On the morning of June 23, 2026, Pastor Mark Anthony “Tony” Spell was working on a church bus battery in the parking lot of Life Tabernacle Church in Central, Louisiana, when years of neighborhood tension boiled over.

According to Spell, the 20-year-old son of neighbor Scott Sherwin began walking along the shoulder of busy Hooper Road, shouting vulgarities across the four lanes. Then came the alleged threats that would push any husband and father to his limit. Spell quoted them directly at his press conference the following day:

“He said, ‘Tony,’ I’m quoting him. He said, ‘Tony, I’m going to rape your wife, I’m going to rape all of your grandchildren,’ and he said ‘the next time you go out of town, I’m going to kill them, and what the F are you going to do about it?’ End quote.”

Spell did not wait. He crossed the highway toward the young man, who was standing in his own front yard. Cellphone and surveillance video captured the confrontation. As Spell charged across the road, footage appears to show the neighbor threw the first punch. A fierce physical fight erupted on the grassy shoulder beside passing traffic. The young man later required stitches after the clash.

Louisiana pastor beats up a man who allegedly threatened to r*pe and kill his wife and grandchildren.

Pastor Tony Spell of Life Tabernacle Church says he was working on a church bus when the neighbor's son started shouting at him.

Spell said that it is his job as the natural…

— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) June 24, 2026

East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested Spell on a charge of second-degree battery. He posted $25,000 bond that same evening and returned for his church’s Tuesday night service.

Still energized from the day’s events, Spell addressed his congregation that night. Referencing Mark 16:18, he declared:

“I fulfilled the scripture, because I laid hands on the sick. I don’t know how much recovery they’re going to have, but I laid hands on them.”

The next day, Wednesday, June 24, Spell stood on the church steps and explained his actions with conviction. He stated:

“As a natural protector to my wife and to my grandchildren who were threatened murder, who were threatened rape, I have an obligation to protect them.”

He continued:

“I’m a pastor who shepherds his flock. It’s not the job of the sheep to attack the wolves; it’s the job of the shepherd to protect his sheep.”

And he made his position unmistakably clear:

“I can’t allow a man to rape my wife. I can’t allow a man to rape my grandchildren. I will not allow a man to murder my children when I’m gone… When you threaten to rape my wife, when you threaten to rape my grandchildren, and the next time you leave, go out of town, I’m going to kill every one of them— as a man, as a father, and as a pastor, I can’t allow that.”

Scott Sherwin, the young man’s father, strongly denied that such threats were made or could be heard across the highway. He said his son was simply checking if the grass was dry enough to mow. Police records indicate limited formal complaints between the families, despite a feud stretching back to at least 2020.

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This incident highlights more than a single clash on Hooper Road. It reflects Pastor Spell’s consistent pattern of standing firm — whether defying COVID-era restrictions years ago or now responding to what he described as direct, vile threats against his family and flock.

As the case proceeds in court, video evidence and witness accounts will be examined alongside the full context of the alleged threats. For those who believe in the duty to protect one’s own, Pastor Spell’s actions represent the resolve of a shepherd who refused to stand idle when the wolves came too close. In a time when provocation is often expected to be quietly endured, his response serves as a powerful reminder that some lines, once crossed, demand action.

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 hatred directed at Israel today is breathtaking.

On college campuses, in political circles, on social media and even from some church pulpits, the Jewish state is increasingly portrayed as the villain of the modern world. The pressure to abandon Israel has become relentless.

Yet in the middle of that noise, Pastor John Hagee recently delivered a reminder the church desperately needs to hear: Jerusalem does not belong to the United Nations, the European Union, the United States or any other earthly power.

Jerusalem belongs to God.

“The fact of the Bible is that God chose Jerusalem as the place where His name would be there forever,” Hagee declared. “Jerusalem is God’s house on earth. Jerusalem is God’s address.”

That truth has not changed.

The nations may rage. Politicians may redraw maps. Activists may chant in the streets. God is not renegotiating His covenant.

For thousands of years, Jerusalem has stood at the center of God’s redemptive plan. Hagee pointed to Psalm 132, saying, “‘The Lord has chosen Zion, that’s Jerusalem, and He hath desired it for His own habitation.’ That means God lives there.”

