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Articles by Devin Almonte
‘Saint Luigi’? America’s moral compass couldn’t be more broken Original
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced last month that she would seek the death penalty for Luigi Mangione, the 27-year-old accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Shortly after, Bondi reported receiving death threats.
The Remarkable Potential God Sees In You As He Reveals Who You Truly Are
Spring is just around the corner, and I’m sure you can picture God’s fresh flowers coming to life. The grass is getting a little greener, and the trees are starting to bloom. It’s a beautiful time when we see life awaken from its dormancy, signifying renewal and rebirth. This spring, however, instead of fresh flowers reborn, God is reminding me of the presence of spring through beautiful grains of sand.
Do Near-Death Experiences Confirm a Biblical Worldview?
Accounts of near-death experiences (NDEs) are becoming increasingly mainstream, both in science and popular culture. Movies like Angel Studios’ After Death (2023) and books like John Burke’s Imagine Heaven (Baker, 2015) are bringing this topic from the fringes into churches all over the world, not to mention the many NDE testimonies that consistently go viral on various social media platforms.
Rediscovering the Sabbath: A Real Rest
By Devin Almonte Published on May 18, 2024 Ever feel the need for a mental health day, just a break from the grind? It’s increasingly common for people to take such days off to recharge. Some companies even offer a week off to combat burnout. But are we merely applying a Band-Aid to a deeper issue? Our schedules are overbooked with so many demands that they exceed our 24-hour day. Perhaps we juggle the care of elderly parents or manage children with disabilities.
A Meaningful Lesson That I Learned From Two Doves
With the arrival of spring, a pair of mourning doves chose to build a nest on our covered porch, just above our sliding door. Their choice was no accident. They carefully selected a spot shielded from predators and the elements. Their construction efforts were subpar, but typical for a pair of mourning doves.
If You Love Jesus, This Is The Incredible Truth That You Can Live For
The past few weeks have been a whirlwind! In the midst of it all, God has graciously provided me with moments for reflection, drawing me back into His comforting presence. It all started the day after Christmas when I came down with a respiratory virus. There I was, hoping to enjoy the remainder of my Christmas vacation, but instead, I was confined to rest.
The Most Important Thing To Remember If Christmas Feels Overwhelming
As we move further into this festive time of year, it’s common to be swept up in the picture-perfect images of Christmas that abound in movies, commercials, and social media posts.
The Mysterious Magi
Some years ago, I was commissioned to write an article about the wise men who traveled to Bethlehem to pay homage to the Christ child. The first pass at researching the origins of these mysterious visitors from the East suggested that they were from Persia. This would make sense because St. Matthew calls them “magi” and the word refers to an ancient caste of priestly shamans and stargazers from Mesopotamia — present day Iran/Iraq and known in antiquity as Persia, Parthia, Babylon or Assyria.
Sunny Side of The Stream: Three Families Blessed by Choosing Life for Their Children With Trisomy 18
This week the Texas Supreme Court ruled in favor of the life of the unborn daughter of Kate Cox, a woman who was seeking permission to abort her daughter. The Texas Supreme Court decided that her case did not meet the qualifications for an exemption to Texas’ abortion ban. Sadly, Cox left the state to seek an abortion after losing her case. If you want to know more about Cox’s case from a pro-life perspective, this article from Live Action is helpful.
If You Really Want to Live, Lose Your Life in God's Kingdom Purpose
By James Robison Published on December 16, 2023 Stream Founder James Robison invites you to listen to a message he gave at our staff Christmas party this year. We pray it encourages you this Christmas season. God uses broken people to foil the purposes of the enemy and to accomplish His Kingdom purpose as we love those around us and share the good news. โThe way you live life fully is to lose your life for the Father’s dream, the Father’s Kingdom purpose.โ React to This Post Like the article?
