The show, directed by regular Bowie filmmaker Francis Whatley, will mark 50 years since the icon’s arrival in the German capital

Zoran Mamdoni and Democratic socialism promises relief but delivers collapse.

The Donald Trump AI video is pretty funny. We posted it yesterday and Hakeem Jeffries called it racist. In the furthest reaches of our minds, we couldn’t figure out how it could be racist. Not to be outdone, after Hakeem ranted about racism, Donald Trump doubled down. Watch the second clip, it’s very funny. No […] The post Morning Laugh for Our Faithful Followers appeared first on www.independentsentinel.com.

Katelyn Ricchini was having a very bad day. She had recently moved to North Carolina to leave an abusive relationship. Before she could bring her son along to their new home, this single mom was tasked with the challenge of getting sober. With so much on her plate, Katelyn was overwhelmed, to say the least. So, when a cop pulled her over for speeding, that was her final straw. Despite going 61 mph in a 45-mph zone, Katelyn was quick to defend herself. She also didn’t try to hide the fact that she was annoyed. Still, County Deputy Shawn Singleton remained calm and understanding. By the end of their interaction, Katelyn was in tears for the very best reasons. Watch the video below to witness this heartwarming moment, as captured by police body cam footage. North Carolina Cop’s Routine Traffic Stop Ends with a Much-Needed Hug So many other people would have matched Katelyn’s energy. Instead, Shawn chose to see her as a person. In doing so, he was able to empathize with her in a way that, quite literally, changed her life forever. Because, yes, Katelyn was the one who put in the work to better her and her son’s lives, but a spark of hope was ignited with that interaction, and it stays with her to this day. Speaking of which, Katelyn is proud to share that in November 2025, she will officially be a year sober! To celebrate this monumental milestone, Katelyn will gather folks together… and Shawn is getting an invite. “I try to show mercy and grace where I can, because that’s what I believe is the calling for myself and for law enforcement is, that’s what most of us get into. We want to be there to help,” Shawn said. You can find the source of this story’s featured image here! The post Traffic Stop Turns Into A Moment Of Pure Human Connection Between Cop & Driver appeared first on InspireMore.

Many animals call Scotland home. But if you were to ask someone to name one that is native to the country, there’s a very good chance they’ll say the Highland cow. Or as they’re called in Scotland, “coos!” These shaggy creatures are some of the most gorgeous cattle around. That said, they aren’t the only adorable cattle you’ll find here. Donald Bruce runs a farm called the Highland Coo Farm. Here, you’ll find all sorts of cattle, including a longhorn cow. One day, one of these longhorn cows had something rather important to share with the farmer… her very own calf! Witness their wholesome interaction in the video below. @donny12300 ♬ original sound – Highland Coo Clan “This is exactly what I think happens in Scotland,” someone hilariously admitted in reply to Donald’s viral video. Other commenters added, “The baby running from the sound of the bag, when that’ll be his favorite sound in the future LOL,” and “I’ve never seen a cow actually bring her baby over AND let it be touched without losing her mind.” Longhorn Cow is Quick to Introduce This Beloved Farmer to Her New Calf Naturally, you always want to be careful around large animals, especially ones with horns that large. Still, it’s clear that this longhorn trusts Donald — and the opposite is true, too. For now, the calf is still unsure of this new person, but they’ll come around eventually. In the meantime, Donald is more than happy to give the little guy all the belly rubs they want! There are so many amazing things to witness in Scotland. For example, have you heard of the legend of the Old Man of Storr? Plus, there’s a 90-year-old carpenter who built a home that Tolkien himself would adore. You can find the source of this story’s featured image here! The post Longhorn Cow Introduces New Calf To Scottish Farmer & He Can’t Stop Gushing appeared first on InspireMore.

