Latest news with #Scripture
The Hill
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Hill
Johnson visits Jerusalem after Israel trip postponed
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) visited Jerusalem on Sunday after he previously postponed a trip to Israel earlier this year. Johnson was seen in footage visiting the Western Wall in Jerusalem and joining a group of House Republicans to meet with Israeli officials. 'It is such a moving time for us to be here, to be here at the Wailing Wall. We've offered our prayers, we've put our notes into the wall, as is traditional and we're so moved by the hospitality of the people and the great love of Israel,' Johnson said in a video posted to Instagram by the Western Wall Heritage Foundation. 'Our prayer is that America will always stand with Israel and that we will — we pray for the preservation and the peace of Jerusalem. That's what Scripture tells us to do. It's a matter of faith for us and a commitment that we have,' he added. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar shared a photo of Johnson and other House Republicans including Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas) meeting in Jerusalem. 'We discussed the alarming global wave of antisemitism, including efforts by countries like Ireland to delegitimize Israel. I also described the horrific attacks against the Druze in Syria, the same kind of barbarism perpetrated by Hamas,' Sa'ar wrote. Johnson postponed a trip to Israel back in June, when he was supposed to address the Knesset, due to the military conflict between Israel and Iran. Jewish Insider reported Sunday that Johnson does not have plans to address the Knesset on his trip this week.
Herald Malaysia
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Herald Malaysia
Telling Jesus' story, one line at a time
From Broadway lights to church altars, this journey is anything but ordinary. While most stars were chasing the spotlight, Bruce Kuhn took a different curtain call, one that's led him from dazzling theatre stages to quiet sanctuaries in churches and cathedrals, where he now performs the greatest story ever told. Aug 01, 2025 By Tianne PereiraFrom Broadway lights to church altars, this journey is anything but ordinary. While most stars were chasing the spotlight, Bruce Kuhn took a different curtain call, one that's led him from dazzling theatre stages to quiet sanctuaries in churches and cathedrals, where he now performs the greatest story ever told. Bruce isn't just any ordinary actor. He once stood under the bright lights of Les Misérables on Broadway, played to packed houses and taught theatre at top schools. But today, you're more likely to find him, still leaving the crowd in awe and performing solo in a church near you. That's exactly how we were fortunate enough to meet up with him. He recently took Singapore and Malaysia by storm, performing 10 shows across both countries in a whirlwind tour that left audiences amazed, moved and stunned by the sheer artistry of a one-man show where the script is Scripture. Mid-interview, he grins and quotes Picasso, 'Bad artists borrow, great artists steal.' His performance of both the Gospel of Luke and Acts of the Apostles, word for word, scene by scene is unlike anything you've seen in church theatre. No costumes. No props. No supporting cast. Just Bruce, standing before a crowd, weaving through the life and teachings of Christ with such conviction, such precision and presence, that the pews felt like the dusty roads of Galilee. Let's just say he steals your attention from the second he walks on stage. And here's the thing — there's never a dull moment. Whether you're a teen who's never cracked open a Bible or someone who knows the verses by heart, you'll find yourself pulled into the story like you're actually there. The passion. The drama. The humour. The pain. It all hits differently when Bruce is the one telling it. So who is this man behind the voice? When I asked him to describe himself offstage, away from the lights, he didn't miss a beat. He quoted Proverbs 20:11, 'Even a child is known by his deeds.' 