The most important thing of all is what will happen to us beyond the grave. But if we wait until then to decide‚ it will be too late.

Dear friends‚ it is a fight for the devotion of our minds. We either stay with God and demolish demonic strategies being set up against us‚ or we fall into fear‚ worry‚ and anxiety that lead us away from God.

According to a study from Faith Communities Today‚ 33 percent of the members in the surveyed churches are older than 65. The 2020 census revealed that 10‚000 baby boomers turn 65 every day. Our world is aging‚ and with it our congregations. As we look on the sea of silver filling our pews‚ we recognize that many in our congregations are closer to the casket than to the crib.Weve all heard the critique of believers so heavenly minded theyre of no earthly good. But we must ask‚ Have we become so earthly minded weve lost sight of heavenly good? As our congregations age‚ leaders must intentionally prepare every member for eternal glory.First‚ we need to think about what eternal glory means. According to the apostle Peter‚ the God of all grace has called us to eternal glory in Christ‚ where he will restore‚ confirm‚ strengthen‚ and establish us (1 Pet. 5:10). Eternal glory is the glory for which the sufferings of this world prepare us. What great hope we have for the future. Dan Doriani says‚ As God one day sets creation right and removes the sin that drives all suffering‚ he pledges to restore us too.Some may ask‚ since Gods work glorifies us‚ whether we even need to prepare for eternal glory. In one sense‚ weve already inherited this eternal glory if were in Christ: Those whom he justified he also glorified (Rom. 8:30). And yet our glorys full fruition awaits the day of Christs return: When Christ who is your life appears‚ then you will also appear with him in glory (Col. 3:4).Because we have the hope of future glory‚ we can prepare spiritually and practically each day for glory. Lets consider six ways we can prepare ourselves and those we lead.1. Talk about death and dying.We who know that our Savior abolished death and brought life and immortality to light (2 Tim. 1:10) should of all people be able to discuss death and dying.Yes‚ death is frightening‚ but Christ has freed us from our fear of death (Heb. 2:15). In sermons‚ Bible studies‚ and prayer meetings‚ we shouldnt avoid mentioning death or celebrating Christs victory over it.2. Correct misconceptions about heaven‚ hell‚ and the new heavens and the new earth.We shouldnt avoid mentioning death or celebrating Christs victory over it.If we casually surveyed our church members‚ wed find many hold erroneous beliefs about what happens after we die. Lets labor to help people understand that heaven hasnt gained another angelour future is far more glorious. We must address the secret fear harbored by many in our churches that heaven will be boring. On the contrary‚ its a place where Jesus will joyously welcome us and well reunite with those who have gone before.We need to discuss judgment: believers need not be anxious‚ for Christ has been punished for our sins; unbelievers must be anxious‚ for their sins will be punished and hell does exist. As we share the truth about hell and the judgment of sin‚ we implore those who dont know Jesus to take refuge in his saving grace.3. Offer biblical resources‚ workshops‚ and courses on practical preparation.We love our neighbor by leaving what I call a practical legacythe documents and information that will bless our loved ones in case we die or become incapacitated. Too many of us have seen family quarrels and heartache when someone fails to prepare a will.We can urge each person we lead to prepare a will‚ an advance directive‚ a durable power of attorney‚ and a clear record of his or her digital legacy (passwords and online accounts).4. Provide biblical guidance on arrangements for the body and funeral services.If we dont provide counsel on these things‚ our culture will. In a Modern Family episode‚ a characters deceased mother is recycled into a tree; a New York Times article discusses modern end-of-life commemoration practices like having a party on the 18th green of the deceaseds beloved golf course. A Christian funeral should celebrate Gods redemptive work in the life of the deceased‚ help those present to grieve‚ and offer the hope of the gospel.Whether we provide it through a Sunday School class‚ a yearly workshop‚ or a pamphlet‚ sound biblical guidance will help our church members leave clear instructions for their grieving loved ones.5. Care for the sick and dying and care for their caregivers.According to physician L. S. Dugdale‚ hospital patients without family or friends are labeled unbefriended. We in the church are called to care for the least of these (Matt. 25:45).Yet we often do well at caring for the sick but neglect to pray for and tend to the needs of caregivers. Caregivers frequently experience anxiety‚ depression‚ fear‚ grief‚ guilt‚ shame‚ isolation‚ doubt‚ and poor health‚ so we must care for them and urge them to look out for their mental and physical health.6. Help people to share a spiritual legacy.The psalmist Asaph called the Israelites to pass down the stories of their faith: We will not hide them from their children‚ but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the LORD‚ and his might‚ and the wonders that he has done (Ps. 78:4).In the same way‚ we equip and encourage people to share their stories of redemption. A spiritual legacy can include stories‚ expertise‚ blessings‚ and wisdom. We can offer workshops that help people record their spiritual legacy in the form of letters‚ lists‚ stories‚ or audio or video recordings. We can also host events in which older people are interviewed and younger generations have the opportunity to hear how God has worked in their lives. As the aging population shares the wonderful deeds God has done in their lives‚ the next generation grows in faith‚ hope‚ and love.As we pass on a spiritual legacy‚ the next generation of believers grows in faith‚ hope‚ and love.As our church members age‚ well become more aware of the harsh realities of aging‚ dying‚ and death. May we take the opportunity to invite those we lead to know the hope of glory.Our hero‚ our heavenly Bridegroom‚ stands ready to take our hand‚ to bring us to the Father‚ to announce with joy‚ Here is my beloved‚ your precious child. Because of this great hope‚ we can confidently‚ calmly‚ and compassionately prepare ourselves and those we lead for glory.

