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Merry Christmas Eve Eve Eve!
Even after 2,000 years, God Himself coming to Earth remains bigger news than anything we’ve ever covered.
Compared to the eternal significance of Christmas, everything else - pandemics, economic successes and failures, impeachments, wars, political maneuvering, sporting moments, and everything else that consumes us - is barely worthy of note.
And we think that warrants some time off. There will be no newsletter on Friday; we hope you all have a very merry Christmas!
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QUOTE OF THE DAY
“Rejoice, that the immortal God is born, so that men may live in eternity.”
Jan Hus
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WORLD NEWS
Around the Globe
Grab your atlas for some global news (Gen. Z readers: an atlas is a book of maps).
China recently passed a law in Hong Kong that allows only pro-Communist candidates to run for office. Last week’s election saw record lows in voter turnout with no pro-democracy candidates claiming a single seat.
35-year-old Gabriel Boric, a former student protest leader, was elected president in Chile on a campaign of higher taxes and a promised dismantling of the private pension system. The country’s stock market tumbled in response.
Iran’s 2015 deal with world powers to dismantle its nuclear program was officially paused last Friday. Days later, the country’s Revolutionary Guard staged several massive military exercises, which raised concern over Tehran’s nuclear program.
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ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE
A major way we can reflect the security, peace, and hope of salvation is by worrying less about certain topics than the rest of the world. What happens in with the governments in Hong Kong, Chile, and Iran is not unimportant, but neither is it all-important.
“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.”
Colossians 3:2-4 (CSB)
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SPONSORED
The One You Actually Read
Sermons are great; we love Christian books; and, of course, watching interpretive dances of Christian history is our favorite pastime… but, there is no substitute for actually reading the Bible.
Just one problem: there are literally hundreds of different English translations of the Bible. Our favorite translation is the one you will actually read and, for us, that’s the CSB.
The Christian Standard Bible (CSB) is the product of over 100 biblically-minded scholars from 17 denominations dedicating years to translate God’s Word. It’s both trustworthy and understandable. Check it out!
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COVID-19
Omicron Descends from Mt. Crumpit
It’s been just 20 days since the first case of Omicron was documented in the U.S., and it now accounts for nearly 75% of all cases… making Omicron the only thing moving faster than you trying to secure last-minute Christmas gifts.
I’m begrudgingly impressed…
Us too; data suggests Omicron is twice as transmissible as Delta, which was already more transmissible than the original strain.
While cases are on the rise, it’s too early to tell how hospitals will be impacted; however, data out of South Africa suggests a decoupling of case counts and hospitalizations, further indicating that Omicron’s severity may be more bark than bite.
What’s the President Saying?
President Biden addressed the nation yesterday, outlining the administration’s plan to make 500 million free, at-home test kits available, to deploy military service members to help hospitals, and to potentially change the definition of “fully-vaccinated” to include booster shots.
He emphasized that this is “not March of 2020” because “we’re prepared” and “we know more.”
Anything Else?
Yep. Turns out Omicron is an equal-opportunity postponer.
The NBA’s roster woes continued this week with more than 70 players benched due to the virus; the NFL had to shuffle games around, leading not one but two rare Tuesday Night Games; and the NHL decided to just start vacation early, postponing all games through Christmas in hopes of tampering outbreaks.
Broadway and almost 650 schools joined the early vacay and the stock market, well, it wasn’t happy, posting its biggest three-day drop since September before rebounding some yesterday.
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ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE
Our hope is not contingent on the state of the pandemic or officials’ responses to it; it’s much more secure than that. No matter how chaotic or hopeless things seem, God remains in control.
“The life of every living thing is in his hand, as well as the breath of all humanity.”
Job 12:10 (CSB)
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Car manufacturers got a swift kick in the tailpipe on Monday. The Environmental Protection Agency announced the “most ambitious federal greenhouse gas emissions standards for passenger cars and light trucks ever” which will raise the average fuel efficiency on new vehicles to 40mpg by 2026; the previous standard only required 32mpg by then.
Former President Trump is suing New York Attorney General Letitia James to stop a years-long investigation into his business practices, including whether the Trump Organization misled banks by overvaluing assets. The lawsuit calls the investigation a “thinly-veiled effort to publicly malign'' the former president for political reasons. James hopes to question Trump under oath on January 7th.
Federal health officials announced $280 million to bolster the operations and infrastructure of the national suicide prevention hotline as it transitions from a 10-digit phone number to a 3-digit phone number: 988. They hope to launch the new number in July and say it will support text as well as phone calls.
Last month, Peng Shuai, a Chinese tennis star, disappeared after taking to social media to accuse a former top Communist Party official of sexually assaulting her. Now she’s back, saying it was all a misunderstanding. The International Olympic Committee isn’t convinced and is arranging an in-person meeting to assess her safety.
12 of the 17 missionaries abducted in Haiti weren’t released… they escaped. The group, which included a 10-month old baby and children ages 3, 14, and 15, as well as five men and three women, silently broke out, evading guards and using the stars for navigation. All 17 missionaries are now safe.
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WHIPPED CREAM ON TOP
A festive quintet… with flare (sound on)
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What Our Kids are Watching
Minno*
Imagine Netflix + the Bible + Nickelodeon. Or Youtube Kids + Sunday School. Or… well, you get the point; Minno is a streaming service for Christian kids!
Whether it's for your kids or grandkids (I know we have some Boomers out there), they can enjoy engaging content and you can enjoy knowing the content is safe and promoting Christian values. Also, since it’s digital… no shipping delays. The perfect last-minute Christmas gift.
Start a 7-day free trial (or give an annual membership) today.
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What We’re Watching
Matthew West’s We Need Christmas Livestream concert presented by Every Home for Christ*
Matthew West is putting on a live Christmas concert every night through Christmas Day, and with the utter lack of snow in Iowa so far this year… I need something to make it feel more like the “merry and bright” season!
TPO Readers get $5-off with code CANDLE, making tickets just $15. So grab some friends, a screen, and join me for a night of worship and Christmas celebration!
Jason Woodruff | Writer & Editor
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*This is a sponsored post
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Congrats to Christine S on getting a free annual subscription to Minno! Thanks for sharing TPO!
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