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Grace Doesn’t Rank Sins It’s easy to point at someone else’s sin. Much harder to confront our own pride. Our jealousy. Our hatred. Our hidden thoughts. The Bible doesn’t call us to build a hierarchy of sinners. It calls every one of us to repentance. We all stand in need of the same Savior. We all depend on the same grace. Jesus never gave us permission to use truth as a weapon against people. He calls us to speak truth with love, humility, and compassion. Before judging another heart, examine your own. Grace humbles us. And grace teaches us to love. 🙏

About 4,000 churches in Maharashtra, India, are asking worshippers to sign forms declaring they attend services “purely by personal choice” as the state’s new anti-conversion law takes effect. Church leaders say the declarations can help defend pastors against accusations of forced conversion. Dolphy D’Souza called them “the least safety measure we can take to protect us from legal proceedings.” Some churches have also installed security cameras after reported attacks and disruptions. The law prohibits conversions involving coercion, fraud or inducement, with repeat offenders facing up to 10 years in prison. Christian groups fear it could be misused against ordinary prayer meetings and religious minorities. Similar anti-conversion laws now exist in 13 Indian states. 🙏

Every morning, Jesus meets us again. Not with condemnation. Not with a list of everything we got wrong. But with mercy, forgiveness, and love. A love we could never earn. A grace we could never deserve. And somehow, He meets us even at our lowest. In the weakness. In the exhaustion. In the moments when we have nothing left. His love is already there. We don’t have to prove ourselves before Him. We simply receive what He freely gives. New mercy. Fresh grace. Steady love. 🙏

Everything hangs on the resurrection. Christianity is not built on inspiring ideas or moral advice. It is built on an empty tomb. If Jesus stayed in the grave, His words are only words. But if He rose from the dead, everything changes. His claims are true. His promises are trustworthy. His authority is absolute. And death does not have the final word. We cannot simply admire Jesus while ignoring what He said. The risen Christ calls for more than appreciation. He calls for faith, surrender, and obedience. Jesus is alive. And because He lives, we can trust Him with everything.🙏

Carrie Underwood says “Jesus, Take the Wheel” remains deeply personal to her because its message reminds her to surrender her fears to God. “I just love that song so much,” Underwood said, revealing that she sometimes leaves the stage and tells her band, “I think I felt Jesus in that room tonight.” For Underwood, the song is more than a country classic—it is a continuing lesson in faith and trust. “It’s just a constant reminder of how I need to do more of that in my life,” she said. “It’s a great reminder to me to constantly stop worrying. Just let Jesus handle it.” The song was partly inspired by a near-fatal crash involving songwriter Brett James’ future wife, who said she saw angels helping her before walking away uninjured. Its message of releasing control and trusting God has continued to resonate with listeners since its release in 2005.

The gospel humbles us and lifts us up at the same time. My sin was so serious that Jesus had to die for me. But His love was so great that He willingly chose the cross for me. That leaves no room for pride. I cannot look down on anyone. We all stand in need of grace. But it also leaves no room for insecurity. I don’t have to prove my worth. I don’t have to earn God’s love. At the cross, I see both the depth of my need and the depth of His love. So I can walk humbly. And I can live confidently. I am a sinner saved by grace—and deeply loved by God. 🙏

Southern Methodist University (SMU), a top-ranked Christian college in Texas, has canceled a Muslim youth leadership event organized by CAIR-Texas after the state designated CAIR a “terrorist organization.” The Sept. 19 event, called “Unapologetically Muslim: Youth in Action,” was designed for Muslim high school and college students and included leadership workshops and civic engagement activities. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott designated CAIR and the Muslim Brotherhood as “terrorist organizations” in November 2025, alleging they seek to “forcibly impose sharia law” and establish Islam’s “mastership of the world.” CAIR disputes characterizations linking the organization to terrorism. SMU said that “given the State of Texas’ current designation” of CAIR, hosting the Muslim youth symposium would be “inconsistent with our mission and related University policies.”

Rock legend Alice Cooper says lasting fulfillment cannot be found in drugs, wealth, fame or relationships, but only through a relationship with God. “If you don’t have the Lord in your life, you’re always going to be trying to fill that hole with something,” he said, adding, “That’s where the fulfillment comes from.” Cooper credits God with rescuing him from severe alcoholism and drug addiction after his health began to collapse. Following rehab, he said his cravings completely disappeared. “Everyone said, ‘You have such great willpower.’ I said, ‘No, God has great willpower. He took it from me.’” Even his doctor described his recovery as “an absolute miracle.” The rocker, whose father and grandfather were pastors, now calls Jesus “the core of everything” and “the light.” Cooper said Christ transformed his heart, and he now tries to include “some lyric pointing towards Christ” whenever he writes music. 🙏

A God who always agrees with us is probably a god we created. The real God will challenge us. He will confront our pride. Question our desires. Correct our assumptions. And sometimes lead us where we would rather not go. Following Jesus isn’t about finding divine approval for everything we already believe. It’s about surrender. God loves us too much to leave us unchanged. His truth may offend our preferences, but it also frees our hearts. Don’t ask God only to confirm you. Ask Him to correct you. Shape you. Transform you. Real faith doesn’t remake God in our image. It lets God remake us in His. 🙏

