Rick Tryon

Watchdog Alert: CNN’s Witchcraft Article

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In a November 25, 2025 post on this blog I mentioned an article from CNN about the rising popularity of witchcraft in America.

You can read the whole CNN article here. Here’s an excerpt:

Witchcraft is surging in popularity

Green and Samayoa are both full-time witches, proficient in the typical rituals and spells of witchcraft — Green performs a banishing ritual every morning to rid his environment of negative influences, and Samayoa makes a curse-removing wash with herbs, citrus, witch hazel and quartz to keep harm at bay.

While they practice witchcraft solo, they’re performing it for an audience. Green and Samayoa are both popular figures on WitchTok, a popular TikTok community whose members share tips for improving their craft with fellow witches of all experience levels.

On TikTok, Green, who also hosts a podcast and a Patreon, performs readings using bones and tarot cards for commenters who ask him heavy questions about their love lives, careers and safety of their families. It’s a weighty task, so Green chooses his words carefully.

As people of faith in the Messiah, Jesus Christ, we need to remember that regardless of how innocent or ‘normal’ the practice of witchcraft may be portrayed, it remains an offense to God Almighty and is one of the many deceptions deployed by our adversary, the Accuser.

They Said It: Four Quotes On The Book Of Deuteronomy

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Here are four interesting and insightful quotes about the fifth book of the Bible, Deuteronomy.

Rabbi Jonathan Sacks

“Deuteronomy is the great book of moral and spiritual challenge, calling on each generation to see itself as part of the covenant story and to choose the way of life.”
— Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks

John Wesley

“In Deuteronomy, God gives His people a second law, not because the first failed, but to press it upon their hearts with greater earnestness and love.”
— John Wesley, Methodist founder

Christopher J.H. Wright

“Deuteronomy is a manifesto of God’s mission—revealing how a redeemed people are to live differently in a world of injustice, idolatry, and oppression.”
— Christopher J.H. Wright, Old Testament scholar

Matthew Henry

“The book of Deuteronomy renews the covenant and reminds us that God’s laws are given for our good, to keep us close to Him and safe from the snares of the world.”
— Matthew Henry, Bible commentator

Watchdog Alert: Latest From Israel

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Photo via cottonbro studio at pexels.com

Benjamin Netanyahu’s Pardon Request & Legal Turmoil

  • The Israeli Prime Minister has formally asked for a presidential pardon in his years-long corruption trial — an unprecedented move while charges (bribery, fraud, breach of trust) are still pending. Reuters
  • The request has sparked sharp criticism: political opponents and legal experts warn that granting a pardon before a verdict could undermine judicial integrity and set a dangerous precedent. AP News
  • Supporters argue a pardon could help unify a deeply divided country amid war and regional instability. Reuters

Hostage Remains Returned from Gaza; Continued Violence Despite Ceasefire

  • Militants in Gaza, according to Hamas, have handed over the body of one of the two remaining hostages from the October 7, 2023 attack — believed to be either an Israeli officer or a foreign national. Israel is preparing to receive the remains via the Red Cross and conduct forensic identification. Reuters
  • The handover comes even as violence persists: an Israeli airstrike in Gaza killed a Palestinian journalist, and Gaza authorities report continued casualties. Reuters
  • The return of remains underscores the fragile and incomplete nature of the ceasefire and hostage-return process, and highlights ongoing humanitarian and security risks. Reuters

Netanyahu Suggests Possible Deal with Syria — New Diplomatic Push

  • Netanyahu has signaled that a deal with Syria could be possible — conditional on Syria’s agreement to establish a demilitarized buffer zone stretching from Damascus to Mount Hermon. Reuters
  • The proposition comes amid ongoing tensions: Israel recently conducted a strike in southern Syria that killed 13 people, reportedly targeting a Lebanese militant group. Reuters
  • If Syria agrees, the deal could reshape regional alignments and constitute a major strategic shift, though deep mistrust remains on both sides. Reuters

The Whole World Is A Series Of Miracles…

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“The whole world is a series of miracles, but we’re so used to them we call them ordinary things.”
― Hans Christian Andersen

Well said, Hans.

I’ve found the secret: train your mind to see even the most mundane things for what they are – miraculous works of God.

From the tiniest being in existence to the vast splendor of a starry night, it’s all meant to show the glory and wonder of our loving Creator.

They Said It: Four Quotes On The Book Of Numbers

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Here are some interesting and insightful quotes about the fourth book of the Bible, Numbers.

R. K. Harrison (Old Testament Scholar)

“Numbers reminds us that spiritual progress requires trust and obedience. Israel’s wanderings reveal that unbelief stalls the journey, but God’s patience endures even in the midst of human failure.”

