It’s Wednesday, August 14th, A.D. 2024. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard at www.TheWorldview.com. I’m Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com)
By Jonathan Clark
Nicaragua detained a dozen Roman Catholic leaders
Authorities in Nicaragua continue to crack down on religious leaders in the country.
Police detained a dozen leaders of the Roman Catholic Church recently. Police arrested one of the priests while he was preparing to ordain several deacons and told him he did not have permission to do so.
Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega has been cracking down on dissent. One bishop faced over 20 years in prison for criticizing the regime.
Nicaragua is ranked 30th on the Open Doors’ World Watch List of nations where it is most difficult to be a Christian.
Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, and Middle East-N. Africa most religious
New data from Pew Research revealed how important religion is to people around the world and how often they pray.
The most religious places were in sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East-North Africa region. The least religious places tended to be in Europe and East Asia.
People in sub-Saharan Africa were among the mostly likely to say religion is important to them with most being Christian or Muslim. Latin Americans were the most likely to pray daily. The United States was slightly below average on daily prayer. And people in European nations were the least likely to say religion is important to them.
Psalm 9:17 warns, “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.”
Trump tells Musk: After assassination attempt, “I’m more of a believer”
Tech billionaire Elon Musk interviewed former President Donald Trump for nearly two hours Monday night on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Musk said the conversation has garnered one billion views. He endorsed Trump after the failed assassination attempt on the former president.
The two discussed immigration, inflation, the assassination attempt, and Trump’s political agendas. If re-elected, Trump said one of his first acts would be to close the Department of Education and move education back to the states.
Trump also said it was a miracle he was still alive after the assassination attempt.
Listen.
TRUMP: “The bigger miracle was that I was looking in the exact direction of the shooter. And so it hit — it hit me at an angle that was far less destructive than any other angle. So, that was the miracle. That was …”
MUSK: “Yeah!”
TRUMP: “For those people who don’t believe in God, I think we got to all start thinking about that. I’m a believer. Now, I’m more of a believer.”
Campus Faith Alliance affirms student religious free speech
Last week, the Religious Freedom Institute announced the launch of a new student initiative, the Campus Faith Alliance.
The new initiative seeks to promote religious freedom and freedom of speech on college campuses.
David Trimble, the president of the Religious Freedom Institute, told The Christian Post, “People of faith are increasingly pushed to the margins of American society, and this marginalization is occurring with even greater intensity on public university campuses.
“Religious freedom says, ‘I can disagree with you even on life’s most important questions while still respecting your dignity.’ This message needs to be relearned on many campuses today, and the Campus Faith Alliance can be a vehicle for such renewal.”
Kansas, Idaho, and Missouri fighting Abortion Kill Pill
Back in June, the U.S. Supreme Court threw out a lawsuit that challenged the Food and Drug Administration’s approval of the abortion kill pill.
However, several states are still fighting to restrict the drug. Kansas, Idaho, and Missouri are renewing the challenge in the coming weeks.
Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach said, “We are confident, as the case begins moving again, we will prevail. It is likely that this case may end up back at the Supreme Court. It is a question of major national importance.”
Small rise in inflation; Small rise in stocks
Wholesale inflation rose less than expected last month.
The producer price index measures the prices that producers pay for goods and services before they reach customers. That index rose by only 0.1% compared to June. Wholesale prices reflect a broader slowdown in price increases.
U.S. stocks rose in response to the news. The S&P 500 was up 1.5% yesterday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 0.9%. And the Nasdaq Composite was up 2.2%.
Olympic gold medalist sings Gospel song at press conference
And finally, another Paris Olympian praised God after winning a medal.
Last Friday, Germany’s Yemisi Ogunleye won gold in the women’s shot put with a throw that spanned 65 feet and 6 inches. She slipped and fell on her first attempt due to rainy conditions. However, she said she overcame the setback with God’s help, encouraging herself by singing a Gospel song.
Listen to her sing it again for reporters.
REPORTER: “Yemisi, is it true you sing in the Gospel Choir?”
OGUNLEYE: “Yes.”
REPORTER: “What song was going through your head tonight?”
OGUNLEYE: (laughs) “So, after falling, I went back to my seat, and I sang a song. It means ‘I almost let go.’ It goes like this. (laughs)
“I almost let go. I was quite at the edge of a breakthrough, but couldn’t see it. The Devil really had me, but Jesus came and grabbed me. He held me close so I wouldn’t let go. God’s mercy kept me so I wouldn’t let go.
“So, I’m here today because God kept me. I’m alive today only because of His grace. Oh, He kept me. God kept me. God’s mercies kept me so I wouldn’t let go.
“That was the song that I was just singing at the time. (clapping)
“After seeing where the shot landed, and I knew it’s hopefully gonna be enough for the gold medal, I just went on my knees and said, ‘Thank you, Jesus.’”
1 Corinthians 10:31 says, “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”
Close
And that’s The Worldview in 5 Minutes on this Wednesday, August 14th, in the year of our Lord 2024. Subscribe by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. Or get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I’m Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.