The Common Good: The Coming Threat to Religious Liberty - Pastor Michael Avaylon

 

 

The Common Good: The Coming Threat to Religious Liberty - Pastor Michael Avaylon

Countryside Sabbath Fellowship

Aug 12, 2026 

What happens when the “common good” begins to override religious liberty and obedience to God?

In this powerful present truth message, we examine the trial of Jesus, the dangers of church and state uniting, and the growing pressure to compromise Biblical truth for the sake of unity. Will God’s people stand faithful when the final crisis comes?

The Apostle Peter in Rome

Jesus’ chief disciple examined
Nicola Denzey Lewis June 28, 2026 

In this blog post, Brown University Religious Studies professor Nicola Denzey Lewis answers frequently asked questions about the apostle Peter. Denzey Lewis appears in the CNN series Finding Jesus: Faith, Fact, Forgery, which aims to investigate artifacts that shed light on the world in which Jesus lived.—Ed.

What traditions connect the apostle Peter to Rome?

The Repentant St. Peter by El Greco. Photo: The Phillips Collection.

Jesus’ chief disciple, Peter (also called Simon Peter or Cephas), has been associated with Rome for nearly 2,000 years. The earliest testimony to the apostle Peter’s presence in Rome is a letter from a Christian deacon named Gaius. Writing probably toward the end of the second century C.E.—so, around 170 or 180 C.E.—Gaius tells about the wondrous things in Rome, including something called a tropaion (see below for more) where Peter established a church—in fact, the Church, the Roman Catholic church at the site where St. Peter’s Basilica is today. But there are other traditions besides Peter’s tropaion.

One early Christian text, the Apocryphal Acts of Peter, recounts many things that Peter did in the city. At one point in Acts of Peter, Peter is taunted by a flamboyant heretic, Simon Magus. Simon challenges Peter to a flying contest around the Roman Forum, but Peter’s prayers make Simon crash to the ground, proving that Simon’s powers are not as great as his own.

At the end of this text, Peter, not wishing to be martyred for his faith, flees from Roman authorities on the Via Appia leading out of the city. Rather unexpectedly, Peter meets Jesus, who is traveling in the opposite direction. He asks Jesus, “Where are you going?” Jesus tells Peter that he is going to Rome “to be crucified again.” Peter realizes, from this, that he cannot flee from his fate.

“Where are you going?” in Latin is “Quo Vadis?” and there’s a medieval church in Rome called the Church of Quo Vadis at the spot where Peter met Jesus. To prove that his vision was real, you can still see there a bit of marble pavement which the faithful say miraculously preserve Jesus’ footprints.

Why an Egyptian Obelisk Stands in the Center of St. Peter’s Square

 

Matthew McConaughey drops new hint about politics after meeting Pope Leo XIV Story by Eren Waris

Story by Eren Waris

Matthew McConaughey drops new hint about politics after meeting Pope Leo XIV

Matthew McConaughey drops new hint about politics after meeting Pope Leo XIV

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Actor Matthew McConaughey said he could see himself “adding to or working on” a constitution built around common ground among religions.

McConaughey, who calls himself an aggressively centrist Christian, has previously been asked about running for office, including governor of his home state.

The comments came in a USA TODAY interview, published on Saturday, August 15, after his meeting with Pope Leo XIV in Vatican City.

Actors Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey speak onstage at Nokia Theatre LA Live on August 25, 2014 in Los Angeles, California (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Matthew McConaughey says religion could inform politics

McConaughey said he sees common ground among religions as something that could inform a political system.

“There’s still a constitution out there to be written that all religions could agree on,” he told USA TODAY. “There's so much commonality.”

He said he was interested in the possibility of “adding to or working on” such a constitution, calling it “a great thing to share.”

Pope Leo XIV waves as he leaves after his weekly general audience in St Peter's Square at The Vatican, Wednesday, June 3, 2026 (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

McConaughey also drew a line between religious teachings and the separation of church and state.

“Even though I agree with the separation of church and state, the values of those should bleed down into the values of any political system,” he said.

'March for Jesus' will bring Christians to the streets of Buenos Aires

By Lizzie Sotola 

Aug 15, 2026 08:49 EDT 

Thousands of Christians gather near Argentina's National Congress in Buenos Aires for a day of prayer, worship and public proclamation of faith during a previous March for Jesus rally. March for Jesus

Christians from churches across Argentina will march through central Buenos Aires on Monday, Aug. 17, joining a public day of prayer, worship and proclamation called "March for Jesus."

