The Pour Over Today - Iran Attacks Israel, Trump’s Trial Begins, & More | 04.15.24

Episode Date: April 15, 2024

Today, we’re talking about Iran launching missiles and drones at Israel, former President Trump’s first criminal trial kicking off, historic flooding in Russia, and other top news for Monday, April 15th. Stay informed while remaining focused on Christ with The Pour Over Today. Please support our TPO sponsors! Compassion International: compassion.com/TPO A Jew and a Gentile Discuss: https://links.thepourover.org/JewGentileDiscussPod TUVU: https://www.tuvu.com/tpo Christian Standard Bible: https://links.thepourover.org/ChristianStandardBible_Pod Holman Handbook Series: https://links.thepourover.org/HolmanHandbook

Today's episode is brought to you by our lead sponsor, Crew. Today, we're talking about Iran launching missiles and drones at Israel, former President Trump's first criminal trial kicking off, historic flooding in Russia, and other top news for Monday, April 15th. Stay informed while remaining focused on Christ with The Pour Over today. Here's the verse of the week. Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 5 verse 1.

Let's get started with some espresso shots. Air raid sirens sounded throughout Saturday night in Israel. Iran launched over 300 missiles and drones in retaliation for Israel's April 1 strike that killed three top Iranian commanders on Iran's embassy compound in Syria. Between Israel's air defense systems and help from Britain, Jordan, and the U.S., 99% of the drones and missiles were shot down. The U.S. intercepted dozens of Saturday's strikes using aircraft and ships moved to the region recently, and U.S. officials said damage was relatively limited given the scale of the attack. President Biden said support for Israel is

ironclad, and G7 leaders met yesterday to develop a united diplomatic response to Iran's brazen attack. Allies are urging caution as they rally. Biden told Prime Minister Netanyahu that Uncle Sam wouldn't support any counterattack because it could start a regional war. As we mourn violence and pray for peace around the world, believers are reminded of how good the news is of Jesus' coming kingdom. His Spirit offers supernatural peace in our hearts today, and His return promises peace in a renewed earth forever. Isaiah 65, 17 and 25 says, For I will create new heavens and a new earth. The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like cattle,

but the serpent's food will be dust. They will not do what is evil or destroy on my entire holy mountain, says the Lord. The first ever criminal trial of a former U.S. president begins today. The trial concerns former President Trump's involvement in a hush money deal with adult film actress Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 election. Trump's former attorney, Michael Cohen, paid Daniels $130,000 to keep quiet about an alleged affair she had with Trump in 2006. Trump's business then repaid Cohen the $130,000 to keep quiet about an alleged affair she had with Trump in 2006. Trump's business then repaid Cohen the $130,000, logging the payments as legal expenses, which New York

prosecutors claim was illegal. The former president denies having an affair with Daniels and has pleaded not guilty to all 34 counts of business fraud. Even if convicted, it's unlikely Trump would face jail time as a first-time offender. However, state law does require him to attend the entire trial, taking him off the campaign trail for an estimated six weeks. Our goal is to keep the big things big and the small things small. It's not that a historic trial of a president isn't important. It's just not God of the universe important. Stay focused on eternity. It changes everything. Philippians 3 verse 20 says, our citizenship is in heaven and we eagerly wait for a savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.

a savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ. Cities in southwestern Russia and northern Kazakhstan are facing the worst flooding the region has seen in 80 years, leaving only rooftops peeking out of muddy water. Record snowmelt burst a dam in Orsk, Russia last week, pushing the Ural River, Europe's third largest, over its banks and to a record high. Officials declared a state of emergency as waters surged toward a region of 2 million people, including the city of Orenburg, where more than 11,000 homes have flooded. To the south, Kazakhstan is having to blow up artificial dams to combat flooding that's forced 110,000 people from their homes. Unhappy with the Kremlin's response, Russians held a rare protest in Orsk, chanting, Putin, help us. Late opposition leader Navalny's widow, Yulia, criticized the Kremlin for being unprepared.

Here's a verse to consider when your neighbor is mourning, whether or not you're not on good terms. You have heard that it was said, love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. Matthew 5, 43 and 44. With over 1,000 translations and every type of decorative edition, it's easy to forget how many people can't even get their hands on a single copy of the Bible in their native language. This is why we've partnered with Crew. Crew has missionaries in almost every country, but they need more Bibles. One missionary said,

I have never seen such a thirst for the word of God in my country. Let's quench that thirst. For just $24 a month, you can provide three people with Bibles every month. As a bonus, crew will provide meals to 12 hungry individuals through their humanitarian ministry

and send you a free TPO coffee mug. Simply text TPO to 71326 or visit give.crew.org slash TPO. Again, that's texting TPO to 71326 or give.cru.org slash TPO. Message message and data rates may apply available to u.s addresses only in other brews here's a rapid round of updates the The House voted Friday to renew the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act for two more years. FISA was designed to track electronic communications of national security threats abroad, but critics say it spies on Americans. A last-minute amendment to stop warrantless surveillance inside the U.S. flopped in a tie vote, keeping FISA as is. Now the Senate will vote.

Six people were killed and several others injured in a stabbing near Sydney, Australia. A man wielding a knife entered a shopping mall on Saturday, attacking at least nine people, including a nine-month-old, before a police officer shot and killed him. Police say the attacker, who was known to law enforcement, acted alone and that the tragedy wasn't terrorism. The White House announced Thursday that background checks will be required

when dealers sell guns at gun shows, flea markets, on social media or other places outside of brick-and-mortar stores, closing the so-called gun show loophole. The action was enabled by the 2022 bipartisan Safer Communities Act. Now, President Biden wants Congress to finish the job and pass universal background checks. The U.S. Coast Guard rescued three castaways who used palm fronds to spell help on the beach of a remote Pacific atoll. The men were stranded after their boat's motor broke during a fishing trip 100 miles from home. They survived on coconut meat and well water for over a week until they were recovered in good health.

American Scotty Scheffler earned his second green jacket yesterday. The azaleas bloomed, the $1.50 pimento cheese sandwiches were consumed, the landline phone calls were free, and when all was said and done, Scheffler, the number one golfer in the world, pulled away from the pack, winning the 2024 Masters for the second time in three years with shots. And that's all we have for today. Thanks so much for listening. If you're listening on the Apple Podcasts app, give us a five-star rating and drop a review. If you're listening on Spotify,

give us a follow and hit the notification bell to never miss a new episode. We appreciate your support and hope you have a great day. We'll see you on Wednesday.