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WORLD NEWS

Cherry Blossom Diplomacy

The U.S. and Japan celebrated their alliance Wednesday with the Land of the Rising Sun’s first state visit in almost a decade.

The day began with business. President Biden said the alliance is “stronger than it’s ever been” as he and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced joint initiatives on technology and defense — including a moon mission that will make a Japanese astronaut the first non-American to make a giant leap for mankind.

Then, the dignitaries shared a star-studded dinner with notable celebrities and politicians like Robert DeNiro, Kristi Yamaguchi, and the Clintons. Biden and Kishida toasted to the friendship surrounded by cherry blossoms and images of koi ponds.

Thursday, it was back to business; the allies joined with the Philippines in a summit focusing on protecting free South China Sea navigation.

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CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE
Friendship is a gift worth celebrating — and there’s no friendship like the one believers have with Jesus, who knows us better than we know ourselves and who will never leave or forsake us.

“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.”
John 15:13-15 (CSB)

ECONOMY

Not The Best

Inflation has inched up, the stock market slipped down, and expectations for interest rate cuts are being… readjusted.

On Wednesday, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported annual inflation hit 3.5% in March — a full 0.3 percentage point increase from February and far cry from the Federal Reserve’s target of 2%. The tough news has investors pushing their summer plans to celebrate interest rate cuts into the fall or beyond — though most still expect at least one rate cut this year. 

Jamie Dimon, the CEO of JPMorgan Chase, issued a grimmer prediction in his annual letter to shareholders on Monday. The leader of the country’s biggest bank warns he’s preparing JPMorgan for interest rates of “8% or even more” as prices stay stubbornly high.

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Verse to consider when your bank balance numbers aren’t where you’d like them… “And my God will supply all your needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus”
Philippians 4:19 (CSB)

SPONSORED

Fighting Goliath(s)

The news shapes us more than we realize, and the more people consume, the more like their news source they become.

That’s scary. We want Christians to become more like Christ, not Fox or CNN.

TPO is designed to help people stay informed without losing their focus on Christ, and it’s working (500,000+ readers)! We just still have so far to go. We’re not fighting against one Goliath, but multiple; they’re massive news organizations that want viewers to become angry, fearful, and hateful. 

People are seeing the problem more clearly than ever in 2024, and looking for an alternative. 

Help us reach them by choosing to pay for The Pour Over. This is totally optional. TPO is free, but you can choose to pay $49/year or get a recently discounted Lifetime Membership for $99 (one-time payment). 

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WORLD NEWS

Climbing Toll and Stalling Talks

Negotiations between Hamas and Israel continue as the human toll climbs.

An Israeli strike in Gaza on Wednesday killed three sons and three grandchildren of Ismail Haniyeh, a political leader of Hamas. Israel confirmed targeting the “Hamas operatives,” who were “on their way to carry out terrorist activities.”

The Hamas-run Health Ministry attributes 33,000 Gazan deaths to the war. Haniyeh says 60 of his relatives are among the dead but maintains that the personal cost will not change Hamas’ demands in ongoing negotiations.
 
Meanwhile, Israel says the return of hostages remains key for any ceasefire. However, Hamas claims it doesn’t have the requested 40 hostages to trade, raising fears about how many of the hostages (Israel estimates 133 are still unaccounted for) remain alive.

Talks are stalling over hostages, ceasefire permanence, and post-war plans.

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CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE
Our world is overwhelmed by violence and loss and by swirling and spiraling anxieties. Turn to Jesus, who himself suffered violence and loss at the hands of those who hated him, and pray that the hope He offers brings true comfort to the Middle East. 

“[The LORD] heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds. He counts the number of the stars; he gives names to all of them. Our Lord is great, vast in power… The Lord helps the oppressed but brings the wicked to the ground.”
Psalm 147:3-6 (CSB)

Hello, friends… The Masters had a weather-delayed first-round tee time yesterday at Augusta National. Golf’s most legendary tournament features an $18M purse and 13 LIV Golf players. The CEO of the controversial Saudi-funded LIV league wasn’t officially invited but is attending as a spectator to support his golfers. Eyeing an iconic green jacket,  Bryson DeChambeau held an early lead last night. 
 

The woman who helped turn a doll into a billion-dollar movie hopes to do the same with a board game. Margot Robbie, whose production company produced Barbie, has signed on to produce a Monopoly movie co-produced by Hasbro Entertainment. The biggest question: if it’s a movie based on Monopoly, will anyone…finish it? 
 

A Vietnamese property tycoon was sentenced to death yesterday for swindling money from Saigon Commercial Bank in Vietnam’s biggest-ever fraud case. Truong My Lan’s decade-long scam caused $27B in damages — equivalent to ~6% of Vietnam’s GDP. The unusually severe punishment for the first-time corruption offender is part of Vietnam’s “Blazing Furnace” campaign to restore public trust in communist party leadership.
 

The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) announced it would only allow athletes “whose biological sex is female” to compete in women’s sports. The NAIA's council of presidents, which governs athletics at 240+ small U.S. colleges and universities, voted 20-0 to adopt the unprecedented policy for “fairness in competition.” NAIA-sponsored male sports remain open to all athletes. 
 

O.J. Simpson, 76, passed away from cancer on Wednesday. His complex history includes a notable NFL career and the highly publicized 1994-95 trial for the murder of his ex-wife, followed by a controversial acquittal. In 2008, he was convicted of armed robbery, serving nine years before parole in 2022. Simpson's multi-faceted personality inspired a TV installment and an award-winning documentary.

WHIPPED CREAM ON TOP

A self-balancing cube…

What We’re Listening To
Dwell Daily*

If you’ve been around here a while, you’ve probably heard how Dwell helps our staff stay rooted in the Bible, covering lots of holy ground almost by accident.

Now, Dwell is helping us slow down, too. We’re diving deeper with Dwell Daily — unhurried, thoughtfully crafted audio devotionals that help us pray and meditate on Scripture. Each day features the soothing and customizable audio we’ve come to know and love from Dwell, plus reflections on a couple of verses that give us something to ponder, all in under 10 minutes.

Download the app to check out Dwell Daily and meditate with us. 

What We’re Drinking
LMNT*

Healthy hydration isn’t just about water. You lose water and sodium when you sweat, so both need to be replaced to help you sleep soundly, sharpen your focus, and improve your energy.

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You’re guaranteed to find a flavor you love, like fan-favorites Citrus Salt or Raspberry Salt mixed into ice water or seltzer for a refreshing pick-me-up, or mix Chocolate Salt into your coffee for a mean mocha.

Try it out today to get a free sample pack with any purchase!