Read Time: 5 min 58 sec | Listen to Podcast

SPORTS

Goooooal!

The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicked off yesterday.

Mexico opened the vuvuzela-fest with a 2-0 win over South Africa in Mexico City following a Shakira-led opening ceremony (listen to the Official Song of the Cup). The U.S. starts kickin’ tonight against Paraguay at SoFi Stadium Los Angeles Stadium after a Katy Perry-led ceremony and a welcome from Ted Lasso star Jason Sudeikis.

Meanwhile, Haiti got an early yellow card for violating FIFA’s ban on political imagery with its kits’ depiction of the island nation’s 1803 War of Independence.

On the court, a star-studded Madison Square Garden watched the Knicks complete the biggest comeback in NBA Finals history (29 points). After OG Anunoby’s last-second tip-in (watch it), the blue-and-orange are one win away from their first Larry O’Brien trophy since 1973. Game 5 is tomorrow in San Antonio.

__

CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE
Sports can be a field where spiritual fruit grows. Through sports, we experience the thrill of victory, resilience of defeat, the beauty of teamwork, and the delight of play. As you watch, cheer, and discuss sports, keep first-things-first by focusing on growing Christlike character, not just the scoreboard. 

“We also boast in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope. This hope will not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” 
Romans 5:3-5 (CSB) (read full passage)

ECONOMY

War and Price

Inflation hit a three-year high in May.

The Consumer Price Index reached 4.2%—up from 3.8% in April—as an energy price surge from the Iran war rattled household budgets. A silver lining: month-over-month increases slowed, and gas prices have decreased in early June.

Lasting relief likely hinges on a durable peace deal with Tehran and restored oil tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz—a tall order. Even then, Wall Street analysts warn traffic may only recover to 60-70% of prewar volumes if Iran retains control of the waterway.

“I love the inflation,” President Trump told reporters Wednesday—crediting the fall of oil prices to a clandestine operation he said moved 100 million barrels of oil through the Strait under the cover of darkness. Critics point out that the war has cost American households ~$3,100+ each.

__

Verse to consider when your bank statement sends you spiraling… 
“Though the fig tree does not bud and there is no fruit on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food… yet I will celebrate in the Lord; I will rejoice in the God of my salvation! The Lord my Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like those of a deer and enables me to walk on mountain heights!”
Habakkuk 3:17-19 (CSB) (read full passage)

FROM OUR PARTNERS

One Pan to Rule Them All

Nobody likes to brace for the pots and pans avalanche when opening a cabinet. That’s why Our Place went for a different vibe—think: opening the cabinet to a ~peaceful beach of multifunctional kitchenware~.

Our Place’s high-performance kitchenware doesn’t know the meaning of the words “single use.” Every pot, pan, and appliance is designed to do more—so you can bake, steam, and sauté without the clutter. Everything is made without forever chemicals (no-gos) and third-party tested to meet safety standards. Plus, their products are leave-out-on-your-countertop pretty…

Cooking doesn’t have to be chaotic. This is your sign to purge the excess and switch to Our Place. Use code POUROVER to get 10% off your first purchase.

Curious how we choose sponsors?  Learn more  |  Advertise with us

TECHNOLOGY

No Kids Allowed

Canada is joining the growing list of countries telling teens to touch grass log off. 

Wednesday, Canadian Culture Minister Miller introduced legislation to ban kids under 16 from social media… with an asterisk: platforms can dodge the rule by proving they have sufficient safety guardrails for minors. The bill would also regulate (without age limits) AI chatbots. 

Miller said the law was a priority because “kids are dying,” but critics warn there isn’t enough evidence linking social media to youth mental illness.

Australia became the first country to limit teen social media access in December, and Canada isn’t alone in taking a cue from the land Down Under: Greece’s under-15 ban starts in January; France, Denmark, and Poland are eyeing similar measures; and British PM Starmer is expected to announce social media restrictions next week.

__

ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE
Our ultimate purpose is to glorify God—the Creator of the universe, Great Innovator, and Inventor of everything. However you engage with social media, remember to use technology to point others to eternal hope in Him. 

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For everything was created by him, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through him and for him.”
Colossians 1:15-16 (CSB) (read full passage)

Bill Gates told lawmakers that Jeffrey Epstein attempted to blackmail him over his extramarital affairs with Russian women during closed-door testimony to the House Oversight Committee on Wednesday. The Microsoft co-founder called meeting the financier a “grave error in judgment” but said he “never witnessed nor had any indication that Epstein was engaged in ongoing criminal conduct.”
 

Anti-immigration riots broke out in Northern Ireland Tuesday and Wednesday after a video of a Sudanese-born man stabbing a Belfast man with a kitchen knife went viral. Masked demonstrators threw rocks at police and set fire to homes believed to house immigrants, behavior which Northern Ireland Secretary Benn called “racist thuggery”; the attacker has been charged with attempted murder.
 

NASA announced the crew for Artemis III, its next major mission to the moon low Earth orbit. Randy Bresnik, Luca Parmitano, Frank Rubio, and Andre Douglas (see the squad) will lift off in 2027 for a “highly-choreographed” dress rehearsal to test lunar landers. NASA says Artemis III is a giant leap toward Artemis IV—the first planned crewed moon landing since 1972.
 

It was bring-your-hazmat-suit-to-work day at the Pentagon Thursday. Just before 11 a.m., building systems detected an air quality issue, prompting a shelter-in-place order for several floors and corridors in the five-sided HQ as guards donned gas masks and chemical gear. Arlington County hazmat teams responded, and by afternoon the Pentagon confirmed no hazards were found. No cause has been identified.
 

El Niño is here… and it’s grande. NOAA declared Thursday that the natural Pacific warming cycle has formed, forecasting a likely “very strong” event—with some models projecting the largest on record. Scientists expect more extreme floods, droughts, and heat waves globally, with 2027 likely becoming the hottest year on record. One upside: Atlantic hurricane season will likely be suppressed.

WHIPPED CREAM ON TOP

Some satisfying wood cutting…

How We’re Keeping Our Future Secure
With Coveron*

Identity theft is not a joke, Jim. Millions of families suffer every year, and most of them don’t think about it until they get an alert: new account opened, suspicious charge, personal data used…

Coveron keeps this from being your story. It runs in the background—monitoring dark web activity, tracking credit, and helping protect against online threats through early security alerts and insurance coverage—so you can focus on what really matters. Plus, Coveron’s specialists are always there to walk every step with you if you do have a problem.

Let Coveron help secure your family’s financial future. Use code TPO for up to 76% off!