# 8-8-23 - US Team Falls Short, North Korean Crypto Heists, & College Football Shuffle

An episode of [Pray News](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1697158801), 8 Aug 2023, 16 min.

Audio: https://podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/traffic.omny.fm/d/clips/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/ce9a673d-e313-4c0a-9df4-b4d6010c32c6/bf963d60-5d02-498e-999d-b4d70022a57d/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 Good News at a Glance: • The US falls short of expectations in the World Cup, but there’s hope for the underdogs! • North Korea’s crypto heists have been fueling their nuclear programs. • College football is going crazy. 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 where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
[0:03] Speaker 1: Matthew 6, 21 Dear Lord, guide our hearts towards the
[0:07] Speaker 1: treasures that truly matter. Love, kindness, faith, and service to others.
[0:12] Speaker 1: Help us to recognize the fleeting nature of worldly possessions
[0:16] Speaker 1: and desires, and to prioritize the eternal values of your kingdom.
[0:20] Speaker 1: Teach us to invest our time, energy, and resources in
[0:23] Speaker 1: building relationships, growing in our faith, and serving those in need.
[0:28] Speaker 1: Let our hearts be anchored in the things of you,
[0:30] Speaker 1: finding joy and purpose in your presence. Help us to
[0:34] Speaker 1: continually align your hearts with your will and purpose. Speak
[0:37] Speaker 1: to us, guide our hearts. In the mighty name of Jesus,
[0:41] Speaker 1: we pray. Amen. Welcome to Prairie News, where hope is
[0:46] Speaker 1: our only bias. Today's news at a glance, the U.S.
[0:49] Speaker 1: falls short of expectations in the World Cup. But there's
[0:52] Speaker 1: hope for the underdogs. North Korea's crypto heists have been
[0:56] Speaker 1: fueling their nuclear programs. And college football is going crazy
[1:00] Speaker 1: right now. This is a big day of news for
[1:03] Speaker 1: sports fans out there. Sports are, in many ways, a
[1:05] Speaker 1: reflection of life. Teamwork, dedication, mutual goals. With all these things,
[1:09] Speaker 1: we make each other better. And that's how it is
[1:11] Speaker 1: with the body of Christ. And we pray that we
[1:14] Speaker 1: here at Pray News help you to navigate life. If
[1:17] Speaker 1: you've been blessed by this take on the news, consider
[1:19] Speaker 1: writing a review. We'd love to hear from you. Here's
[1:22] Speaker 1: actually a review from Samaj513. com. Finally, a news podcast that
[1:27] Speaker 1: gives us the news in a factual manner and also
[1:30] Speaker 1: have the Lord centered in it as well. Thank you.
[1:33] Speaker 1: I support this. Well, thanks for the review. We are
[1:36] Speaker 1: grateful for your support and pray this news continues to
[1:39] Speaker 1: leave you informed and transformed. Our first story of today
[1:43] Speaker 1: is an update on the World Cup. In the world
[1:45] Speaker 1: of sports, where the thrill of victory and the agony
[1:47] Speaker 1: of defeat dance a delicate tango, the U.S. women's soccer
[1:50] Speaker 1: team came out guns a-blazing, hoping to nab a third trophy.
[1:55] Speaker 1: but this World Cup season in Melbourne, Australia bore witness
[1:58] Speaker 1: to a plot twist that few saw coming. The once
[2:00] Speaker 1: indomitable U.S. team, known for their prowess and panache, faced
[2:04] Speaker 1: an early exit from the Women's World Cup. The U.S.
[2:08] Speaker 1: team's departure from the tournament was akin to a Shakespearean tragedy,
[2:12] Speaker 1: complete with dramatic tension and unexpected turns. A scoreless draw
[2:16] Speaker 1: with Sweden led to a nail-biting penalty shootout, and alas,
[2:20] Speaker 1: the Americans found themselves on the wrong side of the scoreboard,
[2:23] Speaker 1: but just within... millimeters. This marked the earliest exit ever
[2:28] Speaker 1: for the four-time tournament champions. Oh, how the mighty have
[2:31] Speaker 1: faced just a small hiccup. In the 1999 World Cup,
[2:35] Speaker 1: the women's team faced a very similar game, but had
[2:38] Speaker 1: a very different outcome. Today's World Cup and the U.S.
[2:42] Speaker 1: team seemed a tad off kilter. They seemed off base
[2:46] Speaker 1: and not their usual selves. With just one win against
[2:49] Speaker 1: Vietnam and draws against the Netherlands and Portugal, their journey
[2:53] Speaker 1: felt more like a roller coaster than a victory march.
