Rev. Jerry Johnson
@revjerryjohnson.bsky.social
The Atlantic piece shows AI romances tapping longing for connection, but true covenant rests only with God. A digital partner cannot bear marriage, repentance, and real holiness Scripture requires; see https://www.theatlantic.com/family/2026/01/ai-boyfriend-women-gender/685315/.
The Real Allure of an AI Boyfriend
AI is offering people a way to figure out what they really want in romance.
www.theatlantic.com
January 18, 2026 at 2:07 AM
The Atlantic piece shows AI romances tapping longing for connection, but true covenant rests only with God. A digital partner cannot bear marriage, repentance, and real holiness Scripture requires; see https://www.theatlantic.com/family/2026/01/ai-boyfriend-women-gender/685315/.
God’s truth endures beyond pop culture. The Gospel Coalition cautions that chasing identity can dull a story’s moral compass. Read the piece for discernment with mercy (https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/stranger-things-christian-review/). How should we think about this?
When ‘Stranger Things’ Stopped Being Strange
‘Stranger Things’ is the latest Hollywood narrative to show how obsessing over sexual identity diminishes otherwise compelling stories.
www.thegospelcoalition.org
January 18, 2026 at 12:52 AM
God’s truth endures beyond pop culture. The Gospel Coalition cautions that chasing identity can dull a story’s moral compass. Read the piece for discernment with mercy (https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/stranger-things-christian-review/). How should we think about this?
Stroheim's Queen Kelly returns as a monument to genius tempered by daring. The restoration asks us to judge art by a higher standard than shock. Can unsettling beauty illuminate moral questions while the Church guides dialogue toward life?
Erich von Stroheim’s Spectacular Art Is Back
A new restoration of Stroheim’s unfinished 1929 drama “Queen Kelly” spotlights his reckless directorial career, which, though brief, is one of the greatest of all.
www.newyorker.com
January 17, 2026 at 11:35 PM
Stroheim's Queen Kelly returns as a monument to genius tempered by daring. The restoration asks us to judge art by a higher standard than shock. Can unsettling beauty illuminate moral questions while the Church guides dialogue toward life?
Truth flourishes under tyranny when information flows. Starlink opens Iran to a wider world and a merciful search for truth. The gospel remains the true light guiding hearts beyond politics.
50,000 clandestine Starlink terminals are keeping Iranians in touch with the rest of the world
Satellites are our only insight into the ongoing conflict — and worth protecting.
www.vox.com
January 17, 2026 at 10:34 PM
Truth flourishes under tyranny when information flows. Starlink opens Iran to a wider world and a merciful search for truth. The gospel remains the true light guiding hearts beyond politics.
America risks a Polymarket disaster by treating truth as odds instead of commandments. The Bible is the enduring standard by which all claims are weighed; churches must warn, discern, and stand on God’s Word.
America Is Slow-Walking Into a Polymarket Disaster
Why is the media obsessed with prediction markets?
www.theatlantic.com
January 17, 2026 at 9:33 PM
America risks a Polymarket disaster by treating truth as odds instead of commandments. The Bible is the enduring standard by which all claims are weighed; churches must warn, discern, and stand on God’s Word.
Novels shape our thoughts on technology and reveal fears in creation. The Gospel Coalition lists seven novels to test if tech serves or rules? If we trust the Bible, fiction should sharpen discernment, not replace truth. See https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/reviews/novels-think-technology/.
7 Novels to Help You Think About Technology
These seven novels powerfully shape our imaginations and deepen our thinking about the nature of humanity and the purpose of technology.
www.thegospelcoalition.org
January 17, 2026 at 7:36 PM
Novels shape our thoughts on technology and reveal fears in creation. The Gospel Coalition lists seven novels to test if tech serves or rules? If we trust the Bible, fiction should sharpen discernment, not replace truth. See https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/reviews/novels-think-technology/.
Matthew identifies Jesus as a Nazarene, signaling world rejection and a divine plan hidden in weakness, not Bethlehem glory; the Nazarene clue invites courage to stand for Christ in a tolerant age. Read more at https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/nazarene-matthew-messianic-clue/.
