Just sharing.

beensetfree · Jan 6, 2026

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Venezuela Capture

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The U.S. captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in a surprise raid.

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So, what happened?
Explosions were reported in Venezuela’s capital, Caracas, and various military facilities just before 2 a.m. local time Saturday.

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President Trump confirmed Maduro was seized during a “large-scale strike,” saying special forces breached steel doors of a “heavily fortified location” within “a matter of seconds.” Maduro and his wife were choppered to a U.S. Navy vessel, then flown to New York (see their journey), where they were indicted for narco-terrorism, drug conspiracy, and weapons-related offenses.

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Trump said no Americans were killed, and Secretary of State Rubio stressed that the U.S. is not at war with Venezuela but with drug trafficking organizations.

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Back up. Why did the U.S. want Maduro?
It’s been brewing for a while.

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In 2020, U.S. federal prosecutors charged Maduro with “narco-terrorism,” accusing him of helping run the Cartel de los Soles, a drug-trafficking network that allegedly moved massive amounts of cocaine into the States.

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Maduro remained in power after a contested 2024 election, and in August, the Trump admin raised the reward for information leading to Maduro’s arrest to $50 million for violating U.S. narcotics laws.

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How are people responding?
Pretty mixed.

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Colombian President Petro expressed “serious concern” over the strike, and other critics called Maduro’s capture “an act of war and a violation of federal and international law.” Meanwhile, Prime Minister Starmer said the U.K. would “shed no tears” for the end of Maduro’s regime, and videos of Venezuelans worldwide taking to the streets to celebrate Maduro’s capture quickly began circulating.

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What’s next?
It’s a bit hazy.

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Venezuela’s VP, Delcy Rodríguez, was sworn in as acting president, but President Trump has said that the U.S. will take control of Venezuela’s oil and “run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper, and judicious transition.”

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Maduro is expected to appear in court in New York tomorrow.

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PRAY WITH US
King of kings, You sit enthroned over all creation, and nothing in this world happens apart from Your hand. When world events shock us, settle us with reminders of Your sovereignty. King of glory, give Venezuelan and American leaders the wisdom to make decisions that bring glory to You and good to Your people. King of peace, help American and Venezuelan leaders seek peaceful resolutions.

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And when those around us are overwhelmed by today’s events, help us to lovingly share the peace that comes from knowing You as our good, almighty, eternal Lord and Savior.
Amen.

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beensetfree · Jan 7, 2026

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New Year, New Dollar

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Wall Street is ringing in the new year by reading some year-end economic reports.

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Here’s how things are looking:

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The average 30-year mortgage dropped to 6.15% in December (down from 7% last January), reflecting multiple cuts made by the Federal Reserve
Jobless benefit claims dropped below 200,000 in December, a positive sign after unemployment ticked up to 4.6% in November
The greenback is mounting an early 2026 comeback after the dollar value dipped more than 9% in 2025 compared to other currencies

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There’s more to come. The Bureau of Labor Statistics will release its December Jobs Report on Friday, and President Trump has said he will announce his pick to replace Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell later this month. Powell’s term ends in May.

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ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE
Regardless of whether the broader economy is struggling or thriving, Christians should seek to give generously of their time, talents, and resources to those in greater need. Reach out to your local church to see where help is needed.

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beensetfree · Thursday at 1:53 AM

He hears our Prayers.

"Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech.

He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil."

1 Peter 3:10-12 NIV

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Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened,
that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy,
that it cannot hear:

But your iniquities have separated
between you and your God, and
your sins have hid his face from you,
that he will not hear.

Isaiah 59:1,2 KJV

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Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power in its effects.

James 5:16 RSV

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If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 1:8-9 NASB

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Thanks be unto God for His wonderful gift:
Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God
is the object of our faith; the only faith
that saves is faith in Him.

beensetfree · Friday at 2:09 AM

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Venezuela

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Former head of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro and wife Cilia Flores pleaded “not guilty” to drug and weapons charges in a Manhattan federal courtroom Monday.

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The ousted dictator says he’s “still president” following the U.S. military operation that nabbed the couple from their Caracas home Saturday. They didn’t request bail and will remain detained in Brooklyn, with another hearing scheduled for March and a full trial expected in 2027.

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The Trump Administration will brief Congress on Venezuela today. Democrats call the plan “vague,” illegal, and a distraction from domestic issues; Republicans are defending the “decisive and justified” operation.

