The Pour Over Today - Monday, March 21, 2022

Episode Date: March 21, 2022

Today, we’re talking about what happened with Russia and Ukraine over the weekend, how March Madness is going, new unemployment numbers, and other top news for Monday, March 21st. Stay informed, while remaining focused on Christ, with The Pour Over. Sponsored by Eagle Lake Camps:http://eaglelakestaff.com/

Today we're talking about what happened with Russia and Ukraine over the weekend, how March Madness is going, we'll tackle new unemployment numbers, and other top news for Monday, March 21st. Stay informed while remaining focused on Christ with The Pour Over. Here's the verse of the day. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Romans 12 18. Let's get started with some espresso shots. Romans 1218. Let's get started with some espresso shots. U.S. intelligence believes 7,000 Russian troops died in the first 20 days of fighting in Ukraine. This is more than the total number of American troops killed in Afghanistan and Iraq's 20 years of conflict. Putin claims the number is actually 498 and is pressing on. On Friday, the Russian

president attended a rally packed with flag-waving attendees, though some were reportedly forced to attend, where he praised Russia's military in front of a banner that read, quote, for a world without Nazism. Putin maintains, without evidence, that Ukraine's leadership is pro-Nazi and the invasion is to stop a genocide of Russian speakers. Over the weekend, Russia used their first hypersonic missile, which is super fast, but not necessarily more deadly. And Ukraine claims Russia bombed an art building, housing 400 civilians in Mariupol. It's easy to become angry and indignant over world events, but difficult to desire change while simultaneously loving everyone involved. Followers of Christ are called to live in that tension, loving the very people they work against.

Luke 6.32 says, If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. March Madness has lived up to its name, and the early favorite is St. Peter's University. St. Peter's became only the third 15th seed to ever reach the Sweet 16, after they knocked off No. 7 Murray State and No. 2 Kentucky. To put the upset into context, Kentucky pays its coach $8.5 million a year. The entire annual athletic budget of St. Peter's University is $7.5 million. Defending men's champion Baylor is the first one seed out after being upset by North Carolina. The first rounds of the women's

tournament have also been full of headlines. No. one seed South Carolina held Howard to a record low 21 points, and Virginia Tech's Elizabeth Kitley had a whopping 42 points in 33 minutes against Florida Gulf Coast University. Too often we let eternally insignificant things like sports control our mood and behavior. It's not wrong to enjoy these things, but remember that whether your team wins or loses, nothing of true importance has changed. Colossians 3, 2-4 says, Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. The U.S. economy is showing off a little bit. New employment claims hit a 52-year low, and total unemployment is one quarter its pandemic peak. Ten states have hit their lowest unemployment rates ever, and there are a record 11.3 million job openings, about 1.8 per job seeker. Invigorated by these numbers, and undeterred by the war, gas prices, and cat food shortage, U.S. stock indexes had their best week since November 2020, with the S&P 500 climbing 6.2%. Tech did especially well, and Meta, or Facebook, was up 15%, and Amazon gained 11%. Meanwhile, companies are grappling with how to handle Russia. Many have simply left, but others

like Procter & Gamble are sticking around to sell essentials like baby products. Some want to leave but can't, like Burger King, which is handcuffed by its franchise agreements. Here's a verse to consider when landing a new, better-paying job. You may say to yourself, my power and my own ability have gained this wealth for me, but remember that the Lord your God gives you the power to gain wealth. In order to confirm his covenant, he swore to your ancestors, as it is today. Deuteronomy 8, 17, and 18. This podcast is brought to you by Eagle Lake Camps. Lifelong friends, Jesus the blob. That's right, we're approaching summer camp season. Eagle Lake Camps is the camping ministry of The Navigators, and they're looking for college-aged Christians

who want to impact kids, grow spiritually, and maybe relive their own glory years at summer camp. Last summer, Eagle Lake served over 10,000 campers at day camps in nine different states and at their classic overnight programming in the mountains above Colorado Springs. While the focus is on the kids, it's the summer staff that say they will, quote, never be the same. And more importantly, all positions are paid. If you or someone you know are interested, you can learn more and submit an application at eaglelakestaff.com. Find a link in our show notes. more and submit an application at eaglelegstaff.com. Find a link in our show notes.

In other brews, we've got a rapid round of updates. Omicron BA.2, our new least favorite COVID flavor, is spreading through Europe. Cases in the UK have doubled since late February, and hospitalizations are beginning to tick up, but experts generally agree that between vaccines, natural immunity, and two years of practice, we don't need to panic. President Biden talked with Chinese President Xi for nearly two hours on Friday, promising global backlash, quote, if China provides material support to Russia. While both agree to work toward peace in Ukraine, the leaders are less than aligned on who is to blame. China says the U.S. forced Putin's hand.

Medical debt is not being forgiven, but most of it won't be held against you, at least not on your credit report. The top three credit reporting agencies, those are Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, announced the changes after a report by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau showed that errors related to medical debt were both common and difficult to resolve. Alaska's Representative Don Young, the longest continuously serving member of the U.S. House of Representatives, also known as the Dean of the House, passed away on Friday night at the age of 88. Young served in the House through nine presidencies and with more than 2,000 members of Congress. That's all we have for today. Thanks so much for listening. If you're thinking, I want to help more Christians stay informed while remaining focused on Christ,

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and we'll see you back here on Wednesday, March 23rd.