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WORLD

Airstrike Exchange

Tensions between Hezbollah and Israel boiled over yesterday morning.

Hezbollah––the (lengthy-to-describe) Lebanon-based, Iran-backed, Hamas-allied militant group––had reportedly planned a rocket attack on northern Israel in retaliation for the assassination of its top commander last month. Israel says it learned of the attack and blunted it, striking thousands of Hezbollah rocket launchers so that “fifty percent, maybe two-thirds” of their rockets didn’t liftoff.

Still, each side landed hundreds of blows, marking the heaviest exchange of airstrikes during a months-long back-and-forth. By mid-morning, skies had quieted, and Hezbollah’s leader said its successful attack was over. Israel reported killing three Hezbollah fighters and sustaining “very little” home front damage.

The morning’s conflict added fuel to fears of a regional war, but by afternoon, both sides had seemed to step back, avoiding escalation.
 
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Verse to consider when you’re stuck in a cycle of retaliation and escalation… “A gentle answer turns away anger, but a harsh word stirs up wrath.”
Proverbs 15:1 (CSB) (read full passage)

POLITICS

Spoiler Alert

RFK Jr. has suspended his presidential campaign and endorsed former President Trump.

Citing polls’ suggestions that he could be a “spoiler” for Trump’s Campaign, RFK announced Friday that he’d seek to remove his name from ballots in 10 swing states. Later that day, he appeared at a rally with Trump to say that, despite “serious differences,” the two align on many key issues, including “free speech, the war in Ukraine, and the war on our children.”

Kennedy peaked at around 15% in the polls in May but declined to 4%-5%.

Current polls show VP Harris leading former President Trump by ~3.5% nationally. Harris has faced criticism for being light on policy and refusing interviews but continues to garner waves of enthusiasm. She’s raised $540 million so far, including $82 million during last week’s DNC.
 
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CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE
Whether your “political enemy” is thriving or struggling, pray for them. When his own opponents took him to trial and sentenced him to death, Jesus had compassion and prayed for them.

“When they arrived at the place called The Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals, one on the right and one on the left. Then Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, because they do not know what they are doing.’ And they divided his clothes and cast lots.”
Luke 23:33-34 (CSB) (read full passage)

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WORLD

Not Seen or Heard

The Taliban’s moral code is now the law in Afghanistan.

The 35-article “vice and virtue” laws—strict interpretations of Islamic Sharia Law—were formally ratified this week. Under them, women are banned from showing their faces or letting their voices be heard in public, and men cannot shave their beards or wear Western clothes. It’s also illegal to miss prayers, publicize images of living beings, play music in cars, and for unrelated men and women to interact.

The rules, which have been less formally enforced since 2022, carry a wide range of penalties, including verbal threats, confiscation of property, jail time, or “any other punishment deemed appropriate.”

The Taliban ruled with similarly oppressive laws from 1996-2001 and regained control of Afghanistan in August 2021 after U.S. forces were withdrawn.

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ABOVE ALL, LOVE
It's easy to become angry and indignant over world events, but much more difficult to live with the tension of desiring change while simultaneously loving everyone involved. Followers of Christ are called to live in that tension, retaining love for the very people they work against.

"But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven."
Matthew 5:44-45 (CSB) (read full passage)

What started as a three-hour tour 8-day trip will be an 8-month trip for two NASA astronauts aboard the International Space Station. NASA has decided the pair will return on a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft in February 2025. The Boeing Starliner they arrived on, which experienced thruster problems and helium leaks, was deemed unsafe and will return to earth "un-crewed."
 

The Seminoles got some unexpected Yellow Jacket stings on Saturday. College football kicked off “Week 0” with the first top-10 upset of the season: Georgia Tech—double-digit underdogs—pulled out a 24-21 W over No. 10 Florida State in Dublin, Ireland. Week 1, AKA the “real” 2024 season kick-off, starts this Thursday.
 

Italian officials are investigating how a storm sank tech tycoon Mike Lynch’s 184-ft megayacht in 16 minutes when smaller nearby vessels were undamaged. The crew is under scrutiny for apparently neglecting basic preparations; prosecutors suggested they may bring charges of manslaughter or negligent shipwreck. On Friday, divers found the seventh and final body: Lynch’s Oxford-bound daughter, Hannah.
 

No, it’s not your imagination… rent IS high. Friday, the Justice Department announced it’s suing real estate company RealPage for allegedly helping landlords drive up rent. The DOJ and eight states (NC, CA, CO, CT, MN, OR, TN, WA) say RealPage’s pricing algorithm lets landlords collude to set rents above market rate; RealPage hasn't commented.
 

The founder of messaging platform Telegram was arrested in Paris yesterday. French police reportedly detained 39-year-old Pavel Durov for failing to crack down on criminal activity on Telegram. The platform is known for emphasizing privacy and said its moderation is “within industry standards,” arguing “it’s absurd to claim that a platform or its owner are responsible for abuse.”

WHIPPED CREAM ON TOP

It’s coming for you…

What We’re Pledging
To pray for America*

These days, 75% of Americans are feeling “very” or “extremely angry” about something in the news.

What if Christians stood out from the crowd and were recognized instead for their fervent prayer? Nearly 11,000 Christians from all over the country (see this interactive map) have pledged to pray for America so far; let’s up that number.

Sign the pledge, and the Christian Broadcasting Network will mail you a list of specific points to pray for, along with a free “pray” yard flag and window cling. 

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