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WEEKLY NEWS SUMMARY - JULY 17, 2024
In this week's Intersect, read about:
Trump Says 'God Alone' Saved Him from Assassination Attempt
“Former President Donald Trump said "God alone" spared his life at a campaign rally Saturday where a 20-year-old gunman attempted to assassinate him. Just minutes into his speech at Butler Farm Show in Butler, Pennsylvania, Thomas Matthew Crooks of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, climbed on top of a building some 130 yards away where he found an unobstructed line of sight, shot and pierced the upper part of Trump's right ear.” read more at the Christian Post
THINK.
- President Trump is right in acknowledging that God protected him. Job 42:2 says, “I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted.” What is God’s purpose in sparing Trump and yet allowing one of the bullets to kill Corey Comperatore–“a man of God, [who] loved Jesus fiercely”? We do not know the answer. Many other questions remain – the shooter’s motive, how he was able to get so close, and whether anyone collaborated with him…we don’t know if or when those questions will be answered.
- The mystery of God’s sovereignty is humbling. Jesus said, “[D]o not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more…Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell” (Luke 12:4-5). I hope and pray that this historic and grim event will prompt many people to accept God’s offer of salvation through faith in Jesus. I am also praying that President Trump will respond like Ronald Reagan did after being shot in March of 1981: “God knows I needed a nudge. God wanted that assassination attempt to happen.” Reagan said. “He gave me a wake-up call. Everything I do from now on, I owe to God.” It has been reported that Trump believes “he was handed a gift from God” after the attempt on his life.
- Christian, since God has even numbered the hairs of your head, will you decide to live courageously for Him…for however many days He gives you? (Luke 12). My Faith Votes’ CEO, Jason Yates, said, “We must be prayerful and, on our guard,…for our nation and for our families. This is a time for choosing, not political sides, but if we are fully committed to Jesus. We must be. The spiritual battle is raging, even more.”
PRAY.
Jesus is both “the ruler of the kings of the earth” and “close to the brokenhearted” (Rev. 1:5; Ps. 34:18). Pray for Donald Trump, the family of Corey Comperatore, the victims who are still injured, and for our nation – that all would draw near to God in this time, and that He would pour out His grace upon us and bring glory to His name.
ACT.
Prayer is powerful and our nation needs it right now. Join our community of believers who gather online each Monday to pray for our nation. Our online groups meet every Monday morning and Monday evening…join a time that works for you here.
Judge Dismisses Trump's Classified Documents Case, Rules Special Counsel Unlawfully Appointed
“The federal judge overseeing Donald Trump's classified documents case in the Southern District of Florida dismissed the case Monday on constitutional grounds. ‘The Superseding Indictment is DISMISSED because Special Counsel Smith’s appointment violates the Appointments Clause of the United States Constitution,’ Judge Aileen Cannon wrote in her order granting Trump's motion to dismiss.” read more at Just the News
THINK.
- Separation of powers has been a theme of several news stories in recent Intersect editions, and this is no exception. The Appointments Clause in Article II, Section 2, Clause 2 of the U.S. Constitution says that “inferior Officers,” such as Special Counsel Jack Smith, can be appointed by the head of a federal department if Congress gives them authority by law. “[I]s there a statute in the United States Code that authorizes the appointment of Special Counsel Smith to conduct this prosecution?” The judge writes in her decision. “After careful study of this seminal issue, the answer is no.”
- What next? The Justice Department will likely appeal this decision to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, which means it won’t be resolved until well after the General Election. If Trump is elected, the Justice Department would be headed by his new attorney general, who could dismiss this case plus another that is headed by Jack Smith.
- In other court cases, U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) was found guilty on Tuesday of 16 federal charges that include bribery, fraud, acting as a foreign agent with Egypt, and obstruction of justice. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer immediately called for his resignation. Although currently a Democrat, Menendez is running for reelection as an Independent. He will be sentenced before the November 5 elections, but if he resigns or is expelled first, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy will appoint a temporary senator according to state law, most likely U.S. Rep. Andy Kim (D-NJ), the Democratic nominee for Senate. Remember that federal judges are nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate, so these upcoming elections can have far-reaching impact.
PRAY.
Thinking of the parable of the persistent widow, let’s keep praying in faith for justice in our nation at every level of government. Pray for God to be glorified and His will to be done in the upcoming elections.
ACT.
Can you think of a like-minded friend who you can encourage to vote? We’ve made it easy with our Voter Hub. It has everything someone needs to make sure they are registered, find their polling location, and receive reminders to vote. Send them this resource today!
Delegates Vote to Approve the New GOP Platform
“Delegates have officially voted to adopt the new GOP platform. Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), co-chair of the RNC’s platform committee, said it was ‘personally reviewed, edited, and approved’ by former President Donald Trump. She praised the platform for protecting ‘both the born and the unborn.’” read more at Politico
THINK.