The Battle for Jerusalem Is Spiritual, Not Political

That reality explains why Jerusalem remains the most contested city on earth.

For centuries, empires have risen and fallen while Jerusalem remained at the center of conflict. Kings, armies and political movements have fought over its streets, its hills and its future. Yet despite repeated invasions, occupations and wars, the city remains exactly where God said it would be.

“Jerusalem has been conquered and reconquered 44 times in history. Yet it stands. Why? Because God has sworn to establish it forever,” Hagee said. “Jerusalem standing is a testimonial to the keeping power of God.”

Many critics of Israel view the struggle over Jerusalem strictly through a political lens. Scripture presents something far deeper. Behind every battle, every diplomatic dispute and every attempt to divide the city is a spiritual conflict that stretches back thousands of years.

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Hagee did not mince words.

“The supernatural battle for Jerusalem is not over,” he said. “The battle of Islam versus Judaism is a supernatural struggle.”

The hostility directed toward Israel today is often wrapped in the language of politics, justice or international relations. Yet Jerusalem has always drawn opposition because it occupies a unique place in God’s plan. The city He chose has become the city the world cannot stop fighting over.

Zechariah foretold that Jerusalem would become a burdensome stone for the nations. Today’s headlines read like a confirmation of that prophecy.

What should the church do?

Stand with Israel.

Not because Israel is perfect. No nation is. Not because every action of every Israeli leader is above scrutiny. It isn’t.

We stand with Israel because Scripture leaves no room for confusion about God’s covenant purposes. The God who promised the land to Abraham has not reversed Himself. The God who declared Jerusalem His city has not changed His mind. And the God who commands us to pray for the peace of Jerusalem has not withdrawn that instruction because it became unpopular.

At a time when hostility toward the Jewish state is spreading across Western culture, believers should be careful not to adopt the world’s view of Israel while claiming to uphold God’s Word.

The King Is Coming to Jerusalem

Hagee recalled a moment at the Western Wall that changed the course of his life. Looking at an elderly Jewish man praying with tears in his eyes, he felt God impress something on his heart.

“That man is your spiritual brother,” Hagee said. “All the things that are good spiritually came to us through the Jewish people.”

That conviction eventually led to the founding of Christians United for Israel, which today represents millions of Christians who refuse to abandon the Jewish people.

The reason is rooted in Bible prophecy. God’s prophetic story is moving toward Jerusalem, not away from it. The city that occupies the center of Scripture will also occupy the center of Christ’s earthly reign.

Hagee reminded believers that when Jesus returns, He will not establish His throne in one of the world’s political capitals.

“He’s not coming to Washington. He’s not coming to Rome. He’s coming to the city of David. He’s coming to Jerusalem.”

Those words cut through the confusion of a world searching for answers in governments, institutions and political movements. The climax of human history will not be written in Washington, Moscow, Beijing, Brussels or New York. It will unfold in Jerusalem, where the Messiah will establish His kingdom and fulfill every promise God has made concerning Israel.

As hostility toward Israel intensifies, the church cannot afford to retreat into silence. This is the moment to reject the pressure of popular opinion and anchor ourselves in what Scripture actually says.

The same God who preserved Jerusalem through empires, invasions and wars is still watching over His city today. The same God who scattered the Jewish people among the nations also brought them home. And the same God who promised that His Son would one day reign from Jerusalem will keep that promise as surely as He has kept every other one.

That’s why believers should continue praying for the peace of Jerusalem, continue standing with the Jewish people and continue watching the prophetic signs unfolding before our eyes.

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 examining more than 380,000 songs released between 1960 and 2023 found that references to virtues such as care, loyalty and purity have steadily declined in popular music, while themes centered on harm, cheating, betrayal and degradation have become increasingly common.

Researchers from Queen Mary University of London said music acts as a “cultural barometer,” revealing how societies express their values and moral concerns.

Lead author Dr. Vjosa Preniqi said, “Music is much more than entertainment. It is one of the ways societies tell stories about themselves.”

