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Jonathan Roumies popularity has seen quite a bounce following his latest roles, one in the hit faith-based series The Chosen and now with his part in the Jesus Revolution film blowing up at the box office.

The 48-year-old actor and devout Catholics screen credits go back at least two decades, with roles in shows like 2019s Ballers and 2020s Chicago Med, according to IMDb . But it has arguably been his role in the popular series that explores Jesus through the eyes and lives of those close to him that has catapulted his career.

Roumie a ministry leader who has served as an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion within the Catholic Church was born in New York City. He got his start in the entertainment industry with a series of behind-the-scenes gigs that included voice-over work for video games and TV shows.

He worked as a production assistant and location scout for movies like Spider Man, I Am Legend, and National Treasure. Later, he appeared in a handful of TV shows such as Law and Order, As The World Turns and All My Children, before landing a role on the big screen for the part of John Wilkes Booth in the 2012 movie Saving Lincoln.

But after a few years, the acting gigs started drying up and the star said he found himself overdrawn on his finances and with only enough food to last one day.

Roumie has previously shared that, while faith had always been a part of his life, things changed five years ago when he surrendered his career to God. View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Jesus Revolution (@jesusrevolutionmovie)

Life literally backed me into a corner until I got on my knees in front of my crucifix and poured out my heart to God, Roumie told Fox News .

I couldnt even get a catering job, and I had bills come in and I had rent. And I got to the point on a Saturday morning in May in 2018 where I was out of money, he said.

Id always had a relationship with my faith, but I had never surrendered my career so viscerally or felt that I had no other choice before, he added. So, I think God kind of knew that and said, I need everything from you.'

And in order to do that, I need to bring you to the edge of the cliff and give it all to Him, Roumie continued. And I did that day. That morning. And I said, Its no longer my problem. Its your problem, God. So, youre going to see me through this? Your yoke is easy. Your burden is light. Im giving you mine. And whatever happens, happens.'

Roumie said he returned to his apartment later that day to find four checks in his mailbox from unknown sources. All I can say is that God provided me a financial miracle when I needed it, when I completely gave myself over to his care. A few months later, Roumie got a phone call from The Chosen series creator Dallas Jenkins and the rest is history.

Speaking recently on the Ozarks Live , Roumie called the opportunity to play Jesus the greatest and most humbling honor of his life.

The impact has been profound, the actor explained. Not just on viewers but on me personally. So its been something that I dont think anything else can compare to.

One critic called his portrayal of Jesus, Damn good in the hardest role ever played, according to his website .

The Atlantic called the character he portrayed, someone youd actually like to hang out with, projecting divine gravity accented with easygoing warmth.

His work on the show has also given him the first recognition from the industry. In 2020, 2022, and 2023 he was nominated by the Movie Guide Awards for the Grace Prize for Most Inspiring Performance for TV and took home the award in 2020.

In Roumies latest project, he plays charismatic hippie preacher Lonnie Frisbee in the Jesus Revolution alongside actor Kelsey Grammar. The move is based on the true story of a national spiritual awakening in the early 1970s and its origins within a community of teenage hippies in Southern California.

Conservative television and movie star Grammar plays the late Chuck Smith, the pastor who founded the Calvary Chapel movement and mentor to Pastor Greg Laurie. Frisbee who Roumie called a bit of a tortured soul with deep, deep wounds was abused as a child and struggled with drug addiction before he found God.

In the film, we focus on his [Frisbees] time where hes got God sort of lifting him up and sending him out as an apostle with these amazing, charismatic spiritual gifts gifts of the Holy Spirit in very overt ways, Roumie told OSV News .

When you talk to some of the people that saw him do healings, (they say) it was like walking with an apostle. It was that extraordinary, he added. He wasnt a god. He was a man that God used fully, to his service.

Critics have called Roumies on-screen portrayal of Frisbee a breakout performance and more.

[A] Breakout performance of Jonathan Roumie as Jesus, one critic wrote. Roumie brings an unparalleled warmth, gentleness, and humor to this daunting role, lighting up the screen.

