On April 21, 2025, Pope Francis died at age 88, ending a 12-year papacy marked by liberal reforms and a reluctance to defend traditional Catholic teachings. Just over two weeks later, on May 8, Cardinal Robert Prevost—an American and close ally of Francis—was elected as his successor, taking the name Pope Leo XIV. His election was historic: the first American pope, and a continuation of Francis’s legacy. While the papacy is not a biblical office, its global influence matters deeply. Protestants reject the theological foundations of the papacy but recognize the importance of shared moral convictions. If Pope Leo continues Francis's doctrinal drift, it will signal a deepening moral crisis with global consequences.

The biggest story of this week is the death of Pope Francis, a man who led the Roman Catholic Church for 12 years and left behind a legacy marked more by silence than doctrinal change. As Protestants, we do not share Catholic theology, but we recognize the weight of this moment for our Catholic friends and mourn with them in their grief, as Scripture calls us to in Romans 12:15. Yet we must also heed the sobering lesson from Hebrews 2:1—that spiritual drift begins not with bold defiance, but with quiet compromise. Pope Francis’s refusal to clearly defend biblical morality, especially on issues of marriage and sexuality, should concern us all. In a time when the world desperately needs moral clarity, the church must speak with conviction.

It’s Friday, April 11, 2025, and the biggest story of the week is The Trump Tariff Turmoil. President Donald Trump has followed through on his promise to impose new tariffs on imported goods, aiming to correct long-standing trade imbalances that hurt American producers. While some countries have been granted a pause to negotiate, China has not—and tensions are rising. Predictably, media reactions have focused on political outrage and economic fear, but that misses the deeper issue.

For decades, America has accepted unfair trade practices in exchange for cheap goods, weakening our production and piling up debt. President Trump sees government action as necessary to fix this. Whether you agree or not, he’s doing what he said he would do. The bigger question is whether we, as a nation, will keep chasing quick political wins or choose to endure short-term pain for long-term good. The Bible calls us to do what is right, even when it’s hard.

Pastor Heath Lambert explains the reason for this show that examines current events through a biblical lens. Rather than diving into specific headlines this week, he addresses the foundational question: Why should Christians engage with news and current events at all?

TIMESTAMPS:

0:00 - Introduction to the show's purpose

0:42 - The controversy of Christian engagement with news

1:58 - Three biblical reasons Christians should engage the headlines

2:15 - Reason #1: Evangelism requires cultural engagement (Acts 17:23)

3:32 - Reason #2: Jesus used current events to teach spiritual truth (Luke 13:4-5)

4:30 - Reason #3: We will inevitably think about the news—the question is how

This thoughtful introduction addresses the tension many Christians feel between avoiding worldly controversies and fulfilling their calling to engage culture. Pastor Lambert acknowledges that this approach will sometimes create disagreement, but argues that three biblical principles make this engagement necessary:

- Evangelistic Purpose - Following Paul's example at the Areopagus, Christians must understand their culture to effectively communicate the gospel to their neighbors

- Discipleship Growth - Jesus himself referenced "headline news" (like the tower of Siloam tragedy) to help people understand spiritual realities and their need for God

- Inevitable Engagement - Since we will think about and discuss current events anyway, 2 Corinthians 10:5 calls us to "take every thought captive to obey Christ"—including our thoughts about the news

Join this weekly examination of the biggest stories through a distinctly Christian worldview, designed to help believers navigate our complex world with biblical wisdom rather than partisan talking points.

Scripture references: Acts 17:23, Luke 13:4-5, 2 Corinthians 10:5

How can Christians navigate the intense polarization surrounding Donald Trump? This commentary offers a thoughtful framework for evaluating political figures while maintaining biblical faithfulness.

