Tag: prayer

AI Warning: A Christian Family’s Message to Parents After Son’s Death

~ Randy Harris ~ Leave a comment

AMBER C. STRONG. CBN News

Parents please read and share contents with your children. AI is something we as parents and grandparents need to warn our kids about. Be ever watchful the enemy wants to destroy all of us. Rh

To Megan Garcia and Sewell Setzer Jr., their son was a caring, bright teenager who loved spending time with family.

“Sewell didn’t need a lot. If he was around his family, he was good,” Setzer Jr. said.

A loving big brother, athlete, and strong student who enjoyed cookouts and family gatherings.

“He was loved. He was a sweet kid. I’m not just saying that as his father — he was very sweet,” Setzer Jr. said.

Over time, however, his parents noticed changes. Sewell became more withdrawn, struggled to complete school assignments, and spent less time with family.

“He wasn’t turning in homework. … The weird thing is he would take the test, get an A on the test, but just wouldn’t do his work,” Setzer Jr. said.

His parents said they responded the way many families would, monitoring his devices,

limiting screen time, and eventually taking him to therapy when he stopped opening up to them.

Then came the darkest day of any parent’s life. In February 2024, Sewell died by suicide.

Searching for answers, his family and investigators scoured his electronic devices, expecting to uncover evidence of bullying or contact by an online predator.

Instead, they found months of conversations with AI chatbots designed to simulate human conversation, emotion, and relationships… even love. 

“Sewell wanted to spend less time with his family because he wanted to spend more time with his AI companion chatbot that he figured or thought was a friend or, in this case, a romantic partner,” Garcia said.

For months, Sewell shared his deepest fears, desires, and suicidal thoughts with the chatbot. Instead of a warning, Garcia alleges the chatbot encouraged his darkest ideas, including suicide, eventually telling him to “come home” to its world moments before he took his own life. 

Garcia says to his 14-year-old mind that the relationship and conversations were real. 

“Never in a million years did I think AI could come and form a wedge between us and our child,” Garcia said. “We had the foundation. We had the church involved. We had the school involved. We had the extended family. Sewell was raised in a Christian environment. We went to church on Sundays. We think we’re good.”

Garcia and Setzer are among a growing number of parents raising concerns about AI companion chatbots and their interactions with vulnerable young people.

According to OpenAI, nearly 1 million people each week discuss plans to die by suicide with ChatGPT.

Other families have shared similar concerns. The parents of 13-year-old Juliana Peralta told CBS’ 60 Minutes that their daughter discussed suicide with an AI chatbot dozens of times before her death.

“It would more or less placate her, give her a pep talk. But it never said to call and get help. Never tangible resources,” her parents told the program.The parents of 16-year-old Adam Raine have also alleged that a chatbot discouraged their son from telling his parents about suicidal thoughts, according to testimony presented before the Senate Judiciary Committee. 

Paul Asay, director of Plugged In, said companion chatbots are often designed to be affirming, which can become problematic for users experiencing mental health struggles.

“They tend to be very encouraging, and that can be a real problem, especially if a teen is dealing with mental illness,” Asay said.

Asay said that perceived emotional connection can make AI especially appealing.

“When you have these chatbots, all of a sudden you’re able to feel like there’s someone who understands you, someone who can empathize with you,” Asay said. “Chatbots are notoriously very, very easy to please. They want to make you feel better about yourself.”

Experts say the concerns extend beyond suicide. Research has documented instances in which chatbots have generated inappropriate sexual content, encouraged harmful behavior and failed to recognize warning signs that a human might identify.

Common Sense Media found that 17% of children surveyed reported being shown content they believed was inappropriate or not meant for someone their age.

“These chatbots don’t have judgment. They don’t have morals. They don’t have a sense of responsibility or recognition the same way that a human being does,” Torney said. “They continue to miss signs.”

Several leading AI companies responded to CBN’s questions about safeguards for young users.