Another wrote, Superb acting by Jonathan Roumie. While another opined that, Roumie has such a quiet but commanding presence he speaks with such calm authority, and it carries throughout the series as he brings such humanity and sincerity to this role.

During Roumies interview on Ozarks Live he also talked about where he thought his career would go from here and answered if he planned to stick in just the faith-based genre.

Im open to good stories, Roumie said. I dont have any limitations. Before The Chosen I was working almost explicitly in TV and films in traditional Hollywood settings. If the stories are good and theyre inspiring I will do them.

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Landeskog scores 1st NHL goal in nearly 3 years

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Landeskog scores 1st NHL goal in nearly 3 years

Perhaps the only detail more emphatic than the goals in the Colorado Avalanche‘s 4-0 win over the Dallas Stars Saturday night, was the impact provided by their captain, Gabriel Landeskog.

Landeskog, who returned in Game 3 of this Western Conference first-round series after missing nearly three seasons while recovering from a knee injury, scored his first goal since June 20, 2022, in a multi-point performance that saw the Avalanche tie the series at 2-2 in Game 4 at Ball Arena. Game 5 is Monday in Dallas.

“It means a lot,” Landeskog told reporters after the win. “Obviously, I’ve envisioned scoring again for a long time. There obviously days when I didn’t know if I was ever going to score again. It obviously feels good. It’s a tight playoff series in a big game here at home. To get to do it here at home in front of our fans obviously means a means a lot. Super exciting. Hopefully more to come.”

A short-handed goal from Logan O’Connor midway through the first period followed by a late power-play goal from Nathan MacKinnon staked the Avalanche to a 2-0 lead entering the second period.

That set the stage for Landeskog, who was in the slot when Brock Nelson fed a pass that the 32-year-old winger launched for a one-timer that beat Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger for a 3-0 lead.

Landeskog, who was playing on the second line, was instantly mobbed by his teammates on the nice such as Samuel Girard, Valeri Nichushkin, Devon Toews and Nelson, who joined the Avalanche at the NHL trade deadline.

As Landeskog returned to the bench, he was congratulated by the entire team which also included a hug from a smiling MacKinnon, who along with Landeskog, have been with the franchise for more than a decade.

“I was just proud of him again,” Avalanche coach Jared Bednar told reporters after the game. “I was proud of him regardless of if he scores or not because I know what he’s gone through, and I know how difficult that was. I think that takes it to another level. You know he wants to come back and contribute like he did in the past and he’s off to a great start.”

Landeskog’s goal was the latest milestone in what’s been a lengthy recovery from a chronically injured right knee. He missed what amounted to 1,032 days since his last NHL game.

In that time, the Avalanche have remained in a championship window but have dramatically altered their roster. The Avs have nine players from that championship team who have remained with the franchise and have since reshuffled a roster that led to them re-acquiring defenseman Erik Johnson, one of Landeskog’s closest friends, in their bid for the fourth title in franchise history.

Even with all the changes, there were still questions about when they could see Landeskog return to the lineup. And if Landeskog did return, what he could look like?

His first professional game in three years came April 11 with the Avalanche’s AHL affiliate where he logged 15 minutes. Landeskog would then score a goal and get an assist in his second and final game.

And much like his AHL stint, all it took was two games for Landeskog to score and have another two-point performance.

While Landeskog’s goal became the most celebrated moment of the evening, what he did to help create the Avalanche’s fourth goal was an example of why he’s so crucial to their title aspirations.

Landeskog played a pass to Nelson who then found a Girard for a shot from the point that gave the Avs a 4-0 lead in the fourth. In the time Landeskog passed the puck, he anchored himself at the net front to gain position on 6-foot-7 Stars defensemen Lian Bichsel to screen goaltender Casey DeSmith, who replaced Oettinger for the third period.

Jockeying with Bichsel, who is six inches taller and 16 pounds heavier, allowed Landeskog to test both his strength and that right knee to gain leverage.

