Some 800 menorahs from Israeli children who were evacuated from the area around Gaza were delivered to Israeli soldiers fighting in the Gaza Strip. As they lit these candles on the front lines, families of Israeli hostages held by Hamas held their own Hanukkah observance in Tel Aviv. As Jews around the world grieve the atrocities of Hamas’s October 7 invasion, global solidarity with them both as a people and as a nation is vitally significant. However, there’s a problem with conflating the two, ...
Dec 12, 2023•7 min
Krampus is a “demonic anti-Santa” who hits naughty kids with a stick. He’s reportedly growing in popularity in America as “a counterweight to all the holly jolly . . . . there’s something about Krampus that feels more authentic.” However, Krampus is actually a telling sign about our eroding social foundations and our collective lack of ways to find peace and meaning. But as Advent reminds us, peace and meaning are nearer than you think. Author: Jim Denison, PhD Narrator: Chris Elkins Subscribe: ...
Dec 11, 2023•8 min
The leaders of Harvard, MIT, and Penn recently appeared before Congress to face questions regarding antisemitism at their universities in the wake of Hamas’s October 7 invasion of Israel. In response to their testimony, a US House of Representatives committee opened an investigation yesterday into the universities’ learning environments and disciplinary policies. What caused such an uproar? Author: Jim Denison, PhD Narrator: Chris Elkins Subscribe: http://www.denisonforum.org/subscribe Read The ...
Dec 08, 2023•8 min
With everything going on in our world today, it’s understandable if it’s begun to feel like we’re living in the end times. Given that temptation, however, it’s important to remember that God’s still moving in ways that resemble Acts far more than Revelation. I needed that reminder this week and found it in the story of a pastor from Thailand. Let’s take a closer look at his story. Author: Ryan Denison, PhD Narrator: Chris Elkins Subscribe: http://www.denisonforum.org/subscribe Read The Daily Art...
Dec 08, 2023•6 min
Singer–songwriter Taylor Swift was chosen as the 2023 Time Person of the Year because, according to the magazine, “in a divided world, where too many institutions are failing, [she] found a way to transcend borders and be a source of light.” Additionally, “So many have turned to [her] tales because they’ve been so disappointed by the storylines that emerge elsewhere in society.” And there are many tragic storylines emerging in the news today. Author: Jim Denison, PhD Narrator: Chris Elkins Subsc...
Dec 07, 2023•7 min
Israel accused the United Nations on Monday of failing to respond adequately to accounts that Hamas carried out widespread sexual violence against women when it attacked Israel on October 7. However, despite overwhelming evidence of Hamas’s brutal crimes against women, their brutality has been ignored, described as morally equivalent to Israel’s response in Gaza, or even defended in the West. But many who are supporting Hamas have also been vocal in fighting for gender equality. Why, then, are t...
Dec 06, 2023•7 min
Artificial intelligence could be used to fully replace actors. In fact, bands like ABBA are already employing digital avatars for “live” performances. But AI is also being used to deepfake victimizing videos, steal passwords, and manipulate politics. As Peggy Noonan writes for the Wall Street Journal, “the fate of humanity [is] in the hands of the men and women of Silicon Valley . . . . And there’s something wrong with them.” Author: Jim Denison, PhD Narrator: Chris Elkins Subscribe: http://www....
Dec 05, 2023•6 min
The Kansas City Chiefs lost for the first time during which Taylor Swift also attended. And Sandra Day O’Connor, the first woman to serve as a Supreme Court justice, died Friday at 93. However, according to a recent study, nearly 2.4 billion women around the world do not have the same economic rights as men. But consider the contrast of the gender discrimination that persists in our fallen world with the example set by our Lord. Author: Jim Denison, PhD Narrator: Chris Elkins Subscribe: http://w...
Dec 04, 2023•8 min
Last night Florida governor and presidential hopeful Ron DeSantis debated California governor Gavin Newsom in what was billed as “The Great Red vs. Blue State Debate.” However, what was billed as a debate between governors often went far beyond state lines, epitomizing the divisions within American society. Yet, ironically enough, their verbal sparring offered a necessary reminder for Christians of any political leaning. Author: Ryan Denison, PhD Narrator: Chris Elkins Subscribe: http://www.deni...
Dec 01, 2023•7 min
Henry Kissinger, an American diplomat and Nobel laureate, died yesterday at the age of 100. In total, he advised twelve presidents, from John F. Kennedy to Joe Biden. As the New York Times notes, “He transformed almost every global relationship he touched.” Author: Jim Denison, PhD Narrator: Chris Elkins Subscribe: http://www.denisonforum.org/subscribe Read The Daily Article: https://www.denisonforum.org/daily-article/henry-kissinger/...