Replika said it shares concerns about children using companion AI and reiterated that its platform is intended only for adults.

OpenAI said the safety of its users, especially teens, remains a top priority. The company pointed to features that allow families to disable memory, limit image generation and set quiet hours that restrict ChatGPT use. It also highlights parental guidance resources designed to help families navigate responsible AI use.

Experts also recommend that parents:

  •     Watch for signs of withdrawal or loss of interest in normal activities.
  •     Keep phone use in shared family spaces whenever possible.
  •     Keep devices out of bedrooms, especially overnight.
  •     Discuss AI safety beyond concerns about cheating or plagiarism.
  •     Foster an environment where children feel safe discussing difficult emotions.

Today, Garcia and Setzer Jr. are advocating for stronger online safety protections and have taken their message to Capitol Hill as lawmakers consider legislation addressing potential risks associated with AI technology.

Despite their loss, they say their faith continues to sustain them.
“My faith is the only thing holding me up,” Setzer Jr. said. “God’s grace is real. I feel it every day.”

Garcia said her faith has also given her strength.

“He gives you the grace to withstand it,” she said. “He gives the precious gift of realizing what He’s already done — the ultimate sacrifice that He’s already made. I think that in itself gave me a lot of calm in this situation.”

If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, help is available by calling or texting 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

Moral Corruption: Our World Has Grown Accustomed To Embracing Lies

~ Randy Harris ~ Leave a comment

ByBarry Stagner

The apostle Paul gives us insight into the direction the world is trending: “The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness” (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12).

The word “delusion” means “fraudulence.” It can also refer to straying mentally, a wrong opinion relative to morals or religion, an error that shows itself in action, or a wrong mode of acting. The “lie” believed by the people mentioned in 2 Thessalonians 2:11-12 is the antichrist’s claim that he is God, the world’s Savior and Lord. Are we seeing the world move in the direction of the ultimate lie being believed by the masses? Do people have the wrong opinions today with regard to morals or religion? Are these errors manifesting themselves in the actions of the deluded? Have many in our world mentally strayed from the truth and facts? Are people today looking to the government or powerful leaders to lead and save them from life debts, burdens, and perils?

I think we all know the answers to those questions. We live in a time when the level of mental straying from long-held and obvious truths tells us we are near the end of the church age and approaching the tribulation. We have become familiar with new terms being invented to accommodate the beliefs of a deluded world. Gender dysphoria is one of those terms. This refers to the condition of feeling one’s emotional and psychological identity as male or female is the opposite of one’s biological sex. The key word here is feelings; the individual’s gender is determined by their feelings and not the facts of genetics and biology. This indicates a mental straying from what is actually true.

In other words, you can use orange spray paint on an apple and try calling it an orange, but it won’t change it from being an apple. You can give hormone treatments to a man and put him in a dress and high heels, but if you look at his chromosomes, they are still XY, and therefore he is still male, no matter how he may feel. But, if you don’t accept such a person or call them by their preferred pronouns, you could lose your job and, in some places, go to jail. Think about how far that strays from genetic and biological truth— the possibility of being fired or imprisoned for not calling a boy a girl or a woman a man.

Jesus made a parallel between “the days before the flood” and the times preceding the rapture. One of the dominant characteristics of Noah’s days was corruption: “The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. So God looked upon the earth, and indeed it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth” (Genesis 6:11-12).

Remember, the word “corrupt,” as we’ve seen it used in Scripture, means “moral perversion” and refers to meat or fruit that has become rotten or spoiled. The word pervert means “to become its opposite.” To pervert is to do what Isaiah 5:20 says about calling evil good, and good evil. As we examine the time of the signs, we should be looking for people to use words and ideas in ways that are the opposite of what they used to mean and be. That will be part of the corruption that fills the earth in the last days.

The apostle Paul describes such corruption in the first chapter of Romans: “Even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them” (Romans 1:28-32).

