# 9-10-2023 - Good News Weekend: California’s Drought Ended, Christians Embracing Digital, & Medal of Honor An episode of [Pray News](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1697158801), 9 Sep 2023, 15 min. Audio: https://podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/traffic.omny.fm/d/clips/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/ce9a673d-e313-4c0a-9df4-b4d6010c32c6/06d68e59-bacc-46bd-b6c0-b4d7000f8348/audio.mp3?utm_source=Podcast&in_playlist=992944cf-642c-431f-a11e-b4d6010c32cd This is PrayNews, your Daily Christian news and 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: • Dry and thirsty Californians have been quenched due to their stormy winter. • Research shows more Christians are embracing digital. Why is this a reason to rejoice? • We revisit our favorite good news story of the week! Pray News is your number 1 source for the top conservative news given to you daily. 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: [0:16] Speaker 1: Philippians 4, 8. Lord, help us focus our minds on [0:20] Speaker 1: the good, the beautiful, and the positive this morning. In [0:24] Speaker 1: a world that can often be dark and negative, may [0:26] Speaker 1: we be beacons of light. reflecting your beauty and goodness [0:30] Speaker 1: in our thoughts, birds, and actions. Guide us to seek [0:33] Speaker 1: the noble and the true in every situation, finding reasons [0:37] Speaker 1: to celebrate and be grateful. Let our lives be testimonies [0:41] Speaker 1: to your unchanging love as we endeavor to think on [0:43] Speaker 1: things that uplift and inspire, just as you uplift and [0:47] Speaker 1: inspire us. Thank you, Lord, for the gift of joy [0:51] Speaker 1: and the power of positivity rooted in your eternal truths [0:56] Speaker 1: And in the joy of Jesus, we pray. Amen. Welcome [1:01] Speaker 1: to Pre-News, where hope is our only bias. Today's good [1:03] Speaker 1: news at a glance. Dry and thirsty Californians have been [1:07] Speaker 1: quenched due to their stormy winter. Research shows more Christians [1:10] Speaker 1: are embracing digital. And why is that a reason to rejoice? [1:14] Speaker 1: And we revisit our favorite good news story of the week. [1:17] Speaker 1: It's Good News Weekend, a time to release some tension, reflect, [1:20] Speaker 1: and smile. We earnestly hope today's stories leave you refreshed [1:24] Speaker 1: and hopeful for the week ahead. bad news abouts, and [1:26] Speaker 1: it's important to pay attention to what's happening in the world. [1:29] Speaker 1: But every once in a while, it's nice to tune [1:31] Speaker 1: out the chatter and focus on the positive. We pray [1:34] Speaker 1: today's news blesses you. If you've been blessed by this [1:36] Speaker 1: take on the news, be sure to subscribe. That way [1:39] Speaker 1: you never have to miss an episode. Before we get [1:41] Speaker 1: into today's first good news story, let's hear a word [1:43] Speaker 1: from these sponsors. As far as good news goes, California [1:47] Speaker 1: recently received a heavenly downpour, both literally and metaphorically. The [1:51] Speaker 1: Golden State, known for its gorgeous beaches, technological innovations, and, sadly, [1:56] Speaker 1: its persistent droughts, finally has something to celebrate, the end [1:59] Speaker 1: of a three-year drought that has plagued the state and [2:02] Speaker 1: its residents. Now the hills are alive with the sound [2:05] Speaker 1: of music and the vibrant hues of wildflowers and green pastures. [2:09] Speaker 1: By late January of this year, the U.S. Drought Monitor [2:12] Speaker 1: map from California looked like a child's colorful doodle, mostly [2:15] Speaker 1: free from the browns and reds indicating drought. This was [2:19] Speaker 1: especially remarkable considering it's the first time since April 2020 [2:22] Speaker 1: that no part of the state was considered in an [2:25] Speaker 1: exceptional drought. Initially, when the winter rains began falling, skeptics [2:30] Speaker 1: cautioned that it would take a legendary soaking to replenish [2:33] Speaker 1: California's parched land and dwindling underground aquifers. Well, it looks [2:38] Speaker 1: like Mother Nature decided to be legendary indeed. With climate [2:42] Speaker 1: change making weather patterns increasingly unpredictable, officials brace for a [2:46] Speaker 1: potentially dry and arduous summer. However, unlike several regions worldwide, [2:50] Speaker 1: California didn't experience record high temperatures this summer. In fact, [2:54] Speaker 1: Tropical Storm Hillary added a refreshing twist, dropping a substantial [2:58] Speaker 1: amount of rainfall that led Los Angeles to capture about [3:02] Speaker 1: 3.2 billion gallons of water. That's enough to supply a [3:05] Speaker 1: year's worth of water to 40,000 households in California. September [3:10] Speaker 1: generally marks the beginning of Southern California's notorious fire season. [3:14] Speaker 1: But the state's newly hydrated landscape might just put a [3:17] Speaker 1: damper on that. David Simerill, a climatologist at the Desert [3:21] Speaker 1: Research Institute, optimistically noted that this extra precipitation will push [3:26] Speaker 1: that back even further. While it's too early to sing [3:29] Speaker 1: the final note, the signs are encouraging. Aside from a [3:33] Speaker 1: few tragic incidents of flooding, the winter downpour seemed to [3:36] Speaker 1: have done wonders for California's landscape. Remember the spring super [3:40] Speaker 1: bloom that cloaked the hillsides in a mesmerizing blanket of wildflowers? [3:45] Speaker 1: Those weren't just for Instagram photos. They were a testament [3:47] Speaker 1: to the resilience of nature when given a chance to [3:50] Speaker 1: rejuvenate itself. The unexpected boon has also prompted city planners [3:55] Speaker 1: and utilities to consider enhancing rainwater catch infrastructure. This way, [4:00] Speaker 1: California can be better prepared for future wet spells, effectively [4:04] Speaker 1: turning what could be a fleeting miracle into a long-term blessing. [4:08] Speaker 1: That's planning ahead. If ever there was a time to [4:11] Speaker 1: be thankful for small mercies, well, in California's case, a big, wet, [4:15] Speaker 1: heavenly mercy, it's now. Let's also remember to pray for [4:19] Speaker 1: the less fortunate region still grappling with the wrath of [4:21] Speaker 1: fires and warming temperatures. This heartening turn of events echoes [4:25] Speaker 1: a biblical narrative of renewal and hope. California's drought relief [4:29] Speaker 1: invites us to reflect on the idea of new beginnings. [4:33] Speaker 1: Matthew 5.45 reminds us that God sends rain on the [4:36] Speaker 1: righteous and the unrighteous. It's his common grace that allows [4:39] Speaker 1: us to experience these things. This generous rainfall serves as [4:42] Speaker 1: a physical manifestation of grace, freely given, which provides not [4:46] Speaker 1: just for our needs, but also lifts our spirits. And [4:49] Speaker 1: let's think about California's landscape for a moment. Fires rage [4:53] Speaker 1: over the mountain range yearly, but the seeds that are [4:56] Speaker 1: opened from those flames ultimately produce new and fresh life [4:59] Speaker 1: when the rain comes. is the same with our fiery [5:02] Speaker 1: trials that we all face. Intense pressure and struggle opens [5:06] Speaker 1: up opportunities for growth, life, and beauty. Add the reign [5:11] Speaker 1: of God's grace, his righteousness, and his word, and we [5:14] Speaker 1: too can flourish like the California mountain range, blooming with flowers. [5:19] Speaker 1: When life seems as parched and unforgiving as a drought-stricken landscape, [5:23] Speaker 1: let's remember that seasons change. May we cherish these moments [5:26] Speaker 1: of relief and renewal, seeing in them the divine hand [5:29] Speaker 1: that offers sustenance, hope, and promise of days ahead. That [5:32] Speaker 1: being said, let's lift this story up in prayer. Heavenly Father, [5:36] Speaker 1: we thank you for the much-needed rain that has brought [5:38] Speaker 1: relief and renewal to California. As we witness this turn [5:41] Speaker 1: of events, let it be a reminder of your grace [5:44] Speaker 1: and the cycles of change and growth in our own lives. [5:47] Speaker 1: We also pray for regions still facing natural disasters, that [5:50] Speaker 1: they too might find relief in new beginnings. In Jesus' [5:53] Speaker 1: name we pray, amen. This next story comes out of [5:56] Speaker 1: some Pew research that was done recently. In the era [6:00] Speaker 1: characterized by rapid integration of