The march begins at 1 p.m. at Avenida de Mayo and Perú Street and sets off at 2 p.m. toward Plaza de los Dos Congresos, where the main event will take place.

The date coincides with Argentina's national holiday commemorating the "Passing into Immortality" of Gen. José de San Martín.

The program will include praise, worship and prayer for Argentina and its authorities. Musicians and representatives from various faith communities will also participate.

Organizers have described the event as a public expression of evangelical unity and an opportunity to bring a message of faith, peace and hope to the city's streets. They expect a large turnout, with believers attending from across the country.

The Buenos Aires march follows a recent gathering in Rosario. On Nov. 18, 2024, a large crowd of Christians gathered at the Monumento Nacional a la Bandera (National Flag Memorial) for a collective day of worship and prayer.

"March for Jesus" traces its roots to London in 1987, where it grew out of a collaboration between Youth With A Mission, Pioneer and Ichthus Christian Fellowship.

Muslims Tried To Pray Outside a Catholic Church, Then This Happened…

 

A Biblical Response to Fear-Based End Times Hysteria

Bible Megaphone

Aug 14, 2026  

Is the Papacy the Antichrist? What does the Bible actually say about the Pope, Daniel 7, Revelation 13, the little horn, and end-time prophecy?

In this Bible study, we examine Scripture and history to explore the prophetic characteristics of Daniel’s “little horn,” the beast of Revelation 13, the rise of the papacy, and the historic Protestant interpretation of these prophecies. We also look at Bible prophecy, deception, worship, the mark of the beast, and the Three Angels’ Messages of Revelation 14.

Most importantly, this study points beyond fear and speculation to Jesus Christ, the true center of Bible prophecy. Open your Bible, examine the evidence, and decide what Scripture teaches.

This Lie Is Spreading RAPIDLY Among Christians and It’s VERY Dangerous

 

Answers in Genesis Canada

Aug 14, 2026

Many Christians say they believe in Jesus and the Bible, but also believe in evolution and millions of years of Earth history. This video breaks down why that combination causes a serious problem, using history's own words from one of Darwin's most famous defenders.

Hackers Are Coming for Your Tap Water

A flurry of recent cyberattacks shows a new battleground for which local authorities are ill-prepared.




RAQUEL NATALICCHIO|HOUSTON CHRONICLE|GETTY IMAGES
A water tower is seen through a canopy of trees in Sugar Land, Texas.

By Olivier Knox
|
Aug. 11, 2026, at 4:00 p.m.

Our water is under attack.

Last week, the Clayton County Water Authority in Georgia announced it was investigating a cyberattack that disrupted its operations “as utilities nationwide are facing a growing number of cyber threats targeting critical infrastructure.”

The intrusion led to reduced water pressure in some areas, prompting CCWA to issue a boil-water advisory. Service was restored “within hours,” and the boil advisory was lifted after testing showed the water was safe to drink, it said.

Welcome to a relatively new national security cyber battleground. You’ve seen cyberattacks on businesses and the federal government before. But now it looks like malicious actors have turned their attention to the life-sustaining substance that comes out of your tap.

No Room for Boasting | Maranatha: The Lord Is Coming

This Just Happened In Puerto Rico And People Are Getting Scared

DESTRUCTION IN SPAIN after STRONG EARTHQUAKE hits Granada !

7.7 Earthquake Second largest this year Struck Indonesia region today! Friday 8/14

 

Woman Who Has Been in US Since 1989 and Cannot Speak English Holds Press Conference Demanding Citizenship...

Woman Who Has Been in US Since 1989 and Cannot Speak a Lick of English Holds Press Conference Demanding Citizenship – Dan Bovino Weighs In

by Jim Hoft Aug. 13, 2026 9:45 am1630 

Audio by Carbonatix

These people are so bold!

Margarita Cielo Balbuena cannot speak a lick of English after living in US for 37 years. Demands citizenship!


Margarita Cielo Balbuena is a woman who has been in the U.S. since 1989 and cannot speak a WORD of English.

That’s 37 years!

This week Margarita stood with leftist leaders and demanded amnesty at a Democrat presser about Delaney Hall:

Margarita says (in Spanish): “We need a path to citizenship for those of us that have been present at least 7 years in this country.”

Margarita does not love this country. She hasn’t even learned our language.

No thanks. Go home!

Via Breitbart.

Retired Border Patrol Commander at Large, Dan Bovino weighed in on Margarita’s plight.

Thank you Margarita Cielo Balbuena.

You have lived in the United States since 1989. That is 37 years. You still need a translator.