Our world has become the opposite of what it used to be. The moral and character flaws that are listed in Romans 1:28-32 have always been part of life in a fallen world, but there has long been a clearly defined line between good and evil. Even during the periods of history when evil seemed to be dominant and tyrants were brutal in their rule, people knew the difference between right and wrong, and good and evil. Good was still good, and evil was still evil. Yet Paul says in Romans 1 that when a nation (or the world) rejects God’s existence and authority, a moral perversion will spread and lead to a time when the moral and character flaws in Romans 1:28-32 will become dominant. Paul closes this passage with what we could call the end of the digression and the point of no return. Society will have hit rock bottom, so to speak. He says in verse 32 that not only will moral perversion be practiced, it will be approved of.

I believe that one of the most significant signs of the last days is recorded here in Romans 1:32 even though the context of Paul’s statement is general and not specific to eschatology. The word “approve” is the reason for this belief. “Approve” means “to feel good about, to be pleased with, to consent, agree to or applaud.” That’s how people will feel about the practices listed in Romans 1:28-31.

We could summarize Paul’s conclusion by saying that in the last days, moral depravity will become a human right.

Excellent article that sheds light on an astounding situation in our world. Evil is good. Amazing that we have come to this. Preachers and teachers must stand firm on the Word of God. Right is right, and wrong is wrong. Rh

Buried in the defense bill: The US-Israel provision dividing Washington

~ Randy Harris ~ Leave a comment

by David Brody

They’re fighting about Israel again in Washington. What else is new?

Tucked deep inside Congress’ annual defense authorization bill this week is a provision that has generated fierce debate.

The debate centers on what’s known as the United States-Israel Defense Technology Cooperation Initiative. It’s included in both the House and Senate versions of the Fiscal Year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

The House and Senate approach the issue somewhat differently, and the proposal has produced one of Washington’s most unusual political coalitions. The legislation would direct the Pentagon to expand cooperation with Israel in areas such as artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, missile defense, cybersecurity, biotechnology, defense manufacturing, research and development, and defense supply chains.

Supporters argue that Israel has become one of America’s most innovative military technology partners and that closer collaboration benefits U.S. national security as much as Israel’s.

They stress that this isn’t about giving Israel more military aid and that the provision inside the bill doesn’t create a joint military command or transfer operational control over U.S. forces. They say instead that by partnering with Israel, American troops will have access to cutting-edge battlefield technologies. In short, they say this is simply a commonsense effort.

Critics say hold on a minute. They complain this is a step toward permanently institutionalizing U.S.-Israel defense cooperation in ways Congress has never done before. Essentially, they argue that Congress is creating a permanent Pentagon bureaucracy whose mission would be to continually deepen military cooperation with Israel regardless of which administration occupies the White House. The critics say closely intertwining with Israel is a bridge too far.

It should be noted that the House version – at least at this point – is more restrained. It directs the Secretary of Defense to designate a Pentagon executive agent responsible for coordinating U.S.-Israel defense technology cooperation.

It also softens some of the original language by referring to the “potential integration” of Israeli technologies into American defense programs. It wouldn’t be automatic integration. In addition, the language is softer, stating that a list of coordinated activities with Israel “may” be pursued rather than “shall” be pursued.

The Senate version appears broader at this point and seems to be a more formal bilateral framework for long-term defense technology cooperation.  Normally, Israel divides Republicans and Democrats. This time, the fault line is different.

On one side are many traditional national security Republicans, pro-Israel Democrats (a dwindling group to be sure) and organizations like AIPAC. 
On the other side is a growing coalition of far-left, anti-Israel Democrats and the non-interventionist anti-Israel wing of the “America First” movement that is represented in Congress.

This side argues that Congress should not require deeper ties with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government at a time when there is a growing chorus of criticism directed at Israel’s conduct of the war in Gaza. 

So far, there’s been an attempt to strip the provision out of the underlying bill on the House side. Anti-Israel Republican Rep. Thomas Massie joined anti-Israel Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna in introducing an amendment to remove the provision, but the amendment was blocked before reaching the House floor, so the language currently remains in the bill.

