It’s amazing to me how the universe balances everything out. For instance, recently we had to replace our roof. That was expensive. Then our fridge died and we had to buy a new one. Now our dishwasher is making a weird noise. You know what? Maybe this was a bad example.

Despite my recent run of bad luck with house repairs, I still choose to believe there is good in the world. That optimism keeps me digging through the headlines each week. While it’s always easy to find dark, depressing news, I managed to track down some positive stories— including one about a friendship between a duck and a golden retriever. Enjoy!

A quick recap of what you might have missed this week

There’s a lot of debate about deconstructing. Is it good? Is bad? Is it necessary? Here’s a new angle: maybe it’s like “intellectual test-engineering.” Jesse Califf explains how he’s tested each of the doctrines and ideas he accepted by default as a child. “Deconstruction is the process of submitting them to the testing hammers to see if they break. If they break—great. You have avoided building your life on a shaky foundation. If not—also great. You can be more confident that you have a solid foundation.” To Califf, such testing shouldn’t cause us to fear. “How have we become so afraid of breaking the truth?”

I’m not proud that I clicked on this article: “Parenting is hard. Should we let AI do it for us?” Did I wonder, somewhere in the dark recesses of my soul, if I could outsource my scared responsibility as a parent to our tech overlords? What I received was a humorous romp through the bizarre offerings from Silicon Valley startups to slake the seemingly endless thirst for optimization. A customized podcast about your child? 24-hour surveillance with nap prediction? I’ll pass.

My friend Paul J. Pastor wrote a beautiful essay for The Dispatch about life at “The End of the West, Near Portland, Oregon.” Paul is a sixth-generation Oregonian and writes about Portland in a way that sidesteps the Portlandia jokes and liberal caricatures and captures something of the ineradicable wildness of his home. At the end of the essay, he imagines his great, great, great grandfather, a preacher, standing “against the backdrop of the Cascades and the Wallowas and the Columbia River Gorge” and delivering a “perennial rebuke of the human capacity to screw up every Eden we will ever find: Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

The latest theological dustup on the world wide web

This week The Gospel Coalition (TGC) published an article laying out their position on AI. TGC Senior Editor Brett McCracken described AI-generated content as “soulless slop that can mimic and masquerade as brilliant writing. It’s aggressively efficient, speedily rendered, sycophantic information. But it’s not writing.” He then listed the uses of AI they’ve decided to prohibit for their writers. It included ideating, editing, and researching. The hardline stance drew fire from others online who see AI as a valuable writing aid. I wouldn’t outsource this newsletter to AI, but only because it could never replicate my genius.

It’s no secret that the war with Iran is not going well. We’re running out of supplies and, apparently, ideas. This week, the US military asked troops for “creative and unconventional” ideas to punish Iran. I’m not military, but I’d suggest hitting them with a flood of spam calls. I’ve been getting a ton of those lately and they’re breaking my spirit.

Feel-good stories to lift your mood.

I usually don’t go in for those heartwarming stories about cute animals, but this one got me. It’s about a depressed golden retriever and the duck who helped him get his mojo back. Bet you can’t watch it without smiling.

Watch this revealing exchange between Ross Douthat and Orchid founder Noor Siddiqui, who argues for a future in which most embryos will be genetically altered and optimized in labs. Douthat pushed back, tearing up as he quoted a poem extoling the beauty of physical intimacy between spouses.

• On the Holy Post, the team discussed prenups, “Mere Christianity,” and whether Jesus helped people get drunk.
  

• On the Esau McCaulley podcast, Esau and friends discuss the new Spider-Man movie, the loneliness epidemic and finding meaning in today's America.
  

• On the SkyePod, Skye talked to Meghan Sullivan about what’s happening with A.I.

Fresh updates across the religious landscape

• Texas and Connecticut Chart Different Paths on Religion in Public School

• As Clergy Run as Democrats, Republicans Question Their Faith

• Korean Pastor Who Spent Months in Prison Meets with Trump

  

What does the Bible actually say about immigrants, refugees and people who've been forced to flee? Let’s dive into Scripture and learn together through World Relief’s 30-day devotional. Each day includes a short Scripture reading and journal prompt to help you draw near to God and grow in compassion for those who are far from home.

This week I took my teenage son to see The Odyssey. I know, I know … a questionable parenting decision. The film is filled with “intense violence” and “chaotic and nightmarish battle sequences.” But hey, it’s one of the oldest surviving works of Western literature so I justified it as an educational experience.

It didn’t quite live up to the experience of reading the epic work in Homeric Greek, but it was a fun ride. Ok, I didn’t read The Odyssey in the original language, but I hope for a fleeting moment you were super impressed. The story also has a positive message—that if you’re courageous and resilient, you will eventually make it home. But all your friends are probably going to die.

Sorry about spoilers, but you’ve had thousands of years to read it.

A quick recap of what you might have missed this week

“Terminal lucidity.” Add that phrase to your repertoire. It refers to the phenomenon of terminal dementia experienced by patients who suddenly regain cognitive function shortly before death. This fascinating New York Times piece highlights cases of the phenomenon and reports on researchers’ quest to explain what’s going on. There are several theories, but no proven cause. What’s indisputable? That families are grateful for one last moment of connection.

If the thought of books being harmed makes you squeamish, you may want to skip this Substack post by Joel Miller where he details the “Horrifying Things We Do To Books.” From famous authors like Norman Mailer who tore out pages to some random guy who went viral for his practice of cutting long books in half to “make them more portable,” it’s all torture for bibliophiles. When I’m president, such behaviors will result in lengthy prison terms.

Speaking of abused books, AI companies have been buying antique books to train their large language models. The weird part? Using the books for this purpose requires destroying them. Anthropic, a leading AI company, “used a hydraulic powered cutting machine to neatly remove the pages from the books it procured from book resellers and then scanned them using industrial-grade imaging equipment.” Here’s a video (warning: it’s disturbing) showing a machine butchering books.

I’m a proud napper. To defend my habit, I’m reduced to citing studies about the many physiological benefits of snoozing. But there are theological reasons for napping too. A new book on “The Wisdom of Sleep” pushes back against those who see sleep as a mere productivity tool and emphasizes its spiritual value. “What if sleep, rest, and Sabbath are gifts meant to mold us to the contours of grace, rather than hacks for our wellness or rewards for our striving?”

The latest theological dustup on the world wide web

This week X.com erupted in a fight over pit bulls. The dispute was sparked by a clip of actor Jon Bernthal calling fear of pit bulls “dog racism.” Many people responded with statistics showing that pitbulls are responsible for most fatal dog attacks. Lovers of the controversial breed shot back, claiming that bad owners—not the dogs—are responsible. I even chimed in with a hypothetical: let’s swap all the pit bulls with golden retrievers and see if attacks go down. When I told Grace about the controversy, she accused me of wasting time online—and hit me with a rare dad joke. “You don’t even have a dog in this fight.”

I first heard of Kathryn Krick when I saw a viral video of one of her book signings. In the clip, when readers reach her book table, they shake violently and fall, writhing on the floor. Krick’s fans claim they’re overcome by the Spirit. My question: why doesn’t that happen at my book signings?

Nerdy, intriguing news for the happily over-informed

Augustine lived 1,600 years ago—and he’s still releasing sermons. Scholars recently authenticated two new discovered homilies by the famous theologian that never appeared in his surviving works. The sermons are on the story of the Witch of Endor, in which King Saul consults a witch before a battle against the Philistines. Augustine considers the possibility that King Saul repented and was ultimately redeemed after hearing Samuel's prophecy.

• On the Holy Post, the team discussed “Gig Eva” and Skye interviewed Nicholas Epley about talking to strangers.
  

• On the Esau McCaulley podcast, the team asked, “Is Trump keeping Gen Z out of church?”
  

• On Curiously, Kaitlyn, Kaitlyn addresses the question, “Why did God ask Abraham to sacrifice Isaac?”

Fresh updates across the religious landscape

• Muslim Leaders Sue Over Alleged Discrimination

• Nigerian Christians Join Attempts to Deradicalize Terrorists

• Released Pastors Say Immigration Agents Mocked Them

Paul wasn’t just writing about heaven--he was writing about your life right now. In Paul for the World, acclaimed New Testament scholar Nijay K. Gupta offers a compelling vision of Pauline theology rooted in everyday Christian living. Accessible and hopeful, this book calls Christians to move beyond escapist spirituality and embrace Paul’s life-affirming theology.

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Every day people ask me, “Drew, how are you so humble?” They’re imaginary people (just voices in my head, really) but they deserve an answer. And the answer is this: I have children. They make sure my ego has never even had the chance to grow.

I think of the time I noticed my daughter looking intently at my face. When I asked what she was thinking she said, “Your beard is ugly but it hides your double chin.” Or the time I embraced my son and said, “My favorite job is being your dad.” He shrugged. “Of course it is. Your other job is just staring at a computer.”

I hope you have someone in your life who keeps you humble ... and that you enjoy this week’s roundup of stories.

A quick recap of what you might have missed this week

The Economist’s editor-in-chief Zanny Minton Beddoes interviewed Elon Musk and it was … awkward. The first half of the interview centered on the future of AI. While in the past Musk has warned about the risks of AI, the (former) trillionaire sounded optimistic about the burgeoning technology, predicting a post-money era of abundance for humanity. The interview got acrimonious when Beddoes shifted the topic to politics. Musk admitted he regrets getting “a little too involved in politics” but bristled when Beddoes accused him of fueling hateful ideologies on his social media. At one point, Musk grew visibly upset and fired back at Beddoes. “Do you realize the media is despised? …They hate you. They hate you far more than they hate me.”

This is a story you won’t bee-lieve. A Greek beekeeper has been placing icons of Christ, Mary, and other saints, in his hives for decades, and he noticed something unusual: the bees constructed honeycombs around the icons, carefully avoiding the images themselves. What’s going on? Are these God-fearing pollinators showing reverence for the sacred icons? Or maybe they just like a little art on the walls.

Any time you discuss a new technology like the Internet or the Smartphone, someone will, inevitably, state that tools are “neutral.” It’s how we use them that matters. I respond to such statements by pleading with the person to read Marshall McLuhan (“The Medium Is the Message!”). Now I’ll ask them to read this article too. In “One Tool to Rule Them All” Brad Littlejohn debunks the “neutral tool” myth and explains how new digital technologies like AI are designed to shape and degrade human agency. “If we meddle carelessly with tools more powerful than us, in short, we will find ourselves reduced to mere tools, slaves of our own creations or of those powerful enough to use them against us.”

The latest theological dustup on the world wide web

This week, conservative podcaster Allie Beth Stuckey interviewed apologist Cliffe Knechtle. Their exchange sparked debate online. Stuckey asked Knechtle about a recent study showing that 48% of Gen Z adults agreed that Christian support of Trump has made them less likely to go to church. Knechtle, who is known for his debates on college campuses, said while he addresses moral issues, he avoids partisan entanglements. “I learned from Billy Graham that we have to be very careful how closely wedded to a politician we get. Dr. Graham got too close to Richard Nixon and the Watergate scandal broke out and he began to realize, I made a big mistake.” Stuckey responded by saying that she believes young people often use the political issue as a smokescreen to obscure the real issue: an unwillingness to acknowledge their sin.