The researchers found that “expressions of moral vices such as harm, cheating, subversion and degradation have generally increased, while moral virtues like care and purity have declined.”

That is more than a shift in lyrical themes. It is a glimpse into a broader cultural transformation.

A Culture Telling on Itself

Senior author Dr. Charalampos Saitis said, “Popular music provides a unique lens through which to explore cultural change.”

He added, “Music both reflects and shapes the world around us. Understanding how moral narratives evolve in lyrics can help us better understand wider changes in culture, identity and collective values around important social issues.”

The Bible teaches that what fills the heart eventually comes out in words and actions. Jesus said, “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” (Matt. 12:34).

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The same principle applies to cultures.

When a society values faithfulness, sacrifice and love, those themes appear in its stories and songs. When a society embraces selfishness, rebellion and bitterness, those themes begin to dominate its cultural output.

The study found that songs increasingly revolve around conflict, betrayal and emotional pain. That mirrors a culture struggling with broken families, loneliness, distrust and division.

The music is reflecting what is happening beneath the surface.

A Pattern Seen Throughout Scripture

This pattern is not new.

The Book of Judges repeatedly describes a nation that abandoned God’s ways and descended into moral chaos. One verse summarizes the entire era: “Everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judg. 21:25).

The result was confusion, violence, corruption and national decline.

The same pattern appeared in ancient Israel before the Babylonian exile. The prophets warned that when people rejected God’s standards, society itself would begin to unravel.

The apostle Paul described a similar progression in Romans 1. As people rejected God, their thinking became darkened, and their moral compass deteriorated. Behaviors once considered shameful became celebrated.

That progression did not begin with actions. It began with values.

Culture changed because hearts changed.

What This Means for the Future

One sentence from the study stands out.

“What we found was a gradual shift away from language associated with virtues such as care and decency, towards themes that reflect conflict, harm and other moral concerns,” Preniqi said.

The keyword is gradual.

Moral decline rarely happens all at once. Values erode. Boundaries disappear. What once shocked people becomes normal.

Eventually, the culture begins producing art that reflects its new moral framework.

The findings are about a culture that has spent decades pushing biblical morality to the margins.

Throughout Scripture, God repeatedly responded to repentance with restoration. Nations changed when people turned back to Him. Communities were renewed when hearts were transformed.

If music truly serves as a cultural barometer, this study offers a revealing snapshot of where we are.

It also serves as a reminder that cultural renewal will never begin with better songs. It begins when people return to the One who defines what is good, true and right.

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 you saw one of these rabbits in your backyard, you’d probably do a double take.

Photos shared across Wisconsin, Minnesota and New York show rabbits with black, tentacle-like growths protruding from their heads. Some appear to have horns. Others look like they walked straight out of a science fiction movie.

The disturbing sightings are raising eyebrows across social media and wildlife circles alike.

One New York resident couldn’t believe what he was seeing.

“Made eye contact with this rabbit and immediately regretted it,” Ze Peitica Gado wrote on Facebook after spotting one on May 30.

“All jokes aside, I reported it to the proper wildlife authorities, but this thing was gnarly.”

The bizarre-looking animals may seem like a new phenomenon, but they aren’t.

Charisma Media reported on a similar outbreak in August 2025, when numerous sightings emerged around Fort Collins, Colorado. At the time, photos of rabbits sporting horn-like growths spread rapidly online and fueled comparisons to the legendary jackalope.

Now the creatures are back.

This time, sightings are occurring hundreds of miles away across multiple states, leading many to wonder why these grotesque animals seem to be appearing in more places.

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The Cause Behind the Nightmare Fuel

According to a Daily Mail report, the rabbits are infected with cottontail papilloma virus, also known as Shope papilloma virus.

The virus causes wart-like tumors that often develop around a rabbit’s head, ears and face. As the disease progresses, the growths can harden into twisted masses that resemble horns, antlers or black tentacles.

One Wisconsin resident shared a photo showing tentacle-like growths sprouting from the back of a rabbit’s head.

Another recalled receiving a frantic phone call from her daughter.

“Mom! I saw one of those tentacle-faced bunnies today.”

