Let’s start with actor and author Kirk Cameron’s conversation with Higher Ground’s Billy Hallowell. Mr. Cameron discussed his latest faith-filled children’s book, “Pride Comes Before the Fall,” patriotism and why he believes humility is desperately needed today. Mr. Cameron has been touring the country in hopes of “creating the culture that leads to blessing and good things for our children.” He says Americans need to be reminded that the U.S. has been blessed by God and that “the government is not God.” Watch the powerful chat.

California church vs. the government A Southern California church and its preschool are asking a U.S. District Court to block a cutoff of funds from a government food aid program in a dispute over the Biden administration’s gender rules, which they say violate their religious beliefs, The Washington Times’ Mark A. Kellner writes. The Church of Compassion and the Dayspring Christian Learning Center are challenging government officials’ removal of the groups from the Child and Adult Food Care Program, a federal program offering $3,500 to $4,500 each month to feed impoverished students.  “Officials cut off food aid funding to the school and the church, which do not adhere to the administration’s interpretation [of the word sex],” Mr. Kellner notes.

Arnold Schwarzenegger sparks faith furor

Actor and former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has found himself in the headlines over recent comments he made about faith and the afterlife. According to the Times’ Victor Morton, Mr. Schwarzenegger called heaven just “some fantasy” while speaking with friend and fellow actor Danny DeVito during a chat with Interview magazine. “It reminds me of Howard Stern’s question to me — ‘tell me, governor, what happens to us when we die. I said, ‘Nothing. You’re six feet under,” the actor said. “Anyone that tells you something else is a f—ing liar.’”

United Methodist congregations flee

Meanwhile, a historic house of worship is among the 23 congregations granted permission to exit the Baltimore-Washington Conference of the United Methodist Church. “The congregations said they were leaving [over] how the UMC handles ‘the practice of homosexuality’ and ‘the ordination and marriage of self-avowed practicing homosexuals,’ a regional office news release stated,” according to Mr. Kellner. Oakdale Church in Olney, Maryland — which has a 222-year history — is among those leaving.

Televangelist Pat Robertson dies

Pat Robertson, the combative conservative whose Christian Broadcasting Network defined televangelism for decades, died Thursday at his home in Virginia Beach, Virginia, at age 93. The late broadcaster’s “greatest treasure in life was knowing Jesus Christ and having the privilege of proclaiming Him and His power to others. His life was lived to the glory of God,” spokesman Chris Roslan said. Mr. Robertson was a 1988 Republican presidential candidate whose base of 3 million evangelical supporters formed the nucleus of the Christian Coalition, one of several organizations he founded to impact the culture.

’The Chosen’ casts a wider net

Popular Bible-themed TV series “The Chosen” continues to receive accolades and spark intrigue, with Mr. Kellner reporting the producers are looking to reach diverse audiences around the world as they film the fourth season of the streaming sensation. The series is currently being translated into 100 languages, with an additional 500 languages being reached through subtitles. Brad Pelo, an executive producer on “The Chosen,” said the show aims to reach a broad swath of viewers.  “We don’t consider ourselves a ‘Christian’ show,” Mr. Pelo said. “We consider ourselves a historical fiction show, where Jesus is a character in that show, for sure, [but also] sort of centers around people’s experience with him.”

Parents’ rights groups placed on far-left group’s ’hate map’

The far-left Southern Poverty Law Center has added parental rights group Moms for Liberty and others to its infamous “hate map,” according to the Times’ Valerie Richardson. The number of “hate and antigovernment extremist groups” in the annual report covering 2022 jumped 67% from the previous year. “The jump may be attributed in large part to the addition of organizations like Parents Defending Education, Parents Involved in Education, Parents’ Rights in Education, and Moms for Liberty, which are now identified by SPLC as part of the ‘antigovernment movement,’” Ms. Richardson writes.  Read more about why the list is sparking questions.

In our opinion

Flap over Pride flag: Everett Piper tackles “The Chosen’s” now infamous pride flag flap, writing, “One would think that in light of the public outrage over Bud Light, Target and other retailers trying to ram their rainbow ‘wokeness’ down the throats of the average American that the powers that be behind a crowdfunded production of a movie about Jesus would want to avoid such mistakes like the plague.”  Here’s Mr. Piper’s full perspective on the matter. Also, Mr. Piper responds in his “Ask Dr. E” column to a reader who asks, “Isn’t agnosticism frankly the most honest position?” pushing back on the notion with a faith-filled response.  Speech of faith: And, finally, Mr. Hallowell tackles the powerful story surrounding Lydia Owens, a recent graduate of Woodmont High School in Piedmont, South Carolina, who has gone viral after sharing her Christian faith during her valedictorian speech.  “At a time when young people appear more secular than ever and when faith — once a cultural mainstay offering social capital — has become increasingly denigrated, Miss Owens stepped out of her comfort zone, opened her heart, got personal and delivered an antidote to lostness,” Mr. Hallowell writes.  See what Miss Owens had to say and why it matters.