The Pour Over Today - Israel & Hezbollah Airstrikes, RFK Drops Out, Taliban’s New Laws, & More | 08.26.24

Starting point is 00:00:00 Today, we're talking about airstrikes between Israel and Hezbollah, RFK Jr. suspending his campaign, what is in the Taliban's new vice and virtue laws, and other top news from Monday, August 26th. Stay informed while remaining focused on Christ with the pour-over today. Here's the quote of the day. God's cause is committed to men. God commits himself to men. Praying men are the vice regents of God.

Starting point is 00:00:29 They do his work and carry out his plans. E.M. bounds. Let's get started with some espresso shots. Tensions between Hezbollah and Israel boiled over yesterday morning. Hezbollah, the lengthy-to-describe Lebanon-based, Iran-backed Hamas-allied militant group, had reportedly planned a rocket attack on northern Israel in retaliation for the assassination of its top commander last month. Israel says it learned of the attack and blunted it, striking thousands of Hezbollah rocket launchers so that 50 percent, maybe two-thirds of their rockets didn't lift off.

Starting point is 00:01:10 Still, each side landed hundreds of blows, marking the heaviest exchange of airstrikes during a months-long back-and-forth. By mid-morning, skies had quieted and Hezbollah's leader said its successful attack was over. Israel reported killing three Hezbollah fighters and said its successful attack was over. Israel reported killing three Hezbollah fighters and sustaining very little home front damage. The morning's conflict added fuel to fears of a regional war, but by afternoon, both sides had seemed to step back, avoiding escalation.

Starting point is 00:01:38 ... Here's a verse to consider when you're stuck in a cycle of retaliation and escalation. A gentle answer turns away anger, but a harsh word stirs up wrath. Proverbs 15 verse 1. RFK Jr. has suspended his presidential campaign and endorsed former President Trump. Citing polls' suggestions that he could be a spoiler for Trump's campaign, RFK announced Friday that he'd seek to remove his name from ballots in 10 swing states. Later that day, he appeared at a rally with Trump to say that despite serious differences, the two align on many key issues, including free speech, the war in Ukraine, and the war

Starting point is 00:02:29 on our children. Kennedy peaked at around 15% in the polls in May, but declined to 4% to 5%. Current polls show VP Harris leading former President Trump by about 3.5% nationally. Harris has faced criticism for being light on policy and refusing interviews, but continues to garner waves of enthusiasm. She's raised $540 million so far, including $82 million during last week's DNC. Whether your political enemy is thriving or struggling, pray for them. When his own opponents took him to trial and sentenced him to death, Jesus had compassion and prayed for them.

Starting point is 00:03:16 Luke 23, 33, and 34 says, When they arrived at the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals, one on the right and one on the left. Then Jesus said, Father, forgive them, because they do not know what they are doing. And they divided his clothes and cast lots. The Taliban's moral code is now the law in Afghanistan. The 35 article Vice and Virtue laws, strict interpretations of Islamic Sharia law, were formally ratified this week.

Starting point is 00:03:55 Under them, women are banned from showing their faces or letting their voices be heard in public, and men cannot shave their beards or wear Western clothes. It's also illegal to miss prayers, publicize images of living beings, play music in cars, and for unrelated men and women to interact. The rules, which have been less formally enforced since 2022, carry a wide range of penalties, including verbal threats, confiscation of property, jail time, or any other punishment deemed appropriate. The Taliban ruled with similarly oppressive laws from 1996 to 2001 and regained control of Afghanistan in August 2021 after U.S. forces were withdrawn.

Starting point is 00:04:38 It's easy to become angry and indignant over world events, but much more difficult to live with the tension of desiring change while simultaneously loving everyone involved. Followers of Christ are called to live in that tension, retaining love for the very people they work against. Matthew 5, 44 says, But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you so that you may be children of your Father in heaven.

Starting point is 00:05:15 Hi, it's Kathleen, head of content here at The Poor Over. I love it when sermons walk me very, very slowly through a passage of God's word. I love seeing a breakdown of words, contexts, and themes with relevant prompts for deeper thought. With the Life Application Study Bible, I can get that sort of depth of study right at home. It takes me beyond knowing the Bible to living it out. For readers from 9 to 90 and beyond, the Life Application Study Bible is designed to help

Starting point is 00:05:44 you find true heart transformation. Explore the best-selling study Bible in the world. Visit the link in our show notes to get your own Life Application Study Bible today. In other brews, here's a rapid round of updates. In other brews, here's a rapid round of updates. What started as an eight-day trip will be an eight-month trip for two NASA astronauts aboard the International Space Station. NASA has decided the pair will return on a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft in February

Starting point is 00:06:22 2025. The Boeing Starliner they arrived on, which experienced thruster problems and helium leaks, was deemed unsafe and will return to Earth uncrewed. Seminoles got some unexpected Yellow Jacket stings on Saturday. College football kicked off Week 0 with the first top-10 upset of the season. Georgia Tech, double-digit underdogs, pulled out a 24-21 win over No. 10 Florida State in Dublin, Ireland.

Starting point is 00:06:53 Week one, aka the real 2024 season kickoff, starts this Thursday. Italian officials are investigating how a storm-sank tech tycoon Mike Lynch's 184-foot mega-yacht in 16 minutes when smaller nearby vessels were undamaged. The crew is under scrutiny for apparently neglecting basic preparations. Prosecutors suggested they may bring charges of manslaughter or negligent shipwreck. On Friday, divers found the seventh and final body, Lynch's Oxford-bound daughter, Hannah. No, it's not your imagination. Rent is high.

Starting point is 00:07:37 Friday, the Justice Department announced it's suing real estate company, RealPage, for allegedly helping landlords drive up rent. The DOJ and eight states, North Carolina, California, real estate company RealPage for allegedly helping landlords drive up rent. The DOJ and eight states—North Carolina, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Minnesota, Oregon, Tennessee, and Washington—say RealPage's pricing algorithm lets landlords collude to set rents above market rate. RealPage hasn't commented.

Starting point is 00:08:04 The founder of messaging platform Telegram was arrested in Paris yesterday. French police reportedly detained 39 year old Pavel Dourav for failing to crack down on criminal activity on Telegram. The platform is known for emphasizing privacy and said its moderation is within industry standards, arguing it's absurd to claim that a platform or its owner are responsible for abuse. That's all we have for today. Thanks so much for listening. If you're listening on the Apple Podcasts app, give us a five-star rating and drop a review. If you're listening on

Starting point is 00:08:39 Spotify, give us a follow and hit the notification bell to never miss a new episode. We appreciate your support and hope you have a great day. We'll see you on Wednesday.

The Pour Over Today - Israel & Hezbollah Airstrikes, RFK Drops Out, Taliban’s New Laws, & More | 08.26.24

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