The Banishing is the triumphant result of Gong and Utopia Strong member’s mental battle, loss of his family, support from his friends and a “heroic dose of magic mushrooms”

Tens of thousands of dock workers at ports along the East and Gulf coasts walked off the job at midnight on Tuesday, a massive strike that brings billions of dollars in trade to a screeching halt. The International Longshoremen’s Association launched the strike after port ownership failed to meet its demands for higher wages and address the union’s objections to port automation. Negotiations broke down over the summer and the two sides are still at an impasse. About 45,000 workers will refuse to work during the strike, which will snarl supply chains and choke off nearly 50% of U.S. imports. A total of 14 ports are affected including the Port Authority in New Jersey and the ports in Boston, Philadelphia, Wilmington, North Carolina, Baltimore, Norfolk, Charleston, Savannah, Jacksonville, Tampa, Miami, New Orleans, Mobile, and Houston. Overnight workers quickly began to picket, and pictures of the striking workers popped up on social media almost immediately. BREAKING – Over 45k union dockworkers with ILA are officially on strike, shutting down all East and Gulf coast ports, from New York to Miami to Houston. They’re standing to protect their future against the shipping companies forcing automation on the docks. pic.twitter.com/BnRqZzkHqT — On the Line (@laborontheline) October 1, 2024 On Monday, the union rejected a last-minute offer from port ownership, represented by the United States Maritime Alliance, which offered the union a nearly 50% wage raise. The alliance also said it offered to triple employer contributions to employee retirement plans, better health care options, and to keep the current language around automation and semi-automation. The union reaffirmed its plans to strike earlier in the day, saying in a statement that port ownership continues to “block” a “fair and decent contract and seems intent on causing a strike at all ports from Maine to Texas.” It’s official. The East and Gulf Coast ports of the United States of America are on strike. The ILA hasn’t announced a port strike (I keep furiously refreshing their Facebook page) but picket lines are now visible on the gate cameras:https://t.co/NhmITnH9vj pic.twitter.com/tbFiomZC6Y — Ryan Petersen (@typesfast) October 1, 2024 “The Ocean Carriers represented by USMX want to enjoy rich billion-dollar profits that they are making in 2024, while they offer ILA Longshore Workers an unacceptable wage package that we reject,” the union said Monday. “ILA longshore workers deserve to be compensated for the important work they do keeping American commerce moving and growing.” Depending on how long the strike lasts, Americans could see shortages and delays past the election and into the holiday season. WATCH: Ben Shapiro Explains Why the Dockworkers Strike Could Impact You Bananas, coffee, cocoa, pharmaceuticals, clothing, furniture, vehicles, and even Christmas decorations are among the products that will be affected. As far as American exports, beef, poultry, pork, eggs, and cotton will be impacted as well. The union’s president Harold Daggett took an aggressive negotiating stance as the strike approached. “I’ll cripple you, and you have no idea what that means,” Daggett warned in a video message a few weeks ago. The Biden-Harris administration had the ability to stop the strike, but has opted not to invoke the Taft-Hartley Act, which gives the president the power to keep workers on the job. “I have not been very focused on that,” Biden commerce secretary Gina Raimondo says about the upcoming dock worker strike that will choke off half of U.S. imports tomorrow What exactly has she been focused on?pic.twitter.com/rl71mpfyBN — Mairead Elordi (@JohnsonHildy) September 30, 2024 Critics say the administration didn’t do enough to bring the two sides together. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo was asked on Monday about the strike, and admitted that she has “not been very focused” on it.

There is grace for you today to seek the face of your heavenly Father. There is grace to open up your heart and accept the wonderful gift of encountering God’s presence. There is grace to know and experience the depths of God’s love for you. 