Scientists say the virus spreads primarily through mosquitoes and ticks. The condition is not believed to infect humans, dogs or cats.

The first signs are typically red, raised spots on the skin that eventually develop into larger tumors.

Some rabbits become so severely disfigured that they can no longer see, hear or eat properly.

The result is often a slow and tragic death.

Wildlife officials continue advising the public to leave infected animals alone and avoid handling them.

Creation Is Groaning

The images are shocking because they reveal something deeper than a strange wildlife disease.

Romans 8:22 says, “We know that the whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now.”

That reality is impossible to miss when looking at a rabbit struggling beneath massive tumors growing from its head.

The return of these infected rabbits follows a growing number of unusual stories involving the natural world. Massive insect invasions, wildlife diseases, marine die-offs and other disruptions continue making headlines around the globe.

This is what a fallen creation looks like.

Sin affected everything.

The animal kingdom bears the scars. The earth bears the scars. Humanity bears the scars.

The rabbits appearing across multiple states are another reminder that the world is not operating as God originally intended.

Yet Scripture points to a coming restoration.

Jesus Christ will make all things new. The curse that entered creation through sin will not have the final word.

Until that day, creation continues to testify to a truth the Bible declared long ago: something is wrong with this world, and all creation is waiting for redemption.

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@.

Country music fans packed Chicago’s Soldier Field expecting a night of hit songs. What many received from rising star Ella Langley was something even more meaningful: a public testimony about what Jesus Christ has done in her life.

While opening for Morgan Wallen, Langley paused to share how her relationship with Christ has transformed over the past year. The moment resonated because it was authentic, personal and centered on God’s faithfulness.

“I’ve watched this song get pitched around [Nashville], I’ve watched so many other artists have this song, how would you feel if I had it on the record? Because it feels like exactly where I am in my life. You know, it feels like my relationship with Christ has changed over the last 365 days, a little more than that,” Langley told the crowd before performing her song “Speaking Terms.”

The singer then shared something many Christians can relate to.

“I went every show of my life without even mentioning His name, to not being able to shut up about it.”

That simple statement speaks to the difference Jesus makes in a person’s life. When God begins moving in our hearts, it becomes difficult to stay silent about it.

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Faith in the Public Square

Moments like this matter.

Not because celebrities are our spiritual leaders. Not because famous people somehow make the Gospel more true.

They matter because culture is filled with voices competing for people’s attention every day. Most people spend far more time listening to music, watching entertainment and scrolling social media than they do sitting in a church service.

When a public figure uses a platform to speak openly about Jesus, millions of people hear something they might not hear anywhere else.

For years, many Christians have felt pressure to keep their faith private. Yet throughout Scripture, God’s people were called to be visible, not hidden. Jesus said we are the light of the world. Light was never meant to stay covered.

That is what made Langley’s comments refreshing. She wasn’t promoting herself. She was pointing people to Christ.

A Message of Grace

The most powerful part of Langley’s testimony came when she spoke about worthiness.

“I’ve done things in my life that makes me feel not worthy of this song. But I’ll tell one thing, who makes me feel worthy is Him. I’m always worthy. He’s gonna meet me where I’m at, no matter where I’m at.”

That message cuts through the shame, regret and disappointment so many people carry.

The Gospel has never been about earning God’s love. It is about receiving the grace Jesus purchased for us through His death and resurrection.

Langley’s testimony also reflected the reality that faith is not always a straight line. Her song describes how childhood faith can encounter the hardships of life and how “the world will break you down, break your heart and shake your faith.”

Many believers know that feeling.

Yet God remains faithful.

Speaking Terms

That is ultimately why Langley’s message connected with so many people.

She said she included the song on her record because she wanted listeners to understand a simple truth.

“And that’s why I thought this song was important to put on the record, because I want you to feel that way. I want you to know that, no matter where you are in your life, there’s somebody that’s listening to you, you’re always talking to Him, you just don’t know it.”

In a culture often filled with cynicism, hearing someone publicly talk about God’s grace, mercy and faithfulness is encouraging.

We need more voices willing to point people toward Jesus.