Matthew McConaughey Meets Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican

Matthew McConaughey Meets Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican

TODAY

Aug 6, 2026

Oscar winner Matthew McConaughey and his wife, Camila Alves, were greeted by Pope Leo XIV during his weekly general audience at St. Peter’s Basilica. Cameras captured the trio briefly chatting during their time together. 

-------------------------------------

Matthew McConaughey Compares Meeting Pope Leo XIV to Writing an Oscars Speech | The Tonight Show

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

Aug 13, 2026
Matthew McConaughey talks about meeting Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican, getting a movie theater named after him and filming his new movie The Rivals of Amziah King.

The Pope calls for protection and welcome for migrant and refugee minors: "Every child possesses infinite dignity"

The Pope calls for protection and welcome for migrant and refugee minors: "Every child possesses infinite dignity"

GRAFCAN5123. LA LAGUNA (TENERIFE), 12/06/2026.- El papa León XIV saluda a varios niños durante su visita este viernes al centro de primera acogida 'Las Raíces' de Tenerife. EFE/ Ramón De La Rocha

by INFOVATICANA | August 14, 2026


Pope Leo XIV has focused his message for the 112th World Day of Migrants and Refugees on migrant and refugee minors, which the Church will celebrate on September 27 under the theme “Even one of these little ones.” The Pontiff warns of the special vulnerability of children affected by war, poverty, violence, trafficking, exploitation, and forced displacement, and calls for action both in countries of origin, to combat the causes that force them to leave, and in transit and destination countries, where he urges the guarantee of their protection and welcome.

In the message, dated August 11 and published this Friday by the Holy See, Leo XIV insists that “every child, every human being, possesses infinite dignity” and urges Christian communities to integrate migrants and refugees “as full members of the ecclesial family.” The Pope also calls on civil institutions to promote family reunification and avoid traumatic separations, and maintains that the debate must shift from “the mere management of migratory flows” to the protection of human rights. Among the fundamental rights of minors, he explicitly mentions “life, education, and a standard of living that allows them to grow and develop fully.”

Below is the full message of Leo XIV:

Dear brothers and sisters:

Year after year, the World Day of Migrants and Refugees invites us to focus our attention on different aspects of the complex migratory phenomenon. In this 112th World Day, the theme “Even one of these little ones” calls us to pay attention to minors directly affected by the experience of migration and flight, to concern for them, and to the Lord’s promise that whoever “welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me” (Mk 9:37).

Adventist Pastor Detained by ICE at Houston Airport

12August2026

HOUSTON, TX — A Houston-area Seventh-day Adventist pastor was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents while traveling with his wife to New York for a few days of vacation, according to reporting by Aidari Riera for Telemundo Houston.

Pastor Luis Morales, a father of two daughters and pastor of four Adventist congregations in the Houston area, was detained at George Bush Intercontinental Airport on August 7, according to his wife, Karina Morales.

Pastor Morales’s wife, Karina. Image credit: Telemundo Houston

The couple had just entered the airport when, according to Karina, two ICE agents approached them and called Morales by name.

“We have taken maybe six steps; it was really a short distance when some people spoke to us… ‘Mr. Luis,’ when they referred to my husband by name, we stopped right there. Turns out, they were two ICE agents. First thing one of the officials did was show us his ICE badge,” Karina said (translated from Spanish).

The encounter happened quickly. Karina said she handed her husband’s blood pressure medication to one of the officers and has not seen him since.

“It was so fast that, when we arrived, I told my daughter, ‘My love, we’re here. We have arrived at the airport.’ And the second message I sent to my daughter was to tell her, ‘Daddy just got arrested,’” she said.

Church WITHOUT Jesus Looks Like This

Drums, Dancing and Noise | Maranatha: The Lord Is Coming - August 14

Antichrist Agenda-King Charles And Prophecy - Christian J. Pinto

 

Iran looks to ramp up economic alliance with BRICS nations as war with U.S. drags on

Published Thu, Aug 13 2026  8:48 AM EDT

Chloe Taylor@ChloeTaylor141

Key Points

• Iran is set to join the BRICS New Development Bank, the country’s central bank chief said Thursday.
• Iran would have to move through the NDB’s accession process before it can become an official member country.
• The war with the U.S. and Israel has further ramped up the pressure on the Iranian economy, with inflation surging, growth plummeting and its currency in freefall.

A woman and a child walk past Iranian-made Zolfaghar missiles displayed at Azadi Square in Tehran on July 24, 2026.
Afp | Getty Images


Iran is set to join the BRICS New Development Bank, the country’s central bank chief said Thursday, as Tehran seeks to shore up its economic alliances almost six months into its war with the U.S. and Israel.

