Eighteen-year-old Oliver Daemen will become the youngest person ever to fly into space when he joins Jeff Bezos and his brother Mark Bezos for their eleven-minute flight on July 20. Here’s where the story gets even stranger: the person who had originally won the seat by putting up $28 million now has what Bezos’ company called “scheduling conflicts.” Daeman, whose father purchased a seat for him on the second flight, was then moved up to the first flight. But none... Read more

A patient who goes by the nickname of Pancho has not been able to speak since 2003, when he was paralyzed at the age of twenty by a severe stroke following a terrible car crash. Now researchers have tapped into the speech areas of his brain, allowing him to produce words and sentences simply by trying to say them. His first recognizable sentence was, “My family is outside.” This groundbreaking achievement marks a step toward technology that may one day... Read more

The American League defeated the National League in last night’s MLB All-Star Game, the eighth straight win for the AL. Pope Francis was seen leaving the hospital this morning, ten days after undergoing colon surgery. And Democrats unveiled late Tuesday night a $3.5 trillion spending plan for policies that would not be included in a possible bipartisan infrastructure deal. Normally, I’d write on each or all of these stories. I don’t often discuss Texas politics, since this article is intended... Read more

I love the Cuban people. It has been my privilege to serve alongside Cuban Christians on ten different mission trips to their island over more than two decades. Their churches amaze and encourage me every time I am with them. The Cuban ministries with whom we partner truly manifest New Testament Christianity. With very few resources and in the face of escalating pressure and persecution, they are serving Jesus in courageous and transformative ways. My love for the Cubans and... Read more

Monty Williams is the head coach of the Phoenix Suns. His team won the first two games of this year’s NBA Finals, though the Milwaukee Bucks won Game 3 last night. If the Suns win two more games, they will achieve their first championship in franchise history. When Williams received the Michael H. Goldberg Coach of the Year Award from the National Basketball Coaches Association this season, he said, “God knocks the ball out of the park and I get... Read more

Kieran Moïse has always been known for what the Washington Post describes as “a stunning Afro that stood high and wide above his head.” For the last six years, he has not cut or trimmed it because, as his mother explained, “he really hated haircuts.” When Kieran was accepted to the Air Force Academy, he knew he would have to cut his now nineteen-inch Afro. He lost a close friend to cancer when Kieran was in the eighth grade. So,... Read more

Let’s begin with some good news: First responders at the Surfside condominium tragedy are receiving hundreds of homemade cards from children. One note said, “Dear First Responders, thank you for everything you did and are doing even tho some people have not been recovered you guys are working day and night to find those that are missing that’s what makes you guys hero’s.” So far, nearly five hundred similar notes, crafted by children of all ages from near and far,... Read more

More than four million people in Florida are under hurricane warnings as Tropical Storm Elsa approaches landfall this morning. The system became a Category 1 hurricane yesterday before weakening to a tropical storm early today. Millions of people are facing life-threatening storm surges, heavy winds, potential isolated tornadoes, and heavy rains that could cause flooding up and down the Florida coast. Meanwhile, the search for victims of the Surfside, Florida, building collapse reached its fourteenth day today. Eight more deaths... Read more

My grandfather fought for America in World War I. He was so proud of his country and the flag he defended that he installed a flagpole in the front yard of every home he owned. Every day that I knew him, he raised the American flag at sunrise and lowered it at sunset. I still remember the pride I felt as a child on the day he first allowed me to join him for this ceremony. However, the New York... Read more

The remaining section of Champlain Towers South in Surfside, Florida, was demolished last night. About half of the structure collapsed on June 24, with twenty-four now confirmed dead and more than 120 still missing. The remainder of the building shifted several inches on July 1, putting rescue workers at risk and prompting the decision to tear it down.  With the approach of Tropical Storm Elsa, the timetable was moved up to last night. After the demolition, crews immediately began clearing... Read more