Not because they are perfect. Not because they have all the answers. But because they have discovered what every believer eventually learns: life changes when we stop running from God and start talking to Him again.

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 rare gemstone uncovered by a sixth-grade student in northern Israel is drawing renewed attention to Chorazin, one of the cities where Jesus performed miracles during His ministry in Galilee.

According to a Fox News report, the discovery was made at Korazim National Park near the Sea of Galilee, the site identified with the biblical village of Chorazin.

The gemstone was found by 12-year-old Alon Horowitz while participating in a community excavation program organized by the Israel Nature and Parks Authority and Ariel University.

“After three days of digging, about 10 minutes before we finished, I was digging with my trowel and suddenly saw something blue, round and special,” Horowitz said in a statement.

“I picked it up and showed it to the archaeologist. When I understood it was something rare, I felt really happy and proud. I received a lot of appreciation from my friends, teachers and family.”

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Archaeologists identified the artifact as a Nicolo, a rare variety of agate valued during the Roman and Byzantine periods. The gemstone dates to the sixth century A.D. and was discovered inside a wealthy estate.

“It was found inside a wealthy estate, suggesting it belonged to a member of an affluent household,” excavation director Achia Kohn-Tavor told Fox News Digital.

“The stone was not locally sourced,” he added. “Its presence indicates the owner had access to international luxury goods.”

The City Jesus Warned

The discovery site sits roughly two miles north of Capernaum, the fishing village that served as the center of Jesus’ ministry.

Chorazin occupies a unique place in the New Testament. The city witnessed the power of God through the ministry of Jesus, yet it became known for rejecting His call to repentance.

In Matthew 11:21, Jesus declared:

“Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.”

The warning remains one of the most sobering statements recorded in the Gospels. The people of Chorazin saw miracles, healings and demonstrations of God’s power. Yet Jesus rebuked the city for failing to respond.

More Than an Archaeological Discovery

The gemstone offers another glimpse into life in ancient Galilee, a region forever linked to the ministry of Christ.

Archaeologists see evidence of wealth, trade and daily life. Christians see something even more significant.

The ruins of Chorazin stand as a reminder that Jesus walked these roads, taught in these communities and called people to repentance.

The small blue gemstone discovered by a sixth grader points back to a place that witnessed something far greater than luxury goods or prosperous estates. Chorazin witnessed the ministry of the Son of God.

Centuries after the gemstone was lost, the words of Jesus still endure, calling every generation to respond in faith to the truth of the Gospel.

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 newborn red heifer in Israel has thrust one of the Bible’s most fascinating prophetic topics back into the global spotlight.

For Mondo Gonzales of Prophecy Watchers, the significance is not the animal itself. It is what the growing interest surrounding the red heifer reveals about preparations in Israel, activity on the Temple Mount and the prophetic timeline laid out in Scripture.

“The first thought always is this is not going away,” Gonzales told Charisma Media. “I think often times what we’ve seen over the past few years is there’s been ups and downs with the news cycle and red heifers being offered up in ceremonies and then it kind of fades away. And then to have this one born in the land of Israel is bringing it all back to the forefront.”

He added, “I just thought, you know what, it’s not going away. There’s a reason why we should be discussing this topic.”

More Than Just a Cow

Gonzales said confusion surrounding recent red heifer headlines comes from misunderstanding its role in Jewish worship.

“The red heifer is not required to be offered before the temple’s built,” he said. “So the temple can be built even if they wanted to.”

However, he explained that the ashes of a qualified red heifer are necessary for the complete restoration of Temple services.

“What the red heifer is required for is the full implementation of all of the ceremonies that you would have in the temple,” Gonzales said. “For the full gamut, yes, they need the red heifer and they know that.”

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The latest calf has drawn attention because it was born in Israel rather than abroad.

“This week they mentioned the birth of this new red heifer born in Galilee in Israel,” Gonzales said. “So by itself that lifts it up to be better than the ones born outside of the land in Texas.”

Just as significant, he said, is the fact that the Temple Institute publicly promoted the announcement.

