Major League Baseball has spent years embracing Pride events, rainbow-themed promotions and social messaging across the sport. Apparently, though, a simple Bible verse is where the line gets drawn.

That is the controversy now unfolding after San Francisco Giants pitchers Landon Roupp, JT Brubaker and Ryan Walker reportedly received warnings from MLB for writing references to Genesis 9:12-16 on their Pride Night hats.

The passage describes God’s covenant with Noah and the meaning of the rainbow as a sign of that covenant.

According to reports, MLB informed the players that the markings violated league uniform policies.

We have seen this pattern before.

Organizations that enthusiastically promote ideologies that directly conflict with biblical morality suddenly become strict rule-followers when believers publicly express their faith. The same institutions that celebrate nearly every worldview under the sun often treat Christianity as something that must be kept private, toned down or hidden altogether.

Fortunately, not everyone is staying silent.

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Baseball legend Roger Clemens recently addressed the controversy during an appearance on “The Will Cain Show,” and his comments exposed just how weak MLB’s position really is according to Fox News.

“We alter our uniforms all the time with numbers or somebody that has passed away,” Clemens said.

He then pointed to his own playing career.

“I know one time in Boston, Larry Bird retired. I put his hat on. They put 33, silver marker on the hat to honor Larry Bird. I did it for my mom and grandmother.”

It is a fair question.

If players can honor retired athletes, family members and personal causes through modifications to their equipment, why does a Bible verse suddenly become a problem?

The answer seems obvious.

The issue is not the policy. The issue is the message.

A Bible verse referencing God’s covenant does not fit neatly within the cultural orthodoxy that dominates many major institutions today. And that is precisely why so many Americans are growing weary of the double standards.

Clemens did not hesitate to defend the players.

“I love it that these guys show the blessings that the Lord has given them to be out there on that field,” he said. “That’s the way it was for me.”

That statement reflects what generations of athletes have understood. Talent is a gift from God. Success is a blessing from God. Public gratitude toward God should never be treated as controversial.

Yet here we are.

Professional sports leagues regularly encourage athletes to celebrate causes, movements and identities. Fans are expected to embrace the messaging, applaud the campaigns and accept the symbolism. But when Christian athletes point to Scripture, suddenly league officials discover a deep concern for neutrality and policy enforcement.

The inconsistency is impossible to ignore.

Clemens even offered a common-sense solution.

“They do the special cleats where you can paint, do your cleats how you want it,” he said. “Maybe they do something like that and guys can have a hat with a Bible verse. They feel strongly about it.”

Imagine that. A standard applied equally.

The controversy has now drawn the attention of Sen. Josh Hawley, who sent a letter to MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred seeking answers about the warnings and the league’s treatment of religious expression.

That scrutiny is warranted.

We are increasingly tired of watching Christian faith treated as the one belief system that must constantly apologize for its existence. We are tired of being told that every viewpoint deserves public celebration except the biblical worldview that helped shape the nation’s moral foundation.

What happened in San Francisco may seem minor on the surface. A few handwritten Bible references on a hat hardly qualifies as a national crisis.

But symbols matter. Double standards matter. And the message being sent matters.

These pitchers did not insult anyone. They did not attack anyone. They did not disrupt the game.

They wrote a Bible verse.

The fact that Major League Baseball found that worthy of a warning says more about the state of our culture than it does about the players.

For too long, we have been expected to remain silent while opposing ideologies receive endless promotion and celebration. More believers are deciding that silence is no longer an option.

Frankly, it is about time.

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@.

Attacks on churches are becoming an increasingly visible feature of life in the Western world, exposing a growing hostility toward Christianity that many leaders can no longer ignore.

Christian businesses are facing harassment. Houses of worship are being vandalized. Religious symbols are being desecrated. Believers are encountering mounting pressure for openly embracing biblical convictions. Across Europe, a growing body of evidence points to a troubling reality: anti-Christian hostility is rising.

Decision Magazine recently highlighted a report from the Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians in Europe (OIDAC Europe), and the findings reveal a significant increase in attacks targeting Christians and Christian institutions.

