by David Brady‚ Sprott Money: This article will be short but very sweet. We’re finally approaching the lows in Gold and Silver‚ which will coincide with the peaks in the 10-Year Yield and the DXY. The Banks are racing to cut their short positions in the precious metals. They cut their net short position in Silver by 50% […]

When Larry Abrams started teaching English in New Jersey high schools in the early 2000s‚ his first two schools were within a few miles of each other‚ yet worlds apart. At the first school in a wealthy suburb‚ “I taught the sons and daughters of millionaires‚” Abrams remembers. The second school was “at the opposite end of the socioeconomic spectrum‚” and Abrams says he had to “relearn how to teach” his students there. “My ninth graders had a fourth- or fifth-grade reading level‚” he says‚ though they were native English speakers. He realized this was because they were missing something he had taken for granted: books. He had an “aha” moment in 2017‚ when he asked one of his senior students‚ Belyeneda Sanchez‚ what she was reading to her two-year-old daughter Brizzy. The student responded that she had no children’s books at home: “We just don’t do that in our culture.” The nonprofit BookSmiles distributes some 70‚000 books a month. Courtesy of BookSmiles Abrams admits the response stumped him. The next day‚ he handed her a box of children’s books with the words‚ “Every kid needs books in their home.” Sanchez confesses she avoided Abrams in the following weeks because every time he saw her‚ he would inquire how Brizzy was enjoying the books‚ and she still hadn’t read any to her daughter. Eventually‚ Sanchez picked up Harold and the Purple Crayon‚ and her daughter enjoyed it so much that she started reading to Brizzy every night. After that humble exchange‚ Abrams began requesting donations of gently used children’s books from friends and students‚ and within weeks‚ thousands of books piled up‚ first in his garage‚ then in a storage room. He distributed them to young parents and elementary schools. The book donations were met with so much enthusiasm (“It caused a feeding frenzy‚” Abrams says) that he is now the founding director of the nonprofit BookSmiles‚ one of the biggest book banks for children in the US.  Crushed by negative news? Sign up for the Reasons to be Cheerful newsletter. [contact-form-7] According to Abrams‚ BookSmiles has given away nearly two million books in the last six years. The nonprofit distributes about 70‚000 free books locally each month and wants to raise that figure to 100‚000. BookSmiles focus its efforts in the region‚ while other big book donation programs make books available by mail. For instance‚ Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library has donated more than 226 million children’s books nationally and internationally.  “We will not rest until every child in Philadelphia and in New Jersey grows up with books‚ and we are not going to let poverty and excuses get in the way‚” Abrams promises. “That child is going to have a better success rate in kindergarten and in school than a kid who doesn’t have any books.”  BookSmiles has become one of the biggest book banks for children in the US. Courtesy of BookSmiles According to the US Department of Education‚ up to 61 percent of low-income families do not have any books for their kids at home. Forty-five percent of US children live in neighborhoods that lack public libraries and stores that sell books‚ or in homes where books are an unaffordable or unfamiliar luxury. This means that 32.4 million American children go without books‚ while 67 percent of the schools and programs in the nation’s lowest-income neighborhoods can’t afford to buy books at retail prices. For instance‚ in Washington‚ D.C.’s Anacostia neighborhood‚ where the poverty level sits around 61 percent‚ 830 children would share a single book‚ whereas children in high-income communities have about 13 books per child. The nonprofit End Book Deserts cites studies that show access to print resources during early childhood development has an immediate and long-term effect on vocabulary‚ background knowledge‚ and comprehension.  