# 8-1-23 - NASA+, 30,000 Jobs Lost, & War Comes to Russia

An episode of [Pray News](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1697158801), 1 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/b852a903-e633-4aa1-aeec-b4d7002570fa/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: • NASA’s new frontier is the streaming universe! • Yellow’s collapse could put 30,000 people out of work. • Zelensky says war may be coming back to the Russian border. 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: He will judge between nations and will decide concerning many peoples.
[0:04] Speaker 1: They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears
[0:07] Speaker 1: into pruning hooks. Nations shall not lift up sword against nation,
[0:11] Speaker 1: neither shall they learn war anymore. Isaiah 2, 4. Dear Lord,
[0:16] Speaker 1: how we long for the day when these words come
[0:19] Speaker 1: to fruition, when warfare and conflict are no more and
[0:22] Speaker 1: peace reigns throughout the earth. We pray that you would
[0:25] Speaker 1: raise us up to be peacemakers in our own lives.
[0:28] Speaker 1: reflecting your heart of reconciliation. May our words and actions
[0:32] Speaker 1: foster understanding, compassion, and unity rather than division and strife.
[0:38] Speaker 1: As we wait the fulfillment of your promise, empower us
[0:41] Speaker 1: to be instruments of peace in our homes, communities, and world.
[0:45] Speaker 1: Let us work toward harmony and cooperation, trusting your perfect
[0:49] Speaker 1: plan and timing. We can't do any of these things
[0:53] Speaker 1: in and of ourselves, but with your spirit empowering us daily,
[0:56] Speaker 1: all things are possible. We pray these things and trust
[1:00] Speaker 1: in the name of Jesus, the Prince of Peace. Amen.
[1:04] Speaker 1: Welcome to Prey News, where hope is our only bias.
[1:07] Speaker 1: Today's news at a glance, NASA's new frontier is the
[1:10] Speaker 1: streaming universe. Yellow's collapse could put 30,000 people out of work.
[1:14] Speaker 1: And Zelensky says war may be coming back to the
[1:17] Speaker 1: Russian border. Sometimes it feels like keeping up with the
[1:20] Speaker 1: news does more harm than good, right? Current events can
[1:23] Speaker 1: leave us jaded and bitter at the brokenness of the world.
[1:26] Speaker 1: but we worship a God who's called us to be
[1:28] Speaker 1: lights in dark places. We'll get into our first story
[1:31] Speaker 1: after a quick word from this sponsor. Our first story
[1:34] Speaker 1: of today has to do with NASA's new innovation. As children,
[1:38] Speaker 1: we all dreamed of what NASA would one day accomplish.
[1:41] Speaker 1: We imagined 2023 would most likely be a time of innovation, exploration,
[1:45] Speaker 1: and new discoveries. Perhaps there would be a moon base
[1:48] Speaker 1: you could visit, a manned mission to Mars, or maybe
[1:51] Speaker 1: an international space station constructed for the full purpose of
[1:54] Speaker 1: uniting against the threat of an alien race. Or maybe
[1:57] Speaker 1: just a space station. Those things were fun to imagine
[2:00] Speaker 1: as a kid. But this is the real world. Innovation
[2:02] Speaker 1: is driven by demand. And NASA has responded to that demand.
[2:06] Speaker 1: NASA has decided that mere space exploration isn't enough. With
[2:11] Speaker 1: rocket launches and astronaut updates already under its belt, the
[2:14] Speaker 1: next frontier to conquer is, of course, the streaming universe.
[2:19] Speaker 1: The illustrious space agency announced their new streaming service, NASA Plus,
[2:24] Speaker 1: to launch, quote, later this year. NASA will offer a
[2:28] Speaker 1: celestial selection that includes live coverage of rocket launches, insightful documentaries,
[2:33] Speaker 1: educational kids content, and exclusive original series. We're assured that
[2:38] Speaker 1: this will be ad-free, no cost, and family friendly. In
[2:41] Speaker 1: addition to launching its streaming service, NASA is also taking
[2:44] Speaker 1: a giant leap towards enhancing user experience by launching a
[2:48] Speaker 1: beta website. With integrated navigation, a common search engine, and
[2:52] Speaker 1: a modernized set of web tools, it's like they've built
[2:55] Speaker 1: the USS Enterprise of websites. Not as exciting as a
[2:59] Speaker 1: space station or a moon hotel, though. These new web
[3:02] Speaker 1: experiences are designed to bring space exploration to your fingertips.