‘Tragic Event’: 3 Israeli Hostages Accidentally Killed By IDF Were Waving White Flag
By Jason Cohen Published on December 16, 2023 The three Israeli hostages that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) mistakenly shot and killed in the Gaza Strip were waving a white flag, according to a high-ranking IDF official on Saturday, The Wall Street Journal reported. The IDF is currently conducting a sweeping counteroffensive in Gaza against terrorist organization Hamas, which is currently confining more than 100 hostages in Gaza, including Israelis, foreign nationals and American citizens.
The Next Best Thing
While jogging my usual neighborhood route, I listened to a podcast about time management. The irony does not escape me — a typical American, hearing about productivity while undertaking as many tasks as he possibly can at once. If I had enough air in my lungs while jogging, I would also return missed calls or compose emails with Siri.
The Brew Christmas Special, Part Five: Celebrating Christmas
Al is off this week. So instead of our regular Morning Brew, we are serving up his five-part series “Born on Christmas Day.” See the full series here. We have shown over the course of this series that the much touted notion that Christians stole Christmas Day from the pagans simply does not stand up to historic scrutiny.
Dr. Brooke Jones on Speaking Out on Domestic, Sexual, and Spiritual Abuse
Today on Conversations with Christians Engaged, Bunni Pounds is joined by Dr. Brooke Jones of Stronger Women, and she discusses domestic, sexual, and spiritual abuse. Dr. Jones also sheds light on how to look for the signs that abuse may be occurring, and provides tips on how everyday Christians can boldly speak out on these critical issues while also sharing the healing power of the Gospel. Watch this week’s episode above or listen to it in your favorite podcast app.
Remembering the Boston Tea Party
In recent years, Americans have protested racism, police brutality, environmental devastation, gun control laws, abortion, and many other issues. Millions have fought to expand the rights of women, LGBTQIA individuals, blacks, and other minorities. Today many are remonstrating against antisemitism and civilian casualties in Gaza.
‘They’re Already Here,’ Arizona Sheriff Says of Terrorists Coming Across the Border
There is growing concern in the U.S. over terrorists crossing America’s southern border and entering the country illegally, according to Pinal County, Arizona, Sheriff Mark Lamb. And after Hamas’ attack on Israel on Oct. 7, Lamb said some Americans asked, “Should we be concerned about Hamas coming in across our borders?” But the reality, according to Lamb, is “they’re already here. The devil’s come in the back door.
Chanukah's Lesson for Today’s America
[Note from MassResistance: Three years ago this month we published “Chanukah’s lesson about America in 2020.” This year — with so much going on — we’ve gotten several requests for an updated version.] Today is the sixth day of the eight-day Jewish holiday Chanukah. Most people (and sadly, many Jews) see Chanukah as sort of a Jewish version of Christmas. They don’t really understand what it’s about and what it teaches us. It celebrates something very important about man and God.
Paul Ryan Bears False Witness Against Donald Trump and All His Supporters
I like to think that every faithful Christian takes the Ten Commandments seriously, and applies them throughout his life. There’s no nudge-nudge/wink-wink when it comes to politics. You can’t commit idolatry or adultery as a means to winning, even in order to attain some worthy end. The Commandment forbidding “false witness” is quite specific.
How Bottom Up Media are Slowly Replacing Top Down Media
The decline and death of legacy media organizations is speeding up and the media replacing them are much smaller, more numerous and more independent. By Denyse O'Leary Published on December 15, 2023 The recent news that Popular Science has shut down — after 151 years — highlights the increasingly rapid decline of traditional, top-down media. Matthew Yglesias summarizes: The media industry saw several waves of high-profile layoffs in 2023.
The Tempest of the Living
Like many giants of faith before us, God calls us to embrace this tempest of living while yet imperfect. By J. Stonestreet & T. Padgett Published on December 15, 2023 Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a famous twentieth century Christian, was a dynamic and occasionally controversial theologian who became a household name because of his character and courage.
The Brew Christmas Special, Part Four: So Was Jesus Christ Born on December 25 After All?