'I'm a father. A husband. My fruits are in how I raise my children and how I love my wife,' he said simply. Bruce was born and raised in the United States, but now lives in the Netherlands, which he describes as a place of 'beauty and calm.' So why the big move from 'Broadway to Bethlehem'? In one word - love. 'When I fell in love, I discovered a whole new world. I made changes. I was about 40 when I got married, late, by most standards. And suddenly, Broadway felt... engineered. But this, this was real. This was where my heart was.' And it's in that same spirit that he performs. You don't get the feeling he's acting, you get the sense he's inviting you into something. Into someone. 'I don't memorise,' he said, when we asked how on earth he remembers hours of Scripture. 'I live in the moment. I tell my students this too. Don't memorise lines. Just pump the story into your brain, again and again. Feel it. Know what happened. If you remember the events, the words will follow.' As someone who teaches the Bible and has done theatre, the more I can't help but appreciate the talent — what Bruce does is nextlevel. He remembers the Gospel in order, with no script, no cues and no one to feed him lines if he slips. It's just him and the Word. He laughs when we ask if any show stands out. 'Does forgetting your lines count?' It was Toronto, full house and Bruce blanks — completely. He just stands there. Another time he learned the Gospel in Dutch, then couldn't remember it in English and he had to translate it back into English on the fly during a show.' he recalls, still a little wideeyed about it. But perfection isn't the point. Presence is. 'None of us really knows how Jesus said the things He said,' Bruce points out. 'And sometimes people come up to me after a show and say, 'Jesus didn't say it that way.' And I ask, with no sarcasm intended, 'How do you think He said it?' That's when the conversation really starts.' 'We often like our Jesus a certain way. But too many people have tamed Jesus,' he says. 'We like the loving, forgiving Jesus. But we forget, Jesus hated evil more than we do.' It's one of the reasons Bruce's portrayals feel so alive, he doesn't soften the edges. He lets Jesus be fully human and fully divine. And the crowd leans in every time. So, has performing the Gospel changed him? Cue to another classic Bruce moment, with a straight face he says. 'Oh yes, I walk around holy. Radiant. A tongue of fire over my head.' Then, he laughs. 'I didn't grow up very religious. We weren't really practicing Catholics. But one day, a friend who was an evangelist, convinced me that Jesus Christ was crucified and that He resurrected. That's a fact. I couldn't shake it. So I started wondering, 'Who is this Jesus?' And that's when the journey began.' When the lights dim and the story ends after each show, Bruce's hope is simple, that something eternal lingers. 'It's not about me' he said. 'What matters most is that people leave feeling the Holy Spirit move and walk away with a deeper curiosity to discover who Jesus really is.' He even quoted psychologist Dr Jordan Peterson, saying: 'Motivation can be implied by actions, so you can guess somebody's mind and motives.' Then added, 'Am I doing this for an Oscar nomination? No.' When you think about it, this really is ministry, not a performance for fame. So what's next for this doting father of two? 'I'm working on the Gospel of Mark,' he shared. 'I've also got bits and pieces of other biblical narratives in the works.' Before we wrapped up, we had to ask how he was enjoying Malaysia. 'Oh, this isn't my first time!' he said brightly. 'I love the food here, especially the teh tarik.' To us the sweetest part of the conversation wasn't about the show, or the travel, or even the faith it stirs. It was every time he mentioned his wife, whom he referred to often, with the same glowing smile. 'She's the sweetest thing,' he said, eyes lighting up, as if talking about her for the first time - like a man still smitten. It is clear, he is in love. And just like that, you realise that Bruce Kuhn's greatest performance isn't on stage. It really is in the way he lives. If you ever get the chance to catch Bruce Kuhn live, take it. You'll laugh, you'll reflect and maybe, just maybe, you'll meet Jesus in a whole new way.
