Josh McPherson is lead pastor of preaching and vision at Grace City Church in Wenatchee, Washington. Josh and his wife, Sharon, along with nine other families, helped plant the congregation in 2008.

According to its website, Grace City “Exists to help more people meet, love, and follow Jesus … so that lives and legacies might be transformed as more people know God, live free, and do good in the world God made.”

On a recent episode of a podcast, cohosted by McPherson and Josh Howerton of Lakepointe Church in Rockwall, Texas, the two men were joined by two other pastors to discuss their recent visit to the White House for the National Day of Prayer.

Pastors who chose to accept President Donald Trump’s invitation to the May 1 event have been criticized by some of the predictable antagonists. On the “Resurge” podcast, the pastors spoke openly and candidly about why such critique was not only misplaced but also flat out wrong.

These ministers rightly believe that it’s not partisan to pray or support policies that are biblical. As they note, it’s not about aligning with a political party — it’s about aligning with God’s moral law.

Pastor McPherson said he wanted to share some of the behind-the-scenes observations of the day, and he specifically delved into the extensive evangelical presence and energy in this current administration.

Tim Tebow exhorted parents to protect their children against online predators yesterday in an impassioned interview with podcaster Shawn Ryan.

“When you hand your phone to your kid, know that the world and people with bad intentions are trying to lure them into something [evil],” the former NFL quarterback warned.

“I just want to tell parents, ‘Please be the protectors you’re called to be.’”

Tebow’s heartfelt caution stems from years of combatting online child abuse and sextortion through his eponymous foundation.

The Tim Tebow Foundation (TTF) partners with international and domestic law enforcement agencies, advocacy networks and non-profits to identify, rescue and care for victims of online child sex abuse. It will work with initiatives like Operation Renewed Hope, which have generated more 1,100 possible identifications on unknown victims and liberated dozens from captivity.

Tebow believes God ignited his and his team’s deep longing to free vulnerable children from exploitation:

“I just knew God let me see [this evil] for a reason and God let me feel for a reason — not so that I can just create awareness or tell a story. He’s saying, ‘I let you see, I let you feel, I let you [meet these people] because I want you to do something about it. I want you to stand up and fight for [them] because [they] don’t have a voice.’”

Defying Idaho and Utah laws, Boise and Salt Lake City adopted the LGBT Pride flag as official city flags. Currently, both states ban unofficial flags on government owned properties.

Unlike state and city flags, which represent all legal residents, Pride flags are inherently divisive; they honor a small group of people for no other reason than their sexual attractions, behaviors and identities.

Pride flags also are an affront to people of faith, who believe God’s creation of humanity in His image — male or female — and who believe in His good design for marriage between a husband and wife, which creates the best environment for raising children.

Governor Brad Little (Idaho) signed a law banning non-official flags on April 3, covering state, county, municipal and school properties.

But Boise kept a Pride flag flying over the city hall ever since.

The Utah mandate became law March 27, without Governor Spencer Cox’s signature.

Cox continued “to have serious concerns with the policy but chose not to reject it because his veto would likely be overridden by the Republican-controlled Legislature,” Associated Press reported.

The move was a coordinated effort by both cities’ mayors, with Boise Mayor Lauren McLean and Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall offering each other support, AP stated.

It’s been documented that global population is tanking in most parts of the world. Could this decline be related to declining happiness, worldwide? There is interesting data indicating this could be the case.

In a recent article in Public Discourse, Professor Margarita Mooney Clayton, who teaches practical theology at Princeton Theological Seminary, asks “What are the social implications of a world with fewer children?”

It is important to note that we are having fewer children, largely below replacement level, not because of any outside force discouraging us. We are doing so by choice.

We are choosing not to marry in greater numbers and increasingly putting education and career before producing the next generation of humanity.

This comes with certain substantial costs, namely a threatened human future and declining overall happiness.

Professor Clayton explains,

“As it turns out, the freedom to pursue our self-interest without the constraints of marriage and children does not lead to happiness. On average … research shows married people with kids are happier than their single and childless counterparts.”

Daily Citizen has written about the research showing this fact. There are other research-based indicators that children lead to greater happiness. globally.