May 31 Preparation by Prayer

Scripture Reading: Psalm 31:1–5

Key Verse: Psalm 31:1

In You, O Lord, I put my trust;

Let me never be ashamed;

Deliver me in Your righteousness.

When you hear the word preparation, what comes to your mind? Do you think about life insurance, studying for a test, or maybe even packing all the necessary equipment before a camping trip? Of course, all of these things are acts of preparation.

When we prepare beforehand, we consider all possible outcomes and make sure that we will have what we need when the time comes. We explore any potential problems and arrive at a solution “just in case.” After all, no one wants to be caught up in an unexpected situation with no idea of what to do.

Yet do we approach our spiritual lives with the same forethought, or do we tend to take more of a haphazard approach? All too often, we overlook “gearing up” before heading into unknown territory. If it makes sense to prepare for a simple camping trip, how much more important it must be to prepare for our very lives!

We make this preparation by spending time with the Lord. Too many people call upon the name of God only in times of stress; however, if you want to be ready for crisis, then you must seek the Lord when there is no problem at all. In these precious moments of prayer and reflection, we have the opportunity to calmly dwell in the Word, focusing on an intimate relationship with our heavenly Father. These are the occasions for girding up our strength and laying a solid foundation in the Word that will provide sure footing later on, when troubles come our way.

Lord, help me to draw aside each day to spend time with You. I want to be prepared for this life and eternity.^[1]

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^[1] Stanley, C. F. (2006). Pathways to his presence (p. 158). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.

May 31 Never Give Up!

Scripture Reading: Revelation 3:20–22

Key Verse: Matthew 16:18

I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

The title of today’s devotion—“Never Give Up!”—brings to mind a stirring memory of the people who fought in World War II. On the brink of destruction, Churchill’s call to arms rallied his troops. The result was a shift in the way England fought the rest of the war.

Setting its focus on one thing—victory—England refused to be dominated by any outside force. It rose from the charred ruins of wartime to become once again a great and mighty nation. Looking back to that defining moment in history brings a sense of pride. Here is a group of people who said, “No, we will not go down in defeat. We believe there is a future for us, and we will step forward through the darkness to find a candle of hope.”

When you are tempted to give up, think back to this point in history. What would have happened if England had given in to the evil of Hitler’s rule? Oppression and a sense of loss would have swept through the nation with such vengeance that recovery would have been hard, if not impossible.

England had made its choice even before the Allies joined the war. The inner strength of the nation was the motivating factor. Are you facing what appears to be a sure defeat? Are air-raid sirens sounding all around you? Stand firm in your faith in God. Cling to Him, and declare that with His help, you will never give up. The victory you long to receive is yours.

Dear heavenly Father, I declare it: I won’t ever give up! As I travel the rough pathways of this world—in the face of danger or defeat—I will stand firm in You. The victory is mine!^[1]

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^[1] Stanley, C. F. (1999). On holy ground (p. 158). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.

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May 31 Obedience Is the Only Way

Scripture reading: Psalm 69:1–24

Key verse: Philippians 3:10

That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death.

Sometimes obedience is tremendously difficult. You know what God requires of you, but from where you stand, obeying Him appears much too painful. You try to find a way out or around the situation, but nothing works. You must decide if you will obey God or give in to disobedience. For the believer, there’s only one decision, and that is obedience. Anything less is disobedience.

In the devotional book Daily with the King, Glyn Evans writes,

Some things I do in the Christian life are effortless … preach a sermon, lead a soul to Christ, write an article. Other things—vastly more important—are so difficult they command my whole strength and time … learn about God, know God, imitate and obey God. Those are the abiding things, like faith, hope, and love …

God, You never told me how hard the way was. You let me find that out for myself. If I had known, I never would have followed. But having begun, I cannot turn back.

That backward road leads to nowhere and to nothingness. To go forward is hard but it promises its reward. “That I might know Him” was Paul’s cry (Philippians 3:10). So it is mine. Life’s greatest reward is to know Him! The joy of the captured heart!

True worship springs from an obedient heart. Remember that God always places a blessing within the things He requires of you. Never forget that His strength is available to all who trust and obey Him.

Dear Lord, help me to obey Your Word so the bond of our relationship is strengthened each day.^[1]

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^[1] Stanley, C. F. (2000). Into His presence (p. 158). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.

AG William Barr on DOJ/FBI Conduct in 2016: “Things are just not jiving” – Full Interview and Transcript… — The Last Refuge

https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F629487828&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&visual=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&color=ff5500

U.S. Attorney General Bill Barr gave a 48 minute interview to CBS on a variety of issues related to recent events. The interview is packed with insight about the ongoing DOJ investigations of prior DOJ and FBI conduct in the 2016 election.

Rather than post the edited excerpts of the interview as broadcast, the full audio and transcript is below. Very interesting. [Hit orange play arrow to begin]:

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[Transcript]

Read more: AG William Barr on DOJ/FBI Conduct in 2016: “Things are just not jiving” – Full Interview and Transcript… — The Last Refuge

Beth Moore’s Daughter Promotes Ecumenism, Charismaticism, and Social Justice, Beth Moore Agrees — Reformation Charlotte

There are three things that are killing the modern Church as we know it — at least, the visible Church: Ecumenism, charismaticism, and social justice. These are three of the most subversive anti-gospel and unbiblical heresies that destroy Christians and oppose God. Beth Moore’s daughter, Melissa, is all in — in fact, states that she has zero interest in a Church that isn’t all in on these heresies. Beth Moore affirms this, exposing herself for what she truly is — not a God-honoring Christian raising her daughter to do the same, but a rebellious woman who hates the Word of God.

Read more: Beth Moore’s Daughter Promotes Ecumenism, Charismaticism, and Social Justice, Beth Moore Agrees — Reformation Charlotte

Whatever Happened to Truth? — Delighting Grace

If we are truly biblical and discerning, we can easily see the sad state of the local church. But now no one wants to be a Berean. No one wants to be noble. We believe in the truth, but not enough to uphold and protect it for the church.

We value silence as the greatest virtue of the Christian in the 21^st century, over being vocal on biblical truth. The call for tolerance is not a secular thing exclusive to homosexual or same sex marriage advocates, it’s also alive and well in the church. Our open rebuke (Proverbs 27:5) is considered hate speech in the church.

Discernment only applies to Christians in other groups or denominations whether it’s the pope saying something heretical or the latest scam of the prosperity gospel movement, but not inside our churches. It doesn’t apply to us especially to our church leaders. Actually we have our own brand of popery and prosperity gospel growing in our backyard. Yet we remain silent because we don’t want to point it out because being biblical is out of fashion.

Anti-intellectualism over critical thinking is spreading around the church. Critical thinking is what cults considered an attack to their group or to the leader, is now being upheld in the church. So the church resorts into smart shaming in fear that these intellectuals might replace the Bible or their leadership with books and ideas foreign to what they have been taught. Instead of nurturing these people to be more useful in the church and be good forefront to the secular world, leaders calls for obedience including surrendering the life of the mind of a believer.  They may be a good teacher or engineer but when these members go to church, they have to leave their brains at the door and submit. The product of these are people swallowing shallow ideas and beliefs that are laughable when scrutinized in the lens of true scholarship.

The irony of all of this is that we are told to read our Bibles daily, bring it to church every Wednesday and Sunday and if the preacher commits error, there is always a Bible that we go to. The truth is, those words are all just talk.  When the rubber meets the road, the true roll call is not who sides with the Bible, but who sides with the pastor.  Let’s be honest. No one wants to be a noble Berean, lest we are labeled rebels or liberals. We rather keep silent than be biblical.

We don’t want to rock the boat. It’s better that way. We keep our mouth shut and pray for it, while we wait for a “divine intercession” to let God Himself deal and make them step down all the while these so called men of God are wrecking spiritual havoc to the church. The funny thing is, the one who told you to pray and wait for God, are the very same people who are in question fabricating lame excuse for their infidelity to the flock and God. Open your Bible and you won’t see those ideas. However standing up and calling them as they are is too unloving to do.  By that we become man pleasers and eventually pawns of fallible men.

Eventually, we are becoming the wolves that we are warned about. And if we ever bother looking at church history , we can see that we are becoming the very enemies of the faith that once have been antagonistic to what we believe. Apostasy has never been this close thanks to these so called men of God.

This is the mess we have made. May God have mercy on us.

via Whatever Happened to Truth? — Delighting Grace

If You Believe in Arminian Doctrine, Can You Be Saved? — Ligonier Ministries Blog

Arminian beliefs may not be heretical, but they remain serious errors. From one of our live Ask Ligonier events, W. Robert Godfrey explains why Arminianism is unstable theology.