Al is off this week. So instead of our regular morning Brew, we are serving up his five-part series “Born on Christmas Day.” See the full series here. Over the course of our journey to Bethlehem, we have dispatched the familiar notion that Christians stole December 25 from the pagans. We have discovered that decades before the creation of the Sol Invictus festival, Christians were fixing on December 25 for the Nativity. First, based on Hebrew tradition of tying birth dates to death deaths.
Military Photo of the Day: Parachuting Into Moody AFB
U.S. Air Force airmen recently parachute onto Moody Air Force Base in Georgia. Have a wonderful weekend, everyone! Please Support The Stream: Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Service & Sacrifice: Answering the Call
Middle East As bizarre dance videos are filmed at the White House, brave American military forces are busy battling terrorists in the Middle East. On Wednesday, Iran-backed Houthi terrorists attacked an oil and chemical tanker off the coast of Yemen. When the U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer USS Mason arrived to help stop hijackers from boarding the ship, “a pair of missiles were fired from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen at the vessel, which both missed,” according to U.S. Central Command.
House Republicans Say Impeachment Investigation Could Rope in More Biden Family Members
House Republicans indicated on Wednesday that their impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden could involve many more of his family members. Biden is the subject of an ongoing inquiry regarding his involvement in business deals by his son, Hunter Biden, who has been indicted on nine felony tax charges concerning income from his foreign commercial transactions in Ukraine and China.
Christmas — the Rest of the Story - The Stream
By Andy McQuitty Published on December 14, 2023 Christmas is a wonderful time of the year because it’s chock full of warm fuzzies: shepherds and wise men and angel choruses, Mary and Joseph and the baby, “Away in a Manger,” no room in the inn and no room for extra pie because we’ve overstuffed ourselves again with Christmas dinner. Gifts and trees and lights and concerts and little boys in bathrobes and Santa with his sleigh.
Hard Times for Hollywood?
By Jerry Newcombe Published on December 14, 2023 This year is the 100th anniversary of the Hollywood sign. It used to say “Hollywoodland.” But today the city is on hard times.
Catholics Ask: Is the Vatican Covering Up for Islamic Radicalism?
Pope Francis likes to … er, pontificate on a number of subjects that are outside of his area of expertise. For example, he seems to think that climate change is the number one issue facing the Church. As I recall, he believes that climate control can be achieved by eliminating fossil fuels — a step that would plunge much of the Third World even deeper into poverty. Another subject about which he has pontificated is Islam, though he seems to know next to nothing about the topic.
Supreme Court to Weigh Major Case on Abortion Pill Approval
The Supreme Court announced Wednesday that it is taking on a case regarding the Food and Drug Administration’s approval of the chemical abortion pill mifepristone. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine, the American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American College of Pediatricians and the Christian Medical & Dental Associations filed a lawsuit against the FDA in November 2022, claiming that the FDA had ignored safety protocols to approve the abortion pill mifepristone.
Georgia Moves to Block Noncitizen Voting in State Constitution
By Fred Lucas Published on December 14, 2023 Georgia’s top election official is pointing to the Biden administration’s failure to secure the southern border as a reason the state Legislature must act to prevent voting by foreign nationals in state elections. “With open borders, citizenship verification for voter registration is more important than ever,” Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, a Republican, said Monday in a public statement.
Is Hamas Really Islamic? Is it "Extreme" by Muslim Standards?
Although most in the West consider Hamas, which brutally massacred some 1,400 Israelis on October 7, 2023, to be anything from a terrorist to a nationalist movement, the group sees itself first and foremost as a religious—namely, Islamic—movement, dedicated to enforcing the draconian dictates of Muslim law (sharia), including through jihad. “Hamas” means “zeal” in Arabic and is an Arabic acronym from harakat al-muqawamah al-islamiyyah (the Islamic Resistance Movement).
