It’s Tuesday, January 14th, A.D. 2025. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 125 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com. I’m Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com)
By Kevin Swanson
Biggest persecutors of Christians worldwide
Global Christian Relief has released its 2025 Red List — drawing attention to the big persecutors of Christians over the last two years.
Nigeria tops the worldwide list for murders with a total of 9,814 martyrs for Jesus. India tops the worldwide list for building attacks which stands at 4,949. Mozambique comes in second for building attacks. China tops the list for arrests and Eritrea comes in second.
Pray for Christians in these dangerous areas of the world this year and get your prayer guide at GlobalChristianRelief.org.
California fire death count at 25
The death count connected with the California fires is now at 25. The Palisades and Eaton fires together make for the second most destructive fire in California history.
Professor Char Miller appeared on AccuWeather.
MILLER: “One hundred mile-an-hour gusts are recorded all over the region. Sustained winds of 60 to 70 miles. And then you’ve got this incredibly fast moving fire. Some estimates say something like three American football fields in a minute were incinerated.”
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection reports 40,600 acres burned and 12,300 structures destroyed.
The National Weather Service is predicting another windstorm affecting areas from Santa Barbara south into Los Angeles today and tomorrow. . . expecting wind gusts up to 80 miles per hour.
California fire damage will cost $140 billion
Accuweather now estimates the price tag for the damage caused by these California fires is between $135 and $150 billion.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Center for Environmental Information reports 27 separate billion dollar disasters last year — costing this country $183 billion. Three of the five worst years in U.S. recorded history, for hurricane damage, include 2024, 2022, and 2021. In terms of number of billion dollar catastrophic events, 2023 and 2024 were the worst in U.S. history.
God, not “Mother Nature,” is responsible for the winds
The news agencies have referred to “Mother Nature” over and over again. However, “Mother Nature” is not in control. God is sovereign over every natural disaster, absolutely in control of the winds rushing over the State of California now.
Keep Psalm135:6 in mind. Whatever the Lord pleases He does, “in Heaven and on Earth, in the seas and in all deep places. He causes the vapors to ascend from the ends of the Earth. He makes lightning for the rain; He brings the wind out of His treasuries.”
5 of 12 insurance agencies pulled out of California
Insurance cannot save us either.
Five out of twelve of the major insurance providers in California have pulled out of the Golden State. The government FAIR plan is also dramatically overextended, accountable for $300 billion of properties with only $200 million in surplus coverage.
Fifteen insurance companies have gone bankrupt in the last three years. That’s more than the previous 20 years combined. And now this. Only 2% of homes affected by hurricane flooding this year were insured.
Psalm 20:7-8 reads: “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; But we will remember the name of the Lord our God. They have bowed down and fallen; But we have risen and stand upright.”
80% of parents oppose student’s gender identity kept secret
A recent survey sponsored by Parents Defending Education found that 80% of American parents oppose schools helping students change their gender identity.
In addition, 74% opposed teaching elementary children about homosexuality, and 78% oppose biological males playing in female sports programs.
The organization DefendingEd.org identifies 1,143 school districts which openly state that they can or will keep a student’s transgender status hidden from parents.
Interestingly, 67% of Republican parents, 53% of independent parents, and 29% of Democratic parents support reducing the size and influence of the U.S. Department of Education. And 77% of parents support a U.S. Department of Education that allows states to have more flexibility on how they run their school districts
Trump’s cabinet picks head to Senate
Today begins confirmation hearings for Trump’s cabinet picks to include Secretary of Defense nominee Pete Hegseth who will appear before the Senate Armed Forces Committee, reports NBC News.
Also this week, Senate committees will conduct hearings for Attorney General nominee Pamela Bondi and Secretary of State nominee Marco Rubio among others.
Jimmy Carter’s funeral featured song denying Heaven and Hell
And finally, all five living presidents — Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Donald Trump, and Joe Biden — attended the funeral for former President Jimmy Carter, reports the Associated Press. In addition, Vice Presidents Kamala Harris, Mike Pence, and Al Gore were there as well as Vice President-elect J.D. Vance.
The official funeral of state for former president Jimmy Carter included Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood performance of John Lennon’s “Imagine there’s no Heaven.”
Listen to Garth sing the open.
BROOKS: “Imagine there’s no Heaven
It’s easy if you try
No Hell below us
Above us, only sky
“Imagine all the people
Livin’ for today.”
Though a professing Christian, the former president made this theologically problematic statement to the Huffington Post in 2018.
CARTER: “I think Jesus would encourage any love affair if it was honest and sincere and was not damaging to anyone else. I don’t see that gay marriage damages anyone else.”
Close
And that’s The Worldview on this Tuesday, January 14th, in the year of our Lord 2025. Subscribe by Amazon Music or 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.