According to the organization, there were “37 anti-Christian hate crimes targeting Christian places of worship, religious symbols, religious spaces, Christian institutions and Christian individuals” during May 2026. The incidents included vandalism, desecration, physical violence, theft, incitement, disruption of worship services and arson attacks.

The sharp rise in fires targeting Christian property stands out as one of the report’s most alarming findings. OIDAC reported that “With 13 recorded arson-related incidents, May represents the highest monthly figure recorded so far in 2026.”

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Those numbers reveal more than criminal activity. They reveal a growing climate of hostility directed toward Christianity throughout parts of Europe.

For years, decades really, Western culture has steadily pushed biblical values toward the margins of public life. Biblical Christian teachings on marriage, life, sexuality and truth increasingly face opposition from powerful cultural institutions. The incidents documented by OIDAC demonstrate how that hostility is manifesting itself in tangible and destructive ways.

The report’s most striking example came from Leipzig, Germany, where a Christian-owned café ultimately closed after enduring years of attacks.

According to OIDAC, “A Christian-run café in Leipzig had to close after its operators reported 26 attacks over a period of two and a half years, including repeated vandalism, graffiti attacks, damage caused by butyric acid, and other forms of harassment.”

The organization stated that the attacks were allegedly “carried out by individuals associated with the far-left extremist scene and ultimately made the continued operation of the café financially impossible.”

That account reveals sustained pressure directed at Christians because of their faith and values. Twenty-six attacks over two and a half years transformed a successful business into a casualty of relentless harassment.

Additional incidents paint an equally troubling picture. The Barbara Chapel in Penzberg, Germany, was defaced with satanic graffiti. A historic church bell tower in Greece sustained damage during a shotgun attack. In Italy, graffiti appeared openly calling for churches to be burned.

Together, these incidents reveal a pattern that extends far beyond isolated criminal acts.

OIDAC stated that “[a]nti-Christian hostility continues to extend beyond property damage” and reported that “[i]ncidents involving direct violence, intimidation, or serious danger to persons” are becoming a “notable trend.”

That trend deserves serious attention because it reflects an escalation from attacks on buildings to attacks on people. Violence, intimidation and harassment directed toward believers create an atmosphere designed to discourage Christians from openly living out their faith.

The scope of the problem may be even larger than current statistics indicate.

OIDAC reported that more than 27 thefts, 24 break-ins or attempted break-ins, 14 vandalism cases and nine fires remain under investigation. If investigators determine anti-Christian motives in those incidents, the total number of attacks will increase substantially.

Americans should pay close attention to these developments because similar trends are emerging in the United States.

Decision Magazine also highlighted findings from the Family Research Council documenting 1,384 acts of hostility against American churches between January 2018 and December 2024. The incidents included vandalism, arson, bomb threats and other attacks targeting houses of worship.

The similarities between Europe and America are increasingly apparent. Churches on both continents are facing growing hostility. Believers on both continents are encountering greater pressure for embracing biblical convictions. Christian institutions on both continents are becoming targets.

OIDAC concluded that these incidents reflect “a broader pattern repeatedly documented by OIDAC Europe in recent years, namely the pressure faced by Christian individuals and organisations that publicly uphold traditional Christian beliefs and values.”

That observation reaches beyond Europe and speaks directly to the challenges confronting believers throughout the Western world. The issue at stake is the freedom of Christians to openly live, speak and worship according to biblical truth.

The church has faced hostility throughout its history and has continued advancing the Gospel through every challenge. Today calls for the same courage, conviction and faithfulness.

We must pray for our brothers and sisters across Europe who are enduring growing persecution because of their faith. We must pray for churches throughout America as similar pressures continue to increase. And we absolutely must stand boldly for the truth of God’s Word, confident that the Gospel remains the hope of the world regardless of the opposition it faces.

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@.

Many believers have asked the same question at one point or another: Is God trying to tell me something?

The good news is that our heavenly Father is not distant, silent or unwilling to guide His children. Jesus said His sheep know His voice. The challenge is not that God has stopped speaking. The challenge is that we do not always recognize the ways He prepares our hearts to hear Him.

In a recent teaching, evangelist David Diga Hernandez shared seven signs that often appear before God gives direction, instruction or fresh revelation. While every believer’s experience is unique, these biblical principles offer encouragement for those seeking to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit more clearly.

