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State Farm Stadium was at max capacity yesterday (~73k) for Charlie Kirk’s memorial service, with early estimates suggesting millions more viewers online. 

Turning Point USA, the conservative political organization Kirk co-founded, encouraged attendees to come dressed in their red, white, and blue “Sunday Best.” Security was tight; there was a strict no-bag policy, bulletproof glass around the speakers’ podium, and police arrested an armed man who entered the stadium on Saturday, accusing him of impersonating law enforcement. 

The memorial featured over a dozen speakers, including Charlie’s wife Erika, President Trump, Vice President Vance, and other Trump administration officials. They pledged to continue Turning Point’s conservative activism in high schools and colleges, and repeatedly celebrated Kirk’s faith; the event itself included worship music from major Christian artists, Scripture readings, and gospel presentations.

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ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE
God doesn’t promise a world without troubles, but He does promise peace and victory over sin for all who trust in Jesus. During times dominated by division and fear, our eternity is secure, and we can cling to His promises.

“I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.”
John 16:33 (CSB) (read full passage)

Shutdown season is upon us.

Friday, the House passed a GOP-endorsed stopgap bill that keeps funding at current levels through November 21 while adding $88M in security upgrades for government officials following the Charlie Kirk assassination. The Senate voted it down 44-48, well short of the 60 needed votes.

Democrats countered with their own bill, which would extend funding until October 31, boost security for government officials by $326M, restore Affordable Care Act subsidies, and roll back recent GOP-backed Medicaid changes. That proposal also flopped in the Senate.

Congress is now in recess until September 29—just before the current funding expires on September 30. Without a compromise, federal agencies will begin shuttering, paychecks will pause for many workers, and public services will face disruptions. The shutdown-avoiding clock is officially ticking.

P.S. Check out this bonus podcast episode of our writers explaining government shutdowns to our podcast producer. Enjoy! (Apple Podcasts) (Spotify)

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ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE
If our hope is based on political negotiations or economic security, then we live in fear because we could lose everything. But if our hope is rooted in the eternal security provided by Christ, then we can weather any storm—even a government shutdown.

“My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’s blood and righteousness… On Christ the solid Rock I stand; all other ground is sinking sand.”
Edward Mote, 1863 (Scriptural basis: Ps 18:2; Matt 7:24; Heb 13:8)

As war has torn through their country, Ukrainian children have faced fear, loss, and uncertainty. More than half of Ukraine’s kids (nearly 3 million children) have fled their homes, carrying deep scars from the war.

OneHope is meeting these kids in the midst of trauma, bringing them God’s Word in creative, tangible ways… like Onward: Journey to the Light, a Scripture-based storybook that helps refugee children process complex emotions. They’re also sharing the gospel through the Bible App for Kids (translated into Ukrainian), kid-tailored editions of Christ-centered books, and even leadership training for teens.

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BE DOERS
Join us in supporting OneHope’s mission to bring the hope and healing of the gospel to Ukrainian children. Together, we can be a light in the darkness.

The Pour Over is matching the first $4,000 given through this link.

“Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”
Matthew 25:40 (CSB) (read full passage)

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Hiring immigrants just got more expensive.

On Friday, President Trump signed an executive order that will hike the price of H1-B visas—a program that allows U.S. companies to hire skilled foreign workers. The White House says tech companies have been prioritizing lower-paid immigrants over Americans and announced that employers like Amazon and Google will now foot a one-time $100,000 bill (up from ~$1,500) for all future H1 hires (H1res?). 

Critics say the move will make it harder for U.S. companies to attract the world’s top talent.

There is another (more expensive) option… #47 also ordered the creation of the “Trump Gold Card,” an expedited permanent residence document available for $1M. President Trump expects the program to generate $100B, which he said will be used for “reducing taxes, pro growth projects, and paying down our debt.”

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Verse to consider whether your job prospects are changing or you’re just trying to keep up with the international mathing… “Anyone trusting in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like foliage.” 
Proverbs 11:28 (CSB) (read full passage)

Estonia says Russia intruded on its personal airspace. The Baltic country called NATO to its defense after Russian jets entered Estonian skies “without permission and remained there for… 12 minutes.” NATO scrambled jets from Italy, Finland, and Sweden to aid Estonia, calling the incident “reckless Russian behavior.” Russia, which recently had similar infringements in Poland and Romania, denies any violations.

Uncle Sam struck another alleged drug-smuggling boat in international waters Friday, killing three “narcoterrorists.” President Trump, who announced the airstrike, didn’t mention which cartel was targeted or the vessel’s country of origin, but said it was “enroute” to America. Meanwhile, Venezuelan President Maduro agreed to meet with a U.S. envoy to “overcome media noise” around Venezuela’s role in drug trafficking.

The U.K., Australia, Canada, and Portugal formally recognized a Palestinian state yesterday, breaking from Western precedent to express disapproval of Israel’s escalation in Gaza and to breathe life into a two-state solution; France and others are expected to follow suit this week. Israeli PM Netanyahu said the allies’ recognition rewards Hamas, arguing that a Palestinian state creates a terrorism launch site.

The CDC’s vaccine advisory panel voted to change COVID-19 vaccine guidance on Friday. The panel, appointed by HHS Secretary RFK Jr., unanimously agreed that the shot should be weighed using “individual-based decision-making” in consultation with a clinician for those between 6 months and 64 years old; the panel narrowly voted down a measure recommending that states require prescriptions for a COVID vaccine.

Ticketmaster’s in the hot seat. The FTC and seven states have sued Ticketmaster and parent company Live Nation, accusing them of hiding fees and teaming up with scalpers to inflate resale prices—leaving artists and fans to pay the price. The FTC said live events “should not cost an arm and a leg” to attend. Ticketmaster says the claims misrepresent its business practices.

This one’s for the dads...

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