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WORLD NEWS

Deadly Quake

A 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar (Burma) Friday, killing at least 1,600 people and causing widespread devastation.

The quake hit near Mandalay—the country’s second-largest city—collapsing bridges, buildings, and power lines. Myanmar’s ruling military junta, which has restricted foreign aid and internet access since a 2021 coup, issued a rare plea for international help. Rescue teams are using drones, sniffer dogs, and heavy machinery to search for survivors as aftershocks continue; at least 130 remain missing, but rescue efforts are being hampered by damaged roads and the country’s ongoing civil war.

The impact was felt over 800 miles away in neighboring Thailand. At least 17 people died and 100+ remain missing, and multiple construction sites collapsed in Thailand’s capital of Bangkok, including a high-rise caught on a dash cam (see here).

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ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE
Christians can look forward to an eternity where there’s redemption not just for people, but for creation itself.

“For the creation was subjected to futility​—​not willingly, but because of him who subjected it—in the hope that the creation itself will also be set free from the bondage to decay into the glorious freedom of God’s children.”
Romans 8:20-21 (CSB) (read full passage)

POLITICS

Proceedings with Caution

The Judicial Branch has been swingin’ gavels. 

Last week, district and appeals courts issued a number of rulings on challenges to recent Trump admin activity, including: 

• Allowing the Trump admin to fire Biden-appointed members of labor and workforce protection boards

• Continuing to deny President Trump’s use of the Alien Enemies Act to quickly deport alleged Venezuelan gang members

• Blocking the admin from firing all employees at Voice of America, a government-funded international broadcast network

• Allowing DOGE to continue overseeing foreign-aid distributor USAID

Meanwhile, Wisconsin will elect a new state Supreme Court justice tomorrow, which could flip the bench’s ideological majority. Elon Musk caused a stir by giving away three $1M checks to Wisconsinites who signed a petition against “activist” judges; the Badger State’s attorney general unsuccessfully sued to block the giveaways.

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CHOOSE HUMILITY
Whether we support or oppose a judge’s ruling, followers of Christ have an opportunity to show that our ultimate allegiance is to him. Imitating our just and merciful Father, root for justice while retaining love for all parties—both the accused and the accusers—desiring restoration, not revenge.

“Therefore the LORD is waiting to show you mercy, and is rising up to show you compassion, for the LORD is a just God. All who wait patiently for him are happy.”
Isaiah 30:18 (CSB) (read full passage)

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WORLD NEWS

Arctic Fever

One of the world’s coldest places is a hot commodity.

Greenland—a semi-autonomous territory governed by Denmark—sits in the Arctic Circle between North America, Europe, and Russia. President Trump’s been eyeing the big island freezer, saying the U.S. will “go as far as we have to go” to get it because Greenland is a strategic military location (as Russia and China beef up their Arctic presence).

On Friday, while leading a delegation to a U.S. Space Force base in Greenland, VP Vance said Denmark has “underinvested” in the island’s people and security. He said the U.S. respects Greenlanders’ right to self-determination and that military force isn’t necessary for boosted American involvement.

Denmark’s foreign minister didn’t appreciate Vance’s “tone,” saying “this is not how you talk with your close allies,” but welcomed Uncle Sam’s cooperation on Arctic defense investments.

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Verse to consider whether you’re caught in the middle of hostile global powers or bickering preteens… “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without pretense. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who cultivate peace.”
James 3:17-18 (CSB) (read full passage)

Columbia University’s interim president, Katrina Armstrong, resigned Friday. The exit comes after Columbia agreed to Trump administration demands—banning identity-concealing masks, hiring more campus police, etc.—amid negotiations to have $400M in federal funding reinstated. Armstrong’s predecessor resigned amid backlash to her handling of on-campus protests of the war in Gaza.
 

On Friday, Charlie Javice—founder of the startup Frank—was convicted of defrauding a big bank (JPMorgan) out of big money ($175M). Frank claimed to simplify college financial aid applications for over 4M students. JPMorgan bought the company in 2021 only to discover 90% of those students… weren’t real. Javice and her co-defendant now face decades in prison.
 

A new ceasefire is on the table in the Middle East. Saturday, Hamas offered a 50-day truce, during which five more living hostages would be released; Israel submitted a “counter-proposal… in full co-ordination with the United States.” Then Sunday, PM Netanyahu said Israel was upping military pressure and demanding the group disarm—a demand Hamas called a “red line” it won’t cross. 
 

A small plane traveling from Iowa to Minnesota crashed into a house in Minneapolis on Saturday, killing everyone on board. The crash caused the plane and house to catch fire; no one in the house was harmed. The number of passengers and their identities are still unknown, and an investigation into the crash is ongoing.
 

X… meet xAI. Elon Musk announced Friday that his social media platform X was acquired by his artificial intelligence startup xAI, consolidating the two companies valued at $33B and $80B, respectively. The merger news comes as people gathered in over 200 Tesla locations Sunday for “Tesla Takedown”—an organized global protest against Elon Musk and recent DOGE layoffs. 

WHIPPED CREAM ON TOP

Does this count as claymation?

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