Massie’s objections, however, come from a very different place than those of progressive Democrats. His concerns reflect the growing America First, non-interventionist wing of the Republican Party, which argues the United States should avoid permanently embedding itself in the military affairs of any foreign nation – even close allies. This contingent believes this is not traditional defense cooperation but rather an expansion of military integration. 

The progressive left echoes some of the sentiment of the America First Right, but they also worry about tying America more closely to Netanyahu’s government.

Prime Minister Netanyahu has not publicly commented in detail on the specific NDAA provisions now under debate in Congress, but his broader view of the U.S.-Israel security relationship has been consistent. While he has strongly advocated for expanding strategic cooperation between the two countries, Netanyahu has also argued in recent years that Israel should gradually reduce its dependence on American military aid.

Following the October 7 attacks, he reiterated that Israel ultimately must be able to defend itself by itself, and has suggested that as Israel’s economy and defense industry continue to grow, the country should work toward greater self-sufficiency rather than relying indefinitely on U.S. assistance.

What this current debate over the measure shows is that Israel is not going to escape close scrutiny by those in Congress. While the majority still supports Israel, the growing faction of far-left Democrats and woke right America-first conservatives create a substantial problem for Israel. It comes at the worst possible time.

I am a total supporter of this bill. The alliance between Israel and the U.S. government is one that benefits us even more than Israel. They buy our weaponry, enhance many of our military systems and give us valuable intel that we could not attain without their help. Rh

Revival or Bust

~ Randy Harris ~ Leave a comment

The First Great Awakening, the Second Great Awakening, the Welsh Revival, and America’s Jesus Movement all began with ordinary people becoming deeply dissatisfied with the emptiness of the world around them and turning toward Christ.

Today’s generation faces its own unique crises.

Anxiety, depression, addiction, family breakdown, identity confusion, economic uncertainty, and endless cultural upheaval have left many wondering whether there is something more than the promises offered by modern society.

The Gospel answers that question with a resounding yes.

It offers forgiveness where there is guilt.

Hope where there is despair.

Purpose where there is confusion.

Peace where there is fear.

That message never goes out of style because the deepest needs of the human heart never change.

Technology changes.

Culture changes.

Political movements rise and fall.

But humanity’s need for redemption remains exactly the same.

Thirty thousand people gathering in Angel Stadium is encouraging not simply because of the size of the crowd, but because it challenges the growing assumption that America has permanently lost interest in Christianity.

Perhaps the interest never disappeared.

Perhaps millions were simply waiting for someone to invite them.

Jesus instructed His followers to “go into all the world and preach the gospel.” That command has never been limited to church buildings, nor has it expired with changing technology. Whether through stadiums, college campuses, beaches, living rooms, or digital platforms, the mission remains unchanged.

The message of the Gospel is the same today as it was yesterday. True salvation comes as we see our need and respond to the only one who can change our circumstances and give us a new life! The Lord has not moved from humanity, humanity has distanced itself from Jesus.

John 14:6 “I am the way, the truth and the life; no one come to the Father but through me.”

He is just waiting patently. Romans 10:9-10 Rh

America: One of A Kind

~ Randy Harris ~ Leave a comment

Passionate in life; passionate in death.

When the Declaration of Independence was signed, Adams said it “will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated as the Day of Deliverance by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever.”

And so it is. As we celebrate this monumental day, the 250th birthday of America, I leave you with the words of Founding Father Joseph Warren, quoted by Ronald Reagan in his First Inaugural Address. Reagan shared:

“On the eve of our struggle for independence, a man who might have been one of the greatest among the Founding Fathers, Dr. Joseph Warren, President of the Massachusetts Congress, said to his fellow Americans, ‘Our country is in danger, but not to be despaired of…. On you depend the fortunes of America. You are to decide the important questions upon which rest the happiness and the liberty of millions yet unborn. Act worthy of yourselves.’”

