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WORLD NEWS

Countdown to Alaska

Ukraine-Russia peacemakers are working overtime.

Friday marked President Trump’s deadline for Russia to make peace or face more sanctions. Before the day's end, Trump announced a face-to-face with Russian President Putin in Alaska on August 15. The White House said Ukrainian President Zelenskyy’s invitation is “being discussed.”

Ahead of Alaska’s summit, Trump said a peace deal may include “some swapping of territories to the betterment of both” Russia and Ukraine. Zelenskyy stressed he will not cede land and that peace talks without Ukraine won’t achieve anything.

Zelenskyy was on the guest list for Saturday’s meeting of national security advisors in England, where he worked with VP Vance and European leaders on “constructive diplomacy” and “decisions that can work.”

Meanwhile, drone and missile attacks continue, with Russian attacks on Ukraine reaching record levels this summer.

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CHRISTIAN RESPONSE
In the face of massive global conflicts across the world, it’s easy to feel helpless. Today and this week, there’s something “powerful and effective” you can do: pray for world leaders (1 Timothy 2:1-2; James 5:16). 

“Lord and Master, you have given these rulers the power of sovereignty through your own mighty power… Grant unto these leaders health, peace, unity, and stability, so they can administer without failure the government you have given them. For you—Heavenly Master and King of the Ages—you give ordinary people glory, honor, and power over all things in this world. Direct their leadership in a way that is good and well pleasing in your sight.”
Clement of Rome, page 127 in Fount of Heaven: Prayers of the Early Church

SPORTS

Ended Early

Detroit Lions safety Morice Norris is “all good” after an ambulance drove him away from Friday’s preseason game. 

The defender was knocked unconscious during a collision and treated on the field for 20 minutes while players from both teams gathered midfield for prayer. When play resumed, the Falcons took a snap and both teams stood still, letting the clock run; coaches agreed it “didn’t feel right to finish,” and officials suspended the game with six minutes left.

Doctors later confirmed Norris was in stable condition—though it’s uncertain when he’ll be game-ready again.

Meanwhile, the Patriots opened their season by unveiling a 12-foot statue of Tom Brady outside Gillette Stadium, and Jaguar’s kicker Cam Little kicked a 70-yard field goal (which would be an NFL record… except preseason games don’t count).

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Verse to consider when the unexpected leaves you feeling unsteady… “God is our refuge and strength, a helper who is always found in times of trouble.” 
Psalm 46:1 (CSB) (read full passage)

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U.S. NEWS

Gunfire

Separate weekend shootings left a Georgia officer dead and three wounded in NYC.

In Atlanta, shots were fired Friday evening outside the CDC campus, near Emory University. Responding officers found 33-year-old Officer David Rose critically wounded; he later died at the hospital. More gunfire came from a nearby CVS, where police found the suspect with a gunshot wound—he died at the scene. Authorities say the suspect was “a known person” and may have believed he was sick and blamed the COVID-19 vaccine, though the investigation is ongoing.

Hours later in Times Square, three people were wounded in a shooting just after 1 a.m. A 17-year-old suspect has been arrested, and charges are pending. Authorities say the shooting stemmed from a dispute; all three victims are in stable condition.

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RADIATE HOPE
While mourning with victims, Christians have hope in the face of a violent world. The servant of God, who himself did no violence, has been afflicted by his Father on our behalf so that we can live in the Lord’s peaceful presence forever. 

“Yet he himself bore our sicknesses, and he carried our pains; but we in turn regarded him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced because of our rebellion, crushed because of our iniquities; punishment for our peace was on him, and we are healed by his wounds.”  
Isaiah 53:4-5 (CSB) (read full passage)

Israel’s standing behind its plan to take control of Gaza. The security cabinet-approved plan involves (1) disarming Hamas, (2) rescuing hostages, (3) demilitarizing Gaza, (4) occupying the strip, and (5) establishing a new government. Full occupation of Gaza City is reportedly step one, which Hamas calls “a new war crime”; a coalition of Western countries said Israel’s plan will “aggravate” a “catastrophic” situation.
 

Mexico is drawing a hard line at the border. President Claudia Sheinbaum denied reports that the U.S. military would enter Mexican territory to fight cartels, saying, “we cooperate, we collaborate, but there is not going to be an invasion.” Her comments follow a New York Times report that Trump secretly ordered the Pentagon to use military force against Latin American drug cartels.
 

The IRS is refiling refilling its commissioner position… again. President Trump removed IRS commissioner Billy Long after just two months, temporarily replacing him with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent—the sixth department leader since January—while the Trump admin finds a new head of taxes. Long, a former Missouri congressman (R), announced he’s taking on a new role: U.S. ambassador to Iceland.
 

California residents are returning to their homes after a recent wildfire forced thousands to evacuate. The Canyon Fire ignited northwest of LA Thursday, spreading to 5,400+ acres, and was more than 60% contained as of yesterday morning. Further north, the Gifford Fire has scorched over 104,000 acres—California’s largest wildfire in 2025—in a remote part of Los Padres National Forest.
 

“Houston, we have a problem.” Apollo 13 commander Jim Lovell, who steered NASA’s most famous detour back to Earth in 1970, has died at 97. After an onboard explosion scrubbed the moon landing, Lovell guided his crew safely back to earth for an iconic splashdown watched by tens of millions live (see the grainy footage) and millions more in the 1995 Hollywood reenactment.

WHIPPED CREAM ON TOP

What’s shakin’?

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