For the first time in many years, Puerto Rico became a notable political topic during this year’s presidential election cycle. This attention stemmed from controversial “jokes” made by comedian Tony Hinchcliffe who referred to Puerto Rico as a “floating island of garbage” during a Trump rally at Madison Square Garden. Regardless of the intended humour, which was poorly received by...

　　A Christmas Prayer for the Merry...and Not So Merry 　　But the angel reassured them. 'Don't be afraid!' he said. 'I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior — yes, the Messiah, the Lord — has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!' Luke 2:10-11 (NLT)Father God, 　　We thank You and praise...

　　What Does it Mean to Offer God a “Sacrifice of Praise”? (Hebrews 13:15) 　　By Debbie McDaniel 　　Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise--the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. – Hebrews 13:15 　　We have so much to praise God for every day, there's great power in giving honor to Him. The Bible...

　　Mary Beard’s excellent new book, Emperor of Rome, begins with a timeline of Roman emperors from Julius Caesar to Alexander Severus that gives each emperor’s years of reign, a quick fact or two, and often, his manner of death. But these three pages are the last time that Beard presents her readers with anything like a forced march through Roman...

　　Weekend, December 14, 2024 　　At the Name of Jesus 　　That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth. (Philippians 2:10 NLT) 　　Juliet asked Romeo, “What’s in a name?” And then she answered her own question: “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would...

　　On September 25, 1789, the United States Congress proposed twelve amendments to the states for ratification. A little over two years later, on December 15, 1791, Virginia became the 11th state to ratify ten of those proposals, thus making them part of the Constitution. In the immediate years that followed, every December 15, Americans celebrated the passage of the Bill...

　　Tender Words in the Wilderness 　　By Deidre Braley 　　Bible Reading 　　Therefore, I am going to persuade her, lead her into the wilderness, and speak tenderly to her. – Hosea 2:14 　　In the book of Hosea, the Lord rebukes Israel for her idolatry—namely for chasing after other gods and forgetting her first love, and for forgetting that it was God who...

　　When the Soviet Union collapsed, many people thought international conflicts were coming to an end as liberal democracy triumphed everywhere. But today, China, Russia, and Iran are dissenting from the global status quo, and nations are once again trying to find a “balance of power” in geopolitics. 　　As Americans decide how to respond to the conflicts multiplying around the world,...

　　The 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 2026 offers an occasion to reflect on how the American Revolution forged not only a nation but a people. That opportunity makes the work of Gordon Wood as salient as it has ever been. Wood, among America’s most distinguished historians, has devoted his career to elucidating how the revolutionary generation not...

　　What Every Couple Can Learn from Mary and Joseph This Christmas 　　By: Heather Riggleman 　　While he was trying to figure a way out, he had a dream. God’s angel spoke in the dream: “Joseph, son of David, don’t hesitate to get married. Mary’s pregnancy is Spirit-conceived. God’s Holy Spirit has made her pregnant. She will bring a son to birth,...

　　Elections do not tell us very much in the normal course of events. The wins and losses of American parties hinge on a variety of shockingly ephemeral factors: candidate quality, the state of the economy, national mood, etc. The result is that most elections amount to a response to a temporary set of circumstances that no more reveal true shifts...

　　What to Do When Friendships Need Repair 　　By Laura Bailey 　　Bible Reading 　　“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor:If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.” Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 　　“I just don’t know if it is worth...