Do you have a biblical or theological question? We invite you to Ask.Ligonier.org.

Read the Transcript

via If You Believe in Arminian Doctrine, Can You Be Saved? — Ligonier Ministries Blog

Dr. Drew says LA public health in ‘complete breakdown’: ‘No city on Earth tolerates this’ — Christian Research Network

“This is unbelievable. I can’t believe I live in a city where this is not Third World. This is medieval,” Pinsky said. “Third World countries are insulted if they are accused of being like this. No city on Earth tolerates this. The entire population is at risk.”

(Bradford Betz – Fox News)  The public health situation in the nation’s second-largest city is in “a complete breakdown,” Dr. Drew Pinsky said Thursday night on “The Ingraham Angle.”

“We have a complete breakdown of the basic needs of civilization in Los Angeles right now,” Pinsky told host Laura Ingraham….

“We have the three prongs of airborne disease, tuberculosis is exploding, (and) rodent-borne. We are one of the only cities in the country that doesn’t have a rodent control program, and sanitation has broken down.”

Pinsky’s comments followed news that Los Angeles police officer had contracted typhoid fever, a rare and life-threatening illness that fewer than 350 Americans contract each year.

Los Angeles had a typhus outbreak last summer and will likely have another this summer, Pinsky said. Meanwhile, bubonic plague – a pandemic that killed tens of millions of people during the 14th century – is “likely” already present in Los Angeles, Pinsky added.  View article →

via Dr. Drew says LA public health in ‘complete breakdown’: ‘No city on Earth tolerates this’ — Christian Research Network

Martin Luther King Jr. Was Reportedly An Abuser Who Laughed At Rape. Is It Time To Tear His Monuments Down? — Christian Research Network

“It is sad that the achievements of our Founding Fathers come with a giant asterisk because their zeal for freedom and liberty did not apply to non-whites. Well, a similar asterisk now accompanies King, whose zeal for equal rights did not apply to the woman whose brutal rape he reportedly applauded. If an asterisk is enough to knock down a statue, then King’s statues must be toppled, too.”

(Matt Walsh – Daily Wire)  A report in a publication called Standpoint makes some startling claims about civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr. We should note that this article is in something called Standpoint, rather than, say, The New York Times, because the American mainstream media did not have the courage for it. Indeed, David Garrow, the award-winning biographer who authored the piece based on information found in FBI documents, was not able to find any outlet in the United States willing to publish the details.

Here’s what Garrow has to say:

Newly-released documents reveal the full extent of the FBI’s surveillance of the civil rights leader Dr Martin Luther King in the mid-1960s. They expose in graphic detail the FBI’s intense focus on King’s extensive extramarital sexual relationships with dozens of women, and also his presence in a Washington hotel room when a friend, a Baptist minister, allegedly raped one of his “parishioners”, while King “looked on, laughed and offered advice.” The FBI’s tape recording of that criminal assault still exists today, resting under court seal in a National Archives vault.

More:

At the Willard Hotel, King and his friends’ activities resumed the following evening as approximately 12 individuals “participated in a sex orgy” which the prudish [Assistant Director William C. Sullivan, head of the Domestic Intelligence Division] felt included “acts of degeneracy and depravity … When one of the women shied away from engaging in an unnatural act, King and several of the men discussed how she was to be taught and initiated in this respect. King told her that to perform such an act would ‘help your soul.’”    View article →

via Martin Luther King Jr. Was Reportedly An Abuser Who Laughed At Rape. Is It Time To Tear His Monuments Down? — Christian Research Network

Rep Doug Collins Discusses Border Crisis and Tariff Approach… — The Last Refuge

As Wall Street’s Big Club politicians go bananas over the pending tariffs on Mexico, House Judiciary Committee ranking member Doug Collins appears on Fox morning to discuss his own visit to the border, the growing crisis and the political intransigence in DC.

via Rep Doug Collins Discusses Border Crisis and Tariff Approach… — The Last Refuge

FIREWORKS! AG Barr Slams Mueller’s “Legal Analysis” – Says “Did Not Reflect Views” of the Justice Department (VIDEO) — The Gateway Pundit

Attorney General Bill Barr sat for an interview with CBS’s Jan Crawford in Alaska on Thursday that aired on Friday morning.

Barr spoke bluntly about the corrupt Democrat-Deep State-media and made it clear that he is unfazed about the attacks on his reputation.

At one point Barr sharply rebuked Mueller’s “legal analysis” in the Weissmann Mueller report and said it does not reflect the views of the Justice Department.

Barr seemed to take a swipe at Weissmann, Mueller’s “pitbull” lawyer who spearheaded the Russia probe and likely concocted the gargantuan 448-page report smearing Trump and his associates.

“We didn’t agree with the legal analysis, a lot of the legal analysis in the report,” Barr said. “It did not reflect the views of the department. It was the viewpoint of a particular lawyer or lawyers, so we applied what we saw was the right law.” OUCH!

WATCH:

In an exclusive interview, Attorney General William Barr said Robert Mueller and the Justice Department disagreed over the “legal analysis” in the special counsel’s report on Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. @JanCBS reports. https://t.co/WD5fcCfTip pic.twitter.com/gqtmQmKIRT

— CBS This Morning (@CBSThisMorning) May 31, 2019

Barr took another shot at Mueller in this same interview when he said that Mueller “could have reached a decision” on whether Trump “obstructed justice.”

“We saw the special counsel yesterday make that statement… He then said he really couldn’t make a decision. Do you agree with that interpretation?” CBS’s Jan Crawford asked Barr.

“I personally feel he could’ve reached a decision… He could’ve reached a conclusion. The opinion says that you can’t indict a President while he’s in office. But he could have reached a decision as to whether it was criminal activity,” said Barr.

via FIREWORKS! AG Barr Slams Mueller’s “Legal Analysis” – Says “Did Not Reflect Views” of the Justice Department (VIDEO) — The Gateway Pundit

Nigerian Christians Trusting in God for Protection as ISIS Moves Into Nigeria After Being Pushed Out of Syria — BCNN1 – Black Christian News Network

In Nigeria, Christians live under multiple threats from Islamic State which has moved into Nigeria.

The 91 million Nigerian Christians trust Jesus for protection and survival. Open Doors partners with the local church to strengthen, support, equip, and aid persecuted believers in Nigeria living under threat from Islamic State.

The fall of the ISIS (Islamic State) territorial caliphate in Syria has pushed them to leave the Middle East for Nigeria where they can join local wings of Boko Haram.

Boko Haram is responsible for more than 34,000 deaths in Nigeria since 2011.

• On May 18, 17 Christians were kidnapped by extremists during a church choir practice. These believers are currently being held for ransom.
• On April 28, Boko Haram killed as many as 25 believers in the Christian community of Kuda.
• Since the beginning of 2019, persecution in Nigeria is on the rise from multiple threats: Boko Haram, Fulani militants and other extremist groups looking to stamp out Christians or make a profit from their abductions.
• These believers need emergency relief, presence ministry, trauma counseling and prayer.

Threats against Christians in Nigeria:

• Christians may live under Sharia law, and face attacks from Islamic terrorist groups like Boko Haram, an ISIS affiliate, and militant Hausa-Fulani Muslim herdsmen.
• These realities lead to uncertainty, death, kidnapping, sexual assault and constant instability, all of which have created a devastating political and humanitarian situation in Nigeria.
• Boko Haram’s attacks have left devastation and trauma in their wake. Open Doors helps run multiple trauma counseling centers in northern Nigeria to deal with the fallout from sexual violence, which often targets women who have very little power to begin with. 100 girls are still missing from the infamous Chibok attacks.

Click here to read more.

SOURCE: Assist News, Michael Ireland

via Nigerian Christians Trusting in God for Protection as ISIS Moves Into Nigeria After Being Pushed Out of Syria — BCNN1 – Black Christian News Network

May 31, 2019 Truth2Freedom Briefing Report (US•World•Christian)

REUTERS

President Donald Trump said on Thursday a tariff of 5% would be imposed on all goods coming from Mexico, increasing gradually each month until reaching 25% on Oct. 1, unless Mexico takes immediate action to curb illegal immigration.

Mexico’s president said on Friday he would respond with “great prudence” to threats by his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump to slap tariffs on Mexican goods entering the United States, and called on Mexicans to unite to deal with the challenge.

