It’s Monday, June 17th, A.D. 2024. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard at www.TheWorldview.com. I’m Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com)
By Adam McManus
Five Christian sanitation workers died in Pakistan of inhaling toxic gases
Five Christian sanitation workers in Pakistan have died since June 11th from inhaling toxic gases, highlighting how they are forced to work without proper safety equipment, reports Morning Star News.
Irfan Masih, Ratan Masih, and Babar Masih succumbed on June 12th to the poisonous gases while cleaning a sewer disposal well in the Satellite Town of Bhalwal in the Punjab Province. A fourth Christian worker, Naeem Masih, was in critical condition at Sargodha District Headquarters Hospital.
In Sindh Province, two Christians Yunus Hidayat and Yunus Masih, and a Hindu, Badal Gujrati, died on June 11th after they inhaled toxic gases.
The tragedy in Punjab Province struck when a supervisor forced the workers to enter a well without proper safety equipment. Families of the deceased workers later staged a protest by placing the workers’ bodies in front of the Bhalwal municipal office.
The protesters demanded Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif order an inquiry and take action against those responsible for the deaths. They also demanded the government provide safety equipment to sewer workers, lamenting that dozens have died due to toxic gases without any action taken to address the dangers.
Sikandar Farman, a Christian who was formerly a member of the Bhalwal Municipal Committee, said, “Our brothers continue to die in manholes. but their deaths have failed to move the government. How many more lives will it take for the authorities to understand the plight of these workers?”
Matthew 7:12 says, “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”
Sadly, in Pakistan, Christians are considered second-class citizens, referred to as the Dalits, untouchable members of social groups that have historically been marginalized in the caste society.
Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales, makes first appearance since Christmas
Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales, was seen for the first time this year as she attends Trooping the Colour, a military parade celebrating the birthday of King Charles III, reports Britain’s Metro paper.
A 41-gun salute takes place in Green Park and King Charles is then joined by members of the Royal family on the balcony of the palace as they watch a spectacular flyover courtesy of the Royal Air Force’s Red Arrows. (Watch a 20-second video)
The Princess of Wales has not been seen in public since Christmas Day of last year as she underwent abdominal surgery before then starting cancer treatment.
In an update on her recovery, Middleton said, “I am making good progress, but as anyone going through chemotherapy will know, there are good days and bad days. My treatment is ongoing and will be for a few more months.”
Armed civilian defended herself against thugs
Police are investigating a shooting that occurred on May 21 at a Walmart in Auburn, Washington, reports Fox13 Seattle.
At around 3:30 a.m., officers responded to reports of an attempted robbery inside the parking lot. The 53-year-old victim was sitting in her car overnight when two people approached her with guns, demanding her property. She then pulled out her own gun and shot at them.
The suspects shot back, injuring her.
When the police arrived, they found the victim and treated her at the scene. Though she is suffering from a single gunshot wound, she is expected to recover fully.
The Auburn Police Department released one of their trained police dogs who tracked and located the two suspects who were brought into custody.
FBI’s suspicious claims about dramatic drop in crime
On June 13th, The Worldview reported that the FBI documented a dramatic drop in crime.
The federal agency claimed that in the first quarter of this year there was a 26.4% drop in murders, a 25.7% drop in rapes, a 17.8% drop in robberies, a 12.5% drop in aggravated assaults, and a 15% drop in property crimes.
However, after The Worldview did some additional research, we discovered that the FBI statistics are incomplete at best. That’s according to John Lott, the president of the nonprofit Crime Prevention Research Center who held a brief role in the Dept. of Justice under former President Donald Trump.
He said, “It’s just a small portion of the issue. The reason why we have the National Crime Victimization Survey [an annual survey conducted by the Dept. of Justice] is because we know most crimes are not reported to police.”
Lott said those statistics make up less than 45% of the violent crimes that are committed in the U.S. and only 32% of property crimes. Victims are not reporting incidents as often because they don’t believe anyone will be punished.
He claimed that only 8% of total violent crimes in cities result in arrest, and the number is even smaller for property crimes.
Lott explained that there are multiple underlying issues. There are fewer experienced officers on the streets, fewer police reports are being made, crime victims are not going down to the station to fill out forms, and — perhaps most significantly — certain reporting standards have changed. For instance, if a felony assault was pleaded down to a misdemeanor in court, it would not be included in the FBI’s data.
In addition, as the Heritage Foundation documented, the George Soros-funded rogue District Attorneys across America are soft on crime, refusing to prosecute many criminals at all. That also would lead to a misleading, false drop in crime.
Clarification on Texas abortion statistics
On June 6th, The Worldview reported that the Texas abortion ban went into effect after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June 2022. While we noted that Texas reported 67 abortions the following month and 3 abortions the month after that, compared to an average of 6,000 abortions per month the year before, we should have clarified that those were surgical abortions.
Sadly, the “kill pill” abortifacient can be legally ordered through the mail and a Texas mother can murder her pre-born child at any time in Texas. Those chemical abortions are not documented nor reported to the state, as noted by the Foundation to Abolish Abortion.
