Everyone familiar with the lyrics to “In Christ Alone” has a favorite line that swells the heart with joy‚ comfort‚ and‚ sometimes‚ conviction. I’m no exception. I’ve sat in conferences and watched people’s reactions when they sing their favorite words to this hymn—some weep‚ while others close their eyes in breathless wonder. But there’s one stanza so compelling that it’s emotionally irresistible. It drives people to their feet‚ whether out of awestruck reverence or with effervescent joy‚ and I’ve watched as they jump from their seats‚ stretch their arms as if to touch heaven itself‚ and sing with abandon‚ Then bursting forth in glorious day‚ Up from the grave He rose again! And as He stands in victory‚ Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me; For I am His and He is mine— Bought with the precious blood of Christ. I’d give anything to join my friends at that point. I’d love to rise from my wheelchair‚ stand on tiptoe‚ throw my head back‚ and cry and laugh at the same time. Sin’s Curse Has Lost Its Grip What is it about this stanza that breaks the human container‚ releasing both tears and joy? I can’t say for sure‚ but I have an idea. Although other hymns beautifully convey that astounding moment when Christ conquered the grave‚ none matches the lyric-and-song chemistry of “In Christ Alone.” It’s the perfect blend of heart-stopping truth set to melody that inexorably stirs the human affections. The auditorium may be filled with thousands of people‚ yet everyone is thinking the same thing: As Christ stands in victory‚ sin’s curse has lost its grip on me! When I sing that line‚ a blur of former sorrows and transgressions shuffle through my mind like a deck of cards. But they have no sting. That’s because my past sins are now points of grace and redemption where Christ at his highest met me at my lowest. My past sins are now points of grace and redemption where Christ at his highest met me at my lowest. Yes‚ we all still deal with the presence of sin in our lives‚ but its sway over us has been destroyed. We no longer must sin. All because the Son of Man isn’t lying stone-cold dead on a gray slab behind a massive gravestone. Jesus Christ walked out of his sepulchre and now—infused with life and light—he stands in victory over the curse of death. Faith in him is my victory. World’s Most Beloved Modern Hymn No modern-day hymn has captured the heart of the global church quite like “In Christ Alone.” Every line has been doctrinally cut and carved‚ leaving not a hint of fluff or filler. It presents the full gospel from beginning to end‚ and perhaps that’s why its truths thoroughly resonate with our spirits. You sing this hymn once‚ and you’re satisfied. Sing it twice‚ three times‚ or many times more and you’re still satisfied. Like the gospel‚ it never gets old. It seems the more you sing “In Christ Alone‚” the more the good news in all its beauty and majesty unfolds before you‚ layer by layer. The song is that powerful‚ that unique. I turn to this modern hymn when my soul feels dulled by the world‚ or when guilt warns me I’ve coddled a sinful habit. When I need hope and help‚ I default to singing “In Christ Alone” because I need . . . Christ alone. I have no hope apart from him. He is my rock‚ my strength‚ my song. And before I know it. I’m repeating the well-rehearsed‚ doctrinally rich stanzas that have been pressed‚ like a handprint‚ on my heart. I feel the pleasure of God at being so abundantly satisfied in him. So until he returns or calls me home‚ here in the power of Christ I stand. Challenge to Memorize This week‚ a new version of “In Christ Alone” released—a collaboration between Keith and Kristyn Getty and Australia’s CityAlight‚ recorded live at the Sydney Opera House. You can listen to it here or by clicking on the video embedded below. As this “hymn of the century” receives a fresh arrangement and a new release for young ears‚ I challenge everyone to memorize the lyrics to “In Christ Alone.” You will‚ in a way‚ be memorizing the gospel that saves. And when you sing it afresh‚ perhaps you‚ too‚ will close your eyes in wonder and leap to your feet with arms spread wide.