Abrams had grown up as a bookworm. Both his parents and his grandmother were teachers. “I never lacked books and magazines‚” he says. “We went to the library. I got books as gifts. Some books are like friends to me or love affairs that I treasure. I like the transformative experience of reading‚ of going into other worlds‚ experiencing other cultures.” It was not until he started teaching at the public Lindenwold High School in South Jersey that the lack of reading material in many households became evident to him. “Just as there are food deserts‚ there are book deserts‚” he came to realize. “I can’t give the kids ballet lessons or summer camp. But we can give them books‚ and it’s transforming the culture of a family.” He quotes research to show that early literacy sets the stage for a child’s future success by promoting academic achievement‚ reduced grade retention (meaning fewer kids are held back)‚ higher graduation rates and enhanced productivity in adult life. Abrams calls it “book wealth.” A few of BookSmiles’ hand-painted book collection bins. Courtesy of BookSmiles In front of BookSmiles’ 4‚300-square-foot headquarters in Pennsauken‚ (clean) trash bins hand-painted with sunflowers‚ colorful birds and nature scenes invite passersby to drop off gently used books. The nonprofit gets the rest through student drives and by buying them cheaply from Goodwill. With the help of hundreds of volunteers‚ three full-time employees sort the books into age-appropriate groups. Abrams tries to make sure BookSmiles offers a diverse selection for the teachers who come by and pick up about 10‚000 books per month. Like in a bookstore‚ available books are sorted on shelves‚ including LGBTQ books‚ bilingual books‚ books with Black protagonists and banned books. “If you don’t like a certain book‚ you don’t have to take it‚” Abrams says. “I trust that teachers make good choices.”  “At first‚ when you hear about BookSmiles‚ you think it’s too good to be true‚” Lisa Feinstein‚ a literacy coach at James H. Johnson Elementary School in Cherry Hill‚ told the Philadelphia Citizen. “The first time I went‚ it was like a yard sale‚ where you get 10 books‚ and think‚ ‘Yay‚ great!’ But then you’ve got Larry saying‚ ‘No‚ take more‚ take more‚ take more. Don’t leave here without 150 books!’” Become a sustaining member today! Join the Reasons to be Cheerful community by supporting our nonprofit publication and giving what you can. Join During the pandemic lockdown‚ teachers stopped coming‚ and Abrams has since partnered with several nonprofits‚ including food banks‚ which load their trucks full of books and distribute them to families in need along with produce and diapers. The nonprofits include Share Food‚ Philadelphia’s biggest food bank; Cradles to Crayons‚ which distributes children’s clothing; and Fathers Read 365‚ two Philly dads who read to kids in daycare and distribute books. “I love the idea of feeding bodies and feeding minds‚” Abrams says. “If you want a child to grow up and be a powerful person who has great writing ability and great language skills‚ you have to read to them.” Abrams shows a picture of Brizzy‚ Belyeneda Sanchez’s daughter‚ who is now 12 years old‚ an honors student and loves to read. “English is her best class‚” her mom attests. “You really never know what reading can do to a child but it goes to show that in the long run‚ it’s a great thing to do. Start them early‚ make it a habit‚ and they will enjoy it!” The post How Books Are Reaching Kids in ‘Book Deserts’ appeared first on Reasons to be Cheerful.

January 22‚ 2024

The Arabs cite “security reasons” (aka terrorism) as the reason they don’t want them. Arab News Egypt says a mass exodus from Gaza would bring Hamas or other Palestinian terrorists onto its soil. That might be destabilizing in Sinai‚ where Egypt’s military fought for years against Islamic terrorists‚ accusing  Hamas of backing them. Egypt has […]

Sweden has historically been viewed as Europe’s most welcoming country for refugees‚ but observers say that changed in 2015 when the EU decided to flood its member nations with hordes of illegal alien Muslim invaders from Africa. The election this past September of a new government steered by the far-right Sweden Democrats has tightened its […]

Things aren't going according to plan. The post Biden Getting Nervous About South Carolina is a Bad Sign appeared first on Frontpage Mag.

"They deleted her from a lot of the public records so that she couldn't be tracked." The post Why Did the FBI ‘Disappear’ the Boston Bomber’s Jihadist Wife? appeared first on Frontpage Mag.