The Brew Christmas Special, Part Three: Calculating Christmas Day
Part three of our five-part series "Born on Christmas Day" By Al Perrotta Published on December 14, 2023 Al is off this week. So instead of our regular morning Brew, we are serving up his five-part series “Born on Christmas Day.” See the full series here. One of the arguments that is used to say 4th century Christians adopted the pagan Sol Invictus festival for Christmas is that earlier Christians did not celebrate birthdays of biblical heroes. They commemorated deaths.
Military Photo of the Day: Taking Cover During a Training Exercise in Bulgaria
U.S. Army combat engineer soldiers take cover as an explosion breaches an entry point during a live fire exercise held in the Novo Selo Training Area of Bulgaria on November 16, 2023. Thank you to these soldiers for defending our freedom overseas. Get The Stream’s daily news roundup, quick and served with a healthy splash of humor. Subscribe to The Brew
Can Our Children Decide Their Gender?
If you give a five year old the choice between chicken and broccoli for dinner or a bowl of ice cream, the ice cream will win almost every time. Their concern would be taste before health. Why would they care about calories or fat content? The choices that children make, even into adolescence shouldn’t surprise any of us. For the most part, they live a carefree life and leave the weight of responsibilities to the ones that care for them.
Woke School Board in Michigan Gets an Earful From Concerned Mom
By The Stream Published on December 13, 2023 A Rochester, Michigan, mom recently scolded a woke school board that prioritizes woke policies over basic reading, writing and math. In her three-minute speech, the mom tells the board to “stay in your own lane,” when it comes to their core competencies of “safely educating our children well.” The woman told the board that they needed to focus on the task at hand.
Supreme Court Takes Case With Major Implications for Trump, Jan. 6 Defendants
By Katelynn Richardson Published on December 13, 2023 The Supreme Court agreed Wednesday to hear a case with major implications for hundreds of Jan. 6 defendants, as well as former President Donald Trump’s indictment on charges stemming from alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election. In a brief order, the justices agreed to hear a case stemming from Jan. 6 defendant Joseph Fischer’s request to dismiss a charge against him for obstructing an official proceeding.
I Thought God Created Me a Lesbian, Until I Realized it was Trauma
By The Ruth Institute Published on December 13, 2023 Rev. Elizabeth Woning is cofounder of ChangedMovement.com, a website for people who once identified as LGBTQ. A former lesbian, she shares her journey of faith, healing, and happiness, now married to a man since 2005. Listen as she explains the founding of her ministry and about her efforts to help others out of the LGBT subculture. “I was your stereotypical butch lesbian.
A Christmas Reflection: The Paradoxical Thorn of Human Goodness
As Christmas approaches, we immerse ourselves in the joy and warmth of the season, celebrating with family and friends, and embracing the spirit of gratitude, kindness, and love. But beneath all the warmth, glitter and glow of festive lights lies a profound story, one that unknowingly challenges our self-perceptions of goodness which highlights our very need for a Savior. Jesus’ birth reminds us that He came not because of our inherent goodness, but due to our lack thereof.
We Need Fiery Preaching Again to Awaken America
By Shane Idleman Published on November 27, 2023 And if anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies. (Rev.
SPINNING WEBS OF FAITH: LIVING OUT OUR LIFE’S PURPOSE AND MISSION
This time of year, my family and I begin our delightful tradition of adorning our home with all the festive fall decorations and tidying up outside in preparation for the months ahead. Part of this preparation includes a thorough power washing session. Among all the tools in our outdoor arsenal – the leaf blower, the lawnmower, and more – the power washer stands out as my personal favorite.
What Baby Birds Can Teach You About Surrendering To God
When I gave my life to Christ in 2004, I remember how broken and needy I was. With my addiction struggles in particular, I remember how incapable I was of living life on my own. Instead of allowing God’s mercies to be new every morning, I vowed to fix myself on my own with a fresh start every morning, but quickly found myself falling into the same habits over and over again. Through the grace of God, I surrendered my life to Him and so began a healthy dependency; a dependency on Him.
