230 Pentecost 5: Do You Concede?
“If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, when men rose up against us, then they would have swallowed us alive; our help is in the name of the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.” ~ Psalm 124
Do You Concede?
That’s what he said to me. He wasn’t talking to me. He was telling me what he had said to someone else. “Do you concede?” Shock is that amazing moment of bodily clarity that the mind then has to catch up to. What you have is what you've got. You won’t be able to change it. You can only deal with it. It wasn’t a choice you were given. Perhaps that’s a concession. There are no short cuts, only better routes. The unexpected way, if you’re taking it, is precisely where you’re supposed to be. If you make a habit of cutting corners, you’ll never know what’s in them. And, cutting corners only makes more corners! Then, what will you do? The power of understanding lies in between. Things only can go wrong when you believe wrong can’t be redeemed. It may not be what you were looking for, but it is what you have got. It isn’t what people say of you, it’s what you make of it. The words of a fool are a light thing.
Till angel cry and trumpet sound,
R.J.M.F
This week:
Queer politics
Women in the draft
Ten Commandments in the classroom
And the usual round up of headlines.
Births, Deaths and Marriages
Joy Pullman has been discussing her new book on a few different podcasts. Pullman tracks how the sexual revolution commandeered the civil rights movement to push its anti-reality agenda. At its heart is hatred for God’s design along with the desire to become gods by defying the way we were created to be. She explains that sexual chaos – cohabitation, divorce, single parenting – is a precondition for tyranny as children raised in disordered homes are less likely to grow to be self-governing citizens. Pullman challenges listeners to wake up and get busy. If you spend three or five hours on a screen each day, then think about using that time to do better things with other people. Vote in local elections. Find a candidate and help them get elected, or run yourself. Ultimately, if we want to live a peaceful life, we need to keep some margin in your life for others, not spending all our time on ourselves but looking out for opportunities for hospitality and community engagement. As she says, we can’t sit out the culture war. (Issues Etc, Federalist Radio Hour)
Three trans-identified individuals will be allowed to challenge Oklahoma’s ban on amending birth certificates after the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals overturned a lower court ruling. The plaintiffs argued that treating their gender dysphoria involves being affirmed in fully living their delusion (our words, not theirs), which means changing their identity documents, including and all the way back to their birth certificates. (WNG)
Baker Jack Philips appeared before the Colorado Supreme Court last week to defend his religious liberty and free speech once again. A trans-idenitifed man launched a lawsuit against Philips after he refused to make a cake celebrating a gender “transition”. Mr. Phillips has been defending himself against such attacks since 2012. In 2018, the Supreme Court of the U.S. ruled 7-2 that his “religious objections to gay marriage were protected views.” (WNG)
PornHub has shut down its website in five more states over I.D. verification requirements. Kentucky, Nebraska, Idaho, Indiana and Kansas will soon lose access to the website bringing the total number of states the company has boycotted to 12. States insist that PornHub needs to verify its users are adults by submitting government-issued identification such as a driver’s license. The website has argued that this is a free speech violation and places its visitors “in danger,” saying that users will just go to grottier, pirated and illegal websites instead. (The Daily Mail)
A trans-identified male was the subject of a manhunt in Utah last week. The man admitted to killing his parents and said he would do it again, stating, “I hated them.” (Daily Wire, Not the Bee)
Coming to America
The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 against an American citizen who wants to bring her foreign husband to live in the U.S. The majority concluded that Americans “do not have a constitutional right to guarantee their non-citizen spouse admittance into the country”. Justice Sonya Sotomayor wrote a dizzying dissent which asserts that married couples have a constitutional right to live together and “warned the ruling is an obvious sign the court will seek to overturn protections for marriage equality next.” (The Federalist, Hot Air)
President Biden has other ideas…
During an interview last week, Donald Trump said he would install a policy of giving green cards to foreign nationals who complete diploma programs in the United States should he win the White House in November. Even for a gender studies degree? Critics said that this is not the best way to bring talent to the U.S. and that “immigration policy must serve the interests of all Americans, not the interests of elite business leaders who seek cheap labor.” (The Indpendent)
