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U.S. NEWS

Presidential Funeral Procession

People are honoring Jimmy Carter’s life and legacy from Georgia to Washington (and back to Georgia) as the former president makes his week-long funeral procession. 

The motorcade began Saturday morning, taking Carter to his childhood farm in Plains, Georgia—where the farm’s bell rang 39 times for #39—before heading to Atlanta for a private service and public visitation at the Carter Center. Visitation will last into Tuesday, with mourners already leaving peanuts and construction hats (a nod to Carter’s farming days and Habitat for Humanity service) alongside flowers.

Tuesday, Special Air Mission 39 will fly Carter to Washington for public visitation at the Capitol and service at the National Cathedral before returning him to Georgia for a private funeral at his church on Thursday.

Carter will be buried next to his wife of 77 years, Rosalynn.

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ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE
While Jimmy Carter accomplished much in his 100 years, his most important legacy is his faith in Jesus. The same is true for all Christians, no matter how many people know our names. Leave a legacy of faith, knowing that your eternal reward matters more than any temporary accolades or honors. 

“In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence and his children have a refuge.”
Proverbs 14:26 (CSB) (read full passage)

POLITICS

Reversals and Rules

The lower chamber of Congress is open for business.

With a dash of the drama we’ve come to expect from the House, Mike Johnson (R-LA) secured the minimum 218 votes needed for reelection as Speaker in Friday’s floor vote. Three Republicans voted for other candidates at first, but two changed their votes after Johnson and President-elect Trump lobbied for party unity. 

After a gavel pound, Johnson’s acceptance remarks, and lots of swearing (in), 434 representatives took their seats for the 119th Congress.

The first item checked off the to-do list was adopting a rules package that, among other things, raises the threshold for forcing a vote to oust the speaker to nine GOP members (it was previously one). Johnson says he’s “100%” confident he’ll keep the gavel for his two-year term.

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Verse to consider when you’re getting down to business… “Whatever you do, do it from the heart, as something done for the Lord and not for people, knowing that you will receive the reward of an inheritance from the Lord. You serve the Lord Christ.” 
Colossians 3:23–24 (CSB) (read full passage)

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“Let us not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us work for the good of all, especially for those who belong to the household of faith.” 
Galatians 6:9-10 (CSB) (read full passage)

U.S. NEWS

Bottoms Down

In his final days on the job, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy is pushing for updated warning labels on alcoholic beverages.

The advisory reports that alcohol is the third leading preventable cause of cancer in the U.S., behind tobacco and obesity, and that more Americans die from alcohol-related cancers (~20,000) than alcohol-related traffic accidents (~13,500). Murthy states moderate drinking––not exceeding federal guidelines of one drink per day for women and two for men––can raise the risk of seven types of cancer, including breast, colon, and mouth cancers. The type of alcohol does not matter.

Murthy recommends reducing federal alcohol consumption guidelines and expanding public education; he also recommends Congress pass a law requiring more prominent warning labels that include cancer risk.

Alcohol stocks spilled 1-5% following Murthy’s advisory.

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Verse to consider when evaluating your own habits…“‘Everything is permissible,’ but not everything is beneficial. ‘Everything is permissible,’ but not everything builds up… So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.”  
1 Corinthians 10:23, 31 (CSB) (read full passage)

President-elect Trump is expected to receive an “unconditional discharge”—aka, no jail time or legal penalties—in his business fraud/hush money conviction. The New York judge will issue the sentence to the soon-to-be commander-in-chief on January 10th, ten days before Inauguration Day. Trump maintains he did not commit fraud and plans to appeal the conviction.
 

Siri’s settling up for (allegedly) eavesdropping. In a California lawsuit, Apple users complained that the iEmpire recorded conversations after the virtual assistant activated unintentionally (like when you told your friend about that cafe’s “Siri-ously” good bagels), then handed private convos to advertisers. Apple denies wrongdoing but will pay out $95M to impacted customers.
 

Bread and milk aisles emptied from Nebraska to New Jersey as over 60 million people brace for Winter Storm Blair’s trek across the U.S. Propelled by a polar vortex, Blair has brought on emergency declarations in at least five states, over 5,700 flight disruptions, and winter weather alerts in 18+ states—with some areas anticipating their heaviest snowfall in a decade.
 

President Biden awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom—the U.S.’s highest civilian honor—to 19 people who’ve made “an incredible mark” on America, including Bono, Hillary Clinton, Bill Nye, George Soros, Lionel Messi, “Magic” Johnson, and Ralph Lauren. The Medal of Honor—the highest military award—went to seven Army veterans recognized for heroism during the Korean and Vietnam Wars.
 

Greenland is “not for sale.” In his New Year speech, the Prime Minister of the icy, mineral-rich, strategically located island resolved to gain independence from Denmark (yeah, we didn’t know either), seeking full ownership of international relationships and trade decisions. President-elect Trump recently reiterated his desire for the U.S. to purchase Greenland, an offer that’s been rejected twice.

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