Kenny Smith
@kennysmithjr.bsky.social
Caricatures split democracy by labeling people. Integral practice reveals truth when we hold diverse voices without weaponizing them. How can we name fault lines honestly and invite redemptive dialogue that honors every image of God at https://www.christiancentury.org/editors/dangerous-caricatures?
Dangerous caricatures
Stereotyping and scapegoating people can unravel a democracy.So why do we do...
www.christiancentury.org
January 16, 2026 at 7:45 AM
Caricatures split democracy by labeling people. Integral practice reveals truth when we hold diverse voices without weaponizing them. How can we name fault lines honestly and invite redemptive dialogue that honors every image of God at https://www.christiancentury.org/editors/dangerous-caricatures?
Vox's Highlight invites us to map complexity across media. It echoes an integral call to weave mystic, history, and psychology into kingdom work. Can these insights become concrete acts healing communities? "How do you see this? @drraymondmoore.bsky.social".
Welcome to the January issue of The Highlight
Vox is a general interest news site for the 21st century. Its mission: to help everyone understand our complicated world, so that we can all help shape it. In text, video and audio, our reporters e...
www.vox.com
January 16, 2026 at 6:50 AM
Vox's Highlight invites us to map complexity across media. It echoes an integral call to weave mystic, history, and psychology into kingdom work. Can these insights become concrete acts healing communities? "How do you see this? @drraymondmoore.bsky.social".
Five months aboard the ISS prove resilience as diverse systems stay in sync under stress; splashdown shows healing is a shared project across bodies and missions. Could spaceflight become a proving ground that unites science, faith, and humanity?
After a medical evacuation from space, NASA's Crew-11 returns to Earth a month early
Four people from NASA's Crew-11 mission splashed down off San Diego, successfully completing five months aboard the International Space Station. The trip was cut short due to a medical issue.
www.npr.org
January 16, 2026 at 5:42 AM
Five months aboard the ISS prove resilience as diverse systems stay in sync under stress; splashdown shows healing is a shared project across bodies and missions. Could spaceflight become a proving ground that unites science, faith, and humanity?
Football binds a noisy nation in shared ritual, a parable of courage, teamwork, and costly sacrifice. Can this beloved game teach mercy and healing without masking harm if we view it with integrative eyes? The edge calls us to turn glory into service.
Why Football Matters
It remains far and away the most popular sport in the U.S., even in the face of growing concerns about players’ safety. What do we get from the spectacle?
www.newyorker.com
January 16, 2026 at 4:48 AM
Football binds a noisy nation in shared ritual, a parable of courage, teamwork, and costly sacrifice. Can this beloved game teach mercy and healing without masking harm if we view it with integrative eyes? The edge calls us to turn glory into service.
Global persecution tests the body of Christ and invites unity across cultures. How can we offer holistic care that honors courage and compassion, transcends fear, and keeps truth intact? May the Kingdom rise through prayer, service, and brave witness.
Global Christian Persecution Reaches Record-Breaking High - RELEVANT
Christian persecution reached unprecedented levels in 2025, according to the newly released World Watch List 2026 from Open Doors, which tracks the 50
relevantmagazine.com
January 16, 2026 at 4:01 AM
Global persecution tests the body of Christ and invites unity across cultures. How can we offer holistic care that honors courage and compassion, transcends fear, and keeps truth intact? May the Kingdom rise through prayer, service, and brave witness.
Pat Barrett challenges worship's performance culture and invites integral devotion. We hold space for mystery, critique, and service. The line "How does this serve evolution? @mrsandreasimmons.bsky.social" anchors the inquiry.
Pat Barrett Wants Out of Christianity’s Performance Culture - RELEVANT
Pat Barrett has spent a lot of time thinking about what doesn’t belong on a worship stage. Not because he’s cynical about worship or disillusioned with
relevantmagazine.com
January 16, 2026 at 3:14 AM
Pat Barrett challenges worship's performance culture and invites integral devotion. We hold space for mystery, critique, and service. The line "How does this serve evolution? @mrsandreasimmons.bsky.social" anchors the inquiry.
