Quote of the day:

"The heart is the shop of Satan, where he frames and fashions all his works, even those works that are contrary to the nature and disposition of the heart."

_{- Ralph Robinson}

Congrats to Adam & Caleb on winning the Israel Trip!

Today’s Headlines

New Mexico Governor's 30-Day Ban

The governor of New Mexico, Michelle Lujan Grisham, announced a 30-day ban on carrying guns in public places in Albuquerque. She said this was necessary because of recent shootings of children in the area.

The ban means people cannot openly carry guns or have concealed handguns on state property, public schools, or parks. There are exceptions for police officers and security guards. People can still have guns at home. When traveling with a gun, it must be locked up and unable to fire. People who break the rules can be fined up to $5,000.

The governor said shootings have become an epidemic. The ban allows a "cooling off period" while they determine how to address gun violence. She expects the ban to be challenged in court. Some groups have already sued to try to stop it, saying it violates the 2nd Amendment right to bear arms.

The sheriff in the county said he believes the ban is unconstitutional. But the governor maintains gun violence is reason enough to invoke the emergency powers that allow for it.

The ban only affects cities and counties with high crime rates. That currently only applies to Bernalillo County and Albuquerque. The governor hopes the ban will make Albuquerque the safest city in America, but she expects to modify the ban after 30 days.

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The Remnant's Response

Laws alone cannot restrain evil, and good men don't need laws to restrain them (1 Timothy 1:9). Laws serve an essential purpose and aid in administering justice, but it would be foolish to assume that laws alone will deter someone with truly wicked intentions. The governor acknowledged in her press conference that she doesn't expect the lawless to abide by her "executive order," but that didn't stop her from trying to impress her ideas for "peace" on the peaceable. "Kings" have a tendency to do that (1 Samuel 8:10-17). As the quote at the top explains, the enemy is always fashioning evil in the hearts of men (Genesis 4:7).

Removing freedoms may prevent some crime, but it will also empower tyrants. Rather than hoping for peace to come through an executive order, a more sure plan is to expect it to come through faithful evangelism (Matthew 28:19-20). The world's hope lies not in imposing beliefs through government but in Christians winning hearts through gracious persuasion. The solution is not to take freedoms away from good men but to bring the gospel to all men and, as necessary, deal severely with those who refuse to be good men (1 Peter 2:14). The governor and the rest of us would do well to remember that the wicked are not motivated to run from evil nor respond to a request to put up their instruments of destruction (Proverbs 1:16).

California Bill AB957

The California State Assembly has passed a contentious bill, California Bill AB957, that impacts child custody hearings by adding a new factor for judges to consider. This bill, supported solely by Democrats, mandates that judges evaluating child custody cases must assess whether a parent supports their child's "gender transition" in the context of the child's "health, safety, and welfare." The bill defines "affirmation" as actions promoting the child's overall well-being.

On the other hand, every Republican senator voted against the bill, contending that it interferes too much with how parents choose to raise their children. This has generated strong reactions, with some claiming it could infringe on parental rights and penalize parents opposing gender transition decisions. The bill comes amid nationwide debates over transgender rights, including gender-affirming care, transgender athlete participation, and parental notification of gender identity changes. The bill is expected to become law once signed by Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom, further fueling debates on parental rights and gender identity in California.

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The Remnant’s Response:

Supporting political parties that endorse the destruction of life in the womb, the erosion of parental rights, and the promotion of "gender-affirming" surgeries is tantamount to supporting one's own destruction (Romans 1:32). It is untenable for a follower of Christ to endorse leadership that endorses these policies. If God-fearing, neighbor-loving, theologically sound, faithful followers of Christ refuse to take a stand against evil, we will end up with leaders who celebrate it (Jeremiah 1:17-18). Parental rights are a God-given responsibility (Deuteronomy 6:6-7), and the state oversteps its God-given role when it infringes upon those rights.

Preceding this bill in California, President Joe Biden gave the green light to blue states to push further left on parental rights and transgender issues. During his presidential campaign, he declared LGBTQ+ rights as his number one legislative priority. This past spring, he stated, "There's no such thing as someone else's child; our nation's children are all our children." While that may be true when it comes to our responsibility to care for the poor and distressed among us (Hebrews 13:16), it is a twisted lie when it is used to justify godlessness.

The faithful in the land must continue to show compassion towards those who are confused and hurting and continually remind the world in word and deed that no one is more compassionate than the Lord and nothing is more trustworthy than the Word He has given us (Proverbs 30:5-6). Not one person on earth has a better plan for humanity than God, and that plan includes a good, true, beautiful reality of sex and gender. Supporting the Lord means never supporting those who advocate for the destruction of His goodness (Numbers 16:26).

Morocco Earthquake

A powerful earthquake hit the country of Morocco in North Africa on Friday night. It was the strongest earthquake to hit central Morocco in over 100 years. The quake happened around 11 p.m. near the city of Marrakech. It measured 6.8 on the earthquake scale. Over 2,000 people have died, and thousands more were injured.

The earthquake damaged historic sites in Marrakech. But the worst damage was in towns near the Atlas Mountains, where the quake started. Some towns were utterly destroyed. Over 1,000 people died in one province.

Rescue workers rushed to help people affected by the quake. But some remote villages were hard to reach. Many people are still trapped in collapsed buildings. Others have been too afraid to go back inside their homes.

Morocco's king declared three days of mourning for the victims. He also set up a commission to deliver aid to survivors. Rescue efforts are ongoing as Morocco and other countries try to help survivors.

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The Remnant's Response:

Tragedies, both natural and those committed by humans, have long been a part of our fallen world (Luke 13:1-5). With the advent of new technologies and the ever-present 24-hour news cycle, what is different in our day is the constant awareness of these tragedies happening worldwide. The now-endless wave of bad news and tragic happenings can lead to "empathy overload," resulting in indifference or numbness toward others' suffering (Matthew 24:12). This is not an option for the remnant. God calls His people to put on a heart of compassion (Colossians 3:12) and to weep with those who weep (Romans 12:15).

While you may not be able to help those under the rubble in Morocco, there are plenty of people near you today whose lives have been shaken by the horrors of sin and who are buried under the troubles of this world. God has placed you near them for a reason and expects you to be His hands and feet, running to them with the gospel of peace and the kindness of your life (1 Thessalonians 2:8). There will always be trouble and tragedy in the world, and the world will always need to meet and hear from those who know the God who has overcome it (John 16:33). Run to those who are in trouble today. Speak and show His kindness to those near you today. If we pretend we don't see the suffering of those afflicted by sin and its effects, the Lord promises to remember our indifference (Proverbs 24:11-12). Run to those who are in trouble or expect your own.

Other news you should know

🏈 NFL season is in full swing… did your team win yesterday?

🏀 While the best hoopers born in the USA sat out of the FIBA World Cup, Team USA team took a beating, losing the bronze medal game.

🎾 American & teenage phenom Coco Gauff won the Women’s U.S. Open.

👟 Nike is shutting the doors in Portland.

🎥 Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis under fire for character letters written in defense of Danny Masterson.

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