technology into daily life, recent [6:04] Speaker 1: research by Pew reveals some fascinating insights into how technology [6:08] Speaker 1: is impacting religious practices. According to the study, 17% of U.S. [6:13] Speaker 1: adults regularly attend religious services, both in person and virtually. [6:18] Speaker 1: Of this group, 13% say that they prefer attending in person, [6:22] Speaker 1: but there's a growing percentage that prefer virtual services over [6:25] Speaker 1: in-person services. For the modern church, this intersection of faith [6:30] Speaker 1: and technology offers an unprecedented opportunity. By leveraging digital media, [6:35] Speaker 1: churches have the capacity to exponentially increase their reach. Services, [6:39] Speaker 1: Bible studies, and devotionals can now be broadcast to an [6:42] Speaker 1: international audience at the click of a button, making the [6:45] Speaker 1: Word of God more accessible than ever before. This podcast [6:49] Speaker 1: and the network of podcasts under Pray.com are a good [6:51] Speaker 1: example of that, reaching millions of people all around the [6:54] Speaker 1: world with the gospel of Jesus. For those who prefer [6:57] Speaker 1: virtual services, the reasons vary. For older Americans, the reasons [7:01] Speaker 1: to go virtual more have to do with health and convenience. [7:04] Speaker 1: For younger Americans, the reasons to go virtual are more [7:08] Speaker 1: about culture, options, and lifestyle. It is heartwarming to note [7:11] Speaker 1: that 10% of U.S. adults who both attend in person [7:14] Speaker 1: and watch virtually opt for services virtually from congregations other [7:18] Speaker 1: than their own. Why is this good news? Well, this [7:21] Speaker 1: shows that the online church is not merely a replica [7:23] Speaker 1: of the physical church, but a complement to it. offering [7:26] Speaker 1: believers a wealth of different perspectives, teachings, and styles of [7:30] Speaker 1: worship they may not have been exposed to otherwise. However, [7:34] Speaker 1: despite the advantages of digital worship, there are two essential [7:37] Speaker 1: elements of faith that virtual platforms can't fully replicate, and [7:41] Speaker 1: that is an intimate worship setting and the irreplaceable sense [7:45] Speaker 1: of community. There's a distinctive, unqualifiable essence in in-person worship services. [7:51] Speaker 1: It's where communal singing of hymns, psalms, and spiritual songs [7:55] Speaker 1: takes a transcendent quality, and the tactile experience of sharing [7:59] Speaker 1: communion enriches the soul. 8% of those who prefer in-person [8:03] Speaker 1: services cite that things like communion and singing can't be [8:06] Speaker 1: replicated online. The architecture of a church building, the resonance [8:10] Speaker 1: of the instruments, and even the collective silence during prayer [8:13] Speaker 1: contribute to a sacred experience that's tough to digitize. Beyond rituals, [8:17] Speaker 1: the in-person church experience fosters community and fellowship as well. [8:20] Speaker 1: About 52% of respondents prefer physical services for the stronger [8:24] Speaker 1: sense of connection and community they offer. Whether it's sharing [8:28] Speaker 1: a pew, breaking bread, or partaking in community outreach programs, [8:31] Speaker 1: the in-person experience creates a social fabric that's tightly knit [8:35] Speaker 1: by shared beliefs and collective action. This serves as fertile [8:38] Speaker 1: ground for relationships, mentoring, and community support, things that the [8:42] Speaker 1: comment section in a live stream can't adequately replace. The [8:46] Speaker 1: digital landscape of faith is evolving and people are flocking [8:50] Speaker 1: to digital type worship services and resources. So how is [8:55] Speaker 1: the church supposed to navigate this dichotomy of digital reach [8:58] Speaker 1: and physical presence? The answer may lie in a balanced [9:01] Speaker 1: approach that utilizes digital platforms to augment rather than replace [9:06] Speaker 1: traditional forms of worship. While the digital church can disseminate [9:09] Speaker 1: teachings far and wide, the physical church is irreplaceable for [9:12] Speaker 1: its ability to foster intimacy and community. We have experienced [9:16] Speaker 1: this firsthand with