For most of my life, I didn’t feel particularly masculine. I don’t care for fixing engines, blowing stuff up, wrestling in the mud, or getting jacked. I did play football in high school, but as a 185-pound offensive lineman less than 6′ tall, any “masculinity” I possessed was pummeled out of me when the game began. Action movies bore me, I don’t want to play paintball, and while I’m a gamer, I’m more Boggle than Fortnite. When boomers say my generation is “soft,” they’re referring to me. And yet, without any “come to John Wayne” moments, something has changed—I now feel masculine. What changed for me wasn’t discovering a new hobby or buying a pair of blue jeans or sitting at the feet of Andrew Tate. It didn’t require a retreat in the woods, a workday on the farm, or a toolbox. It wasn’t a stereotypical masculine activity. It was the church. I’m not alone. Last week, The New York Times published a piece detailing the shocking shift in religious affiliation among my generation. In the article, Ruth Graham detailed her visit to Grace Church in Waco, Texas, where men were manning the welcome doors, filling the pews, and leading the worship. But the trend is bigger than Texas. According to the Survey Center on American Life, almost 40 percent of Gen Z women now describe themselves as religiously unaffiliated, compared to only 34 percent of men. In every other age group, men were more likely to be unaffiliated. So if Gen Z women are exiting the church, why are Gen Z men like me staying? Because the church is giving us real masculinity. Positive Vision Gen Z men have grown up in a time when the concept of masculinity has been under intense scrutiny. In the wake of movements like #MeToo and widespread abuse revelations, our culture has rightfully questioned toxic behaviors often associated with manhood. But in the process, the culture has failed to offer a positive, constructive vision of what masculinity should look like. Instead, it has presented us with two extremes: On the one hand, there’s a toxic version of manhood—equating masculinity with dominance, ego, and self-centeredness. On the other hand, there’s a soft, aimless version of manhood that’s hesitant to lead, unwilling to take responsibility, and unsure if there’s anything distinct—or commendable—about being a man. Neither of these extremes has provided a firm foundation for Gen Z men to build their lives on. And unfortunately, amid endless debates and social media wars, our society seems to have left us behind. Except the church. At church, Gen Z men are still being called to sacrifice in a culture that taught them to live for themselves (John 15:13). At church, Gen Z men are still being called to discipline in a culture that taught them indulgence (2 Tim. 1:7). At church, Gen Z men are still being called to community in a culture that taught them to do it on their own (Prov. 27:17). At church, Gen Z men are still being called to a purpose in a culture that taught them their life was meaningless (Eph. 2:10). At church, Gen Z men are still being called to love their wives in a culture that taught them marriage could wait (Eph. 5:25). At church, Gen Z men are still being called to purity in a culture that promised them fulfillment from sexual freedom (1 Cor. 6:18). At church, Gen Z men are still being called to work hard in a culture that taught them to “quiet quit” (Col. 3:23). At church, Gen Z men are still being called sons in a culture that taught them they’re toxic (1 John 3:1). Cruciform Masculinity In the church, Gen Z men like me are rejecting the false masculinities offered by the culture and finding an alternative—a cruciform masculinity. In his death, Jesus subverts the ego, dominance, and self-centeredness of toxic masculinity in a divine display of humility, sacrifice, and love. But the cross also challenges the soft, aimless version of manhood that avoids responsibility and purpose. Jesus’s example shows us that real manhood embraces responsibility, cultivates strength, and commits to a mission—not to serve oneself but to serve others. At church, Gen Z men are still being called to sacrifice in a culture that taught them to live for themselves. At church, we’re called to something higher. True masculinity is rooted in knowing who you are—your identity as a son of God—and in having a mission, a purpose worth giving your life to. It’s about taking action and showing agency, knowing you have the power to make a difference in your life, your family, and your community. It’s about leaning into a unique, God-given responsibility, entrusted with power to protect, care for, and defend the vulnerable. My church is a place where these aspects of true masculinity are modeled and celebrated. I feel masculine when I use my experiences to lead my small group of high school students, helping them navigate their struggles with faith and life. I feel masculine when I use my time and energy to serve in the kids’ ministry on Sunday mornings, serving as a spiritual father to the next generation. I feel masculine when I worship with my wife during the weekly service, building a relationship centered on faith. I feel masculine when I meet with my friends for a Bible study where we challenge each other and grow in spiritual brotherhood. I feel masculine when I work hard at my job for the benefit of my community, knowing my efforts contribute to something larger than myself. I recognize, of course, that