[2:57] Speaker 1: While the champs have fallen, we're tipping our hats to
[2:59] Speaker 1: the underdogs. Teams like Jamaica, Colombia, and Morocco have shown
[3:03] Speaker 1: that the world of women's soccer is no longer just
[3:06] Speaker 1: a one-horse race. As defender Crystal Dunn aptly put it,
[3:10] Speaker 1: the growth of the game globally is evident, and the U.S.
[3:13] Speaker 1: team's challenges are actually a testament to the game's evolution.
[3:17] Speaker 1: The league is no longer as top-heavy as it once was.
[3:20] Speaker 1: For the sport, That's a good thing, but this year
[3:22] Speaker 1: for the U.S., who were on top, it's not as
[3:25] Speaker 1: much of a good thing. With the Tokyo Olympics bronze
[3:28] Speaker 1: medal and now this World Cup outcome, whispers about Vlatko
[3:31] Speaker 1: Adonovsky's future with the team are making the rounds. Adonovsky
[3:35] Speaker 1: has had a commendable run, but the recent results have
[3:39] Speaker 1: left fans pondering the road ahead. The U.S. team's youth movement,
[3:43] Speaker 1: spearheaded by Adonovsky, brought fresh faces to the World Cup.
[3:47] Speaker 1: Players like Sophia Smith, Trinity Rodman, and the young Alyssa Tomsman.
[3:51] Speaker 1: showcased their potential, yet the absence of clear veterans made
[3:55] Speaker 1: it an uphill battle for them. Social media, that ever-buzzing beehive,
[3:59] Speaker 1: was abuzz with reactions. Megan Rapinoe's penalty miss and the
[4:03] Speaker 1: subsequent laughter became a hot topic. Rapinoe, the iconic star
[4:07] Speaker 1: of the 2019 World Cup, announced that this would be
[4:10] Speaker 1: her final World Cup appearance. As she tearfully reflected on
[4:13] Speaker 1: her journey, one couldn't help but feel a pang of nostalgia.
[4:17] Speaker 1: Here's to four years from now when the young U.S.
[4:20] Speaker 1: team is going to vibrantly take the stage once again.
[4:23] Speaker 1: We'll be cheering for them. And we'll also be cheering
[4:25] Speaker 1: for some of these underdogs like Jamaica. They have wonderful stories,
[4:29] Speaker 1: and we can't wait to see what happens. In the
[4:32] Speaker 1: grand tapestry of life, sports teach us valuable lessons about perseverance, humility,
[4:36] Speaker 1: and grace, and other values like teamwork and lifting each
[4:41] Speaker 1: other up in hard times. The Bible reminds us in
[4:43] Speaker 1: Proverbs 24, For though the righteous fall seven times, they
[4:47] Speaker 1: rise again. The U.S. women's soccer team, with its legacy
[4:50] Speaker 1: and talent, will undoubtedly rise again, stronger and more determined.
[4:54] Speaker 1: As we reflect on their journey, let's celebrate the spirit
[4:56] Speaker 1: of competition, the joy of the game, and the lessons
[4:59] Speaker 1: learned both on and off the field. After all, it's
[5:02] Speaker 1: not just about winning. It's about playing with heart, embracing challenges,
[5:05] Speaker 1: and growing in faith and character. That is how sports
[5:08] Speaker 1: in many ways reflect life. So, here's to the U.S.
[5:11] Speaker 1: women's soccer team. May your future be as bright as
[5:14] Speaker 1: your legacy is rich. So now, let's lift all of
[5:17] Speaker 1: this in prayer. Lord, we thank you for the spirit
[5:20] Speaker 1: of competition, the joy of the game, and the lessons
[5:22] Speaker 1: we learn from victories and defeats. We pray for the U.S.
[5:25] Speaker 1: women's soccer team that they may find strength in experience
[5:28] Speaker 1: and grow in perseverance and come back stronger for their
[5:31] Speaker 1: next journey. We also pray for the remaining teams. Would
[5:34] Speaker 1: you keep them safe and continually humble even in their victories?
[5:39] Speaker 1: May their future shine bright. and may they continue to
[5:41] Speaker 1: inspire many with their passion and their determination. In Jesus' name, amen.
[5:47] Speaker 1: Our next story is about North Korea and crypto heists.