Embracing Our Divine Assignment: The Call to Serve God
As Christians, I think it’s beneficial for us to reflect on what it truly means to be of service to God and in service for Him. While my understanding of Godly service hasn’t fundamentally changed, it has certainly expanded and deepened over time. And surprisingly, this growth has led to a much more simplistic approach to how I engage in service. My desire is that this perspective on service can also bring blessings and growth to your journey.
Rediscovering the role of God in Decision Making
In a world driven by information and analysis, it’s easy to fall into the trap of relying solely on our own understanding when making decisions. We pride ourselves on thorough research, weighing pros and cons, and seeking the most rational choices. But what if there is something missing from this process? What if by leaving God out of our decision-making, we are limiting ourselves and missing out on His divine guidance?
What Is Kindness? Uncovering The True Nature Of Empathy & Love
Maybe it’s just me, but it seems like Satan found a way to distort even something so foundational and fundamental to our world: Kindness. I think we’ve lost sight of what it means to be kind. What is Kindness? A few definitions of kindness: Kindness is the quality of being friendly, generous, considerate, and caring about other people. Kindness is motivated by the desire to help another. Kindness is the sincere and voluntary use of one’s time, talent, and resources to better the lives of others.
How To Have Hope In The Midst of Suffering
This post contains affiliate links, which means that STAR earns a small commission on products purchased through these links at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting the mission of STAR in this way! It’s been about three months since I wrote my blog post about prayer, specifically relating to the power of prayer in Damar Hamlin’s life. Damar Hamlin was a football safety for the Buffalo Bills who suffered cardiac arrest and was rushed to the hospital in critical condition.
Here’s Why Prayer Isn’t About Getting What We Want
By now, if you haven’t heard of Damar Hamlin, now is the time to stop what you are doing and do a little Google search of his name. God miraculously saved this young man’s life and responded mercifully to the power of prayer that spread throughout the nation like wildfire. Damar Hamlin is a football safety for the Buffalo Bills.
The Best Gift You Can Give This Holiday Season
If you’re still on the hunt for some gift ideas this Christmas season, I have one gift idea that is great for anyone on your list: time and attention. Few gifts are more precious than this. Just ask a child if they remember the toy you gave them for Christmas one year. More often than not, they won’t remember, but they will fondly remember the time and attention you gave them when you made cookies together.
Join Devin on Facebook For A 10-Day Journey To Thankfulness
Nothing turns us into bitter and unhappy people more quickly than an ungrateful heart. That’s why I am excited to be taking us on a 10-day journey towards thankfulness as we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving. Beginning November 10th at 9am in my Encouraging STAR Stories Facebook Group, I will guide us through my devotional video series to find out what it really looks like to be thankful for things like the cross, our talents, and yes, even our trials.
Stepping into the Next Chapter of Success
It’s graduation season, and this is truly a special time for many students and families. Congrats to all high school and college students graduating this year. These years are spent learning, discovering, failing, and succeeding. It’s the close of one chapter before the next one begins. As Christians, we are indeed called to celebrate these moments and victories. The years of hard work are something to be proud of that deserves a celebratory moment.
Spring is just around the corner, and I’m sure you can picture God’s fresh flowers coming to life. The grass is getting a little greener, and the trees are starting to bloom. It’s a beautiful time when we see life awaken from its dormancy, signifying renewal and rebirth. This spring, however, instead of fresh flowers reborn, God is reminding me of the presence of spring through beautiful grains of sand.
Root Your Resolutions
Did you ever stop and ask yourself why we take this time of year to make resolutions for ourselves? I think it’s because the beginning of a new year serves as a good checkpoint and marker in our journey to start over with a clean slate, as we move out with the old and in with the new. It’s a popular time for us to pause, reflect, and hit the reset button on our lives. But therein lies the problem. Our resets don’t last very long.
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