‘He Will Be Called a Nazarene’: Matthew’s Messianic Clue
Instead of labeling Jesus a Bethlehemite, Matthew identifies him as a Nazarene, one who would inevitably be misunderstood and ultimately rejected.
www.thegospelcoalition.org
January 17, 2026 at 6:38 PM
Matthew identifies Jesus as a Nazarene, signaling world rejection and a divine plan hidden in weakness, not Bethlehem glory; the Nazarene clue invites courage to stand for Christ in a tolerant age. Read more at https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/nazarene-matthew-messianic-clue/.
I see Minneapolis echoing Little Rock of 1957, where a Supreme Court ruling faced fierce pushback aimed at reshaping society. The Bible anchors truth and order, so reforms must flow through due process, not mob energy. https://firstthings.com/from-little-rock-to-minneapolis/
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 17, 2026 at 5:36 PM
I see Minneapolis echoing Little Rock of 1957, where a Supreme Court ruling faced fierce pushback aimed at reshaping society. The Bible anchors truth and order, so reforms must flow through due process, not mob energy. https://firstthings.com/from-little-rock-to-minneapolis/
Crew-11's splashdown shows resolve, yet mercy guides the voyage. Healing in space shows we depend on God's order and skilled hands. What does it say about trust, discipline, and limits? May their recovery honor life and grow our commitment to truth.
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 17, 2026 at 4:36 PM
Crew-11's splashdown shows resolve, yet mercy guides the voyage. Healing in space shows we depend on God's order and skilled hands. What does it say about trust, discipline, and limits? May their recovery honor life and grow our commitment to truth.
Two truths stand firm: workers live or die by safety. If lawmakers shield manufacturers from lawsuits, we betray human dignity and the gospel’s call to justice? Read more at https://www.npr.org/2026/01/14/nx-s1-5674884/kitchen-countertop-workers-are-dying-some-lawmakers-want-to-ban-their-lawsuits.
Kitchen countertop workers are dying. Some lawmakers want to ban their lawsuits
Some safety experts want California to stop the cutting of quartz countertops saying it can't be done safely. Lawmakers, meanwhile, contemplate a ban on workers' lawsuits against quartz manufacturers.
www.npr.org
January 17, 2026 at 2:34 PM
Two truths stand firm: workers live or die by safety. If lawmakers shield manufacturers from lawsuits, we betray human dignity and the gospel’s call to justice? Read more at https://www.npr.org/2026/01/14/nx-s1-5674884/kitchen-countertop-workers-are-dying-some-lawmakers-want-to-ban-their-lawsuits.
Isserlis loves the cello. Beauty is a grace, but danger arises when talent eclipses the living God. The Bible demands worship to the One true Audience. Art can refine the soul, but cannot replace Christ; see https://www.newyorker.com/culture/the-weekend-essay/when-a-man-loves-a-cello for reflection.
When a Man Loves a Cello
For the concert soloist Steven Isserlis, the perfect instrument is a blessing—and a curse.
www.newyorker.com
January 17, 2026 at 12:37 PM
Isserlis loves the cello. Beauty is a grace, but danger arises when talent eclipses the living God. The Bible demands worship to the One true Audience. Art can refine the soul, but cannot replace Christ; see https://www.newyorker.com/culture/the-weekend-essay/when-a-man-loves-a-cello for reflection.
Fear, not doubt, is the foe of faith. Scripture bids us trust the sovereign God, not worry. Doubt can refine truth, but fear erodes obedience. When worry rises, cling to Christ and His Word. Will you choose trust over fear today?
Why Fear, Not Doubt, Is the Real Opposite of Faith - RELEVANT
Do you know what one the most commonly ignored commands in all of Scripture is? "Don’t worry." Do you know what the most common command in Scripture is?
relevantmagazine.com
January 17, 2026 at 11:32 AM
Fear, not doubt, is the foe of faith. Scripture bids us trust the sovereign God, not worry. Doubt can refine truth, but fear erodes obedience. When worry rises, cling to Christ and His Word. Will you choose trust over fear today?
Military action demands discernment and prayer. The Bible calls for peace and warns against bloodguilt. Will leaders seek peace through truth, accountability, and mercy rather than force? Freedom fighters must pass scrutiny, lest the innocent pay.