Shares of major Asian automakers and suppliers tumbled on Friday after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to slap tariffs on imports from Mexico from next month, potentially upending a decades-old business model of global manufacturers.

Chinese Defense Minister Wei Fenghe and acting U.S. Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan held talks on Friday at an Asia security summit in Singapore, a meeting the Pentagon said was “constructive and productive,” amid heightened tensions between the two countries over trade and security.

North Korea executed its nuclear envoy to the United States as part of a purge of officials who steered negotiations for a failed summit between leader Kim Jong Un and U.S. President Donald Trump, a South Korean newspaper said on Friday.

Pope Francis urged Romania’s leaders on Friday to shun personal interests and work together for the common good, arriving in the former communist country amid political upheaval caused by a corruption scandal.

President Donald Trump is likely to wade into Britain’s Brexit turmoil during a visit to London next week in which he will also tell outgoing Prime Minister Theresa May that her successor should ban Huawei from building 5G networks.

Missouri could become the only U.S. state without a legal abortion provider on Friday as its only abortion clinic could lose its license to perform the procedure unless a St. Louis judge intervenes.

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence said on Thursday he was pushing to get the U.S. Congress to ratify the new North American trade agreement this summer after both Canada and Mexico signaled they are ready to start the approval process.

AP Top Stories

A group of 1,036 migrants that crossed the border illegally El Paso, Texas, is the largest the Border Patrol has ever encountered, the agency said Thursday.

After 20 rounds and more than three hours, the 92nd Scripps National Spelling Bee opted for co-champions instead of one true winner. Just after midnight on the east coast, the eight spellers were named co-champions in what announcers described as the spelling bee that could “change everything.” Each of the winners will still be given a Scripps Cup and the $50,000 cash prize.

John Bolton on Thursday declared that recent US actions against Iran had proved an effective ‘deterrent’ against further attacks on America and its allies in the Gulf Region.

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence called on Canada to do more to engage directly with Cuba over what Pence called the island nation’s “malign influence” on Venezuela’s political crisis.

Iraq repatriated to Turkey on Wednesday 188 children of Turks accused of belonging to the Islamic State group, a capital offence in Iraq, the judiciary said.

A car bomb targeting a U.S. convoy exploded early Friday in an eastern Kabul neighborhood leaving seven Afghan casualties, police said. It was the second suicide attack in as many days to rattle the Afghan capital.

Saudi Arabia on Wednesday sought to rally support among Islamic nations against arch-rival Iran, demanding “firmness” over attacks on Gulf oil facilities ahead of three summits as regional tensions soar.

Russia has rejected an Iranian request to buy S-400 missile defense systems, concerned that the sale would stoke more tension in the Middle East, according to two people with knowledge of the matter, including a senior Russian official.

The U.S. Defense Department is seeking new federal funds to bolster domestic production of rare earth minerals and reduce dependence on China, the Pentagon said on Wednesday, amid mounting concern in Washington about Beijing’s role as a supplier.

BBC

The US-led coalition against the Islamic State (IS) group says it has unintentionally killed more than 1,300 civilians in Iraq and Syria since 2014. The coalition said it had carried out 34,502 strikes since its air campaign against IS began there nearly five years ago. A UK-based monitoring group says the true toll is much higher, up to nearly 13,000 civilian fatalities.

Louisiana’s Democratic governor signed a highly restrictive new abortion law that bans the procedure after a fetal heartbeat is detected.

The talks in Norway between government and opposition representatives aimed at resolving Venezuela’s political crisis have ended without agreement.

A fungus – genetically enhanced to produce spider toxin – can rapidly kill huge numbers of the mosquitoes that spread malaria, a study suggests. Trials, which took place in Burkina Faso, showed mosquito populations collapsed by 99% within 45 days. The researchers say their aim is not to make the insects extinct but to help stop the spread of malaria.

WND

Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak (D) on Thursday vetoed a bill which would have pledged the state’s six electoral votes to the winner of the popular vote for President of the United States.

We Build The Wall, a nonprofit group, can continue building a wall on private land along the U.S.-Mexico border now that a border city rescinded a cease and desist order.

Researchers the Obama administration funded to assist Common Core’s rollout recently found, to their surprise, that under Common Core U.S. student achievement has sunk. The study found not only lower student achievement since Common Core, but also performed data analysis suggesting students would have done better if Common Core had never existed.

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Mid-Day Snapshot · May 31, 2019

The Foundation “War is not the best engine for us to resort to; nature has given us one in our commerce, which if properly managed, will be a better instrument for obliging the interested nations of Europe to treat us with justice.” —Thomas Jefferson (1797)

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What’s More Expensive: Tariffs or Illegals? The president says he will raise tariffs on Mexico until the flow of migrants stops.

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The True Life Story Hollywood Won’t Tell Hollywood hypocrites threaten Georgia while abetting human-rights abusers.

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Socialists Ruin the Environment The extreme Left may hawk the Green New Deal, but its track record is woefully poor.

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How to Tackle U.S. Debt For all the talk in Washington, The Heritage Foundation offers a way forward.

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The Second Amendment Tech Threat Another Silicon Valley company virtue signals its anti-American agenda.

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Bernie’s Socialist Taxes — His Supporters Love It NBC poll finds the majority of Sanders’s supporters to be low-information voters.

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Trump the Disruptor When people complain about the president’s “style,” try to remember his accomplishments.

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Video: Gowdy on Legal Implications of Mueller Remarks Former South Carolina Republican Rep. Trey Gowdy breaks down Robert Mueller’s statement.

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Video: Feminism Is Based on Lies Michael Knowles examines why feminists and others try to rewrite history.

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Today’s Opinion David Harsanyi Sorry, Democrats, There Is No Climate Chaos Ken Blackwell A Disturbing Glimpse Into the Manufacturing of Fake News Michael Reagan Mueller’s Big Nothing Burger Mona Charen Remove Children From Sex Offender Registries L. Brent Bozell & Tim Graham Campus Crusade Against Christianity For more of today’s columns, visit Right Opinion.

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Friday Top News Executive Summary Tariffs, economic competition, King Corn, popular vote, China and Russia red flags, and more.

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Friday Short Cuts Notable quotables from WSJ, William Barr, Hillary Clinton, AOC, and more.

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Today’s Meme For more of today’s memes, visit the Memesters Union.

Today’s Cartoon For more of today’s cartoons, visit the Cartoons archive.

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News – 5/31/2019

Miracle Stories Emerge after 500 Tornadoes Roar through America’s Heartland: Pray for Survivors
Meanwhile, amazing stories are emerging after each tornado strike. A twister that struck Dayton, Ohio on Memorial Day suddenly swerved from its path which could have been a direct hit on a children’s hospital. “Miraculously, I do not know how this happened, but we are grateful it went around Children’s Hospital,” Dayton Fire Chief Jeffrey Payne told the Dayton Daily News, “It amazes me. It was going in a trajectory straight for the hospital and went in a different direction before it got there.” The Dayton Daily News reports, “Given the extent of the tornado’s devastation, officials said it’s ‘miraculous’ no one was killed or seriously injured. The word ‘miracle’ surfaced time and again Tuesday.”

Hunt launched for DOJ official who broke law by leaking to media
A new investigation summary by the Inspector General for the Department of Justice reveals an FBI deputy assistant director was caught making “unauthorized contacts with the media” and “disclosing sensitive information.” Rep. Doug Collins, R-Ga., the ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee, wants to know who that was.

‘Unprecedented’ US-Israeli-Russian Security Meeting to be Held in Jerusalem
Jerusalem will host top security officials from the United States, Israel and Russia in June to discuss “regional security issues,” according to a White House announcement on Wednesday.” “In June, United States National Security Advisor Ambassador John Bolton, Israeli National Security Adviser Meir Ben-Shabbat and Russian Secretary of the Security Council Nikolay Patrushev will meet in Jerusalem, to discuss regional security issues,” the White House press secretary said in a statement. The meeting is expected to center around the security threat to Israel of Iranian entrenchment in Syria close to Israel’s border and will also address the expected withdrawal of U.S. troops from Syria.

Trump to Impose Tariff of Up to 25% on Mexico Over Migrant Surge
President Donald Trump said that he would impose a 5% tariff on Mexican goods until that country stops immigrants from entering the U.S. illegally — brandishing a weapon used against a widening group of countries and perhaps jeopardizing a new North American trade agreement. The tariff would take effect on June 10, “until such time as illegal migrants coming through Mexico, and into our country, STOP,” Trump said in a Twitter post on Thursday night.

