Fox News contributor Jonathan Turley analyzes the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down President Donald Trump’s tariff plan on ‘The Ingraham Angle.’ #fox #media #breakingnews #us #usa #new #news #breaking #foxnews #theingrahamangle #politics #political #politicalnews #government #trump #donaldtrump #scotus #supremecourt #tariffs #trade #law #courts #constitution #whitehouse #analysis
Source: Turley breaks down what Trump can take ‘solace’ in after SCOTUS ruling
President Joe Biden’s domestic policy chief is promising revenge against the voters, business executives, and appointees who support President Donald Trump’s 2024 election mandate. The post Susan Rice Threatens Trump Supporters: ‘Revenge Is Best Served Cold’ appeared first on Breitbart .
Source: Susan Rice Threatens Trump Supporters: ‘Revenge Is Best Served Cold’
‘Students must be assessed according to merit and accomplishment, not prejudged by the color of their skin’ A year ago, the federal Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights began Title VI investigations into over 40 universities’ associations with the nonprofit The PhD Project for allegedly using “race-exclusionary practices” in their graduate programs. The DOE had alleged in a…
Source: At DOE request, over 30 colleges sever relationship with allegedly race-exclusionary nonprofit
Laura Ingraham, Jesse Watters, and Greg Gutfeld bring Fox News viewers their fresh takes on the top news of the day. #fox #media #breakingnews #us #usa #new #news #breaking #foxnews #politics #political #politicalnews #government #lauraingraham #jessewatters #greggutfeld #theingrahamangle #jessewattersprimetime #gutfeld #analysis #commentary #headlines #newsupdate #debate #primetime #television #america #topstories
Even a poll for the far-left ABC News and Washington Post could not be skewed enough to erase majority support for deporting *all* illegal immigrants. The post appeared first on Breitbart .
Source: Nolte: 50% Still Support Deporting *All* Illegal Immigrants
The lies coming from the Left this week can only be described as appalling and unbelievable. From a teacher’s aide who terrifies children, to a young woman being fired for stating biological facts, it all sounds like an episode out of the Twilight Zone. Nevertheless, as intercessors, we soldier on, moving forward in the battle for truth, knowing that Jesus holds the victory in His hands.
The first lie told by the Left this week is off-the-wall and extremely disturbing. A trans-identified male teacher’s assistant at Mildred B. Poole Elementary School at Fort Bragg, is subjecting innocent kindergarteners to highly inappropriate behavior. Instead of protecting the children, however, the school says they “can’t help” because the assistant is “transgender.”
Liberty Counsel, a national nonprofit litigation, education and public policy organization with an emphasis on First Amendment liberties, sent a letter to the Department of Defense Education (DoDEA) on behalf of several Fort Bragg parents which lists some of the bizarre and deplorable actions taken by the teacher’s assistant. It demands that the DoDEA suspend the employee and remove him from any contact with children pending an investigation.
The teacher’s aide identifies as a “furry” and has been seen wearing fishnet stockings, short miniskirts, and combat boots. Liberty Counsel reports, “On one of the many days in which he wore BDSM gear in the kindergarten classroom, including a spiked leather dog collar while sporting a wolf tail hanging out of his skirt, he informed the children that he’s a werewolf who cannot be controlled without his collar.” The teacher’s assistant also goes by a variety of names such as “Roxanne Wildheart,” “Ms. Roxxie,” “Lilith Deathhowl,” and “savagebeastqueen.”
Other behaviors exhibited by the teacher’s aide include: directing students to howl like wolves and making statements to the children about being “born in a male’s body,” but insisting he’s “actually a woman” who “likes boys.”
“Ms. Roxxie” has posted “shockingly violent and highly sexualized art, where he claims to have multiple personalities and the ability to brainwash people.” Other drawings include “fursonas” (anthropomorphic animal characters) who brag about “live dissections of fully conscious victims.” One of the posts obtained by Liberty Counsel from “Ms. Roxxie’s” Instagram account wishes “Happy Pride” to “all my pansexual genderfluids that engage in cannibalism.”
If that wasn’t shocking enough “Parents reported this male has a red Jeep with lettering across the windshield: ‘WEREBEAST HUNTRESS’ with a custom front plate ‘ROX XY 666,’ profanity, and transgender flags, which he is permitted to park on campus in view of the children.”
Children in the class are scared and confused, with some worrying that “Ms. Roxxie” will come at night and “eat them” in their sleep. Even though parents voiced their concerns to school administrators in early 2025, as well as in 2026, they were informed that the administration, “can’t do anything about how he dresses, because there is no official dress code,” and because he is “transgender.” The parents were simply told that “we can’t help.”
Liberty Counsel states, “This male’s behavior and DoDEA’s failure to intervene constitutes sexual harassment in violation of Title IX and violates President Trump’s Executive Order 14168 of January 2025, Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government.”
It’s hard to believe that the school would allow this type of behavior and refuse to intervene immediately. Sadly, leftist policies are designed to protect sexually confused adults rather than innocent children. Now, more than ever, we must pray that Liberty Counsel and concerned parents all over America are successful in keeping these dangerous influences out of the classroom.
The next lie told by the Left this week revolves around “toxic empathy.” An article in the Left leaning HuffPost titled The Surprising Skill MAGA Christians Say is Sinful, claims that empathy is being treated as a sin by Christians who identify with the “Christian nationalism” movement.
The article cites Malynda Hale, executive director of the nonprofit The New Evangelicals. For background, Hale’s website states that The New Evangelicals (TNE) are “a justice-centered faith movement committed to reclaiming Christianity from extremism and building a better path forward.” Hale advocates for the LGBTQ community, Black Lives Matter, female empowerment, veganism, and social justice.
In the article Hale states, “In the last several years, especially within MAGA-aligned Christian spaces, I’ve watched empathy get rebranded as weakness. In choosing to care about the lived experiences of others–whether they are immigrants, LGBTQ people, Black communities, anyone outside the white evangelical’s space and ideological land–people are framed as being ‘too emotional,’ ‘unbiblical,’ or even ‘compromising your faith.’”
Hale digs her heels in by saying that those who “demonize empathy” are “clinging to the construct of whiteness and the protection it typically brings more than they are to a faith system.”
Mattie Mae Motl is also cited in the article and identifies as a “progressive biblical scholar,” who insists that Christ’s message was one of radical love, justice, and preferential treatment of the oppressed. Motl believes that MAGA Christians have decided to reject that message and instead “sit comfortably in their bigotry.” Previously, Motl has encouraged the LGBTQ community during Pride Month by stressing that “Your queerness is not too much for god (using a little “g”),” and “it’s time to meet a god big enough for you to spread your wings.”