San Francisco Chronicle
7 days ago
- Politics
- San Francisco Chronicle
Southern Baptist policy head resigns after 4 years of navigating internal conflicts
The head of the Southern Baptist Convention's policy arm has resigned after nearly four years leading the staunchly conservative agency, which in recent years has fended off critics within the nation's largest Protestant denomination seeking to push it even further to the right. The Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission on Thursday accepted the resignation of its president, Brent Leatherwood, the agency confirmed. The ERLC has advocated against abortion and transgender rights while promoting a strongly pro-Israel stance, a longtime evangelical priority, and an expansive view of religious liberty in the public square similar to how it's been defined in recent U.S. Supreme Court cases. Church representatives at the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting in June voted decisively to retain the commission — effectively a vote of confidence against efforts to abolish it. Some critics within the convention wanted it to take a harder-line stance on immigration and to endorse criminal penalties for women seeking abortions. 'In all of our advocacy work, we have sought to strike a balance of conviction and kindness, one that is rooted in Scripture and reflective of our Baptist beliefs,' Leatherwood said in a statement. 'That has meant standing for truth, without equivocation, yet never failing to honor the God-given dignity of each person.' Scott Foshie, chair of the commission's trustees, credited Leatherwood for demonstrating 'loving courage in the face of a divisive and increasingly polarizing culture in America.' A year ago, the agency issued an embarrassing retraction of an announcement of Leatherwood's firing after he complimented then-President Joe Biden — deeply unpopular among conservatives — for ending his reelection campaign. It turned out that the chairman who announced Leatherwood's firing had acted without a required vote of the board's executive committee. The commission's board subsequently gave Leatherwood a strong vote of confidence but cautioned against stirring unnecessary controversy. ___
Winnipeg Free Press
7 days ago
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Southern Baptist policy head resigns after 4 years of navigating internal conflicts
The head of the Southern Baptist Convention's policy arm has resigned after nearly four years leading the staunchly conservative agency, which in recent years has fended off critics within the nation's largest Protestant denomination seeking to push it even further to the right. The Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission on Thursday accepted the resignation of its president, Brent Leatherwood, the agency confirmed. The ERLC has advocated against abortion and transgender rights while promoting a strongly pro-Israel stance, a longtime evangelical priority, and an expansive view of religious liberty in the public square similar to how it's been defined in recent U.S. Supreme Court cases. Church representatives at the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting in June voted decisively to retain the commission — effectively a vote of confidence against efforts to abolish it. Some critics within the convention wanted it to take a harder-line stance on immigration and to endorse criminal penalties for women seeking abortions. 'In all of our advocacy work, we have sought to strike a balance of conviction and kindness, one that is rooted in Scripture and reflective of our Baptist beliefs,' Leatherwood said in a statement. 'That has meant standing for truth, without equivocation, yet never failing to honor the God-given dignity of each person.' Scott Foshie, chair of the commission's trustees, credited Leatherwood for demonstrating 'loving courage in the face of a divisive and increasingly polarizing culture in America.' Commission Vice President Miles Mullin was named acting president. Sundays Kevin Rollason's Sunday newsletter honouring and remembering lives well-lived in Manitoba. Leatherwood has led the agency for four years, first as acting president and then as president. A year ago, the agency issued an embarrassing retraction of an announcement of Leatherwood's firing after he complimented then-President Joe Biden — deeply unpopular among conservatives — for ending his reelection campaign. It turned out that the chairman who announced Leatherwood's firing had acted without a required vote of the board's executive committee. The commission's board subsequently gave Leatherwood a strong vote of confidence but cautioned against stirring unnecessary controversy. ___ Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP's collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.
Hamilton Spectator
7 days ago
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
Southern Baptist policy head resigns after 4 years of navigating internal conflicts
The head of the Southern Baptist Convention's policy arm has resigned after nearly four years leading the staunchly conservative agency, which in recent years has fended off critics within the nation's largest Protestant denomination seeking to push it even further to the right. The Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission on Thursday accepted the resignation of its president, Brent Leatherwood, the agency confirmed. The ERLC has advocated against abortion and transgender rights while promoting a strongly pro-Israel stance, a longtime evangelical priority, and an expansive view of religious liberty in the public square similar to how it's been defined in recent U.S. Supreme Court cases. Church representatives at the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting in June voted decisively to retain the commission — effectively a vote of confidence against efforts to abolish it. Some critics within the convention wanted it to take a harder-line stance on immigration and to endorse criminal penalties for women seeking abortions. 'In all of our advocacy work, we have sought to strike a balance of conviction and kindness, one that is rooted in Scripture and reflective of our Baptist beliefs,' Leatherwood said in a statement. 'That has meant standing for truth, without equivocation, yet never failing to honor the God-given dignity of each person.' Scott Foshie, chair of the commission's trustees, credited Leatherwood for demonstrating 'loving courage in the face of a divisive and increasingly polarizing culture in America.' Commission Vice President Miles Mullin was named acting president. Leatherwood has led the agency for four years, first as acting president and then as president. A year ago, the agency issued an embarrassing retraction of an announcement of Leatherwood's firing after he complimented then-President Joe Biden — deeply unpopular among conservatives — for ending his reelection campaign. It turned out that the chairman who announced Leatherwood's firing had acted without a required vote of the board's executive committee. The commission's board subsequently gave Leatherwood a strong vote of confidence but cautioned against stirring unnecessary controversy. ___ Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP's collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
