Sean “Diddy” Combs was convicted on two of five charges.
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The disgraced hip-hop mogul was found guilty of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution—one involving his ex-girlfriend, former singer Cassandra “Cassie” Ventura, and another involving an anonymous woman; Combs was acquitted of more serious charges—sex trafficking and racketeering (a form of organized crime involving extortion).
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Both Combs’s and Ventura’s lawyers considered the verdict a victory. Combs’s team pointed to the case as an example of “what the system can do,” while Ventura’s lawyers said that by coming forward, she “left an indelible mark” on the entertainment industry and “the fight for justice.”
ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE
Whether justice is served or not in American courts, we can always count on perfect justice and inexhaustible mercy from the courts of heaven. The Lord is not swayed by the power and wealth that tempt us toward partiality, and his verdicts restore what sin has broken.
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“The Rock—his work is perfect; all his ways are just. A faithful God, without bias, he is righteous and true.”
Deuteronomy 32:4 (CSB) (read full passage)
The scale of the disaster has raised questions over coordination and communication prior to the flooding, but the NWS says its regional office was fully staffed, and the most severe “catastrophic” flash flood warnings were issued before the Guadalupe River rose.
(We’re also covering this story tomorrow in Decaf, The Pour Over for Families. Sign up—for free—here.)
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ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE
The promise of heaven does not remove the pains of this world, but it does give us hope, strength, and peace during life’s most difficult seasons. Join us in praying for hope, strength, and peace for the families and first responders in Texas.
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“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more, because the previous things have passed away.”
Revelation 21:4 (CSB) (read full passage)
The FBI and DOJ closed the book on Jeffrey Epstein.
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A memo released Sunday reiterates that the disgraced financier died by suicide in 2019 and didn’t have a “client list” of powerful people he was blackmailing. Nearly 10 hours of common area surveillance footage showed no one entered the hallway to his cell after it was locked. Two nearby cameras reportedly malfunctioned that night, fueling years of conspiracy theories.
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The memo said one of the government’s “highest priorities is combatting child exploitation and bringing justice to victims” and that spreading “unfounded theories about Epstein serves neither of those ends.”
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Critics aren’t buying it.
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Conservative influencers blasted AG Pam Bondi for overpromising revelations and accused FBI leaders Kash Patel and Dan Bongino of bowing to the “Deep State,” while Elon Musk called the DOJ’s memo “the final straw.”
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CHOOSE HUMILITY
Culturally hot topics frequently make people think, speak, and act poorly… including us. We can respect others and represent God better if we are quick to listen and slow to speak.
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“But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without pretense.”
James 3:17 (CSB) (read full passage)
It’s been 90 days since the U.S.’s “Liberation Day” tariffs were reduced to a blanket 10% import tax, but the White House says the bigger numbers will be back on August 1st. On Monday, President Trump shared screenshots of signed letters sent to 14 countries, including Japan and South Korea, that indicate slight changes to their original rates; all were between 25% and 40%.
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Meanwhile, Trump announced yesterday that he was placing a 50% tariff on copper and promised “a very, very high rate, like 200%” for pharmaceuticals.
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President Trump had different news for Ukraine, announcing the U.S. would be sending them military aid—primarily defense weapons including Patriot missiles—saying “they have to be able to defend themselves.”
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Verse to consider when your imported items might mean you need a second job… “Anyone trusting in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like foliage.”
Proverbs 11:28 (CSB) (read full passage)
Flooding continues to wreak havoc in the Southwest.
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Monsoon rains hit New Mexico on Tuesday, flooding the Rio Ruidoso and killing two young children and one adult in an RV park. The same area was hit with wildfires a year ago, which left the land with a significant “burn scar,” making the soil less able to absorb water and exacerbating the flooding.
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Meanwhile, recovery efforts continue in Texas, where more than 170 people remain unaccounted for seven days after the flood.
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A dozen states have sent specially trained teams to assist local law enforcement while officials try to determine how this happened. The layout of structures at Camp Mystic is facing scrutiny over multiple cabins built in an area labeled as an “extreme flood hazard,” and Governor Abbot (R) has called for a comprehensive overhaul of the state’s warning systems.
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BE DOERS
It’s easy to feel helpless in a situation like this, but the Bible promises that prayer is powerful and effective (James 5), causing things to happen that would not have happened otherwise.
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“The prayer of a righteous person is very powerful in its effect.”
James 5:16 (CSB) (read full passage)
President Trump seems to be getting fed up. This week, he rebuked President Putin for “killing a lot of people,” called his diplomatic demeanor “meaningless,” and directed the Pentagon to unpause weapons shipments to Ukraine. Trump is also considering supporting a bill that would place so-called “secondary sanctions” on Russia, including 500% tariffs on any country that purchases sanctioned Russian products (including oil).