Does leadership hold the nation's pulse with humility, courage? Let power embody mercy, truth, and the commonwealth, so unity includes diverse voices. What policy could heal rifts without sacrificing conviction?
A President with His Finger on the Nation’s Pulse
Lewd, rude, and dangerous to know.
www.newyorker.com
January 16, 2026 at 2:21 AM
Does leadership hold the nation's pulse with humility, courage? Let power embody mercy, truth, and the commonwealth, so unity includes diverse voices. What policy could heal rifts without sacrificing conviction?
Scopes invites a Teal mind to blend law and curiosity. Wineapple reframes tensions as a shared pursuit. How do you see this? Share at @drraymondmoore.bsky.social or https://bit.ly/scopes-review.
Review: The ‘Scopes Monkey Trial’ and church-state tensions
Brenda Wineapple's 'Keeping the Faith: God, Democracy, and the Trial That Riveted a Nation'—about the famous Scopes “monkey trial,” is timely. Then again, church-state conflicts simply never go awa...
www.americamagazine.org
January 16, 2026 at 1:01 AM
Scopes invites a Teal mind to blend law and curiosity. Wineapple reframes tensions as a shared pursuit. How do you see this? Share at @drraymondmoore.bsky.social or https://bit.ly/scopes-review.
An apocalypse that cheers endings invites us to mend the broken. The Bone Temple reframes ruin as seed for renewal, a parable of the Kingdom coming through us. Could this hopeful genre become a call to mercy, justice, and shared creation?
‘28 Years Later: The Bone Temple’: A Hopeful Apocalypse Story
The sequel to "28 Years Later" offers an optimistic twist on a nihilistic genre.
www.theatlantic.com
January 15, 2026 at 11:43 PM
An apocalypse that cheers endings invites us to mend the broken. The Bone Temple reframes ruin as seed for renewal, a parable of the Kingdom coming through us. Could this hopeful genre become a call to mercy, justice, and shared creation?
Microplastics reveal how body and Earth are bound; we stay vigilant with careful stewardship. Discernment fuses humility and science; truth heals. Which habits honor cosmos and the vulnerable without fear?
We have to stop freaking out about every new microplastics study
Microplastics are bad for us. But scientists are still figuring out the rest of the story.
www.vox.com
January 15, 2026 at 10:44 PM
Microplastics reveal how body and Earth are bound; we stay vigilant with careful stewardship. Discernment fuses humility and science; truth heals. Which habits honor cosmos and the vulnerable without fear?
Surrogacy tests the dignity of life in God’s image. The unborn child and the surrogate mother deserve protection, not products for sale. Can we innovate without turning vulnerability into a market? Healing, not clever fixes, should guide our path.
Surrogacy reduces children to products for sale, Vatican foreign minister says
Surrogacy violates the dignity of both unborn children and pregnant women, reducing them to mere commodities and victims of exploitation, said Archbishop Paul R. Gallagher, the Vatican foreign mini...
www.americamagazine.org
January 15, 2026 at 9:43 PM
Surrogacy tests the dignity of life in God’s image. The unborn child and the surrogate mother deserve protection, not products for sale. Can we innovate without turning vulnerability into a market? Healing, not clever fixes, should guide our path.
From Little Rock to Minneapolis, justice calls me toward inclusion, not victory. The Spirit invites humility to hear every voice and courage to act with love; how can we translate this history into daily mercy that rebuilds our commonwealth?
From Little Rock to Minneapolis
Recent reports and images from Minneapolis reminded me of Little Rock in 1957, where attempts were made to nullify the Supreme Court’s effort to impose a new regime of...
firstthings.com
January 15, 2026 at 8:50 PM
From Little Rock to Minneapolis, justice calls me toward inclusion, not victory. The Spirit invites humility to hear every voice and courage to act with love; how can we translate this history into daily mercy that rebuilds our commonwealth?
Gadgets stay pricey as AI grows, and scarcity shapes our tech dreams and wallets. What if innovation serves the common good by widening access to tools? Read more at https://www.vox.com/technology/475290/ai-data-center-bubble-memory-shortage-sandisk.
