Latest news with #faith
New York Times
7 hours ago
- Health
- New York Times
Holy Water Couldn't Save My Husband. MAHA Wouldn't Have Either.
On a sunny spring morning in 2006, while my husband, Mike, was showering, I secretly sprinkled his bath towel with holy water I had gotten from a friend who had used holy water from the same source on her husband. Her husband went on to survive his cancer, so I happily accepted the plastic container filled with water from a sacred site in Europe. It couldn't hurt, right? Watching Mike dry himself off, I tapped into my childhood Catholicism and faith in a benevolent God as I pictured the magic water covering him with a protective layer. I never told Mike I did this. And I still feel guilty that I did. Neither of us went to church; we were agnostics. He would have been very annoyed. He didn't believe in magic. But we were six months into multiple brain surgeries and complications stemming from what was described to us as a benign tumor that had nonetheless taken over his midbrain. Thanks to hours on the internet, I had tried to Nancy Drew my way to the cause of his tumor, which devolved into my dabbling in conspiracy theories, and now I was out of options. That was the last morning Mike would ever shower in our home. It was the last time he would see our 1-year-old boy wake up in his crib. When Mike received his craniopharyngioma diagnosis in October 2005, he was given a 95 percent survival rate at five years out, but he was dead nine months later. He spent many of those months hospitalized, undergoing radiation therapy, blind, with no short-term memory and unable to care for himself, enduring over a dozen brain surgeries and other procedures. I watched the disappearance of light from his eyes as this once brilliantly funny man looked up at me from his hospital bed each morning, kind but emotionally flat, unsure if I was arriving for the first time that day or if I was just returning from the bathroom. I have a picture in a small album that shows Mike in the hospital holding our son, looking down at him quizzically but unaffected, as though the baby were a strange rock or a loaf of bread. The doctors surely tired of my asking, 'When will he be back to normal?' and 'When will this be over?' There is nothing quite like feeling you have no agency to affect your circumstances. Up until then, my efficacy had always paid off. I got all A's, was editor of my public high school newspaper and landed a free ride to an Ivy League school for my Ph.D. Lots of agency. But I could not outorganize, outresearch, outcharm or outwork a tumor. So I turned to magic. It wasn't just the holy water. I started keeping a little heart-shaped healing stone in my pocket for luck and brought him fresh berries from home each day. I read about the anti-inflammatory properties of berries online, so I fed them to Mike and pictured the berries shrinking the golf-ball-size tumor in the middle of his head. I started praying again for the first time since middle school. You find yourself bargaining in those moments. 'I'll never ask for anything again if you just get Mike better.' Well, he didn't. So I guess I can keep asking God for things. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
ABC News
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- ABC News
Hair...flow it, grow it, show it... as long as God allows it!
On God Forbid we're talking about the sacred strands that sprout from our skulls. Whether it's being grown long, shaved off, or covered up -- hair has long been a point of contention for faith communities. Claims of both modesty and freedom come up when we discuss hair coverings, and often a similar piece of fabric will elicit very different responses depending on the religion of the person wearing it. From turbans to tonsures, hijabs to high-top fades -- hair is more than style, it's spiritual. GUESTS: Michael D. Barbezat, historian of medieval European religious history. His first book, Burning Bodies: Communities, Eschatology, and the Punishment of Heresy in the Middle Ages. historian of medieval European religious history. His first book, Burning Bodies: Communities, Eschatology, and the Punishment of Heresy in the Middle Ages. Sukhjit Kaur Khalsa, Director of The Blue Room Theatre in Perth. She's a writer, performer, theatre and filmmaker. Since her sell-out theatre work Fully Sikh she's currently producing A Hairy Tale, a documentary exploring female body hair. Director of The Blue Room Theatre in Perth. She's a writer, performer, theatre and filmmaker. Since her sell-out theatre work Fully Sikh she's currently producing A Hairy Tale, a documentary exploring female body hair. Aseel Tayah, Palestinian-Australian artist, CEO of community art project Bukjeh in Melbourne, and hijabi Muslim. This episode of God Forbid was made on Gadigal land, the land of the Whadjuk Nyoongar people and in Naarm.
