5 Insights on Prayer from Billy Graham and Anne Graham Lotz

“Have you ever said, ‘Well, all we can do now is pray?'” the late Billy Graham once asked. “When we come to the end of ourselves, we come to the beginning of God.” Prayer, that is talking honestly with God, is a gamechanger. Consider the following 5 insights on prayer as you go before the …

Gratitude Is… a Choice, by Daniella Whyte

Most everything we do in life is preceded by a series of choices. The ability to choose is unique to humanity. It is the transformational process of life that effects change and is the only element by which our direction is controlled. Anything worthwhile requires a decision, a choice that we must make in order …

Fears rise over possible war between Israel and Iran

There have been coups and revolutions, external invasions and proxy conflicts, but the Middle East hasn’t seen a head-to-head war between major regional powers since the 1980s. There’s a growing risk that one is about to break out in Syria, pitting Israel against Iran. The Islamic Republic’s forces are entrenching there, after joining the fight …

Saudi, Egyptian foreign ministers meet to strengthen ties

Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister and his Egyptian counterpart on Sunday discussed cooperation in fighting terrorism amid efforts to resolve differences between their two countries on the Syrian and Yemeni conflicts and other regional flashpoints. In a brief news conference following the meeting, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir and Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said they …

U.S. officials say rift between Qatar, other Arab countries won’t affect ISIS fight

U.S. officials are downplaying the growing dissension between Qatar and four other Arab nations, saying the dispute will not affect the fight against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS). "I do not expect that this will have any significant impact, if any impact at all, on the unified — the unified fight against …

Qatar rift: Saudi, UAE, Bahrain, Egypt cut diplomatic ties

Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates have broken off relations with Qatar, in the worst diplomatic crisis to hit Gulf Arab states in decades. The three Gulf countries and Egypt have accused Qatar of supporting terrorism and destabilizing the region. Qatar -- which shares its only land border with Saudi Arabia -- …

Egypt refers 48 ISIS suspects to military court over church bombings

Egypt referred 48 people to the country’s military judiciary on Sunday for suspected involvement in three deadly church bombings and accused them of joining the militant group Islamic State. Egypt’s Christian minority has come under attack in recent months. Two deadly church bombings in Alexandria and Tanta killed more than 45 people in April, months …

In speech before Arab leaders, Trump urges Muslim nations to step up fight against terrorism, calls for unity among religions

U.S. President Donald Trump called on Arab leaders to do their share to fight “Islamist extremism” on Sunday in a speech that put the burden on the region to combat militant groups while urging unity among religions. Trump, who generated controversy with his push to ban many Muslims from entering the United States, described the …

Melania Trump hails ’empowerment of women’ in visit to all-female factory in Saudi Arabia

U.S. First Lady Melania Trump praised the “empowerment of women” at a General Electric all-female service center in the Saudi capital on Sunday, saying the women should work together and educate their children well. She is accompanying U.S. President Donald Trump on his first international visit since taking office in January, and told 200 female …

Iranians determine future of reforms in presidential election

Iranians vote on Friday in a bitter presidential contest between pragmatist President Hassan Rouhani and hardline challenger Ebrahim Raisi that could determine the pace of economic and social reform and Iran's re-engagement with the world. In a warning reflecting rising political tensions amid signs of an unexpectedly close race, Rouhani urged Iran's powerful elite Revolutionary …