North Korea Reports Deadly Pig Disease, Adding to Hunger Worry
North Korea reported its first African swine fever cases, signaling the eastward movement of a pig disease that’s devastated China’s pork industry, and adding to fears of severe hunger in the rogue state.

Secretive Bilderberg meeting to address Russia, cyber threats and Brexit as 130 of world’s elite including Henry Kissinger, Mark Carney and the Dutch King prepare for Swiss summit
Notable attendees include former US Secretary of State Kissinger, Governor of the Bank of England Carney, former CIA director David Petraeus and White House Adviser Jared Kushner, Donald Trump’s son-in-law.

NASA unveils schedule for ‘Artemis’ 2024 Moon mission
The original lunar missions were named for Apollo — Artemis was his twin sister in Greek mythology, and the goddess of hunting, wilderness and the Moon.

Vision Church of Atlanta adds psychic medium to ministerial staff
The Vision Church of Atlanta, Georgia, a progressive congregation, has added a psychic medium who claims to commune with the dead to their staff. Lakara Foster, who holds a doctorate of ministry from The Interdenominational Theological Center, is now a licensed minister at The Vision Church of Atlanta, Rolling Out reported. She is also the creator and star of the YouTube series “The Gift,” which she argues God told her to do. It follows her life as a medium, minister, and spiritual teacher. “God told me to do the show. Foster argues that psychic mediumship should be included among the spiritual gifts of the modern Church because James 1:17 teaches that “every good and perfect gift is from above.”

US will respond with military force if Iran attacks its interests:
The United States will respond with military force if its interests are attacked by Iran, the U.S. Iran envoy said on Thursday as Arab leaders gathered in Saudi Arabia to discuss what they see as the threat from Tehran amid rising tensions. But U.S. Special Representative for Iran Brian Hook said U.S. actions taken so far in the Gulf region, which include repositioning military assets, have had the “desired deterrent effect on the (Iranian) regime’s risk calculations.”

El Salvador earthquake: 6.6 magnitude shake sends residents running
A strong earthquake hit off the coast of El Salvador early Thursday, sending frightened residents running out of their homes in the predawn hours. Authorities said a small tsunami was possible, but there were no immediate reports of serious damage or injuries. “Monitoring of the entire country reflects that there has not been grave or widespread damage,” El Salvador’s Civil Defense agency said. The U.S. Geological Survey reported the quake had a preliminary magnitude of 6.6. Its epicenter was about 17 miles (28 kilometers) south-southeast of La Libertad, a suburb of the regional capital, Santa Tecla, and it was recorded at a depth of 65 kilometers (40 miles).

Islamic Jihad leader: There will be surprises in the West Bank
In recent months, Islamic Jihad has been considered the main factor in continuously disturbing the peace in the south. In the previous round of violence, a sniper from the group shot an IDF soldier, moderately wounding him, which started the round of fighting in which four Israelis were killed. Islamic Jihad leader Ziad al-Nakhala spoke with Hezbollah TV channel Al-Manar on Thursday night and threatened Israel.

Thousands of Iranians march on Quds Day, reject Trump’s peace plan
Tens of thousands of Iranians marking the annual “Quds (Jerusalem) Day” in the Islamic Republic on Friday condemned a planned Middle East peace plan touted by U.S. President Donald Trump as the “deal of the century.” State television said state-sponsored marches were being held in 950 communities across Iran and showed demonstrators carrying banners with slogans such as “Jerusalem is the eternal capital of Palestine” and “Death to America.”

N.Korea executes envoy in a purge after failed U.S. summit – media
North Korea executed its nuclear envoy to the United States as part of a purge of officials who steered negotiations for a failed summit between leader Kim Jong Un and US President Donald Trump… Kim Hyok Chol was executed in March at Mirim Airport in Pyongyang, along with four foreign ministry executives after they were all charged with spying for the United States, the Chosun Ilbo reported, citing an unidentified source with knowledge of the situation.

Merkel refuses to outlaw Hezbollah, snubbing German Jews after kippah row
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and her interior minister, Horst Seehofer, ignored an urgent plea from the country’s tiny Jewish community to outlaw the terrorist organization Hezbollah amid a shocking climate of antisemitism. When asked…if the German government – in response to a demand by the nearly 100,000-member Central Council of Jews – plans to ban the Lebanese Shi’ite terrorist organization, Merkel and Seehofer refused to answer.

Mount Etna eruptions light up night sky
Italy’s Mount Etna has seen an increase in seismic activity in recent days. Overnight, cameras captured a number of eruptions and red lava flow after a small fissure opened on one side of the crater. Such bursts of action can occur several times a year on Europe’s most active volcano.

Climate change: Zero emissions law should be PM’s legacy, scientists say
Leading climate scientists have called for Theresa May to make her “legacy” a target to cut greenhouse gases to zero by 2050. A group of experts have written to the prime minister calling for her to enshrine a target for “net zero” emissions in national law. Experts claim the target is necessary to avoid dangerous climate change.

Saudi king calls on Gulf states to tackle Iran’s ‘criminal’ acts
Saudi Arabia’s King Salman on Thursday urged Gulf Arab states to work together to confront what he called Iran’s “criminal” actions in the region. “The Iranian regime’s interference in the internal affairs of the countries of the region, development of nuclear and missile programs, and its threats to freedom of international shipping are a threat to global oil supply,” the king told an emergency summit in the holy city of Makkah.

Hamas leader threatens Tel Aviv, urges Bahranis to strike over US summit
Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar on Thursday threatened to “pulverize” Tel Aviv in the next military confrontation with Israel and urged the people of Bahrain to demand a cancellation of next month’s economic “workshop”…Sinwar said: “In the next confrontation with Israel, we will pulverize Tel Aviv with double the force than during Operation Protective Edge.”

China says hopes Canada understands consequences of siding with U.S.
China hopes Canada understands the consequences of siding with the United States and doing its bidding, China’s foreign ministry said on Friday, after U.S. Vice President Mike Pence called for the release of two Canadians detained in China. Chinese authorities detained Canadian businessman Michael Spavor and former diplomat Michael Kovrig in December, shortly after Canada arrested China-based Huawei Technologies Co Ltd’s Chief Financial Officer…

“This Is A Black Swan Event”: Futures, Peso Tumble As Trump Unleashes Tariffs On Mexico “Until Illegal Immigration Stops”
“United States will impose a 5% Tariff on all goods coming into our Country from Mexico, until such time as illegal migrants coming through Mexico, and into our Country, STOP.”

HE CAN’T STOP: Creepy Joe Biden On Campaign Trail In Houston Tells 10-Year Old Girl She’s ‘Bright As She Is Good Looking’ Then Begins Touching And Smelling Her
Many mental health experts have said that people who have abnormal urges to touch children in inappropriate ways, people we call pedophiles, cannot be rehabilitated because they cannot stop themselves, it’s something that is hardwired. Joe Biden is such a man, as this article will show you. The Liberal Left is pushing hard for the normalization of pedophilia, and if Joe Biden wins as president, you can best believe he will give his full support to pedophiles having the legal protection now afforded to the LGBTQ+.

Arkansas River flood danger: Levees threatened in Arkansas, Oklahoma
Every large community along the Arkansas River will see major or record flooding within the next week to 10 days as swift-moving water from weeks of heavy rain challenges Arkansas’ aging levee system, the National Weather Service said Wednesday.

Tornado, severe weather outbreak most ‘prolonged stretch’ in 8 years — and here’s why
A two-week onslaught of volatile weather has wrought death and destruction from the Southern Plains to the Northeast, bombarding the country’s interior with disaster after disaster all because of a stalled weather pattern.

1,036 illegal immigrants snared in single group in Texas
The Border Patrol apprehended 1,036 illegal immigrants in one single breach of the border fence Wednesday, marking a massive escalation in the border crisis.

How the Failure of the Oroville Dam Will Lead to UN Imposed Martial Law On American Soil
The Oroville Dam is in crisis and it ready to break..The CALEXIT movement, designed by the globalists to extricate California from the United States is dead and has been supplanted by Paul Preston’s New California 51st movement.

Police shut down alleged gun manufacturing operation in gun control-heavy Canada
A recent gun bust in Canada ought to serve as a reminder that gun control is really good at placing restrictions on the law-abiding while encouraging criminals to innovate and improvise.

American Soil Is Being Globalized: Nearly 30 Million Acres Of U.S. Farmland Is Now Owned By Foreigners
All across America, U.S. farmland is being gobbled up by foreign interests.  So when we refer to “the heartland of America”, the truth is that vast stretches of that “heartland” is now owned by foreigners, and most Americans have no idea that this is happening.