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Meanwhile, Uncle Sam is maintaining a blockade on Venezuelan oil exports, pressuring the interim government to open the state-controlled energy industry to American investment. Acting president Delcy Rodríguez is offering “to work together” for “shared development.”

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(We’re covering this story at a 7th-grade reading level with biblical reflection and action steps in Decaf: The Pour Over for Families. Sign up free to get it in your inbox tomorrow!)

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ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE
Political chaos doesn’t intimidate the King of kings. Uncertain times are an opportunity for believers to demonstrate our faith in His good leadership.

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“God ascends among shouts of joy, the LORD, with the sound of a ram’s horn. Sing praise to God, sing praise; sing praise to our King, sing praise! Sing a song of wisdom, for God is King of the whole earth. God reigns over the nations; God is seated on his holy throne.”
Psalm 47:5–8 (CSB) (read full passage)

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beensetfree · Saturday at 4:59 AM

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ICE Shooting

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A federal agent shot and killed a Minneapolis woman on Wednesday.

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The victim, 37-year-old Renee Good, was a U.S. citizen. Footage shows agents approaching her car—which was partially blocking a residential street during an ICE operation—ordering her to get out and attempting to open her door. Good then began to drive away when an agent fired through the windshield; it’s disputed whether he was at risk of being hit.

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DHS Secretary Noem and VP Vance say the agent acted in self-defense, accusing Good of “weaponizing” her vehicle after “stalking” agents all day. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey (D) colorfully denounced that claim, telling ICE to leave the city.

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Anti-ICE protests, some clashing with police, have spread across the country. Minneapolis schools closed over safety concerns, and Gov. Walz said the National Guard is standing by.

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PRAY WITH US
Good Shepherd, we come to You to still our burdened souls. Minister to Renee’s family as their world rips apart. Give ICE agents and local law enforcement peace to carry out their duties with faithfulness and integrity. Quiet anxiety, anger, and fear across the country. And protect believers from our enemy, whose seeds of hatred grow into weeds of discord that choke out our fruitfulness for Your kingdom.

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“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your cares on him, because he cares about you. Be sober-minded, be alert. Your adversary the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour. Resist him, firm in the faith.”
1 Peter 5:6-9 (CSB) (read full passage)

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beensetfree · Sunday at 4:10 AM

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Out-ish With the Old (Pyramid)

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On Wednesday, the USDA unveiled new dietary guidelines that flip the old ones on their heads… literally.

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The updated recommendations urge Americans to prioritize protein and healthy fats at every meal (see a breakdown here), represented by an inverted version of the original food pyramid (1992 to 2005’s rule of thumb plate).

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While guidelines—which impact SNAP rules and school lunches—still include lots of fruits and vegetables (sorry, kids), pasta has been booted to the bottom, ultraprocessed foods and sugar are out, and specific limits on alcohol were removed in favor of encouraging moderation. HHS Secretary RFK Jr. says the changes should push Americans to “eat real food.”

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The American Heart Association commended many of the changes, but expressed concern that emphasis on red meat and full-fat dairy could spell bad news for America’s hearts.

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CHOOSE HUMILITY
Believers may respectfully disagree about dietary guidelines, but we can agree that our bodies are beautifully designed gifts from the Lord. Stewarding this gift well means both taking care of our own bodies and caring for our neighbors’ physical and spiritual needs.

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“But a Samaritan on his journey came up to him, and when he saw the man, he had compassion. He went over to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on olive oil and wine. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.”
Luke 10:33-34 (CSB) (read full passage)

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beensetfree · Monday at 3:37 AM

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What is international law?

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International law is a set of rules that countries agree to follow so they can exist together in a peaceful and orderly fashion… You know, like toddlers in the back seat!

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Think playground rules, but for nations.

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These rules help manage issues such as war, borders, trade, diplomacy, international waters, space, and human rights, and they provide countries with a way to settle disputes without resorting to violence.

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Where does international law come from?
A mix of written rules… and some vibes. There are four main sources:

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Conventions/Treaties: Written agreements between states that create binding legal obligations (e.g., Geneva Convention, which protects prisoners during war)
Rulings from International Courts (e.g., the International Criminal Court)
Customary International Law: Widely accepted rules that aren’t written but form when countries consistently behave the same way (e.g., diplomatic immunity, which was eventually codified in 1961)
General Principles of Law: Basic legal ideas common across many national systems that are assumed true in international law (e.g., agreements must be kept)

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Countries are only bound by the treaties they choose to sign and the orders of the courts they choose to recognize, but the more basic norms (e.g., no genocide) apply to everyone.

