by Lucas Leiroz, Strategic Culture: The Zionist regime assassinated the head of the Hamas political bureau, Ismail Haniyeh, in a terrorist missile attack in the Iranian capital, Tehran. The escalation generated by this type of crime is absolutely unprecedented. Israel simply carried out an incursion against the capital of the greatest military power in the […]

by Ron Unz, The Unz Review: Last week I published an article on the dramatic events in domestic American politics, including President Joseph Biden’s sudden disappearance from the presidential race and the elevation of Vice President Kamala Harris as the candidate in his place. Nothing like this had ever previously happened in American political history and it […]

A Prayer for a Steadfast Spirit  By Christine Perry  “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” Psalms 51:10 NKJV  We are living during a time that has been defined as “The Great Resignation.” Silent quitting is becoming the norm. Yet, this is not just happening in jobs. It has become the norm in our society as a whole. This trend has also trickled into other believers’ lives and our very own. If you stop and look around, you will see signs of silent quitting in our relationships, church attendance, and our Bible reading and praying. Please understand my heart as I write this. I am not writing this to criticize you. I am writing this because I have had to ask God, as David did in Psalm 51:10, to renew a steadfast spirit in me. I remember going through a season not too long ago where there were a lot of changes and uncertainty taking place where I worked. Several higher-ups had resigned. I had been frantically trying to find another job before that happened. I had several job interviews and leads, yet they all came to nothing. I remember praying and asking God why He kept closing doors. While I did not hear God audibly, I had thought that kept coming to me that God was trying to teach me to be steady. It was tough because everything in me wanted to leave. I ask God for the strength to stay. God did a lot of work in my heart during that time and the hearts of others that I worked alongside. There had been a lot of misunderstanding and hurt that took place previously. So, when those two higher-ups resigned, it allowed for healing to take place that wouldn’t have been there had it not forced the management and the administration team, which included me, to work together. Relationships were mended, and a new appreciation was formed. By the time I did leave, I had the full support of everyone.  Lately, I have been thankful for the steadiness the Lord taught me in that previous season because I have had to ask for steadiness in another area of my life. I have gone back to this verse so many times. I always have to ask God to create a clean heart in me first because, as Jeremiah says in 17:9, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; Who can know it?” It can be easy to look at the situation and complain about the changes you want to see instead of praying that God changes you to handle the situations He has allowed you to experience. As Elisabeth Elliot so veraciously said, “The secret is Christ in me, not me in a different set of circumstances.”  Let’s pray: Dear Heavenly Father,Thank You for Your patience with us. Thank You that steadfast love never ceases and that your mercies never come to an end. Lord, we can grow weary so quickly. Our hearts are prone to wander and our minds forget Your promises. Lord, I ask that You would create in me a clean heart and that You would also renew a steadfast spirit within me. I pray that You would do the same for those reading this prayer today. Father, I ask that You help us to be faithful, diligent, and steadfast in all the responsibilities and relationships You have given us. We know that everything is a gift from Your hand. I ask that You also help us have a heart of gratitude as You help us remain steady. I pray that our eyes will be fixed on You and not what we may be walking through. Lord, please hold us fast. Help strengthen our knees and our hands and help us be useful vessels for your honor and use. Lord, please help us to depend on You for all we need. You say that You are our Shepherd, so we have all we need. Help us not to forget that. Thank you for loving us, and I pray that You would help us to love you and those you love better and more each day.In Jesus' name, Amen Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Domepitipat Christine is just a lady who was given the gift of being raised in an incredible family. For reasons unknown to her, God has blessed her with an amazing life full of beautiful friendships, remarkable experiences, and a love from Him that is completely underserved. She desires to encourage others and share hope as we journey through the highs and lows of life. Christine is the author of How I Met Peace and For the Weary Life Traveler, a 31-day devotional. Check out more of Christine’s work at her website:  Learning to be fearless and her Patreon. Related Resource: Remember God’s Enduring Love for You in this Guided Meditation on Psalm 100! This guided Christian meditation from Psalm 100 will help you experience and praise God for his unending love for you. Become aware of God's presence with you, and praise God for his loyal and enduring love from the beginning of time and into the future. Listen to every episode of the So Much More Podcast on LifeAudio.com, or subscribe on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode! Now that you’ve prayed, are you in need of someone to pray for YOU? Click the button below! Visit iBelieve.com for more inspiring prayer content. The post A Prayer for a Steadfast Spirit – Your Daily Prayer – August 6 appeared first on GodUpdates.

