233 Pentecost 8: Choose Glory
“Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him, that glory may dwell in our land.” ~ Psalm 85
Choose Glory
Do you even know what you’re looking for? Being trapped in a box would make anyone angry. A certain hope is better than a fickle expectation. Don’t play with fire unless you intend to learn quickly from your mistakes. Those who make a show of innocence are the least innocent of all. Claiming weakness is a modern power play to crush enemies without a fight by relying on sympathy as a cudgel that will never be questioned. Making a virtuous show of non-power, the modern world plays you for a fool by convincing you to abandon your rights. Shouting about being the pinnacle of fairness, sentiment is a glossy coat smeared over a cesspool of dark emotion, greed, envy and hatred. Opt out of ignorance. Choose glory.
Till angel cry and trumpet sound,
R.J.M.F
In a way, it’s surprising it has not happened sooner. But the attempted assassination of Donald Trump has shocked us all. The details coming in leave so many questions. How did the Secret Service fail to cover all lines of sight? How did authorities fail to apprehend the young shooter once they were warned? There will be many more questions, and hopefully some answers will be forthcoming in the investigation announced by President Biden.
The media are to blame. Politicians themselves are to blame for ratcheting up the rhetoric and insults against their opponents. “The question of whether the would-be assassin is a particular product of this political moment or just a random psychopath who happened to breach security will only become clear, if at all, over time,” is how Carl Trueman expressed it. For Mercatus Institute David Masci, we regular Americans have some blame to accept too. But that also means we have some agency. Trump and Biden might not be sharing a beer as did politicians of yore, but the way we speak about those in power (especially online) can be better.
Pastor Bramwell posted a video, reminding us that the real enemy is the devil. While we would like to check out of politics sometimes, especially when the reality is so ugly. But Pastor Bramwell reminds viewers that more than ever, the fight has come to us – politics is theological. As lawmakers and pundits alike place their trust in change coming through political power, they grow more disillusioned when that god fails.
As much as the attack on Trump has heightened the fear, the despair, the anger, the determination, our fight is not really against flesh and blood, as you know. We must be those with a trowel in one hand and a sword in the other, building even as we defend the good, true and beautiful. Pray for those in power, and against the enemies of the church even as you remain ready to give an account for the hope you have.
Coming to America
A Heritage Foundation survey claims that 10% of illegal aliens they asked said they were registered to vote in November’s election. The interviewers visited an apartment complex known to be the residence for illegal immigrants and asked them straight up. It was a very small sample, but yikes! (The Blaze)
Meanwhile, Republican-lead Congress has passed a bill which aims to exclude non-citizens from voting in American elections by requiring identification. It is already illegal to vote if you are not a citizen, but the current system is based on honor, which is largely unenforcible. Democrats oppose the bill, saying that requiring proof of citizenship places an undue burden on voters and potentially removes eligible voters from the rolls. President Biden has indicated he would veto such a law. (Newsweek, The Federalist)
With mail-in and drop box voting now the norm in some states, ways of tidying up voter rolls can be limited. However, a non-profit Nevada group is helping local elections officials do their jobs “using an advanced software system” to identify voters registered at fake addresses. Also, West Viriginia’s Secretary of State, Mac Warner, has discussed his efforts to tidy up the state’s voter rolls on The Federalist podcast. Secretary Warner says 400,000 names of deceased people were removed from voter rolls, but there is a lot more work to do. While Democrats have accused WV of “purging” voters, Secretary Warner says it is better for everyone’s confidence in the electoral process that rolls are checked over. He says there have been no lawsuits so far, so complaints must are groundless. (The Federalist, Parkesburg News and Sentinel, The Federalist Radio Hour)
Thunderdome 2024
