October 6, 2023

Kaiser Strike, Biden's Wall, Record Sky Dives

October 06, 2023

October 6, 2023

Together With:

Quote of the day:

“Give me one hundred preachers who fear nothing but sin and desire nothing but God, and I care not whether they be clergymen or laymen. They alone will shake the gates of Hell and set up the kingdom of Heaven upon Earth."

_{- John Wesley}

Today’s Headlines

Sky Diving Grandma

At 104 years old, Chicago resident Dorothy Hoffner recently undertook a remarkable skydiving adventure in a bid to become the world's oldest skydiver. With an audience of cheering onlookers, she made a tandem leap at Skydive Chicago in Ottawa, Illinois, leaving her walker behind.

The current Guinness World Record for the oldest skydiver, achieved by a 103-year-old woman from Sweden in May 2022, now faces competition from Hoffner's feat. Skydive Chicago is actively working to secure official certification for her accomplishment. This isn't Hoffner's first skydiving venture; she initially tried it at the age of 100.

Looking forward, as she approaches her 105th birthday in December, Hoffner is contemplating further adventures, including the possibility of taking her first ride in a hot-air balloon.

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The Remnant's Response

More than one man has motivated himself with the thought, “My biggest fear is not that I would die, but that I would die without ever having really lived.” Today, we should add, “Just because you jump out of a plane when you are 104, doesn’t mean you have really lived.” (However, it is impressive- especially when you need a walker after you land).

A.W. Tozer said, “What a man thinks about when he thinks about God is the most important thing about him.” If a man thinks God is a “cosmic kill-joy,” an oppressor, or a control freak who delights in suppressing human life through the fear of judgment, then he will either live life in feigned obsequence to a hated deity or live in obstinate rebellion against all that is good, leading to certain trouble. (Proverbs 14:12) But the person who knows the True God, (1 Timothy 1:17) the creator of heavens and earth (Colossians 1:16-17), the One who demonstrates His love by dying for men while they are yet sinners (Romans 5:8), the One “who withholds no good thing for those who walk with Him”, (Psalm 84:11) and who trusts that the Word of God is the word of liberty, this man will be blessed in all He does. (James 1:25)

So, while you may not want to jump out of a plane this weekend, if you want to really live, you should jump into the Word of God and use it as a “lamp unto your feet and a light unto your path” (Psalm 119:105).

Kaiser Permanente Strike

The largest healthcare strike in US history began this week, with over 75,000 Kaiser Permanente workers walking off the job. The striking employees are represented by a coalition of unions seeking higher pay and a strategy to address chronic understaffing they say has left them overworked and burnt out.

Kaiser says labor shortages are an industry-wide issue and is taking steps to hire more staff, but workers argue higher wages are needed to attract and retain employees. Workers describe long patient wait times and dangerous conditions due to short staffing levels and the inability to afford the cost of living.

Kaiser claims it leads in total compensation and raises in each market. This unprecedented 3-day strike comes amid a wave of labor activism across industries, with healthcare workers fighting for safer, more secure work post-pandemic. Despite some bargaining progress, the two sides remain far apart on issues like pay raises. The coalition plans a longer strike in November if no contract agreement is reached.

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The Remnant’s Response:

In his great work, The Screwtape Letters, C.S. Lewis said, "We must picture Hell as a state where everyone is perpetually concerned about his own dignity and advancement, where everyone has a grievance, and where everyone lives the deadly serious passions of envy, self-importance, and resentment.'

Conflict, including those between management and the workers, is as old as sin itself. James, the brother of Jesus, rightly asked, "What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is it not the source of your pleasures that wage war on your members?... You are envious and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel... You ask and do not receive because you ask with wrong motives so that you may spend it on your pleasures.” (James 4:1-3)

Though conflict itself is not a sin, what you do with it might be. Conflict is an opportunity to glorify God, not an obligation to continue to destroy others. Conflict is an opportunity to serve others and grow ourselves by modeling humility and grace. (1 Corinthians 10:31-11:1)

It is one thing to see such sadness and enmity exist in our secular world between groups of individuals who do not honor Christ's example or are not controlled by His Spirit and Word. It is a whole other level of tragedy when believers fail to “walk worthy of the calling with which they have been called" and to be "diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." (Ephesians 4:1-3)

Some of the harshest words for believers are reserved for those who shake their heads in disgust at the world and yet refuse to obey the Word themselves. (Romans 2:3-9). So, while we hope our friends at Kaiser can work through their disagreements - let us zealously repent of ours.

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Biden Builds Wall

The Biden administration announced it waived 26 federal laws to allow border wall construction in South Texas. The waivers will allow construction of up to 20 more miles of border barrier in Starr County, part of the busy Rio Grande Valley sector that has seen high levels of illegal entry this year. Environmental laws like the Clean Air Act and Endangered Species Act were waived to speed construction.

Around 450 miles of border wall were built under Trump, but Biden halted construction upon taking office while still facing migrant influxes. Biden's DHS said the new wall project is consistent with the 2021 proclamation to end border wall construction. Some critics say the waivers represent a shift in Biden's thinking to recognize walls as effective border security tools. Proponents urge Biden to use the waivers to expand border wall construction to more areas.

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The Remnant's Response:

Part of having defined borders is having defined border laws - and the ability to enforce them. A nation without walls, figuratively or literally, will not long be a nation. As increasing numbers of individuals ignore our borders and laws, building literal walls to protect the nation others are eager to come to becomes increasingly necessary. Compassionate and good nations do not have open borders; they have compassion and do good things. It is not compassionate to ignore laws created for the common good, and it is good that our current administration is coming to its senses and acknowledging its mistakes. As we have written before, laws and love do not stand in opposition (Romans 7:12); laws and licentiousness do. (Romans 7:22-23) As we secure our borders, we can and should continue to do all we can to compassionately care for others who want to pursue life, liberty, and happiness alongside us. This does not require the rest of the world to be welcome here; it requires the rest of the world to welcome the Judeo-Christian ethic that has largely made living in America a thing of envy to millions worldwide. Abandoning the ethic that created the beauty others want to join is our greatest threat to being able to help others in the future. The most compassionate thing America can do for the rest of the world is to remember from where it has fallen (Revelation 2:5) and respect the goodness of God's law so it can become the "shining city on a hill" our founders dreamt we would be.