Nov 30, 2023•9 min
While anti-Israel protestors call for a permanent cease-fire and Hamas apologists claim that the terrorists didn’t commit atrocities on October 7, the returned children kidnapped by Hamas tell a harrowing, tragic, and much different story. Nine-year-old Emily Hand is one example. And the ideological war fomenting outside of the actual war is consequential far beyond the Middle East. Author: Jim Denison, PhD Narrator: Chris Elkins Subscribe: http://www.denisonforum.org/subscribe Read The Daily Ar...
Nov 30, 2023•8 min
A private funeral service and interment for former First Lady Rosalynn Carter will be held today in Plains, Georgia. Yesterday, a tribute service in Atlanta was attended by former President Jimmy Carter, now ninety-nine years old and in hospice care, along with President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden, former President Bill Clinton, and former First Ladies Hillary Clinton, Michelle Obama, and Melania Trump. Author: Jim Denison, PhD Narrator: Chris Elkins Subscribe: http://www.denisonforum.o...
Nov 29, 2023•7 min
Casey McIntyre, 38, died of ovarian cancer on November 12, 2023. In the days leading up to her death, she urged friends to donate to a campaign that would cancel the medical debt of strangers. By the time she died, that campaign raised nearly $200,000, enough to pay off nearly $19 million in medical debt. As of today, it has more than tripled its impact. Author: Jim Denison, PhD Narrator: Chris Elkins Subscribe: http://www.denisonforum.org/subscribe Read The Daily Article: https://www.denisonfor...
Nov 28, 2023•9 min
Hamas freed 17 more hostages yesterday; 39 Palestinians were released from Israeli prisons in exchange. Among the hostages was Abigail Edan, a four-year-old Israeli-American citizen who witnessed her parents being murdered on October 7. President Biden said at a news conference, “What she endured is unthinkable.” Author: Jim Denison, PhD Narrator: Chris Elkins Subscribe: http://www.denisonforum.org/subscribe Read The Daily Article: https://www.denisonforum.org/daily-article/abigail-edan-4-year-o...
Nov 27, 2023•8 min
An initial four-day cease-fire in the war between Israel and Hamas took effect this morning in Gaza. At this writing, there have been no reports of fighting for several hours, and sixty trucks carrying aid have entered Gaza from Egypt. With the looming threat of WWIII and other global fears you may be facing, it can be difficult to “give thanks in all circumstances,” as the Bible says. But for Thanksgiving to be a daily lifestyle rather than an annual holiday, we have to learn to give thanks eve...
Nov 24, 2023•7 min
Geoffrey Holt was the caretaker of a mobile home park in Hinsdale, NH, a town of 4,200. He had no TV and no car. In fact, he rode his lawn mower around town. But when Mr. Holt died earlier this year, he had a secret: he was a multimillionaire, ultimately leaving $3.8 million to benefit his town. On this Thanksgiving Day, let’s consider his example and the true meaning of a gift. Author: Jim Denison, PhD Narrator: Chris Elkins Subscribe: http://www.denisonforum.org/subscribe Read The Daily Articl...
Nov 23, 2023•7 min
Israel and Hamas have agreed to a deal by which Hamas will free fifty civilian hostages in return for the release of 150 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails and a four-day pause in fighting. The first hostages could be freed as early as tomorrow. But here’s a question that’s seldom if ever asked in the news: Why do only the jihadists take hostages? Author: Jim Denison, PhD Narrator: Chris Elkins Subscribe: http://www.denisonforum.org/subscribe Read The Daily Article: https://www.denisonforu...
Nov 22, 2023•8 min
Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter died Sunday afternoon at the age of ninety-six. She was a tireless advocate for mental health services and was often found volunteering with Habitat for Humanity alongside her husband, former President Jimmy Carter. In a day when many leaders use their public platforms for personal celebrity, Rosalynn Carter used hers to serve others—a timely reminder as we approach Thanksgiving. Author: Jim Denison, PhD Narrator: Chris Elkins Subscribe: http://www.denisonforum....
Nov 21, 2023•8 min
The Iranian Hostage Crisis of 1979 and the present-day Hamas hostage crisis in Israel have been viewed in very different ways. Why is that the case? And Ayaan Hirsi Ali, a research fellow who was a former atheist and raised as a Muslim, recently announced her conversion to Christianity, but her testimony is also being viewed in very different ways. Author: Jim Denison, PhD Narrator: Chris Elkins Subscribe: http://www.denisonforum.org/subscribe Read The Daily Article: https://www.denisonforum.org...
Nov 20, 2023•8 min
Inflation is down from 9.1 percent last summer to 3.2 percent now. The Dow recently closed at its highest level since mid-August. And the Fed is expected not to raise interest rates again. Why, then, are so many Americans so unhappy with America? Author: Jim Denison, PhD Narrator: Chris Elkins Subscribe: http://www.denisonforum.org/subscribe Read The Daily Article: https://www.denisonforum.org/daily-article/if-the-economy-is-so-good-why-are-americans-so-pessimistic/...