“They’ve been relatively quiet if you look over the past couple years trying to keep the information down,” Gonzales said. “But now they’re the ones that promoted this. So I find that instrumental.”

Preparations Accelerate

Gonzales said the red heifer discussion cannot be separated from developments unfolding across Israel.

He pointed to increasing Jewish activity on the Temple Mount, efforts to challenge the longstanding status quo and mounting regional tensions involving Israel, Iran and Turkey.

“All that is part of this whole convergence of things that are happening,” he said.

The conversation leads directly to Bible prophecy and the future temple described in Scripture.

“The prophecies related to the existence of a third temple isn’t an endorsement of it,” Gonzales said. “The Bible simply says this is what’s going to be there at the end.”

He noted that early church leaders recognized there would be a future temple connected to end-times events.

Watching the Stage Being Set

Recent discussions among rabbinic authorities about blemishes and qualifications have strengthened Gonzales’s conviction that a red heifer ceremony is moving closer.

“To me that increases—it’s not going away—and the likelihood just increased amazingly that this is going to be done,” he said.

Gonzales sees these developments as another sign that the stage is being set for events the Bible described centuries ago.

“So for the Christian get excited,” he said. “We’re watching these things unfold. This is pretty amazing.”

“The Bible has talked about it. The early church has talked about it. And so, now that we’re seeing all these developments, truly exciting times.”

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@.

Most of us have been there.

A betrayal. A false accusation. A relationship that shattered without warning. A moment when someone else’s actions left wounds that still have not healed.

In those moments, our instinct is often the same: defend ourselves, tell our side of the story and make sure everyone knows what really happened.

Author and speaker Autumn Miles says God taught her a different response.

“God told me one time in my quiet time, I saw it all. I saw it. I saw it all,” Miles said on a recent episode of The Autumn Miles Show. “The beautiful thing about God is that He sees absolutely everything. Nothing is hidden from His sight.”

Miles said the Lord spoke those words during what she described as a “Judas-type” betrayal. She wanted to pick up the phone, explain herself and set the record straight. Instead, God reminded her that He had already seen everything.

The realization brought immediate peace.

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The Justice We Want vs. the Justice God Brings

At the heart of Miles’ message is a challenge many of us do not like to hear.

“The enemy wants us to take justice into our own hands,” she said. “He wants us to get it for ourselves because it takes it away from God. And God will get holistic justice for His kids.”

That idea became central to her study of Job and God’s character.

While we often focus on revenge, vindication or proving we were right, Miles argues that God’s view is much larger. He sees motives, hidden actions, private conversations and the damage sin causes long after a moment has passed.

When Miles studied what Scripture says about God’s love for justice, she said the discovery left her stunned.

“When I look that up in the original language, this is what it said,” she explained. “It means I am passionately in love with justice for My children.”

The truth hit her so hard she had to stop writing.

“I couldn’t even write for a couple of hours because I thought, Lord, when I would have given it up, You won’t,” she said.

God Has Not Missed a Thing

Miles pointed to Job 42, where God confronts the friends who spent chapter after chapter accusing and misrepresenting Job.

For Miles, the lesson is clear.

“God’s eyes are on those who are against you,” she said. “His eyes are on those conspiring against you. His eyes are on the motives of those that talk against you. His eyes are on it all.”

That does not mean we always receive immediate answers. It does not mean every wrong is corrected overnight. It does mean God is paying attention.

“He will not let it go,” Miles said. “This is why He says, ‘Vengeance is mine. I will repay. I got you.'”

For those of us carrying wounds from betrayal, rejection or injustice, that may be one of the most comforting truths in Scripture.

The God who sees everything is also the God who loves justice. He sees every lie, every betrayal, every hidden motive and every wound inflicted against His children. Nothing escapes His attention. Nothing slips through His hands.

And according to Miles, He is far more committed to making things right than we could ever be ourselves.

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 more than a century, the Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne have done what many talk about but few actually do. They have cared for indigent cancer patients in their final days, offering comfort, dignity and compassion to those facing death.

Now, those same women are fighting to keep their ministry alive.

According to a Fox News report, the U.S. Department of Justice has thrown its support behind the Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne as they challenge a New York law that they say would force them to violate their religious convictions regarding sex and gender.

