Rocky Mountain Voice

Tag: Faith

The fruit of true martyrdom: What Stephen, Bonhoeffer and Kirk reveal
Rocky Mountain Voice, Commentary, National, Top Stories

The fruit of true martyrdom: What Stephen, Bonhoeffer and Kirk reveal

By Michael A. Hancock | Commentary, Undercurrent Substack The Test of True Martyrdom Is in the Fruit It Bears Martyrdom is a word thrown around with reckless ease. In our political and cultural vocabulary, anyone who dies for a cause is immediately baptized as a martyr. But that is a sloppy use of a sacred word. There is a difference — a decisive one — between dying for an idea and dying for Christ. And the difference shows itself in the fruit. The first Christian martyr, Stephen, wasn't executed for a partisan position or a social grievance. He was stoned because he would not soften the charge that the religious elite had betrayed and murdered the "Righteous One." He looked up to heaven and declared that he saw Christ standing at the right hand of God. His sermon enraged the Sanh...
The Sword of the Spirit: Defense in the Advance
Rocky Mountain Voice, Commentary, Devotional, Top Stories

The Sword of the Spirit: Defense in the Advance

By Drake Hunter | Commentary, Elevating Life Church "I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you." ~ Psalm 119:11 ~ It’s football season in Colorado, and for us Broncos fans, there’s nothing like watching a defense stand tall. Sure, a flashy offense may steal the highlights, but every fan knows the truth: defense wins championships. Some of the most unforgettable Bronco victories weren’t just about touchdowns; they were about stops, interceptions, and holding the line when it mattered most. Now, imagine this: if truth represents the ball in play, the one thing that must cross the goal line to score points, then where does defense fit into the game of life for the Christian? Is a believer called to play defense, holding ground so the enemy can’t advance?...
Charlie Kirk’s assassination was a shot heard around the world—sparking revival
Rocky Mountain Voice, Commentary, National, Top Stories

Charlie Kirk’s assassination was a shot heard around the world—sparking revival

By Scott Shamblin | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice On April 19th, 1775 the opening shot of the battles of Lexington and Concord sparked the American Revolutionary War. Commonly referred to as the "Shot heard round the world," ultimately leading to the birth of the United States on July 4th, 1776, and the signing of the Declaration of Independence on August 2, 1776. The men who wrote the declaration knew that ultimately this would mean they'd be hunted by the tyrant, King George III. Yet they accepted this fact with extreme courage. This act of treason against the royal crown was for the sake of freedom. They wanted to be able to practice Christianity, without the King's control. The historian David McCullough during a speech in 2005 stated that "At the time of the Revol...
Faith under fire: Grief, risk—and the legacy Charlie left behind
Rocky Mountain Voice, Commentary, State, Top Stories

Faith under fire: Grief, risk—and the legacy Charlie left behind

By Jen Schumann | Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice Grief is an ember. Handled well, it can light a thousand torches. Pastor Chris Goble put it plainly—Charlie “died because he was willing to do things that we weren’t”—then pictured that spark rising into a bonfire of new voices. The scene in Orem set the tone, the flight to Phoenix confirmed it—and the work ahead now belongs to those willing to carry the heat without burning out. The cost of courage For Heidi Ganahl, the loss feels like “a gaping hole” in the conservative movement. “Freedom can be dangerous,” she said. “And it took a dear friend’s life.” Goble anchored that grief in scripture, drawing parallels to the early church. “We live in a spiritual cosmic war,” he said. “We have to expect both real and spiritual bulle...
JD Vance Urges Faith and Boldness in Tribute to Charlie Kirk
National, Approved, The Daily Signal

JD Vance Urges Faith and Boldness in Tribute to Charlie Kirk

By Lorenzo Prieto | The Daily Signal During these dark hours after the death of Charlie Kirk, Americans need to “have faith” in the Lord and “be bold,” Vice President JD Vance said Monday while hosting a special episode of “The Charlie Kirk Show.” “On a podcast a couple of months back, Charlie was asked about how he’d want to be remembered if he died. His answer: ‘I want to be remembered for courage, for my faith. That would be the most important thing. The most important thing is my faith.’ And that was Charlie,” Vance said. “And in this dark moment for our country, I think that’s the greatest lesson any of us can take from Charlie. To have faith.” The vice president then explained that the best way to honor Kirk’s legacy is “to be bold in our pursuits,” as Kirk was in life. “...
Kennedy Center memorial shows the movement Charlie Kirk built is not ending
Fox News, Approved, National