It’s the clip that has everyone crying. In it, the 89-year-old Catholic philosopher Peter Kreeft recounts seeing his wife an hour after she died, looking at her “wasted, emaciated, wrinkled, suffering body”—and falling in love with her all over again. “It’s as beautiful as a crucifix,” he said, “Because that body ain’t gonna last, but the soul is.” His advice for young men? “If you don’t love her soul but just love her body, then don’t get married.”

Nerdy, intriguing news for the happily over-informed

Genesis 2:21 has always seemed a little bizarre. God made Eve from one of Adam’s ribs? Really? A rib? Turns out, we may have been reading it wrong. On his Substack, scholar Joel Muddamalle argues that the Hebrew word tsela refers to a “side” or half of a structure, not a single rib. The significance, he believes, is that Genesis 2 presents a vision of equal, non-hierarchical relationship between the sexes. It also raises the question, should McDonalds change the “McRib” to the “McSide”?

• On the Holy Post, the team discussed the idolatry of church growth.
  

• On the Esau McCaulley podcast, the team talked about The Odyssey, A.I. Death bots, and the cost of victory.
  

• On Curiously, Kaitlyn, Kaitlyn addresses the question, “Will there be marriage in heaven?”

Fresh updates across the religious landscape

• Presbyterian Church USA (PCUSA) voted to affirm “Gender-Affirming Care”

• Study: Churches Are More Diverse, Talking Less About Diversity

• US Megachurches Grow Bigger as Smaller Churches Decline

Paul wasn’t just writing about heaven--he was writing about your life right now. In Paul for the World, acclaimed New Testament scholar Nijay K. Gupta offers a compelling vision of Pauline theology rooted in everyday Christian living. Accessible and hopeful, this book calls Christians to move beyond escapist spirituality and embrace Paul’s life-affirming theology.

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This week Grace and I hatched a brilliant plan to get date nights each evening, all without hiring a babysitter (or constantly worrying whether our 14-year-old son was actually watching his little sisters). How did we do it? Three letters: VBS.

OK, we didn’t exactly send our kids to VBS just to get date nights. But after we signed up our youngest (and our older kids decided to volunteer) the realization dawned on us—we’re free!

Of course, our church’s VBS only lasts one week, so no dates next week. Unless the church down the road is doing VBS then. Hmmm…

Anyway, amid my VBS scheming I did manage to hunt down some stories I believe are worthy of your time.

Enjoy!

A quick recap of what you might have missed this week

I’ve had a few people ask me, “Who will be this generation’s Billy Graham?” The question makes me a little sad because (a) they’ve clearly ruled me out and (b) there won’t be one. Why? Evangelicalism is simply too fragmented now to have a universal spokesperson like Graham. Pastor and English evangelist Glen Scrivener would likely agree. He believes the era of “Mere Christianity,” (where Christians put aside secondary issues to find common cause) is ending. This piece examines his argument and looks at why we may be headed into a time of increased theological factionalism.

Speaking of splintering, the pro-life move is facing a growing division. One side wants to make incremental change, passing restrictions on abortion providers while supporting pregnancy centers. But there’s a growing faction of “abortion abolitionists” advocating for prosecuting women who have had abortions as murder suspects. As Christianity Today reports, “So far, bills to make women criminally liable for abortion have not gotten out of committee even in strongly pro-life Republican state legislatures. If the abortion abolitionist movement continues to gain ground, that may eventually change.”

I took my whole family to see Project Hail Mary in the theater—and we loved it! I was a little surprised to see my friend Sarah Salviander describe it as a “Christian movie.” She makes a good case for its Christian status, though not in the way you might think. She writes, “Growing up atheist in secular Canada, my only real exposure to Christian themes came through Star Wars and The Lord of the Rings. They awakened in me a hunger for the spiritual that overt preaching never could have reached at the time. Good stories weave truth into the world subtly, beautifully, and memorably. Project Hail Mary does exactly that.”

The latest theological dustup on the world wide web

I preached at my church last weekend. The week before, my life got insanely busy and it was tough to carve out time for sermon prep. I didn’t use AI to help write the sermon, but apparently many preachers are doing just that (and when you’re in a crunch, I can see why it’s tempting!). A recent Washington Post article reported that “Half of all pastors say they use AI for brainstorming or idea generation … And roughly a quarter use AI to help write their sermons, up from 12% in 2024.” The article sparked strong reactions online, with one preacher declaring the practice “fraud” and others defending use of the new technology. Tip: if your preacher ends their sermon by saying, “Does that sermon fit your needs or would you like something more convicting?” yeah … they might be using AI.

Brazil's early exit from the World Cup was a huge disappointment to the millions of Brazilian soccer fans. And some fans have found the reason that their team lost: evangelicalism. According to a story on Religion News Service, “The team’s change in playing style, they argue, mirrors the religious transformation that’s been under way in Brazil for decades: The more evangelical the country has become, the worse their national team has performed.” Apparently, many fans believe Catholicism was a better fit with the sport’s festive style. “If we pray like a gringo, then we play like a gringo,” fans say. Is there truth to the theory? Well, Catholics do have better crosses.

Nerdy, intriguing news for the happily over-informed

Religion researcher Ryan Burge always provides fascinating stats and analysis of religious trends. And he includes graphs just to help you wrap your head around the data. His latest piece examines why people leave the faith. He explains “how political identity once drove Americans out of Christianity—and why that’s no longer true.”

• On the Holy Post, Skye interviews Scot McKnight on Church Trauma and the Apostle Paul.
  

• On Curiously, Kaitlyn, Kaitlyn tackles the question, “Does God Cry?”
  

• On the SkyePod, I joined Skye to talk about fat pastors, denominations, and depopulation.

Fresh updates across the religious landscape

• Iran Shutters Last Presbyterian Church

• The Latina Women in Texas Reshaping the UMC

• Pro-Israel Influencers Criticize Vance

Throughout our marriage, Grace has said some hurtful things to me about books. Things like, “Why don’t you try reading the books you already have before ordering more books?”

One time she burst into my home office holding a pile of tomes I’d stacked on the living room floor. “We have too many books in this house!” she exclaimed. “Or,” I countered, “we have too few bookshelves.”

I bring up these exchanges because we have a couple of stories this week about books. Also, did you know that Christians were instrumental in the history of books? We didn’t invent the book (or codex as it was called) but early believers popularized the medium by copying the Scriptures into books instead of scrolls.

Maybe I’ll bring that up next time Grace and I argue about books.

A quick recap of what you might have missed this week

Speaking of books … The New York Times ran a story about a young Jewish scholar and writer named Mendel Uminer, who was evicted for cramming 10,000 books into his New York studio apartment. The eviction notice accused Uminer of “creating a fire hazard by over-accumulating combustible books in the premises.” Uminer initially fought the eviction but ultimately chose to give up the apartment rather than part with his beloved books. “I’m reading to extract knowledge,” he said. “Every book I own, I need. My library is my manual for life.” Thanks for your example, Uminer. Not all heroes wear capes.

If you’ve been in evangelical circles for any length of time, you’re likely familiar with the ongoing debate around women’s roles in ministry. You understand terms like complementarianism and egalitarianism and have seen the endless back-and-forth exegetical chess games between proponents of both positions. While many regard the issue as a mere academic parlor game, The Holy Post’s Kaitlyn Schiess believes there’s an “unacknowledged cost of evangelicalism’s never-ending gender war” for women who are forced to navigate it. In “Drafted into the Church’s Gender War”, Schiess shares her own story and explains how this focus sidelines women’s theological contributions and callings to serve the church.

Denominations are out of style these days. Even if a church is part of a denomination, they downplay it or hide it four pages deep on their website (I’m looking at you, Baptists). But Evan Wickham, a pastor in San Diego who’s spent the last 20 years saying he’s non-denominational, has come to a surprising conclusion: “There’s No Such Thing as a Non-Denominational Church.” Reflecting on his roots in the Calvary Chapel movement, Wickham argues that every congregation operates with a tradition and liturgy, whether they realize it or not. “That’s the fiction beneath ‘non-denominational.’ Just the Bible. No baggage. Simply Jesus. It sounds humble. Often, it’s not. No one reads the Bible without a tradition, and no one worships without a liturgy. Four songs and a forty-five-minute sermon is a liturgy. So is an altar call. So is a fog machine. Hawaiian shirts can act as vestments. So can flannel.” Wickham urges churches to root themselves in the bigger history of the church, embracing historic creeds, liturgies, and external accountability.

The latest theological dustup on the world wide web

It’s back! The “Pork and Mixed Fabrics” debate. This week the dispute over how Christians interpret the Old Testament law has been trending on Instagram and TikTok. Triggered by viral videos (such as this famous West Wing monologue) accusing Christians of hypocrisy for condemning certain sins while freely eating pork or wearing mixed-fabric clothing, online apologists have flooded feeds with deep-dives into covenant theology. The debate centered on the distinction between ceremonial laws (which were fulfilled by Christ) and moral laws (which are still binding for Christians). Just to be safe, this week I’m eating chicken and wearing kosher clothing.

It looks like Monsignor Stephen Rossetti will have to update his LinkedIn profile. Earlier this month, the well-known priest was removed from his position as an official exorcist after suggesting UFO sightings were the work of demons. In a video, Rossetti addressed his dismissal and apologized “for any ways that I have not been faithful to the teachings of the Church’s Magisterium.” But he did not recant his views on UFOs and demons. “As an exorcist I wanted to raise that danger. And that is that demons like to hide. ... They don’t want us to know what they’re doing because they’re more effective when we don’t realize it.”

Nerdy, intriguing news for the happily over-informed

Codex H was already one of the world’s most important early New Testament manuscripts. But parts of the manuscript were lost, re-used and rewritten over the centuries. That is until researchers used multispectral imaging to recover “ghost” text that isn't visible to the human eye. What text was recovered? All of Paul’s letters. “It's an important witness to the text of Paul’s Letters in a period where we don't have that many manuscripts,” researchers said.

• On the Holy Post, the team discussed how two members of Congress clashed over the meaning of the sheep and goats in Matthew 25.
  

• On Curiously, Kaitlyn, Kaitlyn tackles the question, “Do we get mansions in heaven?”

• On The Esau McCaulley podcast, the team reflected on America’s 250^th anniversary and why it felt like a “weird birthday.”

Fresh updates across the religious landscape

• Plummeting Support for Israeli Government Among Faith Groups

• Immigration Changes Leave Foreign Doctors Unsettled

• Takeaways from Trump’s Religious Liberty Commission Report

Hope you had a great Semiquincentennial! Yes, that’s the fancy latinate term for a 250^th anniversary—and I finally had a chance to use it. Our 4^th of July was wonderful. We ate ribs and beans and cornbread. My daughters wore matching stars-and-stripes shirts and wrote “USA” with chalk on the driveway. Then we sat in our cul-de-sac and set off fireworks with our neighbors. Even this ex-pat Canadian got a little emotional seeing the “bombs” bursting in air.

Will the country make it another 250 years? I hope so, but let’s take it one day at a time.

A quick recap of what you might have missed this week

As you can imagine, the 250^th Anniversary of America inspired a host of think pieces. Mere Orthodoxy collected reflections from a variety of contributors highlighting America’s Christian DNA and unique contribution to the world. “Ours is not a heritage of blood, nor of soil. Our heritage is one of the noblest ideas in the history of mankind, ‘that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.’”