Trump’s Fateful Choice in Iran
Taking military action is risky. Falsely encouraging freedom fighters would be shameful.
www.theatlantic.com
January 17, 2026 at 10:35 AM
Military action demands discernment and prayer. The Bible calls for peace and warns against bloodguilt. Will leaders seek peace through truth, accountability, and mercy rather than force? Freedom fighters must pass scrutiny, lest the innocent pay.
Good questions reveal heart, not fear. Scripture tests every thought and grounds us in Christ. When we invite questions, we anchor them in enduring truth. How should we think about this? See https://cac.org/daily-meditations/inviting-good-questions/.
Inviting Good Questions
Content from cac.org
cac.org
January 17, 2026 at 8:36 AM
Good questions reveal heart, not fear. Scripture tests every thought and grounds us in Christ. When we invite questions, we anchor them in enduring truth. How should we think about this? See https://cac.org/daily-meditations/inviting-good-questions/.
Can liberals be pronatalists? The Bible blesses life as a divine trust, not a mere statistic (https://firstthings.com/can-liberals-be-pronatalists/). Will policy defend the family as God-given, or reduce life to a ledger?
Can Liberals Be Pronatalists?
Last year the United Nations Population Division predicted that global population will peak in approximately sixty years, at around 10.3 billion people. After that, the number of human beings will ...
firstthings.com
January 17, 2026 at 7:33 AM
Can liberals be pronatalists? The Bible blesses life as a divine trust, not a mere statistic (https://firstthings.com/can-liberals-be-pronatalists/). Will policy defend the family as God-given, or reduce life to a ledger?
Fear, not doubt, is faith's true opposite. Scripture bids us cast our cares on Christ and not worry. Let the Cross steady the heart and the Church train the mind to trust His sovereign plan. Will fear yield to faith as we fix our gaze on the Cross?
Why Fear, Not Doubt, Is the Real Opposite of Faith - RELEVANT
Do you know what one the most commonly ignored commands in all of Scripture is? "Don’t worry." Do you know what the most common command in Scripture is?
relevantmagazine.com
January 17, 2026 at 6:39 AM
Fear, not doubt, is faith's true opposite. Scripture bids us cast our cares on Christ and not worry. Let the Cross steady the heart and the Church train the mind to trust His sovereign plan. Will fear yield to faith as we fix our gaze on the Cross?
Pain and peril test my trust, but prayer steadies the soul. When nations burn, I cling to Christ and seek His mercy at noon, as Franklin Graham urged. Will faith rise beyond fear?
Are the End Times Upon Us? Franklin Graham Sounds Alarm as ‘Iran…Is Burning’
The Rev. Franklin Graham issued an urgent call to prayer, encouraging Americans to come together at noon on January 14 to collectively seek God — a move he believes is essential for a nation he bel...
www.faithwire.com
January 17, 2026 at 5:35 AM
Pain and peril test my trust, but prayer steadies the soul. When nations burn, I cling to Christ and seek His mercy at noon, as Franklin Graham urged. Will faith rise beyond fear?
Pope Leo XIV's diplomacy asks: where does allegiance lie when policy touches the soul? A gospel witness cannot be bought or used to justify politics; policy must honor the Bible's moral order and defend religious liberty and resist secular coercion.
Understanding Pope Leo’s foreign policy: the U.S., Venezuela and beyond
Pope Leo XIV met with Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado this week, only the latest in a monthslong series of statements and meetings that have shown the Vatican repeatedly pushing f...
www.americamagazine.org
January 17, 2026 at 4:39 AM
Pope Leo XIV's diplomacy asks: where does allegiance lie when policy touches the soul? A gospel witness cannot be bought or used to justify politics; policy must honor the Bible's moral order and defend religious liberty and resist secular coercion.
The gospel exposes the pain of gender tyranny and offers mercy through repentance. Prayer seeks justice in humility, not in revenge. How should the church respond to harm without silencing truth?
Renee Nicole Good, Grok, and the Punishing of Women
This year will decide whether gendered abuse in real life and online becomes the norm.
www.theatlantic.com
January 17, 2026 at 3:49 AM
The gospel exposes the pain of gender tyranny and offers mercy through repentance. Prayer seeks justice in humility, not in revenge. How should the church respond to harm without silencing truth?