[3:06] Speaker 1: For those on the go, fear not. The upgraded NASA
[3:09] Speaker 1: app will be available on iOS and Android and integrated
[3:12] Speaker 1: with NASA +. So the next time you're waiting in
[3:15] Speaker 1: line for a latte, you can actually watch a rocket
[3:17] Speaker 1: launch or two. Jokes aside, there is a lot of
[3:20] Speaker 1: good that can come from having a streaming service attached
[3:22] Speaker 1: to NASA. For one, it can inspire the next generation
[3:25] Speaker 1: of scientists, engineers, explorers, and innovators. Children from far and
[3:29] Speaker 1: wide can tune into NASA Plus to learn and witness
[3:32] Speaker 1: the wonders of rockets, space, and technological marvels. And we,
[3:35] Speaker 1: the taxpayers that are partially funding NASA, can see firsthand
[3:39] Speaker 1: what NASA is up to in a cinematic and engaging way.
[3:43] Speaker 1: And as we ponder the wonders of the universe, NASA's
[3:45] Speaker 1: new initiatives remind us of Psalm 19.1, The heavens declare
[3:49] Speaker 1: the glory of God. The skies proclaim the work of
[3:51] Speaker 1: his hands. NASA Plus serves as an opportunity for us
[3:54] Speaker 1: to celebrate God's creation, offering a unique lens through which
[3:57] Speaker 1: we can observe the wonders and intricacies of the cosmos
[4:00] Speaker 1: as constructed by our God. So let's lift this up
[4:03] Speaker 1: in prayer. Heavenly Father, we thank you for the wonders
[4:05] Speaker 1: of creation and the ability to explore and learn from it.
[4:08] Speaker 1: Bless those who work tirelessly to bring the mysteries of
[4:11] Speaker 1: the cosmos closer to us. And may the innovations like
[4:14] Speaker 1: NASA Plus inspire and educate many generations to come. In
[4:17] Speaker 1: your glorious name, we pray. Amen. Our next story has
[4:21] Speaker 1: to do with Yellow's sad journey to closure. A once
[4:25] Speaker 1: vibrant national symbol of transportation in the U.S., trucking giant Yellow,
[4:30] Speaker 1: a 99-year-old company, is now saddled with the weight of debt, controversy,
[4:35] Speaker 1: and a fleet of more than 12,000 idle trucks. Yellow
[4:38] Speaker 1: has declared its operations shut down, sparking an intense conversation
[4:43] Speaker 1: about business ethics, the role of unions, and the overall
[4:46] Speaker 1: health of the U.S. economy. This long and colorful journey
[4:49] Speaker 1: deserves a reflective look, especially as it may profoundly affect
[4:53] Speaker 1: thousands of Teamsters employees and customers, including major retailers like
[4:57] Speaker 1: Walmart and Home Depot. So let's begin. Yellow's story began
[5:02] Speaker 1: in 1924 as a modest taxi and bus operation in
[5:05] Speaker 1: Oklahoma City. Its cheerful yellow Ford Model Ts and buses
[5:10] Speaker 1: became a symbol of connectivity, leading to the economy's growth
[5:14] Speaker 1: into a long-haul operator that benefited from the construction of
[5:17] Speaker 1: the interstate highway system. However, the road wasn't always smooth
[5:21] Speaker 1: for Yellow. It faced its share of hurdles, including a
[5:24] Speaker 1: bankruptcy filing in 1951, before being transformed into a national force.
[5:30] Speaker 1: Through acquisitions, Yellow managed to establish a coast-to-coast network that
[5:34] Speaker 1: helped the carrier survive periods of turbulence, especially after the
[5:38] Speaker 1: interstate trucking deregulation in 1980. But it took a turn
[5:43] Speaker 1: even for the worse with too many deals. Yellow's competitive
[5:46] Speaker 1: spirit led it to buy rival trucking firms like Roadway
[5:49] Speaker 1: and USF to create synergies. While initially appearing to be
[5:53] Speaker 1: strategic moves, these mergers were plagued by integration problems. The
[5:58] Speaker 1: recession of 2008 further exposed the cracks in Yellow's business model,
[6:01] Speaker 1: with a massive drop in trucking demand leading to a
[6:04] Speaker 1: downward spiral. The clash with the Teamsters union, which accused
[6:08] Speaker 1: Yellow of mismanagement, only added fuel to the fire. The
[6:12] Speaker 1: tensions escalated over the years, culminating in Yellow accusing the
[6:15] Speaker 1: Teamsters of blocking operational changes, putting the company at risk
[6:20] Speaker 1: of liquidation. But there were some lifelines. The federal government
[6:24] Speaker 1: threw Yellow a lifeline in 2020 with a $ 700 million
[6:28] Speaker 1: COVID rescue loan, considering the company's importance to national security. However,
[6:34] Speaker 1: Yellow's financial woes continued, and a congressional report in June
[6:38] Speaker 1: of 2023 concluded that the loan had skirted regulations, adding
[6:42] Speaker 1: to a layer of controversy to an already complex situation.
