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Mixed Signals As the U.S.-Israel-Iran war marches on, oil prices keep shuffling. Crude oil prices spiked to almost $120/barrel Monday—its highest since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. The spike came in response to Iran choking out oil tanker traffic in the petrol-packed Strait of Hormuz (see...

"My Grace Is Sufficient For You" on Dec 8, 2020 Published in Bible Verses Subscribe By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy ...

No White Flag Iran has named a new Supreme Leader: Mojtaba Khamenei will succeed his father, Ali Khamenei, to lead the country. President Trump has called Khamenei an “unacceptable” choice. It comes days after Trump demanded Iran’s “unconditional surrender,” which Iran’s President Masoud...

How does the Iranian regime… work? Since 1979, Iran has operated as a theocracy with an asterisk. Their ultimate authority is the Supreme Leader—a cleric (religious scholar) who answers to no earthly authority. He sets national policies, commands armed forces, appoints military chiefs and...

Think Different Apple’s going budget-friendly(ish). The fruit tech company unveiled two sub-$600 devices this week. The iPhone 17e will start at $599 and feature many flagship specs—A19 processor, 48MP camera, MagSafe charging, and double the space of its predecessor—while leaving off...

War Power Play It’s day 7, and Uncle Sam may proceed in his military campaign against Iran. This week, both the House and Senate voted down measures that proposed preventing President Trump from launching any more attacks on Iran without congressional approval. Critics questioned whether...

War in Iran and Beyond It’s day 5, and the U.S.-Israel-Iran war is spilling across the Middle East. Who’s involved now? At least 11 countries. This week: Qatari forces shot down two Iranian bombers; Israel began exchanging rocket fire with Hezbollah in Lebanon; Iranian drones struck the...

Strikes on Iran The U.S. and Israel began “major combat operations” in Iran over the weekend. What happened? The coordinated strikes began just after 9:00 am local time Saturday, targeting political and military sites across the country (see strike map). Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei’s...

Let’s present ourselves to the Lord, asking Him to do His transforming, renewing work in us: Merciful God, We confess that we are so easily pressed into a worldly mold, responding to the headlines with anger and anxiety, arrogance and apathy. Forgive us for the ways we’ve taken on the world’s...

What is your news doing to you? Sometimes, the Bible is deeply nuanced… other times, God puts the options before us in black and white: “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your...

Scripture Reading — Hebrews 10:19-25 Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together . . . but encouraging one another. . . . Hebrews 10:24-25 Before the pandemic, our church had a chance to take part in a soup contest called “Soup’s...

Scripture Reading — Hebrews 10:19-25 Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together . . . but encouraging one another. . . . Hebrews 10:24-25 Before the pandemic, our church had a chance to take part in a soup contest called “Soup’s...

What is the Secret Service? The U.S. Secret Service is a federal law enforcement agency under Homeland Security with two distinct jobs: Protect the nation’s leaders. Investigate financial crimes like counterfeiting, fraud, and cyberattacks on the nation’s financial infrastructure. For...

Nuclear Negotiations After three rounds of indirect nuclear talks, the U.S. and Iran are… still talking. Following President Trump’s ultimatum last week to reach a deal soon or face “very bad things” (think: military action), American and Iranian delegations met in Geneva, Switzerland...

Four Years Later Yesterday marked the fourth anniversary of the start of the Russia-Ukraine War. On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a full-scale invasion against Ukraine, starting the deadliest conflict in Europe since WWII. Since 2022, rough estimates suggest: ~1.8M soldiers from...

Cartel Chaos Quiets Mexico is recovering from a wave of violence following Sunday’s killing of its most-wanted cartel boss, “El Mencho.” Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes headed up the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), a major U.S. supplier of fentanyl, meth, and cocaine. Mexican authorities...

Closing Ceremonies The Olympics have said arrivederci. Norway won the Milan-Cortina Games, skiing home with 41 total medals including 18 gold, followed by Team USA’s 33 medals and its best-ever 12 Winter Olympic golds (see the final standings). Norwegian Ski King Johannes Høsflot Klæbo won...

Mar-a-Lago Shooting Early Sunday, agents fatally shot an armed man who made “unauthorized entry” at Mar-a-Lago, President Trump’s Florida estate. The President and First Lady were in Washington when a suspect drove through the Palm Beach resort’s north gate around 1:30 AM as another vehicle...

How much news should we consume? For two years, I consumed the news like I was breathing it—constantly, without thinking. I’d scroll headlines at stoplights, check news sites every time I opened or closed my laptop (maybe squeeze in a quick article if something seemed “big”), and listen to...

What are the Winter Olympics? Every four years, athletes from around the world compete in the ultimate snow- and ice-based sports competition, featuring all things fast and cold (think skiing, skating, hockey, and bobsledding). The first Winter Games—originally called International Winter...