August 6, 2024 Can I Have This Dance?CALISTA BAKER, COMPEL Pro Member Lee en español "Surely I have calmed and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with his mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me [ceased from fretting]." Psalm 131:2 (AMPC) Digging deep into my bag, I prayed to find any morsel of food for my overstimulated, worn-out toddler. The museum was crowded. The day was long. The bag was empty. Not even a half-eaten granola bar or a couple of sticky fruit snacks. I was doomed. Onlookers gawked as my tiny human wailed and writhed against the restraints of his stroller. With his back arched and mouth wide, he made sure every bystander knew he was being held against his will. Desperate measures were needed. Unbuckling the straps was no easy feat, and once free, my little guy slid off the stroller like a deflated balloon. Scooping him up, I thought my motherly embrace would calm him. I was mistaken. Then I spotted a dimly lit area away from the crowd, and with my hollering toddler on one hip, I propelled around the corner into a quiet hallway. Hysteria broke loose, but tightening my hold, I spoke softly as he whimpered and wriggled. "Don't fight, baby. I've got you. I know you're tired and ready to go home. Hush now. It's OK. Mama loves you." Shrieks gave way to stuttered breaths as he relaxed in my arms. Back and forth we swayed in a slow dance, and as I kissed those cheeks covered in sweat and snot, I feared my heart would bust wide open. My baby, why do you struggle so?  I wonder ... is this what God feels toward us sometimes? We press on to meet demands on our time and resources, setting a pace that doesn't allow for breaks to recover from jam-packed schedules. Our energy dwindles until there are no reserves in our overstimulated, worn-out souls. Oh, God, I'm so tired and afraid. Life is unfair, and I'm angry. The hurt is too much. The demand is too high. I can't do this anymore! All the while, God tightens His gentle hold on us as we struggle with our frenzied pace. Just like a loving mother holds her children, God holds us. Based on what He has spoken in Scripture, we might imagine Him now saying, Why are you fighting, My child? Look - I'm here with you. I know you're tired. I hear you, and I care. Come away with Me where it's quiet. Be still for a moment. Breathe. Remember: I love you.  As we finally surrender, He leans in close to dry our tears. Then we can say, "I have calmed and quieted my soul ... like a weaned child is my soul within me [ceased from fretting]" (Psalm 131:2). God's whisper is a divine invitation to come, be quiet, and hear what He has to say. His embrace is the slow dance that brings us into step with His good plan for our lives. His love is the love that never stops loving. Gentle Father, sometimes I feel so overwhelmed. Help me remember that You are always with me, waiting for me to turn to You. I trust You to care for and restore my soul. In Jesus' Name, Amen. OUR FAVORITE THINGS Do you feel stuck when it comes to the next steps you should take in your writing journey? Maybe you are passionate about what God's put on your heart to share, but you also feel paralyzed about how to turn that message into a meaningful piece of content or even a manuscript. That's why we created COMPEL Pro! When you become a member today, you'll stay motivated to pursue your writing goals by connecting with a community that will help hold you accountable when you feel like quitting ... again. Join now! ENGAGE Today's devotion writer, Calista Baker, is a member of COMPEL Pro. Receive writing tips on your social media feeds when you follow COMPEL Pro on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter! FOR DEEPER STUDY Psalm 62:5-6, "Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will not be shaken" (NLT). With so many demands on our time and attention, it can be easy to neglect caring for our souls. When life is loud, what is one thing that helps you get quiet so you can hear God? Psalm 62:5-6 reminds us that we will not be shaken when God is our rock and salvation. What attribute of God is most encouraging to you when you are overwhelmed? We'd love to learn from your experience - please share in the comments! © 2024 by Calista Baker. All rights reserved. Proverbs 31 MinistriesP.O. Box 3189 Matthews, NC 28106 www.Proverbs31.org The post Can I Have This Dance? –  Encouragement for Today – August 6, 2024 appeared first on GodUpdates.