[6:45] Speaker 1: The final blow came with Yellow's failure to negotiate with
[6:48] Speaker 1: the Teamsters over contract changes and pension fund payments, leading
[6:52] Speaker 1: to a rapid decline in customer confidence. The collapse was
[6:56] Speaker 1: a clear sign that Yellow had reached the end of
[6:58] Speaker 1: its road. Upon reflection, the story of Yellow's rise and
[7:02] Speaker 1: fall is not just about a business gone awry. It's
[7:04] Speaker 1: a reminder that everything in this world is transient. and
[7:08] Speaker 1: why stewardship and ethical management are paramount. The book of
[7:12] Speaker 1: Proverbs offers a wealth of wisdom on stewarding finances in
[7:15] Speaker 1: a way that glorifies the Lord. Proverbs 21.5 says the
[7:18] Speaker 1: plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as
[7:21] Speaker 1: haste leads to poverty. Proverbs 14.23 says be not of
[7:25] Speaker 1: one of those who give pledges, who put up security
[7:28] Speaker 1: in debts. If you have nothing with which to pay,
[7:31] Speaker 1: why should your bed be taken from under you? These
[7:33] Speaker 1: large companies have a heavy burden placed upon them. not
[7:36] Speaker 1: only the success of the company and financial dollars, but
[7:40] Speaker 1: the livelihood of their employees. Yellow's struggles with debt, mismanagement,
[7:44] Speaker 1: and lack of transparent communication with its employees exemplify bad stewardship.
[7:48] Speaker 1: Yellow's failure to manage its debt and integrate its acquisitions
[7:52] Speaker 1: shows neglect of prudent stewardship. At the same time, the
[7:56] Speaker 1: clash with Teamsters reflects a breakdown in trust and communication
[7:59] Speaker 1: with employees. But let's not simply critique the business. Stories
[8:03] Speaker 1: like these act as cautionary tales for us all. We
[8:06] Speaker 1: too can be subject to poor judgment and bad deals.
[8:09] Speaker 1: We're all susceptible. May we rely on the Lord's wisdom
[8:12] Speaker 1: and proceed with humility in everything that we do. This
[8:15] Speaker 1: situation also offers a lesson on empathy and compassion for
[8:18] Speaker 1: the nearly 30,000 workers who find themselves in an uncertain future.
[8:24] Speaker 1: As Christ taught us to care for our neighbors, so
[8:26] Speaker 1: must we as a society find ways to support those
[8:29] Speaker 1: affected by the closure of Yellow. Lastly, Yellow's story prompts
[8:33] Speaker 1: reflection on the responsibility that comes with leadership, from the
[8:37] Speaker 1: executives of the government officials who provided the loan, all
[8:40] Speaker 1: the way to the executives of the business that took it.
[8:43] Speaker 1: Wise decision-making is rooted in integrity and foresight. As Christians,
[8:48] Speaker 1: we must seek to lead with wisdom and righteousness, always
[8:52] Speaker 1: considering the impact on individuals in the kingdom of God.
[8:55] Speaker 1: Yellow's once bright journey may have come to a somber end.
[8:59] Speaker 1: and its legacy will continue to spark debates and reflections.
[9:02] Speaker 1: It leaves us with the valuable lessons on stewardship, compassion, trust, leadership,
[9:07] Speaker 1: and may we all ground ourselves in this time with
[9:10] Speaker 1: the timeless principles of Christ. So, with that being said,
[9:14] Speaker 1: let's lift this entire thing up in prayer. Heavenly Father,
[9:17] Speaker 1: we pray for the thousands of workers affected by Yellow's
[9:20] Speaker 1: closure and ask that your guidance and provision be on them.