“What do we call the test?” Leslie Groves asked Robert Oppenheimer. “Batter my heart‚ three-person’d God‚” he replied. “What?” “Trinity‚” Oppenheimer explained. In Christopher Nolan’s newest film‚ the chief physicist behind the atom bomb associates the Manhattan Project with the God who destroys to remake and restore‚ who destroys to give humanity hope in the wake of sin’s rabid consequences. Oppenheimer is quoting John Donne’s Holy Sonnet 14‚ which reads in part‚ Batter my heart‚ three-person’d God‚ for you As yet but knock‚ breathe‚ shine‚ and seek to mend; That I may rise and stand‚ o’erthrow me‚ and bend Your force to break‚ blow‚ burn‚ and make me new. The Renaissance sonnet is a picture of God’s inescapable sovereignty over man’s fate and the sinner’s inability to turn to God unless the Lord rescues him from the enemy (and death) to which he’s yoked. Oppenheimer and Donne acknowledge what believers have affirmed for millenia: God’s sovereignty is inescapable. But is this assertion biblical? And does what it says about the fated destinies of individuals lead us to a weaker view of missions and evangelism? Let’s explore what God reveals to us in the Scriptures. Politics and Protons God is the Creator‚ Sustainer‚ and Ruler over all things that happen in the universe‚ from big-scale events like nations at war to the smallest and most seemingly insignificant combination of atoms. He controls politics and protons. He rules over every collapsed star that cannot be seen by humans and every molecule of bacteria living so deep under the ocean that we can only speculate about its existence. He’s sovereign over all things. We lean heavily on the complete sovereignty of God to understand biblical passages that speak about the eternal state of individuals. God isn’t merely sovereign over nature here on earth. He sovereignly reigns over people and their eternal destinies as well. Predestination is the biblical doctrine that states God has ordained all that will happen‚ especially regarding the salvation of the elect. It teaches that God is the ultimate arbiter of the recipients of his grace. While God freely offers salvation to all people‚ “not wishing that any should perish‚ but that all should reach repentance” (2 Pet. 3:9)‚ this doctrine explains that no one desires him apart from his intervening work to give them that desire. As Donne observes‚ our reason and resolve are both crippled in sin‚ leaving us married to God’s Enemy unless God acts to unite us to himself. The poet’s appeal to God for rescue underscores that salvation and damnation are equally under the Lord’s jurisdiction. The corollary of predestination is double predestination‚ which takes the clear biblical teaching to its logical end by affirming the reprobate are as much under God’s sovereign rule as the regenerate. The Bible approaches the topic with causality grounded in God’s character. Double predestination takes the clear biblical teaching to its logical end by affirming the reprobate are as much under God’s sovereign rule as the regenerate. The Lord isn’t careless with his designs‚ and all he does is good and wise. All things made by God have a purpose in his creation‚ even when the purpose is to display his righteousness in judgment. “The LORD has made everything for its purpose‚ even the wicked for the day of trouble” (Prov. 16:4). Peter echoes this idea that God creates some people to whom he will not extend his saving hand of grace. He describes Jesus as the “cornerstone” of his people and a rock of offense to others. “They stumble because they disobey the word‚ as they were destined to do” (1 Pet. 2:8). Far Be That from You Romans 9 contains the fullest explanation of God’s sovereignty in both election and reprobation. Paul doesn’t merely tell us in this passage that God is ultimately sovereign over the final destiny of each man; he tells us why. Has the potter no right over the clay‚ to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? What if God‚ desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power‚ has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction‚ in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy‚ which he has prepared beforehand for glory. (Rom. 9:21–23) This passage lists stark dichotomies. The potter and the clay‚ the honorable and the dishonorable‚ God patiently waiting for wrath and his revelation of the riches of his glory. It highlights how all things have been prepared beforehand—with purpose from a good and wise potter—for God’s glory. Some people were created to be a display of God’s glory as recipients of his grace‚ and some were created to display his glory and holiness through judgment. A common response from people who hear about the doctrine of double predestination for the first time is to cry‚ “That’s unfair!” Others say‚ “God is love‚ so he would never damn people to hell before they were ever given a chance to choose