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Pope denounces governments that use media to defame critics

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis is denouncing the way some governments seek to discredit their critics through "whisper" campaigns, using the media to defame anyone who represents a threat. During his morning homily Thursday, Francis said such slander campaigns can infect relations in families, parishes and dioceses, as well as global politics. He said the damage done by the "sin of whispering" is particularly grave in politics "when a government isn't honest and seeks to sling mud at its adversaries with whispers, defamation, calumny." Francis didn't single out any country, but ...

Pope: Safe drinking water is a human right, not merchandise

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis has affirmed that access to clean water is a human right and that it's "enormously shameful" that millions of people get sick and die each year for lack of it. In a message to a water management conference Thursday, Francis lamented that war, corruption and financial interests often get in the way of providing universal access to clean water for all. He said recognition of access to clean water as a basic human right is "incompatible" with the concept of water as merchandise to be bought and sold. The United Nations first recognized the legal ...

Let’s talk manpower

I’m an engineer; wired to observe the realities of this world. For 50 years I’ve witnessed this reality: Men tend to trail behind women when it comes to spiritual intensity. I’ve seen many families where mom is active in her faith and local church but dad isn’t. It’s very rare that dad is active and mom is not. Having worked with teenagers for years, it’s common for teens to step away from faith when dad isn’t actively engaged. As a pastor, I have a burning desire to help men grow spiritually. When a man grows spiritually, there’s a significant positive ripple effect in ...

Mass shooting anniversary overshadowed in Texas Senate race

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — The one-year anniversary of a Texas church shooting that was the deadliest in U.S. history falls on the eve of next week's midterm deciding the state's hotly contested race between Republican Sen. Ted Cruz and Democratic challenger Beto O'Rourke. Yet the candidates seldom reference the tragedy on the campaign trail. A gunman with an AR-15 style rifle rampaged through a rural church outside San Antonio on Nov. 5, 2017, killing 25 people. That massacre and another mass shooting that left 10 dead about six months later at a high school near Houston hardly ever ...

Starting over is a lifestyle

The topic of regrets is not particularly comfortable, but so critical. It’s easy to find yourself stuck in an endless cycle of longing and regret. Many people live in this cycle day after day. And it saps our energy and our ability to engage in the opportunities we are currently blessed with. That is the difficult news. The good news is regret does not have to be the finish line. Regret can be the starting line to a closer relationship with God and a healthier future.   In the book “Starting Over” by Dave and Jon Ferguson, they share a three-step process to move and live beyond ...

First Assembly of God to offer parenting conference on Nov. 3

First Assembly of God Church in Minot, located at 1805 2nd Street SE, will be hosting a parenting conference on Nov. 3 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The cost of the conference will be $20 per person if people pre-register and $30 per person at the door. Lunch will be provided. The guest speaker will be Mark Entzminger, national director of children’s ministries for the Assemblies of God. People can pre-register at Minotfirst.com They can call for more information at 838-1111.