Motl suggests that “Christ-like empathy comes at a cost, and this is not a cost that MAGA Christians are willing to pay.” She adds that the greatest commandment is to love our neighbor as ourselves, but “without empathy, we are only able to love the neighbor who looks, thinks, and believes like us.”
Hale, Motl, and other “progressive” Christians, charge MAGA Christians with rejecting empathy for the marginalized. But their version of empathy would mean affirming sinful lifestyles and discriminatory social justice measures that harm everyone. Jesus came to earth to die for the sins of mankind. He did not spill his precious blood so that his followers would affirm and advocate for sin, but rather, so they would turn from it.
True empathy means telling the truth and then helping others turn to that truth so they can be healed. Ephesians 5:11 reminds believers to take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. Unfortunately, many on the Left do not understand what God’s Word says or means and therefore, they will twist it to fit their version of truth. As Christians we are called to love our neighbor, but we must always put the truth of His Word first.
The next lie told by the Left this week comes out of Brazil, but it reminds Americans what could happen if liberal agendas are allowed to go too far. Veterinary student Isadora Borges is in a heap of trouble for one simple reason: she publicly stated a scientific fact that “transgender” women “were obviously born male.” In an X post she wrote, “A person who identifies as transgender retains their birth DNA. No surgery, synthetic hormone, or clothing will change this fact.”
Borges has been “criminally charged for comments shared on X about gender ideology, exposing her to a possible prison sentence of four to ten years.” When Borges made the comments back in 2020, they were reported to the police by a “self-described transgender politician” who asserted that she was transphobic.
At Borges’ hearing, “the judge indicated that the comments appeared to reflect personal opinions rather than discriminatory intent and granted the defense five days to submit written conclusions, allowing for further consideration of the legal and factual issues before any decision is made.”
Borges is awaiting a final decision in her case, but remains hopeful that the court will consider all the facts and recognize her right to express her views without “fear of criminal punishment.”
In 2019 Brazil’s Supreme Federal Tribunal “equated homophobia and transphobia with the crime of racism.” It opened the door for cases like this where citizens are punished for their opinions. In this instance, a young woman was stating a biological fact and now she is being prosecuted for it.
In America, we still have free speech, but this case reminds our citizens that we must always protect this right. We cannot let the Left silence the truth simply because it doesn’t adhere to their falsehoods and fantasies.
This week’s stories are disappointing and disturbing, but that means we must be all the more vigilant in praying against the forces of darkness. Share your prayers in the comments below.
Angela Rodriguez is an author, blogger and former teacher who studies the signs of the times, as well as the historical and biblical connections between Israel and the United States. You can visit her blogs at 67owls.com and 100trumpets.com. She is also the author of Psalm 91: Under the Wings of Jesus and Hallelujah’s Great Ride.
Source: Three Things the Left Lied about this Week: February 21, 2026
The Trump administration has given Iran 10 to 15 days to agree to U.S. terms in the ongoing nuclear talks, warning that Tehran would be “very wise” to make a deal. Unlike previous U.S. administrations that put a band-aid on the cancer, President Trump is making demands that would eliminate the Iranian threat almost completely.
He is calling for a full halt to all uranium enrichment, the dismantling of Iran’s proxy network by ending funding and arms transfers to proxy groups such as Hezbollah, the Houthis, and militias in Iraq and Syria, and limits on Iran’s long-range ballistic missile program, which was excluded from Obama’s 2015 nuclear deal.
Following the violent suppression of nationwide protests in late 2025 and early 2026, Trump has also tied negotiations to the regime’s treatment of its own citizens, warning of strikes if executions of protesters continue.
The remarks came during the second round of nuclear talks in Geneva, where U.S. officials say Iran has not met core demands. Vice President JD Vance accused Tehran of avoiding key issues, while Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi claimed progress, citing agreement on “guiding principles.”
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said there were “many reasons and arguments that one could make for a strike against Iran” but emphasized that diplomacy remains President Trump’s first option. She referenced last June’s Operation Midnight Hammer, when coordinated U.S. and Israeli strikes targeted Iranian nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan using B-2 stealth bombers and bunker-buster munitions.
Although claims that Iran’s nuclear program was “completely obliterated” were overstated, the operation significantly degraded key infrastructure. Iran had moved enriched uranium in advance, and while facilities were damaged rather than destroyed, the program did not return to pre-strike operational levels.
Despite the foreign minister’s claims of progress, the phrase “guiding principles” signals only an agreement to continue negotiating rather than resolution of any core issue. The parties committed to exchanging draft proposals and maintaining dialogue, but no narrowing of disputes was announced on enrichment levels, sanctions relief, verification mechanisms, or the scope of talks.
Iran wants negotiations confined strictly to its nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief and has declared its missile program non-negotiable, with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei setting clear red lines on deterrent capabilities. Jason Brodsky of United Against Nuclear Iran told Fox News there is deep skepticism within the administration that talks will produce an acceptable outcome, arguing the diplomatic process may be buying time to position additional U.S. military assets in the region. He said Tehran continues to reject zero enrichment, dismantlement of nuclear infrastructure, missile restrictions, and an end to support for proxy groups.
Behnam Taleblu of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies warned that Iran could propose an agreement that simply formalizes the current reality, securing sanctions relief without major concessions. He said Tehran’s objectives are to deter a strike, stabilize its economy through financial relief, and blunt internal dissent, while showing potential flexibility only on enrichment parameters if sanctions relief is substantial.
Speaking at Fort Bragg, Trump criticized Tehran’s leadership and argued that greater pressure is needed in nuclear negotiations, describing Iran as “difficult” to deal with. He added that regime change would be the “best thing that could happen” in Iran.
The United States has expanded its military presence in the Middle East, deploying two aircraft carriers near Iranian waters, the USS Gerald R. Ford and the USS Abraham Lincoln, supported by dozens of advanced aircraft and more than 50 additional fighter jets at regional bases.
Iran responded with war games in the Strait of Hormuz, joint naval exercises with Russia in the Sea of Oman, temporary maritime restrictions described as security precautions, and renewed emphasis on its anti-ship missile capabilities.
Without naming names, President Trump said, “There are people” who could replace the current regime.
Analysts say the military buildup signals readiness for possible action, even as ambiguity remains over the scope and objective of any strike. Jacob Olidort of the America First Policy Institute said Trump prefers to give diplomacy a chance but would likely turn to military options if talks fail.