him.” Even Abraham wrestled with how God shows mercy to some and justice to others. Far be it from you to do such a thing‚ to put the righteous to death with the wicked‚ so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just? (Gen. 18:25) But Abraham came to see that God never shows injustice to anyone. Each person does exactly what he wants. No one who goes to hell genuinely wants to come to salvation. But while all have chosen to reject God‚ he shows unmerited favor and grace to some sinners while permitting others to continue pursuing their sin without his intervention. God passes over some who have chosen to reject him‚ eventually allowing them the eternal punishment all deserve. Miners Needed Critics of double predestination argue that if God has already chosen the eternal destiny of all people then there’s no point in evangelism. Is that true? If God has already chosen who will go to heaven and who to hell‚ have we wasted billions of dollars and countless lives on worldwide evangelism? If we can’t change God’s sovereign plan for each person‚ why do we bother sharing the gospel at all? This is a fair question‚ but if predestination is biblical‚ it deserves our attention rather than our dismissal. To the untrained eye‚ a rock full of diamonds found in the rubble may look like just another rock. But the miner who examines the rock closely discovers its hidden beauty and implicit value. Similarly‚ one who carefully examines predestination finds in it the encouragement and zeal to persevere that evangelists often need. Instead of discouraging believers from sharing their faith‚ the doctrine of double predestination spurs the Christian to greater faithfulness in evangelism. While the potter and clay analogy may be uncomfortable for some missiologists‚ it wasn’t for Paul. His understanding of double predestination in Romans 9 doesn’t lead him to coldness and passivity. It leads him to a deeper love for his people and a stronger call for missions. Knowing the lack of repentance among his own people‚ Paul had “great sorrow and unceasing anguish in his heart‚” wishing he instead were “accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of [his] brothers” (Rom. 9:2–3). Fueled by this passion for his lost kinsmen‚ he calls on all to believe and find salvation. “For ‘everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved!’” (10:13).  The apostle asks‚ “How are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written‚ ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!’” (v. 15). Paul is convinced that proclaiming the good news is necessary for salvation‚ and thus the work of the evangelist is as well. With Paul‚ we can identify at least three ways the doctrine of double predestination makes for better evangelists. 1. It reorders the goal of evangelism. The doctrine of double predestination corrects the faulty assumption that the goal of evangelism is always conversion or that the highest good to come from sharing the gospel is the salvation of sinners. Something better and more important is at stake—God’s glory. If God is glorified both in showing mercy to sinners and in the just judgment of their sin‚ then every time the gospel is faithfully shared‚ it’s a success. A “fruitful” ministry can’t be determined merely by the number of conversions or baptisms but rather by the faithfulness with which the gospel was made known. Double predestination gives categories for belief and unbelief‚ and it causes the evangelist to trust each outcome to the One who always acts justly. The evangelists’ efforts are never wasted because a faithful presentation of the gospel to a sinner will be either the sweet words of salvation or the just words of judgment God intends. As a result of this reorientation‚ God’s holiness is primary in our presentation of God‚ our sin is the greatest problem humanity faces‚ and salvation is the most beautiful gift offered to the world. When God is made known to sinners accurately‚ this redounds to his glory. 2. It keeps the evangelist humble and dependent on the Lord’s work. Double predestination motivates the Christian to share the gospel. It gives her certainty that the dead hearts of the elect will come alive when they hear the good news. Churches spend boldly on missions and outreach efforts to gather in the promised harvest (John 4:35). They aren’t merely wishing their clever strategies and winsome presentations might convince the lost. Rather‚ there’s bedrock certainty that the Lord has promised his elect from every nation‚ tribe‚ people‚ and language will come (Rev. 7:9). Going to the nations to find the elect has a safe return on investment. Awareness of God’s complete sovereignty in salvation removes any creeping temptation toward pride on the part of the evangelist and causes her to cast herself fully in dependence on the Lord. She rejoices in her insufficiency for the task of conversion and instead relies on the