Pray.com, where you can listen to sermons [9:19] Speaker 1: from the world's most respected pastors at any time. Digital [9:23] Speaker 1: media offers us the ability to access a wealth of deep, compelling, [9:26] Speaker 1: and inspiring content. In-person services offer us worship, intimate community, [9:31] Speaker 1: and the ability to be known. It's reminiscent of what [9:34] Speaker 1: Paul says about the body of Christ, that while it [9:37] Speaker 1: may be in many parts, each part has a specific function. [9:40] Speaker 1: The digital church serves as a far-reaching arm delivering the [9:44] Speaker 1: good news across continents. Meanwhile, the physical church is the heartbeat, [9:48] Speaker 1: where believers gather for communal worship and fellowship, pumping vitality [9:52] Speaker 1: into the broader community. As we appreciate the technological tools [9:56] Speaker 1: that expand the reach of the gospel, let's also cherish [9:59] Speaker 1: and uphold the intimate, sacred spaces where two or three [10:02] Speaker 1: are gathered and Christ is in the midst of them. [10:04] Speaker 1: In these changing times, the church, both virtual and physical, [10:08] Speaker 1: continue to serve as a sanctuary for seeking spiritual nourishment. [10:12] Speaker 1: Let us not prefer one over the other, but recognize [10:14] Speaker 1: that the two work in tandem together to uplift people, [10:18] Speaker 1: nourish their relationships with Christ, and make this world a [10:21] Speaker 1: better place. Let us celebrate these diverse avenues, this different [10:24] Speaker 1: but complementary ways God is using to draw us closer [10:27] Speaker 1: to him and to one another. That being said, let's [10:30] Speaker 1: lift this story up in prayer. Dear Lord, we thank [10:33] Speaker 1: you for these blessings of technology that allow us to [10:35] Speaker 1: expand our reach around the world. As we navigate this [10:39] Speaker 1: digital age, help us to find a balanced approach that [10:42] Speaker 1: honors both the far-reaching potential of virtual services and the [10:45] Speaker 1: irreplaceable intimacy and community of physical gatherings. May we continue [10:49] Speaker 1: to be drawn closer to you and to each other [10:51] Speaker 1: through these diverse avenues of worship. We pray all these [10:54] Speaker 1: things in Jesus' name. Amen. Our final story of today [10:58] Speaker 1: takes us back to one of our favorite good news [11:00] Speaker 1: stories of the week, where an American hero gets recognized [11:04] Speaker 1: for his bravery. In a solemn and emotionally charged ceremony [11:07] Speaker 1: at the White House, President Joe Biden presented the Medal [11:10] Speaker 1: of Honor to retired Army Captain Larry Taylor. Recognizing his [11:14] Speaker 1: act of unprecedented courage during the Vietnam War, the tale [11:17] Speaker 1: of Captain Taylor's audacity and bravery takes us back to [11:20] Speaker 1: June 18, 1968, a night of desperate calls for help [11:24] Speaker 1: and a daring rescue that forever etched its name into [11:27] Speaker 1: the annals of American heroism. On that faithful night, a [11:30] Speaker 1: long-range reconnaissance patrol team of U.S. troops found themselves enveloped [11:34] Speaker 1: by enemy forces outside Ho Chi Minh City. The situation [11:37] Speaker 1: was grim, with their escape route becoming a deathtrap. As [11:41] Speaker 1: the team took heavy fire, Captain Taylor, then a first lieutenant, [11:44] Speaker 1: took to the sky in his Cobra attack helicopter. Though [11:48] Speaker 1: running low on fuel and ammunition, he made multiple low-level [11:51] Speaker 1: attack runs, keeping enemy forces at bay. As it pulled [11:55] Speaker 1: by a force more powerful than his commanding officers, Captain [11:58] Speaker 1: Taylor radioed his trapped soldiers with a new extraction point. [12:02] Speaker 1: According to the White House, when his helicopter touched down, [12:05] Speaker 1: he did so with complete disregard for his personal safety. [12:08] Speaker 1: The chopper, a two-seater, had no room for extra passengers. Undeterred, [12:13] Speaker 1: the rescued men clung to the outside of the aircraft [12:15] Speaker 1: and were lifted out. Meanwhile, orders came from above, returned [12:19] Speaker 1: to base, but Captain Taylor's retort was immediate and momentous. [12:23] Speaker 