Political news has dominated the internet in recent days, so we thought we’d bring you a top-10 list of stories that have absolutely nothing to do with Donald Trump, Barack Obama or politics in general — stories worth reading this week. So, here you go:
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1) Actor T.C. Stallings, star of “War Room,” is hoping to continue finding success in Hollywood, and he has no plans to compromise his Christian beliefs, telling Faithwire he won’t film love scenes or take other related roles that might be problematic. He said: “If I water myself just a little bit I’m no better than anyone else who (compromises themselves). I chose to really pray and trust God.”
2) And Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson and his wife Ciara continue to make headlines, with the couple’s Christian faith and their decision to wait until marriage to have sex capturing both attention and intrigue. Most recently, Ciara, 31, offered up a powerful message to young women who might feel pressure to get guys to like them.
“We women think with our hearts and with our minds. When we see a guy, we envision what he’s like and whether this could be something special,” she said in a recent interview with Cosmopolitan South Africa. “Guys see us from an exterior point of view — that’s something I learned along the way as a woman … You shouldn’t feel like you have to give your body away to get someone to like you.”
3) Moving on, author and counselor Sara Dormon believes it’s time for Christians to collectively take Jesus more seriously, arguing in an interview with “The Church Boys” podcast that she believes many faithful have simply become too complacent. Dormon, who recently released a book titled, “If You’re a Christian and Everyone Likes You…Something’s Wrong,” also said she believes Christians are too willing to compromise their beliefs. Read more here.
4) As the war against ISIS in Mosul continues, the imprint left by the extremist group including the destruction of homes and churches can be seen everywhere, but amongst the tragedy, the solidarity between Muslims and Christians of the the Middle Eastern area can also be witnessed. Preemptive Love Coalition‘s Jeremy Courtney shared a story of a Muslim man who used a piece of iron to make a cross in honor of his Christian friends who lost their church home due to an ISIS bombing.
5) Plus, want something uplifting? Check out a four minute video featuring a farmer dancing — the perfect break America needs from the political dog and pony show happening in Washington, D.C. right now.
6) On another note, you absolutely have to check out what this woman did in Haiti. Seriously. It’s pretty amazing.
7) A new late-night TV show is trying to reach people in their darkest, most desperate hours by presenting stories of people who have faced dire personal struggles, but have gone on to persevere and find God. And the guy behind it all — evangelist Jay Lowder — is apparently the perfect person to lead such a charge, considering his own dramatic conversion to Christianity years ago that came after he nearly took his own life.
8) And on the good news front, despite claims that religion and faith are on the decline in America, the majority of U.S. adults — 61 percent — recently reported a desire to read the Bible more regularly. And that hasn’t changed much since 2011, according to an analysis and study from the Barna Group and the American Bible Society. Plus, 57 percent of U.S. adults said they read the Bible “because it draws them closer to God.”
9) As national Iraqi and Kurdish forces inside of Mosul continue to fight off ISIS and make gains throughout the Middle Eastern area, David Eubank, the founder of Free Burma Rangers (FBR) continues to do God’s work in the deadly conflict zone by providing medical care for wounded Iraqi soldiers, feeding the hungry and most importantly bringing the Gospel to those most in need. Eubank told Faithwire that God led him to Mosul after spending many years in Burma, a place that harshly persecutes Christians for their beliefs, according to Open Doors USA World’s Christian Persecution Watch list. Read more about the remarkable story here.
10) Oh, and to close it out: A 94-year-old Hawaiian great-grandmother just completed another item off of her bucket list: becoming a college graduate. Pretty inspiring.
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Other Must-Read Stories:
– Is Trump’s Faith Real? Paula White Details Decades of Conversations with America’s New President
– The Encouraging Statistic About Americans’ Bible Reading That Might Totally Surprise You
– There’s a Very Purposeful Reason Why This New TV Show is Airing During the ‘Graveyard Slot’
– Singer Ciara’s Powerful Message About Abstinence: Don’t ‘Feel Like You Have to Give Your Body Away’
– Ex-Planned Parenthood Staffer Reveals the Moment That Left Her Totally ‘Disgusted’