[5:51] Speaker 1: North Korea's alleged use of stolen cryptocurrency to fund its
[5:54] Speaker 1: nuclear program have sent shockwaves through the international community. Three
[5:58] Speaker 1: Democratic senators, Elizabeth Warren, Tim Kaine, and Chris Van Hollen,
[6:02] Speaker 1: have voiced their concerns about North Korea's increasing reliance on
[6:06] Speaker 1: stolen cryptocurrency. Their letter to the Biden administration seeks clarity
[6:10] Speaker 1: on the steps to counteract this alarming trend. The senators
[6:14] Speaker 1: emphasize the urgency of the situation, noting that North Korea
[6:17] Speaker 1: has systematically built its expertise in digital assets over the
[6:21] Speaker 1: past few years. The senators' concerns are not unfounded. North
[6:25] Speaker 1: Korean hackers have pilfered over $ 3 billion in crypto-related thefts
[6:30] Speaker 1: since 2018. These funds now contribute to approximately half of
[6:35] Speaker 1: North Korea's ballistic missile program. These crypto heists have allowed
[6:39] Speaker 1: North Korea to amass wealth despite sanctions that are placed
[6:43] Speaker 1: upon them from the rest of the world. The crypto
[6:46] Speaker 1: conundrum continues to abound here. See, the rapid rise in
[6:50] Speaker 1: cryptocurrencies has presented both opportunities and challenges. While cryptocurrency offers
[6:56] Speaker 1: financial inclusion and innovation, their decentralized nature can be exploited
[7:01] Speaker 1: for nefarious purposes. The North Korea's alleged crypto heists underscore
[7:06] Speaker 1: that very dilemma. Ann Neuberger, the Deputy National Security Advisor
[7:10] Speaker 1: for Cyber and Emerging Technology, revealed that about half of
[7:14] Speaker 1: North Korea's foreign currency funding its missile program is sourced
[7:18] Speaker 1: from its cyber operations. This is a significant jump from
[7:21] Speaker 1: previous estimates. Furthermore, North Korea's shadow IT workforce operating globally,
[7:27] Speaker 1: including countries like Russia and China, has been linked to
[7:30] Speaker 1: the regime's cybercrime operations. While engaging in routine technology tasks,
[7:35] Speaker 1: this workforce is believed to be intricately connected to North
[7:38] Speaker 1: Korea's cyber heists. Senator Warren, recognizing the gravity of the situation,
[7:43] Speaker 1: has reintroduced bipartisan legislation aimed at mitigating the national security
[7:47] Speaker 1: risks associated with digital assets. This is something that both
[7:51] Speaker 1: Democrats and Republicans can get behind. The proposed legislation seeks
[7:55] Speaker 1: to bring a larger segment of the cryptocurrency market under
[7:58] Speaker 1: regulations and other illicit activities. The legislation also proposes enhanced
[8:07] Speaker 1: requirements for crypto wallet providers, miners, and other network participants. Additionally,
[8:12] Speaker 1: it calls for the implementation of a rule proposed in
[8:16] Speaker 1: 2020 that mandates banks and crypto platforms to gather more
[8:19] Speaker 1: information about the crypto transactions with unhosted wallets. This will
[8:24] Speaker 1: make it much easier to find some nefarious actors like
[8:27] Speaker 1: North Korean agents. From a Christian standpoint, the situation underscores
[8:32] Speaker 1: the age-old struggle between good and evil, where advancements meant
[8:36] Speaker 1: for the betterment of humanity can be misused for destructive purposes.
[8:40] Speaker 1: A prime example of this is actually the tree of
[8:42] Speaker 1: knowledge of good and evil in the Garden of Eden.
[8:44] Speaker 1: You remember Genesis 1-3? The Bible doesn't describe the tree
[8:48] Speaker 1: as the tree of evil. Rather, we are told that
[8:51] Speaker 1: the tree offered knowledge of good and evil. It was
[8:55] Speaker 1: the tree of knowledge, knowledge of good and evil. Each
[8:58] Speaker 1: and every day, we are faced with choices. We are
[9:01] Speaker 1: faced with the knowledge to make the right choice or
[9:04] Speaker 1: the evil choice, and because of our fallen nature, we
[9:07] Speaker 1: skew towards evil if left unchecked. With each new innovation
[9:10] Speaker 1: and technological high, the possibility for evil abounds. The discovery
[9:15] Speaker 1: of fire, for example, provided humanity with the choice to
[9:18] Speaker 1: either warm their huts or burn down an enemy village.
