Just sharing.

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Salary Cap Screen Play​

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Basketball season hasn’t started yet, but the LA Clippers are being accused of a flagrant foul.​

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The NBA is investigating whether Clippers’ owner Steve Ballmer used a fake endorsement deal to “circumvent” the league’s salary cap and pay star forward Kawhi Leonard an additional $28M.​

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In 2021, Ballmer invested ~$50M in a now-bankrupt sustainability company called Aspiration. An investigative sports podcast alleged that Aspiration signed a four-year endorsement deal with Leonard that involved no actual endorsement and only required him to remain with the Clippers.​

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Ballmer says the allegations are “provably false,” but if they’re true, it could mean serious penalties for Leonard and the Clips, including multi-million-dollar fines, voided player contracts, and the loss of future draft picks.

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Verse to consider whether your favorite team’s in the spotlight for a big win, a big scandal, or yet another disappointing season… “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.”
Colossians 3:2-4 (CSB) (read full passage)​

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ICE Raid​

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Nearly 500 people were detained during an ICE raid on a Hyundai factory in Georgia on Thursday.​

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ICE agents arrested 475 individuals at the Hyundai-LG EV battery site west of Savannah—the largest single-site enforcement action in Department of Homeland Security history. More than 300 detainees are South Korean nationals.​

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Authorities said the operation followed a months-long probe into “unlawful employment practices and other serious federal crimes,” carried out with a judicial search warrant. Officials said some workers entered the U.S. illegally, while others overstayed visas or worked under visa waivers that prohibited employment. Detainees are being held at an ICE facility in Folkston, GA.​

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South Korea’s government responded with “concern and regret,” and reached an agreement with the U.S. to release its citizens and bring them home on a chartered plane.​

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ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE
Immigration raids bring light to the tension between laws, justice, and compassion. As policies are debated and enforced, Christians are reminded that true belonging isn’t found in earthly citizenship, but in Christ, as citizens of heaven.​

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“Our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly wait for a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Philippians 3:20 (CSB) (read full passage)​

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Caribbean Buildup​

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The U.S. is ramping up its counternarcotics and counterterrorism campaign in the Caribbean. ​

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Since President Trump’s August executive order directing the Pentagon to use military force against Latin American drug cartels, tensions have been rising with Venezuela. The U.S. killed 11 “narcoterrorists” in international Caribbean waters on Tuesday, prompting Venezuela to fly two fighter jets over a U.S. Navy destroyer. Then, on Friday, the Pentagon sent 10 fighter jets to Puerto Rico, joining an attack submarine, surveillance planes, and eight warships already in the region.​

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Venezuela’s President Maduro called the buildup “the greatest threat” in a century and promised to respond to armed attacks with “maximum rebellion.”​

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The Pentagon, which President Trump re-renamed the “Department of War” on Friday, called Maduro’s regime a “cartel” and warned him not to interfere with the DOD DOW’s counterterrorism efforts.​

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CHRISTIAN RESPONSE
The political powers of the world have different priorities than the kingdom of God. As global powers maneuver to assert dominance, the King of the Universe’s priorities are clear and unchanged.​

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“Mankind, he has told each of you what is good and what it is the LORD requires of you: to act justly, to love faithfulness, and to walk humbly with your God.”
Micah 6:8 (CSB) (read full passage)​

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Secret Scribbles​

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More Epstein files dropped Monday. ​

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The House Oversight Committee published hundreds of pages of documents from Jeffrey Epstein’s estate, including a 2003 “birthday book” with messages from high-profile friends—including Bill Clinton and Peter Mandelson—compiled by Ghislaine Maxwell three years before Epstein’s abuse allegations became public. Among the entries was a suggestive doodle and note, allegedly from Donald Trump, ending with “Happy birthday—and may every day be another wonderful secret.”​

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The White House swiftly dubbed the signature a forgery and pointed to Trump’s $10B defamation lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal—which first reported on the entry in July.​

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The broader release includes Epstein’s will, non-prosecution deal, and address book—but no “client list,” which DOJ officials maintain does not exist. Republicans are accusing Democrats of cherry-picking evidence, while Democrats say it’s time for Trump to “release all the Epstein files.” ​

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ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE
Secrets and spin are rampant in politics, but God’s Word promises nothing hidden will stay that way (Luke 8:17). Use discernment while placing your hope not in committees or courts but in Christ, who will reveal truth and bring ultimate justice.​

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“So don’t judge anything prematurely, before the Lord comes, who will both bring to light what is hidden in darkness and reveal the intentions of the hearts. And then praise will come to each one from God.”
1 Corinthians 4:5 (CSB) (read full passage)​