Timothy Keller (Pastor & Author)

“In Numbers, we see a God who walks with His people even when they complain, rebel, and wander. Grace is not a New Testament invention—it’s woven throughout the wilderness story.”

Gordon Wenham (Biblical Scholar)

“Numbers is a book of transition—from promise to fulfillment. It shows that while God prepares His people for blessing, He also forms them through discipline, shaping them into a covenant community.”

John MacArthur (Pastor & Commentator)

“The Book of Numbers reveals the seriousness of sin and the faithfulness of God. The wilderness becomes a classroom where God teaches His people to trust His word above their fears.”

Faith Of The Pilgrims

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What was the religious faith of the Pilgrims?

The Pilgrims were predominantly English Separatists, a branch of the Puritan movement within Protestant Christianity.

Separatists believed the Church of England was too corrupt to reform and chose to break away entirely (unlike other Puritans who sought to reform it from within).

Their faith was deeply Protestant, emphasizing personal Bible reading, simple worship without liturgy or ritual, covenant community life, and strong moral discipline.

The Pilgrims were mainly Puritan Separatists — English Protestant Christians who left the Church of England to practice their faith freely.

Watchdog Alert: The Nightmare In Nigeria

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The kidnappings, murder, and ongoing Christian persecution happening in Nigeria right now is an alarming reminder of the darkness and evil in our current age.

1 Peter 5:8 – Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour. (KJV)

The roaring lion remains loose in Nigeria.

According to a January 2025 report by Open Doors, Nigeria topped the world’s list for the number of Christians killed (3,100) and kidnapped (2,830) in 2024 — far more than any other country. Catholic News Agency

A watchdog group, International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety), estimated that in the first seven months of 2025 alone, over 7,000 Christians were killed and around 7,800 abducted. wng.org

In state-level incidents earlier in 2025: for instance, “Fulani herdsmen” reportedly killed five Christians during a Bible study in Kaduna. CBN

In response to mounting pressure, the Nigerian government has denied systematic persecution claims, characterizing reports as distortions propagated by “foreign lobbyists.” Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar reaffirmed Nigeria’s constitutional commitment to religious freedom. The Nigerian Inquirer

Here’s the Latest

More than 300 students and teachers abducted from Catholic school in Niger State

Gunmen attacked St. Mary’s Catholic boarding school in Papyri, Niger State, and abducted 303 pupils and 12 teachers — one of the largest mass kidnappings recorded in Nigeria. Victims were both male and female. TIME

This attack came in a week that also saw other kidnappings and church attacks. The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) issued alarm, and the incident has increased international scrutiny on Nigeria’s ability to protect religious minorities. TIME

Christian leaders call on U.S. action amid alleged systemic “genocide” against Christians

On November 20, 2025, a coalition of Nigerian Christian and civil-society groups publicly urged the U.S. government to intervene, warning that the ongoing targeted killings, mass displacements, and destruction of Christian communities may amount to genocide. International Christian Concern

Their appeal signals a growing belief among Nigerian Christians that the violence is not random or isolated — but rather a systematic and sustained campaign against them. This raises major human rights, diplomatic, and security concerns. International Christian Concern

Watchdog Alert: Witchcraft In America

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As watchdogs we need to be aware of current spiritual trends in our culture so that we can boldly and pointedly proclaim our faith in Jeshua our Messiah as the antidote to darkness, nihilism, and occultism.

CNN is currently reporting on the popularity of witchcraft among the among the population.

“Witchcraft, Wicca and Paganism are more popular than ever, with some estimates topping 2 million practitioners in the US. CNN’s Donie O’Sullivan met with modern witches to discover what they’ve found in witchcraft that they haven’t elsewhere.”

Here’s the intro video to their full report (which is apparently behind a paywall.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIWZhsVNo9A&t=26s

CNN reports that there may now be 2 million or more people in the U.S. identifying as witches, pagans, or Wiccans.

The story follows modern practitioners and explores why people are drawn into witchcraft today — for some, it’s disillusionment with organized religion; for others, it’s community, healing, or a more personal spiritual path. Modern Ghana

It also looks at how witchcraft is being reimagined in contemporary culture (not just as fantasy or superstition). Modern Ghana

Also, Time recently did an article on the rise of witchcraft in modern America.

An excerpt from the piece:

“Although the practice of witchcraft is not new—people have long turned to the occult for cosmic intervention during difficult times—this trend is unique because the practice of hiring witches to do spellwork is no longer considered taboo.”

Forewarned is forearmed, fellow watchdogs.