Look out for a new Russia collusion hoax. Outlets are reporting about dangerous bot farms while the Office of Director of National Intelligence has warned that candidates and specific demographics are being targeted according to their stance on Ukraine. (Semafor)
The President’s decline has been causing a lot of trouble:
Politics
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) has filed articles of impeachment against Justices Thomas and Alito over their “pattern of refusal to recuse” themselves from cases with clashes of interest and for not disclosing lavish gifts. (The Hill)
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Births, Deaths and Marriages
According to a new United Nations report, fertility rates around the world are dropping more quickly than expected, with a decline in the planet’s population expected before the end of this century. The number of people over 65 is expected to surpass the amount of children by 2080. (NBC)
The makers of a new fertility drug, used during IVF procedures, claim it increases live births by 7%. The drug is “designed to act directly on the lining of the womb to make it more receptive to the embryo being implanted.” (The Guardian)
Pro-life groups have been included in a list of terrorist organizations, during a presentation given at a U.S military base. Fort Liberty confirmed the slide was used during training but that the presentation had not been properly vetted. A group of congressional Republicans has launched a probe. (Shoe via X, The Federalist)
Real time footage of earliest stages of embryo. (Newsweek)
Crime and Punishment
Boeing has pleaded guilty to defrauding the U.S. government over fatal 737 Max crashes. The deal with the Justice Department means the company will avoid prosecution. Families of victims have criticized the “sweetheart deal”, saying Boeing will not be held accountable for its negligence. In related news, Boeing’s sales have been rather low, selling just three jets last month. (Semafor, Not the Bee, CNN)
Three deans from Columbia University have been suspended for a group text chat which contains messages deemed “antisemitic in nature”. (The Hill)
Straight Outta J-School
Media censorship complex:
The Digital Age
YouTube is rolling out a A.I-driven feature which will remove and replace copyrighted music in your old videos. (Music Tech)
Made by human: Etsy is hoping to “keep commerce human”, requiring vendors to specify when A.I. has been used to create a product. (Tech Crunch)
How did the sparkle emoji come to be associated with A.I.? (David Imel via YouTube)
Money, Markets and Jobs
With prices dropping slightly and “milder” inflation, rumors abound that the U.S. Federal Reserve may issue a rate cut soon. (Nikkei)
Move over auto plants and mines, there’s a new industry creating boom towns in rural America – e-commerce depots. “A generation ago, there were essentially three career paths in the area: farming, the military and manufacturing. They’ve all been overtaken by the warehouse boom.” (PYMNTS)
The least common jobs in America. (Visual Capitalist)
Volkswagen has inked a $5 billion deal with electric vehicle manufacturer, Rivian. Volkswagen’s strategy is to gain access to Rivian’s software capability, since it has “struggled mightily” to develop programs for its own EVs. The deal means Rivian will enjoy the clout of woking with VW. (TechCrunch)
Ferrari’s new electric vehicles will be hitting the market next year, with the company announcing new battery subscription. Ferrari will extend the warranty on the battery from 8 to 16 years for a pretty penny. (Car Expert)
Health, Medicine and Food
A new Israeli study has investigated the mechanism by which mRNA covid vaccines disrupt menstrual cycles. While this particular adverse reaction has been dismissed by much of the medical establishment, the authors note that “irregular periods are crucial beyond fertility, affecting cardiovascular health and chronic disease risks, including premature mortality.” (Sonia Elijah Investigates)
Residents of a Texas town say the noise from a Bitcoin mining operation set up in their backyard has caused a range of debilitating health conditions. (Time)
The FDA has banned brominated vegetable oil (BVO) from being used in food and beverages. Predominantly used in beverages to keep citrus flavoring from floating to the top, BVO has been removed from many products already. The substance has been found to cause hyperthyroidism. (Food Dive)
A start up backed by Bill Gates says its “butter” will be better for the environment than that made using milk. Their concoction is created using a mixture of “carbon monoxide and hydrogen to produce long carbon chains, which are then used to form triglycerides, a kind of fat.” So, like margarine but even worse. (Semafor)