Nov 17, 2023•8 min
The “word of the year” is an apt one for 2023 and speaks rather well to the state of our culture. In fact, Cambridge Dictionary stated that their word of the year “reminds us that humans still need to bring their critical thinking” into play. In today’s Daily Article, Dr. Jim Denison argues that such critical thinking skills are unlikely to be popular in a “post-truth” culture that measures facts by feelings and moral standards by personal opinion. But Christians must apply their critical thinki...
Nov 16, 2023•8 min
The persistency and consistency of bad news is discouraging, from wars in Israel and Ukraine to earthquakes in Iceland to a worldwide opioid epidemic that now suffers from “polysubstance abuse.” It’s logical to ask how long the world can continue like this and whether we’re living in the end times. But what if God doesn’t want us to know if that’s the case? Author: Jim Denison, PhD Narrator: Chris Elkins Subscribe: http://www.denisonforum.org/subscribe Read The Daily Article: https://www.denison...
Nov 15, 2023•7 min
As Israeli tanks advanced yesterday to the gates of Gaza City’s main al-Shifa hospital, many across the globe are accusing Israel of committing genocide in Gaza. This accusation is common in the press, on college campuses, and at other pro-Palestinian rallies these days. But is it true? Author: Jim Denison, PhD Narrator: Chris Elkins Subscribe: http://www.denisonforum.org/subscribe Read The Daily Article: https://www.denisonforum.org/daily-article/is-israel-committing-genocide-in-gaza/ Dr. Jim D...
Nov 14, 2023•8 min
South Carolina Senator Tim Scott surprised many—including some of his campaign staff—on Sunday Night when he told Trey Gowdy with Fox News that he was dropping out of the race for president. But while the move had begun to feel like an eventuality, some have seen his lack of success as a signal that positivity doesn’t have a place in modern politics. Why is that the case? And what does it mean for our job as Christians? Author: Ryan Denison, PhD Narrator: Chris Elkins Subscribe: http://www.denis...
Nov 13, 2023•7 min
This week’s election results have left many in the pro-life movement feeling dejected and discouraged. But why is it that every time abortion comes up for a vote, life seems to lose? And what can we do to change that reality going forward? The answer is fairly simple, but it’s also one many in the pro-life movement don’t seem to want to hear. Author: Ryan Denison, PhD Narrator: Chris Elkins Subscribe: http://www.denisonforum.org/subscribe Read The Daily Article: https://www.denisonforum.org/dail...
Nov 10, 2023•8 min
Antisemitism around the world has risen to an “existential threat” in the 34 days since Hamas attacked Israel. This after antisemitism in the US had already escalated last year to its highest recorded level. Plus, Palestinian civilians are suffering in Gaza, and 200+ soldiers and civilians are still being held hostage by Hamas. Such widespread pain leads to a rational question: Why does God allow innocent suffering? Author: Jim Denison, PhD Narrator: Chris Elkins Subscribe: http://www.denisonfor...
Nov 09, 2023•7 min
Yesterday’s elections were bad news for preborn children in America. Kentucky reelected pro-choice Gov. Andy Beshear, indicating that abortion rights advocacy will be a positive issue for Democrats in next year’s national elections. Ohio voters adopted a ballot measure to enshrine the right to abortion in the state constitution. And Virginia voters rebuffed Republican candidates in favor of those who support abortion rights. Consequently, pro-life Christians must weigh the need for a 15-week abo...
Nov 08, 2023•7 min
Since the start of the Israel–Hamas war on October 7, the US has experienced a 400 percent rise in antisemitic incidents. At least 54 reported incidents have occurred on college campuses. What explains this surge? Let’s consider two popular ideas that are behind the rise in antisemitism: that Israel is an “occupying colonizer” and that Israel is oppressing the Palestinians. Author: Jim Denison, PhD Narrator: Chris Elkins Subscribe: http://www.denisonforum.org/subscribe Read The Daily Article: ht...
Nov 07, 2023•7 min
The Palestinian death toll has risen above 9,000 since the Israel–Hamas war began. Now, protestors, governments, and newspapers are asking Israel for a ceasefire, or at least a “humanitarian pause.” In the face of such tragic suffering, such widespread calls are understandable. But there’s more to the story. Author: Jim Denison, PhD Narrator: Chris Elkins Subscribe: http://www.denisonforum.org/subscribe Read The Daily Article: https://www.denisonforum.org/daily-article/plight-of-palestinian-civi...
Nov 06, 2023•8 min
With much of the world’s focus still residing in the Middle East—and the rest rightly directed toward Arlington, Texas, for the Rangers World Series parade later today—the Executive Order concerning artificial intelligence issued by President Biden earlier this week has gone largely unnoticed. But perhaps the most noteworthy aspect of the story is the way in which tech companies have willingly partnered with the government in developing these new regulations. It also serves as a useful parable f...
Nov 03, 2023•7 min