A Prayer for a Steadfast Spirit  By Christine Perry  “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” Psalms 51:10 NKJV  We are living during a time that has been defined as “The Great Resignation.” Silent quitting is becoming the norm. Yet, this is not just happening in jobs. It has become the norm in our society as a whole. This trend has also trickled into other believers’ lives and our very own. If you stop and look around, you will see signs of silent quitting in our relationships, church attendance, and our Bible reading and praying. Please understand my heart as I write this. I am not writing this to criticize you. I am writing this because I have had to ask God, as David did in Psalm 51:10, to renew a steadfast spirit in me. I remember going through a season not too long ago where there were a lot of changes and uncertainty taking place where I worked. Several higher-ups had resigned. I had been frantically trying to find another job before that happened. I had several job interviews and leads, yet they all came to nothing. I remember praying and asking God why He kept closing doors. While I did not hear God audibly, I had thought that kept coming to me that God was trying to teach me to be steady. It was tough because everything in me wanted to leave. I ask God for the strength to stay. God did a lot of work in my heart during that time and the hearts of others that I worked alongside. There had been a lot of misunderstanding and hurt that took place previously. So, when those two higher-ups resigned, it allowed for healing to take place that wouldn’t have been there had it not forced the management and the administration team, which included me, to work together. Relationships were mended, and a new appreciation was formed. By the time I did leave, I had the full support of everyone.  Lately, I have been thankful for the steadiness the Lord taught me in that previous season because I have had to ask for steadiness in another area of my life. I have gone back to this verse so many times. I always have to ask God to create a clean heart in me first because, as Jeremiah says in 17:9, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; Who can know it?” It can be easy to look at the situation and complain about the changes you want to see instead of praying that God changes you to handle the situations He has allowed you to experience. As Elisabeth Elliot so veraciously said, “The secret is Christ in me, not me in a different set of circumstances.”  Let’s pray: Dear Heavenly Father,Thank You for Your patience with us. Thank You that steadfast love never ceases and that your mercies never come to an end. Lord, we can grow weary so quickly. Our hearts are prone to wander and our minds forget Your promises. Lord, I ask that You would create in me a clean heart and that You would also renew a steadfast spirit within me. I pray that You would do the same for those reading this prayer today. Father, I ask that You help us to be faithful, diligent, and steadfast in all the responsibilities and relationships You have given us. We know that everything is a gift from Your hand. I ask that You also help us have a heart of gratitude as You help us remain steady. I pray that our eyes will be fixed on You and not what we may be walking through. Lord, please hold us fast. Help strengthen our knees and our hands and help us be useful vessels for your honor and use. Lord, please help us to depend on You for all we need. You say that You are our Shepherd, so we have all we need. Help us not to forget that. Thank you for loving us, and I pray that You would help us to love you and those you love better and more each day.In Jesus' name, Amen Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Domepitipat Christine is just a lady who was given the gift of being raised in an incredible family. For reasons unknown to her, God has blessed her with an amazing life full of beautiful friendships, remarkable experiences, and a love from Him that is completely underserved. She desires to encourage others and share hope as we journey through the highs and lows of life. Christine is the author of How I Met Peace and For the Weary Life Traveler, a 31-day devotional. Check out more of Christine’s work at her website:  Learning to be fearless and her Patreon. Related Resource: Remember God’s Enduring Love for You in this Guided Meditation on Psalm 100! This guided Christian meditation from Psalm 100 will help you experience and praise God for his unending love for you. Become aware of God's presence with you, and praise God for his loyal and enduring love from the beginning of time and into the future. Listen to every episode of the So Much More Podcast on LifeAudio.com, or subscribe on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode! Now that you’ve prayed, are you in need of someone to pray for YOU? Click the button below! Visit iBelieve.com for more inspiring prayer content. The post A Prayer for a Steadfast Spirit – Your Daily Prayer – August 6 appeared first on GodUpdates.

