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Top Evangelical Leader and Bestselling Author Dies

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Tim LaHaye, an evangelical leader and the author of more than 60 books, died Monday in a San Diego hospital at the age of 90.

LaHaye is best known for penning the 16-book Left Behind series with Jerry B. Jenkins. The books sold more than 80 million copies and topped the bestseller lists of The New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Publishers Weekly and the Christian Booksellers Association.

Pastor Jerry Falwell, a friend of LaHaye, told Time magazine in 2005: “In terms of its impact on Christianity, it’s probably greater than that of any other book in modern times, outside the Bible.”

His co-author Jenkins said: “The Tim LaHaye I got to know had a pastor’s heart and lived to share his faith. He listened to and cared about everyone, regardless of age, gender, or social standing. If Tim was missing from the autograph table or the green room of a network television show, he was likely in a corner praying with someone he just met- from a reader to a part-time bookstore stock clerk to a TV network anchorman.”

LaHaye co-founded the Institute for Creation Research with the late Dr. Henry Morris. He also founded two Christian high schools, a system of 10 Christian schools, and what is now San Diego Christian College.

LaHaye wrote about his marriage on Facebook during his recent wedding anniversary: “69 years ago today I married the love of my life, Beverly LaHaye. She has been my faithful partner in marriage, parenthood, ministry, and many things we never dreamed. We are still in love today! God has been faithful to us and we continue to claim as our life verse, Proverbs 3:5 & 6, ‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him and he will direct your paths.’”

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Medical Examiner Reveals the Cause of Prince’s Death

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Prince died of an accidental overdose of the powerful painkiller fentanyl, autopsy results released Thursday show . . .

According to a one-page report released by the Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office, Prince administered the drug himself, but the date he took it was unknown. The office said it has completed its death investigation and had no further comment.

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid, 50 times more potent than heroin, that’s partly responsible for a recent surge in overdose deaths in some parts of the country. It also has legitimate medical uses. More than 700 fentanyl-related overdose deaths were reported to the Drug Enforcement Administration in late 2013 and 2014. (Read more from “Medical Examiner Reveals the Cause of Prince’s Death” HERE)

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Watch: The Incredibly Haunting Video David Bowie Released Just DAYS Before His Death

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Rock legend David Bowie passed away at 69 on Sunday, but not before creating a music video, reflective of the death he faced.

In the song entitled Lazarus, from the Blackstar album released on his birthday last week, Bowie sings as he’s pulled from a hospital bed:

Look up here, I’m in heaven
I’ve got scars that can’t be seen
I’ve got drama, can’t be stolen
Everybody knows me now…

The story of Lazarus is synonymous with death and resurrection, based on the biblical account in John 11. Though he healed many, Jesus delayed going to see his very sick friend Lazarus of Bethany, because he had another plan in store. “This sickness is not unto death,” Christ said, “but for the glory of God, that the Son of Man may be glorified through it.”

Lazarus, in fact, died four days before Jesus arrived in Bethany. The teacher told Lazarus’ sister Martha not to be fearful, “I am the resurrection and the life. Do you believe this?” He then went to the tomb, where her brother was buried, and called out, “Lazarus, come forth!” His friend emerged from the tomb in grave clothes to the astonishment of the crowd on hand. (Read more from “Watch: The Incredibly Haunting Video David Bowie Released Just DAYS Before His Death” HERE)

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Here Are the ‘Official’ Amount of Ways to Get Sick or Die

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There are 70,000 ways to get sick, hurt or mortally injured, and the U.S. is making them official.

On Thursday, U.S. hospitals, doctors and other care providers have to start using internationally developed standards called ICD-10 codes to bill government programs and private insurers in the nation’s $2.9 trillion-a-year health-care system. The codes cover everything from parrot bites to getting sucked into a jet engine.

Doctors have already begun mocking the diagnostic list, picking out the most absurd and arcane, such as Z63.1, “Problems in relationship with in-laws,” or V91.07XA, “Burn due to water skis on fire.” Yet for health-care providers who have payments at stake, the complex change is no joke.

Health insurers and government programs stopped accepting the old set of codes, called ICD-9, in the early morning hours Thursday, completing the switch. In a study released last month, the Government Accountability Office, the investigative arm of Congress, said “little is known” about how much it will cost the health-care system to make the transition. HCA Holdings Inc., the Nashville, Tennessee-based hospital chain, said 2015 costs for the transition to the new codes will be about $30 million.

Insurers began preparing for ICD-10 in 2010 and have been ready since the government first delayed implementation in 2012, said Clare Krusing, a spokeswoman for America’s Health Insurance Plans, a Washington-based industry group. “Every deadline that has come up, we were ready.” (Read more from “Here Are the ‘Official’ Amount of Ways to Get Sick or Die” HERE)

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Four Missing After Landslides in Alaska

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150818-sitka-alaska-landslide-kramer-drive-0940p_efd868428799e371b286aa87b09a38c4.nbcnews-ux-320-320Four people in the Alaska community of Sitka are missing after rains apparently triggered a series of landslides Tuesday, authorities said . . .

“We have had about two-and-a-half inches of rain in the last 24 hours and that caused three landslides and a sinkhole,” spokesperson Sara Peterson told the station.

A state of emergency has been declared in Sitka, a town and borough of about 9,000 people located in the far southeast portion of the state, in a mountainous area. Gov. Bill Walker said he will travel to Sitka Wednesday to survey the damage.

“It’s a very grim situation. Our prayers are going to go out to all those in Sitka,” Walker said. “I think the weather has changed a bit, but still concerned about potential additional slides,” he said. (Read more from “Four Missing After Landslides in Alaska” HERE)

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Woman Found Pushing Dead Son in Swing at Park

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Photo Credit: WUSA9 A Maryland mother was found pushing her dead three-year-old child in a swing at a park Friday morning, according to the Charles County Sheriff’s Office.

Officers responded to Wills Memorial Park located at 500 St. Mary’s Avenue around 6:55 a.m. for the report of a woman who had been pushing a child in a swing for an unusually long period of time.

The 24-year-old mother and her son may have been at the park since the day before, officials said. When officers got to the park, they found the woman pushing the three-year-old in a swing at the playground. Officers noticed right away that the boy was dead. (Read more from “Woman Found Pushing Dead Son in Swing at Park” HERE)

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