many of these examples could just as easily be true for a woman. A woman might say, “I feel feminine when I lead with compassion, serve my community, or build relationships rooted in faith.” Amen! That’s because redeemed masculinity and femininity both find their origins in Jesus’s sacrificial love. But I think Gen Z men, in particular, are responding differently because our culture has been especially confused about what it means to be a man. Today’s gender-neutral, gender-fluid world has blurred the lines of God’s creation of males and females as distinct expressions of humanity. It has questioned masculinity’s value. Gen Z men like me long to hear that our God-given power has purpose, our responsibility has reward, and our valor has value. We crave the call to be humble sons, committed brothers, and wise fathers in our spiritual communities. And in a culture of confusion, the church has provided a clear and consistent vision of manhood shaped by the cross. Gen Z men like me long to hear that our God-given power has purpose, our responsibility has reward, and our valor has value. This kind of manhood is built on the fruit of the Spirit—on being a man of patience, faithfulness, and self-control. It’s about growing in wisdom, applying what you know in the right way at the right time, and leaving a legacy that will outlast you. The church has been shaping men like this for generations, and it’s no surprise Gen Z men are drawn to this vision of strength through service. Kind of Manhood Gen Z Craves While the culture keeps throwing around confused ideas of what men should be, the church has been steadily providing a model that makes sense: Christ. The man who laid down his life, led with love, and showed that real strength isn’t about puffing your chest but about putting others first. This is the kind of manhood Gen Z men crave. So my encouragement to the church is simple: Keep going. Keep promoting the sacrificial love of Jesus in a world desperate for meaning. Keep calling men to higher standards, to lives of integrity, and to leadership that looks more like a cross than a crown. You’re not just shaping better men; you’re shaping men who know their worth comes not from their accomplishments or status but from their identity as sons of God. Gen Z men like me don’t need a new cultural definition of manhood. We need to be reminded of the one that’s been true all along—the one many of us are finding at church.

Christian music is having a moment. In the first half of 2024, it was the fourth fastest-growing music genre, fueled by surprisingly large gains among younger listeners. Millennial and younger listeners represented 39 percent of the genre’s overall audience in 2022, but in 2024, that share is up to 45 percent. All this might come as a surprise, especially as the dominant narratives about Christianity in the West are declensional (deconstruction, dechurching, secularization, post-Christian, etc.), especially among Gen Z. But the upward trend for Christian music is real, and it’s starting to be noticed by the secular press. Billboard magazine recently published a feature article on Christian music’s “heavenly rise,” noting the growth has been especially pronounced on streaming sites like Spotify (where the genre has experienced 60 percent growth globally over the last five years). What should we make of this trend? What factors might explain this seemingly counterintuitive rise of contemporary Christian music (CCM) in a secular age? Here are four initial thoughts. 1. CCM has gotten better. Perhaps the most straightforward explanation for CCM’s growth is that it has just gotten better as a genre. I’ve been around Christian music my whole life (and for the majority of its existence as a subculture), and I’ve seen this quality improvement unfold in real time. Christian music has grown up. It’s not as homogenous, predictable, and cheesy as it once had the reputation of being. Christian music has grown up. It’s not as homogenous, predictable, and cheesy as it once had the reputation of being. Of course, excellent Christian music has always existed. But “indie” Christian artists in the ’80s and ’90s—those with more daring artistic inclinations—didn’t have an easy way to gain a large following, since their music purposefully didn’t fit the mold of what Nashville or Christian radio gatekeepers wanted. But technology has changed the game, giving artists new, organic pipelines (namely social media and streaming platforms) for doing their own thing, in their own way, and still finding large audiences. The Billboard article mentions this dynamic, noting the social media savvy of 2024’s breakout stars Forrest Frank and Josiah Queen, both of whom found success organically on social media before landing on the Billboard charts (and garnering Dove Award nominations for “New Artist of the Year”). Christian music is better quality today in part because it sounds more authentic and organic rather than formulaic and gatekeeper-approved. Artists like Frank and Queen make the music they love, even if it’s outside the box. Other artists like Jon Guerra, Andy Squyres, or Taylor Leonhardt can reach audiences with the sort of Bob Dylan–esque troubadour lyricism that Christian radio would never touch. Listeners like authenticity, and younger listeners have an ever-more-refined radar to detect the hypocrisy that has been sadly endemic in “Christian pop culture.” Less gatekeeping plus more authenticity is a net win for the overall quality of the genre. 