-nine seconds later, a magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck nearly the same region, leveling buildings and triggering widespread rescue operations.

Reuters reported, “Two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela on Wednesday, killing at least 32 people and injuring 700 after dozens of buildings collapsed into piles of shattered concrete and steel in and around the capital Caracas.”

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Across the Pacific, the USGS measured a magnitude 6.9 earthquake off Japan’s northeast coast near Iwate Prefecture. Japan’s Meteorological Agency later revised its own estimate to magnitude 7.2, though the USGS continued to list the event as a 6.9. Authorities reported no destructive tsunami, no abnormalities at nearby nuclear facilities and no immediate reports of major damage.

Reuters reported, “An earthquake of magnitude 6.9 struck Japan’s northeast coast on Thursday, but no tsunami warning was issued, no injuries were immediately reported and no irregularities were found at nuclear facilities, the authorities said.”

The fourth significant earthquake struck Northern California, where the USGS measured a magnitude 5.6 earthquake near Potter Valley in Mendocino County. The quake triggered ShakeAlert notifications across much of Northern California, produced numerous aftershocks and caused localized damage.

The beginning of birth pains

The USGS has repeatedly stated there is no verified long-term increase in the total number of earthquakes worldwide.

Yet the past two years have brought a succession of devastating, high-profile earthquakes that have shaken nations and dominated headlines worldwide.

Jesus’ words in Matthew 24 were never centered on a single statistic. They painted the picture of a world marked by converging signs—wars, famines, pestilences and “earthquakes in various places”—that would precede His return.

Speaking about the signs preceding His return, Jesus said:

For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines, epidemics, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. — Matthew 24:7-8 (MEV)

Jesus did not point to earthquakes alone. He spoke of wars, famines, pestilences, deception, persecution and earthquakes together. He called them “the beginning of birth pains.”

Birth pains do not describe a single contraction. They describe a process that moves toward a culmination. That is why we have long understood Jesus’ illustration to portray an increasingly turbulent world as history moves toward His return.

That does not mean every individual category must rise in a perfectly straight line or that every year must break the previous year’s record. It means we watch the whole picture Jesus painted.

Today, wars dominate headlines. Israel remains at the center of global attention. Deception has become commonplace. Lawlessness continues to spread. Natural disasters repeatedly capture the world’s attention. The Gospel is advancing into places that previous generations could scarcely have imagined through modern technology.

One earthquake does not prove anything. One war does not prove anything. One famine does not prove anything.

Jesus told us to watch all these things together.

Wednesday’s earthquakes stand as another reminder that His words remain as relevant today as the day He spoke them. They call us, not to fear, but to readiness. Scripture repeatedly reminds us that our hope is not found in reading headlines alone but in trusting the One who declared the end from the beginning.

As the world grows increasingly uncertain, Jesus’ command to remain watchful becomes increasingly urgent. Our calling has not changed. We are to proclaim the Gospel, occupy until He comes, and live each day expecting the return of our King.

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@.