[9:23] Speaker 1: Grant wisdom to business leaders and officials to make decisions
[9:26] Speaker 1: with integrity, compassion, and foresight. May we all learn from
[9:30] Speaker 1: the story the importance of stewardship and empathy and strive
[9:33] Speaker 1: to lead our lives according to your righteous principles. We
[9:36] Speaker 1: pray these things with trust in Jesus' name. Amen. In
[9:41] Speaker 1: an unsettling escalation that brings the prolonged conflict between Russia
[9:44] Speaker 1: and Ukraine to a new level, Ukraine's President Zelensky has
[9:48] Speaker 1: declared that the war is coming back to Russia after
[9:50] Speaker 1: a drone attack on Moscow. This incident, marked by striking
[9:54] Speaker 1: visuals of damage and reported firsthand by witnesses, has become
[9:58] Speaker 1: the latest twist in a series of events that seem
[10:00] Speaker 1: to indicate the battle between the two nations is shifting
[10:03] Speaker 1: into Russian territory. So what do we need to know?
[10:05] Speaker 1: First is the attack. Early on Sunday morning, Moscow's defense
[10:09] Speaker 1: ministry reported the three Ukrainian drones were downed, with two
[10:13] Speaker 1: crashing into offices, leading to slight damage to the described
[10:20] Speaker 1: the explosion as a wave followed by fire and smoke.
[10:23] Speaker 1: An airport nearby, southwest of the city center, was also
[10:26] Speaker 1: briefly closed. Thankfully, no injuries were reported. This incident follows
[10:31] Speaker 1: recent accusations by Russia that Ukraine has been responsible for
[10:35] Speaker 1: a series of drone attacks on its territory, including a
[10:38] Speaker 1: notable claim of an attack on the Kremlin in May.
[10:41] Speaker 1: On the other side of the border, Ukrainian officials have
[10:44] Speaker 1: reported missile attacks causing death and injuries. So this has
[10:47] Speaker 1: signaled a shift in rhetoric. The 522nd day of the
[10:51] Speaker 1: so-called special military operation, originally expected by Russia's leadership to
[10:56] Speaker 1: last mere weeks, seems to be taking an unanticipated turn.
[11:01] Speaker 1: In a powerful video address, President Zelensky boldly stated that
[11:05] Speaker 1: the war is gradually returning to Russia's symbolic centers of
[11:08] Speaker 1: military bases. calling it an inevitable, natural, and absolutely fair process.
[11:14] Speaker 1: The surprising characterization by Ukraine might be considered a turning
[11:17] Speaker 1: point in their rhetoric. These joint attacks provided a platform
[11:21] Speaker 1: for Zelensky to address not only the Kremlin, but also
[11:24] Speaker 1: the Russian populace. If the Russian population begins to connect
[11:28] Speaker 1: the conflict with explosions close to home, it may prove
[11:31] Speaker 1: more challenging for Russia President Vladimir Putin to justify his actions.
[11:36] Speaker 1: There have been whispers that Russian officials would actually resort
[11:40] Speaker 1: to nuclear weaponry if the counteroffensive succeeded. This is a
[11:45] Speaker 1: dark undertone, and there's a lot of gravity to it.
[11:48] Speaker 1: Reflecting on these events, one is reminded of the words
[11:51] Speaker 1: in the book of Proverbs, When a man's ways please
[11:54] Speaker 1: the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at
[11:56] Speaker 1: peace with him. Proverbs 16.7 The escalating tension and aggression
[12:01] Speaker 1: between these two neighboring countries calls for a deeper examination
[12:04] Speaker 1: of ways, means, and intents for peace. From a Christian standpoint,
[12:09] Speaker 1: we recognize that war brings untold sufferings, loss, and devastation,
[12:13] Speaker 1: no matter which side you're on. Our hearts go out
[12:16] Speaker 1: to those caught in the crossfire of political strife, and
[12:19] Speaker 1: we remember them in our prayers, absolutely. Perhaps in the
[12:23] Speaker 1: summer time, leaders from both sides, with the threat of
[12:27] Speaker 1: nuclear war looming, can find wisdom and restraint. looking to
[12:31] Speaker 1: diplomatic means and fostering a spirit of understanding and reconciliation.
