By Lindsey Bell

Most Pastors Satisfied with Their Marriages

A new study by the Barna Group reported that 96 percent of pastors surveyed are satisfied in their marriages. The study noted that this is higher than the general population, in which less than half reported excellent marriages and one-third reported good marriages.

Another interesting find: when it comes to pastors with lower incomes, instead of reporting less satisfaction in their marriages, they actually reported more. The Christian Post noted, “Eighty-three percent of those earning less than $40,000 a year rate their marital satisfaction as excellent.”

Dead Sea Scrolls Cave Found

A research team believes they have found another Dead Sea Scrolls cave in Israel. Dr. Oren Gutfeld, the researcher who directed the dig, spoke of this finding’s significance: “This exciting excavation is the closest we’ve come to discovering new Dead Sea Scrolls in 60 years.”

No scrolls were found in the cave, but researchers did discover numerous storage jars and lids from the Second Temple period. The researchers believe the cave was looted and the scrolls stolen in the middle of the last century.

Israel Hasson, director general of the Israel Antiquities Authority, said that even though no scrolls were found, the discovery is still very significant. “The important discovery of another scroll cave attests to the fact that a lot of work remains to be done in the Judean Desert—and finds of huge importance are still waiting to be discovered.”

The Dead Sea Scrolls are documents that were found in the 1940s and 1950s. These ancient documents held connections with the Old Testament and are thus significant for both Jews and Christians. They serve as evidence that the Old Testament text we hold today is historically accurate.

New “Earth-Like” Planets Discovered

NASA recently announced the discovery of seven “Earth-like planets” that could potentially allow liquid water to exist and thus sustain life. These planets orbit a small star called Trappist-1, located just 39 light years from Earth, which, relatively speaking, is close to our planet.

Sending a spacecraft to explore the planets is unfortunately impossible, because it would take 39 years to arrive, even if traveling at the speed of light. Instead, NASA plans to use telescopes to explore these new planets.

Couple Carries Baby Without a Brain to Term to Donate Organs

A couple from Oklahoma City plans to carry their baby to term, even though there is no way the baby can survive, in hopes of donating her organs to help another family. Keri and Royce Young received devastating news at one of their ultrasound appointments when they were told that their baby girl, whom they have named Eva, didn’t have a brain.

Royce wrote about that moment in a Facebook post that has gone viral. He said that not even 30 seconds after they received the news, his wife asked the doctor, “If I carry her full term, can we donate her organs?”

Royce added, “There’s another family out there hurting and hoping for a miracle for their baby, knowing full well someone else’s baby will need to die first. Eva can be that miracle.”

Lindsey Bell is an author and speaker living in Southwest Missouri with her husband, Keith, and their two children (lindseymbell.com).