When the original Avatar released in 2009‚ journalists observed a phenomenon they called Post-Avatar Depression‚ in which moviegoers were devastated with lingering longings for Pandoras fantasy world.After the 2022 sequel‚ Avatar: The Way of the Water‚ I noticed thousands of TikTok videos focused on helping viewers reality shift to Pandora. These videos were created and viewed primarily by my generation‚ Gen Z. The comments were full of young people wishing they could leave Earth behind.Inconsolable LongingsGen Z wrestles with inconsolable longings. Christians know that these longings‚ however twisted by sin‚ provide opportunities to point restless souls toward their ultimate satisfaction in God.Daniel Strange calls this approach subversive fulfillmentshowing where the gospel both confronts and connects with our cultures desires. In paying attention to Gen Zs reaction to Avatar‚ Christians can be ready to show them where the gospel offers a better answer to their longings than what they find in the most beautifully realized CGI fantasy world.With sequels planned into the 2030s‚ Avatar will be a significant cinematic brand for Gen Z from our childhood into our adulthood. Here are three longings that make the franchise so resonant with my generation.1. My generation wants to escape from their bodies.In the first Avatar film‚ we meet Jake Sully (Sam Worthington)‚ a paraplegic ex-Marine. On a military operation infiltrating Pandora‚ Sully connects his mind to a lab-grown Navi body‚ which functions as an alternate-world avatar for him (hence the franchises name). With his taller‚ stronger Navi body‚ Sully grows to loathe every minute he spends back in his crippled human body. In a triumphant moment at the end of the movie‚ he leaves behind his human body entirely‚ permanently connecting his mind to his Navi body.My generation has a similarly fraught relationship with the body. Many of my peers are eager to escape from the bodies they were born with into something they feel better reflects their true selves. This manifests in various ways. With gender dysphoria‚ some feel trapped in a body that doesnt match their gender (as they perceive it). With body dysmorphia‚ some feel like their bodies must match the photoshopped and filtered physiques of social media influencers. Either way‚ they starve‚ alter‚ and mutilate their bodies in search of their true selves. But these efforts will never satisfy their deeper longings.In Christian theology‚ the body is a gift intentionally and lovingly crafted by God (Ps. 139:13). God‚ not our fickle imaginations‚ gets to decide what our bodies are meant to be. But our bodies are also ravaged by the results of sin in a fallen world. As we watch our bodies break and fail‚ the effects of sin unnaturally create tension between our bodies and our minds.As Christians‚ we can empathize with Gen Zs frustrations with their bodies. Yet the hope of the gospel isnt an escape from our original bodies into alien ones but a restoration of the good bodies God has already given us.The hope of the gospel isnt an escape from our original bodies into alien ones but a restoration of the good bodies God has already given us.Christians are unitedbody and soulto Christs death and resurrection‚ meaning our bodies will one day look like his. Our true selves can only be found in unity with Christ. The hope the gospel offers my generation is that our bodies will be glorified‚ freed from the ravages of sin‚ and made perfectly harmonious with our minds. Until then‚ we steward and care for our bodies‚ recognizing the goodness of Gods original design for them and knowing they arent accidents or mistakes2. My generation wants to escape from our planet.The most striking part of the Avatar films is the gorgeously rendered world of Pandoras glowing‚ shimmering‚ unspoiled nature. The Navi revere their planet as a benevolent mother goddess. Its no coincidence Avatars core conflict is the protection of this pristine‚ Edenic world from the abuses of human invaders.Sully says of Earth‚ Theres no green there. . . . They killed their Mother. If he doesnt protect Pandora‚ the humans will similarly exploit and plunder it until theres nothing left. His words echo the despair of Nietzsches Madman: God is dead. . . . And we have killed him. The Navi are noble protectors of nature‚ while humans are destroyers of every good and beautiful thingeven their own deities.This plot isnt new. Its the same back-to-nature Romanticism of Thoreau‚ Emerson‚ and movies like Dances with Wolves or Pocahontas. Human longing for unspoiled paradise is as old as the fall. But Pandoras Edenic aesthetic is especially appealing to a Gen Z audience given our growing environmental anxiety.Gen Z is filled with dread over the state of our planet. In a recent study of young people across 10 countries‚ 59 percent reported being extremely worried about climate change. They feel theyve been betrayed by their governments and their parents‚ who recklessly plundered the planet and left them to deal with the consequences. Viral TikToks made by and for Gen Z declare climate change will reduce all the worlds beauty into an apocalyptic wasteland. Every good deed seems wasted‚ doomed to be undone.Christianity acknowledges that human sin has cursed the earth. But God is sovereign. We did kill Godbut only because Christ willingly laid down his life. And through his death and resurrection‚ all creation is redeemed.In Revelation 21:5‚ God declares over our hurting world‚ Behold‚ I am making all things new. Romans 8:21 says creation will one day be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. The gospel declares to my despairing generation that God reigns as Judge over all evilincluding the evil inflicted on the creatures and landscapes he createdand that one day hell set all things right.The solution isnt to escape into an alien world but to stay present in this one. In light of Christs death and resurrection‚ the church can invite my generation to wait in expectant hope for Christs return and to do good works now‚ knowing our labor in Christ isnt in vain.3. My generation wants to escape from loneliness.What ultimately convinces Sully to defect from Earths military is the community he finds among the Navi people. They welcome him into their culture‚ their customs‚ and their language.The Navi live in idyllic tribal unity‚ greeting each other by saying‚ I see you. This has the connotation of fully understanding the other through the eyes of love. However‚ their love isnt unconditional. Sullys acceptance in the Navi hinges on his ability to act like a Navi; he must change himself by his own effort.The church can invite my generation to wait in expectant hope for Christs return and to do good works now‚ knowing our labor in Christ isnt in vain.My generation is facing aloneliness epidemic. Most of our relationships are maintained largely over social media‚ where we only display curated versions of ourselves. We remain physically isolated from each other‚ longing to be fully seen and loved apart from avatar facades. Gen Z hunts for that kind of closeness and acceptance purportedly found in identity groups like the LGBT+ community that promise to see us and fully love us as we are‚ within a found family. But communities like this are still rife with division and can only unite people insofar as they work to fit in.The gospel tells a different story. While we were still sinners‚ Christ died for us (Rom. 5:8)fully knowing us and fully loving us. In his death‚ he broke down the barriers between himself and us‚ bringing us into an invincible union that our failures cannot shake. This is the union we were created for; no human substitute can satisfy.By the Holy Spirits power‚ rather than our human effort‚ were transformed to walk in his ways. Through our identity in Christ‚ were welcomed into the family of God. Our welcome isnt contingent on our performance or manufactured facades but on the flawless performance of Christ.My generation thinks this level of belonging is only possible in a fantasy like Avatarand so they try to escape. But as we show Gen Z where the gospel connects with their deepest longings‚ we invite them into an infinitely better story.