Energy markets are watching closely. Iran partially closed the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical oil chokepoints between Oman and Iran. In 2025, about 13 million barrels per day of crude oil flowed through the waterway, accounting for roughly 31% of global seaborne crude flows. Oil prices rose amid heightened tensions, with Brent climbing to $71.41 per barrel and West Texas Intermediate reaching $66.27.
The post Trump Gives Iran Ultimatum, Demands Dismantling of Nuclear Program and End to Funding for Terrorist Proxies appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
Iranian journalist and activist Masih Alinejad unloaded on the UN for granting the nation, ruled by a brutal regime that regularly commits violence against its own people, a role on the UN Human Rights Council.
Alinejad shared, “Thank you so much, everyone. I am supposed to talk only in three minutes, but in my country, in 24 hours, they killed 40,000 people in Iran.”
“And I am here at the United Nations while the killers are walking here. I saw them with expensive Gucci bags. I saw them with expensive brands walking here at the United Nations. And this is the right time. UN Watch invited me. I’m very thankful, but I am going to talk the truth. United Nations is a sad joke.”
“Ironically, I was invited by the US government recently to testify at the Security Council at the United Nations. And I said that the Secretary General of United Nations stand with dictators. Here I’m going to ask you three steps that they took and I will ask you whether they stand with dictators or with the victims. As Hilal mentioned, this is should be the United Nations stand with the victims. Three steps.”
“First, The Secretary General of United Nations sent a congratulation letter to Islamic Republic for the anniversary of this murderous regime. You tell me, do they stand with dictators or the victims? The victims are here, these two women. One of them lost her eye because the revolutionary guard shot her in her eye, Kosar. One of them carried a bullet on her arm, Sima, do they stand with them?”
“No, we have only three minutes. But the killers have everything here. Second step, Afsaneh Nadipour…how ironic. Now she’s in charge. The woman who was in charge to oppress women in my country now is in charge to monitor women’s rights globally.”
“This is not an insult to Iranian. This is an insult to all of you living in democratic countries. This is a slap on your face because they are being now in charge to make sure that your human rights, your basic rights, is being respected by your government. A representative from a murderous regime is in charge to take care of you all in Europe.”
“And third, they invited Arafat, thanks to the UN, thanks to the, can I show the signature? Thanks to 300,000 signature, ordinary people, they canceled Arafat, but instead they invite this person, who actually in the negotiation table with the United States of America, in the West stole the pen. This is the character, low class killers. And now, seven days. In seven days, he is going to give a talk at the United Nations.”
“I want Geneva to hear the voice of Iranians. Right now, after killing 40,000 people, they are storming to hospitals, they’re finishing off the injured ones, they’re arresting doctors and nurses, they put the political prisoners on the death row, they’re executing them. I want to ask Geneva to host a peace conference, invite the opposition from Iran, invite the leaders of Europe, invite the leaders from European country and free world here to talk about an Iran without Islamic Republic. I know my time is over, three minutes, but I’m going to show you something. This, okay, the West waited too long.”
“That doesn’t call you Islamophobic if you treat ISIS the way that they deserve to be.”
“Yes. And the West waited too long. Too long. When I was fighting against compulsory a job, they were like, ‘oh, this is Islamophobic. Oh, no, we have to respect others’ culture.’ All the female politicians from West, they went to my country, they bowed compulsory a job from Sweden, Netherlands, Germany, France from everywhere, high representative of Europe. They waited too long until Marseilles, you know, I mean, he got killed. Suddenly they realized, oh, this is not their culture. They started to cut their hair to show their solidarity with us.”
“Stop cutting your hair. Cut your ties with our killers.”
“And second, they waited too long to designate Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist organization. After seven years after America did that, Suddenly, seven years later, they decided to designate Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist organization. Shame. Seven years waited, and now 40,000 people have been killed. Now the time has come to understand. Don’t wait that long. They call this reformist.”
“That’s why they keep the doors of diplomacy open when it comes to Rouhani. He killed 1,500 people. You call them reformists, we call them chiller. He is now ‘reformist.’ Under his regime. 40,000 people have been killed. When I see my sister standing here, my sister with bullets in their body, being blinded, standing here, I feel ashamed that I am alive. I don’t carry the bullet.”
“How come Europeans do not feel ashamed by calling these people reformists?”
“They are ISIS, kick them out from your country and stand with the victims, not dictators. I know I had only three minutes. I’m gonna leave Geneva forever. You can kick me out forever, but I couldn’t keep silent because I feel the guilt on my shoulder. I don’t know how to save my people with empty hand. I cannot sometimes sleep. I cannot breathe. I cannot even eat because I feel guilty. I cannot believe how come the leaders of European countries do not feel guilty by shaking the hand of those Islamic Republic officials full of blood, shame on you.”
“And thank you so much, UN Watch.”
Alinejad shared her video comments on X writing, “At the United Nations, I confronted a disturbing reality: the Islamic Republic has been granted an advisory role at the UN Human Rights Council.”
“Yes, the same regime that massacres protesters and shoots them in the eyes is now positioned to lecture the world on human rights.”
“Europe’s hesitation to designate the Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist organization has cost lives. Please listen to my message to Europeans.”
“The time for excuse is over.”
Watch:
The post Powerful: Iranian Journalist and Activist Masih Alinejad Unloads on UN for Giving Iran Advisory Role on UN Human Rights Council (Video) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
In a deeply controversial 6–3 decision released Friday, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that President Donald Trump’s use of the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose sweeping global tariffs exceeded presidential authority.
Chief Justice John Roberts, writing for the majority, argued that the statutory language allowing a president to “regulate importation” does not include the power to impose tariffs, a form of ‘taxation’ that the Court says rests with Congress.
But according to respected legal analyst Jonathan Turley, this ruling is far from the end of the road for Trump’s America-First trade agenda.
As Turley noted, the writing was already on the wall during oral arguments back in November 2025, when Chief Justice Roberts repeatedly referred to tariffs as a tax. But what the majority framed as a separation-of-powers issue, dissenting justices warned could now trigger:
The Court notably declined to address whether the U.S. must return billions already collected under the tariffs, leaving yet another economic landmine unresolved.
During his interview on Fox News, Turley confirmed that while the Court’s decision is outrageous to those who believe in a strong executive defense of the economy, President Trump still holds a “massive tariff toolbox” that can bypass this specific judicial hurdle.
Jonathan Turley:
“It is indeed, and this is what some of us predicted. This was a case where the administration was at a disadvantage. AIPA does not refer to tariffs, and tariffs are a big deal under the Constitution. It’s a critical form of revenue that is left to Congress.I thought that the administration did a terrific job in front of the Supreme Court. They could not have argued this case better, in my view, but you can’t really escape that language. Right out of the bat, when that oral argument began, Chief Justice John Roberts said, “This is a tax.”
