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The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights will investigate whether the largest school district in Virginia failed to properly handle harassment against Jewish individuals in the district. The OCR confirmed in a Nov. 3 letter to the pro-Israel advocacy group the Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) that it would investigate the organization's January complaint that Fairfax County Public Schools failed to respond to instances of anti-Semitic harassment. The letter clarified that the investigation does not imply that the OCR "has made a determination on the merits of the allegation" against the district. The complaint, which was filed under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, alleges that the district, located in the suburbs of Washington, D.C., violated the act by failing to "respond appropriately and effectively to a hostile antisemitic environment." It describes multiple alleged incidents of anti-Semitism, including one parent's description of her children enduring "Heil Hitler" salutes and classmates making jokes about the Holocaust. The complaint contends the teacher dismissed the behavior as "foolishness" and took no further steps to address the problem even after being contacted by the parents. Another parent claims a swastika was etched into her child's desk and remained there for the rest of the school year. Read more.

The body of a pastor with an officially recognized church in Laos was found in late October with signs that he was tortured and killed for his faith, area sources said. Christian leaders and police in central Laos’ Khammouane Province believe Pastor Seetoud, who went by a single name, was killed for spreading the Gospel amid rapid church growth in the country. The pastor had been expected to attend a meeting of Christians on Oct. 20 roughly 62 miles from his home in an approximately three-and-a-half-hour journey by motorbike. After he failed to arrive more than three hours after the meeting's start time, around two dozen people searched for him on a nearby mountain pass and at a local hospital, without success. His body was later found by an area resident in a ditch off a mountainous jungle road near the village and was severely disfigured and showed signs of torture. Christian leaders said provincial police told them Pastor Seetoud was likely killed because of his faith. The pastor leaves behind a wife and eight children. Read more.

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CP VOICES

Rev. Eugene Cho, president and CEO of the nonpartisan Christian advocacy organization Bread for the World, discusses how the Church's purpose is to love God and love others. Reflecting on the ways climate change and hunger are interconnected, Cho describes how weather patterns impact God's creation and His creatures, writing, "Only when we finally realize that our actions impact someone a thousand miles away will we be tempted to consider their needs first." Read more.

Wallace B. Henley discusses former President Donald Trump ridiculing Ron DeSantis and referring to him as "sanctimonious." In so doing, Henley asserts that Trump not only insulted DeSantis but "the multitude of Evangelical and Catholic Christians who themselves are ridiculed by the left as 'sanctimonious,' or 'Bible thumpers,' or religious fanatics, or some other put-down in that genre." Henley cautions that if Trump joins the left in trying to "cancel" DeSantis should he run for the presidency, it would not help the country, the Republican party, its platform or its strategy. "In a world where two powerful nuclear nations are dominated by authoritarians, we need a forceful personality like Trump’s who can see through and stand up to tyrants in a believable way. However, the personality needs to be discerning regarding the times when that style is appropriate," Henley concludes. Read more.

A MESSAGE FROM Focus on the Family

Now that the Supreme Court has overturned Roe vs. Wade, many states have already moved to restrict abortion. But other states are already expanding and promoting abortion.

That’s why Focus on the Family is working hard to equip as many pro-life pregnancy medical centers as possible nationwide with ultrasound capability.

Then, even more women like Marta can see and hear their baby’s heartbeat — and choose life for their child.

LIVING

What will happen 30 seconds after the rapture? "Prophesy Pros Podcast" hosts Jeff Kinley and Todd Hampson believe that the pre-tribulation rapture—an End Times event many Christians believe will happen that involves believers, both living and resurrected, being lifted up into the air to meet Jesus—will have a "cataclysmic impact on the planet." Despite some people claiming that the event is not in Scripture, the hosts maintain that it is—the translated world harpazo—and the global event will impact geopolitics, culture, religions and the psychological state of humanity. "It is a key aspect of the Lord's return. Just like the first coming had two parts to it, the birth and then the ministry and the death and resurrection. So, too, the Lord’s return has two parts," Hampson says. Listen to the episode now.

MEDIA & ENTERTAINMENT

The first two episodes of season three of the hit series "The Chosen" will premiere in theaters on Nov. 18. The show's creator, Dallas Jenkins, says the season will focus on the struggles of Jesus' followers. Jordan Walker Ross, who portrays the disciple Little James, explains the disciple "is very eager to help, servant-minded. But in Season 3, the honeymoon phase is over, and the frustrations and the reality of their situation is starting to sink in." Jenkins, whose father famously penned the Left Behind book series, says the show's purpose is "to bring Jesus to the world," adding, "While we're writing, we do want whatever we do to result in someone knowing and loving Jesus more." Read more.