It is a debate that has taken center stage in recent years: Which should we value more -- freedom of religion or freedom from discrimination? The First Amendment of the United States Constitution bars Congress from enacting “an establishment of religion,” or from prohibiting “the free exercise thereof.” It sounds simple enough, but consider the opposing interpretations of that Amendment that have lead to landmark Supreme Court decisions like Obergefell v. Hodges (which legalized same-sex marriage in 2015).

Police officers have been in the news a lot in recent years, and sadly not always for good reasons. When the news cycle is dominated by negative press, it can be hard to remember the heroes in our own backyards. Many police officers, like Officer Bryan Lawrence, are inspired by their faith to keep serving, and for that we are all grateful. You can encourage a brave law enforcement officer with these simple ideas:

“Persecution” has become something of a buzzword in our culture. When uttered, some think of ISIS’ brutal behavior towards Christians in the Middle East, while others think of Bibles being banned from schools and public prayer halted. It can be challenging to know what “persecution” is when the word is so often used as a label, but the truth is, whether we’re talking about violence or even mere attitudes, “persecution” is the correct label. In fact, the word itself has a pretty broad meaning: “hostility and ill-treatment, especially because of … religious beliefs...persistent annoyance or harassment.”

With 5 Grammys and 58 Dove Awards, it should come as no surprise that Steven Curtis Chapman is a household name. You’ve probably heard his songs on Christian and secular radio stations, but you might not have heard his story. The Huffington Post calls his new memoir, “Between Heaven and the Real World: My Story,” “Poignant, honest, and vulnerable.” In a recent interview with the publication, Chapman shares the motivation behind telling his story.

Bible study resources abound for young kids and teenagers, but what about youth in between these age groups? In a season of life where children are coming into their own, teaching and entertaining can be a challenge. That’s why youth Bible lessons that are fun, exciting, and age appropriate are so important.

It’s a classic American image, the praying cowboy. Even today, at rodeos and horse shows around the country, before or after the national anthem is usually a moment of prayer. Life in the Wild West was tough, so it should be no surprise that cowboys, farmers, and their families had a lot to pray about. Rural communities still resonate with these cowboy prayers and the lifestyle they came from.

Forgiveness is one of the most beautiful and powerful concepts and a central theme of Christianity. “The Redemption of Henry Myers,” now streaming online at PureFlix.com is a story of a family forgiving the unthinkable. This Western family adventure movie is both fun and profound, and although the story is fictional, it is a great example of the power of forgiveness. But real-life stories of forgiveness have the power to inspire us to “turn the other cheek,” love radically, and live like Jesus.

Greek culture emphasized the arts and intellectual pursuits. Describing life and how it worked was a common pursuit in Greek culture, and trying to describe love was no exception. Perhaps that is why the ancient Greeks had six different words for “love,” while we only have one.

Portions of the New Testament that were originally written in Greek use different words for love like “agape” (love of all) and “philia” (friendship). Understanding the original language gives us a new depth to our understanding of love in the context of scripture and human relationships. These six movies about love demonstrate it in its many forms:

God's promises are powerful and encouraging, especially on social media. In the midst of negative news stories and silly trends, scrolling past a reminder of God's love is a welcome change. Here are faith quotes that you especially loved on Facebook last month:

In the family TV series “The Inspectors,” Preston is confined to a wheelchair after a tragic car accident leaves him partially paralyzed. Despite his challenges, Preston’s hopeful and mature attitude allows him to do great things. He interns with his mom, a United States Postal Inspector, hangs out with his friends, and has a normal life. His character is inspiring for families and a reminder that attitude is everything. Here are seven stories of real people who, just like Preston, in spite of their disabilities, did great things that inspire all of us:

That pesky commandment to “love my enemies” (Matthew 5:44) has a tendency to play in the back of my mind during conflict. There are very few people I cannot get along with. My default is enjoying people, even if we don’t have much in common. Still, occasionally I must interact with someone who rubs me the wrong way.

A near-death experience in the movie “Heaven Bound” causes several characters to take a hard look at their lifestyles. We all can use a reminder to focus on the present and live for today. Here are 17 quotes to inspire you right now:

Monte Rex Perlin has been a stuntman and stunt coordinator in Hollywood for more than  30 years. His resume includes blockbusters like “Mr. & Mrs. Smith,” “Transformers,” and “Indiana Jones.” Since becoming a Christian early in his career, Perlin has also worked extensively on Christian films like “The Moment After” and the “Revelation Road” saga. He recently sat down with Pure Flix Insider to talk about faith and Hollywood.

Have you ever experienced conflict with someone, and you both walked away with two completely different stories? It’s a frustrating phenomenon when you are faced with two perceptions of the same situation. So how can you find peace? The key may lie in changing your perspective.

If you loved the “Revelation Road” saga on PureFlix.com (now inlcuding the third movie, “Black Rider”), you may find yourself wondering where you can learn more about the end times. The “Revelation Road” saga was inspired by events described in the Book of Revelation, the prophetic book that concludes the New Testament’s common order.