1. A Holy Restlessness

One of the first signs Hernandez points to is a growing dissatisfaction with the things of this world.

“There’s something more. There’s something else. This isn’t it. That’s really the repeating thought. That this isn’t it. This can’t be it. There has to be more.”

This is not the same as unhappiness or discouragement. Rather, it is a spiritual stirring that creates a sense that God is preparing something new. The things that once seemed satisfying begin to lose their grip. Familiar routines no longer feel sufficient.

Hernandez said this holy disruption often occurs when God is preparing to give direction.

“That holy disruption, that holy dissatisfaction, that disconnect with, that discontent with the things of this world, it could be a sign that God is preparing an instruction for you.”

According to Hernandez, God uses these moments to draw believers away from distractions and into a place where His voice can be heard more clearly.

2. A Sudden Hunger for God’s Presence

The second sign is an intensified desire for prayer, worship and Scripture.

“Now, there’s this almost this obsession with I got to get to the prayer room. I got to open the word.”

Hernandez emphasized that believers should always desire God’s presence, but there are seasons when that hunger increases dramatically.

“This goes beyond that normal spiritual hunger that we should all be experiencing. This is something deeper.”

During these seasons, entertainment and other activities often lose their appeal. Instead, believers find themselves drawn to spend more time alone with God.

“That hunger that develops in you for that secret place. That intensification, that growing fire in your heart. That is one of the signs that God is about to give you an instruction.”

3. You Keep Hearing the Same Message

God often confirms His direction repeatedly.

“He will confirm His voice to you.”

Hernandez pointed to Isaiah 28:10 and said God frequently speaks “line upon line, precept upon precept.”

Rather than delivering one dramatic revelation, the Lord often confirms His message through multiple sources. A theme may appear in sermons, conversations, dreams, Bible readings or unexpected circumstances.

“You’re going to notice a pattern. You’re going to notice a consistency. You’re going to notice that something just keeps popping up again and again and again.”

Hernandez warned believers not to dismiss these repeated confirmations.

“Don’t ignore it because that could be one of the signs that God is speaking to you.”

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4. The Holy Spirit Brings Conviction

Before God gives greater responsibility or direction, He often prepares the heart.

“Before God can give you the instruction, before God can take you to the next place, He must purify you.”

Hernandez stressed that conviction is different from condemnation. The Holy Spirit does not shame believers. Instead, He lovingly reveals areas that need correction.

“The Holy Spirit shows you God’s holy standard, righteousness, and He calls you upward toward that.”

This process may involve confronting unhealthy attitudes, habits or mindsets that would hinder future growth.

“Every level of instruction comes with a measure of purification.”

According to Hernandez, preparation often precedes revelation.

5. God Removes the Noise

Sometimes God clears away distractions so His voice becomes easier to hear.

“Before you can know, before that revelation can be given, you have to be still.”

Hernandez acknowledged that many believers struggle with stillness. As a result, God may allow certain distractions to fade from their lives.

“God will begin to remove maybe a relationship that’s been distracting you. God will remove maybe a certain level of success that’s caused you to become self-reliant instead of dependent upon the Holy Spirit.”

While these seasons can feel uncomfortable, Hernandez said they often serve a greater purpose.

“He will cause you to be still, slow down, pay attention, and know that I’m God.”

6. Increased Spiritual Resistance

Another surprising sign is heightened spiritual opposition.

“This spiritual warfare, this spiritual activity around you is a sign that God is about to speak to you or take you to this new place that He has for you.”

Hernandez pointed to the early church in Acts, noting that fresh moves of God were often followed by resistance and persecution.

Believers may experience unusual pressure in relationships, finances, emotions or spiritual disciplines. Prayer may feel more difficult. Distractions may increase. Challenges may seem to arise from multiple directions at once.

Rather than assuming God has abandoned them, Hernandez encouraged believers to recognize that opposition sometimes accompanies divine preparation.

7. A Gentle Whisper

The final sign is the one Hernandez considers most important.

“So many believers are standing by waiting for that big dramatic sign that God is speaking to them.”

