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Odell Beckham Jr. was baptized in the Jordan River, 7 things God says about anxiety, common 'church phrases' that confused you as a kid and more ... [bannerad]( JULY 31, 2018 [RELEVANT THIS WEEK]( THE BEST OF RELEVANTMAGAZINE.COM STORY OF THE WEEK [Odell Beckham Jr. Was Baptized In the Jordan River, Says "I'm Forgiven"]( You know we are complete suckers for a good faith story, especially ones from high-profile athletes. Last week, we heard NFL superstar receiver Odell Beckham Jr.'s story out of the Holy Land. OBJ, known among fans as a showman and perhaps a diva, surprised people with pictures of him being baptized in the Jordan River. That's pretty awesome. [READ NOW]( WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW [• Derek Minor on the Power Struggle in Faith and Hip-Hop]( Rapper Derek Minor is one of the most socially conscious and bold-speaking artists in the genre today. He had some choice words when he sat down with RELEVANT: "Christianity has to find how it intersects with today’s culture, and until that happens, we’re in for some dire times." [• David Platt Announces Investigation Into the International Mission Board After Sex Abuse Scandal]( In 2007, Anne Marie Miller came forward to the International Mission Board and said she had been sexually abused by a leader named Mark Aderholt. Aderholt was proven guilty after an investigation, but he was not reported to the police or fired. Aderholt was arrested this summer for committing further abuses to children. Now, IMB President David Platt is looking to pursue further action. [• Creation Festival Co-Founder Sentenced for Child Sex Abuse Says He Deserves "to Be Cast Into the Sea"]( Harry Thomas, the New Jersey pastor who co-founded Creation Fest, has been sentenced to 18 years in prison for multiple sex abuse crimes against children. Thomas admitted to charges including sexual assault against a 9-year-old and sexual contact with three girls between the ages of 7 and 10. He quoted Scripture at his hearing, saying the sentence is what he deserves. [• 7 Important Things God Says About Anxiety]( When we're in seasons of suffering, worry can pile on top of our struggles and make things seem worse. Christians aren't immune to fears, because Christians still live in the same brokenness everyone else does; they live through betrayal and heartbreak and disease and hurt. It's when we can lean back on the truth of the Lord that we can find an uncommon encouragement. [• Researchers Discovered a Block that Contained the Remains of Apostles Philip, Andrew and Peter]( A major archaeological discovery might have been unearthed in the ancient world this week. A 661-pound basalt block, said to contain the remains of three apostles, was dug up in the old city of Bethsaida. John 1:44 describes this town as the homeplace of those three apostles: Philip, Andrew and Peter. The major question facing the researchers is if Bethsaida can be connected to the biblical location it's rumored to connect with, el-Araj. [• What the Bible Says Freedom Actually Looks Like]( Scripture says we're free, but what does it mean to actually live out that freedom? Paradoxically, it can mean a fuller surrender to the Lord, a fuller understanding of who you are in relation to the Lord and a greater relinquishing of your own knowledge and ability. [• Twitter Poll: What 9 Common 'Church Phrases' Confused You as a Kid?]( From "Have you found Jesus?" to "You are covered by the blood of the lamb," the Church had a lot of phrases that makes kids raise a couple eyebrows. We took this question to the masses and asked what tied your mind in knots in Sunday school. Your responses cracked us up, and hit close to home. MOST SHARED GOD [How Important Is Prayer Really?]( LIFE [God Wants You to Stop Beating Yourself Up]( CULTURE [Can Your Soul Survive Facebook and Twitter?]( © 2018 RELEVANT Media Group. All Rights Reserved [SUBSCRIBE]( This email was sent to {EMAIL} [why did I get this?]( Don't want to receive these emails anymore?  [unsubscribe from this list](    [update subscription preferences]( RELEVANT Media Group · 55 West Church St. · Suite #211 · Orlando, FL 32801 · USA