Ex-CIA Officer: Trump In “Historic Battle” With “Treasonous” Deep State
“…this is huge, it’s historic… No one has stood up against them until Trump… the ‘shadow government’ is quaking in their boots because they have been engaged in illegal surveillance…”

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Headlines – 5/31/2019

Kushner, in Jerusalem to push peace plan, faces new political hurdle

As Netanyahu faces another election, White House peace plan may be the first casualty

Kushner-Trump Middle East peace deal could be in trouble after Netanyahu is forced to call fresh election

Kushner’s Awful Timing: Netanyahu’s Political Crisis Could Kill Trump’s Peace Plan

US says Mideast conference in Bahrain to go ahead despite Israeli election

Netanyahu assures Kushner Israel’s ‘little’ political ‘event’ won’t affect ties

1st polls since election called show Israel’s political deadlock would continue

Relaunching campaign, Gantz says ‘political exploitation’ led to new elections

Labor leader says he considered offer from Netanyahu to save Israeli democracy

Likud minister claims Liberman tried to get Kahlon to turn back on Netanyahu

Liberman hits back at Netanyahu: The man from Ceasarea is calling the settler a leftist

Netanyahu’s son says his father appointed an AG to exonerate Liberman in 2009

TV report: Netanyahu’s legal problems mount as AG won’t delay his hearing

Uproar over Netflix show in which Hitler ‘roasts’ Anne Frank

Brass plaque memorializing Holocaust victim defaced in Rome

Netherlands Health Ministry says Jewish circumcisers are breaking the law

Moving the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem Has Produced Lasting Gains

Iran’s Jewish MP says he looks forward to liberation of Jerusalem

Two hurt, one seriously, in stabbing attack in Jerusalem’s Old City – Suspected terrorist shot dead

Palestinian teen said shot dead in West Bank, apparently while breaching fence

Hamas leader Sinwar threatens to attack Tel Aviv with double force

Hamas leader thanks Iran for long-range rockets, threatens Tel Aviv

Islamic Jihad leader: We can fire 1,000 rockets a day

Netanyahu shows off Trump’s map of Israel with Golan Heights

IDF reveals ‘longest, most significant’ Hezbollah tunnel on northern border

IDF destroys Hezbollah ‘flagship’ attack tunnel after studying it

Lebanese media: Israeli Air Force destroys own spying device north of border

Sudan’s military rulers say protest site threatens country

Northern Iraq oil city targeted by 6 blasts; at least 4 killed, 23 wounded, officials say

Iraqi Christian survives being burned alive by ISIS 3 times: ‘[Jesus] spoke to me’

Blast hits Afghan capital Kabul, at least seven casualties

Arab League Summit commences in Mecca amid ‘exceptional challenges’

At emergency Arab summit in Mecca, Saudi King Salman calls for Palestinian state, blasts Iran’s “criminal” actions

GCC, Arab League call on Iran to reconsider its role in the region

Saudi King Calls for ‘Firm’ Arab Stance Against Iranian ‘Escalations’ in Middle East

Saudi king calls on Gulf states to tackle Iran’s ‘criminal’ acts

Saudi king blasts Iran for ‘naked aggression’ in the Gulf

Iran accuses Saudi Arabia of ‘sowing division’ to Israel’s benefit

Evidence Iran was behind Gulf attacks to be presented to UN, John Bolton says

Pompeo: Iran attacked oil tankers to raise global oil price

Escalating Iran crisis looks a lot like the path US took to Iraq war

U.S. believes Russia is conducting nuclear tests, violating moratorium

Trump briefly acknowledges Russian election interference, says not involved

US military building ‘missile-killing’ lasers that it will mount onto jets

North Korea executes 5 officials over failed Kim-Trump summit: South Korean media

North Korea executed special envoy to US, other officials in March

China moves to restrict U.S. access to rare earth minerals as trade war intensifies

If we can’t challenge China, no one can, warns operator of only US mine for rare earth metals

A full-blown trade war would hit the real economy ‘quite rapidly,’ ECB warns

What is the Bilderberg Group and are its members really plotting the New World Order?

Pompeo and Kushner head to Bilderberg Meeting, a mysterious gathering of the global elite

Venezuela gives a rare look at its economy. It’s an ugly, ugly picture

Trump announces escalating tariffs against Mexico, starting at 5 percent, until illegal immigrants ‘STOP’

More asylum seekers sue Trump administration over prolonged U.S. detention

Top sheriff warns: Trump’s ‘done’ if illegal immigration isn’t slashed

Professor who has correctly predicted 9 presidential elections says Trump will win in 2020 unless Democrats impeach

Trump Accuses Mueller of a Personal Vendetta as Calls for Impeachment Grow

Trump: Mueller is a ‘true Never Trumper’

Bernie backers see DNC-media sabotage in Biden surge: ‘It’s the same thing all over again’

DNC faces same problems as 2016 with Bernie Sanders’ supporters suspecting ‘rigged system’: Pavlich

Nikki Haley: America’s ‘flirtation’ with socialism is ‘dangerous’

Dems’ nationwide effort to override Electoral College stumbles in Nevada

Judge orders Facebook to turn over records on data privacy

People are freaking out about Uber’s plans to bar riders with low ratings, comparing it to a dystopian ‘Black Mirror’ episode and China’s social-credit system

Former Head of Pentagon’s Secret UFO Program Has Some (Strange) Stories to Tell

Strong earthquake hits off coast of El Salvador, tsunami possible

El Salvador earthquake: 6.6 magnitude shake sends residents running

5.7 magnitude earthquake hits near Vaini, Tonga

5.4 magnitude earthquake hits near Labuhankananga, Indonesia

Agung volcano in Indonesia erupts to 27,000ft

Sabancaya volcano in Peru erupts to 23,000ft

Popocateptl volcano in Mexico erupts to 21,000ft

Reventador volcano in Ecuador erupts to 17,000ft

Mt Etna volcano in Italy erupts to 13,000ft

Poas volcano in Costa Rica erupts to 10,000ft

Epic floods and trade wars – how politics and climate beats up US farmers

Arkansas fears historic flooding as a slow-motion disaster unfolds

‘Absolute mess’ left behind as Oklahoma flooding from Arkansas River begins to recede

Levee failure near Mississippi River prompts mandatory evacuation orders

A month of Mayhem: ‘Stuck’ weather pattern fuels hundreds of tornadoes

13 straight days of tornadoes shatter US twister record

Tornado warnings are meant to save lives. Why do some people roll their eyes?

California approves wide power outages to prevent wildfires

It’s not wet everywhere: Record-shattering hot, dry weather sparks drought and wildfires in Southeast

First-ever extreme drought recorded in Southeast Alaska

Hawaii warns tourists of parasitic worm that can burrow into human brains

Scientists Genetically Modify Fungus To Kill Mosquitoes That Spread Malaria

Lyme disease a bioweapon gone awry? Rep. Chris Smith pushes Trump to investigate

LAPD employee contracts contagious bacteria that causes deadly typhoid fever

US measles count nears 1,000, surpassing 25-year-old record

This New York doctor has been publicly urging parents not to vaccinate their children in the midst of a measles outbreak. Why is he still allowed to practice medicine?