Kennedy Center memorial shows the movement Charlie Kirk built is not ending

By Stephen Sorace | Fox News Top Republican leaders including House Speaker Johnson speak at faith-filled vigil for 31-year-old https://www.youtube.com/live/M_FRi5hum98?feature=shared Hundreds of mourners attended a memorial service and prayer vigil for Charlie Kirk at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., on Sunday night to honor the political activist’s legacy after an assassin’s bullet took his life last week. Lines of people, many of whom were wearing black or shirts and pins with the word "freedom," were seen waiting to enter. Inside, young children were seen running up and down the aisles as their parents sang praise and worship songs at the faith-filled memorial, where top Republican leaders, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, delivered remarks. ...
Drawing Nearer to God: An Average Joe’s 7-Part Journey of Faith
ScottKJames.com, Approved, Commentary, National

Drawing Nearer to God: An Average Joe’s 7-Part Journey of Faith

By Scott K. James | Commentary, ScottKJames.com Drawing nearer to God sounds great – but how do ordinary believers actually do it? Join this 7-part Scott Sheet Sunday series to find out. Last Sunday, my pastor said something that’s stuck with me all week. He talked about “drawing nearer to God in times of trouble.” That sounds amazing, doesn’t it? Poetic. Comforting. Instagram-worthy. But here’s the question I couldn’t shake: how, exactly, do I do that? Because if you’re anything like me, you’ve heard these phrases in church for years. “Seek God.” “Pursue His presence.” “Draw near to Him.” They roll off the tongue like we all have a built-in GPS that beeps every time we’re taking a step closer to the Almighty. But let’s be honest: most of us are just Average Joes and Ja...
The Courage of a Calling
Rocky Mountain Voice, Commentary, National, Top Stories

The Courage of a Calling

By Bobbie Daniel | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice Twelve years ago, I made my first trip to Washington, D.C. I was expecting my third child at the time, and as I walked through the memorials, the words carved in stone seemed to speak directly to me. At the Jefferson Memorial, I knew I wasn’t alone. At the Lincoln Memorial, I sensed the weight of a calling I couldn’t yet name.  Their words reached across centuries with clarity and conviction, and I remember thinking: people don’t talk like this anymore. Yet something in my soul stirred. God was preparing me, though I didn’t yet know for what. In scripture, the callings of ordinary people are always marked by courage. Moses had to confront Pharaoh with only a staff in his hand. Esther risked her life to plead for her pe...
Prayer works: Science confirms what believers have always known
The Daily Signal, Approved, Commentary, National

Prayer works: Science confirms what believers have always known

By Andrew Fowler | Commentary, The Daily Signal The role of prayer in civil society has emerged in the wake of the Annunciation Catholic School shooting, and this may be a blessing of sorts amidst the tragedy. This is because scientific research has shown time and again that religious faith and the practice of prayer check pathologies and improve quality of life on almost every level.  However, politicians and commentators belittled “thoughts and prayers” as ineffective in preventing other mass killings. Others, from Vice President JD Vance to Bishop Robert Barron to Franciscan University, were quick to emphasize prayer’s importance in moments of anguish and darkness. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security even&nbs...
Government Isn’t God: Why Broken People Need More Faith, Not Bigger Bureaucracy
ScottKJames.com, Approved, Commentary, National

Government Isn’t God: Why Broken People Need More Faith, Not Bigger Bureaucracy

By Scott K. James | Commentary, ScottKJames.com America doesn’t need bigger government. It needs bigger faith. Romans 13 shows government is a servant – not the savior. Since the tragic shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church, I’ve watched the same battle lines get drawn. The script writes itself: “Take the guns. Prayer doesn’t work. Faith isn’t enough.” It breaks my heart – not only because of the lives shattered, but because half of America’s first instinct is to strip away our God-given rights. But the answer isn’t taking things away. The answer is realizing that people are broken, and only God – not government – can heal broken people. And if the church shooting wasn’t proof enough of how far we’ve drifted, the recent Colorado General Assembly Special Session sealed it. It...