Attacks on religious freedom, double standards, and radical protests–the newsfeeds this week have featured all of these things and more. How do we respond? By “praying at all times in the Spirit,” according to Ephesians 6:18. Truthfully, intercessors fight with unconventional weapons that are not of this world, but these mighty defenses have the power to demolish strongholds (2 Corinthians 10:3-5). Thus, deception must always be fought with prayer and truth.

Find out when your state prays.

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Commission Says No to Crosses

The first lie told by the Left this week centers around city officials in Columbus, Ohio, who rejected a request by the Center for Christian Virtue to place three crosses on the roof of their building.

All six members of the city’s Downtown Commission voted against the measure. A staff report cited, “the proposal is generally inconsistent with the Downtown Design Guidelines with respect to rooftop location and number of graphics proposed. Further, the application is inconsistent with the guidelines due to the style of sign…Staff encourage the applicant to consider integrating the concept into a wall or projecting sign that is more pedestrian oriented in nature.”

 The Center for Christian Virtue isn’t buying the Commission’s explanation. In a press release, CCV’s President, Aaron Baer, stated, “Our team took great care to design artwork that fully complies with the city’s code and design standards. That’s why this decision is so troubling. The Columbus Downtown Commission didn’t just reject artwork—it rejected a clear expression of faith. We strongly disagree with this decision, and we believe it raises serious First Amendment concerns. We look forward to working with the city to correct this and ensure that religious expression is treated fairly in Columbus.”

Baer added, “Faith isn’t a design element you can just vote away. It’s the foundation of everything we do. CCV isn’t backing down. And we certainly aren’t going to let the Commission treat the First Amendment like a suggestion.”

In a world where liberal politics abound, the prospect of three crosses decorating the skyline is threatening. But why? The cross is a symbol for Jesus Christ and the ultimate sacrifice He paid for mankind’s sins. Moreover, it points to the need for repentance and forgiveness. Those who follow liberalism claim their brand of “freedom” is where democracy thrives, but the glaring truth is that it draws humanity into sin and slavery. The only way liberty will triumph is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ, who died on a cross.

Flight Attendant Vindicated

The next lie told by the Left this week revolves around a flight attendant who was fired for her pro-life views. Charlene Carter was fired from Southwest Airlines in 2017 after sharing pro-life messages with the leaders of the Transport Workers Union Local 556. According to LifeNews, “the messages protested the union’s support for the 2017 Women’s March, a radical pro-abortion event that was linked to Planned Parenthood.”

In a morally confused world, many unions take up leftist causes like abortion, expecting every employee to go along without objection. Carter knew she had to stand up for her rights, so she sued Southwest Airlines and the union, asserting that she was fired for her pro-life convictions. It’s important to note that she had resigned from the union in 2013 because of religious differences. Nonetheless, Carter was still required to pay the agency fees. Her attorneys argued that her opposition to using union dues for causes she found to be “morally objectionable” is “protected religious expression.”

In 2022, a federal jury agreed with her, ruling that the airline, as well as the union, violated her rights. The 5^th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the decision, and a U.S. district judge ordered that Southwest give Carter her job back and pay her more than $810,000 in damages and $150,000 in backpay. The judge also “required the airline to notify employees of their rights against religious discrimination.”

Regardless of the ruling, Southwest Airlines didn’t want to pay up. As a result, they were held in contempt by the district judge. Fast forward to May 2026, and Carter has now been paid $946,102.87 according to court documents.

Carter responded, “Today is a victory for freedom of speech and religious beliefs. Flight attendants should have a voice and nobody should be able to retaliate against a flight attendant for engaging in protected speech against her union.”

Sadly, many employers and unions band together for the wrong causes. The killing of innocent babies is morally reprehensible, and asking employees to go along with this agenda of death is just plain wrong. We must pray that more brave people like Charlene Carter will stand up for what is right, rather than what liberal politics dictates.

Cornell University President Target of Liberal Protesters

The third lie told by the Left this week is one that continues to flourish at Left-leaning universities and within liberal circles. Cornell University has been the site of many anti-Israel protests. Instead of siding with the victims of the brutal October 7, 2023, terror attacks, large numbers of students have pledged solidarity with Hamas terrorists, falsely claiming that Israel is guilty of Palestinian genocide.

Just recently, the president of Cornell, Michael Kotlikoff, found himself caught in the crossfire of these volatile protesters. Fox News reports, “The confrontation occurred April 30 after Kotlikoff introduced an Israel-Palestine debate hosted by the Cornell Political Union and co-sponsored by Cornellians for Israel, Cornell Progressives, and Students for Justice in Palestine. He described the event as ‘vigorous and civil’ and ‘an example of the kind of open discourse that we prize in our academic community.’”

But Kotlikoff found out very quickly that “open discourse” is not tolerated by the Left. After the event, the university president alleges he was accosted by both students and non-students who were “known to Cornell for their past conduct, including a long history of ongoing verbal online abuse towards numerous members of Cornell’s administration and staff.” Two of the individuals had been banned from campus previously for “disruptive protest.”

Kotlikoff explained that the individuals who followed him were shouting and recording on their phones. At one point, he told them he would not engage further and asked them to stop recording. Their response, according to Kotlikoff, was, “No, we are not going to stop.” From there, the group “surrounded the car, banging on windows, blocking the car, and shouting.” Aiden Vallecillo, a member of the Students for Democratic Cornell, insists that group interactions with Kotlikoff were “peaceful.”

Footage that later went viral reveals several individuals questioning Kotlikoff as he walked to his car. It also shows Kotlikoff backing up as the students stand behind the vehicle. Kotlikoff maintains, “I waited until I saw space behind the car and then, using my car’s rear pedestrian alert and automatic braking system, was able to slowly maneuver my car from the parking space and exit the parking lot.” In the video footage, one student screams, “He just ran over my f****** foot!”

A university spokesperson stated that an investigation is taking place and the university “will take action, as appropriate, based on the results.” Cornell Law School Professor William Jacobson responded by saying that the incident looked “like a setup.” He specified, “What’s clear to me is that this was a “deliberate provocation” that was meant to create a “decision dilemma” for the university president. Kotlikoff was put in a no-win situation where “any response, or lack of one, would make him look bad.”

Regardless of the outcome of the investigation, one thing is clear–the Left can and will target anyone to further their cause. Even liberals aren’t safe because the anti-Israel agenda is irrational and based on lies. Cornell University, Harvard, Columbia, and others have supported pro-Palestinian protests, but they are starting to see the rotten fruit produced by demonically driven schemes.

Lord Jesus, there are so many deceptions to pray about. The task seems overwhelming, but we look to You, the author and perfector of our faith, and the One who is sovereign over every obstacle and problem. Direct our prayers, have mercy on our nation, and heal our land.

These are just a few of the lies propagated by the Left this week. How are you praying?

Angela Rodriguez is an author, blogger, and former teacher who studies the signs of the times, as well as the historical and biblical connections between Israel and the United States. You can visit her blogs at 67owls.com and 100trumpets.com. She is also the author of Psalm 91: Under the Wings of Jesus and Hallelujah’s Great Ride. Photo Credit: Danny Butlin-Policarpo on Unsplash.