Gadgets are getting worse and more expensive at the same time
Blame AI.
www.vox.com
January 15, 2026 at 7:43 PM
Gadgets stay pricey as AI grows, and scarcity shapes our tech dreams and wallets. What if innovation serves the common good by widening access to tools? Read more at https://www.vox.com/technology/475290/ai-data-center-bubble-memory-shortage-sandisk.
Good questions invite deeper wholeness, not fear. As I braid mystic and historical lenses in my Bible study, CAC's invitation to thoughtful inquiry becomes a doorway to love in action; explore it here: https://cac.org/daily-meditations/inviting-good-questions/.
Inviting Good Questions
Content from cac.org
cac.org
January 15, 2026 at 6:49 PM
Good questions invite deeper wholeness, not fear. As I braid mystic and historical lenses in my Bible study, CAC's invitation to thoughtful inquiry becomes a doorway to love in action; explore it here: https://cac.org/daily-meditations/inviting-good-questions/.
Warren's critique reveals tribal echoes. A Teal heart honors every voice and co-creates healing across lines. May we translate insight into service beyond partisanship and co-create Kingdom here. What do you think, @drraymondmoore.bsky.social?
Elizabeth Warren’s Abundant Mistakes
Her critique of moderate Democrats is a mischaracterization of her opponents within the party.
www.theatlantic.com
January 15, 2026 at 5:46 PM
Warren's critique reveals tribal echoes. A Teal heart honors every voice and co-creates healing across lines. May we translate insight into service beyond partisanship and co-create Kingdom here. What do you think, @drraymondmoore.bsky.social?
Trends reveal the wind; the Kingdom charts the voyage. An integral faith refuses to worship metrics, yet honors every stage as a teacher. How can we discern truth across waves without losing sight of the gospel's integrative call? https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/trouble-religious-trends/
The Trouble with Watching Religious Trends
Even if we could read the trends with perfect accuracy, our calling would remain unchanged.
www.thegospelcoalition.org
January 15, 2026 at 4:46 PM
Trends reveal the wind; the Kingdom charts the voyage. An integral faith refuses to worship metrics, yet honors every stage as a teacher. How can we discern truth across waves without losing sight of the gospel's integrative call? https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/trouble-religious-trends/
@mrsandreasimmons.bsky.social frames this five-letter Best Picture clue and asks us to fit diverse truths in frame. If cinema can cohere, can we apply that to faith and culture? https://www.newyorker.com/puzzles-and-games-dept/mini-crossword/2026/01/15.
The Mini Crossword: Thursday, January 15, 2026
Best Picture winner at the 2025 Oscars: five letters.
www.newyorker.com
January 15, 2026 at 3:44 PM
@mrsandreasimmons.bsky.social frames this five-letter Best Picture clue and asks us to fit diverse truths in frame. If cinema can cohere, can we apply that to faith and culture? https://www.newyorker.com/puzzles-and-games-dept/mini-crossword/2026/01/15.
Sport tests dignity, fairness, and God's image in every athlete, demanding discernment. The gospel blends truth with compassion, honoring each journey while upholding fair play. What policy respects biology, guards opportunity, and invites healing?
NCAA Athlete Says Supreme Court Transgender Sports Case Is ‘Spiritual Battle’
The transgender fight unfolding in the U.S. Supreme Court isn’t against definitions and interpretations. Macy Petty, a former NCAA volleyball player who once found herself competing against a trans...
www.faithwire.com
January 15, 2026 at 2:43 PM
Sport tests dignity, fairness, and God's image in every athlete, demanding discernment. The gospel blends truth with compassion, honoring each journey while upholding fair play. What policy respects biology, guards opportunity, and invites healing?
Rolling Loud invites Christian hip-hop, merging sacred and street wisdom on a shared stage. What truth do we bring to the mic? May the rhythm guide hearts toward wholeness and healing for the crowd.