The American Cancer Society says that almost 40% of cases could be prevented by lifestyle changes. The report nominates risk factors such as smoking, “excess body weight, alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, diet and infections such as HPV.” (CNN)
Arts, History and Sport
Scientists have shed some light on the way the Antikythera mechanism works. The 2000 year old mechanical device, recovered from a Greek ship wreck, may have utilized the lunar calendar to predict eclipses and other astronomical phenomena. The device inspired Indiana Jones’ “dial of destiny”. (Interesting Engineering, Smithsonian)
Officials at the Minute Man National Historical Park in Massachusetts say they have discovered five musket balls, likely part of the “shot heard ‘round the world.” (NBC)
The Avengers cast assemble to record a dub in Lakota. (Marvel via YouTube)
How U.N interpreters translate in [almost] real time. (Half as Interesting via YouTube)
Allure of true crime (1440)
Last week in history:
1099 The siege of Jerusalem. (ThoughtCo)
1850 President Zachary Taylor dies unexpectedly after only 16 months in office. (History)
1924 Scottish runner Eric Liddell refuses to compete at Olympic events held on Sunday, inspiring events portrayed in the movie “Chariots of Fire.” (BBC, WNG)
1925 The Scopes Monkey trial challenges the Bible’s creation account. Ken Ham joined Issues Etc podcast to set the record straight. (Issues Etc)
1985 French intelligence sinks Greenpeace ship, The Rainbow Warrior to prevent discovery of nuclear tests in the Pacific. (France24)
Hearts and Minds
Research has linked gratitude to longer life for the first time. “Mounting evidence has linked gratitude with a host of benefits for mental and physical health.” While a causal relationship has not been proven, researchers say gratitude is an “emotion worth cultivating.” As Christians, this is an opportunity to level up. Pastor Wolfmueller has a handy distinction from the world’s idea of gratitude (which often amounts to positive thinking, “counting your blessings”) to the Christian idea of thankfulness. While gratitude recognizes the goodness of the gift, thankfulness recognizes the goodness of the giver. (Los Angeles Times, Creative Word Fellowship via YouTube)
Shower thoughts: “peak creativity happens when we’re pleasantly absent-minded.” Some tips for capturing your best thoughts: “Keep a notebook with you at all times, even in the shower, plan disengagement and distraction, overwhelm your brain: make the task really hard.” (Open Culture)
Obstinacy vs persistence. “The persistent are attached to the goal. The obstinate are attached to their ideas about how to reach it.” (Paul Graham blog)
A bit of Monday cheer..
Science
Four volunteers have left a simulated Mars habitat after a year. The crew completed “Marswalks” and grew vegetables to supplement their provisions. (AP)
The world’s first anode-free sodium solid-state battery. (UChicago)
Europe’s shiny new Ariane-6 rocket has made its maiden launch. An anomaly in upper-stage of the rocket meant its mission was cut short, but it was still deemed a success. “Ariane-6 is intended to be a workhorse rocket that gives European governments and companies access to space independently from the rest of the world.” (BBC)
Helicopters can’t fly in extreme heat. (USA Today)
God’s Green Earth
The crazy prehistoric-looking shoebill bird is being pulled back from becoming endangered with the help of puppets. (CNN)
Biologists are investigating whether migratory animals have a sensitivity to the earth’s magnetic field or whether they rely on magnetic bacteria living inside them. (University of Florida)
War and Rumors of War
U.S and German intelligence say they have uncovered a Russian plot to murder the chief executive of a defense company that produces weapons for Ukraine. (CNN)
The $230million pier built by the U.S. military to assist the delivery of aid to Gaza is set to be dismantled after two months, with looting and bad weather cited as the main reasons. (USA Today)
The Head of NATO announced at a recent summit in Washington that Ukraine’s path to membership with the alliance was “irreversible”. China and Russia expressed disapproval of the announcement. But the Wall St Journal says the path is “uncertain” and particularly dependent on who is in the White House next year. (The Guardian, Wall Street Journal)
Chinese and Belarusian troops have carried out military exercises, just miles from the Polish border and also close to Ukraine’s border. (CNN)
Russia has launched its largest airstrike in a while, with reports that the attack destroyed a children’s hospital in Kyiv, killing dozens. (Semafor)