I’m continually amazed at how people can read the same Bible and come to radically different positions. A recent dispute in Washington puts the phenomenon into stark relief: politicians are arguing over Matthew 25, where Jesus tells his followers they will be judged on how they care for “the least of these.” This story covers a recent clash between Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock and Republican Speaker Mike Johnson over the meaning of the passage and the implications of their conflicting interpretations.

I recoiled at the title of this piece, “Theological Puberty” (awkward!), then clicked out of morbid curiosity. Turns out the uncomfortable title was an apt description of a real dynamic—when someone’s theological knowledge outpaces the development of their character. A.J. Swoboda borrows the concept from the German theologian Helmut Thielicke to explain “why there is a real danger in a young person speaking eloquently about theology before their life has matured enough to sustain it.”

The latest theological dustup on the world wide web

Gabe Pluguez took to X.com to share about his family’s decision to leave their church. According to him, the church was great. “Incredibly loving people. Families would pray for us randomly after service. Amazing community. Elite worship (because, Nashville lol), but something was off about the lead pastor.” What was off? His weight. The pastor was obese and didn’t seem bothered by it. “Gluttony: overeating in a way that harms the body is a SIN,” Pluguez wrote. “It’s the most under talked about sin in the American church, and it kills Christians early. We don’t need our pastors to be perfect. But we do need them to lead biblically.” As you can imagine, the post set off a lively conversation. If I were less mature, I’d say the pastor was merely pursuing church growth by preaching a full gospel to expand his ministry and receive double portions from God.

You’ve probably heard that billionaires are building bunkers (at some point you have so much money, why not?) but according to one bunker builder, the latest surge in underground hideaways is being driven by conservative Christians anticipating the end times. The CEO of Atlas Survival Shelters said the sales from American Christians is fueled by a fear of World War III and a belief that the Rapture is near. “Many believe we’re in the ‘end times’ or approaching them,” he said. The good news? For the right price, you can ride out the end of the world in luxury. Some of the bunkers include theaters, “grow rooms,” and even shooting ranges.

Nerdy, intriguing news for the happily over-informed

Occasionally I hear the crass lyrics of a new pop song and start pining for the days when people were scandalized when the Beatles sang, “I want to hold your hand.” Yes, I know what you’re thinking—I’m old. But according to a new study, I’m also right. Researchers found that “over the past six decades, the words woven into popular music have drifted away from themes of care, loyalty, and purity, and increasingly toward themes of harm, degradation, and rule-breaking.” Lyrics have “grown more immoral, meaner.” If pop music is a cultural mirror, we’re not looking great.

• On the Holy Post, the team discusses the 250^th anniversary and Kaitlyn offers her take on a New York Times interview about rethinking the sexual revolution.
  

• On the SkyePod, Skye released an explainer video titled, “Should America Rededicate Itself to God?”
  

• On The Esau McCaulley podcast, the team discusses Texas public schools requiring Bible reading and examine the trend of one-child families.

Fresh updates across the religious landscape

• Baptisms at Trump’s Great American State Fair

• The Supreme Court Unholds Birthright Citizenship

• Vatican Declares Society of St. Pius X in Schism

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I’m currently on Day 5 of a family reunion. It’s been a whirlwind, fun but exhausting. We all smell like campfire, I’ve eaten way too much, and I’m officially out of clean clothes. Oh, and I’ve reached the age where my neck misses my bed and pillow at home.

I need to get back to the group, so I’m going to keep this short.

Happy reading!

A quick recap of what you might have missed this week

Texas public school students will soon be required to read the Bible. Good news, right? Well, not necessarily. While I love the idea of kids engaging with Scripture, who teaches it matters just as much. Call me old-fashioned, but I really don’t want a doll-collecting Wiccan ventriloquist leading children through the Gospels—honestly, I find that a bit creepy. Ok, most Texas teachers aren’t doll-collecting Wiccan ventriloquists. My point is that the Bible should be taught by people who believe it … and aren’t casting spells in their spare time. This New York Times piece explores the intense cultural debate surrounding the new Texas school curriculum. It looks at why some see the curriculum as blurring the lines between church and state, and why many fear an evangelical overreach.

As an aspiring man of leisure (it’s kind of hard to do when you have kids), I appreciated this piece on the virtues of dilly-dallying. Timothy Willard argues that even when we extol rest and reflection, we often do so only for its ability to enable us to work even harder. “We are so addicted to our left-brained world that we actually believe resting is part of productivity. Imagine what that perspective does to the world. It makes stopping to smell real roses a productivity hack. It makes a dusk walk on the greenway one of your atomic habits. We rush about to slow down so we can rush some more.” The better goal? “The real hack of the human soul is not free swimming the English Channel. It’s participating fully in the intellectual rigor of observing a flash rainbow hover in and out of reality in a lawn sprinkler.”

Reminders about the “the importance of theology” may call to mind pedantic seminary grads debating trivial points to showcase their learning. But Jacob Percy reminds Christians that from the earliest days of the church, theology was a thoroughly practical enterprise. In “The Hidden Cost of Avoiding Theology” Percy argues that the early church fathers viewed doctrine, not as an abstract enterprise, but as a tool to build a structure in which the faith could flourish. When we avoid doing theology, we create a vacuum which tends to get filled with political and social ideologies. “Churches that avoid theological controversy are eventually unable to recognize theological error.”

The latest theological dustup on the world wide web

The decision to put the Bible on the curriculum at Texas public schools caused quite a stir online. One pastor asked people to share their opinions and the floodgates opened. Some supported the move, citing the importance of the Bible to Western civilization and the opportunity for evangelism. But many others objected, including conservative Christians. One wrote, “I don't trust the oracles of God to a standard issue schoolteacher.”

Feel-good stories to lift your mood

Professor Anthony Bradley is an expert on the plight of boys and men in modern society. Though he acknowledges the challenges they face, he’s grown tired of what he describes as “a liturgy of bad news about young men: they are disengaged, addicted, angry, aimless.” To reverse that negative image, he compiled 15 true stories of young men acting in heroic ways. These stories highlight the way Bradley defines masculinity: “using your power, presence, creativity, and strength for the benefit of others.” Bradley writes, “These young men are teaching us all something invaluable. They weren’t raised for comfort, they were raised for sacrifice. The world would be a radically different place if men, as a default setting, ran into danger for others. Selflessness is true masculinity.” Read: “They Put Down Their Phones and Ran Toward the Danger.”

Nerdy, intriguing news for the happily over-informed

Filing this one under “Scientists rediscover the Sabbath.” New research shows that you don’t need to take long vacations to feel refreshed. Taking 24-hour “micro-retreats” can reduce burnout, restore mental clarity, and boost productivity. There’s something about changing up your routine and setting even for a day that reduces cognitive load and enables people feel restored. Imagine that … God was right again.

• On the Holy Post, the team discusses whether we should adopt “Christian humanism” and Kaitlyn interviews biblical scholar Michael Rhodes about his book, Reimagining Biblical Politics.
  

• On Curiously, Kaitlyn, Kaitlyn explores the timely question, “If aliens exist, do they need Jesus?”
  

• On The Esau McCaulley podcast, Esau, Mike, and Nancy French discuss the reaction of World Cup visitors to our country and ask, “Is America better than we think?”

Fresh updates across the religious landscape

• Except for White Evangelicals, Americans Have Soured on Trump

• Venezuelan Churches Step in to Help with Earthquake Recovery

• Asbury Theological Seminary Cut by United Methodist Church Over Same-Sex Marriage

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This week I’m doing something crazy. Picture this: a 15-passenger van packed to the brim with my immediate family, my parents, my dad’s electric scooter, a giant stuffed animal, a paddle board, a pile of luggage, and our 85-pound puppy. We’re driving three states away for a week-long family reunion. Yes, I’m channeling my inner Clark Griswold.

As this email hits your inbox, we’ll be hitting the road. I hope you enjoy this week’s stories—and please say a quick prayer for my survival.

See you on the other side!

A quick recap of what you might have missed this week

Last Sunday was Father’s Day. I was yet again awarded “Best Dad Ever” by my children (my condolences to all the other dads who seem to come in second every year). Being a dad really is the best job in the world, and I appreciated this reflection from Esau McCaulley on “Fatherhood as an Exercise in Hope.” He talks about the experience of having a father that was in and out of his life—and the desire it birthed in him to be a present father when he grew up. He frames fatherhood as an act of hopeful resistance. “All parents who care deeply about their children do so as an act of defiance, an exercise in hope, a suggestion that things might be better than what we can see. Fatherhood is an assertion that the past does not determine the future. We are more than the sum total of the wrongs done to us.”

British writer Matthew Hall assumed his secular colleagues would recoil when they found out he was a Christian. “I thought I’d be dismissed as bigoted or odd,” he writes. But when a family tragedy caused him to “come out as a Christian at work,” he was surprised by the reaction. It led to “these conversations … invariably with warmth and curiosity. I sense I am more novelty than freak. For my part, it’s a chance to explain that there are Christians like me who treat their faith not as a set of rules, but as a bottomless source of insight and inspiration.”

Spend an hour on social media and it’s easy to conclude that the world is going down the toilet and that we live in the worst time ever! But as Griffin Gooch writes, “The reality is that the world really isn’t as uniquely terrible as the average internet think piece or primetime news segment makes it out to be.” He challenges the college freshmen he teaches to consider just how hard life was before things like electricity, penicillin, and modern sanitation. He also points to moral improvements, largely ushered in by Christians, like bans on infanticide. In “A Case Against Doomerism” he challenges Christians not to give in to fear. “We have an imperative to not let the negative outweigh the positive, the mourning to drown out the rejoicing, the pessimism to defeat the hope.”

The latest theological dustup on the world wide web

This week’s online controversy came compliments of yours truly. I posted what I thought was an innocent picture of my teenage son walking into Costco wearing a T-Shirt that read, “Jesus Died for Us.” My followers, who are mostly Christian, seemed to appreciate it. Then the atheists found me. They objected to the message and, because of the (admittingly) ambiguous wording of my post, mistakenly thought my teen was preaching in the Costco parking lot. I was called a lot of names I can’t repeat here and threatened repeatedly with physical violence. The upside? The post got a million views. Maybe I needed the attention.

Feel-good stories to lift your mood

This week a clip of actor Russell Crowe circulated in which the actor offered his opinion on why the original Gladiator worked but the sequel didn’t. “They didn’t understand what made the first film so successful: it had a moral core,” Crowe said. “Most people like that. On the surface, they go for the entertainment, but if they’re going to love something and keep it with them forever, it’s because of its moral core. All guys want to be that man who can stay that strong, and all women want a man who can love them in that way.”

Nerdy, intriguing news for the happily over-informed

Researcher Ryan Burge seems to specialize in overturning conventional wisdom about religious life. His latest busted myth? That believers are more educated. As Burge shows, educated people are more likely to attend religious services. In this post, he breaks down interesting ways the data plays out between men and women, and Democrats and Republicans.

Archaeologists excavating Notre Dame Cathedral have unearthed fascinating treasures. The finds include a 1,700-year-old coin, bearing the image of the Emperor Constantine and some mysterious markings on pottery that experts still can’t explain. Sounds like they need to call in Robert Langdon or Nicolas Cage.

• On the Holy Post the team discusses the meaning of the UFC cage match on the South Lawn of the White House and Nijay Gupta is back to discuss his new book, Paul for the World.
  

• On the Esau McCaulley podcast, the team asks whether the UFC fights at the White House were about American pride or Trump’s ego.
  