- You can read the new party platform here. My Faith Votes CEO, Jason Yates joined 43 other pro-life leaders, making a statement, and calling on the RNC to restore the previous strong pro-life position. Why? In the words of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, “God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.”
- In last week’s Intersect, we took an informal poll asking you if the watered-down approach to abortion in the GOP platform would impact your vote. 30 percent of you said it would. We also received many responses asking for clarity on how to vote in November due to the platform changes. Here is our CEO’s response: “Politics is not a one-issue vote, and that's why we suggest working from a framework of lessening evil versus the lesser of two evils. When voting, consider which candidate will do less evil, and then cast your vote in that direction. The Lord sees your faithfulness in doing all you can with what you have, and he will reward it accordingly.”
- Last Wednesday, Senate Republicans blocked legislation led by Democrats to push abortion up to birth nationwide. Democrats in the U.S. Senate held a vote on a measure that would allow a pro-abortion bill to advance in the chamber. The bill, S.4554, the Reproductive Freedom for Women Act, was sponsored by Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) and had 40 Democrats saying they wanted to push unlimited abortions up to birth. Democrats needed 60 votes to force the Senate to vote on the bill itself, though the vote was 49-44 due to broad opposition from Republicans, who dismissed it as a political stunt.
- The choices before us this November…from President down to the local level may leave many in a tough spot. But this is our current political situation, and it will surely challenge many Christians to cast a vote to “lessen evil” given the alternative options.
PRAY.
Lord, help us to recognize that our faith should influence every area of our lives, including the voting booth. May we see that voting is an opportunity for us to love our neighbor (Matthew 22) by using our voice and our vote to influence the political landscape of our nation.
ACT.
Now is not the time to sit on the sidelines! Every election year, thousands of My Faith Votes supporters volunteer their time to send letters with personal notes directly to key voters in crucial swing states -- encouraging them to use the authority God has given them to vote biblically in every election. We’d love for you to be a part of this national effort. We provide you with the instructions, a letter template, and a list of recipients. Get started here!
Trump Taps Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio as Running Mate
“Former President Donald Trump selected Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio on Monday as his running mate, adding youth to the ticket amid voter concerns about age and the presidency, days after he was shot by a would-be assassin. ‘After lengthy deliberation and thought, and considering the tremendous talents of many others, I have decided that the person best suited to assume the position of Vice President of the United States is Senator J.D. Vance of the Great State of Ohio,’ Mr. Trump said on Truth Social.” read more at The Washington Times
THINK.
- Who is J.D. Vance? Elected to his Senate seat in 2023, 39-year-old Vance originally gained popularity with his 2016 book and notable Netflix movie, "Hillbilly Elegy." He's changed his rhetoric from being a Trump critic to one of his core allies in Congress. After graduating from High School in 2003, he enlisted in the Marine Corps and served in Iraq as a corporal with the Public Affairs section of the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing. He and his wife, Usha Chilukuri Vance have three children aged 7, 4, and 2. His wife is the daughter of Indian immigrants who grew up in the San Francisco area. They met at Yale Law School.
- Where does he stand on the issues? Vance is strongly against open borders and loose immigration policy and is a leading opponent of U.S. aid to Ukraine. He claims to be personally for traditional marriage but has opposed legislation to get rid of same-sex marriage. He claims to be strongly pro-life but has come out in support of access to the abortion pill and state-level abortion policies instead of a federal ban.
- Does he hold a biblical worldview? Vance’s bio on X reads, “Christian, husband, dad. U.S. Senator for Ohio.” In 2019, it was announced Vance was “baptized and received into the Catholic Church” where he stated, “I was raised Christian, but never had a super-strong attachment to any denomination and was never baptized. When I became more interested in faith, I started out with a clean slate, and looked at the church that appealed most to me intellectually.” Vance grew up attending an evangelical Christian church off and on and then went through a period of atheism in his twenties, ultimately choosing to join the Catholic Church as an adult.
- What’s next? A vice presidential debate has been agreed on, but not the details. The Biden campaign accepted an invitation from CBS News for a vice presidential debate for either July 23 or Aug. 13. The Trump campaign accepted an invitation for a vice presidential debate hosted by Fox News, on a "Date to be determined," Trump said in a Truth Social post.
PRAY.
Heavenly Father, as we look to the November elections, I pray that we will elect righteous leaders who love mercy and justice and will honor and obey You. Help us to keep Exodus 18:21 in mind which says, “Select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain.” We pray that elected officials will recognize that they are first accountable to You, then to the citizens they represent.
ACT.
Although God has ordained government and its purposes, it does not have the solutions for all the problems and troubles in society. Those who govern are fallible people like us, needing God’s wisdom just as much as we do. That is why those who serve the people need our prayers. Take a few minutes to pray and use this tool to send your current elected officials a note letting them know you are praying for them and that you encourage them to stand for biblical values.
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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