It’s Tuesday, October 3rd, A.D. 2023. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard at www.TheWorldview.com. I’m Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com)
By Kevin Swanson
Pakistani suicide bombing kills 54
Another suicide bombing on Friday at a mosque in Pakistan resulted in over 54 deaths and multitudes wounded, reports The Associated Press.
Over the last 18 months, four out of five of the most serious terrorist attacks have occurred in Pakistan, the 7th most dangerous country worldwide for Christians. The other occurred in Somalia, the 2nd most dangerous country for Christians.
Supreme Court to consider guns and Abortion Kill Pill
The U.S. Supreme Court convenes for a new season today, reports ABC News.
Important cases include a gun rights issue on whether those persons under domestic violence restraining orders may be restricted from possessing firearms.
Also, the court will look at the “Abortion Kill Pill by mail program” or the allowance of telemedicine prescriptions and shipments of abortion pills by mail.
African A.I.D.S. bill passes, but no money for int’l abortions
Late last week, the Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives voted to approve $7 billion for international A.I.D.S. prevention. They had one caveat—that the money would not be used to provide abortions, reports Fox News.
During the proceeding, Republican Rep. Chris Smith of New Jersey read a letter signed by 131 African religious leaders and political leaders stating their opposition to the reauthorization of President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) as “supporting so-called family planning and reproductive health principles and practices, including abortion, that violate our core beliefs concerning life, family, and religion.”
Listen to Congressman Smith from the House floor.
SMITH: “A June 6th letter, signed by 131 African lawmakers and religious leaders, including the Speaker of the Parliament of Ghana, implored Congress not, I say again, not, to exploit PEPFAR to promote abortion, stating, and I quote a pertinent part, ‘We want to express our concerns and suspicions that this funding is supporting abortion that violates our core beliefs concerning life, family and religion.’”
The State Foreign Operations Appropriations bill barely passed by a party line vote of 216-212.
U.S. taxpayers funds $680 million of abortifacients and contraceptives overseas
However, the United States continues to support international family planning, abortifacient, and contraceptive distribution throughout the world to the tune of over $680 million per year.
These programs have been underway for over 50 years.
Home prices out of reach for most
A new report from a real estate data provider, named ATTOM, finds that average Americans living in 99% of the counties in the country cannot afford to purchase a home.
Prices are “beyond the reach of the average income earner, who makes $71,214 a year,” according to ATTOM. Affordability has worsened across the nation amid a third-quarter increase in home prices and home-mortgage rates.
The median American household would have to spend 43.8% of their income to afford a house at present interest rates and costs.
Bed bugs threaten Paris Olympics
Paris, France is dealing with an infestation of bed bugs, causing international concern as the nation prepares to host the 2024 Olympic Games.
The French national health and sanitary body surveyed French homes in 2017 and 2022, and found that 11% were infested with the pesky insect.
Bedbugs were largely done away with in the 1950s, according to the U.K. Guardian. However, they have seen a comeback due to huge increases in international travel and immigration.
Bed bugs in America
Orkin’s study on top cities for bed bugs in the U.S. puts Chicago, New York, Philadelphia, and Cleveland at the top. Cities that have seen the largest increase in the last year include Los Angeles, Raleigh-Durham, Youngstown, Ohio, Seattle, and South Bend, Indiana.
When traveling, Orkin reminds you to “survey the hotel room for signs of an infestation. Be on the lookout for tiny, ink-colored stains on mattress seams. Lift and look in bed bug hiding spots: the mattress, box spring, and other furniture, as well as behind baseboards, pictures and even torn wallpaper. Elevate luggage away from the bed and wall. The safest places are in the bathroom or on counters.
“Examine your luggage carefully while repacking and once you return home from a trip. And place all dryer-safe clothing from your luggage in the dryer for at least 30-45 minutes at the highest setting after you return home.”
Exodus 8:22 & 24 reminds us that God is in control of insects too. “‘And in that day I will set apart the land of Goshen, in which My people dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be there, in order that you may know that I am the Lord in the midst of the land.’ … And the Lord did so. Thick swarms of flies came into the house of Pharaoh, into his servants’ houses, and into all the land of Egypt.”
Walmart drops college requirement for most white collar positions
America’s largest employer, Walmart, has announced that it is dropping its requirement for a college degree for more of its white collar positions—which pay over $100,000 a year, reports Fox Business.
Other companies dropping the requirement include Apple, Google, Tesla, IBM, Dell, Okta, Delta Airlines, and Bank of America.
Landmark marijuana/banking bill headed to the Senate floor
A landmark bill that would allow banks to open accounts with businesses that deal in the marijuana industry has made it through the U.S. Senate Banking Committee. And it’s soon to hit the floor of the Senate.
The largest producing states for marijuana are Colorado at #1, Oregon at #2, and California at #3—billion dollar industries in all three states. Washington, Arizona, and Michigan also produce some cannabis for human consumption.
I leave you with Psalm 2:1-4 today. “Why do the nations rage, and the people plot a vain thing? The kings of the Earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying, ‘Let us break their bonds in pieces and cast away their cords from us.’ He who sits in the Heavens shall laugh; The Lord shall hold them in derision.”
Close
And that’s The Worldview in 5 Minutes on this Tuesday, October 3rd in the year of our Lord 2023. 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.