# 7-30-23 - Record-Breaking Heat, Olympic Countdown, & The Presidential Race

An episode of [Pray News](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1697158801), 30 Jul 2023, 13 min.

Audio: https://podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/traffic.omny.fm/d/clips/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/ce9a673d-e313-4c0a-9df4-b4d6010c32c6/c7c2823c-fee2-48c1-8e1e-b4d700261641/audio.mp3?utm_source=Podcast&in_playlist=992944cf-642c-431f-a11e-b4d6010c32cd

This is PrayNews, your beacon of hope in the stormy seas of current events. Sign up to receive PrayNews in your inbox every weekday: https://www.praynews.com/ Today’s News at a Glance: • July is breaking heat records! • The Countdown to the Olympics has begun, but a few countries have been uninvited. • We give a bird’s eye view of the 2024 Presidential Race Download the Pray.com app and make prayer a priority in your life. Watch and listen to inspiring sermons, dramatized Bible stories, and relaxing Bedtime Bible Stories at Pray.com, the digital destination for faith. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

## Transcript

[0:00] Speaker 1: For our citizenship is in heaven, from where we also
[0:04] Speaker 1: wait for our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Philippians 3, 20.
[0:09] Speaker 1: Dear Heavenly Father, we find ourselves filled with hope and
[0:12] Speaker 1: anticipation and thank you for the incredible promise of our
[0:16] Speaker 1: true home, that it's not in this world, but in
[0:19] Speaker 1: heaven with you. We are sojourners on this earth and
[0:23] Speaker 1: our ultimate destination is in your glorious presence. Help us
[0:27] Speaker 1: to live each day with this heavenly perspective. As we
[0:30] Speaker 1: navigate through the joys and challenges of life, remind us
[0:34] Speaker 1: that this world is temporary, but our citizenship in you
[0:38] Speaker 1: is eternal. May this hope inspire us to live lives
[0:42] Speaker 1: that honor you, spread your love, and share your gospel message.
[0:46] Speaker 1: Keep our eyes fixed on you and anchored in your
[0:49] Speaker 1: heavenly home that you have prepared for us. We pray
[0:52] Speaker 1: all these things with trust, gratitude, and determination to be
[0:56] Speaker 1: a force for good in this world. In Jesus' name, amen.
[1:01] Speaker 1: Welcome to Prey News, where hope is our only bias.
[1:04] Speaker 1: Today's news at a glance, July is breaking heat records.
[1:08] Speaker 1: The countdown to the Olympics has begun, but a few
[1:10] Speaker 1: countries have been uninvited. And we have a bird's eye
[1:13] Speaker 1: view of the 2024 presidential race. Happy Monday. We hope
[1:18] Speaker 1: you were able to stay cool this weekend. We're grateful
[1:20] Speaker 1: that you've chosen to join us for the news. We
[1:23] Speaker 1: don't take that for granted, and we pray that today
[1:25] Speaker 1: leaves you informed and transformed. If you've been blessed by
[1:29] Speaker 1: this take on the news, be sure to follow us
[1:31] Speaker 1: so you never have to miss an episode. And you
[1:33] Speaker 1: can also sign up for our newsletter at PreyNews.com. Our
[1:38] Speaker 1: first story of today has to do with July breaking records.
[1:41] Speaker 1: It's time for fried eggs on the sidewalk. July 2023
[1:45] Speaker 1: is poised to claim the dubious title of the hottest
[1:48] Speaker 1: month ever recorded. Scientists have been so convinced about the
[1:53] Speaker 1: impending heat record that they've declared it a certainty even
[1:56] Speaker 1: before the month's end. By they, we're referring to the
[2:00] Speaker 1: EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service and the World Meteorological Association.
[2:04] Speaker 1: The UN Secretary General Antonio Guitierrez boldly announced that the
[2:09] Speaker 1: global boiling era has begun. That's right. Global boiling. That
[2:14] Speaker 1: is a very ominous title to give an entire month. Now,
[2:18] Speaker 1: the scorching temperatures have urged President Biden to shield workers
[2:21] Speaker 1: in outdoor industries like agriculture and construction. He has asked
[2:25] Speaker 1: the Department of Labor to issue a heat hazard alert.
[2:28] Speaker 1: especially since heat-related death rates are higher than any other
[2:31] Speaker 1: natural disaster. As we delve further into the topic, we
[2:34] Speaker 1: find actually that heat takes more American lives annually than
[2:39] Speaker 1: any other natural disaster. People don't normally think of heat
[2:42] Speaker 1: waves in the same way they think about hurricanes and earthquakes.
[2:45] Speaker 1: That's probably because it doesn't have such a dramatic ring
[2:48] Speaker 1: to it. Economists claim that the radical shift in how
[2:51] Speaker 1: humanity interacts with the weather will actually provide a new
[2:54] Speaker 1: boom in the climate industry. Energy, cooling, and water conservation
[2:58] Speaker 1: are on the horizon as the next big money-making boom.