Fox News
a day ago
- General
- Fox News
Catholicism sees major resurgence among Gen Z, with young men leading the revival
Young men are driving a growing surge in Catholicism among Gen Z, as they turn to faith as an answer to loneliness, cultural drift and a search for purpose. A Harvard University study shows that Gen Zers who identified as Catholic rose by 6% between 2022 and 2023, a shift that Father Michael Tidd — headmaster of Delbarton School, a Benedictine Catholic school for young men in grades 7-12 in Morristown, New Jersey — says he has witnessed himself. "We present our students with an experience of what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ. We propose, we don't impose, and they come to us, and that seems to be really resonant with them," he shared with "Fox & Friends" on Thursday. "For the last several years, we have also had students be received into the church, either be baptized as Catholics for the first time or to receive all of their sacraments, because the experience that they have had here… of what it means particularly to be a man in our society, what it needs to be a believing man, a Catholic Christian man, really resonates with our students. And the larger things that you read about in our society about how… what it means to be man, is really a difficult question for a lot of young men to answer. I think our school and the Catholic Church more broadly and the Catholic faith more broadly provide a compelling answer to that." Father Tidd said he sees students responding to that question in a faith-based way "every day." Students at Delbarton come from a variety of backgrounds – some from practicing Catholic families, others from non-Catholic families – but all are presented with what it means to be a Catholic Christian both in the theology classroom and while doing service out in the world. Father Tidd described the school's retreat experiences as a "real game-changer" for students as well as the "common worship" at mass and morning prayer that brings together all students. The sense of community is an answer to disturbing findings like a recent Gallup Poll, which found that younger men in the U.S. were "among the loneliest in the West." More specifically, one in four men under the age of 35 reported feeling lonely the prior day, the data revealed. In a video address last week to the faithful in his hometown of Chicago, Pope Leo XIV sent a message of encouragement to young Americans. "So many people who suffer from different experiences of depression or sadness — they can discover that the love of God is truly healing, that it brings hope," the newly elected pontiff said. Father Tidd suggested that young men affected by loneliness take initiative and find others who share common experiences, dreams, ambitions and, together, work to find answers to questions about meaning and purpose. "That's one of the benefits of coming to a Catholic school, is that we have that structure that if a student wishes to take advantage of – particularly not just in class, but on athletic teams or extracurriculars – when you form those tight bonds, then you can begin to ask those deep questions," he added.
Associated Press
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
Author Sandra Richards Shares Powerful Spiritual Encounters in Her Memoir
God Shouts When He Whispers: A Personal Testimony of God's Involvement in My Life Continues to Inspire Readers Seeking Deeper Faith and Understanding NV, UNITED STATES, June 18, 2025 / / -- With growing interest in personal testimonies of faith and supernatural experiences, Sandra Richards' remarkable memoir, God Shouts When He Whispers: A Personal Testimony of God's Involvement in My Life, continues to resonate with readers who are hungry for deeper spiritual truth and divine connection. The book is a deeply honest and compelling account of Richards' extraordinary spiritual journey—a life marked by divine intervention, angelic protection, miraculous experiences, and direct encounters with both good and evil forces. In one of the most unique aspects of her story, she details how God allowed her to worship in His throne room on two separate occasions. She also chronicles a deeply personal and spiritually significant interaction involving Elvis Presley, inspired by the urging of the Holy Spirit. A lifelong Christian raised in the Seventh-day Adventist faith, Richards faced early adversity, including the loss of her father at age eleven and marrying young at sixteen. Through perseverance and faith, she went on to earn an Associate degree in Secretarial Science from Adirondack Community College in New York and later, a Bachelor's in Social Work and Sociology from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Her previous work, Elvis, If Only We'd Known (now out of print), first introduced readers to her belief in the singer's deep spiritual struggles and potential. In God Shouts When He Whispers, she expands on that foundation with new insights and revelations. Though initially hesitant to write the book due to its controversial content and personal nature, Richards shares that the decision was ultimately one of obedience. 