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POLITICS

On Guard

The National Guard is blowing into the Windy City. 

For weeks, tensions have been brewing in Chicago over increased immigration enforcement, including some violent clashes between protestors and ICE agents. On Saturday, President Trump authorized federalizing Illinois’s National Guard to deploy 300 Guardsmen to Chicagoland to deal with the “lawlessness.” Illinois Governor Pritzker (D) criticized the move, saying there is “no need for military troops” in the Prairie State.

Meanwhile, a federal district judge blocked Trump from deploying 200 Guardsmen to Portland, Oregon, until at least October 18, saying POTUS’s claim that unrest in Portland was out of control was “untethered to the facts.” 

The White House has appealed and deployed some already-federalized California National Guardsmen to Oregon—a move that California Governor Newsom (D) called a “breathtaking abuse of the law and power.”

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ABOVE ALL, LOVE
Whether you’re critical of your government or think it’s unfairly criticized, the command for Christians is to love neighbors and enemies alike. That requires speaking about others with dignity and respect, even when we feel like they haven’t earned it. 

“With the tongue we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in God’s likeness. Blessing and cursing come out of the same mouth. My brothers and sisters, these things should not be this way… Who among you is wise and understanding? By his good conduct he should show that his works are done in the gentleness that comes from wisdom.”
James 3:9–10, 13 (CSB) (read full passage)

WORLD NEWS

Tentative Truce

Hamas has accepted President Trump’s 20-point peace plan for Gaza… with an asterisk.

Israel approved Trump’s peace plan last Monday, and on Friday, Hamas announced it also agreed “to the plan’s main outlines in principle, but its implementation requires negotiations.” Hamas said it will release remaining hostages, but Arab mediators said the group wants to clarify or modify other deal terms (like Gaza’s future and disarmament requirements).

President Trump called it a win, urging Israel to stop the bombardment as both sides hash out the details, but warned Hamas to “move quickly, or else all bets will be off.” Israel said it’s moving into a defensive posture, but the Hamas-run health ministry reported more deaths Saturday.

Delegations from all sides will meet for indirect talks in Egypt today; tomorrow marks two years of war in Gaza.

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PRAY WITH US
Christians should be committed to praying for world leaders to be wise and to work towards peaceful resolutions, while simultaneously placing our hope in God, not government (Psalms 46 and 146).

Gracious Peacemaker, in the hearts and lands of these embattled countries, work peace. Thwart evil plans and bring to fruition those that lead to flourishing. May these delegations be creative in their problem-solving, wise in their choice of counselors, clear-eyed in their negotiating, and compassionate toward the needy, humbly considering the good of others before their own gain and attributing all the glory to You alone.

Want to bring more hard headlines to God in prayer? Join us on Sundays in our new newsletter, Praying the News. Subscribe for free here. 

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SPORTS

Upsets

Week six of college football was anything but quiet.

Previously winless UCLA stunned #7 Penn State 42-37, becoming the first no-win team to topple a top-10 opponent since 1985. Florida, limping in with a 1-3 record, turned The Swamp into a nightmare for #9 Texas—sacking Arch Manning six times, picking him off twice, holding the Longhorns to just 52 rushing yards, and giving the Gators the surprise W 29-21. 

Meanwhile, Fox Sports analyst Mark Sanchez is in stable condition after being involved in an early-morning altercation in Indianapolis, where he was set to call yesterday’s Colts game. Sanchez, a former NFL QB, was stabbed and hospitalized. At the hospital, he was arrested on misdemeanor charges of battery, unlawful entry of a motor vehicle, and public intoxication. Police say Sanchez and another man were reportedly arguing over parking.

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Verse to consider whether your favorite team wins or loses or game day takes an unexpected turn… “Why, my soul, are you so dejected? Why are you in such turmoil? Put your hope in God, for I will still praise him, my Savior and my God.”
Psalm 42:11 (CSB) (read full passage)

The Pentagon has carried out its fourth lethal strike in a month on an alleged drug boat. Four people were killed on Friday in the attack that War Secretary Hegseth said protected Americans from “poison.” Last week, a leaked memo sent to Congress said Uncle Sam is in a “non-international armed conflict” with drug cartels, suggesting further military action is coming. 
 

Elon Musk became the world’s first half-trillionaire last week. His fortune briefly crossed $500B last Wednesday, powered by a jump in Tesla stock and out-of-this-world valuations for SpaceX and xAI. His net worth (track it in real-time here) now tops the GDP of 83% of countries, including Denmark and Malaysia.
 

British police say they accidentally shot two worshippers during last week’s Yom Kippur synagogue attack in Manchester, killing one and injuring another. The men were reportedly trying to block the attacker from entering through the synagogue doors; one was fatally struck as officers opened fire on the suspect—believed to be wearing an explosive belt. Another worshipper was killed by the attacker.
 

Sean “Diddy” Combs was sentenced to over four years in prison on Friday. In July, the disgraced music icon was found guilty of transporting women for prostitution but not guilty of his most serious charges (racketeering and sex trafficking). Diddy’s attorneys promised to appeal, saying the judge repeatedly mentioned “coercion” during sentencing despite the jury finding no coercion occurred.
 

Japan may be saying “konnichiwa” to its first female prime minister. The Land of the Rising Sun’s ruling party, the Liberal Democratic Party, elected Sanae Takaichi, a hardline conservative, as its head on Saturday. The victory paves the way for Takaichi—whose hero is Margaret Thatcher, the U.K.’s first female PM—to win a parliamentary vote (expected on October 15).

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