The government of Ecuador has suspended its policy of waiving visa requirements for Chinese nationals after an increase in “irregular” immigration. Visa-free entry into the country is a first step for many Chinese who are headed to the United States. (AP)
Thunderdome 2024
The White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre has dismissed recent videos online of President Biden wandering off or mumbling incoherently as “deepfakes” and “manipulated”. Videos of the President being lead off stage by Barak Obama, seemingly frozen during a Juneteenth celebration, wandering at a G7 D-Day event and struggling to get into an SUV were apparently in “bad faith” and not to be believed. (Reclaim the Net, The Federalist, Not the Bee)
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will not be allowed to join President Biden and Donald Trump on stage for the first presidential debate hosted by CNN. CNN said RFK did not meet all the criteria to be eligible including being represented on ballots in a minimum amount of states. (WNG)
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Politics
During the pandemic, the U.S. military ran a propaganda campaign to disrupt Chinese influence in The Phillipines. The campaign aimed to throw shade on China’s covid vaccine, claiming it had been manufactured using pork products in order to turn the majority Muslim population against taking it. (Reuters)
House Speaker Mike Johnson said he plans to take Attorney General Merrick Garland to federal court after the Department of Justice ruled that A.G. Garland's refusal to comply with a congressional subpoena does not "constitute a crime." House Republicans subpoenaed a recording of President Biden’s interview with Special Counsel Robert Hur, but A.G. Garland has refused to turn it over. (Just the News)
Arizona’s Maricopa County Superior Court Judge, Geoffrey Fish, has turned down a motion to dismiss an election interference case. Two defendants are accused of “conspiring to delay the canvassing of votes” in order to delay the certification of the results during the 2022 general election. (Epoch Times)
International bodies, such as the United Nations, are now using ill-defined terms such as “hate speech” and “misinformation” to introduce a social credit system. Paul Coleman, from the Alliance Defending Freedom, says these massive organizations ramp up fear that something nasty is on the rise then pitch that the only way to stop it are more laws to curb speech. Governments are happy to outsource their national and international decisions – if the people are happy they get to take credit; if not, they can put the blame on bodies outside their control. (UnHerd podcast)
A Disney executive has been caught on video admitting that the company is prejudiced against hiring white people, especially men. (Not the Bee)
Sixteen things you can do to bring Americans together. “Reject nihilism, cynicism, and pessimism. People of goodwill and character can shape the future for the better. It’s never too soon or too late to start.” Some of these tips will apply more than others, but we would add praying the Psalms too! Although it may sound contrary to the goal of unifying America, don’t scrimp on praying the imprecatory ones – Jesus knows what we need and He can handle it. (Intellectual Takeout)
Crime and Punishment
The US Supreme Court has upheld a ban which keeps anyone under a domestic violence restraining order from possessing firearms. The Court voted 8-1 with Justice Clarence Thomas dissenting. (Just the News)
The Digital Age
U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy has proposed putting a health warning on social media. The move may seem like a logical next step after revelations, such as whistleblowing Meta employees who claim that the company knows its platform is “toxic” for the mental wellbeing of teenage girls, etc. But critics say it will be a hard-sell for Congress and that in the end, there is no substitute for good parental management of devices. (The Week, The Guardian)
Money, Markets and Jobs
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration is investigating documents used to sell fake titanium to Boeing parts manufacturers. Titanium is used to make landing gear, blades and is in turbines. It is usually verified as authentic with a certification process. (The Guardian)
Vehicle manufacturer, Stellantis, will phase out the use of chrome in its vehicles. While the shiny metal is safe for drivers, plant workers are exposed to toxic chemicals during the electro-plating process. (CNN)
The median price for existing U.S. homes that sold in May was $419,300, up 5.8 percent from last year. (The Hill)
Tesla shareholders have voted to reinstate Musk’s mega salary package. Musk agreed to a deal in 2018 which would see him paid out if the company hit particular growth goals. In January, a Delaware court ruled that the renumeration package had been granted improperly but the result at the recent annual shareholder meeting suggests everyone else is pretty happy with it. The vote “doesn’t override the court’s ruling, but provides a public relations victory for Musk.” (CNBC)
Walmart is the latest store to start using digital product tags, allowing prices to be changed quickly. The change has prompted fears of “surge pricing”. One analyst said, “If it’s hot outside, we can raise the price of water and ice cream. If there's something that’s close to the expiration date, we can lower the price.” (NPR)