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Meanwhile, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that Russia violated international law—committing human rights violations, including murder and kidnapping—when it invaded Ukraine in 2022.
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CHRISTIAN RESPONSE
As we mourn violence and pray for peace around the world, believers are reminded of how good the news is of Jesus’s coming kingdom. His Spirit offers supernatural peace in our hearts today, and his return promises peace in a renewed earth forever.
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“Almighty God, from whom all thoughts of truth and peace proceed: Kindle, we pray, in the hearts of all people the true love of peace, and guide with your pure and peaceable wisdom those who take counsel for the nations of the earth; that in tranquility your kingdom may go forward, till the earth is filled with the knowledge of your love; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.” Book of Common Prayer, page 654
President Trump is giving August 1st the full tariff treatment.
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Over the weekend, Trump announced 30% tariffs on Mexico and the E.U., following Thursday’s announcement of 35% tariffs for Canada—all set to take effect August 1.
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Trump acknowledged Mexico’s help slowing fentanyl and illegal migration, but said it hasn’t done enough to stop North America from becoming a “narco trafficking playground.” The E.U. called the tariffs unfair and promised it’s “ready to take necessary countermeasures,” though the White House warned any retaliatory tariff would be matched and added on top of the 30% baseline. Meanwhile, Canada paused its promised retaliation of 50% tariffs on U.S. steel and aluminum while negotiations continue.
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The U.S. Treasury posted a surprise $27B surplus in June, fueled partly by record tariff revenue, but remains on track for a larger-than-last year deficit.
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ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE
Regardless of what happens in the global economy, God will remain in control. In the midst of uncertainty on earth, set your hope on the abundance we will enjoy with Christ when he comes.
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“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.”
1 Peter 1:3-4 (CSB) (read full passage)
Iga Swiatek and Jannik Sinner are Wimbledon champions.
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In the women’s final Saturday, 8th-seeded Iga Swiatek, of Poland, became the first Wimbledon champion to post a “double bagel” (winning 6-0, 6-0) in the finals since 1911, defeating 23rd-seeded American Amanda Anisimova. On the men’s side, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner renewed their rivalry, with Sinner emerging victorious in 4 sets just a month after losing to Alcaraz at the French Open.
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Both Swiatek and Sinner—who played in front of the usual Wimbledon audience of British Royals and global A-listers—received a cool £3 million payday (that’s ~$4 million in Uncle Sam money).
ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE
Too often, we let eternally insignificant things, like sports, control our mood and behavior. It’s not wrong to enjoy these things, but remember that whether your team wins or loses, nothing of true importance has changed.
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“…Keeping our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith...” Hebrews 12:2
On Monday, President Trump announced the U.S. will sell “top-of-the-line” weapons to NATO allies, who will then “massively supply” them to Ukraine. He also threatened “very severe tariffs… at about 100%” on Russia’s remaining trade partners unless a ceasefire is reached within 50 days, saying a “great conversation” with Putin “doesn’t mean anything” if the Kremlin continues to attack its western neighbor.
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Ukrainian President Zelenksyy thanked Trump for his “willingness to support Ukraine,” but war-worn Ukrainians have expressed disappointment with the 50-day deadline, arguing it will only give Russia more time to claim lives.
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Moscow is giving Washington the cold shoulder, calling Trump’s announcement a “theatrical ultimatum” and arguing that NATO’s support for Ukraine encourages Kyiv to continue the war rather than pursue peace.
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(We’re also covering this story tomorrow in Decaf, The Pour Over for Families. Sign up—for free—here.)
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CHRISTIAN RESPONSE
Christians should be committed to praying for world leaders to be wise and to work towards peaceful resolutions while simultaneously placing our hope in God, not government.
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“First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, for kings and all those who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.”
1 Timothy 2:1-2 (CSB) (read full passage)
Lawmakers have declared it “Crypto Week” on Capitol Hill.
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The House is considering three bills that promise to bring crypto out of the wild west:
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The GENIUS Act would establish a framework for stablecoins—digital tokens tied to value tangible assets, like the US dollar—and already passed the Senate with bipartisan support
The likely harder-to-pass CLARITY Act would give regulatory oversight of different crypto assets to the SEC and the Commodities Futures Trading Commission
The Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act would prohibit the Federal Reserve from creating its own digital currency in an effort to keep crypto decentralized
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Bitcoin briefly topped $123,000 on Monday—a new all-time high and up ~85% over the last year—in hopes this week will (finally) bring regulatory clarity to the industry.
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And if Crypto Week isn’t your thing, Shark Week kicks off Sunday.
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Verse to consider when obsessively checking whether stocks or cryptos are up or down… “I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I find myself. I know how to make do with little, and I know how to make do with a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content—whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need.I am able to do all things through him who strengthens me.”
Philippians 4:11-13 (CSB) (read full passage)
President Trump is digging in against his base over the Epstein case.
