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Two pilots were killed and 41 people injured late Sunday in LaGuardia Airport’s first fatal plane crash since 1992.
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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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PRAY WITH US Lord of Highest Heaven, today we are brought down low and shaken. Hold us fast, Searching, Knowing, Present One. Hold fast the families mourning those suddenly lost. Hold fast the injured, brought low and broken, who face an enduring trial. Hold fast the anxious who fear the journey over the jet bridge and into a cloudy expanse of helpless dependence.
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We are finite and frail and vulnerable, reliant on Your understanding for our very life and breath. Teach us the wholehearted trust of a little child with a good parent, so that we walk by faith, overflowing with the peace of one who is fully known, seen, and cared for by the Lord of Highest Heaven. Amen.
(Listen to the full prayer here.)
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An Air Canada Express jet landing from Montreal and carrying 72 passengers and four crew struck a Port Authority fire truck crossing the runway just before midnight. Air traffic control cleared the truck to cross in order to respond to a report of an odor on a nearby plane. Recordings reveal the controller realizing the mistake and shouting for the truck to stop seconds before the crash.
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A flight attendant was ejected over 300 feet—still strapped to her jump seat, which is specifically designed to withstand crashes—and survived, suffering only a fractured leg.
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LaGuardia closed for 14 hours, cancelling over 600 flights. The NTSB has recovered both black boxes and launched a full investigation.
The U.S. and Iran are in conflict over whether they’re at the negotiating table.
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On Monday, President Trump announced that his administration held “very good” and “productive” talks with Iranian leaders and promised to back off his plan to “obliterate” Iran’s power plants for five days. Iran denied the claims and continued sending waves of missiles at Israel and surrounding Gulf States.
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Yesterday, Iranian leaders took a more peaceful position, saying they had received negotiation “points from the U.S.” via mediators and maintaining that the Strait of Hormuz “is open to all.” The White House says peace talk plans remain “fluid.”
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Meanwhile, stocks and energy prices are still yo-yoing alongside war updates. Global markets rallied, and crude oil prices had dropped Monday following Trump’s announcement but moved in unfavorable directions again yesterday after Iran’s strikes.
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Verse to consider whether you’re negotiating with an international adversary, a difficult coworker, or a cranky toddler… “Seek peace and pursue it. The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their cry for help.”
Psalm 34:14–15 (CSB) (read full passage)
The verdicts are in, and it’s costing Meta $379 million.
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In a landmark decision Tuesday, a New Mexico jury found Meta Platforms guilty of failing to safeguard users from child sexual exploitation, ordering the social media giant to fork over $375M. The lawsuit was brought by New Mexico Attorney General Torrez, who accused Meta of putting “profits over kids’ safety.”
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Two states over, a Los Angeles jury handed the win to a 20-year-old woman Wednesday, who sued Meta and YouTube for designing addictive features (think: infinite scroll) leading to her anxiety and depression. Meta’s shouldering 70% of the burden ($4.2M) and YouTube took the other 30% ($1.8M).
CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE
As courts discuss the effects of social media, it’s a good moment for personal reflection on social media’s effect on our lives, relationships, and heart-habits. Whatever tools or technology we adopt, our aim should be to use them wisely and in ways that increase the fruit of the Spirit in us.
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“Walk by the Spirit and you will certainly not carry out the desire of the flesh… The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”
Galatians 5:16, 22-23a (CSB) (read full passage)
Meanwhile, scrutiny is mounting over a $580M spike in oil futures trading 16 minutes before Trump’s Monday announcement of “productive” Iran talks, resulting in a quick, hefty profit for the anonymous traders. Financial experts are crying foul and possibly “treason.” The White House said, suggesting Administration officials of insider trading “without evidence is baseless and irresponsible.”
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PRAY WITH US
Conflict and chaos in our news feeds can sweep us into spiraling anxieties. But believers have an anchor in Jesus, whose peace pierces the darkness now and will one day shatter it completely. Come to Him in faith.
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Mighty God, you are never caught by surprise or overpowered. By your overwhelming strength, work peace across the Middle East. Overcome evildoers; comfort those who are mourning; protect the vulnerable; strengthen those who will rebuild; and bring order from chaos so that Iran and its neighbors will taste and see the goodness of the One True King.
TSA—the Transportation Security Administration—didn’t exist pre-9/11. Before the attacks, private contractors handled screening; no photo ID was required, and loved ones could give you a goodbye hug at the gate.
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Then, 68 days after 9/11, Congress passed the Aviation and Transportation Security Act, handing airport security over to the federal government. (Visualize the layers of airport security here.)
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Why is it not privatized?
It’s a current debate. Supporters of privatization argue it brings more efficiency; critics counter that contracts go to the lowest bidder.
