Texts: Joshua 5:1–7; 8:30–35; Exodus 12:6; 1 Corinthians 5:7; Deuteronomy 8:11, 14; Hebrews 9:11, 12

Since August 2025, the popular app Enigma has logged over 9,000 unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) sightings within 10 miles of U.S. shorelines and major waterways, reports Marine Technology News.

Not surprisingly, the U.S. House of Representatives’ Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets held a hearing on September 9, 2025 to discuss government transparency and whistleblower protections in regards to such sightings. Some government officials and U.S. military personnel believe that the UAPs they personally witnessed to be extraterrestrial in nature. Others speculate that UAPs are another form of government-ordered “psyop” (psychological operation) to misdirect foreign governments – and even the U.S. population.

This later theory is supported by the research of Sean M. Kirkpatrick, the director of the Pentagon’s All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO).

Kirkpatrick’s findings suggest that “military officers have engaged in a campaign of disinformation about UFOs for decades. It’s a tool that’s been used to distract from actual military secrets.”

The research points to the Pentagon’s active participation in the UAP “psyop.” For example, the Pentagon released UAP Naval videos in 2020 and MQ-9 drone footage in 2023, leading the public to believe that the government is knowledgeable of extraterrestrial life.

Kirkpatrick, however, debunked the paranormal theories behind the films.

Interestingly, in April 2020 The Black Vault, a government transparency site, filed a Freedom of Information request with the U.S. Navy. Its goal was to obtain additional UAP footage which the Navy confirmed it owned. However, the Navy refused to release the videos, citing concerns for national safety – thereby implying that the flying objects and glowing submersibles are not truly UAPs at all, but actually secret military equipment.

In other words, the U.S. military likely operates in plain sight by misdirecting attention with illusions and by encouraging the spread of misinformation.

And there were possibly other goals in mind for the 2020 release of alleged UAP footage: to direct attention away from the Senate’s acquittal of President Trump, the Black Lives Matter movement, and COVID-19 pandemonium. Similarly, 2023 witnessed further racial unrest, mass shootings, the end of affirmative action in college admissions, the ousting of the Speaker of the House, and four criminal indictments against Donald Trump.

Military diversions are not new, but some have been God-ordained.

For example, God instructed Joshua to lure the warriors of Ai into an ambush (Joshua 8). God implemented this divine strategy only after Joshua repented for attacking Ai without consulting God and after Israel refocused their attention on God.

Joshua’s negligence and Achan’s sins revealed the spiritual decay of Israel; Despite their circumcisions and keeping of the Passover (Joshua 5:1-12), they lost sight of the Lord, distracted by their former military feats and the wealth of Ai (Joshua 7).

After their crushing defeat, Joshua led Israel in following God’s every word, and God lead Israel to victory over Ai. And this time, Joshua was quick to ensure they would not forget the grace of their Lord.

Joshua built an altar on Mount Ebal and sacrificed peace offerings to the Lord, carved the law of Moses into stone, and then read the law to all of Israel (Joshua 8:30-35).

These abundant signs, paired with the dedicated observance of holy days and practice of circumcision, would, like a cloud of witnesses, help them keep their eyes on God (Hebrews 12:1-2).

Unfortunately, Scripture tells us that Israel would again forget to put God first by instead focusing on their own self-righteousness, one of their most troublesome distractions.

 

For Reflection

 

Connecting: What counterfeits and misinformation steer your focus away from God?

Sharing: Have you or someone you know experienced something paranormal? How did you/they explain it or come to terms with it?

1. Nothing bad has happened; God shields me from satanic distractions
2. Yes, it was satanic and was followed up with lots of prayer
3. There are natural laws that we have yet to understand
4. Yes, God intervened/performed a miracle
5. It was a hallucination/dream
6. They believed it was paranormal; I tried to reframe it for them through a biblical perspective
7. Other

Applying: Consider those moments when there “wasn’t enough time” to spend with God. Why do we make that excuse so easily, and how can we put God first?

Valuing: We have been redeemed by Christ. Now we wait for our heavenly reunion that is coming “soon” … but it seems like “soon” is not soon enough! Does the waiting make you discouraged? How can you joyfully wait on the Lord in the midst of worldly turmoil?

~ Stefani Leeper

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It is our joy to provide this weekly newsletter for you 50+ weeks per year. Sharing Scripture is always thought provoking. The research info is fresh and insightful. Recommended resources are timely and relevant. On December 2, it’s Giving Tuesday. it’s a day to support important causes that are making a difference. We believe the Center for Creative Ministry is worth your support. Will you consider a $79 gift today to tell us you’re with us? Please donate that amount or more by December 2. You can give via our PayPal account (@C4CreativeMinistry) or by mailing a check to: Center for Creative Ministry PO Box 573 Milton-Freewater OR 97862 And thank you in advance for your prayer and financial support. Paul Richardson | Executive Director

Did You Know?

Pew Research Center found that in 2024, only 18 percent of U.S. adults believed religion was gaining influence in American life. This was the lowest level witnessed by Pew in more than two decades. Interestingly, a February 2025 Pew Research Center poll found that the percentage increased to 31 – the highest percentage in 15 years. Source: Pew Research Center

Additional Resources

Lifeway Research contacted more than 10,000 churches across the United States to compare their February and March 2025 in-person, weekend attendance averages to their averages reported in 2024. Outreach 100 features the top 100 fastest-growing churches – none of which belong to the Seventh-day Adventist denomination. Source: Outreach 100: Fastest-Growing Churches in America

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