Some conspiracy theories are true. Governments have lied. Corporations have covered things up. Institutions have acted corruptly. From Watergate to Big Tobacco’s decades of deception, there are real cases where the public was intentionally misled and where the so-called conspiracy theorists were vindicated in the end. And yes, even in the church, there have been cover-ups of abuse, financial mismanagement, and corrupt leadership. Christians shouldn’t have a problem acknowledging that conspiracy theories can be true. The problem is what happens when that acknowledgment hardens into a permanent posture of suspicion, one that assumes deception is always at work, that nothing is as it seems, and that every authority figure or institution is hiding something. The real danger isn’t in believing a conspiracy theory but in adopting conspiracy thinking, which political scientist Joseph Uscinski defines as “a stable predisposition that to one degree or another drives individuals to accept conspiracy theories.” One of my main concerns with this mindset is how easily it makes its way from politics and the broader culture into the local church. When this happens, otherwise trusting and charitable members become suspicious and cynical by default. When disagreements arise with leadership (as they inevitably will), conspiracy thinking leads people to assume the worst, even when their church has a track record of transparency. This strains relationships within the congregation. Avoid Conspiracy Thinking Conspiracy thinking damages the whole church. Love gives way to suspicion. Fellowship turns into factions. Perpetual doubt cultivates a community of watchdogs instead of worshipers. People who have fallen into conspiracy thinking will often connect dots that don’t exist and interpret actions through a lens of distrust. They’ll constantly ask questions like these: What are they really up to? Can we really believe our pastors? What’s the real reason behind this decision that they’re not telling us? Such questions can never be answered, but conspiracy thinking leads people to dismiss any good-faith responses as part of a cover-up. The Bible calls us to something better. As Paul wrote to the young church in Thessalonica, “We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves” (1 Thess. 5:12–13). Of course, respecting church leaders doesn’t mean we check our brains at the door or follow blindly. But it does mean we start from a posture of love. We assume the best, seek clarity, and give the benefit of the doubt. As Qoheleth wrote, “If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame” (Prov. 18:13). Let me be clear: Churches need to encourage members to ask healthy questions and demand real accountability from their leaders. A culture that allows open discussion protects the peace and purity of the church. Pastors must remember they’ll give an account to God for how they conduct their ministry. That’s sobering. And members will give an account for how they responded to those God placed over them. This, too, is sobering (Heb. 13:17). Expect Sin Anyone who has watched the news knows that bad pastors exist, just as corrupt leaders in politics, business, and media exist. Some churches, denominations, and parachurch ministries have died because real conspiracies, real abuses, and real deception went unchecked. That’s tragic, and we shouldn’t excuse it. A culture that allows open discussion protects the peace and purity of the church. But we also can’t let the failure of a few lead to the suspicion of all. We mustn’t hold the shepherds in our local church hostage as a consequence for the sins of wolves in sheep’s clothing. If your church’s leaders have a track record of open, faithful, and honest use of authority, trust them accordingly. After all, love “hopes all things” (1 Cor 13:7). Most shepherds aren’t wolves. Though Christians should be ready to give the benefit of the doubt to each other, we should also be the least surprised when sin arises in our midst. The doctrine of total depravity reminds us that sin corrupts every part of human nature (Jer. 17:9; Rom. 3:10–12), which makes it reasonable to expect that conspiracies—especially those involving power, pride, and self-preservation—will happen in a fallen world. Even within the church, we shouldn’t be naive: Wolves do creep in (Acts 20:29–30), and leaders who start with the best intentions can go astray. But a right understanding of the church as the Bride of Christ anchors us in hope (Eph. 5:25–27; Rev. 21:2). Jesus is sanctifying his church, purifying her, and presenting her to himself in splendor. Though sin is real, suspicion isn’t our default posture. Love, trust, and grace should define our life together, because the church, though imperfect, belongs to Christ and is being made holy by his hand. Lead Transparently Guarding against a conspiratorial mindset isn’t just the responsibility of church members. Leaders play a vital role in creating a culture of clarity and trust. Conspiracies tend to thrive in environments where communication is rare, decisions go unexplained, feedback is unwelcome, and authority is wielded without any real relationship. Most shepherds aren’t wolves. This is why healthy, transparent leadership matters so much. Faithful leaders don’t just make good decisions; they help the church understand why those decisions are made. They invite honest questions. They communicate early, clearly, and often. They don’t just scream “Trust us!” when important decisions need to be made; rather, they build trust over time. And, perhaps most importantly, they repent and confess when they fail. Paul is the model of transparency for leaders. They should aspire to be able to claim, “We behaved in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God, and supremely so toward you” (2 Cor. 1:12). Pastors can’t prevent people from being having doubts, but they have a clear conscience about the way they live. When church leaders model simplicity and sincerity in the church, in both word and deed, they create a community where conspiracy thinking fizzles out, like a fire starved of oxygen, unable to catch or spread.