August 6, 2024 Can I Have This Dance?CALISTA BAKER, COMPEL Pro Member Lee en español "Surely I have calmed and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with his mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me [ceased from fretting]." Psalm 131:2 (AMPC) Digging deep into my bag, I prayed to find any morsel of food for my overstimulated, worn-out toddler. The museum was crowded. The day was long. The bag was empty. Not even a half-eaten granola bar or a couple of sticky fruit snacks. I was doomed. Onlookers gawked as my tiny human wailed and writhed against the restraints of his stroller. With his back arched and mouth wide, he made sure every bystander knew he was being held against his will. Desperate measures were needed. Unbuckling the straps was no easy feat, and once free, my little guy slid off the stroller like a deflated balloon. Scooping him up, I thought my motherly embrace would calm him. I was mistaken. Then I spotted a dimly lit area away from the crowd, and with my hollering toddler on one hip, I propelled around the corner into a quiet hallway. Hysteria broke loose, but tightening my hold, I spoke softly as he whimpered and wriggled. "Don't fight, baby. I've got you. I know you're tired and ready to go home. Hush now. It's OK. Mama loves you." Shrieks gave way to stuttered breaths as he relaxed in my arms. Back and forth we swayed in a slow dance, and as I kissed those cheeks covered in sweat and snot, I feared my heart would bust wide open. My baby, why do you struggle so?  I wonder ... is this what God feels toward us sometimes? We press on to meet demands on our time and resources, setting a pace that doesn't allow for breaks to recover from jam-packed schedules. Our energy dwindles until there are no reserves in our overstimulated, worn-out souls. Oh, God, I'm so tired and afraid. Life is unfair, and I'm angry. The hurt is too much. The demand is too high. I can't do this anymore! All the while, God tightens His gentle hold on us as we struggle with our frenzied pace. Just like a loving mother holds her children, God holds us. Based on what He has spoken in Scripture, we might imagine Him now saying, Why are you fighting, My child? Look - I'm here with you. I know you're tired. I hear you, and I care. Come away with Me where it's quiet. Be still for a moment. Breathe. Remember: I love you.  As we finally surrender, He leans in close to dry our tears. Then we can say, "I have calmed and quieted my soul ... like a weaned child is my soul within me [ceased from fretting]" (Psalm 131:2). God's whisper is a divine invitation to come, be quiet, and hear what He has to say. His embrace is the slow dance that brings us into step with His good plan for our lives. His love is the love that never stops loving. Gentle Father, sometimes I feel so overwhelmed. Help me remember that You are always with me, waiting for me to turn to You. I trust You to care for and restore my soul. In Jesus' Name, Amen. OUR FAVORITE THINGS Do you feel stuck when it comes to the next steps you should take in your writing journey? Maybe you are passionate about what God's put on your heart to share, but you also feel paralyzed about how to turn that message into a meaningful piece of content or even a manuscript. That's why we created COMPEL Pro! When you become a member today, you'll stay motivated to pursue your writing goals by connecting with a community that will help hold you accountable when you feel like quitting ... again. Join now! ENGAGE Today's devotion writer, Calista Baker, is a member of COMPEL Pro. Receive writing tips on your social media feeds when you follow COMPEL Pro on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter! FOR DEEPER STUDY Psalm 62:5-6, "Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will not be shaken" (NLT). With so many demands on our time and attention, it can be easy to neglect caring for our souls. When life is loud, what is one thing that helps you get quiet so you can hear God? Psalm 62:5-6 reminds us that we will not be shaken when God is our rock and salvation. What attribute of God is most encouraging to you when you are overwhelmed? We'd love to learn from your experience - please share in the comments! © 2024 by Calista Baker. All rights reserved. Proverbs 31 MinistriesP.O. Box 3189 Matthews, NC 28106 www.Proverbs31.org The post Can I Have This Dance? –  Encouragement for Today – August 6, 2024 appeared first on GodUpdates.

Historical Events 695 - Maya King Jasaw Chan K'awill I of Tikal defeats Yich'aak K'ahk' (‘Claw of Fire'), his long-standing rival and king of Calakmul 1815 - US flotilla ends piracy by Algiers, Tunis and Tripoli 1951 - The National Museum of Racing opens in Congress Park at Saratoga Springs, N.Y 1966 - US citizens demonstrate against war in Vietnam 1982 - Three ANC members are sentenced to death in South Africa 2015 - Eqyptian President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi inaugurates the Suez Canal Expansion at a ceremony in Ismaïlia More Historical Events » Famous Birthdays 1908 - William "Will" Lee, American actor (They Live by Night, Melody Lane), born in New York City (d. 1982) 1938 - Igor Mikhailovich Luchenok, Belarusian composer and teacher, born in Minsk, Belarus (d. 2018) 1955 - Gordon J. Brand, English golfer (British Open 1986 runner-up), born in Cambridge, England (d. 2020) 1966 - Regina Carter, American jazz and classical violinist, and composer, born in Detroit, Michigan 1981 - Leslie Odom Jr., American actor and singer (Hamilton), born in New York City 1995 - Amy Forsyth, Canadian actress (The Gilded Age, CODA), born in Ontario More Famous Birthdays » Famous Deaths 1414 - King Ladislas of Naples (b. 1377) 1965 - Nancy Carroll, actress (Alice-Aldrich Family), dies at 60 1969 - Theodor W. Adorno, German philosopher and sociologist (Dialectic of Enlightenment, Negative Dialectics), dies at 65 1979 - Kurt Kaszner [Serwicher], Austrian actor (Kiss Me Kate, Lili, Casino Royale), dies of cancer at 65 2009 - Willibrordus S. Rendra, Indonesian poet (Ballad orang-orang tertjina), dies at 73 2012 - Sir Bernard Lovell, English radio astronomer, dies at 98 More Famous Deaths »