[3:02] Speaker 1: We eagerly anticipate the next generation of geniuses rising to
[3:05] Speaker 1: help the world with new technologies and climate. There are
[3:08] Speaker 1: also opportunities for the church in this time to rise
[3:12] Speaker 1: and help those affected. Perhaps we can all take time
[3:14] Speaker 1: this week to consider how to help people cool down,
[3:17] Speaker 1: keep hydrated, and stay safe. After all, our faith in
[3:20] Speaker 1: Christ compels us to care for communities. We've reported on
[3:24] Speaker 1: this before and made a similar charge. The teachings of
[3:27] Speaker 1: our faith remind us to care for the least of
[3:29] Speaker 1: these in their time of need, encouraging us to extend
[3:32] Speaker 1: our hands in support to those who are struggling from
[3:35] Speaker 1: the heat wave. When the heat rises, so should the
[3:38] Speaker 1: body of Christ to respond to those needs. Remember to
[3:40] Speaker 1: stay safe and keep your eyes open for those who
[3:43] Speaker 1: are suffering. Remember the words of James 2, 14, What
[3:47] Speaker 1: good is it, my brothers, if a man has faith
[3:49] Speaker 1: but has not works? Can faith save him? And if
[3:52] Speaker 1: a brother or sister is naked and in lack of
[3:54] Speaker 1: daily food, And one of you says, go in peace,
[3:56] Speaker 1: be warmed and filled. Yet you didn't give what his
[3:59] Speaker 1: body needs. What good is it? Even so faith, if
[4:02] Speaker 1: it has no works, is dead. If a man will
[4:05] Speaker 1: say you have faith, but I have works, show me
[4:07] Speaker 1: your faith without works and I will show you my
[4:09] Speaker 1: faith with my works. What does this all mean? It
[4:12] Speaker 1: means when the temperatures rise and when things intensify, it's
[4:16] Speaker 1: a great opportunity for the body of Christ to show
[4:18] Speaker 1: that their faith works. Their faith isn't dead. It's alive
[4:22] Speaker 1: and meeting the needs of the people around them. So
[4:24] Speaker 1: let us be people mobilized by faith to help those
[4:27] Speaker 1: in need during times of crisis. With all those things
[4:30] Speaker 1: in mind, let's pray. Dear Lord, we pray for everyone
[4:34] Speaker 1: who's affected by the scorching heat. We pray that you
[4:37] Speaker 1: would keep people safe and that you would rise up
[4:39] Speaker 1: the body of Christ to meet the needs of everybody. Lord,
[4:43] Speaker 1: we also pray for new technological innovations, new innovations in
[4:47] Speaker 1: energy and climate technology that will ultimately help us to
[4:51] Speaker 1: stay safe. We love you and we trust you during
[4:54] Speaker 1: times of crisis, knowing that you're in control of all things.
[4:58] Speaker 1: In Jesus' name, amen. The countdown to the 2024 Paris
[5:03] Speaker 1: Olympics has begun. Thomas Bach, the president of the International
[5:08] Speaker 1: Olympic Committee, managed to fan the flames of hope for
[5:11] Speaker 1: world peace, even as he sparked the countdown for the
[5:15] Speaker 1: 2024 Olympic Games. As the world gears up for the
[5:17] Speaker 1: Olympic Games, it may have to be done without Russia
[5:21] Speaker 1: and Belarus. While the world's nations have been invited to participate,
[5:24] Speaker 1: exceptions have been made for Russia and Belarus, as well
[5:27] Speaker 1: as Guatemala, due to ongoing geopolitical issues and government interference, respectively. However,
[5:32] Speaker 1: Bach held out a possible pathway for athletes from Russia
[5:35] Speaker 1: and Belarus to compete as neutral athletes, but mentioned that
[5:39] Speaker 1: the final decision will come later. He showered praises on Paris'
[5:42] Speaker 1: preparation for the Games, referring to it as perhaps the
[5:45] Speaker 1: best prepared city ever, offering reassurance about the readiness of
[5:48] Speaker 1: the Olympic venues. Among the more informal activities this week
[5:52] Speaker 1: was Bach's visit to the Olympic Village and an encounter
[5:55] Speaker 1: with Usain Bolt, the eight-time gold medalist. The organizers also
[5:58] Speaker 1: revealed a sleek, silver-colored Olympic torch and announced some sponsorship deals.
[6:03] Speaker 1: And now, as the world finds itself caught in a
[6:06] Speaker 1: whirlwind of conflict, we're looking forward to Paris. We're looking
[6:09] Speaker 1: forward to the Olympic Games. It's a glimmer of unity
[6:13] Speaker 1: and togetherness in an otherwise dark period in our history. Bach,
[6:17] Speaker 1: invoking the memory of John Lennon, emphasized the unifying power
[6:20] Speaker 1: of the Olympics, saying, The Olympic Games must always build bridges.
