“I have found that there are three stages in every great work of God: first, it is impossible, then it is difficult, then it is done.”

^{Hudson Taylor}

Table of Contents

1. “Dodging” a Controversy

2. March Madness

3. LGBTQ History in WA Curriculum

4. Other news you should know

5. Remnant Resources

6. Share this newsletter

“Dodging” a Controversy

The Los Angeles Dodgers have fired Ippei Mizuhara, interpreter for star player Shohei Ohtani, amid allegations of mishandling Ohtani's funds for gambling activities. Berk Brettler, Ohtani's legal representation, labeled it as a "massive theft." The accusations emerged during an investigation of an Orange County resident named Mathew Bowyer, with whom Mizuhara reportedly placed bets.

Initially, Ohtani was said to have aided Mizuhara by transferring funds to cover the interpreter's gambling debt totaling $4.5 million. However, an Ohtani spokesman affirmed an account given in an ESPN interview stating that Ohtani had no knowledge of Mizuhara's gambling activity or attempts to pay the debts.

Ohtani isn't facing discipline from the MLB at this point, but the entire event remains under investigation.

This story once again illustrates the importance of choosing friends (1 Corinthians 15:33), and the security that only comes when we "walk in integrity" (Proverbs 10:9). As impressive as Ohtani's new 700 million-dollar contract to play baseball for the LA Dodgers is, it doesn't come close to providing the same peace of mind that living above reproach and walking with the righteous in wisdom will (Proverbs 3:21-26).

While it is not yet clear what knowledge Ohtani had of the original gambling problem or his participation in knowingly paying off the gambling debts, it is clear that it is better to be a poor man who walks with integrity than a rich man who is crooked in his ways (Proverbs 28:6).

May the remnant step up to the plate of faithfulness and swing for the fences of faithfulness in all we understand today (Hebrews 11:6).

_{By: Todd Wagner}

March Madness

Few events in sports rival the drama, pure competition, and iconic moments that the NCAA’s basketball tournament provides. Cinderella stories and “shining moments” make this one of the best times of the year for serious and casual sports fans alike. As we anxiously check our brackets, hoping we are not at the bottom of the ‘office pool,’ it’s a perfect time for the remnant to spend some time reflecting on how we can avoid the madness of worldly distractions that often march through our lives and keep us from “surviving and advancing” in the tournament of our sanctification (Philippians 2:12).

While there is nothing inherently wrong with competition and athletics, there is something very wrong when we order our lives around anything other than "seeking first His kingdom and righteousness" (Matthew 6:33; Psalm 139:23-24, 1 Corinthians 9:24-27). 

What is it that is so alluring about watching our chosen teams round out the infamous "Final Four" or watching our predicted champion win the coveted National Championship—is it not an element of hope that you may have, against all odds, predicted the prevailing teams before the tournament even started?! Is it not for love of the underdog stories that mark the "anything could happen" spirit of the tournament?! Now consider our God who did something that produced greater, incomparable joy when He gave us His "Champion" upon whom we should bet our lives (Isaiah 53, 61; Luke 6:46-49; John 1:1-5; Romans 8:18). 

As His royal priesthood, we now live as stewards of the mystery of God, forever on his team to testify that our Champion descended from heaven, overcame the "number one seed," Satan, and conquered death and hell in the greatest comeback story of all time. Christ rose from the grave so that we would testify to our enduring hope that He has forever overcome sin and redeemed us (1 Peter 2:9; 1 Corinthians 4:1; John 3:13; Genesis 3:13-15; 1 Peter 3:18-22). Now that is drama, a Cinderella season, and the greatest redemptive story of all time! 

So, amid March Madness (and always), we want to pause and ask ourselves, have we courageously and meticulously searched our hearts to see whether we are the most fanatic, the most crazed, the most passionate, and show the most "madness" for our Savior and Champion? Is your "madness" commensurate with the costly Love He showed you when He left heaven and suffered a brutal death for you? Do you meditate on His Word day and night, keep His commandments, seek to make disciples, and have a servant's concern for the lost? (Psalm 1; Matthew 28:19; Luke 19:10). May the fun that is undoubtedly enjoyed as great college basketball is played spur you on to consider these things (1 Corinthians 10:31).  

_{By: Matthew Lopez and The Remnant News Team}

LGBTQ History in WA Curriculum

Washington Governor Jay Inslee recently signed into law Senate Bill 5462, mandating public schools in the state include LGBTQ history and perspectives in their curriculum. Introduced in January 2023, the bill aims at "fostering Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion." Under the law, state school administrators must update a model policy by summer 2025, and revise state learning standards by the fall of 2025 to integrate LGBTQ history. Critics view it as intrusive and contrary to religious beliefs and freedoms. The law's impact is evident as parents are increasingly opting for private schools, with a 26% rise in enrollment noted between 2019-20 and 2022-23.

While it makes sense to acknowledge the significance of the sexual revolution in our nation's history, it is deadly to celebrate it. Departing from biblical truth and principles will always lead us toward disaster (Proverbs 14:12). In this context, the disaster looks like skyrocketing mental health disorders, a rampant increase in sexually transmitted diseases, the exponential growth of child abuse and trafficking, and all sorts of evil that many times disproportionately impacts women and children. 

Conservative, liberal, and progressive lawmakers all see the value of "training up children" (Proverbs 22:6), but they radically differ on how they define the "way of righteousness" and whether or not it is the primary responsibility of the state or the parents of the child. Those who love God have no such confusion (Deuteronomy 6:4-10). Anyone who wants to deny the goodness of God and his divine design is a danger, so much so in God's original commands to His covenant people, it was to be looked upon as a capital offense and something to be dealt with until the "evil was purged from the land" (Deuteronomy 17:1-7). Today, the Lord commands us to "see to it that no one takes us captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men…rather than according to Christ" (Colossians 2:6). Today, we are charged to purge the evil by "destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God" (2 Corinthians 10:5) and to "prove ourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God, above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation among whom we appear as lights in the world (Philippians 2:15). While the remnant must increasingly wrestle with whether or not we can allow the world access to our children through the public education system, it is not enough that we only protect our own children, the Lord expects us to engage in the public square and seek the well being of everyone being led astray (Proverbs 24:11-12) by the lies which enslave those who are fed them. 

_{By: Todd Wagner and Jamie Wilder}

Other news you should know

🚓 Heroes: Incredible story of family saved after car crash.

🇲🇽 Wild scene at the Texas-Mexico border yesterday.

💲The debt forgiveness continues.

🗽 Trump with a rare unifying statement.

🍎 Apple sued in a landmark antitrust lawsuit.

Remnant Resources

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