Last week, headlines were filled with reports of socialist candidates gaining ground in major American cities. Fifty years ago, that would have been almost unimaginable. Today, however, socialism is becoming an increasingly influential force within the Democratic Party. Is this America’s future? Perhaps we can find the answer by revisiting the course set by America’s Founders. In fact, it reaches back before the founding itself. In 1630, John Winthrop described the Massachusetts Bay Colony as “a city upon a hill.” He envisioned a people who understood they lived under a covenantal responsibility before God, a vision that profoundly shaped the character of the future nation.

Washington personally read the Bible and quoted the Bible. Those who deny America’s unique Christian roots will claim that many educated people in positions of prominence in the 18th century also quoted from the Bible. However, they also quoted from Greek and Roman authors of antiquity. Washington quoted almost exclusively from the Bible and applied its teachings to his personal life and role as a leader. The real American dream is far more God-honoring than what we have today. The true American patriot is working and praying that Washington’s vision for America will once again claim the hearts of Americans.

Continued activity at Iran’s underground Pickaxe Mountain complex is fueling new concerns over Tehran’s compliance with its nuclear agreement with the United States, with a Washington-based nuclear watchdog citing fresh satellite imagery and the continued absence of international inspections at the site. “If Iran is serious about negotiating, it should halt construction at Pickaxe Mountain as a token of good faith. But what can be expected from a regime as brutal and conniving as Iran’s?”

How strange it must be for a pastor to stand at a funeral and preach the reality of heaven — even though he mostly dismisses the book from which he preaches. What a terrible burden it must be for a man or woman to make himself or herself God’s judge — choosing which of God’s words should be kept and which should be discarded based on the shallow, always-changing moral fashions of the age. Millions of churchgoers are led by people who subordinate God’s Word to the whims of a sick culture. 

Christians are under the kingship of Jesus first and foremost, but that does not negate the responsibilities of our earthly citizenship. We can make a difference in our own sphere of influence by being faithful where God gives us opportunities, and if every Christian did that, think how any country would change! We can still pray for God to bless America, but we should specifically pray for God to turn Americans’ hearts back to him and to recognize his authority in all the areas where the culture has increasingly rejected him.

That being said, this whole MoU that’s been agreed upon between the US and Iran is a complete balagan! How does a nearly defeated enemy end up in a better position than when it first went to war? It’s absurd. It’s like the Allies making it to Berlin in 1945 but stopping before a final victory, then signing an agreement that leaves the Nazi party in power. Make it make sense! I have been greatly frustrated as I’ve watched what appears to be the capitulation of the United States to Iran. But in the grand scheme, what I feel doesn’t really matter. We don’t have to like everything that we see, because we know that in many cases it has to happen.

These relief efforts meet physical needs and provide opportunities to share the hope of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. “We believe that God would have us help our neighbor, and our neighbor is Venezuela,” Peter said. “We’re here not only to help heal the physical, but we also want to share with them the love of Jesus through our work.”

The U.S. Supreme Court agreed Tuesday to hear the case of a devout Orthodox Jew suing the city of University Heights, Ohio, after officials required him to obtain a permit to pray in his home with a small group of friends. Lower federal courts threw out his lawsuit and said he needed to finish the permitting process before vindicating his constitutional rights.

Jesus warned against turning back as He revealed the cost of discipleship: “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God” (Lk. 9:62). Looking back while plowing will create crooked lines. Followers of Jesus must focus on the present and look forward. As the Lord said, “Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it?” (Isa. 43:18–19).

Why don’t I expect anyone to find evidence of alien visitations on earth? It’s simple—I don’t believe ETs exist. Let’s look at this biblically for a moment. The Bible doesn’t address whether aliens exist. But the Bible doesn’t address many questions that I might have (whether I have a spleen comes to mind). When the Bible gives no clear answers to a question, we must use biblical thinking to answer the question.