[6:24] Speaker 1: The Olympic Games must never erect walls. Imagine, you may
[6:27] Speaker 1: say we are dreamers, we're not the only ones. You've
[6:30] Speaker 1: all heard the song before. We in the Christian community
[6:33] Speaker 1: have our own version of that type of statement. It
[6:35] Speaker 1: comes from Ephesians 4.3. Be eager to maintain the unity
[6:39] Speaker 1: of the spirit and the bond of peace. The Olympics,
[6:42] Speaker 1: in essence, express this global community's efforts and desires for unity,
[6:47] Speaker 1: a celebration of the human spirit and resilience, and a
[6:50] Speaker 1: reflection of the shared values of peace, friendship, and respect,
[6:54] Speaker 1: which are fundamental to our faith and fundamental to the
[6:58] Speaker 1: world peace. Regardless of the hostilities and tensions around the world,
[7:02] Speaker 1: the Olympics provide a platform to transcend divisions and connect
[7:06] Speaker 1: hearts across nations. So, we're going to say a prayer
[7:09] Speaker 1: for peace, and for the safety and success of the
[7:12] Speaker 1: Olympic Games. Dear Lord, as this monumental event takes place,
[7:17] Speaker 1: and as we gear up for the Olympic Games, we
[7:20] Speaker 1: pray for peace, unity, safety, and harmony between nations. Lord,
[7:26] Speaker 1: for all of the athletes, we pray that you would
[7:28] Speaker 1: prepare them, that you would strengthen them. For all of
[7:31] Speaker 1: the countries involved, we pray for peace and good relationships,
[7:35] Speaker 1: and for everyone who is working to make the Olympics
[7:38] Speaker 1: run smoothly. Would you give them wisdom, discernment, and safety
[7:42] Speaker 1: during the entire process? Lord, we trust you for all
[7:45] Speaker 1: these things, and we trust that good and wonderful unity
[7:49] Speaker 1: can come from this healthy competition. Let the games begin.
[7:52] Speaker 1: In Jesus' name, amen. Our last segment of today is
[7:56] Speaker 1: an update on the 2024 presidential campaign. The 2024 presidential
[8:01] Speaker 1: campaign is underway, as you all know, and we're trying
[8:04] Speaker 1: to report on this with a little bit of trepidation.
[8:07] Speaker 1: Bias is everywhere and unavoidable, and what we aim to
[8:09] Speaker 1: do at Prey News is report objectively and then offer
[8:12] Speaker 1: some reflection and commentary based on our faith, with a
[8:15] Speaker 1: touch of mirth. However, we understand that no matter how
[8:19] Speaker 1: hard we might try to unify, politics is bound to
[8:22] Speaker 1: be divisive. So, we are going to do our best
[8:25] Speaker 1: and trust that the Lord fills in the gaps. Currently,
[8:28] Speaker 1: the 2024 polling seems to favor President Joe Biden and
[8:32] Speaker 1: former President Donald Trump as the two nominees for their
[8:34] Speaker 1: respective parties. Biden at nearly 82 with a series of
[8:38] Speaker 1: investigations surrounding him and his son, and Trump at 78
[8:42] Speaker 1: with a stack of legal troubles continuing to grow higher.
[8:45] Speaker 1: While many candidates have offered themselves as alternatives to Biden
[8:49] Speaker 1: and Trump, none seem to have caught steam in the polls.
[8:52] Speaker 1: Polls are showing Biden in the lead for the Democratic
[8:55] Speaker 1: Party at 65%, with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in second
[8:59] Speaker 1: at around 15%. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. seems to be
[9:03] Speaker 1: resonating more with libertarian and left-leaning Republicans than the established
[9:06] Speaker 1: Democratic base, though. There have been questions on whether Biden
[9:11] Speaker 1: will back out of the race in the coming months
[9:13] Speaker 1: due to age, due to health. Leading Democrats like Dean
[9:18] Speaker 1: Phillips and Gavin Newsom potentially throwing their hats in the race.
[9:22] Speaker 1: Cornel West, the Green Party candidate, is catching more steam
[9:25] Speaker 1: lately among younger voters. His message resonates with many young
[9:29] Speaker 1: Democrats upset about the party's status quo. However, Democrats seem
[9:34] Speaker 1: worried about him merely siphoning votes from President Biden instead
[9:39] Speaker 1: of catching steam as a legitimate candidate. On the Republican front,
[9:43] Speaker 1: former President Donald Trump is still securely in the lead,
[9:46] Speaker 1: polling between 45 and 53 percent, depending on what poll
[9:49] Speaker 1: you look at. The former president faces several legal allegations, though.
