The Pour Over Today - Friday, March 18, 2022

Episode Date: March 18, 2022

Today we’re talking about President Zelensky’s message to Congress, interest rates rising for the first time in years, China’s stance on Russia, and other top news for Friday, March 18th. Stay informed, while remaining focused on Christ, with The Pour Over.Roads of Hope shirt:https://links.thepourover.org/causeteam_shirtPay What You Want for The Pour Over (and get a Kairos Journal* if you pay annually):https://links.thepourover.org/member_02_04*Kairos Journal:https://store.thepourover.org/products/daily-kairos-prayer-journal

Today we'll be talking about President Zelensky's message to Congress, interest rates rising for the first time in years, we'll cover China's stance on Russia, and other top news for Friday, March 18th. Stay informed while remaining focused on Christ with The Pour Over. Here's the quote of the day, Christ is with us until the world's end. Let his little flock be bold, therefore. William Tyndale. Let's get started with some espresso shots.

for William Tyndale. Let's get started with some espresso shots. On Wednesday, we got episode two of Mr. Zelensky Zooms Washington, and the Ukrainian president's core message was similar to last time. Thanks, but do more. Zelensky asked lawmakers to remember Pearl Harbor and 9-11 when evil tried to, quote, turn your cities into battlefields before he re-requested a no-fly zone and additional military aid. A no-fly zone does remain a non-starter because it would require firing on Russian aircraft, a likely start to World War III. But later that day, President Biden did call Putin, quote, a war criminal and approved another $800 million in military support. This includes anti-aircraft systems, javelin missiles, exploding kamikaze drones, and more.

While Russia's bombardment of Ukraine continues, including an airstrike on a theater housing hundreds of civilians in Mariupol, both sides made surprisingly optimistic remarks on a 15-point peace plan. It's easy to feel helpless in a situation like this, but the Bible promises that prayer is powerful and effective. And there are many great organizations with boots on the ground that we can support financially. You can support one of those orgs by buying a t-shirt. We've got a link in the show notes. Hebrews 13, 16 says, don't neglect to do what is good and to share, for God is pleased with such sacrifices. As expected, the Federal Reserve raised its key interest rate by a quarter of a percent

on Wednesday and signaled that they expect to do that six more times this year. It's part of a fun game the Fed is playing called Combat Inflation Without Tanking the Economy. Practically speaking, it means we should start seeing fewer It's Time to Refinance ads. The average rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage topped 4% for the first time since 2019, which is just one example of how making debt more expensive should result in less spending and hopefully lower Uncle Sam's 7.9% inflation problem. After the rate hike, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said the economy is, quote, very strong, hopefully strong enough to weather rising rates and the war in Ukraine. Stocks are up approximately 3% since the news. Even if the economy collapses, God will still be God,

and he will remain in control. Our eternity is secure even in the midst of uncertainty on earth. Philippians 4, 12 and 13 says, I know how to make do with little and I know how to make do with a lot. In any and all circumstances, I have learned the secret of being content. Whether well-fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need, I am able to do all things through him who strengthens me. abundance or in need. I am able to do all things through him who strengthens me. Officials from the U.S. and China met in Rome for seven, quote, intense hours on Monday, but that's most of what we know. The meeting happened amid rumors that Russia is looking to China for military and economic support. China denies any request from Russia and emphasized

their position of neutrality. At home, China continues battling their biggest COVID-19 outbreak since 2020, and Hong Kong is facing the highest COVID-19 death rate on the planet. Experts blame Hong Kong's strict lockdown measures. They say they were so successful that most seniors were never vaccinated, and now they are overwhelming hospitals. China's President Xi signaled a possible shift from the aggressive COVID-0 strategy to, quote, minimize the impact of the COVID situation on economic and social development. Chinese stock market soared 9.1% with his announcement. Here's a verse to consider when reading about intense negotiations by world leaders. First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be

made for everyone, for kings and all those who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. That's 1 Timothy 2, 1 and 2. At The Pour Over, we believe that the news can actually be a force for good, helping people find rest and comfort in Christ while spurring them on to loving action, instead of, you know, creating division, anger, and a persistent feeling of impending doom. For example, keep this in mind while reading today's news. Even if everything goes wrong, your eternity is secure. It costs about 20 cents per subscriber per month to operate the pour-over. Many readers are unable or unwilling to pay, but you can sling four of them on your back and support our staff and mission for just $1 a month. There's a link to

pay what you want for the pour-over in the show notes, and if you pay annually, you'll get a Kairos journal. In other brews, here's a rapid round of updates. A 7.4 magnitude earthquake hit off the coast of Fukushima, Japan Wednesday night, killing four and injuring 97 others. Quick refresher on your Richter scale, it ranges from zero to nine. This quake was in the same region that a deadly 9.0 magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunami caused nuclear reactor meltdowns 11 years ago. No chill, Netflix. No chill. The streaming giant is testing out adding an extra fee for subscribers who share passwords outside of their household. This common practice has never technically been allowed, but it's also never really been enforced.

The testing will begin in Chile, Costa Rica, and Peru. For more than 12 years, Christianity Today failed to investigate or hold accountable two former ministry leaders. Despite repeated claims of sexual harassment from the mid-2000s through 2019, these were claims supported by a dozen women. Neither leader remains at CT, and a third-party investigation, quote, did not find any pervasive harassment or abuse problems at CT. Chris Cuomo was fired from CNN for violating their ethics clause when he was helping his brother, former Governor Andrew Cuomo, navigate sexual harassment allegations. Now, Chris's attorney alleges that the network's ethics standards were a, quote, moving target that was often altered to boost ratings. And he says that Chris is owed an apology and a $125 million in damages. Ye was put in timeout. Instagram suspended

the artist formerly known as Kanye's account for 24 hours for violating policies on hate speech. This was related specifically to a post targeting comedian Trevor Noah. Noah, whose mother was shot by his father, said Ye's public attacks on his ex-wife Kim Kardashian weren't, quote, a big marketing stunt, but instead dangerous harassment. That's all we have for today. Thanks so much for listening. If you're thinking, I want to help more Christians stay informed while remaining focused on Christ, here's a breakdown on how you can best support us. If you're listening on the Apple Podcast app, give us a five-star rating and drop a review. We do actually read these and take them to heart. Like this review from the Hearwalds.

Love that I can get the news on the top headlines and the love of Christ through verses of his word. Thank you for this blessing to my day. Thanks so much for taking the time out of your day to submit a review. We're so grateful for your feedback. If you're listening on Spotify, give us a follow and hit the notification bell to never miss a new episode. There is also an option to leave a five-star rating, but it's a newer feature and it's only doable on your phone. And finally, the simplest way to help us grow is to send this episode to a friend. We hope you have a great rest of your weekend

and we'll see you back here on Monday, March 21st.