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Who enforces it?
No one… and everyone?

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While there are international courts to clarify the laws and judge, there is no international police force. So, if a country breaks an international law, it’s up to other countries to pressure compliance through “countermeasures” (think: sanctions). This means that enforcement is slow, imperfect, and unevenly applied.

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For many international laws, enforcement just isn't necessary, as they provide non-controversial, common standards—like navigation and communication protocols for ships and planes—that everyone benefits from obeying.

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Verse to consider whether you’re untangling the intricacies of international law, or are just glad you finally untangled those charging cords… “From now on, then, we do not know anyone from a worldly perspective.… In Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and he has committed the message of reconciliation to us. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us.”
2 Corinthians 5:16, 19-20 (CSB) (read full passage)

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beensetfree · 2026-01-13T02:55:33+0800

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Last weekend, the U.S. captured one of its most wanted suspects—Venezuela’s president—from his Caracas home in an overnight raid that killed an estimated 100 (read more here). Venezuela is mourning losses, celebrating deliverance, and bracing for an uncertain future.

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While unrest and regime change grab headlines, Americans are just a few days into optimistic resolutions for a healthier, happier, more successful 2026. Most of our goals for 2026—the toned body, dream job, and balanced budget—are nearly impossible without a stable government.

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Let’s pray for the people of Venezuela to experience the kind of transformation that weathers unrest:

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King of kings,
You sit enthroned over all the nations.1
You’re never caught off guard or overpowered.
Your rule can’t be toppled in an overnight raid.
Your plans are not shaken by the news that shakes the world.2
Good Father,
Comfort the Venezuelan and Cuban families
who lost loved ones in this raid.
Protect service members who will be sent into this conflict, and
shelter the people of Venezuela through regime change.

Shield Venezuelans from those who would exploit their vulnerability;
install a leader who will seek their good before his or her own;
free them from tyranny and corruption;
and establish durable peace.
Lord Almighty,
Give President Trump, Delcy Rodríguez, and other world leaders
wisdom to carry out justice.
Give the courts discernment to interpret and apply the law
for the good of all.3
Prince of Peace,
when our earthly home is stable and when it’s not,
we call to mind our citizenship in heaven
and hasten the coming of Your kingdom of peace.4

Equip us to be winsome ambassadors for that kingdom in all places of our exile,
formed by suffering into people of endurance, character, and unfailing hope.5
Strengthen us to carry the aroma of Christ,
radiating His hope to our overwhelmed and anxious neighbors.6

For His glory,
amen.

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But God’s goal for your 2026 can come to fruition with or without a steady hand at the helm of your home country. His will for your year (and your life) is making you more like Jesus (Romans 8:29; 1 Thessalonians 4:3). And His goal of making you holy isn't undermined by unrest and suffering… It’s accomplished through it (1 Peter 2:21).

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beensetfree · 2026-01-14T03:05:05+0800

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Protests

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Over a thousand “ICE Out for Good” protests were held nationwide this weekend.

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Protests ignited after an ICE agent fatally shot Renee Good in Minneapolis on Wednesday. Cell phone footage recorded by the ICE agent was released Friday. It shows agents ordering Good out of her car, then Good’s wife telling her to “drive”; the filming agent says “whoa” and shoots Good as she begins accelerating.

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The FBI is investigating, and Minnesota officials have been taken off the case. Homeland Security Secretary Noem says state authorities “don’t have any jurisdiction,” while Minnesota Governor Walz (D) says a “fair outcome” seems unlikely.

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On Thursday in Portland, Border Patrol agents shot two alleged Venezuelan gang associates in a “targeted vehicle stop,” hospitalizing both. DHS said they tried to harm agents; Portland officials say they don’t trust DHS and are investigating.

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ABOVE ALL, LOVE
Believers have an opportunity to be anchors of love and peace during days of division and contention. Approach sensitive conversations with humility, curiosity, and grace, pursuing justice in a way that shows God’s Spirit at work in you.

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Just sharing.

beensetfree

Alfrescian (InfP)

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