2. Christianity’s global growth brings new artists and audiences. Globally accessible streaming platforms make the spreading and sharing of music, and the creative collaboration of artists, much easier for the world’s 2.4 billion Christians. Like Christianity generally, there’s no geographic “center” for Christian music. It’s global, and increasingly so. It’s no surprise that Christian music streaming is surging in nations like Brazil, India, South Africa, Indonesia, and the Philippines. That’s where Christianity is growing. Like Christianity generally, there’s no geographic ‘center’ for Christian music. It’s global, and increasingly so. In addition to providing new markets of listeners, Christianity’s growth globally has produced a new crop of artists whose work brings beautiful diversity and international flavor to the genre. I’ve celebrated many of these artists over the years at The Gospel Coalition: CityAlight and Tenielle Neda (Australia), Jonathan Ogden (U.K.), Claudia Isaki (France), IMRSQD (Namibia), Limoblaze (Nigeria), Darla Baltazar (Philippines), and many more. Christian music has existed in different countries around the world for a long time, but the streaming era affords new opportunities for exposure and cross-pollination globally. “CCM” the official industry might still be concentrated in Nashville, but Christian music as a genre exists—and thrives—far beyond America’s Bible belt. 3. Christian music encompasses a diverse array of sounds. Part of what makes Christian music unique as a genre is that it doesn’t have one “sound” but rather can draw inspiration from almost every existing music genre—from folk to Afrobeats to techno to metal and more. Like Christianity itself, Christian music is transcultural and finds expression in limitless ways. This dynamic is noted in the Billboard article: “Unlike most genres, CCM/gospel is built around a central message rather than a particular sound, allowing for a greater range of musical styles, including the pop of for King & Country and Frank; Queen’s rustic, singer-songwriter style; Tauren Wells’ pop/R&B vibe; and Lecrae’s rap.” This stylistic diversity means more music lovers can find something to like. If you like lo-fi, there are plenty of options for you. If you’re into country music or hip-hop, Christian artists in those genres abound. The genre diversity makes it fun to create topical playlists like “8 Psalms, 7 Ways,” which includes musical settings of biblical psalms in a dizzying array of styles, from choral to Celtic to cowboy folk. Christian music is eclectic and full of surprises. This is a strength in the playlist-centric contemporary music environment. Christian music’s stylistic diversity means more music lovers can find something to like. Another part of Christian music’s diversity—and growth—is captured in a distinction Lecrae makes between music made “from the church for the church” and music “from the church to the world.” Music in the latter category is often less explicitly Christian but comes from artists (like Tori Kelly, Surfaces, or Needtobreathe) who don’t hide their faith. This music may reach scores of nonbelievers, improving their perceptions of Christian artistry and leading them to be more open to enjoying explicitly Christian releases by these artists. 4. Listeners are hungry for hope. I suspect another reason Christian music is growing in appeal is that so much of the contemporary music world feels creatively and commercially stagnant. The “meh” climate of pop music—an era when promotion cycles are shorter and would-be tentpole releases are forgotten as quickly as they arrive—opens a door for audience attention to explore elsewhere. So much of pop music generally feels lifeless and uninspired, bogged down by political angst, by tired attempts at transgression, or by the abiding acedia of a decadent culture. Maybe there’s a growing hunger in this culture for less depressing, less navel-gazing music and more hope-filled music anchored in bigger truths. Maybe there’s a growing spiritual curiosity as more and more young people grow weary of the frothy emptiness (heavy on vibes, light on meaning) and diminishing returns of love-yourself anthems of so-called empowerment. Music that’s about nothing but meme-friendly weirdness or vibey aesthetics can only go so far in filling a spiritual void. I think there’s a stirring hunger among young people for music that isn’t just an eternal recurrence of breakup songs set to bubbly ’80s synth or Bon Iver woodsy-folk melancholia. They want substance, hope, purpose, and joy. They want songs that call us to a more interesting and fulfilling place than what goes on within the claustrophobic buffered self. Christian music offers counterprogramming that doesn’t diminish the pain and friction of life but calls us to a higher beauty and perspective. And growing numbers of younger people desire this. Who knows, maybe the expanding popularity of Christian music in the United States is another indicator that the long secular trajectory here might be slowing—or even reversing. Maybe the Christian music upward trend is related to the fact that we’re starting to see the rise of religious “nones” level off. Time will tell. For now, the thriving Christian music scene is worth celebrating. And the good stuff being created by believers around the world is worth sharing.