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After the DOJ announced there is no Epstein “client list” and reaffirmed his suicide, many Trump supporters cried cover-up. On Wednesday, Trump doubled down, calling it a “hoax” pushed by “Democrats and foolish Republicans.” On social media, he called critics “weaklings” and “past supporters.”
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The case has sparked a MAGA rift. Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino has clashed with AG Pam Bondi over withheld files. Some right-wing influencers, like Charlie Kirk, have quieted after speaking with Trump. Others, like Megyn Kelly and Laura Loomer, are still demanding answers.
CHRISTIAN RESPONSE
Culturally hot topics frequently make people think, speak, and act poorly… including us. We can respect others and represent God better if we are quick to listen and slow to speak.
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“But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without pretense.”
James 3:17 (CSB) (read full passage)
A ceasefire in the Middle East has been reached… for a conflict you likely haven’t heard of.
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Syria announced Wednesday it had renewed a ceasefire with the Druze—a tight-knit religious minority of ~1 million people living in Syria, Lebanon, and Israel—following days of fighting between Druze militias and nomadic Bedouin fighters (another minority group) in the country’s southern province of Suweida. Syria deployed its military to control the conflict, but fighting escalated, and residents accused government forces of killing Druze civilians.
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The ceasefire came after Israel intervened, launching airstrikes on Damascus—which hit Syria’s military headquarters—in a reported effort to defend the Druze and prevent Syrian forces and Islamist militants from turning southern Syria into a “terror stronghold.”
ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE
Peace in this world is temporary, but the peace we gain through Jesus is forever. As we pray for peace in the Middle East, remember our ultimate hope is in Christ—who’s coming again one day to bring perfect, lasting peace. No more wars. No more death, sadness, or pain.
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“He will settle disputes among many peoples and provide arbitration for strong nations that are far away. They will beat their swords into plows and their spears into pruning knives. Nation will not take up the sword against nation, and they will never again train for war.”
Micah 4:3 (CSB) (read full passage)
Early Saturday, a car drove into a crowd of people waiting outside a nightclub, injuring 30. The driver—who had been kicked out of the club for being disruptively intoxicated—was pulled from the car by angry bystanders and shot before police arrived. He was taken to the hospital in an unknown condition.
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LAPD is investigating the incident as “intentional” and is still looking for the driver’s shooter, who fled on foot.
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Separately, three L.A. County Sheriff’s deputies were killed after a grenade, recovered the night before, exploded in the parking lot of a Sheriff’s Department training facility. The deputies—all veterans of the bomb squad—were transporting the explosive, but it’s unclear what caused the detonation. Despite early reports of additional injuries, officials confirmed the three detectives were the only casualties.
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CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE
God doesn’t promise a world without pain, but He does promise ultimate peace for all who trust in Jesus. During times dominated by fear, pain, and sadness, we can cling to His promises.
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“I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.”
John 16:33 (CSB) (read full passage)
Last month, the U.N.'s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Program released the semiannual Hunger Hotspots report—an early-warning and predictive analysis of global food crises for the next five months.
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The report identified 13 “hotspot” countries—some of which face "extreme hunger," and "starvation" unless "urgent humanitarian action" happens in the coming months.
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According to the FAO, food shortages, unsafe water, ongoing conflicts, and decimated farms are a “daily emergency for millions," making food insecurity one of the largest humanitarian crises in the world today.
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BE DOERS
We’re asking the TPO Community to join us in partnering with World Concern—a faith-based nonprofit that partners with communities in five of the countries listed on the Hunger Hotspots report. Your gifts provide food, water, emergency supplies, and long-term solutions so families can move from desperation to hope.
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For as little as $25, you can provide families with the aid they desperately need. Plus, TPO is matching the first $4,000—simply give through this link.
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“If a brother or sister is without clothes and lacks daily food and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, stay warm, and be well fed,’ but you don’t give them what the body needs, what good is it?”
James 2:15-16 (CSB) (read full passage)
What began as a playful “Kiss Cam” moment at Wednesday’s Coldplay concert became a worldwide viral moment and ultimately ended with the resignation of a tech CEO.
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When the screen showed a cuddling couple, they immediately separated and hid their faces, prompting singer Chris Martin to say: “Either they’re having an affair or they’re just very shy.” The internet quickly identified the man as the CEO of Astronomer, a $1.3B tech company, and the woman as Astronomer’s Chief People Officer. They’re both married (to other people).
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Astronomer placed the CEO on leave and later announced he had resigned, saying their leaders “are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability, and recently, that standard was not met.” Astronomer's Chief Product Officer has stepped in as interim CEO.
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Verse to consider whether your shame is on the jumbotron or goes unnoticed by the public… “But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8 (CSB) (read full passage)
On Monday, Israeli ground forces advanced into Deir al-Balah—a major humanitarian hub in central Gaza and one of the few places that had not been evacuated or declared a military zone. Israel says Hamas is keeping some of the remaining 50 hostages in the city.