Drawing from Elijah’s encounter with God in 1 Kings 19, Hernandez noted that the Lord was not found in the wind, earthquake or fire, but in a gentle whisper.

“God doesn’t speak always with thunder. Sometimes He speaks in a gentle whisper.”

Hernandez believes many believers already know what God is saying but struggle to trust what they sense in their spirit.

“You probably already know that God is speaking to you. You probably already know what He’s saying.”

He added, “There’s just layers of doubt, layers of shame, layers of confusion, layers of overthinking all over that.”

The key is learning to quiet the noise and listen carefully to the Holy Spirit.

“If you cut through that noise, you get right to the heart of the issue and you listen in for what the Holy Spirit is speaking, you know deep within your heart what He’s already whispering to you.”

God still speaks. He still guides. He still leads His people step by step. If we are experiencing seasons of holy restlessness, growing hunger, repeated confirmation, conviction, stillness, resistance or that gentle whisper in our spirit, we should not be discouraged.

We should be encouraged. These moments may be evidence that the Holy Spirit is drawing us closer and preparing us for what comes next. As we learn to slow down, seek His presence and trust His voice, we can walk forward with confidence, knowing that the God who calls us is faithful to direct our steps.

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@.

Peace between Israel and Lebanon is not a headline many Christians expected to see.

For decades, Lebanon has served as a launching pad for Hezbollah rockets, Iranian influence and constant threats against Israel’s northern border. Yet direct talks between Jerusalem and Beirut are now underway, raising a question that reaches far beyond geopolitics:

Could a future peace between Israel and Lebanon actually fit Bible prophecy?

While many believers associate Lebanon with the coming wars of the last days, author and Middle East analyst Joel Rosenberg argues Scripture may point to something surprising first—a season of peace.

“Direct peace talks between the governments of Lebanon and Israel are underway,” Rosenberg said during a recent episode of The Rosenberg Report. “And this is not only historic, it also raises three critical questions.”

Among them was whether Lebanon could ever make “a real peace, a true peace, a warm peace, an Abraham Accords style peace and normalization agreement with Israel.”

A Surprising Shift on Israel’s Northern Border

The idea sounds unlikely given Lebanon’s recent history. Hezbollah has dominated much of the country’s political and military landscape for years while serving as Iran’s most powerful terror proxy.

Yet Rosenberg sees reasons for optimism.

“I am an optimist when it comes to the possibility of Israel of peace between Israel and Lebanon in the near or medium term,” he said. “Before that, is it possible and I think yes, it’s possible that there could be quiet calm and even a treaty.”

Rosenberg also pointed to a reality often overlooked in discussions about Lebanon: a substantial Christian presence remains in the country despite years of conflict and instability.

“There are 30 to 40% of the Lebanese people who love Jesus, who love the Lord, and are calling out to him for mercy,” Rosenberg said.

He urged believers to pray for Lebanon and its people, noting that Christ Himself ministered in the region of Tyre and Sidon, located in modern-day Lebanon.

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What Ezekiel 38 Says Must Happen First

The prophetic significance of a potential peace agreement becomes clearer when viewed through the lens of Ezekiel 38.

Many Christians rightly focus on the coming Gog and Magog war, a future conflict involving a coalition of nations that includes Iran and others attacking Israel from the north.

But Rosenberg believes many believers overlook what Scripture says happens before that invasion.

“The Hebrew prophet Ezekiel tells us in Ezekiel 38 that God will also help Israelis not only resettle our ancient homeland,” Rosenberg said. “But the text says that we will be increasingly peaceful and prosperous.”

He noted that Ezekiel describes Israel as dwelling securely before the invasion occurs.

“What that’s telling us in a sort of a poetic way is Israel’s going to be quiet,” Rosenberg said. “Israel’s going to have peace on all of its sides at least for a season, at least for a period of time before the Gog and Magog war kicks in.”

That detail raises an important prophetic question.

If Israel must be living securely before Gog and Magog unfolds, could today’s military campaigns against Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran’s regional influence be setting the stage for that future reality?

Rosenberg believes it is possible.