House spending panel drops U.S. ban on gene-edited babies

Weighing little more than an apple at birth, Saybie is the smallest baby to ever survive

Pence suggests Democrats support ‘infanticide’ during talk with Trudeau

Satanic Temple declares immunity from Supreme Court ruling on fetal remains

Illinois Passes Pro-Abortion Bill: ‘Fetus Does Not Have Independent Rights’

Louisiana abortion law: Fury as Democratic governor says he will sign bill banning terminations into law

Court to decide whether abortion services in Missouri will end on Friday

Major film studios threaten to boycott Georgia over abortion law

Disney Threatens To Boycott Georgia But Partners With China, Which Puts Muslims In Internment Camps

PCA Presbytery rejects Revoice Conference, says it’s not a ‘safe guide’ on gender, sex issues

MTV Reveals First Sexually Fluid Reality Dating Show

Survivors Of Sexual Abuse By Nuns Want Greater Visibility For Their Accusations

Trump signs law to punish websites for sex trafficking

Mark Zuckerberg’s personal security chief accused of sexual misconduct, racist and homophobic comments

Alex Trebek Nearing Remission after Dismal Cancer Diagnosis, Credits Fans’ Faith and Prayers

NBC Shamelessly Censors Alex Trebek, Cuts Host’s ‘Prayers’ Comment

Atheist group sues Texas judge for ‘unconstitutional’ opening prayer

Most atheists believe in the supernatural, despite trusting science

Florida Teacher Wrote ‘WTF Is This?’ On Student’s Science Assignment

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“A simple layman armed with Scripture is to be believed above a pope or a council without it…” – Martin Luther

 

RenewAmerica Newsletter for May 31, 2019

May 31, 2019

China watch – 3

WES VERNON — Day by day, we are witnessing the build-up of Communist China in pursuit of its ultimate goal to depose the United States as “the world’s lone super power.” One of several methods utilized by the Chinese to accomplish this is to make inroads with U.S. allies, by luring them into being less reliant on America strategically – – in trade issues and every other field. China attempts this first gradually and then in larger steps. The obvious purpose, ultimately, is to weaken ties between America and U.S.-friendly nations worldwide…. (more)

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May 30, 2019

The impeachment of Donald Trump by the coward Robert Mueller

BRYAN FISCHER — A revisionist Western was released in 2007 – The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford – that portrayed the relationship between Jesse James and a ne’er-do-well named Robert Ford.James, of course, was famous worldwide as an outlaw, a bank robber, and a train robber. Ford was a nobody, a fringe member of the James gang. When a reward of $10,000 was posted for James, dead or alive, Robert Ford shot him in the back of the head while James was rearranging a picture on the wall. (He only got $500 for his trouble.)… (more)

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May 30, 2019

Robert Mueller’s ‘final statement’ was a disgraceful mess

NEW YORK POST — Special prosecutor Robert Mueller’s statement upon the shuttering of his two-year investigation into the Trump campaign was weird even by the standards of the weirdness of the past couple of years. “Charging the president with a crime was not something we could consider,” he reported. Indeed, even pursuing that question, he added, would have been unconstitutional under long-standing Justice Department guidelines…. (more)

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May 30, 2019

Alan Dershowitz to Newsmax TV: Mueller crossed line

NEWSMAX — Robert Mueller was out of line to imply President Donald Trump might have obstructed justice during the two-year Russia investigation, attorney Alan Dershowitz told Newsmax TV. Minutes after Mueller addressed the media and the American public Wednesday morning to wrap up his Russia probe, Dershowitz joined Newsmax TV host John Bachman for his immediate thoughts…. (more)

 Dershowitz blasts Mueller for ‘exceeding his role’ (WorldNetDaily)

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May 30, 2019

Mueller makes impeachment tightrope tougher to walk for Dems

ANDREW MCCARTHY — Bob Mueller decided to shoot up the town before he rode off into the sunset. It is fair enough to observe that in his short but explosive speech, delivered at the Justice Department Wednesday morning, the special counsel did not say anything that wasn’t already set forth in his report – – a point being emphasized by the White House. The sprawling report is 448 pages long, however. In his nine-minute address, Mueller quite consciously highlighted the portions of the report that fuel the Democrats’ calls for impeachment…. (more)

 Andrew McCarthy: “Explosive” Mueller statement means “we will be talking about impeachment for the foreseeable future” (Real Clear Politics)

 Giuliani: “Impossible to obstruct justice if there’s no underlying crime”; no collusion means no obstruction (Real Clear Politics)

 Andrew McCarthy: The real collusion was Obama Justice Department and the Clinton campaign (Real Clear Politics)

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May 30, 2019

Newt Gingrich: Mueller didn’t say Trump committed a crime

NEWSMAX — Outgoing special counsel Robert Mueller wrote a “convoluted, complex” report that did not conclude anything about President Donald Trump, but there was not any reason he could not have said the president was guilty of wrongdoing if the evidence presented itself, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich said Wednesday…. (more)

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May 30, 2019

Newsmax’s Ruddy: Mueller’s statement ‘disservice to the public’

NEWSMAX — Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s first and only public statement about his two-year probe of Russia’s interference in the 2016 election was a “disservice to the public,” Newsmax Media CEO Christopher Ruddy said Wednesday…. (more)

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May 30, 2019

Social media calls out Mueller for getting it wrong

‘He appears to have this a little backwards, no?’

WORLDNETDAILY — Twitter users had a field day with special counsel Robert Mueller’s statement Wednesday that he couldn’t say for certain that President Trump isn’t guilty of obstruction of justice. “If we had had confidence that the president had clearly not committed a crime we would have said so,” he said, announcing he was shutting down operations after his $35 million probe found the Trump campaign did not collude with Russia and did not find sufficient evidence to refer obstruction charges…. (more)

 ‘Not exonerated’ is not a standard any free country should accept (Charles C.W. Cooke)

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May 30, 2019

Rush Limbaugh: Mueller still trying to ‘nail’ president

‘Only problem … was there isn’t any evidence’

WORLDNETDAILY — When former special counsel Robert Mueller announced on Wednesday that his office is closing and he’s quitting the Department of Justice, he reiterated many points he made in his 448-page report concluding the Trump campaign did not collude with Russia in the 2016 election…. (more)

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May 30, 2019

Mueller’s reasoning ‘means probe was fool’s errand’

If law prevented conclusion on obstruction, why decide on collusion?

ART MOORE — Special counsel Robert Mueller demonstrated Wednesday that he didn’t understand his task as a prosecutor when he insisted that the reason he couldn’t reach a conclusion on obstruction charges was because a sitting president can’t be indicted, contends former assistant U.S. attorney Andy McCarthy…. (more)

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May 30, 2019

Planned Parenthood chief spreads ‘big lie’ planted by activists

NARAL co-founder confessed deceiving media 50 years ago

ART MOORE — The repeated claim by the president of Planned Parenthood that “thousands” of women died before the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling because they lacked access to safe abortion is a “big lie” that was spread by activists a half century ago, according to a co-founder of the leading pro-abortion group NARAL…. (more)

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May 29, 2019

Louisiana becomes the latest state to pass a Heartbeat Bill

NATIONAL REVIEW — The Louisiana state house voted this evening to pass a heartbeat bill, prohibiting abortion after a fetal heartbeat can be detected, which usually occurs at about six weeks’ gestation. The bill passed the house by a bipartisan 79-23 vote, and it passed the state senate earlier this month by vote of 31 to five…. (more)

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May 28, 2019

Hannity: The swamp is in full panic mode [VIDEO]

YOUTUBE — Sean Hannity gives an up-to-date analysis of what the intel swamp is likely in for as a result of its abuse of power and describes the panic mode setting in among its players…. (more)

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May 27, 2019

The Cold War survives: China takes over for the old Soviets

WES VERNON — At last! Is America finally publicly off the lure of cheap “Made-in-China” merchandise? As we highlighted on May 5, a group of American foreign policy experts recently launched the nonpartisan Committee on the Present Danger: China to push for just such an awakening – – or a renewed determination to do something about increased Chinese infiltration into America’s economy…. (more)

 Communist Party of China (Wikipedia)

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May 27, 2019

Time for Trump to follow the Constitution and ignore the judges

BRYAN FISCHER — Break our laws, trespass our borders, sneak into our country, here’s your penalty: your new best friends, activist federal judges, will fly you anywhere in the U.S. you want to go – – no charge! San Diego? Check. Miami? Check. Detroit? Check. Buffalo? Check. Palm Beach? Check. And the taxpayers of America will pick up the tab for your food, shelter, and clothing…. (more)

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May 27, 2019

Taming the bench: MAGA means ending the precedent of judicial precedent

SELWYN DUKE — “It is a maxim among these lawyers, that whatever hath been done before may legally be done again: and therefore they take special care to record all the decisions formerly made against common justice and the general reason of mankind. These, under the name of precedents, they produce as authorities, to justify the most iniquitous opinions; and the judges never fail of decreeing accordingly.” So said Anglo-Irish essayist Jonathan Swift in Gulliver’s Travels in 1726. Unfortunately, something has changed almost three centuries later:… (more)

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May 27, 2019

Liz Cheney: FBI officials’ scheming texts ‘could well be treason’

NEWSMAX — Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo,, on Sunday said Attorney General William Barr’s investigation of the origins of the FBI’s Russia probe must look at conversations that sound “an awful lot like a coup” and “could well be treason.”… (more)

 Sanders: Administration already knows ‘high level of corruption’ at FBI (Newsmax)

 Graham says intel officials concerned about exposure of 2016 misbehavior (Washington Examiner)

 As Barr mulls declassification, a familiar tune from critics (Byron York)