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Meanwhile, the U.K., Canada, Japan, and 25 other countries issued a joint statement calling for the removal of Israeli-enforced aid restrictions, saying it’s “horrifying” that over 800 Palestinians (including children) have been killed while seeking aid. The statement goes on to condemn Hamas for taking hostages who “continue to suffer terribly” and demands their unconditional release.
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The White House says President Trump was “caught off guard” by the claims of Gazans dying while seeking aid, and that an Israel-Hamas ceasefire remains a “top priority.”
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ABOVE ALL, LOVE
It’s easy to become sad, angry, and indignant over world events, but it’s much more difficult to live with the tension of desiring change while simultaneously loving everyone involved—captors, hostages, Palestinians, Israelis, and those who disagree with you about the way out of this war.
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“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them.”
Luke 6:32 (CSB) (read full passage)
The E.U. is threatening to use one of its most powerful weapons in trade talks with Uncle Sam: love.
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Kidding, it’s called the Anti-Coercion Instrument. The ACI is a legal tool that allows the 27-country bloc to push back against hostile trading partners in “extraordinary situations.” Possible measures include new taxes on U.S. tech companies providing digital services (which are unaffected by tariffs), blocking U.S. companies from public-sector work in Europe, restricting investment in U.S. companies, and regular ol’ tariffs on U.S. goods.
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Some European leaders are advocating for the ACI—considered the “nuclear option”—after President Trump announced a 30% tariff on the E.U. starting August 1.
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While talk is tough, both sides say they want to salvage the world’s largest bilateral agreement, which enabled $1.5T in trade (mostly cars, booze, and pharmaceuticals) last year.
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ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE
No matter which side of the pond we’re on, we long for our leaders to guarantee prosperity in an uncertain world. Wealth comes and goes—only King Jesus will receive tribute from the whole world.
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“May the kings of Tarshish and the coasts and islands bring tribute, the kings of Sheba and Seba offer gifts. Let all kings bow in homage to him, all nations serve him. For he will rescue the poor who cry out and the afflicted who have no helper.”
Psalm 72:10-12 (CSB) (read full passage)
The Trump admin’s makin’ trade deals and AI plans.
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President Trump unveiled a “massive” trade deal with Japan, lowering tariffs from 25% to 15% in exchange for Japan’s $550B investment in the U.S., including purchasing 100 Boeing planes and upping defense spending with American firms. Trump says the U.S. will “receive 90% of the profits” from the investment, and that the deal will increase American industries’ market access in Japan.
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The markets applauded; the S&P 500 reached an all-time high and Japanese auto stocks (Toyota and Honda) each accelerated by ~12%.
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Meanwhile, the White House unveiled its strategy for “winning the AI race” in a 23-page document outlining plans to speed up construction of data centers, mitigate "ideological bias” in chatbots, and remove federal “red tape” (think: environmental regulations).
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ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE
Our ultimate purpose is to glorify God—the Creator of the universe, the God who provides, the Great Innovator, and the Inventor of everything. No matter what the state of the economy is or what new technology emerges, remember to use all of your resources to point others to eternal hope in Him.
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“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For everything was created by him, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through him and for him.”
Colossians 1:15-16 (CSB) (read full passage)
After 21 months of war, aid groups are sounding every alarm over starvation in Gaza.
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The U.N. reported this week that Gaza’s hunger crisis had reached “new and astonishing levels of desperation, with a third of the population not eating for multiple days in a row.” The Hamas-run health agency is reporting an uptick in starvation-related deaths, especially among children.
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Fingers are pointing every which way. Israel accuses Hamas of disrupting food distribution to engender sympathy, and it blames the U.N. for mismanaging aid. The U.N. agrees that gangs and crowds have overrun distribution, but blames Israel for the unsafe conditions.
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Aiming to bring about “a just and durable peace” and revive interest in a two-state solution, France has diverged from the U.S. and other allies by recognizing Palestine as a country.
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ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE
Our God is a refuge for the poor, defending and executing justice for the needy. In the face of hunger and death, we urgently pray for daily bread and cling to the hope that one day…
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“The LORD of Armies will prepare for all the peoples a feast of choice meat, a feast with aged wine, prime cuts of choice meat, fine vintage wine. On this mountain he will swallow up the burial shroud… When he has swallowed up death once and for all, the LORD God will wipe away the tears from every face.”
Isaiah 25:6-8 (CSB) (read full passage)
Verse to consider while we wait for God’s lasting peace to reign over all nations… “I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the horse from Jerusalem. The bow of war will be removed, and he will proclaim peace to the nations. His dominion will extend from sea to sea, from the Euphrates River to the ends of the earth.”
Zechariah 9:10 (CSB) (read full passage)