The BRICS alliance was set up in 2006 by founding members Brazil, Russia, India and China, with South Africa joining in 2010.

It has since expanded to include Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Indonesia, with various other nations — including Belarus, Cuba and Nigeria — joining as partner countries.

Iranian state media reported Thursday that Abdolnasser Hemmati, governor of the Central Bank of Iran, had announced Iran would soon become a member of the BRICS Bank. Hemmati is currently in India ahead of next month’s BRICS Summit, according to Iran’s Tasnim News Agency.

“We are seeking to establish bilateral and trilateral monetary cooperation with member states,” Hemmati said, per Tasnim’s report.

The NDB was established by Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa to help mobilize resources for infrastructure and sustainable development projects in emerging markets and developing countries.

A spokesperson for the NDB told CNBC the bank cannot confirm information regarding Iran’s membership.

The BANNED Interview That Warned Us All

The BANNED Interview That Warned Us All

Be Inspired

May 5, 2026

A Propaganda Expert Predicted 2026 In 1984. Every Word Came True. 

►Copyright ©: 

Script - BE INSPIRED 

Narration - BE INSPIRED 

Footage is licensed through Videoblocks, Artgrid, and Envato. 

Music: Epidemic Sound / Audiojungle / Envato Elements Interviews / Video References were used under FAIR USE LAW. 

© BE INSPIRED - All rights reserved

Europe’s Iconic Monuments Go Dark During Total Solar Eclipse

 

Pope Leo hat giveaway turns White Sox game into the church of baseball

CHICAGO (RNS) — After three terrible years, the White Sox are in the midst of a revival — with good young players and perhaps a little divine intervention. The team's best-known fan is Pope Leo XIV.

White Sox fans cheer while wearing Pope hats during "Pope Night," Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026, in Chicago. (Photo courtesy of the Chicago White Sox)

Bob Smietana

August 12, 2026 at 1:17 p.m. ET

CHICAGO (RNS) — On a hot August night on the South Side of Chicago, Rate Field, home of the White Sox, turned into a church of baseball, filled to capacity with true believers who sang, passed the peace, cheered on a celebrity nun and, of course, wore their pope hats.

Those hats, emblazoned with the Sox logo, were given to every fan who entered the park on Tuesday (Aug. 11). It was, according to team officials, the biggest promotional giveaway in White Sox history, with more than 40,000 pope hats given away. The night was a testimony to the resurgent White Sox, who appear to be playoff-bound after three years of losing 100 games a season, as well as to the appeal of Pope Leo XIV, a longtime fan of the team and Chicago native.

“It doesn’t matter your religion or your denomination,” said Brooks Boyer, chief revenue and marketing officer for the White Sox. “Everyone respects the pope. For us, it’s obviously fun that he is a White Sox fan.”

As soon as the gate opened, the park was flooded with fans, young and old, some with jerseys with the pope’s name on the back, many already wearing their pope hats. They stood in line for hot dogs or beers, where some greeted Sister Mary Jo Sobieck of the Dominican Sisters of Springfield, Illinois, who was grabbing a hot dog before throwing out the first pitch.

Jaime Garcia and his wife were decked out in Sox garb and their new pope hats. Garcia, who is from the Back of the Yards neighborhood on Chicago’s southwest side, grew up both Catholic and a Sox fan. He got off work early to get to the game.

Jaime Garcia attends the White Sox’s “Pope Night,” Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026, in Chicago. (RNS photo/Bob Smietana)

“Got to get the hat,” he said. “Got to represent.”

Islam Is FINISHED ⟶ Muslims Can No Longer HIDE the TRUTH

https://youtu.be/PtrjG4UgnEE?si=8aUDQrRk4l2py8v8

Islam Is FINISHED ⟶ Muslims Can No Longer HIDE the TRUTH

Fall of Nations

Aug 11, 2026

Iran’s streets are filled, but not just with mourners. Beneath the surface of state-controlled narratives, a quiet revolution is brewing. Official statistics claim overwhelming religious devotion, yet independent surveys reveal a shocking disconnect. Why are young Iranians, especially women, openly defying laws like the hijab, challenging decades of enforced faith? This video uncovers the hidden struggle within the Islamic Republic, where the deepest threat isn't from abroad, but from a generation that has stopped believing in the very system built to rule them.

0:00 The Big Funeral 

0:30 Girls Take Off Veils 0:59 99% Is A Lie 1:48 Why People Stop Believing 2:48 Phones Break Control 3:48 Social Media Rebellion 4:48 The Trap They Built 5:48 People Leave God 6:30 Force Can't Win