[9:22] Speaker 1: Innovations in nuclear power gave us the ability to power
[9:25] Speaker 1: entire cities. but also destroy entire cities. Do you see
[9:30] Speaker 1: how this works? With each new innovation, with each new invention,
[9:33] Speaker 1: with each new technological exploit, we have an opportunity to
[9:38] Speaker 1: choose the right path or the wrong path, the path
[9:41] Speaker 1: of good or the path for evil. The situation with
[9:43] Speaker 1: North Korea is a stark reminder that while technology can
[9:46] Speaker 1: be a force for good, it requires vigilant oversight and
[9:49] Speaker 1: ethical considerations to ensure it is not misused. This story
[9:53] Speaker 1: also causes us to pause and contemplate our potential for evil.
[9:58] Speaker 1: Let's pray for our leaders as they navigate this complex
[10:00] Speaker 1: geopolitical space. Let's also pray for our hearts, that we
[10:04] Speaker 1: would choose good every day, inspired by the Spirit and
[10:07] Speaker 1: informed by the world. So, with all that being said,
[10:11] Speaker 1: let's pray. Lord, in a world filled with technological advances,
[10:15] Speaker 1: we recognize the potential for both good and harm. We
[10:19] Speaker 1: pray for wisdom and discernment for our leaders as they
[10:21] Speaker 1: navigate these challenges. Strengthen our resolve to always choose the
[10:25] Speaker 1: path of righteousness and guide us to use our resources
[10:28] Speaker 1: and innovations and expertise for the betterment of all and
[10:31] Speaker 1: for your kingdom. Bless us, Lord, as we navigate this life.
[10:35] Speaker 1: In Jesus' name, amen. Buckle up, everyone, for this last
[10:39] Speaker 1: story because college football is doing a game of musical chairs.
[10:43] Speaker 1: If you're a college football fan, this is the story
[10:45] Speaker 1: for you. If you're a fan of television controversy and
[10:48] Speaker 1: business deals, this is also a story for you. If
[10:50] Speaker 1: you're just a fan of absurdity, this is definitely the
[10:53] Speaker 1: story for you. In short, here's what's happening in college
[10:56] Speaker 1: football at the moment. The Big 10 is turning into
[10:59] Speaker 1: the Big 18. The Big 12 is growing into the
[11:01] Speaker 1: Big 16. And the Pac-12 is slimming down to the Pac-4. Confused?
[11:06] Speaker 1: You're not alone. The Pac-12 football conference in college football,
[11:10] Speaker 1: once a bastion of athletic prowess, holding some of the
[11:12] Speaker 1: world's most talented teams, is now looking more like the
[11:16] Speaker 1: last kid picked in dodgeball. Oregon and Washington are headed
[11:20] Speaker 1: to the Big Ten. Meanwhile, Arizona, Arizona State, and Utah
[11:24] Speaker 1: have decided to try their luck with the Big 12.
[11:25] Speaker 1: This leaves the Pac-12 with a mere four members, and
[11:30] Speaker 1: one has to wonder if they're now considering a name
[11:32] Speaker 1: change to the Pac-few. Meanwhile, the SEC is picking up
[11:36] Speaker 1: two big-time programs from the Big 12, starting next year
[11:39] Speaker 1: in Oklahoma and Texas. In case you're getting lost, what's
[11:43] Speaker 1: essentially happening is that college football is broken up into
[11:46] Speaker 1: conferences that have a certain amount of teams that play
[11:48] Speaker 1: one another and ultimately vie for a championship. Now, a
[11:52] Speaker 1: lot of these teams are moving conferences. They're going from
[11:56] Speaker 1: one set of teams to another set of teams. Now,
[11:59] Speaker 1: if you're scratching your head wondering why all of this
[12:02] Speaker 1: is happening, look no further than your remote control for
[12:04] Speaker 1: the answers. Television, the great influencer of our age, seems
[12:08] Speaker 1: to be the puppet master behind these moves. The Big
[12:11] Speaker 1: Ten and SEC, for example, with their Scrooge McDuck-sized vaults
[12:14] Speaker 1: of TV money, have been luring schools away from the
[12:17] Speaker 1: Pac-12 like kids to an ice cream truck. The numbers
[12:21] Speaker 1: are staggering. The SEC's deal with Disney is worth a
[12:25] Speaker 1: whopping $ 3 billion over 10 years. The Big Ten, not
[12:29] Speaker 1: to be outdone, secured a deal that would make them
[12:32] Speaker 1: up to $ 7. 5 billion over 7 years with Fox, CBS,
[12:36] Speaker 1: and NBC. Meanwhile, the Pac-12's potential deal with Apple TV
[12:41] Speaker 1: seems like pocket change in comparison. That's why the Pac-12
[12:45] Speaker 1: is losing all of these college programs. These colleges who
[12:48] Speaker 1: want to make more money off of ad revenue and
[12:51] Speaker 1: TV deals are moving to all of these conferences that
[12:55] Speaker 1: have more views. TV money has reshaped the landscape of
[13:00] Speaker 1: college football. With its rise in popularity but its decline
[13:03] Speaker 1: in filling stadiums, These colleges are pivoting to an entertainment-centered approach.