While some states might claim that they are “Abortion Free” due to their ban on surgical abortions after Roe v. Wade was overturned, too many mothers are aborting their babies chemically with the Abortion Kill Pill known as mifepristone. In fact, 63% of mothers who abort today are aborting chemically.
Check out the 3-minute trailer for a 5-part docuseries entitled “Abortion Free” through a special link in our transcript today at www.TheWorldview.com.
Listen to this soundbite.
“ABORTION FREE TRAILER: “The crazy reality is in these states that say they’re ‘abortion free’ now abortion has never been easier. I could abort my baby in any of the 50 states.”
Proverbs 31:8 says, “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves.”
By the way, for a $25 donation to the producers of the 5 episodes, you can watch them.
Indiana donor loves our use of Scripture connected to the news
To help fund The Worldview newscast for another year, one anonymous donor in South Bend, Indiana generously gave $2,000!
When I called him up, this is what he said.
SOUTH BEND, INDIANA DONOR: “At the end of the day, what we really appreciate is the world news in a concise Christian worldview. And then also there’s, there’s normally an uplifting story where most news, it’s all doom and gloom.
“We really enjoyed the uplifting story of the father and the sons that flipped over while kayaking, and when it seemed like the father lost all hope, reached his hand out, and the guy on the jet ski saved his life.”
McMANUS: “At the end of that story, I wrote, “No doubt, the father echoes the sentiment of Psalm 9:1: “I will give thanks to You, Lord, with all my heart, I will tell of all Your wonderful deeds” because, as a Christian, I believe that God supernaturally intervened and used those two men to help save the father and the sons from drowning in the Colorado River. Do you appreciate our use of Scripture like that?”
SOUTH BEND, INDIANA DONOR: “Absolutely! It’s very unusual in day-to-day life for a Scripture verse to be used in real life. My unfortunate experience is church is something we do on Sunday and doesn’t apply to our life — Monday through Saturday.
“I go back to one of my bosses. He said, ‘We’re a big company. Is that really appropriate to do religion in it?’ And I said, ‘Yeah, the number one reason somebody gets fired here is perjury. Thou should not lie. The number two reason is probably sexual harassment. Thou shalt not commit adultery. The third reason is there are bad actors in our company that have stolen. Thou shall not steel. And I know that there’s a lot of my peers that are coveting other positions. If we were teaching the Scripture, that it applies to our daily life, that would solve most of our issues.’”
McMANUS: “And what did he say?”
SOUTH BEND, INDIANA DONOR: “He was silent.”
26 Worldview listeners gave $10,520
As you know, The Worldview is in the middle of our annual fundraising campaign through the end of June.
While I originally indicated that our goal was $114,200, I was mistaken. The goal is just 5% more than last year’s goal of $80,000 which would bring the 2024 goal to $84,000. That would provide the resources necessary to fund our 6-member newscast team.
Toward our readjusted mid-point goal, we needed to have raised a total of $42,000 by Saturday night, June 15th. Providentially, 26 Worldview listeners stepped up to the plate.
Our thanks to Kristina in Olympia, Washington who gave $20 as well as Jena in Templeton, California, Lavern in Rockingham, Virginia, Tim in Rosemount, Minnesota, and Robin in Wellington, Florida – each of whom gave $25.
We appreciate Christina in Gibsonia, Pennsylvania and Bethany in Austin, Texas – both of whom gave $50.
We’re grateful to Richard in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Eric in Denver, Colorado, Max in Cordova, Illinois, Amanda in Lacey, Washington, David in Boerne, Texas, and Susan in Hoyt, Kansas – each of whom gave $100.
We thank God for Amanda in Savannah, Georgia who gave $200, Marlowe in Freetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada who gave $250, as well as Carlee in Keswick Ridge, New Brunswick, Canada and Shelly in Eagle, Idaho – both of whom pledged $25/month for 12 months for a gift of $300 each.
We honor the sacrifice of Zephaniah in Lomax, Illinois who gave $500 as well as Benton in Kingwood, Texas, Bill in Lees Summit, Missouri, and Donald in Mason, Wisconsin – each of whom pledged $50/month for 12 months for a gift of $600 each.
And we were touched by an anonymous donor in Bardstown, Kentucky who gave $750, Shane in Columbia City, Indiana, Rick and Shannan in Alexandria, Minnesota, and Curtis in Raleigh, North Carolina – each of whom pledged $100 per month for 12 months for a gift of $1,200 each as well as an anonymous donor in South Bend, Indiana who gave $2,000.
Those 26 donors gave $10,520. Ready for our new grand total? Drum roll please. (sound effect of drum roll) $39,155 (audience cheering)
That means we came within $2,845 of reaching our readjusted midpoint goal. Can you help us close the gap?
We just need one person to pledge $100 per month for 12 months, 2 people to pledge $50 per month for 12 months, 1 person to pledge $25/month for 12 months, and 1 person to give a one-time gift of $145 to close the gap.
Will you step up to the plate? Please go to TheWorldview.com, click on “Give,” select the dollar amount you’d like to donate, and click on the recurring monthly tab if that’s your wish.
Let’s see what the Lord will do through you!
Close
And that’s The Worldview on this Monday, June 17th, in the year of our Lord 2024. Subscribe by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. Or get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I’m Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.