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About two dozen airports opt out of TSA-run screening through the Screening Partnership Program—including San Francisco and Kansas City.
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Just last year, Senate Republicans introduced the “Abolish the TSA Act,” so the conversation is ongoing.
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What’s up with the tiny liquid rules?
In 2006, intelligence revealed a plot to detonate liquid explosives on transatlantic flights. TSA initially banned all liquids from carry-ons, then settled on a now-familiar limit: 3.4 oz (AKA the international standard 100 mL) or less in a single, clear, resealable quart-sized bag. That’s been the rule ever since.
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Why’d we use to have to take our shoes off? Why not anymore?
In December 2001, a passenger tried to detonate explosives hidden in his shoes on a flight from Paris to Miami. The shoes-off policy became standard in 2006 and lasted for nearly 20 years. DHS ended the requirement last summer, as screening tech has leveled up enough to make it unnecessary. (See airport security then vs. now.)
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What happens when someone brings contraband?
This happens more often than you’d think. In 2024, TSA intercepted 6,678 firearms at checkpoints—about 18 per day—and 94% were loaded.
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But it’s not TSA that confiscates them; local law enforcement steps in. Passengers can face fines of up to $15,000 and lose PreCheck status for five years.
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Other (begrudgingly) surrendered items—your oversized shampoo and trusty pocketknife—get boxed up and auctioned through state surplus stores.
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ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE
While government agencies and regulations change over the years, God’s reign never does. Put your hope in the Eternal King, whose commands and judgments are always just, and who never makes us wait in line to come to Him.
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“But the Lord sits enthroned forever; he has established his throne for judgment. And he judges the world with righteousness; he executes judgment on the nations with fairness. The Lord is a refuge for the persecuted, a refuge in times of trouble. Those who know your name trust in you because you have not abandoned those who seek you, Lord.”
Psalm 9:7–10 (CSB) (read full passage)
Almighty, infinite, eternal Father,
You are a God without limits—
Your presence is boundless, Your power unmatched,
Your knowledge never-ending.
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In Your wisdom You have drawn a boundary
around my power, my time, my resources.
I cannot be the parent of every orphan,
the comforter of every widow,
the shelter for the homeless and displaced,
the provider for the war-torn and disaster-ravaged,
the solution to government inadequacies,
the straightener of crooked leaders,
or the righteous judge who rights every wrong.
I confess that I have squirmed under my limits,
longing to blow past the boundaries You have set.
I have refused to walk by faith,
instead running independently, straining ahead under my own power,
exhausted and despairing.
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God my Helper,
wisen me to walk faithfully in the tension
of facing overwhelming needs, being finite by design, and
called to devote myself to good works.
Open my eyes to how I have been serving myself
with the power, time, and resources You have given me;
open my eyes to the needs of others in my own home and community;
and open my eyes to the good work You’ve put right in front of me.
When I feel powerless and paralyzed to respond to heartache in the headlines,
strengthen my faith, bring me to my knees before You,
loosen wealth’s grip so I might be inclined toward generosity,
and mobilize Your body for courageous, costly love
to the very ends of the earth.
May I pour myself out for others in sacrificial service
for the glory of Your name and the good of my neighbor,
ever conscious that every drop I offer overflows from You.
Amen.
The third round of “No Kings” protests hit the streets on Saturday.
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Organizers report that millions of protestors across 3,000+ locations in all 50 states and 16 countries rallied against an all-of-the-above list of grievances against the Trump administration, including the Iran war, economic pressures, immigration enforcement, and the partial government shutdown.
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An estimated 200,000 gathered at the flagship rally in Minnesota—epicenter of last winter's immigration crackdown and two fatal shootings—featuring Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Bruce Springsteen performing his protest anthem "Streets of Minneapolis."
ABOVE ALL, LOVE
Public displays of political passion can make us keenly aware of our ideological friends and foes. While there is freedom in how Christians respond, that freedom doesn’t include hating our political opponents. Before you’re tempted to judge or belittle, consider praying for a friend with whom you disagree or send them a message of love.
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“You have heard that it was said, Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”
Matthew 5:43-44 (CSB) (read full passage)
Strikes and shortages continue in the monthlong war.
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On Friday, 12 U.S. troops were wounded in an Iranian drone/missile attack on a U.S. base in Saudi Arabia; it’s one of the most serious breaches of American air defenses yet.
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As strikes intensify—U.S. Central Command has reported hitting 11,000 Iranian targets so far—American troops are reportedly arriving in the region. The USS Tripoli arrived in the Middle East Saturday with 3,500 service members aboard, prompting Iranian officials to accuse Uncle Sam of talking about negotiations while “secretly planning a ground invasion.” Washington says it can win “without any ground troops.”