Reagan continued, “Well, I believe we, the Americans of today, are ready to act worthy of ourselves, ready to do what must be done to ensure happiness and liberty for ourselves, our children, and our children’s children.”

Happy Independence Day!

Taken from Dutch Sheets Give Him 15

In God’s providence may we keep her free. God Bless the United States of America. Rh

Happy July 4th Weekend

~ Randy Harris ~ Leave a comment

Happy 4th of July weekend! 250th birthday of our great nation is truly unbelievable. Most nations max out before 200 years, but our great country was founded on Judeo-Christian values dedicated to the Almighty and re-dedicated to God as a Christian nation on this auspicious anniversary of our founding. Imagine a nation founded on the idea of all men being created equal. A dream of private ownership and the unlimited opportunity to be whatever your heart desires. A melting pot for those who came here for a new life and to fulfill the American dream. Our strength is in our ability to forge a nation and assimilate to ideas espoused in our Constitution.

We aren’t perfect, but in our past we had the will power to fix our wrongs and make life better for our citizens. Today we must reclaim that idea and come together for the greater good.

‘Illogical And Ideological’: Euthanasia Legislation Debate Returns to U.K. Parliament – Harbinger’s Daily

~ Randy Harris ~ Leave a comment

In 2025, Labour MP Kim Leadbeater introduced the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill to allow “terminally ill adults with six months or less to live to qualify for assisted suicide measures under specified safeguards,” as reported by Christian Daily International. The bill passed the House of Commons but…
— Read on harbingersdaily.com/illogical-and-ideological-euthanasia-legislation-debate-returns-to-u-k-parliament/

As a youth Pastor many years ago, I told my youth group that one day we would see euthanasia as a normal practice. My reasoning was the easy access to abortion. We are seeing this today throughout Europe and in Canada. God help us! Rh

If We Forget Our Story, We Lose Our Identity

~ Randy Harris ~ Leave a comment

More than two decades ago, in 2004, Harvard professor Samuel Huntington warned in his book “Who Are We?” that America was facing a crisis of identity. He argued that a nation cannot remain united without a common culture, a common history, and a common understanding of itself. Remove those foundations, and a society inevitably fragments into competing tribes, interests, and identities.

Huntington pointed to the Anglo-Protestant Creed as the core of America’s unifying identity. He argued that America’s political institutions and civic ideals did not arise in a vacuum but were rooted in a culture shaped by Protestant Christianity. 

If Huntington identified the foundation of America’s shared identity, educator E.D. Hirsch explained how that identity was transmitted: through a common biblical literacy that provided Americans with a shared vocabulary, history, and moral framework. Without that shared knowledge, the cultural foundations of national identity inevitably begin to erode.

The Founding Fathers were immersed in biblical imagery. Benjamin Franklin famously proposed a national seal depicting Moses at the Red Sea. The Israelites’ exodus taught lessons about liberty, tyranny, divine providence, and national purpose.

The Bible shaped how Americans understood freedom, law, covenant, human dignity, and self-government. Even those who were not orthodox Christians were influenced by the biblical worldview that permeated colonial America.

But what happens when that biblical literacy disappears?

A nation that forgets its story loses its identity. And when a people lose their identity, they become fragmented. That is precisely what Huntington warned about. Americans increasingly identify themselves by race, class, political ideology, or special interest rather than by a common national story.

The consequences of this loss of historical memory extend beyond America’s understanding of itself. They also affect America’s understanding of one of the most important sources of its cultural inheritance: the Jewish people and the biblical story of Israel.

America’s affinity for the Jewish people did not begin with the modern State of Israel. For generations, Americans viewed Jewish history through the lens of Scripture and found in Israel’s story lessons about liberty, covenant, and national purpose.

As biblical literacy declines, Israel is increasingly viewed only through a contemporary political lens, ignoring its biblical and historical foundations. Meanwhile, anti-Semitism has risen across America and the West. Certainly, anti-Semitism has many causes. Yet it is difficult to ignore the connection between a society that no longer understands the Bible and one that increasingly misunderstands the Jewish people whose history fills its pages.