You could almost hear the administration gulping, because that’s not what they wanted the justices to take from their argument. But Roberts and others clearly view this as a tax that rests with Congress.
Now, there’s a lot of runway still for the administration. We have to really get into this opinion—into some of the weeds—to see if it is prospective only. But also, the administration has other tools in its toolbox. It can actually impose tariffs under other statutes. So this night is hardly over for the administration when it comes to tariffs.”
Justice Kavanaugh also noted in his ruling that President Trump retains a broad array of alternative statutory authorities to implement new tariffs moving forward.
Kavanaugh wrote:
“Although I firmly disagree with the Court’s holding today, the decision might not substantially constrain a President’s ability to order tariffs going forward. That is because numerous other federal statutes authorize the President to impose tariffs and might justify most (if not all) of the tariffs at issue in this case—albeit perhaps with a few additional procedural steps that IEEPA, as an emergency statute, does not require.
Those statutes include, for example, the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 (Section 232); the Trade Act of 1974 (Sections 122, 201, and 301); and the Tariff Act of 1930 (Section 338). In essence, the Court today concludes that the President checked the wrong statutory box by relying on IEEPA rather than another statute to impose these tariffs.”
Turley also pointed to looming political pressure in the wake of the ruling. Republicans in Congress now face intense scrutiny from constituents and business groups alike: Will Congress step up and codify Trump’s tariff agenda into law for the long term?
Jonathan Turley:
“That’s what [refund] we’re going to have to dig a little deeper into the opinion to see, if it is prospective only. Also, Congress has to decide if it wants to move here.The economy is doing extremely well with this administration and with the tariffs, and so the question is: Is Congress going to move in here to make sure that we don’t have to step back in terms of the progress that has been made?
In any case, we’re looking at years of intensive and expensive litigation, unless Congress wants to intervene and try to streamline that process. But there’s still a lot to be resolved. This is a fractured decision. It’s what some of us predicted.
What I noted after the oral argument was that it seemed to me like a majority of justices were not buying the tariff argument generally under IIPA, the statute, but they were all expressing different reasons—or many of them were expressing different reasons—for their objections.
So it’s fractured in that sense. We have to see how this is going to play out, but the pressure will be now not just on the administration, but on Congress, because I think that the public itself would not want to see a wholesale return of tariff money to the detriment of the economy.”
The post Legal Expert Jonathan Turley Confirms President Donald Trump Still Has Powerful Tools Available — Including a Massive Tariff Toolbox — Following SCOTUS Outrageous Ruling appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
The radical left, globalist elites, and their sycophants in the mainstream media thought they had finally scored a fatal blow against President Donald Trump’s historic America First economic agenda.
Following a highly publicized Supreme Court ruling on presidential tariff authorities, the fake news complex immediately went into overdrive, falsely declaring that the highest court in the land had “dismantled” the Trump administration’s cornerstone trade policies.
They were wrong. And Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent just stepped up to the podium at the Economic Club of Dallas to completely vaporize their narrative.
Bessent:
I would also like to take a moment to address today’s Supreme Court ruling, and I would note that I did not change a single word in my speech post-ruling. President Trump will always put our national security and Americans first.As I have said before, the president has multiple tools in his toolbox. Let’s be clear about what today’s ruling was and what it wasn’t.
Despite the misplaced gloating from Democrats, ill-informed media outlets, and the very people who gutted our industrial base, the Court did not rule against President Trump’s tariffs.
Six justices simply ruled that IEEPA authorities cannot be used to raise even $1 of revenue. This administration will invoke alternative legal authorities to replace the IEEPA tariffs.
We will be leveraging Section 232 and Section 301 tariff authorities that have been validated through thousands of legal challenges.
Treasury’s estimates show that the use of Section 122 authority, combined with potentially enhanced Section 232 and Section 301 tariffs, will result in virtually unchanged tariff revenue in 2026.
The ruling in Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump determined that the 1977 sanctions law does not grant the executive branch authority to levy tariffs during peacetime emergencies.
However, critically:
In fact, tariffs imposed under Section 232, including duties on steel and aluminum, were enacted under separate statutory authority and remain legally valid.
President Trump has already announced a temporary global tariff under Section 122, which allows duties of up to 15% for 150 days without procedural requirements in response to serious trade imbalances.
Meanwhile, the administration is launching new Section 301 investigations and revisiting Section 232 authorities to impose more targeted or expanded tariffs going forward.
The post Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent SOUNDS OFF After SCOTUS Ruling — “Court Did NOT Strike Down Trump Tariffs” — Vows Administration Will Invoke Alternative Legal Powers to Keep America First Trade Agenda Alive appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
President Trump on Friday followed through on his earlier promise to sign an executive order imposing a 10% global tariff on every country importing goods into the United States.
This comes in response to the Supreme Court invalidating his tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).
Trump signed the executive order, titled “Imposing a Temporary Import Surcharge to Address Fundamental International Payments Problems,” setting up the 10% ad valorem tariffs to take effect on February 24.
“The United States plays a pivotal role in shaping the global economy. At the same time, the United States faces various threats to its own economy and national interests. Sometimes, the United States faces fundamental international payments problems, such as large and serious balance-of-payments deficits, an imminent and significant depreciation of its currency in foreign exchange markets, or an international balance-of-payments disequilibrium,” he writes in the order. “These problems can, among other things, endanger the ability of the United States to finance its spending, erode investor confidence in the economy, and distress the financial markets.”
The following goods are exempt from the tariffs, according to the order:
(a) certain critical minerals;
(b) metals used in currency and bullion;
(c) energy and energy products;
(d) natural resources and fertilizers that cannot be grown, mined, or otherwise produced in the United States or grown, mined, or otherwise produced in sufficient quantities to meet domestic demand;
(e) certain agricultural products, including beef, tomatoes, and oranges;
(f) pharmaceuticals and pharmaceutical ingredients;
(g) certain electronics;
(h) passenger vehicles, certain light trucks, certain medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, buses, and certain parts of passenger vehicles, light trucks, medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, and buses;
(i) certain aerospace products;
(j) information materials, donations, and accompanied baggage;
(k) all articles and parts of articles currently or that later become subject to additional import restrictions imposed pursuant to section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1862) (section 232);
(l) articles that are entered free of duty as a good of Canada or Mexico under the terms of general note 11 to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS), including any treatment set forth in subchapter XXIII of chapter 98 and subchapter XXII of chapter 99 of the HTSUS, as related to the Agreement between the United States of America, United Mexican States, and Canada; and
(m) textile and apparel articles that are entered free of duty as a good of Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, or Nicaragua under the Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement.