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Meanwhile, Asia and Australia are feeling the Strait of Hormuz’s slowdown. The Philippines declared a national energy emergency; Down Under, localized petrol shortages led to panic buying, prompting government reassurances that the national supply is stable.
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Verse to consider whether a conflict in your own life is de-escalating or just getting started…“What is the source of wars and fights among you? Don’t they come from your passions that wage war within you? You desire and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and wage war. You do not have because you do not ask… Therefore, submit to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.”
President Trump warned Monday the U.S. would "obliterate" Iran's oil infrastructure if the Strait of Hormuz doesn't reopen, and floated that U.S. troops may "take the oil" from Iran or seize Kharg Island, an Iranian export hub.
PRAY WITH US
Though higher gas prices might be tame in comparison, they remind us that war doesn’t only affect soldiers and their families, politicians, and citizens in areas of active conflict. As the ripple effects of war are felt at home, the scope of our prayers only widens.
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Compassionate God, Your people and Your creation continue to reel from the effects of war. We call upon You to restore and redeem: draw near to the dying, heal the wounded, soothe the anxious, and provide for those who don’t have enough. Give leaders and decision-makers wisdom, creativity, and a thirst for righteousness. Amen.
NASA’s gearing up to launch humans around the moon.
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The Artemis II mission lifts off this evening at 6:24 p.m. ET (barring bad weather, but forecasters give 80% odds for favorable conditions), sending four astronauts on a nine-and-a-half-day trip around the moon. Commander Reid Wiseman is leading the crew alongside pilot Victor Glover, mission specialist Christina Koch, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen.
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The mission will carry them about 4,700 miles past the far side of the moon (see their flight path), where crew members will catch firsthand glimpses of parts of the lunar surface no human has ever seen.
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Riding along is a mascot named Rise, a stuffie designed by a California second-grader (see it here), chosen from 2,600 entries across 50 countries, inspired by Apollo 8’s Earthrise photo. Rise is the mission’s official “zero-gravity indicator.”
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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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CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE
Verse to consider when marveling over the vast reaches of space and its origins…
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“He stretches the northern skies over empty space; he hangs the earth on nothing.”
Job 26:7 (CSB) (read full passage)
The Iran war* is more than a month in, and President Trump says its end is near.
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Addressing the nation in a primetime speech Wednesday, Trump said the U.S. will hit Iran “extremely hard” over the next two to three weeks; further strategy details were minimal. He declared that Iran’s navy is “gone,” its air force “in ruins,” and its missile capabilities “functionally destroyed.” Critics note the administration has not fully explained how the operation addresses Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
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Markets didn’t take the news well. With the Strait of Hormuz still closed and hopes for a quick resolution fading, the Nasdaq fell 1.6% and the S&P 500 dropped 1.2%. Meanwhile, crude oil prices surged nearly 11% yesterday as fears of further escalation grew.
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*not technically a war. Curious what makes a war… a war? Subscribe to our YouTube channel so you don’t miss Kathleen, Jason, and special guest Jonathan Pokluda taking a shallow dive in TPO Explains tomorrow!
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ABOVE ALL, LOVE
Whether you’re critical of your government or think it’s unfairly criticized, the command for Christians is to love neighbors and enemies alike. That requires speaking about others with dignity and respect, even when we feel like they haven’t earned it.
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“With the tongue we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in God’s likeness. Blessing and cursing come out of the same mouth. My brothers and sisters, these things should not be this way… Who among you is wise and understanding? By his good conduct he should show that his works are done in the gentleness that comes from wisdom.”
James 3:9–10, 13 (CSB) (read full passage)
SpaceX is preparing for a historic mission: destination Mars Wall Street.
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Wednesday, the Elon Musk-owned rocket maker filed initial paperwork to go public this summer, reportedly targeting a record-breaking valuation of $1.75T and aiming to raise $50-$75B from shares (more than the entire U.S. IPO market raised in 2025).
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Investors seem hungry to get in on the action, with Musk reserving 3x the norm (30%) of the offering for retail traders. Still, the confidential filing keeps financials private until closer to the debut. A successful launch could pave the way for other mega-IPOs from Anthropic and OpenAI later this year and make Musk the galaxy’s first trillionaire.
Verse to consider when the vastness of space or of other people’s bank accounts starts to weigh… “Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the splendor and the majesty, for everything in the heavens and on earth belongs to you. Yours, Lord, is the kingdom, and you are exalted as head over all.”
1 Chronicles 29:11 (CSB) (read full passage)
How does God want to grow you as you consume the news?
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When it comes to talking about current events, Christians have a bad reputation.