The sisters operate Rosary Hill Home in Westchester County, where they provide free palliative care to terminal cancer patients. They argue that New York’s transgender mandate would require them to recognize gender identity over biological sex, use preferred pronouns, permit access to sex-specific facilities based on gender identity and publicly affirm policies that conflict with Catholic teaching.

The consequences for refusing to comply are severe.

According to the lawsuit, the sisters face fines of up to $2,000 per violation, increasing to $5,000, court-ordered compliance measures, loss of their operating license and potential criminal penalties.

The Justice Department has made its position clear.

“States should take notice that they cannot require Americans to abandon their religious beliefs in the name of woke gender ideology,” Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon said in a statement.

Dhillon also defended the sisters’ longstanding ministry.

“For more than a century, the Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne have provided free palliative care to indigent cancer patients in their last days,” she said. “New York’s law would force these religious women to choose between their faith and their license if they wish to continue serving the dying.”

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A Ministry With an Extraordinary Record

The lawsuit highlights a remarkable fact.

The sisters reported that during a four-year period between Feb. 1, 2022, and Jan. 31, 2026, the New York State Department of Health received “zero complaints” regarding their facility.

During that same period, the lawsuit notes, the state received “more than 55,000 complaints against other nursing homes.”

That contrast raises an obvious question.

Why is a ministry with a record of serving the vulnerable, caring for the dying and generating no complaints now facing the possibility of losing its license?

The sisters are not accused of abuse.

They are not accused of neglect.

They are not accused of mistreating patients.

Their conflict with the state centers on their refusal to embrace an ideology that contradicts their faith.

Religious Liberty on Trial

Martin Nussbaum, general counsel for the Catholic Benefits Association and counsel for the sisters, said the case reaches beyond a single nursing home.

“Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s formal certification of Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne v. Hochul as a case of ‘general public importance’ sends a welcome signal that a state’s policy preference for gender ideology does not trump the protection for religious freedom embedded in our country’s DNA,” Nussbaum said.

At its core, the case asks whether religious freedom remains meaningful when believers are told they may continue serving the public only if they abandon the convictions that motivated that service in the first place.

That question resonates far beyond a nursing home in New York.

Throughout Scripture, God’s people repeatedly faced demands to compromise deeply held convictions in order to satisfy governing authorities. The apostles answered such pressure with a simple declaration in Acts 5:29: “We must obey God rather than men.”

The Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne have spent generations caring for those who are often forgotten by society. Their legal battle is about more than licensing requirements and government regulations. It is about whether ministries built upon biblical convictions will remain free to serve without being compelled to deny the truths they believe God has revealed.

The outcome of this case will be watched closely by Christians across America because if women caring for dying cancer patients can be forced to choose between their faith and their ministry, every faith-based institution should take notice.

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@.

Alex Seeley thought she had done everything right.

For nearly two years, she and her husband, Henry, had prayed over a decision that would alter the course of their lives. The couple was deeply established in ministry in Australia. Henry was helping lead a worship movement that was impacting churches around the world. They were traveling, ministering and seeing thousands of lives touched.

From the outside, it looked like the kind of success most Christians spend years praying for.

Then everything began to shift.

Opportunities that once seemed automatic started disappearing. Doors that had always been open suddenly closed. Conversations became different. The favor they had experienced for years appeared to be drying up.

At first, the changes felt personal.

Looking back now, Seeley sees something different.

“The enemy wants us to blame the people that are closing the doors,” she told Taylor Welch during a recent episode of “The Deep End.” “But what about if it’s God actually shutting those doors because He’s wanting to open another one?”

At the time, however, nothing felt clear.

The Seeleys were standing at what many would consider the pinnacle of ministry influence. Walking away from that life made little sense to those around them. In many ways, it barely made sense to them.

Yet after two years of prayer, they became convinced God was leading them to America.

What He did not tell them was what would happen next.

When the Dream Turns Into a Desert

Many believers imagine obedience as a straight line between calling and fulfillment.

Seeley’s experience looked nothing like that.