Mark Wahlberg is unapologetic about being a Christian in Hollywood, declaring, “I will not hide the fact that I love the Lord and I want to be committed to serving the Lord.” While he does not force his beliefs on others, Wahlberg refuses to deny God, saying, “That’s not a good look.” He calls faith “the most important thing” in his life because it keeps his fame, career and responsibilities in perspective. Wahlberg also seeks to live out his faith through prayer, regularly praying for struggling people—including fellow Hollywood figures—and by using his God-given influence as an example to others and his children.🙏

A faith that costs us nothing may be changing nothing. Jesus never called us to follow Him halfway. He calls us to surrender. To obedience. To a life where He is Lord, not just part of our plans. When comfort matters more than Christ, our faith becomes powerless. But a surrendered life is different. It loves when love is costly. It obeys when obedience hurts. It stands firm when compromise would be easier. The enemy is not threatened by comfortable Christianity. But a believer fully surrendered to Jesus? That life can shake the darkness. Lord, make my faith wholehearted. 🙏

Sometimes we say, “I know God forgives me, but I can’t forgive myself.” It sounds humble. But sometimes, it reveals something deeper. We are still trying to earn our own approval. The gospel says Jesus has already carried our guilt. The debt is paid. Grace has spoken. So why keep punishing yourself for what God has forgiven? Your feelings are not a higher court than God’s mercy. Repent. Receive His forgiveness. Learn from the past. Then walk forward in grace. You don’t need to prove you are worthy. You need to trust that Jesus is enough. His grace gets the final word. 🙏

Letitia Wright says faith in Jesus helps her navigate fame, mental health struggles, grief and Hollywood pressure. She turned to God in her early 20s when life felt empty and chaotic, and her faith later carried her through the death of Black Panther co-star Chadwick Boseman. Although some have told her to stop speaking publicly about Jesus, Wright refuses to hide what she credits with saving her life. “I probably wouldn’t be alive right now if it wasn’t for Jesus,” she said. Her faith also guides her career. Wright founded 3.16 Productions, named after John 3:16, and helped bring Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot to the screen. She prays over her projects and seeks to create “meaningful content with cinematic excellence.” “I don’t know how people navigate without God,” Wright said, adding that she cannot compromise on something God has told her to do.

A small PC(USA) congregation in Anderson, South Carolina, has hired the Rev. Laura Bethany Buchleiter, who identifies as a transgender lesbian, as its stated supply pastor. The church reportedly averages 20 to 30 attendees. Buchleiter became the first known transgender minister ordained by a Cooperative Baptist Fellowship-affiliated church in 2021. Defending transgender identity within Christianity, Buchleiter called diverse gender expressions “a testimony to God’s immense creativity” and described transitioning as a “victorious new life.” The appointment comes amid steep decline in the PC(USA), whose membership has fallen from more than 2.5 million in 2000 to just over 1 million last year.

Neal McDonough says his Hollywood career will always come after his faith and family. “I love acting,” he said, “but it’s a deep second place compared to family and God.” The Christian actor explained that he lives by the principles “Family first” and “God first.” Although his convictions, including refusing on-screen kisses and taking the Lord’s name in vain, once cost him roles, McDonough remained faithful and later saw his career rebound. “I thank God every day for all the blessings I’m given,” he said.

Jelly Roll told upset Trump supporters they were free to stop listening to his music after his jokes about the president sparked backlash. While guest-hosting “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” the Grammy-winning singer mocked Trump’s weight and approval ratings, joking that his own 300-pound weight loss meant he had “lost an entire Donald Trump.” Some conservative fans accused Jelly Roll of betraying the blue-collar audience that supported his career, with one critic calling him a “traitor” and another branding him a “complete fraud.” But the singer refused to apologize, telling those threatening to boycott his music to “go right ahead.” “Any U.S. president should be able to handle a few jokes, right?” Jelly Roll said. He also mocked the outrage, noting that as “a former felon and drug dealer” who lost 300 pounds, has face tattoos and won three Grammys, telling political jokes was “the weirdest thing” he had ever done to “stun” people.

Southern Methodist University (SMU), one of the nation’s top-ranked Christian colleges, has canceled a Muslim youth event organized by CAIR-Texas after the group was designated a “terrorist organization” by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott. The Sept. 19 symposium, titled “Unapologetically Muslim: Youth in Action,” was intended to provide leadership training for high school and college students. SMU said it generally “welcomes a wide range of organizations and perspectives,” but concluded that hosting the event, “given the State of Texas’ current designation” of CAIR, was “inconsistent with our mission and related University policies.” Founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church South, SMU has maintained a religiously diverse campus and previously hosted CAIR representatives for interfaith discussions.

Catastrophic flash floods and landslides along the Nepal-China border have killed nearly 600 people and left about 2,500 missing. Among those missing are 90 Americans, including pilgrims traveling near Mount Kailash. President Donald Trump called the devastation “terrible to see,” saying strong buildings “were wiped out like they were toothpicks,” and offered Nepal “anything they want.” More than 3,700 people have been rescued in Nepal, while authorities remain on high alert over a newly formed mountain lake that could trigger additional flooding. Geoscientist Jakob Steiner warned that such disasters could become increasingly common as the region warms: “What happened yesterday is unfortunately the new normal.”

Bethel Church Senior Leader Bill Johnson, 75, married Linda Francoeur on Aug. 18, four years after his first wife, Beni Johnson, died from cancer. Johnson proposed on his 75th birthday after seeing Francoeur’s close bond with his family. He described her as a woman of “deep, deep compassion” who has become “a great strength” in his life. He stressed that Francoeur is not replacing Beni, his wife of more than four decades: “Beni took her shoes with her, and Linda has her own shoes to fill.”