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You can tell a lot about a culture by observing its biggest fears. In contemporary secular culture, no fear is more animating than the fear of death. But the way that fear shapes our lives can look different. In his book Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity, Peter Attia captures two seemingly competing fears that stem from the fear of death: My obsession with longevity was really about my fear of dying. And something about having children was making my obsession with longevity ever more frenetic. I was running away from dying as fast as I could. Yet at the same time, ironically, I was also avoiding actually living. Attia’s paradox is about coexisting fears: the fear of living poorly versus living shortly. How do you manage that tension? How do you decide if you’re managing it well? Two Approaches Attia’s tension is representative of two general approaches to life that dominate our secular culture. We might call these the FOMO School and the Attia School. The FOMO (fear of missing out) School represents being controlled by the fear of not living; the Attia School represents being controlled by the fear of death. The FOMO School says, “I’m here for a good time, not for a long time.” The goal is to make the most of every moment and rarely say no to pleasure. In the Bible, this school finds expression in Ecclesiastes: Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart, for God has already approved what you do. . . . Enjoy life with the wife whom you love, all the days of your vain life that he has given you under the sun. . . . Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might (Eccl. 9:7, 9–10). We’re dying soon and quickly, so thankful enjoyment is the way. Those in this school are characterized by feasting. The Attia School sees emptiness in this approach. Hangovers aren’t fun, feeling terrible after eating a whole pizza isn’t life at its best, and missing out on disease sounds better than missing out on dessert. Those in this school are characterized by fasting, along with other practices Christians will recognize like sobriety and asceticism. Along these lines, the Westminster Larger Catechism asks, What are the duties required in the sixth commandment? The explicit command in Exodus 20:13 is “you shall not murder,” but the reformers’ answer includes avoiding the unnecessary killing of ourselves via unhealthy habits: “The duties required in the Sixth Commandment are, all careful studies, and lawful endeavors, to preserve the life of ourselves . . . a sober use of meat, drink, physical, sleep, labour, and recreations.” We’re made in God’s image, so self-destructive lifestyle choices are sinful. Nature of Fear Fear is self-protective by nature. It’s what happens to your mind and body when you or something you love is in danger or perceived to be in danger. The easiest way to not be afraid of anything is to be ignorant: don’t know about car crashes, don’t learn about how cancer develops, and don’t find out what contributes to cardiovascular disease. The second easiest way to not be afraid of anything is to not love anything: have nothing to lose, maintain no attachments, and extinguish all your desires. These are sub-Christian options. While the Bible regularly commands us to fear not, it also commands us to fear God. The aim isn’t total fearlessness but healthy fear. In Scripture, the fears of God’s people often lead them into sin, but sometimes their fears lead them to turn to the Lord for help and wisdom. Fear can become either healthy or harmful for us in the way we process it and prioritize certain fears over others. Reframe Fear of Death The fears of living poorly and living shortly are connected. The aim isn’t total fearlessness but healthy fear. Through his death, Jesus delivered “all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery” (Heb. 2:14–15). Slavery to pleasurable pursuits is downstream from the fear of dying. Because life is short and nothing happens when you die, it follows that I have to squeeze in as much dopamine as possible. Nihilism begets hedonism. Both fears prompt us toward pleasure maximization. They’re attempting to answer the same question: How do I get the most out of life in this life? The death of death in the death of Christ frees us from this narrow, immanent frame and invites us into the broad place (Ps. 18:19). Materialism’s scarcity mentality gives way to the abundance mentality of the abundant life (John 10:10) brought about by resurrection. Life after death causes us to do our pleasure math differently. And in this eternal, transcendent frame, the equation can begin to balance. Rightly Ordered Fears The Christian tradition has long had a place for making sense of rightly ordering our loves; here I propose we need the category of rightly ordering our fears. We don’t have to choose between fear of death and fear of missing out; we can subordinate both to the fear of the Lord. When a wise fear of God is our highest-ranking fear, the others that shape our lives will be put in perspective and given a healthier expression. We don’t have to choose between fear of death and fear of missing out; we can subordinate both to the fear of the Lord. Rather than making healthy choices because we’re afraid of dying, for example, we can make healthy choices because we understand ourselves as made in God’s image, full of dignity and value. Reverent fear of the Creator leads us, as his creatures, to take the stewardship of our bodies seriously, knowing we’re not our own. We fast not out of fear of death, but out of devoted love of God. Rather than celebrating and feasting because we’re afraid of missing out on a good time, we can eat and drink because Christ has conquered death and is ruling over history. Reverent fear of an infinitely sovereign, bountiful God leads us to gratitude-driven rest and enjoyment of his good gifts. We feast not because time is short, but because death is defeated and eternal life awaits. Walking in fear of the Lord, we can fast and feast.