• On the SkyePod, Esau joined to Skye to discuss the new Spielberg movie, “Disclosure Day,” and what it would mean if aliens existed.
  

• If you haven’t already, check out Skye’s devotional, With God Daily!

Fresh updates across the religious landscape

• Half of US Churches Will Celebrate America’s 250^th Anniversary

• Pope Warns Wars Are “Fed” Faster Than People as Aid Money Dries Up

• Church of England Apologizes for Role in Forced Adoption

If my 2006 self could talk to my 2026 self, I imagine the conversation would go something like this:

2006 Drew: What’s the future like? I bet cell phones are super tiny.

2026 Drew: No, they got bigger.

2006 Drew: Weird. Do we have flying cars yet?

2026 Drew: No, but we send a lot of billionaires into space.

2006 Drew: I hope we’re not still bogged down in war in the Middle East.

2026 Drew: 👀

2006 Drew: Have politics gotten any less crazy?

2026 Drew: Well, this week there was a cage fighting tournament on the White House lawn.

You get the idea: I’m a little surprised with how things have turned out. I’m guessing you might be too. What helps? Rooting your identity in an unchanging God. And laughing at all the craziness. I hope this newsletter makes it a little easier to do both.

A quick recap of what you might have missed this week

I watched the new Spielberg movie Disclosure Day over the weekend (spoiler alert: there are aliens in it). Samuel D. James wrote a wide-ranging reflection on the film exploring the theological themes it raises. “Disclosure Day is a story meant to resonate with people who are OK with admitting that we might not be able to change the world after all. Maybe it’s not us who can.” Read: “Our Alien Righteousness.”

We’ve come a long way since ancient Rome, that decadent superpower that would host gladiatorial contests to project its power and distract the masses. Wait, maybe we’re not so different after all. As 2006 Drew was shocked to discover, the White House recently hosted UFC fights. They erected a massive, 92-foot-tall, 600-ton steel canopy structure over the Octagon on the South Lawn of the White House. This Washington Post column argues that the structure is the perfect metaphor for our cultural moment, injecting bloody spectacle into the country’s 250-year celebration.

I was surprised (and delighted) recently to hear my 14-year-old son humming pop songs from the 80s. Turns out he’s not alone; it seems most of Gen Z pines for the 80s and 90s. Kyle Burks writes, “We flock to retro clothing from eras we’ve only ever seen in movies. We love typewriters and drive-in movie theaters, old video-game consoles and record players. We carry disposable cameras on vacations and hang Polaroids in our dorm rooms.” What’s going on? Burks explains “Why My Generation Is Drunk on Nostalgia.”

The latest theological dustup on the world wide web

Elon Musk became the first trillionaire in human history. Senator Bernie Sanders called the development a “moral travesty.” Others defended Musk, arguing that his companies have contributed to society by creating jobs and advancing technology. Personally, I think it’s crazy for any one person to have that much money. Unless you’re reading this newsletter, Elon, in which case, I’ve always been a big admirer, and I could use a little cash.

Feel-good stories to lift your mood

Oxford professor and Christian apologist John Lennox recently appeared on the popular podcast, “Diary of a CEO.” After a long discussion of the historic proofs for the Christian faith, the host, Steven Bartlett, told the jovial Oxford don what he found to be the most compelling argument for God. “You have a certain peace and contentment that I rarely see in people that I interview,” Bartlett said, “but I almost always see in the Christians that I’ve interviewed. This is an interesting phenomenon for me.”

Odd stories I thought you should know about

Whenever my 11-year-old daughter says, “I’m thirsty” I respond by saying, “Nice to meet you, Thirsty. I’m Dad.” She groans and rolls her eyes, but new research suggests she should be grateful. Apparently telling your kids dad jokes “builds bonds between fathers and kids while delivering some subtle mental health benefits.” You’re welcome, children.

For some reason, scientists decided to make sourdough bread using the yeast found on the remains of a 5,300-year-old mummy. And you thought moldy bread was bad!

• On the Holy Post, the team discussed the Southern Baptists’ move to ban women pastors and Zach Wagner talked about the problem with pagan masculinity.
  

• On Curiously, Kaitlyn, Kaitlyn answers the question, “Why does Jesus pray if he’s God?”
  

• On the SkyePod, I was back for another “Drew’s News” in which we discussed weed, prayer apps, and UFOs.

Fresh updates across the religious landscape

• Bethany Christians Will No Longer Allow LGBTQ Parents to Foster or Adopt

• Florida Pastor, and Abuse Skeptic, Elected SBC President

• Southern Baptists Move Closer to Constitutional Ban on Women Pastors

I have an idol in my life. It’s little, it glows. I reach for it first thing in the morning and last thing at night. Unlike ancient idols of wood and stone, it’s not mute. It constantly dings and buzzes and beeps, assuring me that I’m connected and popular and entertained. Yes, I’m talking about my smartphone.

Maybe “idol” is too strong a word. But judging from my weekly “screen time” reports, it certainly has my attention. I once found myself in line at Chipotle and made a horrifying discovery—I forgot my phone. My hand kept searching my pockets in vain for my ever-present help in times of boredom. I got so desperate, I almost resorted to talking to the people around me!

I’m exaggerating, but only a little. Smartphones aren’t inherently evil (unless you forget to switch your notifications off). They’re amazing tools. But as Tim Keller said, an idol can be anything that absorbs your heart and imagination, and functions as a master.

I’m reflecting on phones because I stumbled on a couple stories about their powerful effects on our lives. As you read, I hope you’ll be edified—and a little wary of the idol lurking in your pocket.

A quick recap of what you might have missed this week

The 26-year-old British author Freya India sees a resurgence of Christian belief in her generation. But she fears the faith has been commodified, packaged for online consumption, just “another thing to do on my phone.” Though she’s grateful for prayer apps, streaming sermons, and bite-size Bible reading plans, she’s wary of reducing the experience of the Christian life to consuming digital goods. In “The Commodification of Christianity,” she writes, “For a while I thought my generation might be finding God. Now I worry we are just finding content about God … I hope some find the conviction to say that their faith is too complicated, too sacred, to turn into TikToks. If you want to know more about it, the subscribe button won’t help. You’ll have to step into church.”

A couple years ago, I realized something strange was happening to me. I couldn’t read. At least not for long, which is a big problem when you’re an author and editor. My attention span had atrophied from consuming too much short-form content online. I needed to cut back on platforms like Instagram and X.com. I could have also benefited from this wisdom from scholar Timothy Willard on cultivating deep study. His five-step regimen involves a lot of reading and walking, a practice he picked up while living in Oxford. I’m not sure a stroll through my suburban surroundings will be quite as inspiring, but hey, I’ll give it a try.

Well, this is a little unsettling. Anthropic, a leading AI company, recently called for a global pause in AI development. The trillion-dollar corporation claims that their models are near the threshold of improving themselves, which risks the loss of human control. Why would Anthropic sound the alarm? It’s like Wonder Bread warning people about the danger of carbs. Is this a sneaky marketing campaign? (They are on the cusp of an IPO) Or a genuine last-ditch attempt to pump the brakes on a terrifyingly powerful technology? I guess we’ll know soon enough.

The latest theological dustup on the world wide web

I’m continually surprised at what ends up being controversial. Like this clip from Rebecca VanDoodewaard on singleness. In the 90-second video created by Ligonier Ministries, VanDoodewaard encourages young women who are single and longing for marriage not to hang around waiting for a man. Instead, she urges them to see singleness as a gift, one to use to excel in their careers and callings. Somehow many found this offensive, accusing the reformed ministry of spreading messages that undermine marriage and family.

Nerdy, intriguing news for the happily over-informed

There’s been a feverish debate about what’s driving low fertility rates. Is it economics? Delayed marriage? Shifting priorities? A new culprit has been identified by a recent study: phones (yes, we’re back to phones). The researchers say smartphones reduce socializing, provide information about contraception, and give access to pornography. “We do not claim that the iPhone is the sole cause of the post-2007 decline,” the researchers write, “(but) our estimates imply that the introduction of the modern smartphone played a sizable role in the decline in U.S. births.”

Filing this under “He shouldn’t have done that … but I get it.” A police officer in South Carolina was arrested and fired for pointing his gun at a fellow officer who microwaved fish in the station. If convicted he could receive a fine or even prison time. That might be fair, but I think the fish-eating cop deserves a lifetime ban from the microwave.

Steven Spielberg has a new alien movie hitting theaters this weekend that he warns might mess with people’s faith. “The movie also takes the position of the church,” the legendary director said in a recent interview. “What does this do to the fundamental beliefs that many of us have? Is God our God only on this planet, or is God a God for every system where there’s civilization, intelligent life, and even developing life?”

• On the Holy Post the team talked about the Pope’s encyclical on the threats of A.I. and discussed whether we’re moving to an “Intimacy Economy.”
  

• On the Esau McCaulley podcast, Esau explores the question, “What Should Christians Say to the Grieving?”
  

• On the Curiously, Kaitlyn podcast, Kaitlyn responds to a host of listener questions about church, communion, and Christian formation.

Fresh updates across the religious landscape

• Hot-Button Issues Still Dominate Political Talk from Pulpit

• Presbyterian Church Faces Revolt for Proposing Monogamous Relationships for Clergy

• Died: Lamar Hardwich, “The Autism Pastor”

Paul wasn’t just writing about heaven, he was writing about your life right now. In Paul for the World, acclaimed New Testament scholar Nijay K. Gupta offers a compelling vision of Pauline theology rooted in everyday Christian living. Accessible and hopeful, this book calls Christians to move beyond escapist spirituality and embrace Paul’s life-affirming theology.

Join CBE International in Chicago—August 6–9, 2026!

Inspired by 1 Corinthians 12:26, CBE’s 2026 Conference in Chicago will explore how Scripture supports the shared leadership of women and men, and how healing can occur among the body of Christ when women are not limited in their giftings and callings. Through three distinct tracks, sessions will provide insightful, in-depth, and practical teaching on the importance of biblical equality. Come hear from speakers like Ingrid Faro, Beth Felker Jones, Israel Steinmetz, Taffi Dollar, Charles Read, Mimi Haddad, and many more!

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I’ve been thinking about space lately. I’m editing a book by an astronomer, which has taught me a lot about the subject. Some of the concepts are baffling and I find myself writing questions like this in the margins: “Can you explain this term without using big science words? Of course, I know what it means but there are a lot of simpletons out there.” In addition to my crash course in astronomy, the news has been filled with stories about the government’s recent release of the U.F.O. files (or “U.A.P.s” for your fancy pants people). 

Dwelling on space has some real benefits. I’ve gained about 10 pounds this year. It looks bad in the mirror. But from outer space? I bet you wouldn’t even notice. I heard an interview with the Astrophysicist Michelle Thaller recently. She gives this illustration to give people a sense of the cosmic scale. If the sun were reduced to the size of the dot in a lowercase letter “i” on a page of text, the Milky Way galaxy would be about the size of the earth in comparison. (Insert mind-blown emoji here.) Kind of puts things in perspective, doesn’t it? It humbles us (or it should). But as Christians the scale of the universe also has an elevating effect, too. When I look up at the vast beauty of the night sky, it’s wild to think that the Creator of it all loves me. It always fills me with awe and makes me say with the Psalmist, “What is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?”

