One could easily develop high blood pressure from simply listening to Democratic senators at confirmation hearings. Nonetheless, those humorless and self-righteous clowns on the other side of the aisle will almost invariably provide unintended comic relief. The latest example occurred during Wednesday's Senate confirmation hearing for Secretary of Health and...

When CNN anchor Jake Tapper and White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller sparred on air Tuesday about President Donald Trump’s freeze on certain federal spending, the top official caught the cable host in an embarrassing attempt at a rhetorical trap. Miller noted to Tapper that the federal workforce...

If we reflect long enough, why we ought to appreciate our friends is clear, but what’s not always so obvious is how we can show them our appreciation. Here are some practical ways you can shower your friends with praise today.

This morning was like any other. I fixed oatmeal for my 4-year-old and went for a walk with our dogs. Mundane, everyday moments like these seem insignificant. But they’re seen. We live every moment in the sight of God: “The eyes of the LORD are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good” (Prov. 15:3). Nothing escapes his sight. Yet God doesn’t just see us—he delights in us. Scripture includes staggering verses about God’s aesthetic delight in his people. C. S. Lewis captures the wonder: “To please God . . . to be a real ingredient in the divine happiness . . . to be loved by God, not merely pitied, but delighted in as an artist delights in his work or a son—it seems impossible, a weight or burden of glory which our thoughts can hardly sustain. But so it is.” When people respond aesthetically to something they see, either in delight or revulsion, it changes them. But God doesn’t change in response to what he sees. Another way to say this is that God is immutable and impassable. Yet creation and people bring real delight to God. God delights in the good, the true, and the beautiful; he hates the evil and the false. Let’s contemplate how Christians bring true pleasure to an infinitely happy God based on their union with Christ. God’s Delight in Creation God’s aesthetic delight in creation is introduced on Scripture’s first page. In Genesis 1, God creates and shapes the cosmos by his Word and Spirit. Six times, at the end of each day, we’re told of God’s pleasure in the goodness and beauty of his work. God delights in the presence of light (v. 4), the ocean and the dry land (v. 10), and the stars and the universe (v. 18). The variety of birds, fish, and animals please him (vv. 21, 25). God relishes the glory of the trees and the fruit they produce (v. 12). At the end of the climactic sixth day, we’re told of God’s delight a seventh time: “And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good” (v. 31). God’s Revulsion at Sin God’s pleasure in seeing creation’s beauty is starkly contrasted with his disgust at sin’s pollution and destruction. In the world after the fall, evil runs rampant. When we scroll our news feeds, it doesn’t take long to see something horrific. Murder, adultery, abuse, and countless other evils are reported daily. God’s pleasure in seeing the beauty of creation is starkly contrasted with his disgust at sin’s pollution and destruction. The proper response is sorrow and disgust. When we respond like this, in our limited way we reflect God’s infinite hatred of evil. God looks at sin with displeasure: “The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth . . . and it grieved him to his heart” (6:5–6). God, in his infinite holiness, looks on sin and evil in all its forms with perfect disgust. Unfortunately, evil is not simply something out there. It is painfully personal as it marks our fallen identity and daily reality. Without exception, every person is full of sin’s evil corruption (Romans 3:9–19). This is hard to grasp, but only because we do not consider our sin from God’s perspective. Apart from Christ, we are truly repulsive to God. God’s Pleasure in New Creation But God takes what is repulsive to him and creates something beautiful. As Luther once said, “God’s love does not find, but creates, that which is pleasing to him.” In redemption and glorification, God re-creates the cosmos and fallen people so creation’s original beauty is restored and surpassed. In the incarnation, God affirms his delight in his Son: “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased” (Matt. 3:17). G. K. Beale shows how the Father is alluding to something he said before: “Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights” (Isa. 42:1). The Father has pleasure in Jesus, the new Israel of Isaiah’s servant songs. Jesus leads his people in a new exodus and identifies with them through his substitutionary sacrifice (Isa. 53). Jesus succeeded where Israel failed and represents a new people before God (49:6). God’s pleasure in Jesus extends to believers united to him. It’s only when we are joined to the loveliness of Christ that we become lovely. Because of our union with Christ, God sees Christians as we live our everyday lives and responds, “This is my child, in whom I am well pleased.” An earthly picture is a father and mother’s delight in their children. Children who play a sport or musical instrument experience joy when their parents are pleased by their efforts. In the same way, believers live in the freedom of bringing God joy. We may not always feel God’s delight, but it’s there. Sometimes, we do sense his delight in us. Eric Liddell, a gold medalist in the 1924 Paris Olympics, felt this. “When I run, I feel his pleasure,” is the way the screenwriters for Chariots of Fire put it. What Liddell’s character said about running, we can say of all of life: “I feel his pleasure.” Pleasing in His Sight God’s aesthetic delight becomes an orienting principle for the Christian’s life. We’re pleasing to him through Christ, so we seek to become who we are by following his commands: “We make it our aim to please him” (2 Cor. 5:9). We have the privilege to be a real ingredient in God’s happiness through sacrificial and daily obedience. Believers live in the freedom of bringing God joy. In one sense, God already sees us basking in the dawn of new creation light in the new heavens and earth. There, it will one day be repeated, “And God saw everything that he had remade, and behold, it was very good.” Until then, we live every day with all its joyful monotony—fixing breakfast for the kids and walking the dogs—in his sight and in his good pleasure.