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Now, a bad reputation alone is nothing to fret about—Jesus told us to expect it. The issue is that our reputation for being judgmental and angry is generally well-founded. In an effort to condemn evil, we often fail to pair the hard words of Jesus with the radical love of Jesus. Believers are often not gentle, patient, or kind when we talk about the news with our neighbors.
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“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Romans 15:13 (CSB)
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When the apostle Paul celebrates the Romans’ salvation and offers his letter’s closing blessings, he does not pray that the God of knowledge would fill them with the right information. He does not pray that the God of judgment would guide their gavels, or that the God of truth would light them aflame with zeal for what’s right. Paul prays that the hope of the gospel would spill all over Rome.
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“Overflow” (or “abound” in some translations) is the same verb used to describe Jesus’s oversupplying when he feeds the 5,000 in the Gospels. Paul’s prayer is that believers would have a surplus of hope—a generous helping that creates leftovers, a cup so full that it spills over and seeps out.
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The headlines are hard, and there is no promise that they’ll get better anytime soon. What we are promised is that God’s victory is already won. Death is dead, sin isn’t reigning over us anymore, and Jesus is coming back to make everything new. The Spirit who raised Jesus is the same Spirit who lives in us who believe.
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That same Spirit is the One who is eager to grow His fruit of love, joy, and peace when headlines threaten to grow anger and anxiety. He empowers us to choose humility when headlines tell us we’re right. He teaches us to love our opponents when the headlines tell us to hate them. He compels us to serve our neighbors when the headlines leave us feeling helpless. And He fills us with a surplus of hope that spills over into our communities when the headlines cultivate despair.
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His victory and His work in us is good news that oversupplies courage to face today’s news and endurance to live for His glory until He returns. The abundance of our hope feeds a starving and desperate world. May our Coming King fill us to overflowing for His glory.
Residents around Jerusalem are still wrapping their minds around the past week’s events.
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Things escalated two Sundays ago, when Jesus of Nazareth—a Jewish teacher and miracle worker with a fast-growing following—rode into Jerusalem on a donkey. Crowds surrounded him, chanting, “Hosanna,” a salutation historically given to the Messiah.
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But by Friday, cheers for the teacher had turned to jeers. Jewish religious leaders sought to execute Jesus for blasphemy (not believing he was the Messiah), but needed Roman approval. So early in the morning, they arrested Jesus and brought him before the Roman leaders Pilate and Herod.
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Though the Romans found Jesus “not guilty of any of your charges,” they put him to death by crucifixion on Friday afternoon to avoid Jewish rebellion.
Jesus was buried late Friday. Then, Sunday, after the Jewish Sabbath, some women who had followed Jesus went to his tomb… and found it open, and the tomb’s stone moved. Two angels reportedly appeared and said Jesus “is not here, but has risen.”
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The Jewish leaders claim Jesus’s disciples stole his body, but his disciples and hundreds of others claim to have seen him alive, proclaiming that he is the Messiah.
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RADIATE HOPE
The resurrection of Jesus is the greatest headline we’ll ever write. It’s the only news that’s thoroughly good for us and our world, and it will still be earth-shaking news 10,000 years from now. Praise God that Christ has defeated sin and death for us.
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“Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where, death, is your victory? Where, death, is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!”
1 Corinthians 15:54-57 (CSB) (read full passage)
The U.S., Israel, and Iran have agreed to a two-week ceasefire.
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Last night, President Trump said the U.S. has received a “workable” 10-point proposal from Iran (read it) that included reopening the Strait of Hormuz, ending all conflicts in the region, and lifting sanctions on Iran.
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The Pakistan-brokered breakthrough came after Trump warned Iran’s “whole civilization will die” if the Strait was not reopened by 8 p.m. ET yesterday—sparking criticism from U.N. Chief Guterres, Congressional Democrats, Pope Leo, and others. Iran’s president initially rejected the ultimatum, and reportedly requested “all young people” make human chains around power plants and other critical infrastructure. A deal was reached minutes before the deadline.
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Oil futures quickly dropped 15% to below $100/barrel, and the S&P 500 futures jumped 2%.
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CHRISTIAN RESPONSE
War brings destruction to everything it touches—lands, people, governments, and economies—but our God is the Great Restorer. As we look forward to God making everything new one day, pray that the world would experience a taste of that restoration today and glorify the Messiah Jesus.
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“On this mountain… [the LORD of Armies will swallow] up death once and for all. The LORD GOD will wipe away the tears... On that day it will be said, ‘Look, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he has saved us. This is the LORD; we have waited for him. Let’s rejoice and be glad in his salvation.’”
Isaiah 25:7–9 (CSB) (read full passage)