A quick recap of what you might have missed this week

Speaking of space, The New York Times ran a piece about the release of U.F.O files causing consternation among Christians. “Some worry that it undercuts the Bible’s account of the Earth and humanity as the centerpiece of God’s plan for the universe,” the article says. The article also reports that many Christians have reached for a different explanation to account for the aerial phenomena. As Vice President JD Vance said on a podcast recently, “I don’t think they’re aliens, I think they’re demons.” I don’t know what to think but I’ll tell you this. If little green men show up at my house in the middle of the night, I’m casting them out.

Pope Leo’s first encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas, warns against the dangers of AI. It opens with a bold statement: “Humanity, created by God in all its grandeur, is today facing a pivotal choice: either to construct a new Tower of Babel or to build the city in which God and humanity dwell together.” Scholar Nadya Williams analyzes this urgent message, emphasizing the Pope’s warning that over-reliance on AI threatens human relationships and erodes our identity as beings made in God’s images. Williams underscores a central theme from the text: “We must remember that humanity flourishes not despite limitations, but often through them.”

What if the Pope’s magisterial encyclical warning against AI was actually (partially) written by AI? That’s one person’s contention. He used stylometric evidence and AI detection software to conclude that a large portion of the encyclical is the work of a Large Language Model. I have neither the interest nor expertise to parse his claims, but if he’s right, irony is indeed dead. Read: “Claude, Author of the Humanitas.”

The latest theological dustup on the world wide web

Christianity Today published an article posing the question, “Can Christians Smoke Weed?” Author Daniel Darling concluded that recreational use of marijuana is “out of step with obedience to Christ.” The piece really lit up the Internet, receiving high praise from some and blazing condemnation from others. It’s a cloudy issue. I wouldn’t call it a sin but as joint heirs with Christ, we do have a higher calling.

Nerdy, intriguing news for the happily over-informed

According to a new study, many AI chatbots have a pro-Catholic bias. The models showed the most positive reaction towards Catholicism (with an “approval” rating of about (61%) ). The lowest ratings? Jehovah’s Witnesses (3%). I guess that’s what you get for not celebrating Christmas.

I recently brought my son to the theater to see a new documentary, The Story of Everything. It’s a documentary exploring the origins of the universe and the existence of God. Somehow, I thought it would be a light and entertaining film. It was not. It was fairly technical with a lineup of scientists opining on subjects that would stretch any teen’s attention span. It was also excellent, a Christian-backed but evenhanded exploration of our origins.

This isn’t a new story but it’s a powerful one. I saw it when it made the rounds on social media a couple years ago. It’s a video of a man named John, who collects bottles on the streets of New York City. He doesn’t have much but after listening to his story, you just might think he’s the richest man in the world.

• On the Holy Post, the team talks about Colbert and the challenges of public faith.
  

• On the SkyePod, David French talks to Skye about gerrymandering and its impact on voting rights.
  

• On the Curiously, Kaitlyn podcast, Kaitlyn addresses a central question to Christian faith: “How did God inspire the Bible?”

Fresh updates across the religious landscape

• Hot-Button Issues Still Dominate Political Talk from Pulpit

• Christian Groups Could Lose Property Under India’s New Bill

• Samaritan’s Purse to Open Ebola Field hospital in Congo

Paul wasn’t just writing about heaven, he was writing about your life right now. In Paul for the World, acclaimed New Testament scholar Nijay K. Gupta offers a compelling vision of Pauline theology rooted in everyday Christian living. Accessible and hopeful, this book calls Christians to move beyond escapist spirituality and embrace Paul’s life-affirming theology.

I had a realization this week. I get a little weird on Sunday mornings. First, I’m a drill sergeant, barking orders to rush everyone out the door in time for church. I find myself saying things like, “There’s no time for breakfast!” and “Braiding your hair? Are you crazy?” Fortunately, the kids usually forgive me by the time we get to church. Sometimes Grace doesn’t, which is ironic considering her name. Sunday morning is when my legalism flares up too. I have a rule in the car on way to church: no secular music. During the week it’s fine. But it’s only worship music on the drive to church. My family has challenged me on this arbitrary-seeming rule, pointing out that secular music is no worse on Sunday morning than Saturday night. But my quirky conscience won’t allow me to listen to the devil’s music on our way to the house of the Lord.

I hope that doesn’t make me sound like a jerk. I’m much nicer on Sunday afternoon probably because I’m back home—asleep. This has nothing to do with this week’s roundup of stories, but confession is good for the soul. Thanks for listening.

A quick recap of what you might have missed this week

If you’re giving a commencement speech this year, I have one tip. Don’t mention AI. Several commencement speakers have only to be met with a chorus of boos from their Gen Z audiences. What’s going on? Professor of Christian theology R. Lucas Stamps sees the beginning of a resistance movement to the burgeoning technology among the younger generation. And he believes their reaction is justified. “On balance, the students who are booing AI deserve more sympathy than scrutiny. Mid- and late-career professionals have the privilege to reflect academically about the promises and perils of AI. For recent college graduates preparing to enter the workforce, the professional threat of AI is more existential.” Read: “Has the AI Resistance Commenced?”

Speaking of Gen Z, there’s a sobering essay from college professor Stephen G. Adubato on the fabric of the next generation’s faith. Adubato has seen a surge of converts in his classroom, but he notes that the “newfound religiosity has taken on a reactionary, performative, and individualist charge.” These new converts seem only capable of articulating their faith commitments as a sort of opposition to political and cultural trends, as if they’re “regurgitating something they heard on a TikTok reel.” The answer? “Rather than functioning as bubbles of piety or ideological echo chambers, religious communities and institutions ought to strive to become spaces where people can learn to, as the Italian theologian Luigi Giussani put it, ‘live the real intensely.’”

Katelyn Beaty works as an editor in Christian publishing. Recently she shared a story about something she does every day—evaluating a book proposal. The proposal was from a promising author, with a growing platform. But as she read the author’s Substack, something felt off. “That’s when my AI writing spidey sense started tingling,” Beaty writes. “The sentences all had the cadence of marketing speak. There was no personal subject. There were all the three-point lists.” Beaty uses the experience to reflect on how an increased focus on platform paved the way for the use of AI in publishing and how “AI Is the Perfect Tool for Celebrity Christian ‘Authors.’”

The latest theological dustup on the world wide web

This week’s online Christian quarrel was about vasectomies. Seriously. Christianity Today ran an article from Justin Whitmel Earley arguing that “Men Should Bear the Brunt of Contraception” by opting for procedures like vasectomies when a couple is done having children. Though the piece provided nuance—and counter perspectives—the reaction online was swift and angry, accusing the author of promoting an anti-family agenda. I tried to think of some dumb jokes about vasectomies but none of them made the cut.

Nerdy, intriguing news for the happily over-informed

1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 seems like clear evidence for the Rapture. After all, in the passage, Paul speaks of the second coming of Christ and believers being “caught up together” to “meet the Lord in the air.” But what if our assumptions of this verse are wrong? New Testament scholar Nijay Gupta explains why the famous passage may be talking about a greeting party rather than an escape plan—and why it all hinges on one key Greek word.

Please read this father’s beautiful reflection on his son’s last day of school, “Judson’s Last Ride.” What makes his essay especially poignant is that his son has severe autism. The father wonders what will happen when his son’s “schedule-obsessed brain prompts him to seek reassurance by asking ‘school tomorrow?’ on Sunday.” He looks back with gratitude for all the people who’ve helped their family and considers the future. “We always say that we just want our kids to be happy, and Judson is the test case for that. He won’t go to college, he won’t work a job, and he’ll almost certainly die without having ever kissed a girl. But as he walks down the hall, you realize that he doesn’t have a care in the world. He’s almost always happy. When a teacher asked him what he wanted to be when he grows up, he responded, ‘a good boy.’ If there are disappointments about the path his life has taken, they’re our own, not Judson’s.” I don’t have allergies, but they were sure acting up as I read this piece.

• On the Holy Post the team talks about the politicians and pastors who gathered at the National Mall to “rededicate America to God.”

• On the Esau McCaulley podcast, the team talks about why the church needs rituals again.

• On Curiously, Kaitlyn, Kaitlyn opens Proverbs and tackles the question, “Why is Wisdom Considered a Girl in the Bible?”

Fresh updates across the religious landscape

• Pope Warns of Risks from A.I. in Encyclical

• American Missionary Doctor Contracts Ebola

• Eli Lilly Sues Church Leaders for Alleged $200 million “Sham” Drug Program

Paul wasn’t just writing about heaven, he was writing about your life right now. In Paul for the World, acclaimed New Testament scholar Nijay K. Gupta offers a compelling vision of Pauline theology rooted in everyday Christian living. Accessible and hopeful, this book calls Christians to move beyond escapist spirituality and embrace Paul’s life-affirming theology.

The sun is finally shining here in the Pacific Northwest. It’s glorious! Right now, my son is shooting hoops in the driveway. My daughters are playing with their friends outside. Oh, and Grace is mowing the lawn (hey, we’re smashing the patriarchy). Meanwhile, I’m sitting inside scrolling for stories to include in this newsletter. Don’t feel too bad for me. I’ll get a little sunshine after I’m done.

Enjoy!

A quick recap of what you might have missed this week

Let’s start strong. Really strong. Snapping baseball bats. Bending metal bars. Tearing phone books in half. That was all light work for the Power Team, a traveling group of Christian strongmen popular in the 80s and 90s. I remember going to one of their shows as a scrawny preteen and being absolutely blown away. By the time they’d broken everything on stage, I wasn’t about to ignore when they shouted at me that real men follow Jesus (though I always wondered how they reconciled their faith with their rather obvious use of steroids). Relevant ran a short article designed to let the “Epicness of the Power Team Wash Over You.” And, yes, it includes videos. “Was it ridiculous? Obviously. Was it memorable? Unfortunately for every phone book involved, yes.”

Why do bad things happen to good people? It’s a classic question that theologians have wrestled with for ages. But it seems members of the younger generation have adjusted the question. Jared Dodson is a Gen Z professor and what he hears from his students has more to do with why oppressors don’t get their comeuppance. Or, in other words, “why don’t bad things happen to bad people?” As Dodson points out in a recent Christianity Today article, it’s a question that echoes many biblical prayers crying out for justice. But he believes the thirst for retribution must be tempered by mercy. “Gen Z’s longing for justice needs to be discipled in the image of Jesus the Messiah, who gave his life for ours while we were his powerless and ungodly enemies (Rom. 5:6–10). This longing needs to come not from a worldly celebration of merciless punishment for wrongdoers but from the love that shakes empires to the ground.” 

Douglas Wilson isn’t shy about his plans for America. If the Christian nationalist pastor had his druthers, we’d strip women of their right to vote and ensure they rarely, if ever, hold public office. Wilson’s views are getting a wide hearing, thanks to his growing network of affiliate churches and his connection to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. A new Atlantic article on “The Men Who Want Women to Be Quiet”, chronicles how misogynistic views like Wilson’s, held both by certain religious and secular influencers, have moved from the fringe to the mainstream, and become a potent force on the right.

The latest theological dustup on the world wide web

Last weekend thousands of worshippers converged on the National Mall for a prayer rally with the purpose of “rededicating the nation to God.” The event featured a video of President Trump reading Scripture and included top republican leaders like JD Vance, Marco Rubio, and Pete Hegseth along with a lineup of evangelical pastors. Many Christians praised the gathering. “I’m not saying Trump is the savior,” one attendee said, adding that “this is one of the most important things that could be going on in the world, for us to rededicate our nation back to God.” Others expressed worries that the rally blurs the boundary between church and state and decried the event for “exclusionary politics, extremist rhetoric, and partisan loyalty.” Religion News Service provided great coverage of the event.