The new tariffs fall under his authority under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, which allows him to impose tariffs of up to 15% for 150 days with few limitations.
Trump told reporters earlier that the ruling actually confirms his authority to impose tariffs. “I don’t think the court meant that, but it’s the way it is,” he said.
“Effective immediately, all national security tariffs under Section 232 and existing Section 301 tariffs— they’re existing, they’re there— remain in place, fully in place, and in full force and effect. Today, I will sign an order to impose a 10% global tariff under Section 122, over and above our normal tariffs already being charged,” he said.
“And we’re also initiating several Section 301 and other investigations to protect our country from unfair trading practices of other countries and companies.”
“This is something we could have done, as Justice Kavanaugh said, we could have done this originally, but we’re doing it now. And the numbers could be far greater than the hundreds of billions we’ve already taken in,” he continued.
WATCH:
Trump made the announcement on Truth Social on Friday evening.
“It is my Great Honor to have just signed, from the Oval Office, a Global 10% Tariff on all Countries, which will be effective almost immediately. Thank you for your attention to this matter! PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP,” he said.
https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/116105594741987893/embed
Trump also slammed the six Supreme Court Justices who voted to bar his tariff authority.
“We will do everything possible to take in even more money than we were taking in before,” he added.
Those members of the Supreme Court who voted against our very acceptable and proper method of TARIFFS should be ashamed of themselves. Their decision was ridiculous but, now the adjustment process begins, and we will do everything possible to take in even more money than we were taking in before!
https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/116105691693335080/embed
Trump also slammed the Supreme Court on social media shortly after it released the decision earlier on Friday.
MORE:
The post JUST IN: Trump Hits Back at Supreme Court With Executive Order Imposing 10% Tariffs on ALL Countries – Slams SCOTUS Justices and Vows to Bring in “Even More Money Than We Were Taking in Before” appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
Fox News on Friday obtained internal FBI emails proving that the Biden White House coordinated with the Justice Department to raid Mar-a-Lago.
Biden’s FBI raided Mar-a-Lago in 2022 and seized boxes of records from Trump’s Florida estate.
More than 3 dozen machine-gun-toting agents descended on Mar-a-Lago in August 2022, and by November, Biden’s DOJ appointed a special counsel to investigate the documents stored at the Florida residence.
The raid came after the National Archives (NARA) visited Mar-a-Lago in early 2022 and demanded documents from Trump.
Court documents revealed that Biden’s FBI authorized the use of deadly force during their raid on Mar-a-Lago, which was authorized by US Attorney General Merrick Garland.
Corrupt FBI agents released staged photos of the ‘classified’ documents laid out on the floor of Mar-a-Lago.
Newly obtained FBI emails reveal Joe Biden was indeed coordinating with the DOJ in the months leading up to the Mar-a-Lago raid.
The Biden White House repeatedly denied having any foreknowledge of the raid. In fact, Joe Biden said he found out about the raid in media reports.
“New emails obtained by Fox News from May 2022, 3 months before Mar-a-Lago was raided by the FBI, illustrated coordination between the White House Counsel’s office and the DOJ regarding an interview of Walt Nauta,” Fox News reporter Davis Spunt said.
Walt Nauta, a former White House employee and Navy veteran who worked as a valet for Trump and served as a personal staffer at Mar-a-Lago, was indicted along with Trump in 2023.
According to the federal indictment reviewed by The Gateway Pundit, Nauta was charged along with Trump in counts 32, 33, 43, 35, and 36.
The charges include conspiracy, withholding a document or record, corruptly concealing a document or record, concealing a document in a federal investigation and scheme to conceal.
Walt Nauta was also charged alone in count 38: False statements and misrepresentations.
The charges against Walt Nauta were dismissed last year.
More on this story from Fox News:
In 2024, Judge Aileen Cannon unsealed records in Jack Smith’s classified docs case against Trump that reveal Biden’s White House and DOJ were coordinating with National Archives general counsel Gary Stern.
The day before Jack Smith indicted Trump in the classified documents case on June 8, 2023, NARA’s general counsel, Gary Stern, was at the Biden White House and met with Joe Biden’s White House lawyer, Richard Sauber.
NARA’s general counsel, Gary Stern, was working with Biden’s White House and DOJ as early as August 2021 (one year before the Mar-a-Lago raid).
It was recently reported that the FBI did not believe it had probable cause to raid Mar-a-Lago in 2022 but descended on Trump’s Florida estate amid pressure from Biden’s corrupt Justice Department.
Yet, to this day, no one has been held accountable for the unprecedented raid on Mar-a-Lago.
The post IT WAS ALL A SETUP: FBI Internal Emails Reveal Biden White House Coordinated with DOJ on Mar-a-Lago Raid appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2026/02/fbi-internal-emails-reveal-biden-white-house-coordinated/
What do kids look for in movies?
Is it bright colors and fun animation? Maybe it’s cute characters and catchy one-liners. Perhaps it’s all about the story—something filled with adventure and fun. Or it might be all of that and more: Our kids can often be more perceptive than we give them credit for.
Older children may see a bit of themselves in Diary of a Wimpy Kid’s Greg Heffley. They might understand Judy Hopps’ desire to prove herself in Zootopia 2. And while younger kiddos may wind up mimicking some of the potty humor found in some movies, they might also imitate the polite behaviors demonstrated by Paddington Bear and the Brown family in Paddington in Peru.
So what should parents look for in movies?
At Plugged In, we’ve watched a lot of movies for kids and considered all their pros and cons, and we’ve nominated five films for the Best Movies for Kids category in our annual Plugged In Movie Awards.
These films, which are all rated PG, carry strong messages about familial love, friendship and kindness. They teach lessons in patience and self-control. They encourage us to conquer prejudices and celebrate our differences. And they cover themes dealing with grief, self-doubt and simply doing the right thing, even when it’s hard.
Of course, you’ll still want to read our full reviews of each of these titles to make sure they’re right for your family. But once you do, we’d love to hear your thoughts, too!
Vote for your favorite kids’ movies released in 2025 at this link. Voting closes March 1, and we’ll announce winners by March 11.
(Summaries written by Paul Asay, Bob Hoose and Emily Tsiao.)
Greg Heffley is not a role model. His decisions are mostly terrible. His attitude is mostly abysmal. And yet, in Jeff Kinney’s Diary of a Wimpy Kid books (and the corresponding movies), he often stumbles into a good life lesson or two—and so do we.
In Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw, Greg is forced to spend time with (ugh) his dad as they try to earn badges for a scouting troop. Greg just knows he’s going to hate every single minute of it—until he realizes, much to his surprise, that his boring ol’ dad isn’t so boring after all.
If The Last Straw was itself part of a fictional scouting troop, it’d earn a few demerits for bathroom humor and crude behavior. But it earns a badge for offering surprisingly sweet moments that don’t feel treacly. It encourages parents and kids to spend time together—and reminds them that they both may have more in common than you think.
The movie Dog Man focuses on a stalwart pair of police partners: the athletic and brave Officer Knight and his bright and faithful dog, Greg.
One day, the duo gets caught up in a horrible accident. They’re rushed to the hospital, where the attending doc declares that Officer Knight’s head is just no good anymore. And Greg’s body is no good either. All is lost … until a nurse steps up to suggest that they simply sew Greg’s head onto Officer Knight’s body. Which, of course, is a brilliant idea! Greg’s smarts paired with Knight’s athleticism results in nothing less than Dog Man, a truly terrific super cop!
Dog Man is a fast-paced and goofy romp that’s all over the place with its zaniness. Parents will definitely roll their eyes at some of the punchlines (along with some of the potty humor). But the movie focuses on the life-transforming nature of familial love. And it takes the time to suggest that an earnest offer of friendship can go a long way toward melting bitter feelings of the past.
When Paddington’s Aunt Lucy goes missing from her bear retirement home in Peru, Paddington travels from his home in England to find her. His adoptive family, the Browns, tag along for the trip, hoping to get in some quality family time on the trip.
There’s a little mysticism at play here, including some ghostly apparitions and vision-like dreams. It’s revealed that Aunt Lucy didn’t just go missing, she was essentially kidnapped (bear-napped?). And bad guys who tell lies cause much of the movie’s chaos and peril.
However, Paddington doesn’t let any of that get him down. He’s a persistent optimist. And even when other people do bad things, he doesn’t let himself sink to their level. Rather, he continues to look for the good in everyone.
But what really makes Paddington in Peru shine is that even when the going gets tough, Paddington and the Browns never stop being kind—to each other and to those around them. After all, just because others have forgotten their manners is no excuse to forget your own.
In Angel’s Sketch, two siblings named Amber and Jack find themselves fighting against monsters when Amber’s drawings start magically coming to life.
Some early viewers of Sketch were shocked by just how scary this film is. And certainly, it qualifies as a horror film (albeit one made for kids). But Amber’s dark creatures match up with how the 10-year-old is feeling. She’s angry and sad over her mom’s recent death. Worse still, big brother Jack and dad Taylor have essentially told her she just needs to move on, to be normal.
But that’s what this film is really about. It’s about how Jack and Taylor realize they’ve been suppressing their own pain—that they’ve been trying to pretend mom’s death didn’t happen. But once they rally behind Amber, the family learns how to grieve and process all those complex, dark and painful feelings together, as a team.
Content-wise, there are the horror elements I mentioned. Sketch has some raw language, too, including a single use of the s-word. But the powerful messages about family—not to mention the fun adventure aspects and comedic bits—bring balance to this movie about moving on from tragedy and grief.
Who would’ve thought that a wily fox and wholesome rabbit would make the perfect crime-fighting partners? Certainly not the leaders of Zootopia. As far as they were concerned, predators and prey simply couldn’t work together: They were just too different.
But Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde proved them wrong. The unlikely duo saved the city from disaster and stopped a maniacal sheep from taking over. Of course, now that it’s over, the friends have realized they still have some work to do—on themselves.
Zootopia 2 is filled with winking nods to the moms and dads in the crowd. But those content issues will likely go over the heads of younger viewers. Nick and Judy face some light peril and go up against a few dangerous animals. There’s a bit of betrayal and double-crossing. And parents will also want to note some potty humor and silly gags that they wouldn’t necessarily want their kids mimicking.
All in all, those problems are pretty navigable, though. Especially since Zootopia 2 continues to deliver nice messages about conquering prejudices and celebrating our differences.
Cast your vote for the Plugged In Movie Awards here!
Be sure to let us know your thoughts in the comments. And check out our nominees for Best Movies for Teens, Best Movies for Adults and Best Christian Movies.
The post Plugged In Movie Awards: Best Movies for Kids (2026) appeared first on Plugged In.
Source: Plugged In Movie Awards: Best Movies for Kids (2026)
Some would consider the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to be the leading authority on good movies. The Academy hands out Oscars every year to tell the world which films are worthy of accolades, which ones had the best acting, the best cinematography, the best writing.
You probably wouldn’t watch many of those movies with your kids in the room: Seven of this year’s Best Picture nominees were rated R. However, try watching them with your own parents, and you still might get the urge to turn off the TV.
The Oscars just aren’t all that concerned with wholesome content. The Academy cares about the stories being told, and its members certainly pay attention to the craft. But if a film needs 100+ f-bombs or some nudity to convey its message, they’re usually willing to let that slide.
Not so with the Plugged In Movie Awards.
Our nominees for Best Movies for Adults all tell compelling stories. They’re all well-crafted films that certainly do their creators credit. (In fact, two of them are currently up for the Academy Award for Best Picture.) And they’re still far more navigable than the R-rated fare offered up by the Academy.
These films, we felt, told powerful messages about love and family. They challenged us to look within ourselves and consider our own brokenness. And even when they dealt with grief, war and tragedy, they still left audiences with a sense of hope for the future.
Vote for your favorite adults’ movies released in 2025 at this link. Voting closes March 1, and we’ll announce winners by March 11.
(Summaries written by Bob Hoose, Emily Tsiao and Kennedy Unthank.)
Sing a song of sixpence? Please. Herb McGwyer won’t sing for eccentric millionaire Charles unless he’s given 500,000 euros. And even then, when Herb’s ex-wife and former musical partner shows up to perform alongside him, he’s not too keen on it.
The Ballad of Wallis Island is a charming film. Audiences will smile at its folk performances and British humor in the same moment that they’ll tear up at the film’s themes of loss, longing and moving on.
While The Ballad of Wallis Island feels far tamer than many movies made for adult audiences, its most discordant notes include quite a few misuses of God’s name—something viewers will need to consider. But, if we may show our hand, reviewer Kennedy Unthanks says he’s still listening to the movie’s soundtrack even today.
Hamnet takes place during the early life of William Shakespeare and his wife, Agnes. However, this story also takes place in the late 1500s, a time when day-to-day life is a tedious, dirt-encrusted struggle—and a time of plague. And that plague claims the life of the Shakespeare’s son, Hamnet.
