It’s Thursday, June 13th, 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
Muslim militants killed three Christians in Nigeria
Militants with the Islamic State West Africa Province killed three Christian men in Nigeria recently.
On June 3rd, the extremists stopped a vehicle in the northern part of the country. They allowed Muslim passengers to leave, but abducted the Christians before killing them at gunpoint.
The same Islamic group carried out eight attacks against Christian villages in Nigeria back in January. The incident left 12 Christians dead. This came after the Islamic State called for militants to “kill [Christians] where you find them.”
Psalm 116:15 says, “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His saints.”
Nigeria is ranked sixth on the Open Doors’ World Watch List of nations where it is most dangerous to be a Christian.
European Central Bank cut interest rates
Last week, the European Central Bank cut interest rates for the first time in five years. It’s the second major economy to do so after Canada.
The European bank lowered rates from 4% to 3.75%. The move came ahead of the European elections as voters face higher prices.
Meanwhile, the U.S. continues to keep interest rates unchanged. The Federal Reserve held the rate around 5.25% to 5.5%, the highest in over two decades. The Fed anticipates only one rate cut this year as inflation remains higher than its target of 2% annually.
Texas judge v. Biden over sexual perversion
On Tuesday, a federal judge in Texas ruled against the Biden administration’s attempt to protect students living sexually perverted lifestyles.
The U.S. Department of Education had issued guidance, threatening to remove funding from schools that did not accommodate students’ so-called gender identity or sexual orientation.
The Texas Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton brought the lawsuit against the Education Department. He said, “Threatening to withhold education funding by forcing states to accept ‘transgender’ policies, that put women in danger, was plainly illegal.”
10 Texas abortions in January
Also in Texas news, the state’s Health and Human Services Commission reports there were 10 abortions in the state in January.
Texas has banned nearly all abortions since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. The pro-life law does allow abortions under a so-called medical necessity exception in life-of-the-mother cases.
Since July 2022, 91 abortions have been done under the exception. Before that, elective abortions averaged 2,000-3,000 per month.
Southern Baptist policy prohibits female pastors
Delegates with the Southern Baptist Convention gathered over the last week for their annual meeting.
Delegates considered changing the denomination’s constitution to permanently prohibit women from serving as pastors. Sixty-one percent voted in favor of the amendment. However, a 66% majority is required to change the constitution.
The Southern Baptist Convention’s statement of faith limits the office of pastor to men. However, nearly 2,000 SBC churches have women pastors.
Crime down across America
The Federal Bureau of Investigation released a report on crime during the first quarter of this year.
Violent crime was down 15% compared to the same period last year.
Other crime rates also decreased. Reported rapes were down 26%, robberies were down 18%, aggravated assaults were down 12%, and property crimes were down 15%.
A third of Major League Baseball has not affirmed sexual Perverse Pride month
Many sports teams show their support for so-called Pride month in June.
However, about a third of Major League Baseball teams have not shown that support on social media.
The Christian Post notes those teams include the Atlanta Braves, Boston Red Sox, Chicago White Sox, Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Guardians, Houston Astros, Miami Marlins, Oakland Athletics, San Diego Padres, and Texas Rangers. However, many teams still find other ways to show support.
The unique communication of African elephants
Scientists have discovered that African elephants communicate with each other on an individual basis.
Elephants use low-frequency rumble calls to communicate. They’re out of range for human hearing but can travel long distances. The new research found the animals even have unique calls to address specific elephants.
Biologist Mickey Pardo noted, “The elephants responded much more strongly, on average, to playbacks of calls that were originally addressed to them relative to playbacks of calls from the same caller that were originally addressed to someone else.”
Psalm 104:24 says, “O LORD, how manifold are Your works! In wisdom You have made them all. The earth is full of Your possessions.”
Newscast listener: “My wife plays The Worldview for the boys.”
Last night, I picked up the phone and called Troy in Horseshoe Bend, Arkansas who gave $25 toward The Worldview’s month-long fundraiser to finance the 6-member team for another year.
I asked him what motivated him to make a donation.
TROY: “My wife plays The Worldview for the boys, for their homeschool in the morning. We have eight kids total, but we have four boys at home that she’s homeschooling. So, we listen to that every morning with them and just wanted to support another good cause.”
Troy listed the ages of his eight children.
TROY: “I’ve got three girls out of the house. They’re 27, 25, and 22. And then we have four boys in the house that are 11, 9, one turned 8, and then a 6-year-old. And then we have a 9-month-old girl, also.”
He explained the kind of stories he likes the most.
TROY: “We like to hear about our brothers and sisters [in Christ] over in other countries instead of just the junk that’s on the mainstream media news. We like to hear about people we can be praying for. And my boys get to see that life isn’t at all as easy as we have it over here in the U.S.”
18 Worldview listeners gave $3,125
Toward our $57,100 mid-point goal tomorrow, June 14th, 18 Worldview listeners made a donation yesterday online.
Our thanks to Jonathan in Hartwell, Georgia, Charles in Sandpoint, Idaho, Troy in Horseshoe Bend, Arkansas, Rob in Annandale, Virginia, and Ann in Austin, Texas – each of whom gave $25.
We appreciate Russel in Antioch, Tennessee, Carla in Waverly, Alabama, Janet in Cecil, Ohio, Douglas in Galloway, Ohio, and Kevin in Scottdale, Pennsylvania – each of whom gave $50.
We’re grateful to Kerry in Parowan, Utah, Diana in Tamarac, Florida, George in Leesburg, Virginia, and Catherine in Spring Hope, North Carolina – each of whom gave $100.
And we’re thankful to God for Tim in Glen Ellyn, Illinois who gave $150, Danny in Abingdon, Virginia, and Curtis in North Augusta, South Carolina – both of whom gave $500 as well as Larry and Sue in Grand Prairie, Alberta, Canada who pledged $100 per month for 12 months for a gift of $1,200.
Those 18 donors gave $3,125. Ready for our new grand total? Drum roll please. (sound effect of drum roll) $26,828 (audience cheering)
By tomorrow night, June 14th, we need to raise $30,272 in order to hit our mid-point goal.
If you haven’t made a donation yet, we could really use your help right now to help fund the 6-member Worldview newscast team for another year. Whether you give a one-time gift of $25, like Troy in Horseshoe Bend, Arkansas, or a monthly pledge of $100 for 12 months, like Larry and Sue in Grand Prairie, Alberta, Canada did, we urge you to do something!
Go to TheWorldview.com, click on “Give,” select the dollar amount you’d like to donate, and click on the recurring monthly tab if that’s your wish.
Let’s see what the Lord will do through you!
Close
And that’s The Worldview in 5 Minutes on this Thursday, June 13th, 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.