Morning Rundown: Never Underestimate the Power of a Hug

Here’s a quick summary of the top stories on charismamag.com:

Never Underestimate the Power of a Hug

This past week I led a men’s conference in coastal Colombia, a nation with a high rate of fatherlessness. Colombian men rarely receive affection from their fathers because the macho culture requires guys to be tough, harsh and emotionally closed. On the first night I taught from the parable of the prodigal son in Luke 15. I reminded the guys that Jesus told this story to paint a vivid picture of the Father’s unconditional love.

We all know what happened to the wayward son. After dishonoring his family by leaving home and moving to a Gentile country, the repentant son returned to his father—fully expecting that he might be disowned or forced to become a house servant. But the father was waiting patiently for his son’s return, and when he saw him from a distance, he “felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him” (Luke 15:20).

This was certainly the most powerful hug in the Bible, because it perfectly illustrates how our merciful Father feels about any sinner who returns to Him. The father didn’t recoil in disgust, or look smugly at his son with self-righteous anger. No, he threw his arms around him, even though he smelled like pigs! Then he gave him a robe, a ring and sandals—emblems of a restored family inheritance—and he invited the young man back into the house. The affectionate father even threw a party for his son in a lavish display of forgiveness.

First After School Satan Club Meeting at Virginia Primary School Sparks Threatening Emails

A primary school in Chesapeake, Virginia, allowed the local satanic temple to proceed with after school activities for the After School Satan Club following pushback from parents. Now, the school is dealing with two email threats made against it for allowing the club to commence.

B.M. Williams Primary School went forward with the club after it was put on pause in December 2022 and January 2023. Previously, the After School Satan Club (ASSC) was supposed to give a security fee for any issues that may come as a direct effect of the club’s presence at the school, however, this requirement was thrown out in order to treat it the same as the Christian after school club, the Good News Club.

The director of the Satanic Temple’s After School Club, June Everett, said that she hoped the meeting would be, “…a joyful, enriching experience for the children.”

3 Keys to Stand Strong Against End Times Deception

One Los Angeles pastor, working in the heart of Skid Row and leading sheep from all walks of life is warning Christians across America to start living for the imminent return of Christ. You’ve probably heard of a few “signs of the times,” but what does it mean to have the discernment like the sons of Issachar?

“It’s hard to know the beast when you’re in the belly of the beast,” Pastor Troy Vaughn says in a Charisma magazine interview. In 1 Chronicles 12:32 it says, “From the sons of Issachar, those having understanding of times and what Israel should do: 200 of their captains with all their brothers at their command.”

In every era of history, there is a unique set of circumstances plaguing the minds of the people. In 1 Chronicles 12 that circumstance was the death of King Saul and the future reign of David. The sons of Issachar perceived the tension in the moment and analyzed what was happening in Israel. They used that wisdom to fight with the rest of David’s army at Hebron to turn the kingdom of Saul over to him.