[12:36] Speaker 1: This might seem like hopeful talk, but we believe in
[12:38] Speaker 1: a good God who can move nations. In Isaiah 2.4,
[12:42] Speaker 1: there's a beautiful prophecy and declaration that's made concerning the
[12:46] Speaker 1: peace and the reign of God among nations. It says this,
[12:50] Speaker 1: He will judge between the nations and will decide concerning
[12:53] Speaker 1: many peoples. They shall beat their swords into plowshares and
[12:56] Speaker 1: their spears into pruning hooks. Nations shall not lift up
[13:00] Speaker 1: sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore. This
[13:04] Speaker 1: passage speaks to the kingdom of God being a space
[13:07] Speaker 1: in which weapons of warfare are all of the sudden
[13:10] Speaker 1: turned into instruments of growth, commerce, and partnership. That's what
[13:14] Speaker 1: it means for swords to be turned into plowshares. That
[13:17] Speaker 1: means the weapons that were once used to destroy are
[13:20] Speaker 1: now being used to farm and grow. The gospel charges
[13:24] Speaker 1: all of us believers to turn enemies into allies, foes
[13:27] Speaker 1: into friends. In Luke 6 31, Jesus offers a powerful
[13:32] Speaker 1: message of reconciliation and peacemaking. He says this, as you
[13:37] Speaker 1: would like people to do to you, do exactly to them.
[13:40] Speaker 1: If you love those who love you, what credit is
[13:42] Speaker 1: that to you? Even sinners love those who love them.
[13:46] Speaker 1: If you do good to those who do good to you,
[13:48] Speaker 1: what credit is that to you? Even sinners do the same.
[13:51] Speaker 1: If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive,
[13:54] Speaker 1: what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to
[13:57] Speaker 1: sinners to receive back as much. but love your enemies
[14:00] Speaker 1: and do good. Lend, expecting nothing back, and your reward
[14:04] Speaker 1: will be great, and you will be children of the
[14:07] Speaker 1: Most High, for He is kind towards the unthankful and
[14:11] Speaker 1: the evil. Wow. May we apply these principles of peace
[14:15] Speaker 1: in our own lives, giving to those who will never
[14:17] Speaker 1: give back in return, making our enemies our friends, hoping
[14:21] Speaker 1: and praying it builds into peace between nations. The road
[14:25] Speaker 1: to peace may be winding and complex, and it can
[14:28] Speaker 1: seem so big for us to even think about. But
[14:31] Speaker 1: it starts with acknowledging our shared humanity, compassion, and our
[14:34] Speaker 1: desire for the future where swords are turned into plowshares.
[14:38] Speaker 1: In these trying times, we want to lean on our faith,
[14:41] Speaker 1: not in ignorance, but trusting that the Lord will move
[14:45] Speaker 1: when we pray, hoping for a peaceful resolution that honors
[14:48] Speaker 1: dignity and the worth of every person involved. So with
[14:52] Speaker 1: that being said, let's lift everybody up in prayer. Heavenly Father,
[14:56] Speaker 1: we pray for peace and understanding between the nations of
[14:59] Speaker 1: Russia and Ukraine. Guide the leaders and those in power
[15:02] Speaker 1: to seek wisdom and diplomatic means to resolve conflict. May
[15:06] Speaker 1: your words of love, reconciliation, and compassion fill the hearts
[15:10] Speaker 1: of those involved. For any hardened hearts out there, for
[15:13] Speaker 1: any soil that is hard and untillable, Lord, we pray
[15:17] Speaker 1: that you would soften it so your word would reign true.
[15:20] Speaker 1: Turn enemies into friends and swords into plowshares. Grant safety
[15:24] Speaker 1: to those caught in the crossfire. And may your kingdom
[15:27] Speaker 1: of peace reign among nations. We don't pray these things
[15:30] Speaker 1: in ignorance. We pray these things in trust. We pray
[15:34] Speaker 1: these things knowing that you're powerful. And so we pray
[15:36] Speaker 1: these things in Jesus' name, with trust and glory given
[15:40] Speaker 1: to you. Amen. Thank you for joining us today on
[15:43] Speaker 1: Pray News. It is our aim to be informed and transformed.
[15:47] Speaker 1: We pray today you would proceed with hope, love, and
[15:49] Speaker 1: determination to be a force for good. If you've enjoyed
[15:52] Speaker 1: this take on the news, write us a review and
[15:53] Speaker 1: share your experience. You can sign up for our newsletter
[15:56] Speaker 1: at PrayNews.com where you will find sources for all our reporting.
[16:00] Speaker 1: Be sure to download the Pray.com app to make prayer
[16:03] Speaker 1: a priority in your life and experience the Bible in
[16:05] Speaker 1: new and exciting ways.

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