Lord’s strength. The believer is free to take great risks in sharing her faith with her unregenerate coworker‚ or with unreached people across the world‚ because it’s the Lord’s work in salvation‚ not ours. 3. It fuels perseverance. This doctrine fuels perseverance in the face of opposition and discouragement. The faithful missionary stays when the lost don’t believe. Gospel seeds still fall even when the ground seems impenetrable. The missionary faces opposition head-on‚ prepared that those “betrothed” to God’s Enemy will attempt to thwart his work. When a people group doesn’t show interest in the missionary’s message‚ he faithfully plows on‚ trusting the Lord of the harvest. When persecution arises‚ the faithful evangelist entrusts himself to the Lord‚ knowing God will punish the wicked and vindicate the righteous. The missionary who fears his faithful labors have been in vain remembers that God’s Word will never return void. The evangelists’ efforts are never wasted because a faithful presentation of the gospel to a sinner will be either the sweet words of salvation or the just words of judgment God intends. The prophet Jeremiah knew discouragement. He was called out by God to proclaim salvation and judgment to God’s people. By many modern missions standards‚ he was a failure. Though he had the very Word of God‚ his message was rejected and maligned. He was kidnapped‚ persecuted‚ and left to die in a pit. Instead of seeing his people turn in repentance to God‚ he saw them enslaved and carried off to a foreign land. Yet he was faithful to proclaim God’s judgment. This “unfruitful” evangelist whose message was rejected fulfilled his mission by making God’s glory known. God’s purposes couldn’t be thwarted by the Babylonians or even by the sin of his own people. Like Jeremiah‚ our perseverance in evangelism mustn’t be fueled by people’s responses but by faithfulness to God. The best‚ most faithful evangelist prizes faithfulness over perceived fruitfulness because she has her eyes set on God’s glory‚ whether it’s displayed in salvation or judgment. Batter Our Hearts My struggle to reconcile God’s goodness with the doctrine of double predestination lasted for years. Perhaps that’s why Donne’s prayer to “batter [his] heart” with the understanding of God’s sovereignty resonates so deeply. I suspect it would have resonated with the apostle Paul as well. He struggled in anguish over the lack of repentance he saw in his kinsmen‚ knowing the rich promises God had made to and through the Jewish people. The doctrine of God’s complete sovereignty battered his heart until he got to a place of submission to it‚ even joy in it. After considering God’s sovereignty in salvation‚ he writes this glorious doxology in Romans 11: Oh‚ the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! “For who has known the mind of the Lord‚ or who has been his counselor?” “Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?” For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen. (vv. 33–36) Paul carefully examined the rock of God’s sovereignty in election and reprobation and found treasured jewels. In better understanding this doctrine‚ perhaps we’ll also find the unexpected—more joy in evangelism and a deeper understanding of the beautiful feet of those bringing the good news. A battering of truth should be the posture of prayer for all of us: “For I‚ except you enthrall me‚ never shall be free.”

“This is the most important election of your life.” Or so they keep telling us. During each election cycle‚ a myriad of op-eds insist the fate of the nation—even the world—hinges on the outcome. Politics has taken on an outsize role in our collective mindset. As religion wanes in the public consciousness‚ people have turned elsewhere to find purpose‚ morality‚ and hope. Politics is a terrible substitute‚ but because many have eliminated God from the equation‚ it can seem the best option available. Once we strip away the sovereign God “who works all things according to the counsel of his will” (Eph. 1:11)‚ how can we be sure the long arc of history will bend toward justice? How can we lift the poor‚ protect our freedoms‚ or uphold the rights of the oppressed? Absent God‚ getting the best people elected to the best seats of power does seem like our only hope. The cultural mindset that removes God and elevates politics dominates both the media and casual interactions. It can infect the thoughts and actions of Christians too. Political obsession is the water we swim in‚ and we’d be fools to think we won’t get wet. In a politically obsessed world‚ Christians must elevate praying politics above playing politics. Paul’s exhortation to young Timothy is as timely as ever: “I urge‚ then‚ first of all‚ that petitions‚ prayers‚ intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—for kings and all those in authority‚ that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness” (1 Tim. 