News

High-Altitude Proposal

Read Time: 5 min 51 sec | Listen to Podcast

─────── July 3, 2026 ───────

Happy Friday!
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QUOTE OF THE DAY
“The central basis of Christian assurance is not how much our hearts are set on God, but how unshakably his heart is set on us.”
Tim Keller

ESPRESSO SHOTS

SPORTS

🎵 Country Roads 🎵

The U.S. booked its ticket to the World Cup’s Round of 16.

‘Merica’s squad beat Bosnia-Herzegovina 2-0 Wednesday for their first knockout-stage win in 24 years. Striker Folarin Balogun became the third American to score three goals in a single World Cup before being sent off the pitch when his cleat-to-calf challenge was upgraded from a no-call to a red card by VAR.

With the Stars and Stripes down a star, Malik Tillman curled a free kick via bloodied sock into the back of the net (watch it) to seal the victory that made manager Mauricio Pochettino the winningest U.S. World Cup coach ever.

Balogun will begin serving his one-game red card suspension as the U.S. heads to Seattle for Monday’s match against Belgium, who came back to beat Senegal with a controversial extra time PK.

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CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE
There may be more pressing matters on the world’s stage than the results of the World Cup. But the exaltation and camaraderie radiating from the pitches are also valuable in God’s abundant economy. Joy does not have to be a distraction from spiritual things; in fact, it could be the fruit of the Spirit in us.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.”
Galatians 5:22-25 (CSB) (see full passage)

WORLD NEWS

Massive Attack

Russia and Ukraine are making sure the world doesn’t forget about its war.

Kyiv’s mayor said Russia launched the “most massive attack” on Ukraine’s capital early yesterday morning, which included strikes on apartment buildings and an ambulance station, killing 22 people and injuring 85 more. The Russian Defense Ministry said the strikes targeted military plants in retaliation for Ukraine’s recent attacks on civilian infrastructure and promised to “continue to increase pressure on the Kyiv regime to achieve our set goals.”

Other European countries noticed yesterday’s major attack. Finland temporarily imposed an “aviation restriction zone,” and Poland scrambled fighter jets to secure its airspace.

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy called on allies to send more military aid, saying Russian President Putin is “completely refusing” to negotiate a peaceful end to the 4-year-old war.

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PRAY WITH US
Followers of Christ should not become cynical, desensitized, or unmoved by stories of those suffering but remain endlessly willing to advocate for the vulnerable.

Mighty God, you are never caught by surprise or overpowered. By your overwhelming strength, work peace across Ukraine and Russia. Overcome evildoers; comfort those who are mourning; protect the vulnerable; strengthen those who will rebuild; and bring order from chaos so that all nations will taste and see the goodness of the One True King.

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U.S. NEWS

Felonies and Fairytales

The Empire State is in its lover era.

Wednesday morning, two masked climbers scaled the needle of the Empire State Building 1,450 feet in the air and unfurled a banner that read: “When the power of love beats the love of power the world knows peace.”

The couple took their love to new heights, using the feat as an opportunity for a high-altitude marriage proposal (see the spectacle) just before getting arrested on multiple charges, including burglary and reckless endangerment.

Another love story is (maybe?) unfolding tonight. Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are expected to tie the knot at Madison Square Garden, according to a law enforcement official (though some suspect a smoke screen). The guest list is reportedly full of A-listers, most of whom have signed NDAs.

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Verse to consider whether you feel loved or left out, “But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:7-8 (CSB) (see full passage)
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✨P.S. Did you see our version of the Empire State flag on Instagram? Want to be a part of the TPO team and make more content like that happen? We’re hiring a Social Media Manager. Join us! ✨✨

IN OTHER BREWS…

President Trump’s wallet got wayyyy thicker in 2025. His mandatory financial disclosure showed #47 earned $2.2B, nearly four times his 2024 earnings, led by over $1B from two crypto ventures. Critics say his administration’s support of crypto creates a clear conflict of interest; Trump said his assets are in “blind accounts” and that “everyone is profiting,” citing gains in the stock market.

Anthropic’s standoff with Uncle Sam has ended. The AI giant restored customer access to Fable 5, its new and uber powerful AI model, after taking it offline over government concerns that Fable 5 could enable serious cyber-security attacks. Access to Mythos 5, a less-restricted sibling model, was also restored to a few vetted U.S. organizations.

The Vatican announced a schism with the Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX), an ultra-traditionalist group based in Switzerland, after it ordained four new bishops against Pope Leo’s direct opposition. The Vatican said that all SSPX priests and all Catholics who “adhere formally” to the group have been excommunicated. SSPX vowed to continue operating, saying it’ll pray for the Pope.

“Sell by” labels have reached their expiration date in California. A new state law bans “sell by” labels on food in hopes of cutting down on food waste, as researchers found 84% of Americans toss food based on date labels that are frequently misunderstood. Approved-by-California labels are “best if used by” (indicating peak freshness) and “use by” (indicating safety).

A 10-year expiration clock began ticking on the creatively named United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). According to the White House, President Trump declined to renew the trilateral trade pact that he negotiated during his first term, saying his “primary” concern centers on the U.S.’ trade deficits with its neighbors. The treaty remains active until 2036 but will now be subject to annual reviews.

WHIPPED CREAM ON TOP

Doggy Cup > World Cup...

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