1: He said, I'm getting my men out, defying his orders [12:26] Speaker 1: and saving them. President Biden, visibly moved during the ceremony, [12:31] Speaker 1: emphasized the significance of Captain Taylor's disobedience of a direct order. [12:35] Speaker 1: He highlighted how the rescue was not coming. Yet Taylor [12:39] Speaker 1: chose to perform the extraction himself, which was an act [12:42] Speaker 1: never before executed on a Cobra. In the face of peril, [12:46] Speaker 1: with his aircraft hit multiple times during the rescue mission, [12:49] Speaker 1: Captain Taylor's indomitable spirit prevailed. He refused to give up [12:52] Speaker 1: and he refused to leave his fellow Americans behind, President [12:55] Speaker 1: Biden noted. By his actions, Lieutenant Taylor rewrote the fate [12:59] Speaker 1: of four families for generations to come, the president added, [13:02] Speaker 1: encapsulating the far-reaching impact of a single act of heroism, [13:06] Speaker 1: Out of the 40 million U.S. military personnel who served [13:09] Speaker 1: since the Civil War, only 3,515 have received the Medal [13:13] Speaker 1: of Honor. Today, Captain Larry Taylor joins this elite group [13:17] Speaker 1: of American heroes. Jesus in John 15, 13 reminds us [13:22] Speaker 1: that greater love hath no man than this, than to [13:24] Speaker 1: lay down his life for his friends. The narrative of [13:27] Speaker 1: Captain Taylor's valor aligns most miraculously with this scripture. His [13:31] Speaker 1: decision to put his life on the line to act [13:34] Speaker 1: when action seemed almost foolhardy embodies the highest form of love, sacrifice. [13:39] Speaker 1: This is the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross for [13:42] Speaker 1: us and the love we are called to embody as believers. [13:45] Speaker 1: His selflessness in saving his comrades set a precedent and [13:48] Speaker 1: served as a living testament to the virtues of courage, duty, [13:52] Speaker 1: and above all, love. Captain Larry Taylor's story is a [13:56] Speaker 1: profound reminder that when guided by love and duty, human [13:59] Speaker 1: beings are capable of extraordinary things, even rewriting the fate [14:03] Speaker 1: of families for generations. In a time when the world [14:07] Speaker 1: often seemed fraught with division and despair, the story of [14:10] Speaker 1: Captain Larry Taylor shines as a beacon of what it [14:13] Speaker 1: means to be guided by love, sacrifice, and an unwavering [14:16] Speaker 1: sense of duty. He is a hero in every sense [14:19] Speaker 1: of the word, and a man whose actions give credence [14:21] Speaker 1: to the belief that greater love is embodied in sacrifice [14:25] Speaker 1: and selfless service to the people around us. By courageously [14:28] Speaker 1: defying a direct order for the greater good, Captain Taylor [14:31] Speaker 1: not only earned the Medal of Honor, but has also [14:33] Speaker 1: gained an eternal place in the hearts of those saved, [14:36] Speaker 1: and indeed, the entire nation is grateful for his service. [14:40] Speaker 1: Let's lift this up in prayer. Heavenly Father, we give [14:43] Speaker 1: thanks for the courage and sacrifice displayed by Captain Larry Taylor. [14:47] Speaker 1: May his actions serve as a timeless example of love, duty, [14:50] Speaker 1: and bravery to us all. We pray for all those [14:53] Speaker 1: who put themselves in harm's way to protect others and [14:56] Speaker 1: to ask for your grace and guidance in troubled times. [14:59] Speaker 1: In Jesus' name, amen. Thank you for joining us today [15:03] Speaker 1: on Prey News. It is our aim to be informed [15:05] Speaker 1: and transformed. We pray today you would proceed with hope, love, [15:08] Speaker 1: and determination to be a force for good. If you've [15:10] Speaker 1: enjoyed this take on the news, write us a review [15:12] Speaker 1: and share your experience. We would love to hear from you. [15:15] Speaker 1: You can sign up for our newsletter at preynews.com, and [15:17] Speaker 1: there you'll find the sources to all of our reporting. [15:19] Speaker 1: And be sure to download the Prey.com app to make [15:22] Speaker 1: prayer a priority in your life and experience the Bible [15:24] Speaker 1: in new and exciting ways. 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