While updating a game and marketing it as a sequel appears to be a trend these days‚ SMITE 2 stands as a true sequel to the original game. This begs the question: will our skins from SMITE 1 carry over to SMITE 2? Let’s find out! Can you transfer SMITE skins to SMITE 2? Image: High-Rez Studios Unfortunately‚ most SMITE 1 skins will not transfer over to SMITE 2. The exceptions to this are skins released in SMITE 1 during Year 11 and a small collection of (currently unknown) “cross-gen” skins. You won’t be left empty-handed‚ however. For every gem previously spent in SMITE‚ you’ll receive a Legacy Gem to spend in SMITE 2. This is a new currency that can be used to “pay for 50% of the price of most in-game purchases in SMITE 2‚” according to the official website. In addition to Legacy Gems‚ Hi-Rez Studios will be hosting the Divine Legacy event in SMITE 1‚ which provides rewards for both games based on how ...

Thousands of Palestinian supporters descended on Washington‚ D.C. on Saturday in a demonstration to demand a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war. However‚ the protest escalated into a violent confrontation…

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Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge Peacock is the only source for tonight’s playoff game between Miami and Kansas City‚ and the most surprising result is that through three quarters‚ the service is mostly holding up to the task. The game just entered the fourth quarter‚ which is going to be “commercial free‚” but that may not be enough to make everyone happy about the deal the NFL made to take a playoff game away from regular TV broadcast availability and put it on a streaming service operated by NBCUniversal. Most initial viewer complaints online were more about needing Peacock to tune into the game‚ instead of connection or login issues that have occasionally marred live sports streaming before. However‚ some folks have noted audio problems‚ or had streams glitch and... Continue reading…

In 2015‚ a waterway restoration project in Tuscany’s ancient Etruscan city of Volterra stumbled on a Roman amphitheater whose existence was completely unknown. Test trenches found curved walls that indicate the full building was around 260 feet long and 200 feet wide and could seat an estimated 8‚000-10‚000 spectators‚ yet there are no surviving ancient sources that mention it‚ no traces of it above ground. It was completely buried and completely forgotten‚ earning it the title “the Amphitheater That Wasn’t There.” The amphitheater was built in the Julio-Claudian era (likely the 1st century A.D.). Nobody knows exactly how long it was in use for performances and gladiatorial games‚ but there is evidence (the remains of meals‚ hearths‚ coins) of it having been reused as a private dwelling in the Middle Ages. Once it was abandoned and all maintenance ceased‚ the burial appears to have happened quickly. The amphitheater occupied a valley that silted up rapidly‚ raising the ground level and the site was then used for cultivation. Since the discovery‚ the archaeological team has carried out seven excavation campaigns lasting two or three months apiece. Scraping up the money to excavate the surprise find has been challenging‚ with new funding for the next dig needing to be secured after each campaign. The first big chunk of change was 250‚000 euros for the 2019 campaign financed by a bank. The region of Tuscany chipped in another 250‚000 euros for 2020 and 2021‚ and Italy’s Ministry of Culture pitched in an additional 250‚000 in 2021. It was money very well spent. In 2020‚ the excavation campaign uncovered a system of underground vaulted passageways used by spectators to reach the bleachers. The same campaign found a vaulted corridor circumnavigating the arena‚ known as the “cuniculo circumpodiale‚” that was used by the gladiators‚ wild beasts and performers to enter the arena at various locations. The walls and corridors are in exceptional condition. In 2022‚ a major infusion of 4.5 million euros from the Ministry of Culture ensured that the excavation would have sufficient funds to see the job through to the end. Digging was suspended last spring and summer while bureaucratic issues were resolved but it has now resumed and will continue uninterrupted for two years until the entire amphitheater is uncovered‚ the site cleared and the structures secured. The excavation has to proceed one section at a time in a clockwise direction to ensure access routes between the sectors aren’t blocked off by the digging itself. Follow the progress of this ground-breaking excavation on the Facebook page of “The Amphitheater That Wasn’t There.”

Two American sailors have been reported missing after an incident off the coast of Somalia. Somalia is located on the eastern edge of Africa across the Gulf of Aden and […] The post Forward-Deployed US Sailors Missing off the Coast of Somalia: Navy on the QT for 'Operational Security Purposes' appeared first on The Federalist Papers.