In a sweeping series of executive actions, President Trump has moved to reshape federal policy on several key social issues. From pardoning pro-life activists to reinforcing religious freedom protections to authorizing raids within churches, these actions represent a significant shift in federal policy. Positive Actions Here are five of the more positive actions you should know about that Trump took during his first week in office. 1. Pardoning of Pro-Life Activists Trump granted pardons to 10 pro-life activists convicted for their involvement in a 2020 clinic blockade in Washington, DC. The activists were charged with violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act, a 1994 law designed to prevent obstruction of and threats against abortion clinics. The pardoned individuals had been sentenced to significant prison terms for their peaceful protest, which involved blocking the doors of an abortion clinic. In signing these pardons, Trump declared it “a great honor” and stated that these pro-life advocates “should not have been prosecuted.” These actions represent a significant shift in federal policy. These pardons recognize the role of nonviolent civil disobedience in effecting social change. While respecting the rule of law, the pardons also show compassion for those who acted out of moral conviction. As believers, we can rejoice in this decision that not only frees these dedicated pro-life advocates but also reinforces the importance of standing firm in our faith and values. It encourages all Christians to continue advocating for the protection of the unborn and to support those who make personal sacrifices in defense of life. 2. Limiting Gender Ideology Extremism This order directs federal agencies to adopt policies that recognize biological sex as immutable and determined at birth. It prohibits federal funding for programs or initiatives that promote gender ideology, particularly those that allow biological males to compete in women’s sports or access women-only spaces. The order also mandates that federal documents, such as passports and birth certificates, reflect biological sex rather than self-identified gender. The order firmly rejects the ideological framework that denies biological reality, ensuring federal policies align with the truth of God’s created order. It protects women and girls from the harms of gender ideology, particularly in sports and safe spaces. However, it doesn’t address private-sector policies or state-level legislation, leaving room for continued debate and activism. This order is a significant step toward upholding the biblical understanding of gender as a God-given reality (Gen. 1:27). It affirms the dignity of women by safeguarding their opportunities and protecting their privacy. Additionally, it challenges the cultural narrative that denies the goodness of God’s design, offering a countercultural witness to the truth. 3. Protecting Children from Chemical and Surgical Mutilation Trump issued an executive order that prohibits the use of federal funds for any medical interventions that seek to alter the sex of minors, including puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and surgical procedures. The order also directs the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to investigate and penalize healthcare providers who perform such procedures on minors and mandates that federal agencies promote public awareness of the long-term physical and psychological harms associated with these interventions. The move is a strong stand against the medicalization of gender dysphoria in children, ensuring taxpayer dollars aren’t used to fund irreversible and harmful treatments on children and teens. However, it doesn’t ban these procedures at the state level or in the private sector, which means we must continue to advocate for legislation that will fully protect our children. 4. Enforcing the Hyde Amendment An executive order was issued to reinforce the Hyde Amendment, which prohibits federal funding for abortions except in cases of rape, incest, or danger to the mother’s life. It directs all federal agencies to ensure compliance with the Hyde Amendment and imposes strict oversight to prevent taxpayer dollars from funding elective abortions. The order strengthens enforcement of existing pro-life protections, ensuring federal funds aren’t used to subsidize the abortion industry. However, it doesn’t expand the Hyde Amendment’s scope or address state-level abortion funding. It also maintains vague exceptions that many pro-life advocates find morally problematic. By preventing taxpayer dollars from funding abortions, this order aligns federal policy with the reality that life begins at conception. While the exceptions remain a concern, this order is a step toward a culture that values every human life as made in God’s image (Ps. 139:13–16). 