TIMESTAMPS:

0:00 - Introduction to the divisive nature of Trump discussions

0:44 - The reality of Trump inspiring deliberate conflict

1:45 - Moving beyond headlines to examine Christian conflict

2:24 - The problem with all-or-nothing evaluations of Trump

3:07 - Introducing the "Political Pyramid" framework

3:25 - Foundation level: Commitment to Jesus Christ

4:15 - Second level: Commitment to conservatism

5:07 - Third level: Republicanism as a political organization

5:48 - Top level: Individual candidates (including Trump)

6:21 - Why Christianity remains non-negotiable while political figures are most negotiable

7:47 - Conclusion and looking ahead

This analysis explores how Christians can maintain both grace and truth when discussing polarizing political figures. Rather than adopting simplistic "all good" or "all bad" positions about President Trump, believers are encouraged to evaluate his actions against a hierarchy of commitments:

1. Christ First - Our primary loyalty belongs to Jesus alone, not to any political movement or figure (Galatians 2:20)

2. Conservative Principles - Individual liberty, limited government, and traditional institutions form the next layer of commitment

3. Party Affiliation - While imperfect, the Republican platform aligns more closely with the above commitments than alternatives

4. Individual Candidates - Including Trump, whose actions should be evaluated based on consistency with more foundational principles

By maintaining this principled hierarchy, Christians can praise actions that align with deeper commitments while criticizing those that don't—avoiding the trap of prejudicial thinking that characterizes much of today's political discourse.

After a remarkable 9-month extended stay in space, astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunni Williams have finally returned home.

What was supposed to be an 8-day mission aboard Boeing's Starliner turned into a headline-making journey that reveals profound truths about God's design and purpose.

Pastor Heath Lambert responds to the return of these astronauts to earth from a biblical perspective.

TIMESTAMPS:

0:00 - Introduction to the astronaut return story

0:49 - The astronauts' dramatic splashdown and return to Earth

1:17 - Background on the mission and what went wrong

2:20 - The creation mandate and space travel as human achievement

3:16 - The reality of our broken world and technological failures

3:42 - The blame game between officials about the delayed return

5:32 - Butch Wilmore's powerful testimony of faith

6:54 - Finding hope in the midst of life's delays and disappointments

7:22 - Conclusion: The greatest rescue story of all

This commentary explores how a delayed space mission reveals timeless spiritual truths:

The stunning technological achievement that brought the astronauts safely home via SpaceX's Dragon capsule—a testament to humanity fulfilling the creation mandate to "fill the earth and subdue it" (Genesis 1:28)

The reality of our broken world where even the most advanced technology can fail, with helium leaks on the Starliner forcing NASA to find alternative solutions

The human tendency to assign blame when things go wrong, as demonstrated by conflicting statements from Elon Musk and astronaut Scott Kelly about the reasons behind the delay

Astronaut Butch Wilmore's extraordinary faith perspective on his extended mission, pointing to his trust in Jesus Christ and His sovereignty over all circumstances

In a news cycle often dominated by negativity, this story reminds us that remarkable achievements and testimonies of faith still occur. When life doesn't go according to plan—whether we're stranded in space or facing everyday challenges—we can find comfort in Wilmore's perspective that God is "working out His plan and purposes for His glory throughout humanity."

As Romans 8:28 reminds us, "We know that for those who love God all things work together for good for those who are called according to his purpose." Just as SpaceX's Dragon brought the astronauts safely home, Jesus Christ will ultimately bring all believers safely to their eternal home.

Scripture references: Genesis 1:28, Romans 8:28, Hebrews 11

Pastor Heath Lambert analyzes the $4 Trillion market loss and growing economic uncertainty from a biblical perspective. 

Discover how Christians should respond to market volatility, why wealth matters, and where our ultimate security lies beyond financial markets.

KEY POINTS:

- The S&P 500 dropped 8.6% from its February all-time high, representing a $4 trillion loss

- Market uncertainty stems from unrealistic previous highs, inflation concerns, and unpredictable tariff policies

- Christians should recognize wealth as a blessing from God while understanding its limitations

- Scripture teaches us to remain "sober-minded" during volatile economic times

- Our ultimate hope must be in God who "richly provides us with everything to enjoy," not in uncertain riches

- Economic uncertainty is inevitable, but God's provision remains unchanging

SCRIPTURE REFERENCES:

1 Timothy 6:10 - "The love of money is the root of all evil"

Proverbs 10:22 - "The blessing of the LORD makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it"

2 Timothy 4:5 - "Always be sober-minded"

1 Timothy 6:17 - "...not to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy"

Hebrews 13:8 - "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever" (referenced indirectly)