“I think that it’s very possible that this horrific war that erupted on October 7th, 2023 has set into motion this exact prophetic future,” he said, “a future in which Israelis live calmly and quietly and securely with all of our immediate neighbors.”

If that interpretation proves correct, a future peace agreement with Lebanon would not contradict Bible prophecy. It could help fulfill the conditions Ezekiel described before the invasion begins.

A Forgotten Biblical Alliance

The prospect of peace between Israel and Lebanon is not without precedent.

In fact, Scripture records one of Israel’s closest regional alliances involving the ancient kingdom centered in what is now Lebanon.

Rosenberg pointed to the relationship between King David and Hiram, king of Tyre.

“David not only becomes king but he makes peace with Lebanon,” Rosenberg said.

The friendship proved beneficial for both nations. According to Scripture, Hiram supplied materials and craftsmen who helped build David’s royal house.

That alliance expanded under Solomon.

“There was peace between Hyram and Solomon and the two of them made a covenant,” Rosenberg noted.

Lebanon supplied cedar and cypress timber for the construction of the Temple while Israel provided food and resources. The partnership became one of the most significant examples of cooperation between the two nations in biblical history.

Watching the Times

No one knows exactly how current events will unfold.

Scripture makes clear that future wars are coming. Gog and Magog remains ahead. Armageddon remains ahead. Yet the Bible also describes periods of peace before those conflicts arrive.

That is why developments on Israel’s northern border deserve careful attention.

“I think there is reason for optimism,” Rosenberg said.

As talks continue between Israel and Lebanon, we should pray for peace, pray for the strengthening of the church in Lebanon, pray for the liberation of people living under terrorism and oppression, and continue watching the signs of the times through the lens of Scripture.

The path to Gog and Magog may include developments few prophecy watchers expected to see—including peace on Israel’s northern border.

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 controversial mathematical theory is making headlines after researchers used a statistical formula known as the “doomsday argument” to estimate how long humanity will survive.

According to a Daily Mail report, the theory claims there is a 95% chance humanity will disappear within the next 17,100 years. The calculation begins with an estimate that roughly 117 billion people have lived throughout human history. Researchers then assume that people alive today occupy a random place in humanity’s timeline.

Using that assumption, supporters of the theory conclude that humanity’s total population will not exceed about trillion people. Based on current birth rates, they calculate that the number would be reached in roughly 17,100 years.

The theory has generated widespread debate. Critics argue it relies on assumptions that cannot be proven and ignores factors that could dramatically alter humanity’s future.

For us, the bigger issue is not the mathematics but the source of authority.

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Scripture clearly teaches us that God alone knows the future. Jesus said to His disciples regarding the day of His return, “Concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only” (Matt. 24:36, MEV).

We do not look to statistical models to determine the future of humanity. We look to God’s Word. The Bible reveals a sovereign God who directs the affairs of nations and guides history toward His appointed conclusion.

Predictions about the end of humanity have appeared for generations. Scientists, governments and experts have repeatedly forecast civilization’s collapse through war, disease, environmental disaster and other threats.

God’s Word remains unchanged, and the book of Revelation lays it all out for us.

The latest calculation is just another reminder that mankind continues searching for answers about the future while rejecting the One who already knows it. The end of human history will not arrive according to a mathematical formula. It will unfold according to the plans and purposes of God.

As speculation grows about humanity’s future, we can stand on the words of Christ and trust the God who holds the beginning and the end in His hands.

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 decades-long mystery in the mountains of eastern Turkey is entering a new chapter.

Researchers who believe they have found the remains of Noah’s Ark have received official approval from Turkish authorities to conduct what they describe as the most extensive scientific investigation ever performed at the Durupinar Formation, a boat-shaped site located near Mount Ararat.

The announcement marks a historic milestone in a search that has captivated Bible believers, archaeologists and skeptics for generations.

According to the team behind Noah’s Ark Scans, the newly approved expedition will include:

• Non-destructive core drilling to examine what lies beneath the surface without damaging the site.
• Advanced remote-sensing technology to map underground features.
• Next-generation imaging systems capable of providing more detailed scans than ever before.
• An underground drone called “Gopher” designed to explore and map hidden spaces beneath the formation.
• Expanded analysis of previously identified tunnels, voids and chambers detected through ground-penetrating radar.