[9:53] Speaker 1: none of which have yet to be proven in court
[9:55] Speaker 1: of law. However, those trials are set to begin right
[9:59] Speaker 1: in the middle of the campaign. season. The results of
[10:02] Speaker 1: those trials could shake up the entire race. But despite
[10:05] Speaker 1: these controversies, Trump seems to be doing very well with
[10:08] Speaker 1: his base. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and entrepreneur-author Vivek Ramaswamy
[10:15] Speaker 1: are currently vying for second place in the polls, oscillating
[10:18] Speaker 1: between 10 and 13 percent. Both have very different backgrounds,
[10:21] Speaker 1: but similar platforms they are campaigning on. Nikki Haley, former
[10:25] Speaker 1: governor of South Carolina, and Senator Tim Scott have seen
[10:28] Speaker 1: an uptick in donors but remain lower in polling, polling
[10:31] Speaker 1: between 2% to 4%, depending on which poll you look at.
[10:36] Speaker 1: Every candidate other than Donald Trump seems to be campaigning
[10:39] Speaker 1: against one another instead of Trump to secure voters who
[10:43] Speaker 1: are less enthused about another Trump campaign. Both Democrats and
[10:48] Speaker 1: Republicans seem to be in similar spaces. There are whispers
[10:51] Speaker 1: that President Biden could back out of the race, so
[10:54] Speaker 1: many people are waiting for that possibility. On the other
[10:56] Speaker 1: side of the aisle, former President Trump faces many legal
[10:59] Speaker 1: allegations that could possibly disqualify him from the race. There
[11:03] Speaker 1: are two clear frontrunners whose candidacies could be questioned in
[11:06] Speaker 1: the coming months. It's all tense, and we'll see what
[11:09] Speaker 1: happens next. In this whirlwind of uncertainty and political gamesmanship,
[11:13] Speaker 1: Let's remember that we are, first and foremost, citizens of
[11:17] Speaker 1: not the United States, but heaven. Philippians 3.20 reminds us,
[11:21] Speaker 1: For our citizenship is in heaven, from where we also
[11:23] Speaker 1: wait for our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. While the
[11:26] Speaker 1: world may put its hope in a certain candidate anxiously
[11:29] Speaker 1: waiting with restless anticipation, we wait on the Lord. We
[11:33] Speaker 1: look for where He is moving and how He will
[11:35] Speaker 1: call us to bless the people around us. One thing
[11:38] Speaker 1: is for certain, whether a Democrat is president, whether a
[11:40] Speaker 1: Republican is president, whether an independent or a Green Party
[11:44] Speaker 1: is president, we know we serve the Lord. And opportunities
[11:48] Speaker 1: to expand the kingdom of God are everywhere, regardless of
[11:52] Speaker 1: who is in office. And the heightened tension of party conflict,
[11:56] Speaker 1: we also remember the call to love our neighbors, regardless
[11:59] Speaker 1: of their political affiliation. It's important not to get lost
[12:02] Speaker 1: in the shuffle of heated debates and divisive rhetoric. Rather,
[12:06] Speaker 1: May we be known as people who bravely step over
[12:09] Speaker 1: political walls to build relationships and foster peace. So let's
[12:14] Speaker 1: close our time in prayer. Lord Jesus, we recognize you
[12:18] Speaker 1: as king, ruler over our lives and ruler over our hearts. Lord,
[12:23] Speaker 1: may we be guided first by your kingdom, by your
[12:25] Speaker 1: kingdom principles and by your word. Lord, transform our hearts
[12:30] Speaker 1: and inform our minds on how we can step forward
[12:33] Speaker 1: and bravely to be a force for good in this world. Lord,
[12:36] Speaker 1: in the midst of division, in the midst of heated
[12:38] Speaker 1: debates and divisive rhetoric, Lord, may we be steady pillars
[12:43] Speaker 1: of peace in our communities. We trust you, Lord, no
[12:46] Speaker 1: matter who's in office, that you are ultimately going to
[12:49] Speaker 1: reign supreme. We know that victory is ultimately in you,
[12:53] Speaker 1: and we trust you for the future. In Jesus' name, amen.
[12:56] Speaker 1: Thank you for joining us today on Pray News. It
[12:58] Speaker 1: is our aim to be informed and transformed. We pray
[13:01] Speaker 1: today you would proceed with hope, love, and determination to
[13:04] Speaker 1: be a force for good. If you've enjoyed this take
[13:06] Speaker 1: on the news, write us a review and share your experience.
[13:09] Speaker 1: You can sign up for our newsletter at PrayNews.com and
[13:12] Speaker 1: there you will find sources for all our reporting. Be
[13:15] Speaker 1: sure to download the Pray.com app to make prayer a
[13:17] Speaker 1: priority in your life and experience the Bible in new
[13:20] Speaker 1: and exciting ways.

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