Kari Lake';s campaign blasted the Babylon Bee over a piece mocking Lake';s abortion stance. The satire site';s headline that Lake';s campaign objected to read‚ ";Kari Lake Announces Plan To Lose Another Election But This Time While Supporting Baby Murder.";";This is reprehensible and it isn';t even valid satire. Disgusting‚"; the ";Kari Lake War Room"; account wrote in response to the Bee';s tweet. (@) Babylon Bee CEO Seth Dillon fired back‚ mocking the complaint from Lake';s campaign. ";I would like to apologize to everyone affected by the invalid satire we published earlier. From now on we will check to make sure it';s as valid as the abortion law in Arizona before posting‚"; he quipped. (@) Lake‚ who is currently running in the Republican U.S. Senate primary in Arizona‚ has said that she would oppose a federal abortion ban. She has also expressed opposition to an Arizona Supreme Court ruling on a law that prohibits performing abortion unless the mother';s life is in peril. The law states that‚ ";A person who provides‚ supplies or administers to a pregnant woman‚ or procures such woman to take any medicine‚ drugs or substance‚ or uses or employs any instrument or other means whatever‚ with intent thereby to procure the miscarriage of such woman‚ unless it is necessary to save her life‚ shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for not less than two years nor more than five years.";While the ruling to allow enforcement of the law marked a clear win for the pro-life cause‚ Lake opposed the decision and called for the state';s legislature and Democratic governor ";to come up with an immediate common sense solution that Arizonans can support.";The ruling stated‚ ";Although we lift the stay on enforcement of 13-3603‚ we do so with two caveats. First‚ 13-3603 may be enforced prospectively only. Second‚ we stay enforcement of 13-3603 for fourteen calendar days from the filing date of this Opinion to permit the parties‚ on remand‚ to determine whether to pursue remaining issues raised in the trial court and‚ if so‚ to request further stay relief at the trial court';s discretion.";Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

The following article‚ How the New York Times Foments Antisemitism‚ was first published on Conservative Firing Line.The New York Times hasa well documented obsessionwith Gazan hunger that fuels hostility toward Israel and Jews‚ by falsely suggesting that the worlds only Jewish state is maliciously responsible for the greatest humanitarian crisis on the planet‚even though there are exponentially worse famines underway‚ and the blame for Gazas hunger is far more complex than Continue reading How the New York Times Foments Antisemitism ...

NPR reporter Uri Berliner wrote an essay forThe Free Pressarguing that the network has lost chunks of its audience by growing too dogmatically progressive. Some of the evidence supports his claim. Unfortunately‚ he undermines his case by leading with an example that in no way vindicates the thesis‚ and actually undermines it: coverage of theTrump-Russia scandal.Berliner presents the story as a nothingburger that NPR breathlessly hyped and then ignored when it turned out to...