“This historic authorization marks the first time in modern history that a dedicated international team has been officially cleared to perform extensive, non-destructive investigations at the site using revolutionary new scanning and imaging technologies never before applied to this site,” the group said in a statement.

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Researchers hope the new investigation will answer one of history’s most enduring questions. The team said it is seeking “irrefutable proof” that the formation is the authentic resting place of Noah’s Ark.

The Durupinar Formation sits about 18 miles south of Mount Ararat and has been the focus of intense interest since its discovery in 1948. Previous scans reportedly revealed what researchers describe as angular structures, tunnels and large underground voids that they believe are inconsistent with a natural geological formation.

Andrew Jones, one of the researchers involved in the project, pointed to what he believes are unusual characteristics of the site.

“Naturally, an object would not form this way with the pointed end uphill,” Jones told the Daily Mail.

Jones also said researchers have identified underground features that warrant further investigation.

“We have uncovered a tunnel that is not filled in, which leads to a big central void, a room that goes much further down that is square-shaped,” he said.

Among the most intriguing findings are soil samples collected from within the formation. According to Jones, the soil contains less alkalinity, more organic matter and elevated potassium levels compared to surrounding areas.

“Tests show these soil differences (pH, organic matter and potassium) are real, with less than a five percent chance they’re random, giving 95 percent confidence that something like a decayed wooden ship is causing them,” he said.

The formation’s dimensions have also drawn attention because they closely resemble the measurements given for Noah’s Ark in Genesis.

While many scientists continue to argue the site is a natural geological feature, the upcoming investigation could provide the clearest answers yet.

The significance of this extends far beyond archaeology. The account of Noah’s Ark is foundational to the biblical narrative and to Jesus’ own teachings about the days of Noah. As the evidence continues to point toward the historicity of the Ark, it would serve as another powerful example that God’s Word remains true and trustworthy in an increasingly secular age.

The expedition is expected to begin later this year, with preliminary findings to be released as researchers process and verify the data.

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@.

Israel is giving Bible readers a new way to experience the land where so much of Scripture unfolded.

The Israeli government has officially designated Route 60, a historic roadway stretching from Nazareth in the north to Beersheba in the south, as the “Biblical Highway.” The initiative is designed to create a Route 66-style experience for tourists, students and pilgrims traveling through some of the most significant locations in biblical history.

The route passes through sites connected to Abraham, King David, the prophets and Jesus, including Hebron, Bethlehem, Jerusalem, Bet El, Shiloh, Shechem, Megiddo and Nazareth.

Supporters say the project brings the pages of Scripture to life.

“The Biblical Highway will enable millions of visitors to bring their faith, heritage, and identity to life by traveling through the very places where the Biblical story unfolded and where the values that continue to shape Western civilization were born,” Ze’ev Orenstein, director of international affairs at City of David, told Fox News Digital. “It is an invitation to experience the Bible not only as a book, but as a living geography, as relevant today as it was millennia ago.”

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The initiative comes as Jewish historical ties to the land face ongoing challenges from those seeking to rewrite or erase that history.

Yishai Fleisher, international spokesman for the Jewish community of Hebron, said the effort reinforces the biblical roots of the Jewish people in the land of Israel.

“There have been attempts to ‘erase’ Jewish historical and biblical narratives, including efforts to reinterpret or displace long-held traditions associated with sites such as the Western Wall, the Temple Mount, Rachel’s Tomb and the Cave of the Patriarchs,” Fleisher said.

He added, “When we rename Route 60 or add the name ‘Biblical Highway,’ we are strengthening that pillar of our ancient identity in this land. Certainly, people who do not want to see Israel exist seek to remove that pillar.”

Christian leaders welcomed the project as an opportunity to help people better understand the Bible and the history behind it.

“The more you examine the archaeological record in the Land of Israel, and the more objectively you look at the evidence, the more you realize that the Bible is not a collection of fables and fairy tales, but an accurate account of a people and a land that have given the world ideas and values of universal benefit and inspiration,” David Parsons, senior vice president and spokesman for the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem, told Fox News Digital.