A global shortage of watchmakers has inspired New York City’s Steve Kivel to open a school. “Becoming a watchmaker at any level is neither easy, quick, nor well-suited to a wide swath of human temperaments…Becoming a ‘master watchmaker’—who can fix a complicated watch or fabricate small parts for rare vintage watches—requires years of strained muscles, eyes, and (some will tell you) psyches”. (Robb Report)
Six common contractor scams. (Life Hacker)
Religion and the Church
Louisiana governor Jeff Landry has signed a law requiring all school and college classrooms across the state to display the Ten Commandments, starting 2025. The law is likely to be challenged under the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, as was the case with a similar law in Kentucky, struck down almost 40 years ago. (WNG)
The City Council in Norfolk, Virginia, has decided to repeal a 45-year-old ban on “palmistry, palm reading, phrenology or clairvoyance, for monetary or other compensation.” While surveys show that many Americans still identify as Christians, many also hold New Age beliefs. One 2017 survey reported that 40% believe in the power of psychics. (Jackson Hole News And Guide)
Arts, History and Sport
Vienna’s ball season has been (almost) continuously celebrated since 1814. More than 400 formal balls are held during the winter carnival and have become a strange mix of political action, networking and fun. (The Dial)
Last week in history:
1975 Jaws was released and is now considered the “prototypical summer blockbuster”. (EuroNews)
Health, Medicine and Food
Kansas Attorney-General Kris Kobach, is suing Pfizer for misleading citizens about efficacy of its covid vaccine. A.G. Kobach accused the pharmaceutical company of “downplaying the risks associated with the jab and making unsubstantiated claims about its effectiveness”, violating Kansas’ consumer protection laws. (Daily Mail)
A really thorough essay about how Anthony Fauci became the most powerful bureaucrat in America. The Bush-Cheney administration was preoccupied with bio-warfare, pushing public health and biomedical research together with the military. “Thus, in one fell swoop and with just the stroke of a pen, the distinction between government funding of bio-defense and scientific research in the realm of public health was permanently obliterated and placed Anthony Fauci near the very top of the bio-defense hierarchy of the nation.” (The Sovereign Mind, The Blaze)
A mild electrical current through your brain may help heal a broken heart. (The Guardian)
God’s Green Earth
Climate activists have sprayed part of the Stonehenge monument orange apparently to make a scene about the U.K’s use of fossil fuels. The stunt was timed to fall during the summer solstice when rules are relaxed to accomodate druids and hippies. Conservationists are concerned about damage to ancient markings on the stones and to the “exceptional lichen garden” growing all over. (Reuters, Mercator, )
The Federal Aviation Association has approved the use of drone “swarms” - up to three unmanned flying machines on a single farm. Freelance writer Emma Glassman-Hughes writes about the concerns over potential hacking, precision spraying of chemicals and whether A.I. can cope with the “randomness” of nature. (Ambrook Research)
NATO scientists say they need to refine how they read soundwaves to detect Russian submarines. The researchers say that Arctic waters are warmer and more saline than previously, altering underwater acoustics. (Phys)
Science
A new paper out of Harvard (no less) argues that an advanced civilization of “crypto terrestrials” could be living beneath the earth. (Futurism)
Voyager 1 is once again sending a steady stream of data back to Earth after a [very] long-distance troubleshoot. (CNN)
Hearts and Minds
The 3-3-3 rule to calm your mind. Or you could read Psalm 3 three times! (Very Well Mind, Bible Gateway)
Start with a blank sheet: From Passive Reading to Active Learning. (Farnam Street Blog)
What causes the Mandela Effect? (Clearer Thinking)
The language each city most wants to learn. (Mental Floss)
War and Rumors of War
The House of Representatives has approved an annual defense policy bill, which pegs funds for the $883.7 billion National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). However, concerns have been raised over added amendments, including a proposed automatic draft to the Selective Service program for males aged 18-26. Senate Democrats also want women to be enlisted. Senate Armed Services Committee Chair Jack Reed (D-R.I.) defended the move to include women, arguing that “It’s not like World War II where we need a lot of infantry. We need cyber experts, we need intelligence analysts, linguists, etc…there are a lot of women out there that can do this better than men.” Republicans expressed outrage at the amendment, wanting service to remain voluntary for women. As our resident veteran’s wife pointed out, there are many problems that are created by admitting women to the armed forces. Apart from the issues that come with men and women sharing close quarters, she asks: “Could two young parents both be drafted at the same time? Could multiple siblings? Is there any provision as to what MOS these drafted females will take? WHY mess with drafting laws right now? Our military would be strong as a volunteered service force if they stopped forcing them into CRT classes and pumping them full of forced vaccinations.” Indeed. (WNG, ZeroHedge, The Hill)