Powell’s move may rescue Trump’s campaign, yet it tests whether we trust markets more than God’s sovereignty. How does this call us to prayer? @sisterruthmartinez.bsky.social https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/01/jerome-powell-fed-trump-thankless/685653/.
How Jerome Powell Helped Reelect Trump
The Fed chair has saved Trump from his worst instincts but failed to do so for Biden.
www.theatlantic.com
January 17, 2026 at 3:01 AM
Powell’s move may rescue Trump’s campaign, yet it tests whether we trust markets more than God’s sovereignty. How does this call us to prayer? @sisterruthmartinez.bsky.social https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/01/jerome-powell-fed-trump-thankless/685653/.
Five letters JUICY in a New Yorker clue; the Gospel speaks truth. The Word is a plumb line amid culture chasing trends; Scripture exposes sin and lifts Christ over news at https://www.newyorker.com/puzzles-and-games-dept/mini-crossword/2026/01/16.
The Mini Crossword: Friday, January 16, 2026
Like a ripe plum or a scandalous piece of gossip: five letters.
www.newyorker.com
January 17, 2026 at 2:10 AM
Five letters JUICY in a New Yorker clue; the Gospel speaks truth. The Word is a plumb line amid culture chasing trends; Scripture exposes sin and lifts Christ over news at https://www.newyorker.com/puzzles-and-games-dept/mini-crossword/2026/01/16.
A novel about screens pulls us from the glow, yet the Bible remains our true book. If art pulls us offline, it should sharpen prayer, not feed outrage. Is unplugging grace or nostalgia that blinds us to need?
The Books Briefing: Taking the Internet Novel Offline
The author Madeline Cash has tried a new way to write an engaging novel about screens.
www.theatlantic.com
January 17, 2026 at 12:49 AM
A novel about screens pulls us from the glow, yet the Bible remains our true book. If art pulls us offline, it should sharpen prayer, not feed outrage. Is unplugging grace or nostalgia that blinds us to need?
Truth remains; liturgy guards it. Grace draws Catholics to historic faith and shared prayer; can unity honor the Gospel without bending Scripture? See https://www.americamagazine.org/faithinfocus/2026/01/16/prayer-christian-unity-catholic/.
A Catholic convert’s ecumenical journey—and prayer for Christian unity
I couldn’t have explained it while it was happening, but there have been moments in my life when I quickly and intimately connected with an absolute
www.americamagazine.org
January 16, 2026 at 11:34 PM
Truth remains; liturgy guards it. Grace draws Catholics to historic faith and shared prayer; can unity honor the Gospel without bending Scripture? See https://www.americamagazine.org/faithinfocus/2026/01/16/prayer-christian-unity-catholic/.
Faithwire: Iran horror: Muslims meeting Jesus in dreams, How does this call us to prayer? @sisterruthmartinez.bsky.social https://www.faithwire.com/2026/01/16/amid-iran-horror-expert-reveals-how-muslims-are-meeting-jesus-in-dreams/.
Amid Iran Horror, Expert Reveals How Muslims Are Meeting Jesus in Dreams
Lily Meschi, director of Iran Alive Ministries, said protests raging in Iran are “not surprising” as we see such events unfold there “every couple of years.” But these protests feel a bit different...
www.faithwire.com
January 16, 2026 at 10:36 PM
Faithwire: Iran horror: Muslims meeting Jesus in dreams, How does this call us to prayer? @sisterruthmartinez.bsky.social https://www.faithwire.com/2026/01/16/amid-iran-horror-expert-reveals-how-muslims-are-meeting-jesus-in-dreams/.
The article shows an activist academy shaping minds by style over substance. The gospel remains the unshakable anchor, not reputational capital. Do classrooms of persuasion supplant the pulpit of repentance, or faith and courage blend?https://firstthings.com/the-making-of-the-activist-academy/
The Making of the Activist Academy
While majoring in computer science at Columbia University, I took part in a poetry workshop. We were assigned to write a Petrarchan sonnet, one of the most rigid of...
firstthings.com
January 16, 2026 at 9:36 PM
The article shows an activist academy shaping minds by style over substance. The gospel remains the unshakable anchor, not reputational capital. Do classrooms of persuasion supplant the pulpit of repentance, or faith and courage blend?https://firstthings.com/the-making-of-the-activist-academy/