The result? Girard’s shot found space in traffic with Landeskog making it hard for DeSmith to see the puck.

“He’s a big boy,” Landeskog said with a smile. “He’s a big strong guy, a physical player and hard to play against. I was trying to get in front of their goal, and he was trying to get me out of there. It was a good battle.”

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Several killed after vehicle drives into crowd at street festival, police in Vancouver say

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Several killed after vehicle drives into crowd at street festival, police in Vancouver say

A number of people have been killed and multiple others injured after a driver drove into a crowd at a street festival in Vancouver, police have said.

The driver has been taken into custody after the incident shortly after 8pm local time on Saturday, police added.

People were in the area near 41st Avenue and Fraser Street for the Lapu Lapu Day Block Party, named after a national hero of the Philippines.

Vancouver’s mayor Ken Sim said in a post on X: “I am shocked and deeply saddened by the horrific incident at today’s Lapu Lapu Day event.”

He added: “Our thoughts are with all those affected and with Vancouver’s Filipino community during this incredibly difficult time.”

Video posted on social media showed victims and debris strewn across a long stretch of road, with at least seven people lying immobile on the ground.

A black SUV with a crumpled front section could be seen in photos from the scene.

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Politics

US crypto rules like ‘floor is lava’ game without lights — Hester Peirce

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<div>US crypto rules like 'floor is lava' game without lights — Hester Peirce</div>

<div>US crypto rules like 'floor is lava' game without lights — Hester Peirce</div>

SEC Commissioner and head of the crypto task force, Hester Peirce, says US financial firms are navigating crypto in a way that’s similar to playing the children’s game “the floor is lava,” but in the dark.

“It is time that we find a way to end this game. We need to turn on the lights and build some walkways over the lava pit,” Peirce said at the SEC “Know Your Custodian” roundtable event on April 25.

The lava is crypto, says Peirce

Peirce explained that SEC registrants are forced to approach crypto-related activities like “the floor is lava,” where the aim is to jump from one piece of furniture to the next without touching the ground, except here, touching crypto directly is the lava.

“A D.C. version of this game is our regulatory approach to crypto assets, and crypto asset custody in particular,” she said.

Peirce said that, much like in the game, firms wanting to engage with crypto must avoid directly holding it due to unclear regulatory rules. “To engage in crypto-related activities, SEC-registrants have had to hop from one poorly illuminated regulatory space to the next, all while ensuring that they never touch any crypto asset,” Peirce said.

Cryptocurrencies, SEC, United States
Source: US Securities and Exchange Commission

Peirce said that investment advisers are often unsure which crypto assets qualify as securities, what entities count as qualified custodians, and whether “exercising staking or voting rights” could trigger custody violations.

“The twist in the regulatory version is that it is largely played in the dark: burning legal lava and no lamps to illuminate the way.”

Peirce also said that a broker or ATS that cannot custody or manage crypto assets will struggle to facilitate trading, making it unlikely for a “robust market” to develop.

Echoing a similar sentiment, SEC Commissioner Mark Uyeda said at the event that as more SEC registrants work with crypto assets, it’s essential that they have access to custodial options that meet legal and regulatory requirements.

Uyeda said the agency should consider letting advisers use “state-chartered limited-purpose trust companies” with the authority to hold crypto assets as qualified custodians.

Related: Blockchain needs regulation, scalability to close AI hiring gap

Meanwhile, the recently sworn-in chair of the SEC, Paul Atkins, said that he expected “huge benefits” from blockchain technology through efficiency, risk mitigation, transparency, and cutting costs.

He reiterated that among his goals at the SEC would be to facilitate “clear regulatory rules of the road” for digital assets, hinting that the agency under former chair Gary Gensler had contributed to market and regulatory uncertainty.

“I look forward to engaging with market participants and working with colleagues in President Trump’s administration and Congress to establish a rational fit-for-purpose framework for crypto assets,” said Atkins.

Magazine: Bitcoin $100K hopes on ice, SBF’s mysterious prison move: Hodler’s Digest, April 19 – 25

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