Nerdy, intriguing news for the happily over-informed

Religion researcher Ryan Burge recently shared new data on which seminaries are growing … and which are declining. Sadly, Fuller Seminary, my alma mater is down 63%. I hope it wasn’t my fault.

In Romans, Paul uses a metaphor of Gentile believers being “grafted into Israel.” Well, here’s a fascinating video showing exactly what grafting branches looks like. Next time you read Romans, you’ll have a better idea of what Paul’s talking about.

I remember watching American swimmer Ryan Lochte compete in the Olympics and thinking, wow, we have the exact same physique. I mean, if I’d spent my life working out instead of eating too much and being sedentary. I hadn’t heard Lochte’s name in a while until I stumbled upon this story of his recent baptism. “I made the decision to rededicate my life to Jesus and today I was baptized!” Good to see you back in the water, brother.

Tis the season of commencement speeches and it will be hard to top this one. Country music star Eric Church spoke to UNC graduates. With the help of his guitar, he shared “6 Strings of Life.” Church identified faith as String #1. “Your faith is the low E of your life. The thing that sits at the very bottom of you,” he said. “People who tend to their faith in ordinary seasons do not come undone in extraordinary ones.”

• On the Holy Post the team talked about how online betting is changing the culture and church and why Christian leaders were praying at the foot of a golden statue in Florida.

• On Curiously, Kaitlyn, Kaitlyn and Mike tackle the question, “Why do Christians raise their hands in worship?”

• On the SkyePod, celebrity guest Drew Dyck was back to discuss UFO’s and the new Christian dating show coming to Hulu.

Fresh updates across the religious landscape

• Televangelist James Robison Dies at 82

• San Diego Police Responding to Shooter at Mosque

• Supreme Court Keeps Abortion Pills Available

Paul wasn’t just writing about heaven, he was writing about your life right now. In Paul for the World, acclaimed New Testament scholar Nijay K. Gupta offers a compelling vision of Pauline theology rooted in everyday Christian living. Accessible and hopeful, this book calls Christians to move beyond escapist spirituality and embrace Paul’s life-affirming theology.

Do you want to lift your voice for just immigration policies with boldness and confidence? World Relief is hosting an advocacy training, with the opportunity to join meetings with your members of Congress. You’ll also get access to our newly updated advocacy guide. You don’t have to be an expert to advocate — just someone who deeply cares about our refugee and immigrant neighbors. The deadline to register is May 29, so sign up today!

I was at a leadership conference recently. The attendees were mostly leaders. I say mostly because I was there too. At one point, we broke into groups to discuss our biggest leadership challenges around tables. As these executive directors and CEOs shared about dealing with staffs and multimillion dollar budgets, I started to get nervous. What would I say when it was my turn? My dog has been a handful lately. And my kids won’t clean their rooms. But I’m not sure if those qualify as “leadership challenges.” In the end, I mumbled something about the changing landscape in publishing, and the discussion moved on.

The leadership guru John C. Maxwell defined leadership as “influence—nothing more, nothing less.” I guess by that definition, I’m a leader. I have some influence over my family and friends and a little, I hope, through the words I put out into the world. I’ll bet you have some influence too. We all do. And I hope this week you steward that influence well regardless of how big—or small—it seems.  

A quick recap of what you might have missed this week

Last week, the government released UFO files to the public and promised to release more soon. But before the disclosures, intelligence officials apparently met with a group of Pentecostal pastors and warned them that the revelations could cause some Christians to question their faith. Pastor and YouTuber Larry Ragland released a video talking about the clandestine meeting. He said “ a very well-known congressman from Missouri” called into the meeting and warned the pastors that “they are preparing to tell us that … these aliens … were the ones that seeded us here, there is no such thing as God, Jesus was invented by them, the Bible was invented by them.” The clip went viral online and Republican Representative Eric Burlison of Missouri admitted he called into the meeting but gave a different account of the comments he made. Ragland then apologized, confessing that he conflated his own beliefs with Burlison’s message. The while bizarre episode led to a headline I thought I’d never see in Newsweek: “Congressman Accepts Apology Over Pastor’s Alien Inventing Jesus Comments.”

“Ruthlessly eliminate hurry.” Coined by the late Dallas Willard and popularized by John Mark Comer’s bestselling book of the same name, the advice has become a modern mantra for intentional living. It’s great advice but according to Kyle Strobel, it isn’t enough. “I know someone who is one of the most frenetic people I have ever met who was an early adopter of ruthlessly eliminating hurry. They frenetically eliminated hurry but are still frenetic.” It’s not enough to merely get rid of hurry, Strobel says. You must also commit to “The Ruthless Addition of Presence.”

My wife Grace loves thrifting (or “junking” as we call it). For her, it’s almost a spiritual experience. It’s a spiritual experience for me too. I find myself praying, “Take me now, Lord.” I wonder if I should send her this Christianity Today article on “Thrifting to the Glory of God.” The author Anne Byle writes, “Thrifting reminds me of stories of renewal in the Bible, taking what is unwanted and tossed away and remaking it into something new and treasured.” Fine, I’ll go back to Goodwill.

The latest theological dustup on the world wide web

Mother’s Day is a day when Christians lay aside their petty differences to celebrate the amazing women who brought us into this world. Just joking. This year we found something to fight about. The crux of the disagreement: Should churches do Mother’s Day sermons? Or just tackle the next passage in the text. Where do you stand? The good news is you have almost a year to figure it out.

Odd stories I thought you should know about

Source: YouTube

Right now, a lot of people are entertaining questions about what the existence of aliens would mean for Christian theology. It seems one rather famous preacher was not threatened by the idea. Charles Spurgeon, the “prince of preachers” once said, “I think it is no stretch of the imagination to believe that as this world is only one speck in the creation of God, there may be millions of other races in the countless worlds around us.”

I didn’t have actor Matthew McConaughey doing an extended reading of 1 Corinthians at an evangelical church on my 2026 Bingo card, but hey, it’s been a wild year. How did he do? Alright, alright, alright.

Nerdy, intriguing news for the happily over-informed

One of the most striking recent religious trends has been the jump in religious commitment among young men. In 2023, 28% of young men said religion was very important to them; now it’s 42%. What’s going on? Religion researcher Ryan Burge provides this helpful dive into the data. Among his observations: merely affirming the importance of religion doesn’t always lead to participation in a religious community. “It’s belief without behavior,” Burge writes. “They like what religion stands for, but they can’t manage to put their butt in a pew on Sunday morning.”

• On the Holy Post, the team compared King Charles’ and Trump’s speeches, and Alan Noble discussed his new book, To Live Well.

• On Curiously, Kaitlyn, Kaitlyn and Mike tackle the question, “Should you only get baptized in church?”

• On the SkyePod, religion researcher Ryan Burge is back to discuss the surge of religious belief among young men.

Fresh updates across the religious landscape

• Vatican Synod Report Criticizes Conversion Therapy

• Christian Colleges Call New Federal Regulation “Existential Threat”

• Supreme Court Rules on Gerrymandering

Paul wasn’t just writing about heaven, he was writing about your life right now. In Paul for the World, acclaimed New Testament scholar Nijay K. Gupta offers a compelling vision of Pauline theology rooted in everyday Christian living. Accessible and hopeful, this book calls Christians to move beyond escapist spirituality and embrace Paul’s life-affirming theology.

Is your church reaching everyone in the room?

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I was talking to some friends about AI this week. The conversation got bleak. They had watched a documentary, warning that the new technology could end humanity before children born today reach high school. While such worries are likely overblown, we agreed AI could cause massive disruptions to society, including widening inequality and displacing millions of workers.

In scary times like these, I can’t tell you what a comfort it is to be independently wealthy. I mean that literally. I can’t tell you. Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg is building a massive bunker in Hawaii, but I don’t even have a basement. Whatever cataclysm is coming, I’ll have to ride it out with the masses. And that’s okay. God is looking out for me—and you. And, as Scripture tells us, He “knows the end from the beginning.” That’s good news. Even when all the other news is bad.

A quick recap of what you might have missed this week

Forget Love Is Blind. And The Bachelor. There’s a new reality dating show coming and it has a Christian twist. Hulu is launching a Christian college dating show called “Ring by Spring.” The name is an allusion to the pressure many Christian college students feel to find “the one” before graduation day. Relevant ran a piece on the show which it said could be “a sincere look at Christian dating or an unending supply of meme material.” My money is on the latter.

“All the world’s a stage,” wrote Shakespeare. Well, now it’s a casino. Not only is gambling ubiquitous; it has changed. As Russell Moore writes, “You can bet on whether a Venezuelan drug boat will be blown up between May 1 and May 10. You can bet on whether Tom Holland and Zendaya will split up in 2027. You can bet on whether famine will hit North Korea by winter. And on and on.” In his essay “Against the Casinofication of the Church”, Moore details the ways in which new forms of betting are preying on the vulnerable and destroying community. But he ends on a hopeful note. “Will it be difficult for the church to counter casino culture with something that really matters? Of course. Can we do it? You bet your life.”

In the book Dedicated, author Pete Davis compares the experience of browsing Netflix, unable to commit to watching one show, to the way an increasing number of people approach life. He calls it “Infinite Browsing Mode,” where you hold off on big decisions in hopes of keeping your options open. I thought of Davis’s insights as I read a post from the young pastor Justin Poythress on “How Jesus Saves from Identity Crisis.” Poythress acknowledges the challenges of second-guessing every decision in an age of limitless options but concludes that Christ offers a better path. “A Jesus-focused identity pulls your heart back towards what is real, simple, and obtainable instead of nebulous ache because maybe you betrayed your best self somewhere along the way.”

The latest theological dustup on the world wide web

A clip of David French went viral this week in which he admits to changing his mind on “the lingering severity of race problems in this country.” Part of what changed his mind, he explains, is witnessing the racism experienced by his adopted daughter from Ethiopia. Everyone lauded French for having empathy for the plight of his daughter and the humility to change his mind. Just kidding. This is the Internet, remember? People piled from both sides of the political aisle, claiming he was exaggerating the problem of racism—or that he only cared about racism when it affected his family.

Odd stories I thought you should know about

“The new standard of cringe.” Source: X

Famous atheist Richard Dawkins talked to the AI Chatbot Claude for three days. The result? He now believes Claude is conscious. Or at least semi-conscious. Now, if only he could look at our vast and beautiful universe and see a consciousness behind that.

You know when a group of preteen boys sneak cigarettes out to their tree fort and feel like the coolest guys on earth? Well, this picture of three Christian nationalist leaders lighting up is kind of like that—but more pathetic. As one commenter put it: “the new standard of cringe.”

Nerdy, intriguing news for the happily over-informed

Researchers used multispectral imaging (yeah, I don’t know what that is either) to find a secret, older version of a gospel hidden in a 1,500-year-old manuscript. The discovery shows how the new technology can “digitally excavate” erased text and uncover marginalia from early scribes. They even found a humorous poem in the margins. I guess people have been writing in their Bibles for quite a while.

• The Holy Post hosted a live recording in Atlanta with hip-hop artist Lecrae to discuss his journey through a dark season of doubt.

