Israel prepares for group offensive against Hamas
Israel’s offensive against the terrorist group Hamas continues this week. The Israeli Defense Forces or IDF recently told more than one million Palestinian civilians to evacuate their homes in Northern Gaza. The terrorist group Hamas called the warning propaganda. The IDF released notices telling citizens that they were being used as human shields, and to leave for South Gaza as soon as possible. Hamas has also claimed that Iran and the terrorist group Hezbollah may get involved in the war if Israel invades Gaza. Protests around the world a rise in Anti-Semitism. Supporters claim Hamas is defending the area from “an oppressive regimen”. The nation of Israel is considered the only functional democracy in the Middle East. Leaders around the world are continuing to support Israel and condemning the attacks of Hamas.
Student athletes gather to witness the Gospel across the US
Thousands of student athletes, coaches and supporters gathered to pray across the US for an annual event. Students gathered on sport event fields across the US for the annual Fields of Faith. The event is a student led outreach that encourages students and coaches to be bold about their Christian faith. Students are encouraged to spread the Gospel during these events. Some students lead prayers and present challenges to others to spend more time in prayers, God’s Word and sharing the Gospel with fellow students. This year is the 20th anniversary of the event. Organizers expected it to be one of the biggest turnouts. The FCA event started in 2002 and is now nationwide.
Law jeopardizes California police officers’ free speech
Conservatives in California say a recent bill may endanger the rights of Christians employees by police departments. Governor Gavin Newsom recently signed a bill in the state known as Assembly Bill 443. The new law will allow police department leaders to define what is biased conduct. This law will apply even in private settings and will include online discussions, especially anything against the LGBT community. This could also apply to interactions with the public, and other fellow employees of the state (first responders, fellow officers, court employees, etc.). Conservatives say the broad definition, and clear LGBT biased in the law would mean officers could lose their jobs for “alleged misconduct”, when it would actually be considered free speech by US federal law. Conservative groups commented that examples such as accusing an officer of not using a person’s preferred gender pronouns or sharing scripture on their personal social media pages could be grounds for dismissal under this law. The organization Save California says the law is a violation of officers First Amendment rights.
SNBC HEALTH report: the health benefits of walking upstairs and its effect on the human heart
According to recent studies, walking on a daily basis helps improve heart health. A recent medical journal reported the benefits of walking, in particular walking of flights of stairs. The journal found heart disease dropped by 20 percent for patients who took the stairs at least five flights or more per day. Two other medical groups conducted similar studies. The National Institutes of Health found less plaque buildup in the heart following daily walking. Tulane University conducted a study analyzing 12-years of data in cooperation with Peking University in Beijing. The study followed over 400 thousand test subjects in the United Kingdom. The study found those who walked in particular on the stairs daily saw improvements in their heart health. The main key according to researchers is high intensity aerobic exercise. According to one medical professional, routine short bursts of high-intensity exercise such as climbing stairs on a regular basis lowers blood pressure and promotes a healthier weight. Experts recommend daily exercise at least 150 minutes per week.