I don’t know any Christians who say they want less diversity in their church. But when we get more diversity—could be age, ethnicity, class, or something else—it’s often harder to manage than we expect. Suddenly, other people think differently. They don’t understand us. They even make us uncomfortable. And we make them uncomfortable too. It’s not easy to love the ones who drive you crazy. But that’s just what Jamie Dunlop wants us to do in his new book (Crossway/9Marks). He offers eight truths for pursuing unity in your church. Of course, loving the ones who drive you crazy starts with recognizing how God loved us when we were yet sinners. And he didn’t choose us because we were lovely. Rather, he made us so in choosing us before the foundation of the world. It turns out he chose the other people in our churches too. Jamie serves as an associate pastor at Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, DC, and he joined me on Gospelbound to help us love one another.

Can We All Get Along?

The Regime Media can’t resist injecting their deeply held policy beliefs into certain stories. One of those policy preferences centers around climate, which the media address by performing the condescending ritual of lecturing Republicans on climate after a major disaster. Watch CBS’s Scott MacFarlane lecture former President Donald Trump on climate during his most recent visit to Valdosta, Georgia on occasion of the passage of Hurricane Helene: SCOTT MACFARLANE: We asked him if this historic storm had convinced Trump to consider a new approach on a key issue. Do you think these storms may make you rethink climate change, get more aggressive about climate change? DONALD TRUMP: No. Not too much. The question sticks out towards the end of a basic hurricane roundup, less centered on the catastrophic damage than on the political aspects of the response.  You never see a Regime Media Reporter run behind a prominent Democrat to ask them whether they’ve reconsidered their stance on immigration after a migrant murder. Whether on guns, abortion, climate change or anything else on the leftwing policy platter, the “will you reconsider” questions go in only one direction. If it weren’t for Regime Media, we’d have none at all. Click “expand” to view the full transcript of the aforementioned report as aired on the CBS Evening News on Monday, September 30th, 2024: NORAH O’DONNELL: Well, tonight President Joe Biden is calling Donald Trump a liar after the former president said the current one isn’t doing enough to help storm victims. Trump visited the storm zone in Georgia today and Biden will be in North Carolina on Wednesday. CBS’s Scott MacFarlane is on the ground in Valdosta, Georgia, with more on the federal response and how this storm is affecting the presidential campaign. SCOTT MACFARLANE: Helene's path of destruction has forced the presidential candidates to change course. Vice President Kamala Harris returned this afternoon from a stop in Nevada for a briefing at FEMA headquarters in Washington, and spoke to both North Carolina and Georgia's governors. KAMALA  HARRIS: We will continue to do everything we can to help you recover and to help you rebuild. No matter how long it takes. MACFARLANE: As a subdued Donald Trump visited a ravaged city in a battleground state. Valdosta, Georgia, where the power is still out, schools are closed and roofs, trees, and signs litter the streets. TRUMP:  Helene turned out to be a big one, like- just about the biggest that anyone’s seen… MACFARLANE: Trump falsely claimed Georgia’s governor, Brian Kemp, couldn’t reach President Biden by phone- even though Kemp and the White House spoke this weekend. REPORTER: Donald Trump has accused both of you of ignoring… JOE BIDEN: The guy is lying. Let me get this straight. He is lying. And the governor told him he was lying. MACFARLANE: And Trump suggested Elon Musk provide satellite service to restore wi-fi, even though FEMA is already doing so. We asked him if this historic storm had convinced Trump to consider a new approach on a key issue. Do you think these storms may make you rethink climate change, get more aggressive about climate change? TRUMP: No. Not too much. MACFARLANE: Just down the street from Trump’s location, downtown is shuttered. With generator power, Candy Baumer’s restaurant is serving meals for those who need them, streetside. CANDY BAUMER: Our focus is on our community, not any celebrity or politician that comes in. MACFARLANE: Meanwhile, President Biden said he was commanding direct federal response. First from his home in Delaware, then back at The White House this weekend. BIDEN: My first responsibility is to get all the help needed to those impacted areas. MACFARLANE: With absentee ballots already being distributed, there's another recovery issue to our north in North Carolina, where CBS News has learned the State Board of Elections had an emergency meeting about the damage and said they will have a successful election, no matter the damage. Norah. O’DONNELL: Scott MacFarlane, thank you for being there.