A chart of Chinese-owned U.S. farmland shows that much of it is close to military bases. A coincidence perhaps? We just read about about a curious case of a Chinese couple in Switzerland who purchased a lodge about 100 ft from an unsecured military airstrip, earlier this year. After being confronted by Swiss authorities, “the family has seemingly disappeared without a trace.” U.S. officials have argued that a 2017 national security law introduced by Xi Jinping would compel Chinese nationals to spy for him if they were asked. (New York Post, Daily Mail)
Shipping industry heads have called for more action against continuing strikes on ships in the Red Sea. Houthi terrorists sunk a Greek merchant vessel last week using drones and a remotely-controlled boat filled with explosives. “Iran-aligned Houthi militants first launched drone and missile strikes on the important trade route in November in what they say is solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. In more than 70 attacks, they have also seized one vessel and its crew and killed at least three seafarers.” (Reuters)
A top Israeli military leader has said that Hamas is an “idea” and the campaign to defeat it is foolish. President Benjamin Netanyahu pushed back, saying he is realistic about the insidiousness of Islamist ideology but wants to break Hamas’ military capability. Netanyahu recently dissolved the three-member war cabinet after opposition leader, Benny Gantz, resigned in protest at Israel’s campaign in Gaza. Israel also announced it will engage in “tactical pauses” during the day to regroup and facilitate flow of aid. (NBC, The Guardian, CBS)
A number of NATO countries have met the goal of spending 2% GDP on defense, some for the first time in a decade. Twenty-three countries made the cut, twice as many as last year. (WNG)
Stories from Far Away
🇨🇳 Makers of a new documentary estimate that almost $9 billion could be flowing into the coffers of the Chinese government annually – profits from forced organ harvesting. Organs taken from “prisoners of conscience” – practitioners of Falun Gong, Tibetans, House Christians, and Uyghurs – are sold all over the world. (Epoch Times)
🇪🇺🇨🇳 China is threatening to boycott European pork and beef products after the European Commission proposed new tariffs on imported Chinese EVs. Pork is China’s most popular meat and the country imported over $3 billion worth of European-produced pork last year. (Barrons)
🇬🇧 Britain has postponed issuing new badges for fear that the Chinese-made products may contain spying devices. Soldiers were to be issued with new badges featuring a new insignia featuring a Tudor crown preferred by King Charles. Previous badges showed a St Edward's crown favored by the late Queen Elizabeth. (Daily Mail)
🇸🇪 Sweden has lowered the age that children can legally change their gender from 18 down to 16 years of age. “Irreversible” surgical procedures will remain illegal until the patient is 18. (BBC)
🇸🇦 Reports suggest that hundreds of Muslim pilgrims have died during the annual pilgrimage to Mecca on account of very hot weather. (AP)
🇮🇳 India’s heat wave (some days at 122F!) is reportedly knocking birds out of the sky. (Semafor)
🇬🇧 The United Kingdom’s Tory party is facing the prospect of an electoral wipeout. (Spiked)
🇯🇵 Japan wants to charge tourists more than locals in order to curb “overtourism “. (Semafor)
🇬🇧 A British farmer has had his Rolex returned, fifty years after it was apparently eaten by a cow. Ew! (BBC)
🛰️ How many satellites are currently orbiting the earth?
⚾ Could you live in an old baseball stadium? At least there are lots of car spaces..
🚇 How bridges and underwater tunnels are built
🥫 How many cans of Spaghetti-Os would it take to spell out the entire Lord of the Rings trilogy? One man was determined to find out
👀 Man crosses chasm using a bridge of drones
🐍 Some of the wildest food you may find at your State Fair
🍀 I’m looking over a … 63 leaf clover?
🐦⬛ For bird lovers: Audubon Awards winners and honorable mentions
ICYMI this weekend’s Christianity & Culture Conference which was to be held in Spencer, Iowa is canceled due to flooding. Please pray for those affected. The LCMS Lutheran Emergency Response Team is helping with the situation, if you wish to find out ways to help.
Jonathan and Meridith spoke a lot about parenting on last week’s Stop the White Noise podcast. They spoke especially of the unique challenges of raising boys in a world awash with feminized values. Watch on YouTube or Rumble, or listen here. Mentions and recs:
Daughters of Sarah by Genevieve White
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!
This Week Preached:
Podcast Release:
Let us pray. Almighty God, in Your mercy guide the course of this world so that Your Church may joyfully serve You in godly peace and quietness; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
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