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May 27, 2019

Melania Trump colors fish with kids at Japan digital museum

NEWSMAX — Melania Trump was perfectly cool Sunday at an air-conditioned interactive digital museum in Tokyo where she drew a purple fish and had it projected on a digital aquarium on the wall, as she and her host, Japanese first lady Akie Abe, joined dozens of schoolchildren while their husbands played golf under the scorching sun…. (more)

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May 27, 2019

Scott Pelley: CBS had ‘hostile work environment’

NEWSMAX — Scott Pelley unloaded on former CBS News management – – specifically ex-news division president David Rhodes – – for being “incompetent” and creating a “hostile work environment.” “Well, we’ve been through a dark period of the last several years of incompetent management and sort of a hostile work environment within the news division,” Pelley told CNN’s “Reliable Sources.”… (more)

 David Rhodes (CBS News President) (Wikipedia)

 Ben Rhodes (White House staffer) (Wikipedia)

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May 27, 2019

Death spiral: CNN in ratings collapse

Food Network routinely surpasses infamous fake news channel

WORLDNETDAILY — It’s the network most frequently referenced by President Trump as “fake news,” and as with his Republican primary opponents, the label may have something to do with its decline in popularity. The RedState blog noted Friday that CNN’s town hall with Democratic presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke on Tuesday averaged a paltry 714,000 total viewers and 194,000 in the key 25-54 demo. That means it came in third for both categories during 10-11:15 p.m. Eastern Time hour, according to early Nielsen Media Research…. (more)

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May 25, 2019

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

SEN. TOM COTTON — The story of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier begins on the battlefields of Europe as the guns fell silent on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month of 1918. The American Expeditionary Forces had proved decisive in World War I, the Great War that would shape so much of the coming century. But despite its late entry, the AEF lost more than 116,000 troops. Thanks in part to the recent introduction of identification tags, though, fewer than two thousand remained unidentified. Thus, for the first time the nation faced the question of how to handle large numbers of identified remains in an overseas war…. (more)

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May 25, 2019

Memorial Day Tribute – Mansions of the Lord – Hillsdale College [VIDEO]

YOUTUBE — This Memorial Day, we remember those who sacrificed their lives for our freedom. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of those who are grieving. May we, as Abraham Lincoln said at Gettysburg, “highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain – -that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom – -and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”… (more)

 Teacher praised for honoring veteran with quiet act of kindness [VIDEO] (Yahoo)

 Vietnam vet pleads guilty to parking violation, but judge ignores ticket and thanks him instead [VIDEO] (Little Things)

 How a U.S. war veteran is treated in court by judge [VIDEO] (YouTube)

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May 25, 2019

Gary Sinise reaction to celebrity thank you video – picture-in-picture version

YOUTUBE — See Gary Sinese’s reaction to a thank you video put together by celebrities who wanted to let him know how much they appreciate his efforts in behalf of America’s veterans…. (more)

 Actors thank Gary Sinise for all the work he does helping veterans (Laura Ingraham)

 Forrest Gump actor overcome with emotion by celebrity thank you video (ABC News)

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May 25, 2019

The sinking collusion ship

VICTOR DAVIS HANSON — The entire Trump-Russia collusion narrative was always implausible. One, the Washington swamp of fixers such as Paul Manafort and John and Tony Podesta was mostly bipartisan and predated Trump. Two, the Trump administration’s Russia policies were far tougher on Vladimir Putin than were those of Barack Obama…. (more)

 

Weekly Watchman for 05/31/2019

Biblical Answers to Your Comments and Questions

It’s another Friday! That means more listener questions and comments – our favorite program of the week. Here are a handful of topics we discuss today:

Bethel Church – some great worship but some flawed teaching as well?
Two extremes in Christian churches: legalistic with little grace or abusing grace and not confronting sin
My wife wants nothing to do with God or church, but said she was a Christian when we got married four years ago. What should I do on Sundays?
Home churches can be good or bad depending on the teaching and leadership
The danger of focusing on “common ground” when it comes to Christianity and false religions
I have a love/hate relationship with your show!
We are in the world but not of the world, and need proper perspective when it comes to sharing the gospel and battling for truth in culture

Thanks for the right spiritual balance you have on Stand Up

Daily podcast, relevant articles on issues pertaining to Christians and more can be found on Stand Up For The Truth.

Read more

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The Cult of Modern Liberalism

Why does all this matter and why is it dangerous? Political liberals are one thing; we know exactly where they stand; But religious liberals have infiltrated churches across America and have deceived many. These men (and women) generally believe many of the same things as extremists on the left, and yet claim to be “Christian.”

Daily podcast, relevant articles on issues pertaining to Christians and more can be found on Stand Up For The Truth.

Read more

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Entering a Time of Confusion and Crisis?

The economy in our nation is doing well and many Americans feel life is pretty good.  But there are storms brewing that might threaten to bring more chaos and division to our nation as the underlying social and spiritual fabric of our nation spirals downward.

Democrats seem intent on getting rid of President Trump regardless of the cost, tensions in the Middle East are ratcheting up, and Americans have never been more anxious.  Our leaders are unable to set aside their lust for power long enough to address the growing crisis in our nation including the level of political angst and anger.  And we have a Christian Church that seems to be dividing right down the same ideological and political lines.

The student of Biblical Prophecy is not surprised at these events, but it does challenge us on how to live as Christians in a decaying culture and world that is aligning itself behind the coming Anti-Christ who will directly oppose God.

Gary Kah of Hope for the World Ministry joins Mike and David to look at the coming political, social and spiritual crisis.

Daily podcast, relevant articles on issues pertaining to Christians and more can be found on Stand Up For The Truth.

Read more

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Big Challenges Facing Christianity in America

John Loeffler of Steel on Steel Radio has witnessed and addressed the attacks on both our churches and our nation by radical ideologies and movements, and joins Mike and David to discuss the many challenges our nation and Christian Churches face today.

We start with a promise from Jesus: the gates of hell will not prevail against His true church.  But there has been compromise and complacency as well as enormous challenges facing the professing church in America. We’re seeing a decline in many denominations and church attendance, the growing influence of secular humanism within many churches, and the increasing threat of discrimination and eventual persecution.

Paul says in Romans 8:37 that we are more than conquerors through Jesus, but we seem to be raising the white flag of spiritual and cultural surrender.  Could that be because we are conforming to this world and changing the eternal message of the gospel to fit our human understanding and prejudices?

Daily podcast, relevant articles on issues pertaining to Christians and more can be found on Stand Up For The Truth.

Read more

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A Storm Brewing in American Christianity?

Daily podcast, relevant articles on issues pertaining to Christians and more can be found on Stand Up For The Truth.

Read more

May 31, 2019 Afternoon Verse Of The Day

19 and 20. And thou shalt no longer have the sun for the light of days. He teaches that the prosperity of the Church shall not be temporary, but permanent; for he distinguishes it from the ordinary condition of men, among whom there is nothing steadfast or permanent; because there is nothing under the sun, however well regulated, that is not subject to various changes. But we ought not to judge of the Church from the dangers of the present life; for she is preserved in the midst of the billows; as if he had said, “Do not judge of thy safety from the present appearance of things, but know that it is laid up in God. God will be thy sun, so that thou hast no need of borrowing light from the sun or the moon. Do not, therefore, dread any change or revolution of affairs; for thou shalt have a perpetual and unchangeable light.”

By these words the Prophet does not mean that the children of God shall be deprived of the ordinary advantages of life; for, since the Lord bestows them indiscriminately on all men, he certainly has appointed them also for his children, for whose sake, indeed, God created all things, since he exercises a peculiar care over them. But the Prophet intended to express a still greater blessing, which the children of God alone enjoy, namely, the heavenly Light, which ungodly men hate, and therefore cannot receive; for, although they enjoy the sun and other blessings, yet their happiness cannot be firm and enduring; because, being void of taste, they do not relish that which was of the greatest importance, that they have God for their Father.

