The Pour Over Today - Wednesday, August 31, 2022

Episode Date: August 31, 2022

Today we’re sharing updates from Ukraine and Russia, news of global flooding, a delay of the Artemis 1 launch, and other top news for Wednesday, August 31st. Stay informed while remaining focused on Christ with The Pour Over. Sponsored by the Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

Today, we're sharing updates from Ukraine and Russia, news of global flooding, a delay of the Artemis I launch, and other top news for Wednesday, August 31st. Stay informed while remaining focused on Christ with The Pour Over. Here's the quote of the day. If you want to see what judgment looks like, go to the cross. If you want to see what love looks like, go to the cross. D.A. Carson love looks like, go to the cross. D.A. Carson. EU foreign ministers are meeting to discuss a topic dividing the bloc, whether to ban Russian tourism in Europe. Advocates, largely countries

that border Russia, have already stopped issuing visas to Russians, calling it one of many restrictive measures which are aiming to end the war. But other countries say they're unwilling to punish everyday Russians for Putin's war. Uncle Sam agrees, saying pathways for dissidents to leave Mother Russia should remain open. In other war correspondence, Ukraine is trying to reclaim Kherson, the only major city it lost to Russia. This is Ukraine's first major counteroffensive. Russia's military is recruiting heavily and struggling at it. International inspectors have arrived at Zaporizhia, Ukraine, in an urgent mission to inspect Europe's largest nuclear power plant after it was damaged by shelling.

It's easy to feel helpless when it comes to this war, but the Bible promises that prayer is powerful and effective. It causes things to happen that would not have happened otherwise. Join us in praying for peace, wisdom, and goodness to prevail. 1 Thessalonians 5, verse 16-18 says, Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in everything, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. Water is flooding into all the wrong places, both at home and abroad. In Jackson, Mississippi, Governor Tate Reeves declared a state of emergency on Monday after excessive rainfall exacerbated problems in the city's water treatment plants. The issue sparked torrential concerns about residents' ability to

flush toilets, fight fires, and drink clean water. Reeves says the National Guard will be called in to help. Record monsoon rains in Pakistan have deluged the country in flash floods affecting over 33 million people, over 15% of the population, killing 1,000 and submerging nearly one-third of the country. Excessive flow may soon be a problem in Greenland, too. A new study projects that the country's ice sheet will lose 100 trillion tons of ice over the next century, adding at least 10.8 inches to average global sea levels. Here's a verse to consider when feeling frustrated and hopeless reading about swamped communities. He will wipe away

every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more. Grief, crying, and pain will be no more because the previous things have passed away. Revelation 21 verse 4. Houston, we do not have liftoff. Despite thousands of spectators on site, including Vice President Harris, to witness the launch of NASA's Artemis I rocket, neither oohs nor ahs occurred. NASA canceled blastoff when engine temperatures couldn't reach the proper range for takeoff within the two-hour launch window. The rocket, officially and creatively named the Space Launch System, was to be the first step in NASA's path back to the moon. When able to launch, Artemis will complete a week-long

unmanned flight as a test for future missions aiming to put more astronaut boot prints on the moon. The next opportunity for Artemis 1 to start its 1.3 million mile journey is this Saturday. However, if that window is missed, it could be at least another month before takeoff. Here's a verse to consider when facing expansive disappointments or out-of-this-world excitement. I will bless the Lord at all times. His praise will always be on my lips. Psalm 34, verse 1. For those of you using the Google Translate app to forge through your Hebrew Old Testament, there is a better way. The Christian Standard Bible Translation is the product of over 100 top biblically-minded scholars from 17 denominations dedicating years to translate God's Word.

The result shines by academic standards and is remarkably enjoyable to read. Learn more about the translation in our show notes. In other brews, here's a rapid round of updates. Mikhail Gorbachev, the last leader of the Soviet Union, died at 91 yesterday. Gorbachev won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1990 for his role in ending the Cold War, but he became widely disliked at home and resigned in 1991 for presiding over the crumbling and ultimate demise of the Soviet Union. After a judge indicated she'd likely grant former President Trump's request to have a, quote, special master filter out attorney-client privilege documents seized at Mar-a-Lago, the DOJ said on Monday they had checked and found a, quote,

limited amount of privileged information which they've withheld from investigators. It's unclear whether this bolsters Trump's request or is a sign that it's too late. In Iraq's greatest political crisis since 2003, violence erupted in Baghdad's Green Zone after an influential Shiite cleric resigned from politics. Supporters of the cleric, who want the Iraqi parliament freed from Iranian influence and are calling for early elections, traded heavy fire with Iraqi security forces, killing at least 30 people and injuring approximately 400 more. After a string of legislative wins, President Biden is enjoying his highest approval rating this year, 44%, just weeks after hitting the

lowest approval rating of any president 18 months into their term. The uptick has inspired memes and is providing hope to Democrats amidst predictions of a red wave in November's elections. Serena Williams won her opening match in the U.S. Open for the 21st time, but this time was different. She wore a diamond-encrusted outfit, and fans cheered relentlessly for what may be her last major tennis tournament. Williams said she has plans to evolve away from tennis soon. That's all we have for today. Thanks so much for listening. If you're listening on the Apple Podcast app, give us a 5-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 Friday.