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ICE Operations​

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After weeks of promising a deportation crackdown in Chicago and Boston, “Operation Midway Blitz” and “Patriot 2.0” are underway.​

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The Department of Homeland Security says the fresh immigration enforcement efforts are targeting “the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens” released from local jails in sanctuary cities. Four arrests have been confirmed in Chicago; Boston saw at least eight arrests of violent criminals, some of whom are accused of MS-13 gang affiliations.​

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Meanwhile, the Supreme Court temporarily lifted restrictions on ICE operations in Los Angeles.​

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The 6-3 decision blocks a July court order that had stopped ICE from conducting “roving patrols” in predominantly Spanish-speaking communities and areas where day laborers frequently congregate. Democratic leaders say ICE agents are illegally profiling Californians and “terrorizing our communities”; Republicans praise the efforts as restoring public safety.​

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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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Verse to consider whether you’re feeling frustrated with your government or thankful for it…“This is what the LORD of Armies, the God of Israel, says to all the exiles I deported from Jerusalem to Babylon: ‘Build houses and live in them. Plant gardens and eat their produce… Pursue the well-being of the city I have deported you to. Pray to the LORD on its behalf, for when it thrives, you will thrive.’”
Jeremiah 29:4-7 (CSB) (read full passage)​

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Deal with the Mess​

“Just stuff it in the closet!” Johnny heard his mom call out. They were all frantically cleaning the house for company.

Johnny opened the closet door cautiously. It was stuffed to overflowing with other things they’d just “stuffed in the closet” before. He shook his head. What a mess!

He knew it wasn’t just the closet either. The basement, garage, and other closed-off places all needed hazmat suits to enter. They were running out of space to stuff; what would they do then?

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“What are you doing?” Johnny asked his mom. The hallway was filled with stuff—stuff he hadn’t seen in what felt like forever. Where had it all come from?

“We are cleaning out the closet…and the then the basement and garage,” his mother replied, wiping sweat off her forehead.

“Ummm, Mom, it looks worse now. We can’t even walk through the hallway.”

Mom sighed. “I know. Facing the mess is no fun, and it does look worse. But it’s the only way to get it all better. We need to deal with the junk, not just hide it. And then once we do,” she added with determination, “we’re going to keep dealing with it instead of trying to hide it.”

Mom’s organizing project seemed to take forever. The whole house, not just hideaways, felt overrun for a time. But then, order—true order—arrived. Johnny could find his toys again…and his roller blades. In the end, it had been worth it to not just hide everything away.

“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7 (ESV)

 

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Charlie Kirk Killed​

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Charlie Kirk, a prominent voice among young conservatives, was assassinated on Wednesday.​

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What happened?
The 31-year-old was speaking at an outdoor Q&A at Utah Valley University when a single bullet was fired, striking him in the neck. Video shows Kirk discussing mass shootings involving transgender individuals before he collapses; security rushed him to the hospital, where he died. President Trump confirmed the activist’s death on Truth Social.​

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The university quickly went into lockdown while police searched for the shooter alongside the FBI. Authorities questioned and released two suspects shortly after the shooting.​

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Have they found the shooter?
Not yet. ​

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The FBI has released images of the person of interest, offering a $100,000 reward for information. They believe he is a college-aged male who fled into a nearby neighborhood after the shooting.​

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Tell me more about Charlie Kirk.
Kirk was best known for co-founding Turning Point USA—a conservative youth organization active on more than 3,500 college campuses—when he was 18 years old. He hosted a popular podcast and “Prove Me Wrong” debates, where he often referenced his faith in Christ, and played a prominent role in helping the Trump campaign reach young voters in 2024.​

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He was married with two young children.​

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How have people responded to the assassination?
Political figures on both sides of the aisle—from President Trump to former President Obama—have offered Kirk’s family condolences and condemned the violence. ​

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Trump ordered flags to be flown at half-staff through Sunday and announced that the “giant of his generation” will be posthumously awarded the Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor.

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PRAY WITH US
God of mercy, come near. Come near to the family of Charlie Kirk as their world rips apart. Come near to the community that is shaken and gripped by fear. Come near to us as this act of violence unravels any sense of security, shatters any semblance of peace.​

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Emmanuel, you entered a violent world and suffered at the hands of violent men to buy a costly redemption. You have come near in bitter darkness. We cling to you. We depend on you for justice and for hope. Amen.
(Scriptural basis: Isaiah 53:3-5; Matthew 1:20-2:18)​

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