Israel’s Ministry of Tourism supports the initiative and plans to incorporate the Biblical Highway into future tourism campaigns. Visitor centers, observation points and multilingual signage are expected along the route.

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@.

Two Southern California good Samaritans are being remembered for their selfless final act after they were killed while stopping to help at the scene of a freeway crash.

Nereida “Nedi” Benitez, 40, a nurse at Sharp Memorial Hospital, and Gary “Chad” Tillman, 54, a Marine veteran and truck driver, were traveling on Interstate 15 near Fallbrook, California, early Thursday morning when they came upon a collision involving a Honda CR-V and a Toyota Sienna.

According to the California Highway Patrol, both Benitez and Tillman pulled over and approached the damaged CR-V to assist the driver. Authorities said the driver of the CR-V was allegedly intoxicated and had crashed into the rear of the Toyota Sienna.

As the two good Samaritans were helping at the scene, another vehicle struck the CR-V. Benitez and Tillman were killed in the impact.

Friends and family said the tragedy unfolded while both were doing what came naturally to them — helping others.

“She’s a nurse, and that’s what nurses do,” Benitez’s friend and former co-worker Tania Jones said. “This was definitely Nedi, and she would do it all over again, too.”

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Jones said she met Benitez while working together in a COVID unit and remembered her for her kindness, compassion and constant willingness to serve others.

“You could even tell, even under the masks we were wearing, that she was always smiling; that’s one thing about Nedi: her big, beautiful smile,” Jones said. “What you see in all the photos is her positive light and energy.”

She added that Benitez was “always very much dedicated to her patients at work and would give you the shirt off her back or be running behind you saying: ‘Hey, let me help you.'”

Sharp Memorial Hospital also mourned the loss of its colleague.

“The entire team at Sharp HealthCare is heartbroken by this tragedy,” Joshua McCabe, director of emergency services at Sharp Memorial Hospital, said in a statement. “Nedi was a compassionate and dedicated nurse whose commitment to caring for others left a lasting impact on her colleagues, patients, and the community.”

Tillman was likewise remembered as a man devoted to serving others. After spending 12 years in the Marine Corps, he became a truck driver, a career his family said matched his love of big rigs and life on the road.

His obituary described him as a devoted husband, loving father and passionate supporter of his family.

“His family was the center of his world, and he poured his heart into every moment spent with them,” the obituary said.

Loved ones found comfort in knowing that his final moments reflected a lifetime of selflessness.

His last act, according to his obituary, “reflected the kind of man he truly was: one who gave of himself so that others might be safe.”

As family members, friends and co-workers grieve this heartbreaking loss, let us keep the loved ones of Nereida Benitez and Gary Tillman in our prayers and ask God to bring comfort, strength and peace to all who are mourning.

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 new government disclosures continue to fuel public fascination with UFOs and alleged extraterrestrial encounters, near-death experience researcher Randy Kay believes Christians should focus less on appearances and more on spiritual truth.

Kay, a former biotech CEO who says he clinically died for more than 30 minutes before encountering Jesus, recently joined Alan DiDio’s Revival Nation program to discuss the growing interest in UFO phenomena and whether it overlaps with accounts from people who have experienced the afterlife.

According to Kay, some of the descriptions found in UFO discussions bear similarities to what he witnessed during his own near-death experience.

‘I Was Seeing the Warfare’

Kay said his experience did not begin with an immediate entrance into heaven.

“After I died, I was in a point of consternation. So I did not go directly into heaven. I went to another place and I was seeing the warfare in what I came to know as the second heaven,” he said.

Describing what he witnessed, Kay said, “On the left side were the demons, and the demons would look very, and I described this previously before all of this came out, as reptilian in appearance, and serpentine in appearance, and they changed form.”

He added that the enemy often imitates God’s work.

“And we know that we can entertain angels unaware. Of course, the angelic composure is one that can morph,” Kay said. “And you talked about the different forms of these aliens. And of course, the enemy of God, Satan and his minions, tried to counterfeit everything that God does.”

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Warning About Deception

Throughout the discussion, Kay repeatedly returned to the issue of spiritual deception.

