Morning Rundown: Megachurch Pastor Robert Morris Rushed Into ‘Immediate Surgery’; Family Asks for Prayers

Here’s a quick summary of the top stories on cn.mycharisma.com:

Megachurch Pastor Robert Morris Rushed Into ‘Immediate Surgery’; Family Asks for Prayers

Pastor Robert Morris of Gateway Church in Fort Worth, Texas, has undergone emergency surgery for a herniated disc, which had been causing him severe pain due to pressure on his sciatic nerve.

The news was shared by his son, James Morris, an associate senior pastor at Gateway. James took to Instagram to provide an update on his father’s condition, stating that the surgery was successful in relieving the sciatic nerve pain, although some post-surgery discomfort remains.

“Hey everyone! Here is a quick update about my dad. While he was on vacation last week, he experienced excruciating back pain. He had a herniated disc that was so large that they had to do immediate surgery this morning because it was pressing against his sciatic nerve,” he posted on Instagram.

Does God Tell You to Avoid Alcohol?

I am a Christian and I don’t drink. I am also an ordained minister and ex-alcoholic. I need to make that disclaimer right up front. Although it makes me biased, it also makes me an expert on this hotly debated issue.

Some of the worst “shudder moments” of my life have been under the influence, and as a pastor, some of the worst “shudder moments” I have witnessed in the lives of others have been because of alcohol. You have come too late to tell me it’s God’s best for a Christian to drink.

We are living in a church age where drinking has become “hipster” for some. Christian young adults post pictures of their signature drink on Facebook. Middle-aged Christian women name drop their favorite brand of Pinot Grigio to impress their wine snob friends. Churches send direct-mail postcards that read, “Give our church a shot!” featuring an edgy shot glass graphic. Even some pastors drink. Not this one.

Professor Fights Back After Firing for Teaching Basic Biology

A conservative legal firm is defending a college professor who claims he was fired after university leaders found his teachings too “religious.”

First Liberty Institute recently sent a letter to St. Philip’s College in San Antonio, Texas, telling community college officials it was illegal and improper to terminate Dr. Johnson Varkey, a former adjunct professor who taught at the institution for nearly 20 years.

Calling Varkey’s views on science and gender “widely accepted biology,” Keisha Russell, counsel for First Liberty Institute, asked St. Philip’s College to reinstate the educator. {eoa}