The rise of anti-Semitism and the weakening of support for Israel did not occur overnight. The ground was prepared over decades as biblical literacy declined, historical memory faded, and Americans became disconnected from the sources that once helped them understand both their own identity and the identity of the Jewish people.

As America celebrates its 250th anniversary, we have an opportunity not merely to commemorate our history but to recover it. We can rediscover the biblical foundations that shaped our nation and strengthen the shared identity Huntington warned was slipping away.

The Bible is not merely a religious text but one of the foundational documents of American civilization. To understand America, one must understand the Bible. And when that understanding is lost, we lose not only part of our history but part of our identity.

Originally published at The Washington Stand

Powerful and very timely, we have lost our bearings in America. Too many liberal politicians have wanted to be like Europe. Open borders and a lack of spiritual discernment will eventually make the U.S. a weakened version of itself. We must repent and return to the Almighty. Our Christian values must be reclaimed. Morality must be returned to the public square, as well as the pulpit. We are living on borrowed time, just one bad election and we will be doomed to mediocrity. Rh

Pray – Engage – Impact

           America’s Moral Divide

~ Randy Harris ~ Leave a comment

For decades Americans have debated politics.  But today, the deepest and most divisive divide is on morality itself.  We  used to argue about taxes, foreign policy, or the size of government.  But today it is on moral issues.

A newly released Gallup survey reveals a nation that is not merely disagreeing over politics but increasingly unable to agree on what is right and wrong. The results paint a picture of two Americas operating from entirely different moral frameworks, with Democrats and Republicans often holding views that appear almost irreconcilable.  

The numbers are startling.

According to Gallup, 73% of Democrats now view abortion as morally acceptable, compared to just 18% of Republicans.  60% of Dems say changing one’s gender is morally acceptable, while only 5% of Republicans agree.

Notice a trend, Democrats are fleeing from moral constraints while Republicans hold to a more traditional moral equivalency.  81% of Democrats consider gay or lesbian relationships morally acceptable, compared to 35% of Republicans.  47% of Democrats view pornography as morally acceptable versus just 19% of Republicans.  Unbelievable is the stat that over half Democrats consider sex between teenagers morally acceptable, while only a small fraction of Republicans agree.

This is not political disagreements, but a moral view of a nation.  Once we were not only a moral nation, but highly Christian.  Not any more, depravity is rampant throughout America.  My eye witness account of this divide occurred a couple of years ago.  In an extremely red county in a red state, a prominent city allowed a drag Queen in the park show to be allowed.  Many of us spoke against this travesty on two occasions before the city council, but to no avail.

I attempted to have a Faith and Family rally in the same city and the same park later that very year.  I was told that the council was not allowing any large groups in the park due to noise issues.  Funny, it was not an issue just two months before.  And my initial contact with the person in charge of the park saw no problem with the event.  The council quickly passed a noise ordinance, so no Christians need apply.  The county was red politically, but the small city had a democratic majority.  Moral divide exists in America even in small towns.

The divide comes when a nation no longer shares a moral code or outlook.  Democrats and Luciferian leftist wish to transform America into a proverbial Sodom & Gomorrah.  The division is so sharp that only a true move of God will ever get the two factions back together.  

America will never be destroyed from a foreign power, but it might be destroyed from within.  That my friends is exactly what is happening in our nation.  Hedonism is the rule of the day in many areas of our country.

Our fight today is not left vs. right, but right vs. wrong.  For Christians, the Gallup findings should not merely be viewed as political data.  They should serve as a spiritual wake-up call.  We as Americans are traveling in two distant and polar opposite moral directions.  

Can America survive?  Only if we right our moral division.  That only comes from a shift back to our Judeo-Christian values.  Prayer and repentance is our only recourse.  

Pray, Engage, and Impact!!