Hamnet (which the Oscars lauded with a Best Picture nomination) speculates on how all that hardship and grief may have significantly impacted the Bard’s classic masterpiece, Hamlet. However, the dramatic brilliance of this movie is that we see everything through Agnes’ eyes. So when she watches her husband’s new stage tragedy performed at the movie’s end, we see the effusive scenes through her lens: through her past grief and loss and anger.
Content-wise, viewers encounter drinking, a clothed scene of intimacy, some odd mysticism and, of course, a child’s emotionally devastating death. But therein, the movie becomes a heart-wrenching and poignantly therapeutic examination of grief and the cathartic nature of art.
Nuremberg takes place at the end of World War II as military authorities begin piecing together the possibility of an international criminal court, something that had never been attempted before. Many believed it was essential to keep the Nazi atrocities from ever happening again. On that front, Nuremberg focuses in on the relationship between U.S. Army psychiatrist Doug Kelley and infamous Nazi officer Hermann Göring (played respectively by Rami Malek and Russell Crowe).
As the relationship between Kelly and Göring grows more complicated, the pair begins to hammer out trenchant moral questions: Why were the Nazis such uniquely abhorrent people? What made them so violent and terrible? How could they be so unlike us?
What Nuremberg eloquently answers, however, is that Göring and his Nazis were human. And indeed, like us: fallen, broken individuals who waded into sin and corruption.
Now, this movie isn’t a film of faith, and we see some alcohol and hear foul language. But when looked at through a lens of faith, the film raises good questions about the fallen nature of mankind and the universal need for God’s grace. Nuremberg doesn’t make that declaration exactly, nor in so many words. But the lesson is there, and people of faith will definitely recognize the truth of it.
Rental Family is a touching story about an American named Philip (played by Brendan Fraser), who lives in Japan. Philip was once a pretty successful commercial actor. But his now-floundering career forces him to take a job with a company that rents out actors to families and other people who need a stand-in relationship. These folks so long for human connection—a listening ear, a friendly smile, a hand to hold—that they’re willing to pay for it by the hour. However, when Philip begins taking these “roles” the resulting relationships change his perspective on life.
Viewers should note that this is a mature film that includes loose sexual morals, abundant drinking and a few inclusions of coarse language. But the film delivers solid statements about holding fast to family. It encourages us to put a higher priority on slowing down, listening to others and being honest and loving with those around you.
Robert Grainier didn’t live an extraordinary life. He spent 80 years in and around the town of Bonners Ferry, Idaho. He never saw the ocean, never bought a TV set. But he had a family. He had a home.
He was a logger, so he spent seasons cutting down trees to build railroads and bridges. He saw men die from tree-chopping accidents. He saw others murdered for the color of their skin. And he grieved after his wife and daughter disappeared without a trace during a forest fire that destroyed their home.
In addition to those moments of intense violence, the film comes with some language and minor sexual content.
Still, Robert found beauty in life; he found peace. The movie itself—through its slow, spectacular cinematography—invites audiences to slow down and reflect on their own lives. And ultimately, Train Dreams (which is also an Academy Award Best Picture nominee) tells us that if we’re willing to search for it, beauty can be found even in the most brutal of places.
Cast your vote for the Plugged In Movie Awards here!
Be sure to let us know your thoughts in the comments. And check out our nominees for Best Movies for Kids, Best Movies for Teens and Best Christian Movies.
The post Plugged In Movie Awards: Best Movies for Adults (2026) appeared first on Plugged In.
Source: Plugged In Movie Awards: Best Movies for Adults (2026)
19:18 Like the smoke of a furnace uses the word for “furnace” that also appears in 9:8, 10. Its only other use is to describe the source of the smoke compared with what came from the ruins of Sodom and Gomorrah (Gn 19:28). The whole mountain shook violently uses the same Hebrew verb as the statement that “all the people in the camp shuddered” (v. 16).
Coover-Cox, D. G. (2017). Exodus. In E. A. Blum & T. Wax (Eds.), CSB Study Bible: Notes (p. 120). Holman Bible Publishers.
19:18 Even though we know God is everywhere, language such as the LORD descended gives us a greater appreciation of His merciful grace. The omnipotent Creator came down to meet the Israelites. His presence evoked an overwhelming sense of awe. The smoke was an enveloping cover for God’s glory, even as the associated fire reminded the Israelites of that great glory.
Radmacher, E. D., Allen, R. B., & House, H. W. (1999). Nelson’s new illustrated Bible commentary (p. 121). T. Nelson Publishers.
Cole, R. A. (1973). Exodus: an introduction and commentary (Vol. 2, pp. 155–156). InterVarsity Press.
Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the LORD descended on it in fire. The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace, the whole mountain trembled violently (19:18). Fire is a symbol of God’s presence in that it represents purity, and is threatening and dangerous, with an elusive attraction (compare 3:2). The billowing smoke points to the mystery of God’s presence, revealing himself and yet unable to reveal himself totally to finite minds (Isa. 6:4). The ‘furnace’ would be found in a forge where ore was smelted. It was not just humans who were overwhelmed at the presence of the LORD, the inanimate realm of nature also reacted to its Creator’s presence.
Mackay, J. L. (2001). Exodus (pp. 334–335). Mentor.
Confession: Psalm 51:13–19
Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
and sinners will turn back to you.
Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed,
O God, the God of my salvation;
then my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness.
O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will proclaim your praise.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
A broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
Do good in your favor toward Zion.
Build the walls of Jerusalem.
Then you will delight in righteous sacrifices,
burnt offering and whole burnt offering.
Then bulls will be offered on your altar.
Reading: Mark 9:14–29
And when they came to the disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and scribes arguing with them. And immediately the whole crowd, when they saw him, were amazed, and ran up to him and greeted him. And he asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?” And one individual from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought to you my son who has a spirit that makes him mute. And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down and he foams at the mouth and grinds his teeth and becomes paralyzed. And I told your disciples that they should expel it, and they were not able to do so.”
And he answered them and said, “O unbelieving generation! How long will I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring him to me!” And they brought him to him. And when he saw him, the spirit immediately convulsed him, and falling on the ground, he began to roll around, foaming at the mouth. And he asked his father how long it was since this had been happening to him. And he said, “From childhood. And often it has thrown him both into fire and into water, in order that it could destroy him. But if you are able to do anything, have compassion on us and help us!” But Jesus said to him, “If you are able! All things are possible for the one who believes!” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe! Help my unbelief!”