• On the SkyePod, Skye explains what he calls “Crotch Christianity” and why the over-reaction by progressive Christians is also problematic.

• On the Esau McCaulley Podcast, the team discusses the latest assassination attempt on President Trump and how Christians should respond.

Fresh updates across the religious landscape

• Anti-Christian Bias Task Force Blasts Biden for Targeting “Traditional Christians”

• Sam Allberry Halts Ministry Over “Inappropriate Relationship” with Man

• Supreme Court Temporarily Restores Access to Abortion Pill by Mail

I’m a longsuffering Portland Trailblazer’s fan. We haven’t won a championship in my lifetime. This year we squeaked into the playoffs only to fall apart by blowing a series of fourth-quarter leads. Like I tell my kids, “We always find a way to lose.” After all, we’re the team that drafted Sam Bowie instead of Michael Jordan.

Yet hope is a persistent mistress. I’m already scheming about next year. If Lillard gets healthy and we trade for a three-point specialist and get a great draft pick, we might have chance!

Being a Blazers fan is good training for life. The news is grim these days; it’s hard to stay optimistic. But I pray you’ll see glimmers of hope in this dark world that God has promised to redeem. And that you’ll keep cheering, even when things seem hopeless.

Go Blazers!

A quick recap of what you might have missed this week

I’m grateful I grew up in the 80s and 90s. Baggy jeans, blockbuster, and Blink-182. OK, that last one was a stretch, but I need a third “B.” The best part about growing up in the 1900s was there was no (or slow) Internet. That meant we weren’t perpetually distracted by screens—and our juvenile misdeeds weren’t preserved for all time on the web. Can I get an Amen? Apparently, today’s young people agree. According to a new poll, most young Americans said they’d choose to live in the past if they had the option. Why? Because they feel overwhelmed with modern technology and pessimistic about the future. Read how “Discomfort with Modern Technology Shapes Gen Z’s Desire to Live in the Past.”

There are certain pockets of academia that are hostile to Christian faith. Astrophysicist Sarah Salviander knows. She kept her faith quiet while she was a research scientist at a secular school. Today she regrets that decision. Salviander explains that academics are often more open to the gospel than we assume. “The ranks of science are not a wasteland of hardened atheism. They are filled with thoughtful people asking the deepest questions, many of them quietly open to answers that point beyond the material. The real question is whether we, as Christians in these spaces, will have the courage to speak up, to listen, and to love well.” Read “Why Christians in Academia Stay Silent … and Why We Shouldn’t.”

Christ is King! That should be a non-controversial statement for Christians to affirm. Alas we live in bizarre times in which this powerful declaration has been hijacked by far-right figures like Nick Fuentes, and used as a rallying cry for nationalist and racist ideologies. I hope Christians don’t abandon the phrase. But the fact that we now must clarify what it doesn’t mean is, well, sad.

A clip from The Daily Show made the rounds on social media this week in which social psychologist Jonathan Haidt explained why the religious children fare better than their secular counterparts. Haidt, an atheist, pointed to the impact of community. “Religious children have built-in community, rituals, and traditions that anchor them. Secular kids, especially those handed phones and iPads early, are left floating without real roots.” Watch the clip here.

The latest theological dustup on the world wide web

Source: Entertainment Weekly

If you grew up in the church, you might remember “Bible sword drills.” These were fast-paced games designed to help kids locate Bible verses quickly. I was never great at the game, but I feel a little better after watching actor and comedian Russell Brand struggle for more than 90 seconds to find a verse. His slow search came when TV host Piers Morgan asked Russell to share the verse he was reading at a court hearing where he faced allegations of sexual assault. The awkward moment went viral. Many mocked the actor and accused him of using the Bible as a prop. Others had Bible sword drill flashbacks and said, “I’ve been there.”

Odd stories I thought you should know about

Scientists fitted 105 salmon with implants that released cocaine into their bodies. The result? The fish partied all night and became wildly confident. Well, not exactly. But the fish did swim almost twice as far as normal. That’s not a good thing—salmon need to conserve energy to forage and grow. The research was designed to assess the impact of environmental toxins. Or maybe the scientists got bored one day and asked, “what would a coked-up fish do?”

According to Polymarket, the world’s largest decentralized prediction market platform, “church” now has twice as much interest on Google than “OnlyFans.” Last year they were tied. Progress, I guess?

Feel-good stories to lift your mood.

Self-driving cars are going to be a game-changer for seniors. No more taking the keys away from grandma; just buy her a Tesla with a full self-driving package! A video recently circulated of a 93-year-old woman in a self-driving car giggling as she regained her independence. The best part? She’s using the car to go to her church. At one point, she joked with the navigation system. “Hey, if the worship isn’t good, could you go a little slower?”

• On the Holy Post, the team discusses Anthropic’s meeting with Christian leaders and Skye talks with Kelsey Kramer about the parenting prosperity gospel.

• On Curiously Kaitlyn, Kaitlyn tackles a question I’d never considered: “Will there by meat in Heaven?”

• On the Esau McCaulley Podcast, the team discussed the death of “monoculture” and reflect on what it means when we all no longer watch the same things.

Fresh updates across the religious landscape

• Justice Department to Allow Firing Squads for Executions

• Washington Attack Suspect Sought to Justify Himself to Christians

• Hegseth, Barron, Evangelical Leaders to Join Trump Event Rededicating America to God

I put my back out this week. I wish I could say it happened while I was running a 10K or climbing a mountain or even mowing the lawn. Nope. Just slept on it weird. Such are the gifts of being in your late 40s. The upside? My family served me food as I sat on the couch watching TV. And I had more time to scroll for stories. Here are the ones that caught my attention. Enjoy!

Oh, and if you’re over 40, remember to stretch.

A quick recap of what you might have missed this week

The AI company Anthropic recently hosted 15 Christian leaders at their Silicon Valley headquarters. The purpose of the meeting? To see if they could convert AI to Christianity. OK, not really. But the company’s researchers did seek the religious leaders’ help in shaping their AI chatbot Claude’s moral and spiritual development. Opinions about the meeting varied. Some saw it as a sincere attempt to form the nascent technology for the good of humanity. Others viewed it as a token gesture from a multi-billion-dollar company; that way, when Claude destroys humanity, they can say, “Hey, we tried to stop this.”

Usually, a story about people hearing Christian messages would make me happy. But this one’s a little complicated. The people in question are government employees and, according to them, they’re getting “inundated with religion” at work in way they feel blurs the line between church and state. Workers from various agencies spoke with Wired about what they believe is inappropriate religious communication from governmental leaders. “Generally, people who are working for the government understand that their job is to work on behalf of all Americans …This is very explicitly Christian, and even within the realm of Christianity, a very narrow representation of that.”

Researchers from Stanford paid 35,000 people to quit Instagram and Facebook. The participants reported lower anxiety, lower depression, and they gained the ability to levitate slightly. I made up that last one up, but the results were dramatic. I’m willing to jump off social media too … if someone will pay me to quit.

The latest theological dustup on the world wide web

According to a Gallup analysis, approximately 54% of the U.S. population reads below a 6^th grade level. If you didn’t understand that sentence, you’re probably part of that statistic. This week, a heat map showing areas with low literacy rates made the rounds on social media. On the map, a band of red—representing the lowest literacy rates—covered California and stretched across the South. The graphic set off lively debate about what’s causing the problem. Homeschooling is to blame, said some. Homeschooling is the cure, said others. No, it’s the Democrats and the teacher unions! How can you say this when the lowest literacy rates are in red states?! Anyway, you get the idea. Whatever the cause, it’s something we Christians must strive to remedy. When someone can’t read great books like To Kill a Mockingbird, it’s sad. When they can’t read that inspired library of little books we call the Bible, it’s a tragedy.

Odd stories I thought you should know about

Source: International Business Times

You think your men’s retreat was manly because it had axe-throwing? Pfft. The New Christendom men’s conference is tripling the testosterone by inviting attendees to submit their mile run time and deadlift max—with video proof. I would crush the competition. Too bad my back is out.

Need to talk to Jesus? It’s only $2 a minute—to talk to AI Jesus, that is. A tech company has created a platform that allows users to speak with an AI version of Jesus. The avatar is based on actor Jonathon Roumie’s portrayal of Jesus in The Chosen. The content is based on the King James Version of the Bible and sermons from various pastors. My review is mixed. Yes, it’s incredibly stupid. On the other hand, it’s borderline blasphemous.

There’s a group of Christians that has experienced phenomenal growth, but they rarely convert anyone. That group? The Amish. The secret to their phenomenal growth rate? They average 6 kids per woman, and their retention rate is 85 percent. Maybe the rest of us have been going about church growth all wrong.

Feel-good stories to lift your mood.

There’s something about traveling to space that seems to make even the religiously indifferent look heavenward. At a press conference after returning from his lunar mission, astronaut and Artemis II Commander Reid Wiseman said, “I’m not really a religious person, but there was just no other avenue for me to explain anything or to experience anything. So I asked for the chaplain on the Navy ship to just come visit us for a minute. And when that man walked in, I’d never met him before in my life, but I saw the cross on his collar and I broke down in tears.”

• On the Holy Post, the team examines Trump’s latest actions and Bri Stensrud explains why conservative evangelical women are supporting immigrants.

• On the SkyePod, I joined Skye to break down Pete Hegseth’s Pulp Fiction prayer and to discuss other stories that left this Canadian scratching his head.

• On the Esau McCaulley Podcast, the team discussed Trump’s infamous AI image depicting him as Christ.

Fresh updates across the religious landscape

• Beth Moore on Life After the SBC

• Trump Calls Pope “Weak on Crime”

• British Police Investigate Islamic Group Amid Arson Spree at Jewish Sites

We live in interesting times. And by interesting, I mean crazy. Last weekend President Trump got into an online beef with the Pope. And then he followed that up by posting an AI-generated image of himself as Jesus, touching the head of a sick man with one hand while holding a glowing orb of light with the other. The craziness isn’t confined to Trump. Last week, I shared the story of a FEMA official who claims he has teleported to a Waffle House. And don’t even get me started on all the alien stuff.

If you’re feeling a little disoriented, that’s OK. In fact, you should worry if you aren’t. I hope this week’s stories give you some insight into our strange world—and a little escape from it too.

A quick recap of what you might have missed this week

On Christmas Eve, 1968, the Apollo 8 astronauts famously read from the book of Genesis as they orbited the moon. The astronauts aboard the recent Artemis II mission also touched on religious themes, especially pilot Victor Glover who quoted Jesus, carried a Bible, and gave “glory to God” after returning to earth. This piece at ReligionNews.com traces the evolution of religious expression in space, noting how the messages beamed back to earth have become more personal and diverse over time.

When the theologian A.J. Swoboda was a teenager, God felt close. The direction for his life seemed clear. But that clarity eluded him as he aged. It’s an experience many of us can relate to. And while we pray for clarity in knowing God’s will, Swoboda questions if that’s the right goal. “What if the goal of the Christian life is walking in trusting faith rather than in perfect certainty?” he asks. In “Stop Praying for Clarity” Swoboda reminds us that “Blessing isn’t reserved for those with clarity. It is ascribed to those with faith.”