'The Holy Spirit said to me, 'You will write the book,' and Jesus followed with, 'Do not be afraid.' That moment of divine confirmation gave me the courage to move forward,' she explains. At its heart, the message of God Shouts When He Whispers is simple yet profound: God longs to connect personally with each of us. Richards' testimony reminds readers that divine presence is real, active, and deeply invested in the lives of those willing to listen. For those searching for spiritual encouragement or affirmation that heaven is watching and involved, this book offers hope, conviction, and a powerful reminder that we are never alone. God Shouts When He Whispers is available for purchase on Amazon and other online retailers. Global Book Network Global Book Network + +1 302 319 9988 email us here Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content 'as is' without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
News24
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- News24
‘So excited': Demi-Leigh Tebow's new faith-inspired book arrives as baby countdown begins
Beauty queen and soon-to-be mom Demi-Leigh Tebow has penned an all-new book aimed at strengthening faith and self-worth through scripture and personal reflection. Knowing Who You Are Because of Who God Is marks Tebow's third book, following her memoir A Crown That Lasts: You Are Not Your Label and children's book Princess Paris Finds Her Purpose. The book's release coincides with Demi-Leigh and her husband, Tim, eagerly awaiting the arrival of their daughter, expected later this month. Heavily pregnant beauty queen Demi-Leigh Tebow has added yet another book to the growing number of titles under her belt. However, the former Miss South Africa and Miss Universe said this book was 'a little bit different' to the other two she had already penned. Described by Tebow as a '100-day devotional to unbreakable faith,' Knowing Who You Are Because of Who God Is aims to strengthen the reader's faith and trust in God through personal stories, biblical teachings and daily prayer instead of relying on external factors, like appearances, success or the opinions of others. 'The 100 days are broken down into different weeks, and each week is deeply rooted in biblical promise. There is so much space for writing and reflection and journaling alongside the scripture – the promise that we are handling the week,' she said as she elaborated further about the book. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Demi-Leigh Tebow (@demitebow) 'I really wanted to focus on promises rooted in God's truth. So, this book is a guide to understanding who we are and who we've been created to be by, first and foremost, understanding the promises that God has made. I'm so excited for you to come alongside me on this journey of 100 days to unbreakable faith.' According to Amazon, the book will help readers overcome their insecurities and fears and build a more resilient faith. In March last year, Tebow penned her first memoir, A Crown That Lasts: You Are Not Your Label, to help readers claim their true identity, become more confident in God, and live out their unique purpose. People reported that the memoir was inspired by her experiences in 2018 when she passed the Miss Universe crown to her successor, Catriona Gray. Earlier in the year, the mom-to-be also unveiled her children's book, Princess Paris Finds Her Purpose, inspired by her real-life Dalmatian. Tebow explained that the adorable main character embarks on a South African safari adventure but unexpectedly loses her crown, which she believed defined her worth, identity and purpose, during the journey. But later learns that 'sometimes we need a King to remind us who we are' instead. 'I'm even more excited about how this truth-filled message will inspire conversations to help children know their true worth and find their true purpose,' she said about the kiddies' book. Amid her professional milestones, Tebow is also eagerly preparing for the arrival of her baby daughter, who is due close to her birthday on Saturday, 28 June. Reflecting on her pregnancy journey, she told YOU magazine: 'I'm feeling great. I do waddle a bit when I walk now, but other than that, everything is going well.' Despite doing well now, Tebow admitted that her first and second trimesters had not been all smooth sailing, with her experiencing breakouts and hair loss. 'I threw up sometimes, and I couldn't eat chicken anymore – it made me horribly nauseous. Chicken still isn't on my menu,' she said. Counting down to her baby girl's arrival, Tebow also hinted at the possibility of expanding their family in the future, saying, 'A mini-me Tim would be so adorable.'