Now when Jesus saw that a crowd was running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “Mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him, and enter into him no more!” And it came out, screaming and convulsing him greatly, and he became as if he were dead, so that most of them said, “He has died!” But Jesus took hold of his hand and raised him up, and he stood up. And after he had entered into the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why were we not able to expel it?” And he said to them, “This kind can come out by nothing except by prayer.”
Reflection
The praying sinner receives mercy because his prayer is grounded on the promise of pardon made by Him whose right it is to pardon guilty sinners. The penitent seeker after God obtains mercy because there is a definite promise of mercy to all who seek the Lord in repentance and faith. Prayer always brings forgiveness to the seeking soul. The abundant pardon is dependent upon the promise made real by the promise of God to the sinner.
While salvation is promised to him who believes, the believing sinner is always a praying sinner.… “Behold he prays” is not only the unfailing sign of sincerity and the evidence that the sinner is proceeding in the right way to find God, but it is the prophecy of abundant pardon. Get the sinner to praying according to the divine promise, and he then is near the kingdom of God. The very best sign of the returning prodigal is that he confesses his sins and begins to ask for the lowliest place in his father’s house.
It is the divine promise of mercy, of forgiveness and of adoption which gives the poor sinner hope. This encourages him to pray. This moves him in distress to cry out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy upon me” (Luke 18:38).
—E. M. Bounds
The Possibilities of Prayer
Response
Like the father of the child in Mark 9:14–29 and the prodigal son—needy and at the end of themselves—may you, too, cry out, “I believe! Help my unbelief!” Confess your sin today, seek God, and know that you find mercy because He is merciful.[1]
[1] Van Noord, R., & Strong, J. (Eds.). (2014). 40 Days to the Cross: Reflections from Great Thinkers. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
“There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out.” – Luke 13:28
Scripture reading: 2 Kings 7:3-20; Luke 13:22-30
The remarkable passage in 2 Kings reminds us that for the sake of Christ, God provided food for His people (v.16), just as He does today, in lean times and times of plenty (Matthew 6:25-34). But it also teaches us that we are not to savour the feast without telling others the good news of the gospel. The lepers feasted on the food left behind by the Syrian army. But they realized what they were doing was not right. In verse 9 they said, “What we are doing is not right. This is a day of good news and we are keeping it to ourselves.”
But do you realize that a lot of Christians today do the same thing as those lepers did? Is it possible that in your life, you have done that? I know that in my life, unfortunately, many times I have feasted on the gospel without telling others the good news.
The passage is also a graphic warning, reminding us that the punishment of unbelief includes the torment of seeing the blessing, but not partaking of it. Elisha had told the captain, “You shall see it with your own eyes, but you shall not eat of it.”
The captain was so close to abundant blessings, and yet so far. But he is not alone. All those who reject the Word of God and harden themselves in unbelief will come under the Lord’s judgment. And part of that judgment will include seeing the blessing and glory of salvation for others, but not tasting it themselves (Matthew 25:31-46; Luke 13:28).
Suggestions for prayer
If you have entered the narrow door of salvation (Luke 13:24), thank God for His grace. If you are unsure, pray that God will enable you to strive to enter the door of salvation by faith in Christ alone.
Rev. Ted Gray grew up in a Christian family but lived a meaningless life of futility apart from the Lord for many years. After professing faith at age 30, and later completing seminary, he has had the privilege of serving Orthodox Presbyterian churches in Oregon and Florida and a Christian Reformed Church in Vermont. For the past 15 years, he has served as pastor of First United Reformed Church in Oak Lawn, Illinois. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com.
As a Christian one of the things that always amazes me is the fact that much of what I learned before I came to Christ about how to obtain joy and peace in life must now be totally turned on its head if I am to lead a joyful and peaceful existence. Christ’s teachings go totally against what non-Christians believe in almost every area of life. I think John Stott summed up these paradoxical teachings best when he said: “The astonishing paradox of Christ’s teaching and of Christian experience is this: if we lose ourselves in following Christ, we actually find ourselves. True self-denial is self-discovery. To live for ourselves is insanity and suicide; to live for God and for man is wisdom and life indeed. We do not begin to find ourselves until we have become willing to lose ourselves in the service of Christ and of our fellows.”1
Let’s take a brief look at Stott’s four paradoxical points:
If we lose ourselves in following Christ, we actually find ourselves
Mankind is hopelessly trying to find what his ultimate purpose in life is. Sadly, for the non-Christian, when he looks back in his old age he finds so many things he wished he could have done differently and when he looks forward he finds a life fast approaching an end with no joy and peace to look forward to, but only a purposeless existence. For you see all of mankind is born with a spiritual vacuum that only Jesus Christ can fill. So when we lose ourselves in following Christ we tap into our purpose for living, which is to glorify Jesus and enjoy Him forever. Thus we find ourselves by losing ourselves in Christ!
True self-denial is self-discovery
Self-denial is the exact opposite of what our flesh is wired for. We want to enjoy the pleasures of life and avoid the pains that life throws our way. But one of the great secrets I have learned as a disciple of Christ is that I can rejoice in suffering.2 You see when I am going through an intense trial I have learned that God will use it for good, and His glory, if I only let Him, for God often will use our sufferings to bring about a glorious result. When I deny myself of the easy road in life I soon, as a child of God, discover a whole new joy and purpose for the trial that was sent my way.
To live for ourselves is insanity and suicide; to live for God and for man is wisdom and life indeed
If you really want to find true freedom in life, my friends, then may I submit to you that the best way to do this is to become a bondslave of Christ. I believe the reason that living for ourselves is insanity and suicide is that living a Christless life leads to eternal damnation, no real joy and peace in the now, and a hopeless search for meaning. But to live for God and for man is true wisdom and life because Christ promises to fill our hearts to overflowing with peace, joy, meaning and eternal life when we depart from this world.
We do not begin to find ourselves until we have become willing to lose ourselves in the service of Christ and of our fellows
Finally, Christianity is the only worldview that transforms lives from bondage to free, from sinner to saint, and from hopeless to hopeful. For the non-Christian the struggle of life, without the existence of Jesus, makes his journey here on earth a mere exercise in futility. The only reality he can count on is physical death. For our non-Christian friends, they will die, sadly without ever knowing why they were born in the first place! Only when one loses himself in Christ and service to others will he find out why he was created in the first place!
1 Quote by John R.W. Stott: “The astonishing paradox of Christ’s teaching an…”
2 Please see my recent devotion: Rejoicing in Suffering – Bible Apologetics – A DAILY DEVOTIONAL
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