5. Directing Federal Agencies to Prioritize Religious Liberty Trump issued a memorandum to the secretary of state, the secretary of defense, the secretary of health and human services, and the administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), directing those federal agencies to prioritize policies that protect religious freedom domestically and abroad. The memo instructs the State Department to advocate for international religious freedom, particularly for persecuted Christians, and mandates that USAID programs don’t fund organizations that violate religious liberty. Additionally, it ensures military chaplains and healthcare providers aren’t compelled to act against their religious beliefs. The memo strengthens protections for religious freedom, ensuring federal policies respect the conscience rights of individuals and organizations. It also positions the United States as a global advocate for persecuted believers. Religious freedom is foundational to the church’s flourishing and the spread of the gospel. This memorandum affirms the right of Christians to live out their faith without fear of government coercion and serves as a reminder that we must stand with persecuted believers worldwide. Controversial Actions That Raise Concerns Mixed with these positive developments were some actions that are concerning for many evangelicals. For instance, Trump issued an order to suspend the United States Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) “until such time as the further entry into the United States of refugees aligns with the interests of the United States.” The reversal (Trump once supported the program) is already affecting the work of several Christian aid organizations. For example, World Relief received a notice from the State Department instructing them to “stop all work” under the grant agreement that provides initial resettlement support to newly arrived refugees for the first several months of their lives in the United States. Last year, about 30,000 Christian refugees from the 50 countries where religious persecution watchdog Open Doors US says that Christians face the most severe persecution in the world were resettled in the United States. A 2024 Lifeway Research study found that 71 percent of evangelical Christians believe the United States has a moral responsibility to receive refugees. Trump also issued an order that would overturn birthright citizenship. This order is likely to be overturned by the courts since it’s a clear violation of the 14th Amendment, which states, “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.” A directive by the Department of Homeland Security also now allows authorities to enter churches, schools, and healthcare facilities to enforce immigration laws. This has led some Christian leaders to fear how it’ll be enforced. “No church that I’m aware of harbors criminal actors, whether they’re here legally or illegally, and no church leader wants that,” said Brent Leatherwood, president of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention. “President Trump is right to fix our broken immigration system—something we’ve long called for—but it must be done without turning churches into wards of the state or expecting pastors to ask for papers of people coming through their doors. Call to Thoughtful Engagement Trump’s first-week actions represent significant changes to federal policy that have drawn both strong support and serious concerns from Christians. While some celebrate the measures protecting religious freedom and promoting pro-life policies, others worry about the danger of stricter immigration enforcement in churches and the suspension of refugee programs that have long been supported by faith-based organizations. As Jesus’s followers engage with these policies, we should strive to consider the full scope of their effects on different communities. We should evaluate policies through the lenses of both our theological convictions and their practical effects, rather than mere partisan principles. And in all cases, we should continue advocating for solutions that uphold human dignity. While these executive actions mark a significant moment in American policy, their lasting influence will ultimately depend on thoughtful dialogue, careful implementation, and continued engagement from people of faith working toward justice and compassion in our country.

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