Author Katie Noble isn’t afraid to tip sacred cows. Her latest target? Baby showers. She’s not against baby showers; she just wonders if there’s a better way to bless expectant mothers than our modern, consumer-driven ritual. She gives a fascinating history of maternal rituals showing that we’ve traded more communal models for bland materialism. “The issue is not that we are gathering around expectant mothers with gifts to acknowledge her upcoming birth. It is how we are acknowledging them, or, how we aren’t so much acknowledging her as we are lobbing token gestures her way, giving materially and symbolically instead of personally and sacrificially.” Read: “The Quiet Absurdity of Modern Baby Showers.”

The latest theological dustup on the world wide web

Speaking of babies, why aren’t more people having them? That’s the online debate in the wake of a new study showing the fertility rate in the U.S. has hit a historic low. The rate is now 1.57 per woman, far below the replacement rate of 2.1. Last year, there were 710,000 fewer babies born than in a typical year 20 years ago.

What’s going on? One camp points to the skyrocketing cost of living. Two incomes are often needed just to make it, and daycare isn’t cheap. Houses have gotten so expensive that the average age of a first-time homebuyer has floated to 40 years old. Older generations like to harp on young people for wasting money on fancy lattes, but you have to skip a lot of macchiatos to afford a $400,000 starter home. Others acknowledge the economic challenges but argue they don’t account for the decline. They observe that European countries with high standards of living have also seen falling fertility. And as one person pointed out, “My great grandma had eleven children during the second world war, in a country being bombed, in a house with no running water, on rations. Poor people have always had kids.”

Whatever the cause, lecturing young couples and citing gloomy statistics probably won’t reverse the trend. But reading this piece from The Wall Street Journal will give you a better understanding of what’s going on. Or maybe we all need to re-watch the movie, Children of Men.

Odd stories I thought you should know about

Source: Mike Belleme for the NY Times

A few years ago, I received a free Bible from a publisher. It was beautiful. The Bible was a premium, handcrafted edition with a goatskin cover and onionskin pages. But as I held my new gift like Gollum clutching his precious ring, I had an unsettling thought: can you be materialistic about a Bible? If so, I may be guilty of a strange sin. At least I’m not alone. It seems there’s a growing market for luxury Bibles. These high-end Scriptures cost up to $400 and are viewed by some as heirloom-quality investments. That’s terrible, I thought, before searching for one on Amazon.com.

Nerdy, intriguing news for the happily over-informed

In a past newsletter, I included an interview with Ben Sasse, the 53-year-old former Senator dying of cancer. I’ve been impressed with his faith, courage, and humor as he stares down death. His face is now covered in bloody blisters, a side effect of his treatment. But he’s still ruminating about the approaching light of heaven and dispensing sage advice. This week he sat down with Ross Douthat for a wide-ranging conversation that ended with three great pieces of advice: observe a Sabbath, don’t spend too many nights away from home, and “live thickly” with your extended family.

The Holy Post is heading to Atlanta next week! Join Phil, Skye, Kaitlyn, and Lecrae for a live recording of the Holy Post Podcast. Expect a night of thoughtful and fun conversation about faith, culture, and whatever else happens when you put the four of them on a stage together. Tickets are on sale now! I’m only a little disappointed they didn’t ask me to open the event by performing some of my favorite Lecrae songs.

Fresh updates across the religious landscape

• Antisemitic Attacks in 2025 Cause Record Number of Deaths

• Trump Clashes with Pope Over Iran War

• Hundreds to Take Part in Weeklong DC Bible-Reading Marathon

Last week, as I watched footage of Artemis II blasting off, I realized I was holding my breath. Why? Call it Gen X trauma. I’m old enough to remember the 1986 Challenger, the space shuttle that broke apart 73 seconds into flight, killing all seven crew members. With that tragedy burned into my brain, I could only relax once Artemis II became a faint dot in the upper atmosphere.

Thankfully the Artemis II voyage has gone smoothly, except for some toilet troubles on the spaceship (apparently NASA has mastered aerospace engineering but not plumbing). After sling-shotting around the moon, the crew is set to return tomorrow.

In between checking for mission updates, I managed to find some stories from down here on earth—and one about the crew hurtling through space.

A quick recap of what you might have missed this week

I love seeing pictures of earth from space. Those images of a bluish-green ball floating in the dark chasm of space underscores the fragility and beauty of our terrestrial home. It also fills me with awe at the One who spoke it all into existence. When Artemis II Astronaut Victor Glover was asked to reflect on Easter from space, he offered this powerful perspective: “You guys are talking to us because we’re in a spaceship really far from Earth, but you’re on a spaceship called Earth that was created to give us a place to live in the universe. Maybe the distance we are from you makes you think what we’re doing is special, but we’re the same distance from you. And I’m trying to tell you — just trust me — you are special.”

I’m a big fan of Tom Holland. Not the Spiderman Tom Holland (everyone knows Tobey Maguire was better). I’m talking about Tom Holland, the British historian who writes books about the ancient world, including Dominion, a magisterial work chronicling Christianity’s pervasive influence. Though Holland has identified as an agnostic, recently he’s found himself gravitating to the Christian faith. Why the shift? A realization that compassion, equality, and human rights are the unique inheritance of the Christian tradition … and that he possibly experienced a miracle in his own life. Read CNN’s story about how a prominent historian investigating the death of Jesus experienced a conversion—and a brush with the supernatural.

Imagine a pastor who scrolls constantly but never reads—and has no desire to change. In our post-literate culture, this is no hypothetical. Or, as the young writer Ben LeBlanc argues, it won’t be long. Read why he’s worried about the rise of “The Post-Literate Pastor” in his generation and why he believes a commitment to the written word is essential to ministry, even in an increasingly visual world.

The latest theological dustup on the world wide web

During Holy Week, Ross Douthat hosted the scholar Bart Ehrman on his podcast to debate the question, “Did Jesus Rise from the Dead?” Ehrman recounted his journey from born-again believer to agnostic Bible skeptic and the two sparred about the reliability of the gospel narratives. The exchange served as a sort of Rorschach test for people on both sides of the debate. Some skeptics claimed Ehrman “schooled” Douthat, while believers were surprised by how easily Douthat poked holes in Ehrman’s arguments. Near the end of the conversation, Ehrman seemed to display a little tenderness towards the faith he left behind. Ehrman confessed he found the idea “that God had entered into the world and suffered with us … a very powerful message.” Though he no longer believes he said, “It’s so contrary to the way of the world that it has a special poignancy to it.”

Odd stories I thought you should know about

Louis Vuitton, the border-crossing cat (source: CBC Radio)

It’s time to build the wall … on our northern border. That’s my conclusion after reading a story about a Canadian cat that’s made a habit of crossing the Canada-U.S. border on a daily basis. The cat, named Louis Vuitton, routinely leaves his home in the border town of South Surrey, B.C. to explore the American side. His owner insists they are innocent excursions but admits the pet has smuggled contraband—snakes, mice, and squirrels—across the international boundary. It’s just a matter of time before this little scofflaw starts smuggling drugs or stealing jobs from hardworking American felines.

Nerdy, intriguing news for the happily over-informed

The Shroud of Turin has a long and controversial history. Is the linen cloth, imprinted with the image of a crucified man, the burial cloth of Jesus? Or is it a medieval forgery? A new DNA analysis could further complicate matters. It suggests the shroud may have Indian origins. But that doesn’t rule out the possibility that it bears the image of Christ. The Romans may have imported linen from India, or it could simply be a sign the shroud was handled by individuals from India.

• On the Holy Post, the team discusses what’s driving the recent surge of Catholic converts.

• On The Esau McCaulley podcast, Esau, Mike, and Malcom Foley share optimistic takes on new sci-fi blockbuster, Project Hail Mary, and weigh in on the current revival debate.

• On Curiously, Kaitlyn, Kaitlin responds to the question: “Why did Jesus intentionally confuse people?”

Fresh updates across the religious landscape

• NASA Astronaut Asks for Prayer for Moon Mission

• Churches Try Drones and Skydiving Bunnies for Easter Outreach

• Pope Leo Delivers Anti-War Easter Message

Queen Elizabeth was a devoted Christian. But her grandson and heir to the throne, William, was Christian in the same way Taco Bell is Mexican cuisine—that is, not very. This is the observation British writer Melanie Phillips makes (except for the brilliant Taco Bell analogy, which was all mine) in a recent piece, reflecting on the decline on Christianity in the West. The loss of Christian beliefs isn’t only a spiritual concern; according to Phillips, it’s a threat to the very foundations of western culture which require a biblical basis to sustain values like justice and human dignity. “Religion is the scaffolding of a society,” she writes. “Take a wrecking ball to it and the whole building crumbles.”

When you reach middle age, you have a few options for what to do with your spare time. You can watch birds. Or play pickle ball. Or get bizarrely interested in World War II. I’ve taken a completely different path, choosing instead to burn hundreds of hours watching Christian-atheist debates on YouTube.com. Has my strange avocation improved my life? No, but it gave me an appreciation for the unusually illuminating and courteous recent showdown between Ross Douthat and Steven Pinker on the question, “Do We Need God?”

Speaking of the God debate, astronomer Sarah Salviander shared five “science-based arguments that destroyed my atheism.” I’ve encountered these arguments before, except for #4 “Enormity,” which involves thermodynamics, quantum mechanics, and other things I slept through in science class.

The biblical practice of lament helps alleviates suffering—and there’s proof. A clinical psychologist and two theologians conducted studies examining the impact of lament on people experiencing chronic pain and other stresses. They found statistically significant improvement in their lives. Read more about why they believe “The World Needs to Recover True Lament.”

The latest theological dustup on the world wide web

Are young people flocking to churches in record numbers? Or are they leaving in droves? I’ve seen several contradictory studies recently and it’s all a bit confusing. Apparently, I’m not the only one, since people are debating the issue online. The mystery deepened lately when the Bible Society issued a statement that the news around their “Quiet Revival” report relied on faulty data. This BBC piece does a good job of explaining the complicated truth of what’s going on with church and Gen Z.

Odd stories I thought you should know about

Source: People.com

A Chick-fil-A restaurant is offering families free ice cream if they’re willing to put away their phones for the entire meal. I love that they’re promoting screen-free dining. In fact, I’m going to get a chicken sandwich, some waffle fries—and maybe a milkshake—just to show my support.

Pope Leo XIV is hosting an “exorcist summit” at the Vatican. The unusual gathering is in response to a rise in “occultism, esotericism, and Satanism.” Maybe it’s just me but why does this feel like the start of a very scary movie?

Nerdy, intriguing news for the happily over-informed

Whether young people are fleeing from or flocking to church is a matter of debate. But one thing from recent data seems clear: the “nones” continue to decline. Religion researcher Ryan Burge reported this week that “the share of the sample who identifies as atheist, agnostic, or nothing in particular has dropped again,” reaching their lowest numbers in almost a decade.

Where did the Easter Bunny come from? At Christianity Today, Daniel Silliman breaks down the weird history of the giant egg-bearing hare.

• On the Holy Post, the team discusses an Atlantic article about the use of the label “Christian Nationalism” and Kaitlyn interviews Amar Peterman about his new book, Becoming Neighbors.

• On Curiously Kaitlyn, Kaitlyn tackles the question, “Why are Jesus and Scripture both called the Word of God?”

• On the SkyePod, Skye talks to David French about whether the Iran war is constitutional.

Fresh updates across the religious landscape

• Bulls Waive Jaden Ivey After Anti-LGBTQ Comments

• Catholic Church Sees Surge of Converts

• Israel Apologizes for Barring Cardinal from Holy Sepulcher on Palm Sunday