Thus he distinguishes the condition of the Church and of believers from the ordinary lot of men, that we may not judge of it from the revolution and change of events, and next that we may know that, amidst the thickest darkness, the fatherly kindness of God shines on believers, in order to cheer them. And, indeed, although all the elements either cease to discharge their duty, or threaten us with a melancholy aspect, yet it ought to be enough that God is reconciled to us. By a figure of speech, in which a part is taken for the whole, he includes, under the terms “Sun” and “Moon,” the whole condition of man, which is continually undergoing change.^[1]

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19–20 These verses climax the references to the light of God in this chapter. Vv. 1–3 represented the light of God, his glory, dawning in Jerusalem. Now the obvious conclusion, poetically speaking, of those verses is drawn. If the light of God the creator has dawned, of what use are the created lights, the sun and the moon? Of what good is their pitiful reflected light when he who is Light itself (1 John 1:5) is present? The Gospel of Luke makes clear that Jews of the 1st century a.d. associated this light with the Messiah, who is the Sun of God’s righteousness (Luke 1:76–79; 2:32; cf. Mal. 3:19 [Eng. 4:2]), and John’s Gospel demonstrates the association of Jesus Christ with these promises (John 1:5, 9; 3:19; 8:12; 12:35–36). Even before the advent of modern scientific studies the ancients understood that light and health are intimately related. If that is true in the physical world, how much more is it true in the spiritual realm? It is the Sun of righteousness that we need. If he has given health to our souls, and if we have his promise that he will not set, then the physical sun and moon may fade and disappear, yet all will be well with us.⁹⁴

The appearance of mourning in the final colon seems strange to some, but the point is the same as that of Ps. 30:6 (Eng. 5) “weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes with the morning.” Although different words are used, the same thought also appears in Isa. 40:2. It often seemed to Israel that the night of mourning for its sins and its broken covenant would never end. Destruction seemed to follow destruction without end (cf. 3:26; 24:4; 33:9). But almost equally troubling was their inability to learn from the punishment and change their behavior (cf. 59:10–11). Nevertheless, says the prophet, the daylight is coming. The night of mourning will be ended, but more than that, completed. There will be no mourning left to be done. Why? Because the Messiah will have come to declare the grace and power of God (cf. 61:2). He is the Sun that will not set, and the Moon that will not be taken away. Truly, “joy comes with the morning.”^[2]

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19. The sun and moon, the brightest objects by day and night, shall be eclipsed by the surpassing glory of God manifesting Himself to thee (Is 30:26; Zec 2:5; Rev 21:23; 22:5).^[3]

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Ver. 19.—The sun shall be no more thy light by day. Here Isaiah anticipates one of the most sublime thoughts in the Revelation of St. John the Divine, viz. that the heavenly Jerusalem, illuminated perpetually by the radiance of the Divine Presence, shall need neither light of the sun by day, nor of the moon by night, but shall be sufficiently illumined by the direct and primary light which streams down upon it from God himself. Whether the sun and moon will continue to exist or not is beyond the prophet’s ken—he makes no announcement on the subject; sufficient for him that the redeemed bask perpetually in a Divine radiance shed upon them by the “Father of lights” (see Rev. 21:23; 22:5). The germ of the idea appears in the earlier prophecies (ch. 24:23). For brightness; rather, for illumination. The Lord shall be unto thee an everlasting light. God is “the Father of lights” (Jas. 1:17)—“the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world” (John 1:9). All other light is but his shadow and his reflex—his creature (Gen. 1:3)—therefore perishable, not to be reckoned on for continuance (Ps. 102:26; Heb. 1:11). But God abides; therefore his light will abide. He is “the same yesterday, and to-day, and for ever” (Heb. 13:8). And thy God thy glory (comp. Zech. 2:5). God will not only be the Light of the Church, but her “Glory” and boast. As the Shechinah was the glory of the first, so “the eternal unchangeable light of Jehovah, with its peaceful gentleness and perfect purity” (Delitzsch), will be the glory of the final temple.^[4]

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^[1] Calvin, J., & Pringle, W. (2010). Commentary on the Book of the Prophet Isaiah (Vol. 4, pp. 297–298). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.

^[2] Oswalt, J. N. (1998). The Book of Isaiah, Chapters 40–66 (pp. 557–558). Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.

^[3] Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997). Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Vol. 1, pp. 498–499). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

^[4] Spence-Jones, H. D. M. (Ed.). (1910). Isaiah (Vol. 2, p. 403). London; New York: Funk & Wagnalls Company.

May 31 The Victor Lives Within You

scripture reading:	Revelation 19:19–20:3
key verse:	Revelation 2:7

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.

Although Jesus has conquered Satan and his hosts, they still push the battle. They are defeated but not yet confined to their final destiny—the lake of fire.

In his book The Cross of Christ, author John R. W. Stott explains the tension in this manner:

For though the devil has been defeated, he has not yet conceded defeat. Although he has been overthrown, he has not yet been eliminated. In fact, he continues to wield great power.

On the one hand we are alive, seated and reigning with Christ, with even the principalities and powers of evil placed by God under His (and therefore our) feet; on the other hand we are warned that these same spiritual forces have set themselves in opposition to us so that we have no hope of standing against them unless we are strong in the Lord’s strength and clad in His armor.

The tension is part of the Christian dilemma between the “already” and the “not yet.” Already the kingdom of God has been inaugurated and is advancing; not yet has it been consummated.

The victory over the devil was won at the cross. The battle still rages, but the Victor lives in you. Place your faith in the finished work of Christ on the cross, and you will always be led in His triumph.

Victory is mine because the Victor lives in me! I place my confidence in the finished work of the Cross, Lord. Lead me in triumph!^[1]

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^[1] Stanley, C. F. (1998). Enter His gates: a daily devotional. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers.

31 may (1857) 365 Days with Spurgeon

Elijah’s appeal to the undecided

“How long halt ye between two opinions? If the Lord be God, follow him: if Baal, then follow him.” 1 Kings 18:21

suggested further reading: John 13:12–19

I insist that it is your bounden duty, if you believe in God, simply because he is God, to serve him and obey him. I do not tell you it is for your advantage—it may be, I believe it is—but that I put aside from the question; I demand of you that you follow God, if you believe him to be God. If you do not think he is God; if you really think that the devil is God, then follow him; his pretended godhead shall be your plea, and you shall be consistent; but if God be God, if he made you, I demand that you serve him; if it is he who puts the breath into your nostrils, I demand that you obey him. If God be really worthy of worship, and you really think so, I demand that you either follow him, or else deny that he is God at all. Now, professor, if thou sayest that Christ’s gospel is the only gospel, if thou believest in the divinity of the gospel, and puttest thy trust in Christ, I demand of thee to follow out the gospel, not merely because it will be to thy advantage, but because the gospel is divine. If thou makest a profession of being a child of God, if thou art a believer, and thinkest and believest religion is the best, the service of God most desirable, I do not come to plead with thee because of any advantage thou wouldst get by being holy; it is on this ground that I put it, that the Lord is God; and if he be God, it is thy business to serve him. If his gospel be true, and thou believest it to be true, it is thy duty to carry it out.

for meditation: Four things God will not accept—hypocrisy (Luke 6:46), half-heartedness (Luke 9:59–62), double-mindedness (James 1:6–8) and lukewarmness (Revelation 3:15, 16).

sermon no. 134^[1]

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^[1] Spurgeon, C. H., & Crosby, T. P. (1998). 365 Days with Spurgeon (Volume 1) (p. 158). Leominster, UK: Day One Publications.

31 MAY 365 Days with Calvin

Remembering the Living Word

Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments. Malachi 4:4

suggested further reading: Nahum 3

Prior to the coming of Christ, there was a kind of silence on the part of God. By ceasing to send prophets for a time, God’s desire was to stimulate the Jews so they might with greater ardor seek Christ. The prophet Malachi was one of the last prophets.

Since the Jews are to be without prophets, they should more diligently obey the law and take careful heed to the doctrine of religion that it contains, the prophet says. So Malachi now bids the people to remember the law of Moses, as if to say, “Hereafter shall come the time when you will be without prophets, but your remedy will be the law. Pay careful attention to it, and beware lest you should forget it.”

When God ceases to speak to people, even for the shortest time, some are carried away by their own inventions and ever inclined to vanity. We know that abundantly by experience. So, to keep the Jews from wandering and departing from the pure doctrine of the law, the prophet reminds them that they are to faithfully and constantly remember it until the Redeemer comes.

Observe that the prophetic message is not separate from the law, for all the prophecies that followed the law were like appendages; they included nothing new but were given so the people might more fully retain them in their obedience to the law.

for meditation: Some people reason that God has not spoken for so long that it matters little what he had to say two thousand years ago. A great comfort and protection against this unbelief comes with knowing that the Word we now have is a living Word, and the Savior we have is, indeed, a risen Savior.^[1]

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^[1] Calvin, J., & Beeke, J. R. (2008). 365 Days with Calvin (p. 170). Leominster; Grand Rapids, MI: Day One Publications; Reformation Heritage Books.