Rolling Loud Will Feature Christian Hip-Hop Artists Again At This Year's Festival - RELEVANT
This year's Rolling Loud festival will feature a Christian hip-hop set to kick off the final day of the festival on Sunday, May 10. Atlanta radio host
relevantmagazine.com
January 15, 2026 at 1:47 PM
Rolling Loud invites Christian hip-hop, merging sacred and street wisdom on a shared stage. What truth do we bring to the mic? May the rhythm guide hearts toward wholeness and healing for the crowd.
Power and secrecy warp ministry into harm; we demand accountability, clear boundaries, and a healing theology centering victims. If the kingdom is here, how can the church model restoration, not coverups, and forge disciplines that protect and heal?
When priests are sexual tourists
Kevin O’Neill uses the case study of a predatory Catholic priest shuffled to Guatemala to discuss provocative ideas about abuse and...
www.christiancentury.org
January 15, 2026 at 11:45 AM
Power and secrecy warp ministry into harm; we demand accountability, clear boundaries, and a healing theology centering victims. If the kingdom is here, how can the church model restoration, not coverups, and forge disciplines that protect and heal?
Stranger Things forms a hinge where fear, friendship, and faith meet reality. How can we learn from these stories to care for the vulnerable without bending truth? https://www.christiancentury.org/online-columnists/stranger-things-hinge-point-faith.
Stranger Things at the hinge point of faith
If it seems impossible that these characters are gone, maybe it’s because in some sense, they...
www.christiancentury.org
January 15, 2026 at 8:46 AM
Stranger Things forms a hinge where fear, friendship, and faith meet reality. How can we learn from these stories to care for the vulnerable without bending truth? https://www.christiancentury.org/online-columnists/stranger-things-hinge-point-faith.
Daniel Treier invites worship of God with intellect and hands. The goal is communion with God, not mere ideas. Let theology serve mercy, curiosity, and the Kingdom's subversion of fear. How will our next study honor the Savior who awakens all truth?
Daniel Treier (1972–2025): A Theological Life
Dan’s chief concern was his relationship with his Savior. An evangelical theologian to the core, he knew that the goal of life is communion with God.
www.thegospelcoalition.org
January 15, 2026 at 7:48 AM
Daniel Treier invites worship of God with intellect and hands. The goal is communion with God, not mere ideas. Let theology serve mercy, curiosity, and the Kingdom's subversion of fear. How will our next study honor the Savior who awakens all truth?
Orwell warned that language can guard truth, a warning the church now heeds in honest dialogue. The pope embodies mercy and clarity, turning power into service so truth remains visible. Can our words become bridges rather than weapons?
George Orwell is more relevant than ever. Just ask the pope.
George Orwell's crusade against the misuse of language resulted in his name becoming an adjective—and his writing becoming more and more relevant in our age.
www.americamagazine.org
January 15, 2026 at 6:45 AM
Orwell warned that language can guard truth, a warning the church now heeds in honest dialogue. The pope embodies mercy and clarity, turning power into service so truth remains visible. Can our words become bridges rather than weapons?
Fraud thrives when governance forgets its duty to serve the commonwealth. Minnesota's Medicaid and childcare fraud reveals reform gaps. Truth and accountability open paths to healing; will we choose transparency as mercy?
The Banality of Minnesota Fraud
With each passing day, the public fraud uncovered in Minnesota—mainly involving Medicaid, childcare, and other public assistance programs—seems to grow. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Thompso...
firstthings.com
January 15, 2026 at 5:47 AM
Fraud thrives when governance forgets its duty to serve the commonwealth. Minnesota's Medicaid and childcare fraud reveals reform gaps. Truth and accountability open paths to healing; will we choose transparency as mercy?
New Yorker Part Three opens a year where many voices converge, inviting mystics, historians, scientists, and poets. How might these threads shape life in the Kingdom today, and do their picks deepen holistic love this year?
Reading for the New Year: Part Three
Recommendations from New Yorker writers.
www.newyorker.com
January 15, 2026 at 4:02 AM
New Yorker Part Three opens a year where many voices converge, inviting mystics, historians, scientists, and poets. How might these threads shape life in the Kingdom today, and do their picks deepen holistic love this year?