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WEEKLY NEWS SUMMARY - AUGUST 7, 2024
In this week's Intersect, read about:
Harris Taps Gov. Tim Walz for Democratic Presidential Ticket
“Kamala Harris named her running mate in the 2024 presidential election Tuesday morning as her campaign sprints toward the November 5 election. The current Minnesota governor had appeared at a fundraiser for Harris on Monday night but was not announced as her pick until Tuesday morning. Meanwhile, Harris reportedly received the Democratic Party’s formal nomination as its candidate for President in 2024.” read more at WORLD
THINK.
- What do we know about Tim Walz? After graduating high school, Walz enlisted in the Army National Guard, where he served for 24 years and achieved the rank of command sergeant major. He became a high school teacher and football coach before serving in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2007-2019. He is in his second term as Minnesota’s governor. Walz met his wife, Gwen Whipple, while teaching high school, and they have two children, Hope and Gus.
- Where does he stand on key issues? As governor, Walz helped make Minnesota “a laboratory in pushing progressive policy,” as NBC News called it last year. Last January, Walz signed an extreme abortion law that allows the killing of unborn babies up until birth, funded by taxpayers. He also signed an executive order and a law making MN a “trans refuge” state where children can get puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and transgender surgeries. He also signed a law allowing illegal immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses–a concern for election integrity because the licenses are indistinguishable from those held by a citizen.
- Walz’s beliefs on those issues tell us how he would vote if he had to break a tie in the U.S. Senate as Vice President. It also shows the similarity between him and Harris in their far-left positions. Earlier this year, when Harris became the first sitting vice president to visit an abortion facility, Walz attended as well.
PRAY.
Heavenly Father, help us to keep Your principles close to our hearts as we evaluate candidates at all levels of government. Help us not to be deceived but to discern where they stand so we can cast informed votes.
ACT.
Are you registered to vote? Do you need to check your registration status? My Voter Hub is our resource where you can make sure you are ready for Election Day. It covers every state so you can recommend it to your friends!
The July Jobs Report Just Triggered a Reliable Recession Indicator
“The weaker-than-expected July jobs report triggered a reliable recession indicator that Wall Street closely monitors, reigniting concerns about the health of the U.S. economy and sparking a steep market sell-off. Employers hired 114,000 workers last month, the U.S. Department of Labor said in its monthly payroll report released Friday, missing the 175,000 gain forecast by LSEG economists. The unemployment rate jumped to 4.3%, the highest level since October 2021.” read more at Fox Business
THINK.
- Are we entering a recession? Some point out that the rise in unemployment has triggered the Sahm Rule, which has indicated every recession since 1970, with one false positive in 1959. According to a CNN poll released last month, nearly four in ten (39%) of US adults say they worry most or all of the time that their family’s income won’t be enough to meet expenses. During the Great Recession of 2008, that proportion was 37%.
- Opinions are mixed about whether we are entering a recession, and they may also be influenced by the political implications. As in 2008, a recession could generate voter backlash against the political party currently in power. The White House statement on the Friday jobs report tried to frame the results in optimistic terms, while Donald Trump blamed Kamala Harris for the market crash.
- How should we respond? Hebrews 13:5 says, “Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’” This is a comforting command. It leaves us free to follow the instructions in verse 16: “Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.” What a blessing that one of the good things we get to do is vote for leaders who we pray will make wise economic decisions.
PRAY.
Heavenly Father, we trust You to provide for our needs as we seek Your kingdom first. Give wisdom to our elected and appointed officials and business leaders. Help us to steward our time, talents, treasure, and our vote, for Your glory.
ACT.
Did you know you can think biblically about economics? Our Think Biblically series of short videos and engaging discussion questions helps you apply biblical principles to issues like socialism, free enterprise, and generosity. It’s still free for a limited time! Equip yourself today.
US to Send Jets and Warships as Iran Threatens Israel
“The US will deploy additional warships and fighter jets to the Middle East to help defend Israel from possible attacks by Iran and its proxies, the Pentagon said. Tensions remain high in the region over the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran and a key commander of the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.” read more at the BBC
THINK.
