Formation and Friction
it would be a mistake (and a very easy one to make) to assume that all removal of friction is a good thing. Why? Because friction is essential to formation.
Saudi Airports Attacked
King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia has been struck several times this week by missiles fired by Houthi rebels. King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, Saudi Arabia was also struck, and the Iran-backed Houthis claimed responsibility for that attack, as well. Thirteen people are confirmed dead in the attacks, and more than 300 injured.
Public Execution
The Pentagon announced the execution of convicted mass shooter Nidal Hasan will be by firing squad and livestreamed on December 3, 2026.
Say Less
In this way, “say less” is a reminder that I don’t need to vindicate, self-affirm, or brag on myself, and that remains true even if nobody else does my vindicating or affirming for me.
Why? Because my reward—and yours, if we will indeed be content to allow it—is in heaven.
There is more I could say, but given the topic, let’s leave it there. Let’s say less!
Botched Execution
A capital punishment went awry in Tennessee last week. Christa Pike, who was convicted of murder in 1995 and sentenced to death, was given two doses of a drug intended to be lethal but was transported to the hospital after losing consciousness but remaining alive. Pike was to be the first woman executed in Tennessee in more than 200 years, and Tennessee Governor Bill Lee suspended the one remaining execution scheduled for this year, pending a third-party review of the state’s procedure.
Out of Iraq
The United States has closed its last base in Iraq, ending a 12-year mission to eradicate ISIS and potentially ending a 23-year stretch of near-constant presence in the country since the 2003 post-9/11 invasion.
AI Rebranded
AI is dominating the news. Every week brings new stories about the technology’s potential for both good and ill. Perhaps the pithiest description for this dynamic is that you should expect the technology to accelerate both the good and the bad, and it will be up to you to parse between the two. To the extent that is true, it will be a far more important discipline than which moniker you choose to use for the technology.
Strategically (Dis)Engaged
Which is it? Strength and engagement or restraint and disengagement? Yes! As with so many things in God’s Kingdom, it’s a tension of both.
Access Restored
Access to White House grounds for recently banned media outlets has been temporarily restored by a federal judge who ruled the outlets were likely to prevail in their litigation claiming violations of the First Amendment.
Terror Plot Foiled
A suspected terror plot against the Royal Air Force Fairford (RAF Fairford) military base in the UK was foiled when five suspects were arrested and charged after being stopped in three vans near the base, which is used by U.S. forces. The five suspects face charges related to explosives and terrorism, and officials are investigating whether there is any link to a foreign state, most notably Iran.
Xi in DC
Chinese President Xi Jinping spent three days in Washington, DC last week as part of an ongoing effort to strengthen diplomatic relations between the United States and China. President Xi and U.S. President Donald Trump discussed many issues, including artificial intelligence (AI), the U.S.-Iran war, and economic relations between the two countries, which are the two largest economies in the world.
Associate Member
Canada could soon be formally a part of Europe. That is the gist of a new proposal to make Canada the first “associate member” of the European Union (EU).
Press Pool Banned
The White House has banned reporters from CNN, MS Now, and Politico from accessing White House grounds or participating in White House press events. In response, the White House TV pool, which is composed of ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox News, and NBC is boycotting coverage of the White House and the president during the ban. The three banned outlets have filed a lawsuit seeking to be reinstated on First Amendment grounds. President Trump responded that it was not a restriction of a free press but rather a crackdown on fake news.
A Deal with Greenland
The U.S., Greenland, and Denmark have a deal, but it is not the long-discussed U.S. acquisition of Greenland. Instead, the three countries signed a deal to afford the U.S. expanded military presence in the country and reaffirm Greenland’s status as a self-determined territory of Denmark. Perhaps most significant is the agreement that no non-NATO military base will be permitted in Greenland. The leaders of the three countries signed the deal during meetings at the United Nations, and Denmark and Greenland will need to ratify it before it can take effect.
To The Full
Jesus came to your rescue not just to give you life. He came to give you life to the full!
Midterm Convention
Election Day is less than seven weeks away, and Republicans held a “Midterm Convention” in Dallas last week to make their pitch to voters. President Donald Trump headlined the event, and party leaders hope it will help buck the historical trend of midterms cutting against the party in power. Democrats, on the other hand, hope to take control of both the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House, as well as build momentum for the presidential election in 2028.
Never Forget
It was 25 years ago last Friday that planes were deliberately crashed into the two World Trade Center towers in New York City and the Pentagon in Washington, DC, and another went down in rural Pennsylvania after passengers fought back against hijackers. Memorials were held at Ground Zero and many other locations, and the promise was again renewed to “never forget.”
AI Guardrails
It is rare for an industry to ask to be regulated, but the CEOs of two major Artificial Intelligence (AI) companies have done just that. Anthropic’s Dario Amodei and OpenAI’s Sam Altman are citing public safety and a pace of progress that exceeds human ability to guide it as the reasons for guardrails. Amodei penned an article detailing his recommendations and OpenAI put its initial public offering (IPO) on hold. Both companies suggested third-party auditors and global standards for advances in the technology.
The Giggles
Giggles are so good. Truly, they are terrific and good for the soul. You should giggle today.
The joy of Lord is even better! If you root yourself in the strength of God’s Word, you just might laugh more than 20 times a day. But no matter the number of laughs, the joy of God’s Word will prove strong enough to support the work He has assigned you.
Non-Working Royals
Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, recently returned to the United Kingdom from the United States, where they had been living for the last six years, but King Charles has made it clear in a letter sent to government officials that they will remain non-working members of the royal family.