Twenty-plus years later, I can still picture the glee on my daughter’s face as she squealed out her response to the question that always concluded our times of discipline: “What is now true?” “Clean slate!” Initially, our kids didn’t understand what this meant. My husband and I hoped the day would come when “clean slate” became not just scripted words but a balm to their souls. We wanted nothing more than for our children to know God’s redeeming love for them—that in Christ, their sin was forgiven and their slates were clean. We knew that for our kids to understand the magnitude of God’s love, they’d have to know the depth of their need for his forgiveness and grace. Therefore, we resolved early on that, though it’d be laborious, we’d use the discipline process as an opportunity to shine a spotlight on our kids’ hearts and point them to their need for a Savior. We set out to establish discipline in our family that was grace-based, heart-centered, and gospel-driven. Perhaps that’s your desire in parenting too. But you’ve probably figured out by now that it’s easier said than done. Sometimes there’s a disconnect between our desires and intentions in discipline and how we carry it out. What might it practically look like to implement grace-based discipline with our kids? Four Practices for Grace-Based Discipline By God’s grace, as we moved from toddlerhood to the teenage years, the scripted teaching that preceded understanding paved the way to rich, fruitful conversations accompanying discipline. Our way of discipline isn’t a formula that guarantees our children’s response. Nor is what follows an exhaustive philosophy of Christian parenting. But we found that responding to our children’s sin with these four practices helped us carry out discipline with great hope in the gospel’s power. 1. Approach with compassion. As parents, we’re in the same sin-sunk boat in need of rescue as our children. Knowing our hearts’ propensity toward sin—not just generally but specifically—should cause us not to be surprised by their sin. Rather, it should lead us to be more gracious toward them in their sin. This doesn’t mean we won’t feel disappointed, upset, or angry. But when we consider the extent of our sin, we can carry out discipline with compassion instead of responding in shock or approaching our children as if we have it all together. This is the way of Jesus. Despite having no sin of his own, he moved toward sinners with compassion. It’s God’s kindness that leads us to repentance (Rom. 2:4). Practically, entering in with compassion as we discipline our children may look like a calm voice, a hug, and an affirmation of our love. There may still be consequences, but a voice of compassion will do far more to open the door to a redemptive conversation than yelling, shaming, or judgment. 2. Target the heart. Sin is inward before it’s outward. Desires become elevated to the ruling idols of our hearts. Therefore, we need to help our children see beneath the presenting “bad” behavior to the sin underneath the sin. For instance, a young child who grabbed a toy from his sibling has given in to his desire to please himself rather than love his neighbor. A teen who stole makeup from the drugstore may have been led by her desire for her friends’ approval. Sin is inward before it’s outward. When our children were very young, we identified the root sin or idol for them. To help them begin to identify their own sin as they got older, we asked questions targeting their inner thoughts and desires: “Were you feeling jealous when your sister got all the attention?” “Did you lie because you were afraid of looking bad?” “Did you want to hurt your sibling because you felt hurt?” With older children and teens, sometimes we could simply ask, “What do you think led you to this behavior?” Exposing the idol or heart motivation reveals our children’s sin at a deeper level and highlights their great need for forgiveness and grace. 3. Proclaim Jesus’s grace. We need to point children again and again to what Jesus has done for us—his perfect life and sacrificial death in our place so we can have God’s favor. But don’t just talk about it abstractly. Personalize the gospel to the sin at hand. For example, Jesus never gave in to the temptation to put his desires above others. He didn’t take from others to please himself; he gave to others to serve them. He never gave in to sin to gain the approval of others; he endured the scorn of men to please his heavenly Father. Jesus was perfect in the specific ways that we fail. But he took our sin and punishment so we could have his righteous record. Jesus’s perfect record is how God sees us if we’re in Christ. This is the transformative grace of the gospel our kids need to hear. We all do. 4. Lead to repentance and restoration. Children need to learn to ask for forgiveness from God and others. Pray alongside them, giving young children words to repent of their sin and ask God for forgiveness. Then guide them to seek forgiveness from other people they’ve sinned against. Don’t just talk about the gospel abstractly. Personalize it to the sin at hand. You may also need to give consequences for the sin. Grace-based discipline doesn’t mean we never hold our children accountable for their actions. The child who took a toy from his sibling may lose the opportunity to play with that toy for the rest of the day. The teenager who stole makeup from the drugstore will need to make restitution and may be grounded. Consequences help our children understand the seriousness of sin. But when you follow a grace-based approach, your child knows the consequence isn’t a penance to pay to earn back your favor or God’s. This is where our “clean slate” script fits in. Grace-based discipline is lovingly leading your children to see their need for a Savior and to rest in Christ’s work to forgive their sin. These practices have been helpful for our family. But despite our best intentions, we didn’t always discipline with gospel grace. At times, our sin got in the way, and we had to repent. Thankfully, what we teach our children is also true for us as parents. When we confess our sin and shortcomings as we discipline our children, God is faithful and just to forgive (1 John 1:9). So we can ask ourselves, “What is now true?” And we can declare with joy, “Clean slate!”