- Israel has not claimed responsibility for last week’s assassination of a Hamas commander in Iran. But they did declare that they had killed a commander of Hezbollah, the terrorist group attacking them from Lebanon. On Tuesday, Hezbollah retaliated with a drone attack that injured seven people in Western Galilee. The U.S. Embassy is strongly advising American citizens in Lebanon to consider leaving.
- Christopher Caldwell recently put Israel’s situation in perspective when he wrote, “Israel, with its 9.5 million people, 7 million of them Jews, is the size of New Jersey. The Muslim Middle East surrounding it has half a billion people and is largely hostile. Any war that pitted the former squarely against the latter would be, almost by definition, a war for Israel’s survival.” That is the great danger if Iran, which supports Hamas and Hezbollah, decides to escalate the conflict.
- American forces have been increasingly targeted by Iranian-backed militias. Five U.S. service members and two U.S. contractors were injured Monday afternoon when two rockets struck Ain al-Asad Airbase in Iraq, a U.S. defense official told Fox News. No one has claimed responsibility for the attack yet, but the US Defense Department blamed Iran, which has repeatedly stated its desire to destroy both Israel and the U.S.
PRAY.
Pray the words of Psalm 102:15-18, that the Lord would be glorified and draw all peoples to Himself: “Nations will fear the name of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth will fear your glory. For the LORD builds up Zion; he appears in his glory; he regards the prayer of the destitute and does not despise their prayer. Let this be recorded for a generation to come, so that a people yet to be created may praise the LORD…”
ACT.
Dr. Jeff Myers, President of Summit Ministries, has written a helpful article called, A Christian’s Guide to the Israel and Palestine Conflict. I encourage you to read it for a concise understanding of the issues at stake.
'Influencing the Culture': Megachurch Equipping Churches to Mobilize Voters Ahead of Election
“Representatives from a California megachurch will be traveling statewide to encourage Christians to mobilize voters ahead of the presidential election. Pastor Jack Hibbs' Calvary Chapel Chino Hills in Southern California is putting on a series of events as part of its "Comeback California Tour" that seeks to equip churches to legally and effectively get involved in the political process ahead of the November general election.” read more at the Christian Post
THINK.
- America is in the midst of a culture war between good and evil, truth and lies, morality and immorality. During times like these, it is easy to passively allow or rely on the government or other citizens to remedy the situation. But as Christians, we are called to more than idleness or passivity. We are called to action—something Calvary Chapel Chino Hills illustrates so well with this initiative.
- One of the things this church is doing as part of its initiative is ballot gathering. Also known as “ballot harvesting,” ballot gathering is the practice of collecting and submitting completed absentee or mail-in ballots on behalf of voters—eliminating the need for voters to travel to a polling place or post office themselves. Each state has different laws about ballot gathering, but approximately twenty-four states allow it to some degree.
- Getting involved in your local community is extremely pivotal to making an impact more broadly. By putting your faith into action right where you are, you can build relationships with potential voters, empathize with the struggles they are facing as citizens, and equip them to get to the polls this November. As you consider how you might be able to engage your community, remember Paul’s words in Philippians 2:4, “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”
PRAY.
Thank you, Jesus, for the fire you have ignited in Calvary Chapel Chino Hills’ heart to mobilize Christian voters this election season. May I also put my faith into action to positively change the culture in America so that you are honored once again. Amen.
ACT.
Eric Metaxas has dedicated an enormous amount of time encouraging the church to get involved in the culture war we are experiencing today. Recently, he sat down with us to discuss the role of Christians in politics and the urgency for them to get involved. You may watch this thought-provoking conversation here.
My Faith Votes— is a ministry that motivates, equips, and activates Christians in America to vote in every election, transforming our communities and influencing our nation with biblical truth. An estimated 25 million Christians who are registered to vote, fail to vote in presidential elections. My Faith Votes is on a mission to change this statistic by helping Christians act on their faith and vote in every election. When we pray unceasingly for our nation, think biblically about the issues, and vote consistently in every election the impact of Christians taking action from the local to the state and federal level will be unprecedented.
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