[13:08] Speaker 1: Many are lamenting that this is the end of regional
[13:11] Speaker 1: pride in college sports, while others cheer that they get
[13:14] Speaker 1: to see the best teams play each other. Time will
[13:17] Speaker 1: tell how good of an advancement this is. Now, how
[13:20] Speaker 1: do we find some sort of Christian angle here? How
[13:22] Speaker 1: do we reflect on this as believers? Well, we're not
[13:25] Speaker 1: going to comment on whether this is unethical here, or
[13:28] Speaker 1: this isn't right, or we should uphold these traditions. What
[13:30] Speaker 1: we are going to talk about is Matthew 6, verse 21.
[13:33] Speaker 1: Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
[13:37] Speaker 1: What we value most in life informs our decisions. For
[13:39] Speaker 1: these college football giants, it's clear that their treasure is
[13:43] Speaker 1: veering away from nostalgia, regional pride, and the students, and
[13:46] Speaker 1: running more towards revenue. They have people they need to employ,
[13:50] Speaker 1: programs to remote, and a bottom line to worry about.
[13:52] Speaker 1: So we're going to withhold judgment for now. Let's instead
[13:55] Speaker 1: look inward. Where does our treasure lie? What directs our
[13:58] Speaker 1: decisions as believers? What we value most will dictate our decisions.
[14:03] Speaker 1: And Jesus encourages us in Matthew 6 not to trust
[14:06] Speaker 1: the corruptible and temporary treasures of this world. Rather, we
[14:09] Speaker 1: should store up for ourselves treasures in heaven, which are
[14:12] Speaker 1: eternal and incorruptible. Money and power are the treasures of
[14:15] Speaker 1: our age, but Jesus calls us to hunt for a
[14:18] Speaker 1: different type of wealth. Love, compassion, prayer, righteousness, obedience, and mercy.
[14:23] Speaker 1: When Christ is our ultimate treasure, our actions will reflect
[14:26] Speaker 1: his character. That is when the world around us starts
[14:29] Speaker 1: to look a little more like heaven. So, With all
[14:32] Speaker 1: this being said, let's pray for our own hearts. Let's
[14:35] Speaker 1: pray that in a world driven by hunger for wealth
[14:39] Speaker 1: and power, that our hearts would treasure Christ. So, Heavenly Father,
[14:44] Speaker 1: in a world driven by wealth and power, guide our
[14:46] Speaker 1: hearts to treasure what truly lasts. May we always prioritize love, compassion,
[14:51] Speaker 1: and righteousness over fleeting gains. If there are any idols
[14:55] Speaker 1: that we have erected in our own hearts, would you
[14:57] Speaker 1: topple them, replace them, on the throne of our hearts,
[15:00] Speaker 1: your kingdom, your truth, your word. Teach us to seek
[15:04] Speaker 1: eternal riches and reflect Christ's character in all our endeavors.
[15:08] Speaker 1: In Jesus' name, amen. Thank you for joining us today
[15:12] Speaker 1: on Pray News. It is our aim to be informed
[15:14] Speaker 1: and transformed. We pray today that you would proceed with hope, love,
[15:18] Speaker 1: and determination to be a force for good. If you've
[15:20] Speaker 1: enjoyed this take on the news, consider writing us a
[15:22] Speaker 1: review and share your experience. We'll then share those reviews
[15:26] Speaker 1: here on the podcast. You can sign up for our
[15:28] Speaker 1: newsletter at PrayNews.com, and there you'll find all the sources
[15:31] Speaker 1: to our reporting. And be sure to download the Pray.com
[15:34] Speaker 1: app to enrich your walk with the Lord, to make
[15:37] Speaker 1: prayer a priority, and experience the Bible in cinematic and
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