After arriving in America, the family found themselves in a season that felt less like a divine assignment and more like survival.

The support systems they had relied on were gone. The familiar relationships that had surrounded them for years were now an ocean away. Questions about their future seemed to outnumber answers.

Even more painful were the voices that began emerging from the background.

Some questioned why they had left Australia. Others wondered whether they had misunderstood God entirely. The comments found their way back to the Seeleys, adding another layer of uncertainty to an already difficult season.

“I had a full panic attack when we got to America,” Seeley said.

The pressure became overwhelming.

She was living thousands of miles from home with young children. The house they expected to have fell through. There was no clear ministry platform waiting for them. No roadmap. No guarantee that the sacrifice would make sense.

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Meanwhile, whispers continued.

“I think they’ve missed the call of God.”

“I don’t think God calls you to something big to nothing.”

The words echoed fears she was already battling in private.

Had they heard God correctly?

Had they uprooted their family for nothing?

Had obedience become a mistake?

The questions piled up until the Lord confronted her with one of His own.

“I remember the Lord saying, ‘Are you willing to look foolish when everybody else thinks you’ve made the wrong decision, but are you still willing to trust Me?'”

The question cut through everything. Not because it answered her concerns, but because it exposed them.

Like many believers, Seeley realized she was willing to trust God when His plan appeared successful. Trusting Him when the outcome looked uncertain required something much deeper.

Stripped of Everything but God

Years later, Seeley can see what God was doing.

At the time, she could not.

The family rented a home. Henry took whatever work he could find mixing albums. Furniture came from thrift stores and Goodwill. There were days when the future felt completely hidden.

“We were laying there going, ‘What have we done?'”

The wilderness was not just changing their circumstances. It was exposing where they had unknowingly attached their identities.

God began asking questions she had never considered.

“Who are you, Alex, without the name, without the title, without the church, without the backing? Who are you?”

The answer came slowly.

“I’m Your daughter.”

What followed became one of the defining lessons of her life.

“He goes, ‘Well, start acting like one.'”

The season forced her to rediscover who she was apart from ministry influence, church platforms and public recognition.

God reminded her of the young girl who first fell in love with Jesus long before she ever stood behind a pulpit.

“He goes, ‘Who were you when you first got saved?’ I’m like, ‘A little evangelist. I’d go tell everybody about Jesus.’ He says, ‘Tell everybody about Jesus. You don’t need a microphone. You don’t need a church platform. Be who I’ve called you to be.'”

The wilderness had removed the things she thought she needed in order to serve God.

What remained was the one thing she actually needed.

God Himself.

Faith Beyond the Outcome

One of the strongest themes throughout the conversation was Seeley’s belief that many Christians misunderstand faith.

Too often, she said, believers attach their faith to results.

When prayers are answered, faith grows.

When circumstances improve, confidence rises.

When the breakthrough comes, God feels near.

But that kind of faith struggles to survive suffering.

“Faith isn’t in the outcome,” Seeley said. “Faith is in the person.”

It was forged in years of uncertainty.

It was tested in seasons when doors remained closed, critics remained loud and answers remained delayed.

Genuine faith is not trusting God because everything works out the way we hoped.

It is trusting Him because of who He is.

“Our faith gets formed in fire,” she said. “Our faith gets formed in difficult circumstances.”

That lesson transformed how she viewed the wilderness years.

Instead of seeing them as evidence that God had abandoned them, she came to see them as evidence that He was drawing them closer.

“We were so alone that all we could do was depend on God.”

Looking back, she would not trade those years.

“If we’d had the support in Australia, we would have depended on them. If we had the support of our pastors and friends, we would have depended on them.”

The isolation she once feared became the very thing God used to deepen her faith.

“We never would have gone to the place where we had to just go, ‘God, it’s either You or nothing.'”

For believers walking through their own season of uncertainty, Seeley’s story offers a reminder that obedience does not always look successful in the moment.

Sometimes it looks like a closed door.

Sometimes it looks like a desert.

Sometimes it even looks foolish.

But God does some of His deepest work in the places where our confidence in ourselves finally gives way to complete dependence on Him.

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@.