2:1–2‚ NIV). Prayer for those serving in government accomplishes many goods‚ but one important blessing is the health of our hearts. Prayer for those serving in government accomplishes many goods‚ but one important blessing is the health of our hearts. The act of prayer changes the one praying. It disciplines the mind‚ reorienting us toward truth. Prayer functions as a bulwark against the rising tide of political idolatry in at least these five ways. 1. In a culture of cynicism‚ prayer promotes gratitude. Paul explicitly commands Christians to thank God for their political leaders. Practicing intentional gratitude will soften our hearts and counteract the low opinion many of us have of those in government. Even where we disagree or question the competence‚ character‚ and convictions of our political leaders‚ we can find reasons for gratitude—even if it’s just that the leader is willing to take on an often thankless job. God calls us to love our enemies‚ and practicing gratitude for political leaders with whom we disagree will help shape cruciform hearts. Just as God loved us while we were still sinners‚ we love those we consider wrong or even wicked. (Lest we think a politician is unworthy of our gratitude‚ remember Paul wrote these words during evil Nero’s reign.) 2. In a culture of obsession‚ prayer orders priorities. For many today‚ politics takes up far too much of our spiritual hard drive. It’s become an obsession. Praying to the King of kings (on behalf of our president‚ senators‚ and other government officials) helps to reorder our hearts. We shouldn’t fear political outcomes‚ for nothing happens outside God’s control. No election can thwart God’s purposed ends; every election’s result is in his capable hands (Rom. 13:1). We needn’t obsess over the merely temporal‚ because our hearts are set on the eternal. The gates of hell will not prevail against the church that Christ builds. Even in difficult political environments‚ followers of the Way wait‚ labor‚ and hope for his coming kingdom‚ just as the persecuted church has modeled for us across centuries and continents. As we participate in politics (e.g.‚ voting‚ working on a campaign‚ running for elected office)‚ we aim to do so with our priorities rightly ordered. 3. In a culture of conflict‚ prayer seeks conversion. Many today see political opponents as literal enemies. Some do actively promote wickedness‚ evil‚ and injustice. Nevertheless‚ as Christians‚ we know who our ultimate Enemy is and how he has blinded and deceived many (2 Cor. 4:4). God opened our eyes despite our manifest unworthiness‚ so we long to see as many as possible rescued from that blindness. If God can rescue a man like Paul‚ a murderous enemy of the church (1 Tim. 1:15)‚ God can rescue a politician. We pray for our leaders to convert not first and foremost to our political side but to Jesus. 4. In a culture of wickedness‚ prayer brings justice. Let’s never forget that God ordains prayer as a necessary means to his desired ends. What we ask according to his will‚ he’ll unfailingly bring about (1 John 5:14–15). God desires leaders to promote justice in the land (1 Tim. 2:2)‚ so we pray with confidence‚ knowing he hears and answers. Will we experience perfect justice before the King of kings establishes his forever kingdom here on earth? No. But that doesn’t mean our prayers won’t make a genuine difference in the world between Christ’s first coming and his return to establish his kingdom. 5. In a culture of victimhood‚ prayer remembers victory. Os Guinness argued that “prominent parts of the Western church today‚ in pursuit of public influence‚ have abandoned Christ’s response to injury and shamelessly promoted a contemporary secular strategy—redress through blaming or playing the victim.” Instead of serving as a powerful prophetic presence in the public sphere‚ we act like defenseless victims doomed to defeat—to our shame‚ Guinness says. God may call his people to suffer at the hands of an ungodly government. But we’re “more than conquerors” even amid persecution (Rom. 8:37). Even in difficult political environments‚ followers of the Way wait‚ labor‚ and hope for his coming kingdom. We know God will hold oppressive governments accountable for their sin. Our future victory is certain‚ and we can play our part in God’s unfolding story with confidence and boldness because we know how the story ends. Our current responsibilities include loving our enemies‚ praying for those who persecute us‚ and remaining joyful‚ hopeful‚ and faithful no matter the current regime. These days‚ it feels like it’s always election season. We’re always talking about what just happened or what’s coming next politically. Amid a politically obsessed culture‚ let’s commit to praying for all those in authority‚ trusting that through our prayers‚ God will change our leaders‚ our country‚ and our hearts.

These morons are gonna extinct court-storming