Japan and the Philippines have signed an agreement to increase military cooperation in face of potential threats from China. (WNG)
According to Financial Times, “China is demanding acts of loyalty from its young professionals living and working in the US, sometimes putting them at odds with local law and immigration requirements.” The report claims that young people who joined the Communist party while students or early in their careers are being asked to regularly report on their personal situation to contacts in China and to pay membership fees. The State Department says no one with ties to the Communist Party is eligible for a green card. (Financial Times)
Reports say Germany is set to purge its telecommunications system of comments made by Chinese company, Huawei. However, it may be a futile effort as one site pointed out: “Germany is set to ban Huawei from the core, where it has no presence, and the RAN management software, where taking it out looks unviable.” (Light Reading)
Stories from Far Away
🇬🇧 The U.K. has its first “code of practice for the use of stem cell-based embryo models”. (University of Cambridge)
🇷🇺 A Moscow court has issued an arrest warrant for the widow of Alexei Navalny, Yulia. She is currently living abroad in an undisclosed location. (ABC)
🇨🇳 Chinese ex-pats in Britain and Australia are being targeted for elaborate scams which extort money by threatening to deport them. Organized crime groups, posing as Chinese police fake video testimony and harass family, even though they hold citizenship in other countries. (BBC)
🇹🇭Thailand has confirmed 200 senators for the first time since a coup in 2014. (Yahoo)
🇰🇪 Kenya’s President William Ruto has dismissed his entire cabinet, apart from his deputy and foreign affairs minister. The move comes after an unpopular tax bill prompted deadly riots, but it’s not clear where to from here. (BBC)
🇩🇪 The lies can kill. A Porsche executive in Germany has been jailed for dropping her newborn daughter out of a window. The woman said she feared the child would ruin her career. (Daily Mirror)
🇸🇪 Sweden’s crime rate drops during summer when criminals head home to their countries of origin. (PJ Media, Not the Bee)
🇸🇬 Singapore approves 16 varieties of insect for human consumption. (CNBC)
🇨🇴 Pablo Escobar’s abandoned cocaine hippos will soon be an invasive threat. (Smithsonian)
🇩🇪 A German police officer has had his appeal to get his job back overturned. The policeman was fired after stealing massive quantities of cheese during a traffic accident from an overturned truck. (Reuters)
🇯🇵 Retro-futurism, Japan-style
🛸 Deputies pull over an alien vehicle, bound for Roswell
🇨🇦 A mystery group are stealing garden gnomes, repairing them and returning them
👸🏻 The usefulness of “once upon a time”
🕯️Texans used Whataburger’s app to track power outages
🏁 The sound of a fully-electric NASCAR
🏴 Got the gift of the gab? A Glasgow hotel is seeking a “banter merchant”
🇦🇺 Fake Picassos turn out to be a feminist stunt
🐭 Which characters are next to enter public domain?
👻 If all the talk of spirits, cryptids and aliens on BHoP has piqued your interest, this one might be right up your alley. A tour of US ghost towns (All That’s Interesting)
Jonathan and Meridith’s second episode of Starfall2029 was a riveting discussion of the arts, the Bible and the end of the world. A great challenge from Pastor Fisk: Don’t ask what are you afraid of, ask what are you waiting for? Watch on YouTube or Rumble, or listen here. Show links:
Visit Studio31twentyfour for something made by Fisks.
If you missed it, Meridith put out a call for anyone who would like to make a quilt for men who stay at the Hebron Collegium. If that is something you would be interested in helping out with, please reply to this email or send a message through madpxm.com/contact.
Our disclaimer: These are some resources the Fisks have found edifying, but when dealing with human-authored texts, apply discernment liberally!
Podcast Release:
Let us pray. O Lord, You granted Your prophets strength to resist the temptations of the devil and courage to proclaim repentance. Give us pure hearts and minds to follow Your Son faithfully even into suffering and death; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
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Regarding the Antikythera Mechanism, I highly recommend the Clickspring YouTube channel. Chris Ferguson is a clock maker and really talented, and he started a project to recreate the Antikythera, and he ended up contributing to research on the mechanism. His channel is unreal.