“What happens as we’ve looked at these various cases of people especially who’ve had hell experiences, is that there is a deception that takes place,” he said.

Kay described testimonies from people who believed they were entering a beautiful place before discovering a far different reality.

“So that was their first introduction. Then when they were enticed to go through this space, in other words, deceived, they entered into hell. And the real disclosure then occurred of the darkness of these demons and this place of hell.”

Kay believes believers should be careful not to become distracted from the gospel.

“I think what’s going to happen. People will get their eye off what God has shown in a tangible and validated and proven way to something that is distracting from what God is doing,” he said.

More Than 600 Interviews

Kay said his views are informed by years of research into near-death experiences.

“I’ve interviewed over 600 people and I’ve researched over a thousand,” he said.

Among those interviews are people from a variety of religious backgrounds who later professed faith in Christ.

Discussing one former Muslim, Kay said, “He came back, he was so changed, so transformed that he received Jesus as his Lord and Savior, and today, happy to say I’ve interviewed him a couple of times, whereas his family had disinherited him.”

He added, “Today, most of that family are now believers in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.”

The Power of Jesus’ Name

Kay said one common thread among many troubling accounts of the afterlife is the power of calling on Christ.

“Many of those who were rescued from hell were rescued because of one thing, because they cried out the name of Jesus Christ,” he said.

“They had enough foreknowledge to know that their only rescue is Jesus Christ.”

Kay continued, “And that alone, there’s power in the name of Jesus. Save them from hell.”

He also defended the biblical basis for near-death experiences, pointing to several passages of Scripture.

“Jesus himself was telling of that story of the consciousness in the afterlife,” Kay said while discussing Christ’s account of the rich man and Lazarus.

A Message for Those Facing Death

Kay also addressed people grieving the loss of loved ones or facing serious diagnoses.

“My message is you’ll never die, and your loved one never died. That’s a fact,” he said.

Reflecting on reports from those who have clinically died, Kay added, “None of those I’ve interviewed that have clinically died felt that like we had died.”

Kay encouraged people to learn what the Bible says about eternity rather than live in fear.

“The most important thing I have to say is that Jesus Christ will be with you always, ever present,” he said.

‘There’s No Other Way’

Kay concluded by emphasizing what he believes is the central message found throughout authentic encounters with the afterlife.

“Well, you got to know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. You know, there’s no other way,” he said.

Looking back on his own encounter after death, Kay recalled the first words he heard.

“The first two words he spoke to me in heaven were, ‘Trust me.'”

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@.

Two people died and four others were hospitalized after a private jet crash-landed on a Texas highway Tuesday night, splitting apart and bursting into flames as witnesses rushed to help those trapped inside.

Fox News reported the aircraft crashed on Texas State Highway Loop 20 in Laredo around 10 p.m. after departing from Los Cabos International Airport in Mexico and heading to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, authorities said.

Dramatic video from the scene showed the plane skidding across the highway, striking street lights and breaking apart on a concrete median before catching fire.

A desperate rescue effort unfolds after a business jet slams onto a Texas highway and catches fire.

Video shows the aircraft blocking part of Loop 20 in Laredo while first responders and civilians rush toward the burning wreckage, trying to smash cockpit windows and pull people…

— Fox News (@FoxNews) June 17, 2026

Witnesses immediately ran toward the wreckage to help survivors escape. According to reports, two bystanders used a sledgehammer and shovel to force open the aircraft door and assist passengers.

Zayra Garza, who witnessed the aftermath and shared video on social media, told The Associated Press the scene looked “like part of a movie.”

“What was worrying me was the fire,” Garza said. “I was concerned that it could have just exploded at any time.”

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Authorities initially reported one fatality before updating the death toll to two on Wednesday morning.

Jose Baeza, an investigator with the Laredo Police Department, said a vehicle traveling on the highway was partially struck by the aircraft during the crash. At least five first responders were also treated for smoke inhalation.

The identities of those aboard the aircraft have not been released. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

The aircraft was operated by NetJets, which said in a statement that it is cooperating with authorities.

As we await answers, let us pray for the families who lost loved ones, for the survivors recovering from their injuries and for the first responders who courageously answered the call in the midst of this tragedy.

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@.