The Pour Over Today - Wednesday, February 23, 2022

Episode Date: February 23, 2022

Today we’re talking about Russia’s steps into Ukraine and the world’s response, some big sporting headlines, and other top news for Wednesday, February 23rd. Stay informed, while remaining focused on Christ, with The Pour Over.Sponsored by Dwell:https://dwellapp.io/pouroverThe NBA's 75th Anniversary Team, ranked:https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/33297498/the-nba-75th-anniversary-team-ranked-where-76-basketball-legends-check-our-list

Today we're talking about Russia's steps into Ukraine and the world's response, some big sporting headlines, and other top news for Wednesday, February 23rd. Stay informed while remaining focused on Christ with The Pour Over. Here's the quote of the day. Your approval before God is woven into the life and sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross, not what other men and women think of you. Matt Chandler Let's get started with some espresso shots. Well, it looks like Russia has invaded Ukraine. Unless, of course, you ask Russia.

Through some careful politicking, Russia is making the case that they haven't technically invaded. On Monday, Putin declared two regions of Ukraine as independent. So then, when he ordered troops to enter as peacekeepers, he wasn't invading Ukraine. He was sending troops to a territory that was formerly Ukraine. But even that subtle distinction is unlikely to last very long. Yesterday, the Russian parliament voted unanimously to give Putin sweeping authority to deploy troops further into Ukraine. The White House isn't happy. Yesterday, President Biden announced a round of sanctions that effectively prevent Russian banks from making transactions using the U.S. dollar, which just happens to be the global reserve currency. The U.S. also sanctioned several Russian oligarchs in Putin's inner circle, pulled the U.S. embassy

staff from Ukraine, and warned that, quote, as Russia contemplates its next move, we have our next move prepared as well. Other countries are not happy either. European leaders called Putin's maneuvering a, quote, blatant violation of international law and issued their own set of sanctions against banks and oligarchs. Additionally, Germany halted certification of the Nord Stream 2, the Russia to Germany natural gas pipeline that would be highly lucrative to both countries but would further increase Europe's reliance on Russian energy. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson says that Western nations will, quote, continue to seek a diplomatic solution until the last possible moment. But that moment appears to be approaching fast.

If a full war does break out, Western nations have promised to combat Russia with crushing sanctions, not troops. It's easy to feel helpless in a situation like this, but the Bible promises that prayer is powerful and effective, that it causes things to happen that would not have happened otherwise. Pray for wisdom for world leaders and peace to prevail. 1 Timothy 2, 1 and 2 says, Even without multiple last-second, game-winning field goals every Sunday, sports are making headlines.

University of Michigan men's basketball coach Jawan Howard was suspended for the rest of the regular season and fined $40,000 after striking a Wisconsin coach in the face following a heated game and a sideline scuffle. In brighter basketball news, the NBA's All-Star Weekend honored its all-time top 75 players. You can see the list in our show notes. During a celebration of its 75th anniversary, Steph Curry, who was number 16 of 75, broke the All-Star game record for three-pointers. Over on the pitch, the U.S. women's soccer team's lawsuit against the U.S.

Soccer Federation finally came to a close. After six years and one dismissal, the women won their class action equal pay lawsuit and players will split a $22 million settlement. A verse to consider when you have the perfect comeback or opportunity for revenge, whether on the basketball sideline or a heated email thread at work. You have heard that it was said,

an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth, but I tell you, don't resist an evildoer. On the contrary, if anyone slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. Matthew 5, 38 and 39. Today's podcast is brought to you by Dwell. Let's all agree on something. Watching the movie is not basically the same thing as having read the book. But what about listening to the audiobook? Yes, there's some magic to sitting down and turning pages, but audio can be amazing. Just look at Dwell. Dwell is an audio-first Bible app that is so much more than

just an audio version of the Bible. They offer themed scriptural playlists like Sleep to the Goodness of God, background music, listening plans, different translations, a read-along feature, and so much more. Dwell is audio done excellently, as shown by 28,000 reviews and an average 4.9 star rating. Get 25% off an annual plan when you start your 7 day free trial today. Click the link in our show notes. In other brews, we've got a rapid round of updates. After just 4 hours of deliberation, a federal judge found Gregory McMichael, his son Travis, and their neighbor William Ronnie Bryan guilty of targeting and killing

Ahmaud Arbery because he was black, bringing the federal hate crimes trial to a swift end. The guilty verdict was delivered yesterday. Today is the second anniversary of Arbery's death. Truth Social is a hit. Sorta. The Twitter alternative created by Trump Media and Technology Group had a soft launch late Sunday night and has topped the App Store's free download chart ever since. But many potential users have been unable to create accounts, and many are sitting on a waitlist. The more Gs the better is a statement that AT&T believes in so thoroughly that they've turned off 3G. AT&T says less than 1% of their mobile traffic ran on 3G, but any devices that did rely on it, including some medical alert monitors, home security systems, vehicle GPS, and really old

phones, will no longer work. After a publisher bidding war, it's reported that Britney Spears landed a $15 million book deal for a tell-all on the conservatorship that allowed her father to control most of her personal and professional life for 13 years. It's one of the largest ever book deals, equal to what Bill Clinton signed post-presidency. As COVID cases continue to decline, 49 out of 50 states either don't have mask mandates or have announced plans to drop them. Every state except Hawaii. The CDC still recommends masks be worn indoors almost everywhere, but may ease that guidance soon. A chonky black bear is wreaking havoc on Lake Tahoe. Hank the Tanks has been breaking into homes and stealing food, ballooning up to 500 pounds. An average black bear weighs

between 100 to 300 pounds. Hank's weight and love for leftovers made him increasingly bold, and he is now undeterred by paintballs, sirens, and tasers. Well, that's all we have for today. Thanks so much for listening. If you found this podcast helpful or encouraging, we would really appreciate it if you gave us a five-star rating on either Apple Podcasts or Spotify. And please consider sharing this podcast with a friend. We hope you have a great rest of your day and we'll see you back here on Friday.